You'll Love These, Cross My Heart!

I've heard it said that doing crossword puzzles is good memory care!  Seeing as how I am not getting any younger, I'd better get started!  I wonder if using this crossword puzzle STAMP SET would count toward improving my mind?!

We used this cute new set, Cross My Heart, at a recent demonstrator shoebox swap I attended.  It really has SO many possibilities - both for gals AND guys!  Here are a couple cards designed by my friends Heidi and Robin:

Heidi Vinkemeier

Robin Anderson

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Cross My Heart
Ink:  Island Indigo, Primrose Petals, Island Indigo/Gumball Green/Summer Starfruit markers
Paper:  Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit, Island Indigo, Primrose Petals, Whisper White
Extras:  Stripes TIEF, 1" Circle punch, Honeycomb TIEF, Labels Collection framelits, 1/8" Taffeta ribbon in Whisper White, Basic Pearls
Inspired by:  Heidi Vinkemeier, Robin Anderson

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

So . . . do your brain a little favor today and stamp some crossword puzzles! They are sure to be an encouragement to many hearts, too!

  

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Love & Sympathy . . . Chalked Irises

As you've probably guessed, I really enjoy the chalking technique!  It's such a simple way to color, just like I did as a little girl. This time I used the Love & Sympathy stamp set - a true 'must-have' set for those unexpected times when you want to send your condolences or encouragement . . . not to mention the fact that irises are my absolute favorite flowers!

I raised the Concord Crush panel up a bit with Dimensionals.  I also scored the focal panel 1/4" from each edge to give it a bit more interest. This time I used Q-tips to do my chalking - the finer tip worked better on this image than had I used a sponge dauber.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Love & Sympathy
Ink:  Concord Crush (retired)
Paper:  Concord Crush, Confetti Naturals (both retired)
Extras:  Stampin' Pastels chalks in Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Q-tips, Simply Scored scoring tool
Inspired by:  Cheryl Garratt

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

SALE-a-bration ~ only 1 more month to celebrate!

SALE - A - BRATION:  Limited Time Only!  

January 22 - March 22, 2013

Wow, yesterday was February 22nd already - that means we're half way through Stampin' Up!'s Sale-A-Bration!  I know I've said it before, but this is my FAVORITE time of the Stampin' Up! calendar year.  What better time to stock up on your supplies than now - when you can earn free stuff for every $50 you spend?!

This is one of my favorite sights to see when I get home from work . . . yup, Mr. Brown's footprints!

This time, he brought me a 28-pound box of goodies for my CLOclub members and a few others!

Wow, look at all the goods!  Lots of Sale-A-Bration freebies.  There were some very happy peeps after this was all delivered!

Don't delay - get your order in TODAY! You know how fast a month can fly by, and that's all you have left of Sale-A-Bration 2013 - ONE MONTH!  All the SAB fun concludes on March 22nd.  Check out my Online Store and be sure to contact me if you have ANY questions!

Thanks for stopping by today!

  

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Upsy Daisy . . . Chalked

Happy Friday! Here's one more Upsy Daisy card for you - this time stamped with Versamark ink and chalked using Stampin' Pastels chalks and sponge daubers.

I put Dimensionals behind the Concord Crush panel to raise it just a bit - this adds a lot of wow! to the card.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Upsy Daisy
Ink:  Versamark, Concord Crush (retired)
Paper:  Confetti Naturals, Concord Crush (both retired)
Extras:  Stampin' Pastels chalks in Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Always Artichoke and Old Olive, sponge daubers
Inspired by:  me!

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

Thanks for stopping by today!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Upsy Daisy . . . Sponged

More daisies for you today!  I experimented on this Upsy Daisy card a bit - I sponged the image with Soft Suede ink (sponge dauber and ink pad) and So Saffron reinker (on a sponge dauber), added some background splatters with a stamp, and sponged an amethyst sky.

I added buttons and paper piercing and sponged edges for a bit more detailing.

And a little stamping for the inside:

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Upsy Daisy, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Ink:  So Saffron, Soft Suede, Almost Amethyst (retired)
Paper:  Soft Suede, So Saffron, Almost Amethyst (retired), Whisper White
Extras:  Large Oval punch, Extra-Large Oval punch, paper piercer, sponge daubers and large sponge, random buttons
Inspired by:  Luv  Flowers

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

Thanks for stopping by today!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Upsy Daisy . . . Embossed

Last week I mentioned that I really missed the stamp set call "Upsy Daisy".  So I thought that this week I'd share a few cards using that set!  

The focal point on this card was created by stamping the full image on Bermuda Bay, then again on Dusty Durango, and lastly on Crushed Curry using Versamark ink and heat embossing with white embossing powder.  Then the images were each cut into 1" strips and rematched with alternating colors.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Upsy Daisy (retired)
Ink:  Versamark, Bermuda Bay
Paper:  Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Extras:  White embossing powder, heat tool
Inspired by:  Sandy Webb

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

This is super easy to do with any image and with any colors!  Give it a try today - and thanks for stopping by!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Valentine Treats for My Peeps!

I've been busy making Valentine treats for some of the special peeps in my life - and of course I was finishing them up late Wednesday night!  It has been my annual tradition for years to make peppermint bark with my Christmas candy canes and give to it friends and family on Valentine's Day.  This year was no exception!  I made 40 candy wrapper treats.  Enjoy the pics!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Tag Alongs, Yummy (both retired)
Ink:  Real Red ink pad and marker
Paper:  Pretty in Pink DSP Stack, white, pink, lavendar, red (generic)
Extras:  Full Heart punch, Decorative Label punch, Word Window punch, Candy Wrapper Bigz die
Inspired by:  me!

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

The Candy Wrapper Bigz die is a must-have!!

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day yesterday - thanks for stopping by!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Happy Valentine's Day from My Heart to Yours!

Happy Valentine's Day to you!  I hope that it is a special day where you feel the love of others around you!  This card is a compilation of ALL the MANY 'lovely' cards I've been seeing online - so many ideas, so little time...

I used quite a few Dimensionals to give everything a little lift:  the embossed layer, the red heart, and the button heart!

And right in the middle of the button . . . a pearl!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Hearts a Flutter
Ink:  Real Red, Whisper White
Paper:  More Amore DSP, Core'dinations Primrose Petals, Real Red, Pool Party, Primrose Petals, Tea Lace Paper Doilies
Extras:  Lacey Brocade TIEF, Hearts a Flutter Framelits dies, Full Heart Punch, Vintage Faceted buttons, Basic Pearls, sanding block
Inspired by:  so many wonderfully creative online friends!

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

Thanks so much for stopping by today - please know you are loved!!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Chalked Daisies in Valentine Colors

I love this daisy image - I miss this retired stamp set!  For this Valentine card, I stamped the image with VersaMark ink and then used sponge daubers to chalk the image before it dried.  I like the blended, impressionistic look!  And seam binding gives it just the right touch - love how it ties into such soft, drapey bows.

The card base was cut from 12x12" cardstock into 6x6" pieces and folded in half.  The 3x6" cards fit in a common small letter envelope.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Upsy Daisy (retired)
Ink:  Bravo Burgundy, VersaMark
Paper:  Bravo Burgundy, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla
Extras:  Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Scallop Edge Border punch, Stampin' Pastels (retired)
Inspired by:  me!

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

Thanks for stopping by today!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Hummingbird of LOVE

When I saw Glenda's card, I just knew I had to try to replicate it. I changed up the colors a bit in keeping with Valentine's week.  I love seeing the ruby-throated hummingbirds come to our feeder in the summer!

The square window panel is raised a bit with Dimensionals. And the overall card is 4.25" so it still fits in an A2 envelope.  I really like how the red panes highlight the hummingbird!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Elements of Style
Ink:  Riding Hood Red, Basic Gray, Basic Black
Paper:  Basic Gray, white linen (non-SU!)
Extras:  1" Square punch, Corner Rounder punch
Inspired by:  Glenda Mosher

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

Thanks for stopping by - have a lovely week!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Saturday Morning Videos: Card Trek ~ The Final Creative Frontier

Welcome back to Saturday Morning Cartoons Videos!  I think you'll get a kick out of this one . . .

Space: the final creative frontier. 

These are the voyages of the starship Stampin' Up! 

Our mission: to love what we do 

and share what we love 

as we boldly go where 

creativity has never

 gone before.

(Email readers go to my BLOG to see this!)

Handmade is still better than store-bought.  Stampin' Up! ~ cards for the next generation.  Make it so!

If you are viewing this in email, click the pic below to see the video!

Thanks so much for stopping by today for Saturday Morning Cartoons Videos!

  

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Antiqued Shabby Chic Valentine

I was looking back into the 'archives' to find Valentines I'd made in the past, and found this one!  I like the aged feel of 'days gone by' ~ a love that has stood the test of time.

I keep an old dictionary on hand specifically for projects like this one.  The lighter weight of the pages really lends itself well to distressing - crumpling, inking, etc.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Antique Collectibles (retired), 'love' border (Fiskars), swirl (Autumn Leaves)
Ink:  Basic Black, Encore Gold, Melon Mambo marker
Paper:  Melon Mambo, Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White
Extras:  Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon in Melon Mambo, gold cording, gold leafing pen
Inspired by:  a design I saw in Take Ten magazine

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

Grab your old dictionary today and see what you can cook up for Valentine's Day!
Thanks for stopping by!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

New! "Classes To Go" option!

I've had some questions about whether my classes were available to those too far away to attend in person.  I've considered several ways to do this (and juggle the rest of my life besides!) and decided on the option listed below.  Let me know what you think!

Guests: only $10 - no order obligation, just come and have fun for the evening!  And if you sign up for CLOclub that night, you only pay $5!  Members accepted any time, 6-class commitment.

Members: $5 - plus $30 product order. Bring along your catalogs, wish lists, and cameras!

TO GO:  $16.50 - no order obligation, includes 3 complete card kits (all pieces and instructions, no stamped images in accordance with SU! policy) and shipping (US only). 
Your request and a check payable to "Cheryl Owczarek" must be received by the date of the class.  
Mail to: PO Box 811, Watertown, Minnesota  55388.

So why wait??  Sign up by emailing me today!!  clocards@gmail.com

Want more info?  Take a look at the 'Classes' page here on my blog.  You are welcome to attend any time, either in person or 'by mail'!  I hope to hear from you!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Valentine Hearts & Kisses

I love the stamp set called 'Valentine Defined' but it was around for such a short time!  So many cute images, so little time ... sigh.  This little tree is all leafed out in hearts - so much love!  You could use this card sketch with just about any Valentine image.  And I just grabbed other supplies I had on hand to finish it off.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Petite Pairs, Valentine Defined (retired)
Ink:  Early Espresso, Ruby Red
Paper:  Ruby Red DSP and cardstock, paper tape (Creative Memories), Whisper White, Basic Black
Extras:  buttons (various), stitches rub-ons
Inspired by:  a Mojo Monday sketch

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

See what you can make today with the stuff you have around you!
Thanks for stopping by!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

February's stamp set ~ "Best of ... LOVE"

As part of Stampin' Up!'s 25-year anniversary celebration, they are bringing back some of our favorite stamp images from the last quarter century and combining them into 12 collector sets, which will release - one set per month - during 2013. Even better, along with some great classic images, each "Best of" set will also include a never-before-seen image!

This month's set is "Best of ... LOVE"!  Take a look at the cute images - so many of them I have LOVED over the years . . .

   

And in case you missed it, last month's set is "Best of ... BIRTHDAYS"!

All 12 sets will be available until the end of March, 2014!  Save up your proof of purchase stickers, put them on your Collector's Card, and for every 6 "Best of" sets you purchase, you can send in your Collector's Card for a FREE stamp set of your choice valued up to $14.95!

Print your own Collector's Card or ask me for one and get started on your exclusive BEST OF collection today!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Valentine Swap Shares

Happy Monday, everyone!  Have you been stamping hearts???  Valentine's Day is soon approaching and there are so many cute card ideas out there!  Here are sweet samples from a recent DOstamperSTARS swap I participated in.  I hope they inspire you!

by Bobbi Peterson

by Judy Strickling

by Lynn Shipley

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Hearts a Flutter, Itty Bitty Banners, Delightful Dozen
Ink:  Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Whisper White
Paper:  More Amore Designer Series Paper, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Extras:  Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Hearts a Flutter framelits, Bitty Banners framelits, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Delicate Doilies sizzlet die
Inspired by:   Bobbi Peterson, Judy Strickling, Lynn Shipley

Purchase the Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project at my ONLINE STORE.

Thanks for stopping by today!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Saturday Morning Videos: GUYS!!! Valentine's Day is Coming - Don't Blow It!

Good morning, and welcome to Saturday Morning Cartoons Videos!

Yes, Valentine's Day is coming . . . and the men in our lives just might need a little encouragement!  

Send this to the guys you love - and they may surprise you!

(Email readers go to my BLOG to see this!)

Check out the "Dude, You're Welcome!" card making kit in my Online Store!  

Order anytime, 24/7 - he'll like that!

 Thanks for stopping by today for Saturday morning cartoons videos!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J

Pack Your Bags with THIS Awesome Travel Set!

Get Ready! Pack Your Bags!  These cool stamps and papers will only be around until April 30th!

During this limited-time offer, you  can purchase the exclusive Sent with Love stamp set or Sent with Love Designer Series Paper-or BUNDLE them for a special 20 percent discount and get Calypso Coral Baker's Twine besides!

In addition, you may purchase the Sent with Love Digital Kit (item 132914; $9.95). Please note that the digital kit is not included in the bundle.

Use the Sent with Love product suite to make an array of travel-themed projects and just about anything else you can dream up!  But remember:  the Sent with Love stamp set and Sent with Love Designer Series Paper are only available during this special offer. After April 30th, they'll both fly away!  Add 'em to your cart today in my Online Store!

 Thanks for stopping by today!

~Hugs~   Cheryl O.    J