Take the Time ~ It's good for You!

For a few years now, I have tried to spark the idea to those around me of happiness through gratitude and being in the moment...I'd like to think, "not spark, but reinforce".

My wish is for everyone to take the minutes during the day to revel at the magic around us! The very fact that I can draw a deep breath is magic with that attitude. Happiness is found in those moments!

Helping to find the magic in the everyday, in your everyday, starts with a little task of noticing, a lot. Noticing those small things, those moments, that bring a smile to your heart and fill you with joy.

I absolutely love this exercise because it makes you pay attention in the present moment.

Find specific things unique to you.

Doing this exercise has made me aware of my daily life and the beautiful mundane things in it that bring me joy and happiness.

Life is fleeting and fragile and it’s these little things that make up our everyday life.

for me:* my dog's tongue lolling out the side of his mouth after a good run.

           * the sparkle of sun on the snow

           * having leftovers to serve for an easy supper

There’s no time like the present to start noticing, so go ahead and start making a list and I’d love to know what’s on it.

smiles,

Laurie

Stampin'Up! Coordinates

Hello Stamping Friends!

 Today, I want to share with you some great products that will be available February 4th!  They are called Coordination Products because they coordinate with products that are either in the January - June 2020 Mini Catalog OR the 2020 Sale-A-Bration Catalog. These new items are available for purchase through March 31st BUT while supplies last, so grab them while while you can! Let’s take a peek at the Coordination Products! 

The Nature’s Thoughts Dies coordinate with the Positive Thoughts stamp set. The stamp set is available for purchase in the January - June 2020 Mini Catalog. 

The Special Days Dies coordinate with the Special Someone Stamp set. The stamp set is available for purchase in the January - June 2020 Mini Catalog. 

The Ladybug Dies coordinate with the Little Ladybug stamp set.The stamp set can be earned for FREE when you place a qualifying order OR host a qualifying party through March 31st. 

The Sending Flowers Dies coordinate with the Sending You Thoughts stamp set. The stamp set can be earned for FREE during Sale-A-Bration (through 3/31) with a minimum $60 order. 

The Birthday Dies coordinate with the Happy Birthday to You stamp set The stamp set can be earned for FREE during Sale-A-Bration (through 3/31) with a minimum $60 order. 

The Pleased as Punch Designer Series Paper coordinates with not one…not two…but FOUR different punches! The Small Bloom Punch (which can be earned for Free with a minimum $100 order during Sale-A-Bration), the  Heart Punch pack and Tulip Builder pack and Umbrella Builder Pack. (all in the January - June 2020 Mini Catalog) I LOVE the colors in this paper! So bright and cheery! 

The list above will help to direct you to the item numbers and which items coordinate with each other. Remember, these items will be available starting February 4th. They are NOT free Sale-A-Bration items. When you purchase them, you can be eligible to earn some free Sale-A-Bration items, which is awesome! 

You can find these products in my my online store. Again, they are “while supplies last”, so don’t wait too long to order. 

smiles, 
Laurie

Two Times a Year...?!

I have such great thoughts of sending off little bits of inspiration out into the world!

and then another month goes by with no post! 

(lucky for me, I have my wonderful group of local women that attend classes at my home, so I at least am crafting myself to create a fun event each month!)

I've pulled together a series of Framed Art Samplers for our homes this past several months...and just designing another couple to carry us into the summer!

Right now, I'm looking at the Billion dollar business of Subscriptions...Paper Pumpkin is a bit of a crafting answer to this from Stampin'Up! 

And I really do love the idea of the crafting break coming to your door each month for folks that are just starting in this wonderful hobby! Luckily, for more avid crafters, they are still wonderful with the many tweaks online you can find to further play and create with the goodies in the kits!

Another huge plus of these kits is during the summer months, they are so easy to pack along to take camping, or out with you while waiting for kids activities. Also wonderful to pull out for a crafting break with your kiddos during the summer days!!

Check it out . There is a new one shipping  week of July 10...order before then, please use me as your demo!

In addition to Paper Pumpkin, I'm playing with the idea of a Stamp-a- month club for 4 month trial..with potential for a Christmas club edition! With cards and projects to go along with the stamps...stay tuned (shipping in Canada adds to all costs, sadly..so thinking on how best to make this a nice mail to your door version of my classes!)

smiles,

Laurie

Simple Stamping Challenge

Stampin'Up! gave demonstrators a challenge if they wanted to take it up. Create some cards that are super simple!
One stamp set, ink and the Notecards from the Annual catalogue,
Last night, looking for a set to work with that had a thank you in it ~ because December's challenge was to make a thank you...~ and I found that Dragonfly Dreams had a thank you in it.

#simplestamping Using Dragonfly Dreams stamp set and Blackberry Bliss and Balmy Blue inks.

Hoping that this week between Christmas and New Year's finds you enjoying time doing what you want...family visiting, skating, reading, stamping, cooking easy meals or entertaining elaborately! ...
Wishing you a much Happiness, good health and laughter throughout the coming year!
 HaPpY New YeAr!!


Smiles, 
Laurie


...and a little "blooper" at the end of the post:
...when you pick up ink on an edge of the block on the very last dot stamped!! ("gasp")...and decide to see what doing a few more lines will look like...

(this one actually got my daughter's vote for better between the two...what do you think?)

Santa's Workshop Memories and More

The Memories and More Christmas kit this year is fun...a different take from the past years of capturing your December...and actively being used by many folks for making a bundle of cards simply and quickly.
I've pulled together a bundle myself for a class I'll be holding the end of November! Inspired by many ideas online from others, and tweaked to a bit of my style, I guess you'd say.

It's been fun, sorting through the cards thinking of the possibilities! I have a couple more to make.
I also have my Hallway frame laid out to be glued down and put up!
I am skyping this class, if you'd like to join us, November 21, let me know so I can order you up a kit and get it off to you in the post!

Smiles,
Laurie

Bokeh Dots for Christmas

Prepping for a class this evening. Happy to have a few ladies joining me in either the afternoon or evening time option. We're going to be working with the Winter Woods stamp bundle from the Holiday Catalogue, there is so much versatility with this bundle it's hard to choose a couple styles to make for the cards!  I'm also designing a card using Stylish Christmas. A stamp set that I saw this summer in the Annual catalogue and recently decided, I did indeed LOVE it! The new DistINKtive stamps are rather clever!
My favourite DistINKtive stamps so far are the Bokeh Dots backgrounds duo on page 153.
I'm going to share a few cards we made with these two stamps from the last class!

I utilized trees and the sentiment from the Timeless Tidings stamp set. on the other cards, I used Lovely as a Tree and Night in Bethlehem. 

Smiles,

Laurie

To check out my online store click here, thanks.

Blessings of Stampin'Up!

My Heart is happy this week! I had a couple different events sharing my joy of stamping with others!
I'm always happiest when I feel I've made a difference in another person's life, when I see their pride from creating something so simply from paper!
Starting this business 16 years ago, I'm not sure I thought I'd ever be in it for so many years.
My Littlest was born into my Stampin'Life! She knows me only as a Stampin'Up! demonstrator...Imagine!
I've been blessed with wonderful customers that have become friends through stampin'.
I've been blessed with meeting beautiful demonstrators from around the world. Blessed to be able to travel for years to fun cities to join up with them each year, for a celebration of achievement in the business!
I am blessed that I have the business to focus me to sit down and plan classes ~ creating and playing with stamps, ink and dies to share with others. Teaching techniques, a fancy fold, or just showing off an extraordinary set that I've fallen in love with!

I have been hit and miss for years on this blog...I have always loved the idea of sharing on the blog...but never had the accountability to stick to it for the duration!
... but I'm going to start, yet again, to make regular entries. With gratitude as the theme.
I ran a course last year with prompts and snippets about journaling gratitude and capturing the everyday! I'm going to continue to explore these ideas!
...along with incorporating the idea of mailing out at least a card a week ~ and sharing the card on here!
Photo for this blog post is a photo of the group of Ladies I joined earlier this week to help them make some fabulous Fall banners! So many leaves to texturize and customize their own special creations! I'm so happy to have been asked to do this with them!

smiles,

Laurie