Sale! Sale! Sale! Sale!

Hi friends.  Good Monday morning to ya.  I'm very excited because this is a SHORT week and I get to spend time with my family!  The second reason I'm so excited is because Stampin' Up! just announced some AMAZING sales (valid thru 11/30).  CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW TO OPEN LARGER IN A NEW WINDOW!  This will stay on the right-hand side of the menu at http://www.sweetestdesigns.blogspot.com/ so you can find it easy! 

Have you designed your holiday cards?  There's still plenty of time to take advantage of this sale and get some new rubber and cardstock for your cards.  (May I suggest Cherry Cobbler?  It's such a wonderfully vibrant red!).  

Make your wish list and have your friends, family, husbands shop from me and make sure you get the perfect gift under the tree.  Tell the husbands, I include the wrapping for them!  (wink!)

And remember, these are great gifts to give too, even for non-paper crafters.  Check out the Decor Elements or Simply Adorned jewelry! 

Have fun shopping and call or email me with ANY QUESTIONS.  (I'm off to make my wish list right now!)

XOXO,
SHERRI

House Keeping This and That

Let me know if you see any missing links.  I changed the background today and worked on some new sidebar widgets!  If you're reading this in a reader or your email, click the header to go to my page to check it out. 

Please look for a special announcement on Monday (11/22) about some deep-discounted products and earning FREE SHIPPING! 

Also, I'd like to send a shout out to my new friends from PA!  Thanks for stopping by Sweetest Designs. 

Have a great afternoon.
SHERRI

A Great Time to become a Demonstrator...

Starting November 15, and lasting until November 30, 2010, new recruits (that could be you!) can purchase the Standard or Digital + Starter Kits for only $87.50--that is 50 percent off the regular price of $175 for over $310 worth of paper or digital crafting and business supplies!

Beyond the signup and the neat-o starter kit there's no other obligation.  You do not return the kit contents if you decide not to pursue demonstratorship.  That means you're getting $310 worth of supplies for $87.50. 

If you have any questions, please contact me!  I'd love to answer your questions.

And don't worry....I'm coming back to blogging.  I have so many projects and photos to share with you I'm about ready to burst! 

xoxo.
SHERRI

Bundle (just in time for your holiday preparations!)

Dates: October 19-December 16, 2010

Details: You can purchase select products--perfect for Amazing cards, Beautiful packaging, and Cherished gifts--at a 20 percent discount! See bundle flyer for more information.

Things to Remember: This offer is available on all order types (customer, workshop, and online). Additional products from current catalogs may be purchased on the same order

There is no minimum purchase required to participate in this promotion.

NOTE: You must use the bundle item codes provided below. The 20 percent discount will not be applied if individual bundle item numbers are entered separately.

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO MAKE THE FLYER LARGER!

Give me a call with any questions or to place your order today! 
Have a great one.
SHERRI

A quick hi, the Last Chance list, but no stamping today.

Hi friends.  I hope you're not feeling abandoned, but I've been very sick for two weeks (including during the cupcake wedding.)  I will get better.  I will be back.  I will share 288 cupcakes, their invitations and cards highlighting the Last Chance stamps and accessories (I just need some more rest).

Several colors are retiring and they are only available while supplies last; don't miss out.  Above is the list of stamp sets that are retiring. 

Because several colors are retiring, the accessory list can be overwhelming.  Some items are being "reconfigured."  That means it'll be back in some other way, packaged differently.  More importantly, look at the DISCOUNT column.  The link will be on the sidebar for the lengthy accessories.  It's 11 pages and I can't get blogger to cooperate.

The clearance rack is always being updated with great product too. 

Orders can be placed online or by contacting me. 

Bella Blue

Happy Tuesday my stamping friends. 
Todays post will be a quick post; I'm busy packing last minute things this morning to get ready to travel home.  :) 

I created a simple door hanger using my Big Shot and circle scallop die.  The circles are connected with a snippet of ribbon.  This could easily say Seasons Greetings or Happy Retirement or hang left to right on a mantle.  I like being able to select the letters I want, the colors I want and the way I want by creating my own banner.  Remember you can use your crafting supplies outside of making cards and scrapbook pages!!

I also ran some metal sheets thru the Big Shot with the Manhattan embossing folder to create wine bottle wraps.  Two pieces of sticky strip adheres the metal to the bottle.  We added a Sizzix tag with scraps of ribbon for a quick thank you.  These doubled as fun, festive decorations and party favors. 

Two Scrapbooking Duos

Such a very busy weekend here for us - we're getting ready to trekk home Tuesday evening for a BIG OH-IO WEDDING (don't worry, I'll be sharing the invitations, cupcakes, and many photos!). 

May is National Scrapbooking Month and I've got two double page layouts to share today.  One is new stuff you can find in the summer mini and the other layout contains a bunch of retired goodies (I'm sorry, please understand I started these pages ages ago.)
 
Let's get started.  Here's a great clean and simple layout to capture a wonderful weekend rendevous. 

Grads. Again!

Quick? Check. 
Bright? Check.
Clean and Simple?  Check. 

Look at me, mixing it up.  Sometimes the DSP is so wonderful you don't need to add much.  In this case, I didn't!! 

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):

Stamps: Great Grads (retired):
Ink: Old Olive
CS: Summer Sun * retiring 6-30-10, Tempting Turquois, Whisper White
DSP:  Tropical Oasis
Accessories: Scallop Trim border punch (available 7-1-10 in the new catty!!)

A quick note today...

Hi.  Happy Friday.  I wanted to drop a quick note to tell you it's a GREAT time to join my team.  I just saw (and ordered) my 2010-2011 catalogs.  Whooo hooooo!!  You'll get a full box of 8 included when you sign up. 

(And, as a side note, I'll have my catalog - in advance of the majority of demonstrators - in my hands very very soon.  Um, like Monday.  I'd love to share it with you. 

Have a great weekend.
SHERRI

Happy Friday, just kickin' it

Finally, we made it to the end of the week.  Wow-za.  I was able to finish this page (I won't tell you how long ago I started it, but it sat unfinished on my desk...).  I found an advertisement in a magazine and was inspired to create something young and fun.  It's a simple and rather clean page (again, I don't know what took me so long to finish it!).  It's got a peek-a-boo pull tab for journaling.  I free-handed a border with my white gel pen on kraft and a Garden Green marker on the Whisper White.  I used the white foam sheets similar to these graduation cards to create kickin it! 

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Retired circle wheel that I can't remember the name and Retired small alphabet set that I can't remember the name!! 
Ink: Versa Mark, Whisper White Craft
CS: Basic Black, Garden Green, Kraft, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, letters, button, linen thread, gingham ribbon, dimensionals, 3/4" circle punch, 1" circle punch, 1-1/4" circle punch

Razzleberry is Exquisite

Exquisite.  Use it in a sentence today!  It'll make you smile; maybe just like this gem.  Do you know Rich Razzleberry is staying with us in the new color renovation (happy dance for me!).  Love this color.  I didn't know where this card was going when I started (don't you love when that happens?), but I had a half-sheet of whisper white cardstock.  I stamped off once with the spiral-y flower from Punched Posies (level 2 hostess set) in Razzleberry in a random but planned order.  I cut the piece in four equal pieces to create my "own" DSP.  I sponged the edges, matted it in black to give it some POP.  The For You is from the Elements of Style stamp set.  I orignally had little interest in Elements of Style, but after receiving some WONDERFUL swaps, I added it to my buy list.

Remember that cute little scallop trim border punch will be available in the new 2010-2011 catalog if you missed it during SAB.  It's dainty and perfect and I love it! 

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Friends 24-7, Elements of Style, Punched Posies (level 2 hostess set)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Staz-On
CS: Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Accessories: 3/4" circle punch, 1" circle punch, 1-1/4" punch, gingham ribbon, large flower punch, scallop trim border punch, sponges

More Grads

I wanted to see Elements of Style (from the Summer mini) paired with Bella Blue DSP (oh, la, la!). 

I used the Scallop Envelope with a tiny Define Your Life note tucked in, sponged with Not Quite Navy.  Grad is boldly at the bottom and is from a favorite retired set.  I sponged the edges of the vanilla with Sahara Sand ink.  Elements of Style mimics the Bella Blue paper in the background.  Elegant.  Don't you think?

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Define Your Life, Elements of Style, Great Grad (retired)
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand
CS: Note Quite Navy, Very Vanilla
DSP:  Bella Blue
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Envelope

May is Scrapbooking Month

To welcome back Riding Hood Red & Pink Piourette (you know they're coming back, right?), I played around with some retired DSP this weekend.  I merried it with Close to Cocoa (retiring 6-30-10) and the new Sweet Scoops stamp set. 

I used the 1-3/4" circle punch for the ice cream cone and used two tab punches, overlapped to create a larger circle for the close to cocoa mat.  Neato.  I tore the pink paper and sponged the rustic edge for a better emphasis. 

Used some riding hood stripped vanilla ribbon.  LOVE that stuff.  I used the Lattic Die and the Top Note in Very Vanilla.  The cute little icecream cone in the left corner is a brad (non-SU). 

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Ink: Sweet Scoops
CS: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Pink Piroutte, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Sizzix frame die, Top Note, Lattice Die, Big Shot, Tab Punch, 3/4" circle punch, 1" circle punch, 1-3/4" circle punch

Happy Graduation

Hi stampers!  I cannot believe we're half-way thru May already.  Gosh. 
I whipped up some graduation cards this weekend to share with you this week. 
Today's cards are for Ontario High School, colors reflected.

I used white foam sheets (found in the kids aisle at craft stores) and my Big Shot to make my own thickers or dimensional letters.  Lovely. 

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Happy Grad (from the Summer mini!)
Ink: Brilliant Blue (retires 6-30-10)
CS: Brilliant Blue, Summer Sun, Whisper White
Accessories: 3/8" Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Simple Alphabet, Polka Dot embossing folder

Do you like free stuff??

I do!  I DO! 
Happy Scrapbooking month (click to enlarge photo in a new browser window). 

As our gift to you, earn free brads with applicable purchases.  Contact me today with questions. 

I've been working hard on invitations and party decor and scrapbook pages and it hasn't left me with much time to blog about all my creations.  Hang tight and I'll get caught up! 

And don't keep me a secret, I love the reward my customers when they refer me to their friends, coworkers and family members.

Simply Adorned

I'll be back with sample charms all month long!! 
At first working with such a small spaced canvas was constricting, but now they're so quick I love them!! 

Happy Friday!

Hi friends. Happy Friday to you. I'm so thankful the week is almost to an end. We have a wonderful weekend planned (pooh hooo I think it's going to rain though) but I'm very excited. I'm hearing you're beginning to receive the SUMMER MINI catalog. Really, it's fantastic. I'm so very excited about the new products and stamps. Here is my new rolodex at work.

I used Soft Suede and Bermuda Bay. I toned down the Bermuda with heavy sponging. You'll also notice the SMOOCH speckled effect all over. LOVE it. I will warn you, it WILL MAKE A MESS, but I love it all the same (and you know I really am anti-messes).

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Leave a comment listing the NEW supplies I used (including the smooch) and I'll send the first one a little treat!! 

Color Me Crazy

I will try not to overwhelm you, but I do have some GIANT IMPORTANT NEWS to share with you today. 

Stampin’ UP! is revitilizing the color families.  There are additonal colors, colors retiring and several previously retired IN-COLORS will return.  Families of 12 have been shaken up into selections of 10. 

Let's break it down:

(1) Additional Colors
Cajun Craze
Cherry Cobbler
Daffodil Delight
Early Espresso
Marina Mist

What does this mean to you:  You will be able to purchase these colors and associated items JULY 1st in the new catalog, unless you're a DEMONSTRATOR (it's really a great time to join the SU! family.  You potentially can earn over $100 in new color products!!  Contact me for all the info!)

(2) Colors Retiring
almost amethyst
apricot appeal
ballet blue
barely banana
basic brown
blush blossom
bordering blue
brilliant blue
brocade blue
cameo coral
close to cocoa
creamy caramel
gable green
glorious green
going gray
green galore
handsome hunter
lavender lace
lovely lilac
mellow moss
only orange
orchid opulence
pale plum
pink passion
pixie pink
really rust
ruby red
sage shadow
summer sun
taken with teal
yoyo yellow
 
What does this mean to you:  You have untl June 1st to stock up on your favorites.  From June 1st thru June 30th items will be on "while supplies last" basis.  Remember any associated reinkers, pastels, markers, inks, paper, DSP, ribbon, brads, buttons, accessories WILL ALSO BE DISCONTINUED.  If any of these are your GO-TO colors, STOCK UP!! 

(3) Previously retired IN-COLORS returning
Baja Breeze
Pacific Point
Pink Pirouette
Rich Razzleberry
Riding Hood Red
River Rock
Soft Suede
Tangerine Tango
Wild Wasabi

What does this mean to you: Dig deep in your stash and get ready to use your previous items, again.  Look for fresh new ribbons, papers, MARKERS and accessories using these former colors. 

Please note, Kraft will be more appropriatly RENAMED CRUMB CAKE. 

I am off to make my own shopping list of reinkers and cardstock in my soon to be GONE favorites...I know there's a LOT of information, please email, call, text me with your questions!
SHERRI

Two-Step into Spring Promotion

Stampin' Up!'s Two-Step Stampin' sets allow you to quickly and easily take your creativity to the next level. And now, from April 1-30 only, you can purchase the brand-new Awash with Flowers Two-Step Stampin' set--or get it FREE when you host a $350 workshop!  (This set will be available in the NEW 2010-2011 Idea Book - shhhhhhh, it's a SNEAK PEEK!)
Item Description Price
117062 Awash with Flowers (wood mount; set of 18) $39.95
120549 Awash with Flowers (clear mount; set of 18) $27.95 (Clear-mount blocks are not included with the clear-mount set (blocks C and H are recommended this set)

Plus, get 20 percent off a selection of perfectly springy Two-Step Stampin' sets from our current catalog:

Item Page Description Regular Price Sale Price
113824 94 Greenhouse Garden $25.95 $20.76
113734 98 Fifth Avenue Floral $24.95 $19.96
111578 101 Flower Fancy $36.95 $29.56
113258 112 Trendy Trees $17.95 $14.36

Online orders are not eligible for this part of the promotion (but that's why you have me!!).  There is a limit of one free Awash with Flowers stamp set per workshop; the reward is for reaching the $350 workshop level, and is not incremental.

The Awash with Flowers stamp set is a sneak peek from the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog and will not be available again until the release of the new Idea Book & Catalog.

Happy Spring!
SHERRI

How about an 8"x8" page?

Gettin' caught up from Valentine's Day!  :) 

I glued a piece of whisper white cardstock onto a scrap piece of cardboard to make the letters have more oofffph (is that a word?).  I then sponged the edges.  I popped the heart up on dimensionals (my go-to accessory!) 

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps:  I {Heart} Hearts
Ink: Chocolate Chip
CS: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Sans Serif Alphabet, Heart to Heart Punch, sponges, dimensionals

Mi familia es su familia

Hola.  Did you think you accidently hit the TRANSLATE button?  Tomorrow I'll be HERE.  I created some simple projects to sell with all the proceeds going to Haiti and Chile.  It will be so. much. fun. 
I've been working on general pages.  Here are a couple - what do you think? 

I'm using pieces left over from the Simply Scrappin' Kit I showed you here!  These are 6"x6" pages.  (I love my Big Shot!).

Simply Scrappin', retake

More retired Simply Scrappin' Kits. I jazzed it up a bit with the aid of my Big Shot!! You get an abundance of stickers, DSP and textured cardstock in the kits! So wonderful for creating a coordinating album. Love it!You can recreate with your favorite colors! Easy layouts! (These are 12"x12" pages!)  Let me know if you have any questions. SHERRI

Sweet Pea Tuesday

Two weeks ago I hosted some wonderful friends for a shoebox swap! They're super fun. Here's a couple of the projects....This lovely SPRING butterfly, designed by Alice Shaffer.
This little bundle was designed by Brianne Lee (sorry, no blog yet!). Isn't this a great 'thinking of you' or bridal shower card? The colors are So Saffron, Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery. She uses Embrace Life and Sweet Pea DSP.

This was my card. It was a CASE from Ilina. I added a little Sweet Pea flower embellie in the corner. The butterfly was stamped in white Staz-On on a window sheet and punched out.

Have a good week friends!
SHERRI

Simply Scrappin'

Hi stamping friends. I hope you had a wonderful weekend (the weather was refreshing!). I did make time Saturday afternoon to stop by the NoVa Scrapbooking Meetup! I worked on these scrapbook pages. All suppies are Stampin' Up! but they're also retired (that's why you're getting two today - will you accept my bargaining?). I purchased this Pina Colada simply scrapbooking kit from our Clearance Rack earlier this year. Did ya know we had a clearance rack? There's a little icon over on the RIGHT column that will take you there. You can easily use these two layouts with your favorite color and current kit!!

Have a great Monday!

Stamping 411

There was a fun little sketch posted at Stamping 411 this weekend, and I couldn't not play along. I think the deadline is fastly approaching, so excuse the crummy photo, it was dark when I got home last night!
I made quick work of the sketch by using the Sweet Pea stitched felt. I stamped a sweet message from Teeny Tiny Wishes. A quick sponging made sure the white banner didn't get lost on the white background. I curled the banner and used a square punch to notch the end of the banner! I added some rustic linen thread tied on the left side. The background was run through the big shot and the polka dots textured impression die! I layered the white on Old Olive on Kraft. A very quick card to compliment this beautiful sketch. Take a look:


Have a good one.


Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Old Olive
CS: Kraft, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Sweet Pea stitched felt, linen thread, sponge, Big Shot, polka dots textured impression

Snow.

Mission Organization: Tackle the Recipes

Since it's a snowy weekend, I decided to clean up my recipes. Last week I cleaned my (gasp!) Junk Drawer and realized why it's called the junk drawer! Anyways, I found some recipes that I had scratched down on backs of receipts, napkins, and ones I pull off cans and packaging. Today I've been dilligently recording them on notecards. This little box was a gift for a recent hostess. I used a 3"x5" index card box (found the school supply aisle for about $2). I made 3"x5" cards in Certainly Celery, rounded the corners and added the divider stamps. I used a 1" circle punch to punch of the images and matted them on a 1-1/4" Basic Black circle.
The box was a bit plain, so I quickly used a scrap piece of Certainly Celery, adhered with Sticky Strip and a 5/8" Basic Black satin ribbon.

Now go get organized (or sit infront of the fire with a good book!). Enjoy your weekend.
SHERRI

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: From the Kitchen
Ink: Basic Black
CS: Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Accessories: 1" circle punch, 1-1/4" circle punch, corner rounder, dimensionals, Basic Black satin ribbon

Many Thanks

Literally, many. I needed to get caught up on my thank you notes, so I whipped up a batch of Clean And Simple cards (CAS for short). The greeting is from a retired set, Warm Words, but I love the font and size and I will never give up the set (you can't make me!). I used pieces of Real Red DSP for the large petals. They were quickly cut with the Big Shot and the Flower Folds die! The centers are an image from Circle Circus, punched out with 1-1/4" circle, matted on a 1-3/8" Soft Suede circle which was layered on the DSP flower.

These are simple and quick and I adore them. Not all cards have to be art-masterpieces filled with techniques and layers!

The hostess level 1 DSP pack is perfect for these matching card sets. Look for more of these in the future at Sweetest Designs!
Have a great Friday!
SHERRI

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Circle Circus, Warm Words (retired)
Ink: Real Red
DSP: Real Red Designer Series Pattern Pack
CS: Soft Suede, Whisper White
Accessories: 1-1/4" circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, big shot, Flower Folds die

You & Me Friends

A shabby card today that is mostly out of my comfort zone! I started wheeling Friendly Words on Soft Suede with versamark. I layered Soft Suede on a Soft Suede base. I’ve been seeing this a lot recently, and wanted to try. I don’t know how I feel about it yet!
Then I added some paper lace. I used Very Vanilla, trimmed with the eyelet punch, edges sponged in Soft Suede.
The top panel is Perfect Plum. I stamped Friends from Vintage Vogue in versamark. On the left, I made a crinkled flower from the Petals Big Shot die – one in Elegant Eggplant and one in Perfect Plum. The center is circles (1” Soft Suede, ¾” Perfect Plum stamped with Circus Circles in versamark, topped with a clear button, tied with Linen Thread. The stem and leaves are punches from the Large Bird Punch. So cute. I added a half-pearl in the upper right corner from the Pretties Kit. We didn’t have any ribbon that I liked, so I dyed the 3/8” Whisper White taffeta ribbon.

I'm also happy to report this card is IN THE MAIL and heading to a wonderful friend. Will it be you? :)

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Circle Circus, Friendly Words, Vintage Vogue
Ink: Soft Suede, Versamark
CS: Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Petals Big Shot die, big shot, 1” circle punch, ¾” circle punch, large bird punch, half pearl, 3/8" whisper white taffeta ribbon, perfect plum reinker, eyelet punch, sponge, clear button, sticky strip (for the faux lace)