Online Extravaganza starts MONDAY!!!!

Are you ready to get your holiday shopping done---online and right from the comfort of your own home?  Well, it's the perfect time to shop for personalized stamps, ink pads, banner kits, card kits, and more!
Be sure to check out my website here .
---but remember, quantities are limited, so grab them while you can!


From SU!:

Make the most of our Online Extravaganza by enjoying flash deals on select items and bundles at a 20%-50% discount! But quantities are limited, and this great opportunity only lasts from November 24 through December 2, so get yours before they're gone. 
Plus, there will be limited-time door busters on November 24 and December 1 on special products-some that have never before been paired together-that are only available for 24 hours and while supplies last! These specific deals are extremely limited, so act fast!

Happy Shopping!!
Use the Hostess Code:  PM6DA9BZ when ordering!

Happy Thanksgiving and THANK YOU for visiting!!

Happy Stampin'!

Craft Show "Hangover!"

The infamous Craft Show weekend is O-V-E-R!  I am completely exhausted but what a great turnout there was!  I had a table in the perfect spot....right near the food!  :)  Everyone that came in had to walk past my table at least twice.  The crowd was steady.  Thanks for coming out if you were able.  Here was my view:

I looked at those adorable rocking horses the whole day--wishing my kids were young enough to enjoy them....:)  I did buy one of the glass plate "flowers!"  It can also be turned flat and is a bird feeder!  Super cute!!!
I am so thankful for all the ideas out in cyber-land.  I love seeing all the fun creations and being able to duplicate or tweak them to be my own.  NOTHING on this table was my idea from scratch. 
Here are some pics of my table....my mom is in the background.  My parents just got in to town to stay for a few weeks and she timed it perfectly to come to this!

I woke up--wide awake-about 4AM Saturday morning, remembering I had not made the "joy" banners I had intended.  So, after tossing and turning for a couple hours, I got up and made these before leaving for the show. :)  I sold them both so it was all worth it!


Last week, I also taught my daughter's Girl Scout troop meeting--they were working to earn their kindness badge.  So, I only think in stamping-related form.......they made Kindness Journals :).

and some of the inside...

For the inside I guided them to choose some qualities that describe them, and things that make them happy.  The above were some of Leah's pages.


I am so happy I bought these journals when they were on clearance.  Always check out that clearance rack! www.deniseknowles.stampinup.net!   LOVE them!  So, when the time came to do the lesson, it was perfect!  I also had them make a Thinking of You card for someone special they wanted to thank.  I was having so much fun helping them and watching them create---I did not take a single picture!  Story of my life most times.... :)

Back to the Craft Show--I made a few new contacts, too!  One wants to host a workshop, one wants to commission me to make some banners for her photography business, and one is a former Stampin' Up customer whose demonstrator dropped and is looking to start up again!  YAY!  More friends=more fun!!
PLUS--I sold out of almost everything!!!  That made me HAPPY!!!

Wishing you and your families a very blessed Thanksgiving!  (Only 7 school days for us!! But who's counting? :))

Happy Stampin'!

Blendabilities and Craft Shows

Blendabilities and Craft Show Update

Happy Fall!

The weather is cooler, the leaves are changing.....it's such a beautiful time of year!  I hope when you take a break from stamping, you are able to get outside and enjoy your weather---depending on where you are, of course! :)  Snow in Ohio???  Rain in Texas??  Happy to be in NC right now! :)

For my September stamp nights, we dove right in to Blendabilities!  Everyone was so excited!  I finally purchased a fair amount of colors, so I thought it was a good time to showcase them.  :)

This was my first sample of the card they made.  I had to keep telling myself to stay in the lines, but my hands were so excited to use these fabulous markers, I could hardly contain myself!  ;) 

 I was able (and more in control) to make a few more:

I left these blank so I could add my sentiments later....

Everyone really enjoyed using the set "Something to Say" for their sentiments. 

Thank you to my fellow SU demonstrators for making these awesome Blendabilities color charts!  In addition to a finished card and an extra flower colored with the markers, they made a color chart of the colors I had for their idea book. 

Do you see my sad medium, Rich Razzleberry??  I called SU! demo support and they said to just throw that defective one away and a new one would be in the mail.....I got a WHOLE NEW SET!  Love our Demo support and SU! family! 

Everyone LOVED how you can color over the pearls and rhinestones! 

One more thing I showcased at the stamp nights was the Box Punch Board....LOVE!!  I wanted to show everyone exactly what this board is capable of and why you NEED it!  So, I made a box of every size!

I really like the cardstock DSP from the Holiday Catalog.  I could not make every box from the pack of DSP, so I tried regular cardstock (great) and regular DSP (not great).  

Now, on to my Craft Show update.....

I am happy to report that I am already ahead of the game!  I don't want to go overboard, because I know November will be here before I know it, but I already have made a few "new" items for the show! Take a look!

I ordered the CurvyBox die---I LOVE it!  I ordered the Fry Box die---LOVE it!

And, my newest addiction:::

Countdown boxes!!!  I really like this idea and I used the photopolymer set "25Days."  I want to make several of these sets.  I am trying to make them versatile---counting down to holidays, birthdays, special occasions......our Tiny Treat Boxes are awesome and very sturdy! For this set, I used Perfect Plum, Pool Party, and Wild Wasabi.

Happy Stampin'!

Blogging on the go this summer!!

Ever since I was kindly asked to be a guest blogger for a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators I belong to, I have been on the go!  I think only one Sunday I have been at my house to blog! :)  I am the type of person that can't think ahead too much---I like to write my posts once a week, on the day before they are set to post.  With that being said, I have had to preplan a little to make sure I have taken pictures or thought about what I am going to say.
So, this past week I have been helping my husband and others take our high school soccer team to a camp--at the beach!  We were in Emerald Isle, NC for the week.  YAY!  Last Sunday I was writing the blog post from...

**note:   this is a bit late in posting...there was a little glitch called author error!!!

I returned home on Friday, picked up my very best friend (from Kansas) from the airport.  Spent the night at my own house, then we repacked and headed to Sunset Beach, NC for a long weekend away with another great friend, Sara!
It's been raining non stop here, so far, but we are hopeful for some blue skies soon!
This day was a little better!

 As I said earlier, I have been blogging on the go and this week is no exception.  The only difference with this week is that I really haven't been home long enough to get myself organized my upcoming events.  I can't complain, though!  My surroundings are beautiful and I am very blessed to be able to take these trips!  It just leaves me a little bit "flying by the seat of my pants" at times.  But I think that's what keeps me on my toes when it comes to my business.  One of the great things about my Stampin' business is that I have that flexibility to take it where I want to go, do business online, bring projects that fit the time and space that we have.
I took my new Box Punch Board (from the NEW Holiday Catalog!!) to the soccer camp with me!  While the kids were at the morning workouts, I got out my new DSP and got to work!  These are a few of the boxes I made----LOVE THIS TOOL!!

I will definitely be showcasing this new tool to you!  I plan to make a box of every size just so you can see all this punch board has to offer!
Finally, I will close this post with a few more photos from Convention!  I have my Convention "workbook" very near me at all times in my craft room so I can refer back to what I wrote and ideas that came to me when I was in SLC.
These pictures are in no particular order...mostly from the fun we had!!  LOVE SLC!!!

P.S.  Just got back from walking on the beach at Sunset Beach....this sweet little bird was distressed...we waited until help arrived before we left. :)

I see a Project Life spread in my future!!!!
What are your upcoming crafting plans?
Happy Stampin'!

My Convention "Hangover"

Happy Stampin'!
I am still reeling from Convention!  I learned so many different things!  Most of them very simple and easy to adapt into my business, but learning those things while at Convention just makes it all the better!  Some things you just have to see in person to make the change!!
I paid to take an extra, evening class.  I have signed up for one each time they've been offered---I have never been disappointed!  This year, I chose "Master Class: Simply Created Project Kit."  Stampin’ Up’s Shannon West was the presenter.  We received the Watercolor Winter Simply Created Card Kit from the upcoming Holiday Catalog.  The kit includes everything to make 20 cards with envelopes.  It has lots of fun elements and even a watercolor brush.  There is a coordinating Watercolor Winter Too stamp set to use if you'd like.   The cost of the kit and stamp set are already more than the $35 fee I paid for the class!  With the helpful hints from Shannon and taking with other demonstrators to see their take on using the kit, it is well worth the money I spent!  So, the class time was used for us to make the cards---but Shannon threw a twist into the mix!  She wanted anyone interested to make an alternate card using only the contents of the kit, post it to Pinterest, and see who could get the most "likes" for their card.  SU! was going to give away several $50 shopping sprees to the top "liked" cards (I think) as well as random winners.  So, guess what??  I was a random winner!  I received an email from Shannon this past week!!  Here was the card I created:

I (usually) never win anything!!  You can guess I am very excited about this!  :) 
Another thing that stood out to me was listening to/watching  Lydia Fiedler on the Main Stage.  I love watching fellow demonstrators on stage doing their "thing!"  She showed us an alternative look at the Blended Bloom stamp.....I think I am addicted!!!!!

Here are my versions:

You know you have seen this flower ALL OVER the place using our new Blendabilities!  I love that look and do love this flower.  However, what a great thing to show another way to look at it!  This is simply using our Basic Black ink and marker!  Easy, fun, and relaxing!  Just filling in the flower as you see fit!  No experience necessary!!  :) I also tried it using matching ink pad and marker.
Here are the finished cards:

I promise, once you start, you will not want to stop!  At least, that's how it was for me!! :) The most detailed design is called "Zentangling."  I have started to see it show up on my Pinterest feed!  My second graders call it doodling!!  Lol

So, look for the upcoming Stampin’ Up! Holiday catalog coming soon!!  While you’re waiting, try a new twist on a stamp set you love that has outlined images.  Can’t wait to see what you create!!

Happy Stampin'