Here is another square sampler!

Here is the other sampler I made with the squares that my team made for our swap we had last Saturday!  I love the different styles we each have & think they look amazing when all put together.

 I know my group had a fun time creating these.  I love them!  I hope you have enjoyed looking at them too!

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We had a LATE night on the farm moving pigs last night.  It was a little after midnight when we walked in the door.  I jumped in the shower & then made supper while Deke took his shower.  Nothing like eating supper in the early hours of the morning.  We are both sore & tired.  Our feet are killing us.  I'd hate to guess how many miles we walked.  BUT we did get the pigs all moved from the nurseries to the finishers.  So they are all snug & warm in their new homes.  

Deke has a meeting this morning & then another one tomorrow.  He'll power wash the nurseries on Friday, Saturday & Sunday getting everything ready for our new baby piggies that will  get weaned & come here next week.  I know we have 3 very excited little boys!!  They love our baby piggies & can't wait to get to go out with Papa & G'ma & help on the farm.

I'm off to pick up my boys & spend the day with them.  Tonight I plan to be home & I'll be working on my Leadership presentation.  

 

I hope you have WONDERFUL Wednesday!!

Happy Stamping!

Hugs!
SUSIE

This weeks "WEEKLY DEALS"- January 20-16, 2015!!

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Check out this 12x12 sampler!

Hello!
I had an Iowa Inkers Team meeting on Saturday & these are some of the squares that we did as a swap!  The gals on my team each designed one square & then made multiples of that one square.  They brought them to our meeting and we swapped them with each other!!  It is so fun to see what everyone came up with.  Everyone has their own styles & likes and it shows here.  I put them all together in this 12x12 Spring sampler!!  There are lots of fun cute squares here aren't there!  I am just totally in love with these samplers & plan to get one made for each of the occasions throughout the year & change them out.

 

The theme for our 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" square block swap was to use Subltes color & flowers. After everyone left I then mounted the squares onto a 8x 8 " Basic Black card stock, then a 8 1/2 x 8 1/2" Wild Wasbi card stock & then a 12x12 Basic Black card stock and put it into this cool frame.

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Yesterday wasn't a good day..........

Please keep my step-dad, Dick Homan in your prayers.  He fell down their basement steps yeseterday morning & was air lifted to the hospital.  They thought he had a brain bleed- but thankfully it stopped.  He doesn't have any broken bones, just lots of bruises, a big cut on his head & a lots of fluid on his one knee.  He'll be there for awhile again, as he was just in the hospital last month because he suffered a bad stroke.

Last night Deke & I were on my monthly stamp delivery run & then we were going to see Dick at the hospital. But we didn't make it make it all of the way.  Our vehicle broke down at the Oxford Exit. A bearing went out of the alternator.  It was growling & our lights were really dim.....so it is at the repair shop now.  I am just to thankful that I wasn't alone & that Deke was with me. 

I'm off now to pick up the boys.  Then tonight after they leave I'm a farmer.  We sell 2 loads of hogs & then Deke & I have to move about 800 head of 50# piggies.  It will be a late night & alot of walking!  Honestly- I hope we are done & in the house by midnight.....

Wishing you a TERRIFIC Tuesday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

To a CLASSIC card AND keep reading about a BLOG HOP!

Hello!!
Here is a great guy card that I made.  I designed it for a monthly swap that I'm in with some other demonstrators & I also shared it with my Iowa Inkers downline team as a shoe box swap that they all got to make at my meeting here on Saturday!  

Guy cards aren't always easy to create.  So when I saw this awesome new stamp set- 'Guy Greetings' in the Occasions Catalog I know that I had to have it!!

Isn't it just a cute card!  I love the old car & then the banner flags along the side are just so fitting.

stamp set:  'Guy Greetings'
card stock:  Soft Suede, Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla
designer paper:  Park Lane
ink:  Soft Suede
other:  Big Shot, Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder, Gold Metal Buttons, Burlap Ribbon (shredded it to tie into the center of the button), paper snips, dimensionals & glue dot

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I was asked to do a Stampin' Up! (R) Blog Hop from a fellow friend- Dena Rekow.
You can check out her blog:  The Creative Cave- http://drekow.typepad.com
I was then asked to answer the following questions-

1. What are you working on?  
I stamp every day- so I'm always working on something!  I started my blog alittle over 3 years ago now & I've never missed a day of posting a new project yet.  We live, eat & breath stamps at our house.  

I am presenting at our Stampin' Up! Leadership Event next week in Orlando, Florida- so have been adding that extra planning to my already crazy schedule.  I'm presenting about KITS- so I've been writing my script, rehearsing & working on projects for my display board.  I am excited about getting to go & I'm looking forward to this Stampin' Up! event.  I will get to see so many of my demonstrator friends from all over the US & Canada!  And I plan to come home with TONS of new ideas to share with my customers at my upcoming events. 

2. How does your work differ from others in your genre?
I would say that I do have a certain style- although I'm not sure what style you'd call it.  I love to layer & love dimensionals!  Often people can pick out one of my cards from a pile of cards, just by looking at it & know that it is a "Susie" card.  I don't copy other projects too often.  I usually try to do original designs.   I love stamping, creating & sharing!!

3. Why do you create what you do?
I create a project depending on what is on my calendar of upcoming events.  Mostly I design cards. But I do some scrapbooking & 3D items too though.

I am getting ready to host my big Annual All Occasions Card Class in March- so have been planning that event.  And then each April I do an annual Stamp Camp too.  This year I'm changing up that event & it will be called- "Susie's Spring Fling"!  Everyone attending will be making a few 12x12 square samplers & a couple of other projects too.  I've been making the square samplers & I've had alot of customers tell me that they'd love to make them!  So I am excited about adding this FUN NEW EVENT to my calendar & hope I that have a good turn out for it.  Do you want to see what I'm talking about when I talk about my square samplers?  Check out my winter sampler HERE!! 
Be sure to check back tomorrow as I'll be posting a spring square 12x12 sampler that my Iowa Inkers team did as a swap for our meeting we had this past weekend!! 
 
4. How does your creativity process work?

• I choose what event or what I need a project for
• I choose my stamp set
• I then choose the colors I want to use
• I then just start playing(I mean creating & stamping!)

I am lucky I guess, as creating comes easy to me.  I am definitely perfectionist though- so often the card that my customers see at one of my events isn't my first & only attempt at what they get to make.  I often make a card & then end up deciding "if I would change this little thing" that I'd like it better.  

Next Monday- January 26th, 2015-  I've asked my demonstrator friends- Brenda & Lynda to join this blog hop- so be sure to check out their blogs then!! NOTE:  I will also link these 2 blogs again next Monday on my blog- so that you don't forget to check them out!

• Brenda Keenan:  Keenan Kreations- http://www.keenankreations.com/blog 
• Lynda Wilson:  Lynda Sue Stamps 4 U- http://lyndasuestamps4u.blogspot.com 

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I'm off to pick up the boys.  Deke has a meeting today.  Tonight I have my monthly delivery stamp run- so I will be seeing many along the way to deliver their orders to them!

I hope you have a MARVELOUS Monday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE 

'Big On You'

Here is a new stamp set in the Occasions Catalog.  Love the big bold script words here.

I made this card too with the Sale-a-bration This Day Project Life Mini Card Collection.  The printed card stock- Coastal Cabana dots & the White lined with multi-colored dots on the top, are both cards out of this kit.  I just had to add the Coastal Cabana & Black Card stock to it for the card base & layering pieces.  What a cute & simple card this is!

stamp set:  'Big On You'
card stock:  Coastal Cabana, Basic Black
ink:  Black Stazon
supplies:  This Day Project Life Mini Card Collection, Best Year Ever Accessory Pack (ribbon & buttons), dimensionals, glue dot

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

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Yesterday we had a great time at my Iowa Inkers team meeting.  I'm so glad that many of my gals could attend.  I'm also sad that everyone doesn't live close by & we missed those of you that couldn't be here.

Deke & I enjoyed our night with the Seeley boys staying with us.  They'll head home this morning & I'm going to spend my day working on stamping stuff.

I hope you have a SUPER Sunday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

A clean & simple card!

Here it is- check out this card!  Woo hoo!  There is alot of Sale-a-bration items used here.  It is clean & simple, but I really like it.

This card is also one that I made with the This Day Project Life Mini Card Collection from the Sale-a-bration catalog.  I also added the Best Day Ever Buttons & the stamped image is from the 'Simply Wonderful' stamp set. 

 Don't you love this simple Crushed Curry & Whisper White card?

I will update this post with the supplies used sometime soon.

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I still have LOTS to do yet.....as I'm having my Iowa Inkers team meeting at our home today!  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.  I've been a stamping the evening/night/morning away creating swaps & shoe box swaps!  We will have a fun filled day with great company, awesome projects & yummy food.  I know everyone will be going home with around 50 new projects- using new products from the Sale-a-bration & Occasions Catalogs.  There definitely will be lots & lots of stamping going on here today!

Later this afternoon the 3 Seeley boys will come to crash the end of our downline meeting- so all of the gals will get to see them!  They are spending the night with G'ma & Papa tonight.  I have a day off tomorrow.  (Or should I say that I'll be home to work.)  So when the boys go home in the morning I'll be a stamping fool ALL DAY/NIGHT LONG- with a swap to finish & then I have lots of kits I want to get done for my display boards for Leadership!  And I need to get all of my photos for my power point done too.

Ok- I've gotta run!!
I hope you have a SENSATIONAL Saturday!!
I hope you get to spend some time stamping this weekend too. 
Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

Check out these cards!

WOW!!  I am presenting at our Stampin' Up! (R) Leadership Conference in a couple of weeks......so I've been working on my script, rehearsing & making projects out of kits to put on my display boards every spare minute I have had lately.

Last night I had another phone rehearsal with Andrea & then I spent the rest of the night whipping up cards.  And can you guess what kit all of these pieces laying on the table are from?  All of these pieces are from the Project Life Kit in the Sale-a-bration Catalog called 'This Day Mini Card Collection'.  The kit containes 30 cards total (10- 4x6 & 20- 3x4 pieces).   I wanted you to see that they are super cute inserts to help you preserve your memory keeping, making it simple to do.  They are so fast & easy!  BUT those of you that know me, know that I think outside of the box & I like to be different.  So last night I created 24 regular sized full cards.  I cut 24 card bases out of card stock measuring 5 1/2 x 8 1/2".  I then got out my box of cardstock scraps, some punches, a few ink pads & a few different stamp sets.  AND I added a few dimensionals & the Best Year Ever Sale-a-bration Accessory Pack of ribbons & buttons.

So here is my stack of finished cards!  Aren't they amazing!!  Yes- most of them are clean & simple- but I think that they are very nice & super cute cards for several different occasions.  I'm sure the person receiving them will love them!

Here is one of the cards!  These flower images were on one of the 4x6 cards & I just cut it in half, added a layer, stuck it onto my card base, stamped some words, added my button & it is done!!  

card stock:  Coastal Cabana- 5 1/2 x 8 1/2";  Crushed Curry- 5 1/4 x 2 1/4;  The flowered card stock measured 5 x 2".
ink:  Coastal Cabana
stamp set:  'Best Day Ever'- Sale-a-bration Mini Catalog
kit:  This Day Project Life Mini Card Collection- Sale-a-bration Mini Catalog
button:  Best Day Ever Accessory Pack- Sale-a-bration
other:  Dimensionals & Glue Dot

How can you get Sale-a-bration products?  You get to choose one Sale-a-bration product for free with every $50 that you spend (before shipping & tax) now through 3/31/15!  You can click HERE to see the Sale-a-bration Catalog!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

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So what do you think of this kit?  Would you ever have thought of making cards with it?  Isn't it super cool! 
 

Yesterday the boys had their ear re-checks with Dr. Sam & they looked good.  Trey got his 2nd flu shot.  He was back to his happy self too, since that darn tooth finally broke all of the way through.  Brayden was here for awhile after school & for supper, as Nathan referred a ballgame.  And then I stamped the night away!

I'm off to pick up the boys.  Deke is headed out for another meeting today.  Tonight I'll be burning the midnight oil again stamping.  I have my Iowa Inkers Team meeting here at our home tomorrow.  So I have swaps to make & LOTS of things to do to get ready for that.

I have gotta run.......

I hope you have a FABULOUS Friday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

A 'Be Mine' Valentine!

Here is another card that everyone made if they joined me for my January monthly classes last week.  Isn't it a cute card!  Did you notice the heart window in it?  And check out the black & white designer paper.  I also used the new Heart Embossing folder too under the ribbon- but it is kinda hard to see in the pictures. 

stamp set:  'Your Plus Me'

card stock:  Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White

dp:  Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack

ink:  Black Memento

other:  Big Shot, Hearts Collection Framelits, Sweetheart Punch, Black Chevron Ribbon, What's Up Punch, Happy Hearts Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

 

NOTE:  This stamp set & Designer Paper stack can both be purchased separately BUT they do come together as a BUNDLE & you can save 15% when you purchase them together.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

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Yesterday was a long day.  Poor little Trey was having a bad day, as he is cutting his other top tooth through.  I felt so bad for him.  So we just spent alot of time rocking & cuddling.  I hope he slept all night.  He is just such a happy little guy and it is hard to see him being so unhappy.  

Deke is gone all day again today for meetings.  I'm headed in to pick up the boys.  This afternoon the twins have dr's appointments for ear re-checks.  And Trey is suppose to get his 2nd flu shot.  So I'll meet Manda & Steve in town with the Seeley boys & pick up Brayden.  

Tonight I have another phone rehearsal with SU! for my Leadership presentation practice.  I spent about 6 hours last night writing & polishing up my script.  I hope that goes well.  WOW- we leave in less than 2 weeks for Leadership.  Oh my gosh.....and I have tons to get done between now & then.

I hope you have very special Thursday!!  

Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

It's 'Better Than E-Mail'- a new Photopolymer stamp set!

Check out this cute new photopolymer stamp set!!!  There are lots of images here to personalize your creations!!  And the Stampin' Up! copywrite is included on these!  Woo Hoo!!














Better Than E-Mail

Item #140463
Price: $15.95

 

 This great new Angel Policy set has many different stamps included in it for many purposes.

'Petal Potpourri' done in Stampin' Up! style!

Good morning!!
Here is a super cute clean and simple card I made.  I need several thank you cards so whipped up this one and will make some more like it sometime soon.  This flower stamp is cute and versatile.  And it even has a coordinating punch that goes with it and can be purchased in a bundle- which saves you 15%.  I love it when a stamp set and punch coordinate!

 Look at this card that I have the black edged oval around right here!!  
Can you believe that it is a boughten thank you card that was sent to us.   

Well- you know me.....I looked at it and thought instantly how I could case (copy and share everything) this card using new Stampin' Up! (R) products from the Occasions Catalog.  Pretty cool huh!!  I was impressed with myself and I think that my card turned out super cute!  Woo hoo!  And of course my stamped card is way cuter than the boughten one isn't it! 

stamp set:  'Petal Potpourri' and 'Simply Wonderful' (SAB)
card stock:  Whisper White and Vellum
ink:  Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo
supplies:  Bright Candy Dots (Daffodil Delight), Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Check out this card too.  I used the exact same supplies to make it as I did on the one I posted above, but this card is going horizontal instead of vertical and I used different words on it from the same stamp set.  It is so FUN to change things a bit and get a totally different look!!

**Leave me a comment and let me know which one you like best.  The vertical one or the horizontal one.

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We had a late night on the farm last night.  Thankfully it wasn't too terribly cold out.  We are up bright and early this morning to chore, as Deke has meetings in Mt. Pleasant.  We'll both leave the house about 7 this morning as he heads to his meeting and I go pick up the boys.  Trey has a dr appt today, so we'll go to it and then head out to our home.  

I am finally home tonight......and will be working on fine tuning my Leadership script for my presentation.  I have my rehearsal tomorrow night and I want to make sure I have it all polished up and ready!  I have my fingers crossed that all goes well.  I'm such a worry wart and always want everything to be perfect. 

I've gotta run......I hope you have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

This weeks- 'WEEKLY DEALS January 13-19, 2015!

Check out this COOL card!

Woo Hoo!  Here is a fun stand up BOX card that was one of my January class cards.  We stamped with the new Color Box Chalk ink pads onto the new Chalkboard Paper.  Isn't it cool!

Here is what the card looks like when it is closed.  Check out the cute bow made with the New Bow Builder punch!  And don't you just love this confetti designer paper too!  

This card lays folds down and lays flat for easy mailing.  

And it is adorable when it stands up isn't it!

I will update this post sometime soon with a supply list.  I have a super buys week this week!  I'll be posting photos of new projects every day- but I won't be taking the time to do the supplies until later this week.  I hope you understand.

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Last night Brayden & Nathan were here.  I worked outside a bit and then spent the rest of the night entering orders and working on Stampin' Up! things burning the midnight oil.  This morning I'm off to pick up the boys.  We are going to run up to visit Deke's parents for a bit, as yesterday was his mom's birthday.  I know she'll enjoy getting to see the boys.  Then I'm a farmer again tonight when the boys go home.  We will be selling 2 semi loads of hogs.  It will be another late night out on the farm with Deke.  And it is going to be a cold one again too.

I hope you have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!!
Happy Stamping!!
Hugs!
SUSIE

'Celebrate Today'!

WOW!  What an elegant balloon card created with the awesome new 'Celebrate Today' stamp set & coordinating balloon framelit!  Isn't it just super cute!!  I got a card similar to this in a swap from Raedean Shibata.  I loved her idea!  So I cased it, changing it some and came up with this.  Everyone joining me for my monthly card classes got to make this card this past week!

 I will update this post sometime soon with the supplies I used to create it.

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I headed out early yesterday morning for my 2 stamp classes that I had in Cedar Rapids.  It was a fun day!  I think everyone attending liked the option to be able to come either for the morning or afternoon session.  We'll continue doing this for the next couple months on a trial basis to see if it is something we'll implement full time or not.

I got back to Sigourney about 6:45 last night and went right to Nathan's house.  He and Sarah made supper for us all.  The Deke and the Seeley's were already there when I got there.  So we enjoyed a fun evening with our family together.  I was beat last night when I  finally got home and I was actually in bed shortly after 11 (which is early for me).

I'm off this morning to pick up the 3 Seeley boys.  We'll go pick up Brayden and we'll take him to school.  Then well head out to our house for the day.  Deke has a meeting this morning and we'll then be working on the farm tonight.

I hope you have a MARVELOUS Monday!
Happy Stamping!
hugs!
SUSIE

A Occasions Catalog & Sale-a-bration Catalog Combo!

Hello!
Here is another beautiful flower card that I LOVE!  These colors are bright, cheery & springy!  There are alot of new products here from the Occasions & Sale-a-bration Catalogs!  This is one of my January class cards.  Are you signed up to come to one of my stamp classes today & making this card with me?

I shadow stamped (restamped my flower image again before reinking it) to make the 2nd flower a lighter color.  This is a great way to get a lighter and darker shade of the exact same color by just using one color of ink pad!  So I only used 2 ink pads when creating this one card- even though it looks like I used more.  I used Calypso Coral and  Wild Wasbi.   Check out the new Flower Medallion Punch.  Woo hoo!  I love it when Stampin' Up! makes punches to coordinate with our stamp sets.  And this punch not only coordinates with this stamp set- 'Crazy About You', but it also coordinates with another new stamp set in the Occasions Catalog called- 'Petal Potpourri'.  I am also a huge fan of this years Sale-a-bration Designer Paper Package called- Best Year Ever.  It is very versatile and the colors are just amazing together.  

stamp sets: 'Crazy About You' & 'Simply Wonderful' (SAB)
card stock:  Calypso Coral, Blushing Bride, Whisper White
designer paper:  Best Day Ever (SAB)
ink pads: Calypso Coral, Wild Wasabi
supplies:  Petite Petals Punch, Flower Medallion Punch, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Basic Pearls, Best Day Ever (SAB) ribbon, Scalloped Edge Border Punch

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

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Wow!  I had a busy day yesterday- but enjoyed having coffee and catching up with my friends- Donna and Phyllis yesterday morning for coffee.  Then Manda and I spent the afternoon with Sarah, her mom and the other bridesmaids- trying on dresses for Nathan and Sarah's wedding.  The dresses are all picked out, measured for the sizes everyone needs and we are ready to order them!  They are beautiful!  

When I got home about 6, I made supper for Deke and then spent the rest of the night and into the wee hours this morning cutting card stock and finishing getting ready for my big classes that I am having today!!  I'm EXCITED that we are trying something new.  I'm having 2 hostesses and 2 separate class sessions today (one this morning and one this afternoon).  I'll be seeing Michele and Karen and many of my friends/customers soon!  We are also going to have some new stampers and some old stampers too, that will be joining us!  I can't wait for everyone to see the 6 cards that they'll be making.  I'm looking forward to spending my whole day stamping with everyone!!

Ok......I am ff to bed for a few hours.  I'll rise early this morning, load the car and head out!  My first stamp class starts at 10 and it is in Cedar Rapids- which is about 1 1/2 hours away from our home.  I have a long day ahead of me- but I'm looking forward to it!

I am so thankful that today the weather is going to be a little warmer and it is actually going to be above freezing for a change!!  WOWSER!!!

I hope you have a SENSATIONAL Sunday!!!
Happy Stamping!
HUGS!
SUSIE

Sale-a-bration 'Lotus Bossom' stamp set-

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this new 'Lotus Blossom' stamp set that is in the Sale-a-bration Mini Catalog.  This is one of the cards for my January card classes.  This is just a very elegant card that could be great for many different Occasions.

stamp set:  'Lotus Blossom' (SAB)
card stock:  Blackberry Bliss, Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla
ink:  Blackberry Bliss; Pear Pizzazz, Perfect Plum
supplies:  Texture Boutique Embossing Machine; Delicate Designs Embossing Folder; Extra Large Oval Punch; Blackberry Bliss Satin Ribbon; Dimensionals, Glue Dots

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We went to our annual racing banquet last night and had a nice time.  It sure was cold out though!   Darn....I am so ready for a little warmer temps.  This cold is hard on all of our animals- so making extra sure they have water, extra bedding and extra food.  

This morning I'm headed out the door now to meet some old co-worker friends for coffee.  I'm looking forward to catching up with them.  Then Manda and I are going with Sarah and her mom- shopping for brides maid dresses.  When I get home tonight I'll be finishing cutting card stock and packing up for my stampin' parties that I have tomorrow. 

I hope you have a SUPER Saturday!! 
Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE