Look at some of the lovely cards I got!

One of my favourite, favourite things about Christmas is receiving cards from my friends! I especially love the handmade ones, some of these are just too lovely to put away without sharing... Here are a sample of some of the beautiful ones I received...

 I just love the paper piecing on this card from Vicki...

 Bev made this card fun by it's unusual fold and she stamped onto foam sheets!

 Grace made these beautiful poinsettias using the Big Shot and fabric

 Melissa's card combined different textures and bling for a fun effect

Teresa's beautiful card doubled up as her Master's Class homework using DSP to make a lovely "quilted" design


I'll be posting more cards tomorrow so please check back! Don't miss the final days of the clearance rack sale either, click here to find out more!

New Clearance Rack items!

October is going to be a good month, I can just feel it in my bones!  This is just a super quick post to let you know about the new CLEARANCE RACK items! Click here to check them out - right now there are punches, previous year's Halloween stuff and lots of lovely RIBBON (my favorite)  Everything is reduced and just "while supplies last" - you can't order these items at a club or workshop you have to order online - so don't delay!  Remember - if you ever hit $150+ in orders online you can get the same benefits as a hostess (at $150 you choose $25 additional free! at $200 you choose $35!) This ONLY applies if you order directly through my website www.brendamarshall.stampinup.net  Have a wonderful day - Brenda

Look what we did at our BLISS team meeting!

Before our last team meeting Shoni mailed us all a little packet of card stock and a few embellishments and challenged us to make a card using those materials. We were allowed to use whatever stamp sets or tools we wished but we were not allowed to add any other materials. It was so fun! Here is what we came up with:

Paula's card

Teresa's card

Janessa's card

Pat's card

My card

Tammy's card


I love how we ended up with such different designs from the same basic materials - which one is your favorite?

Be Very Merry at the Very Merry Card Class!

So I am in total Holiday mode already! I've been working on Halloween treats (already consumed quite a lot), Thanksgiving cards and Christmas/Holiday cards & gift ideas. Somebody get me a candy cane ;-)  I am kicking off with a Very Merry Card Class on Monday in the morning or evening - I hope you can come along! Don't you think it would just feel amazing to be able to send some personal handmade cards this year? I think a card in the mail has increased in value exponentially in recent years with the growing trend to send electronic cards and messages. Don't get me wrong: I love to hear from family and friends in whatever form they choose, but I really treasure those envelopes that arrive in the mail with a stamp on them...  So here is a peek at the cards we'll be making on Monday, 4 each of 4 designs. There will be 2 more classes like this but with different designs so try to come this week if you'd like to make these!
I hope you are having a great week and I look forward to seeing you soon :-)
Brenda

The Morning After

We had so much fun at our Oldies but Goodies event! I wish I'd taken more pictures... here's Lindy winning a door prize she really wanted, a ribbon bundle! I'm so sorry to see her leave town :-(  Other winners were Marissa, Betty Jo & Vicki. Several people went for the "What was I thinking" dress mode, you can see Heather in the background above in a lovely 80's outfit, complete with the ponytail on the side of her head, ha ha. Robin wore this great Mickey Mouse bling shirt which she ended up giving to me because I loved it so much, very appropriate as I finally earned the 2012 DISNEY TRIP at the 11th hour, yay!!! My kids are over the moon as you can imagine, and I am too!!!

Unfortunately you can't see the full glory of this shirt here. Robin was a 1st grade teacher for many years though so I think that's kind of a requirement to wear clothes that have pictures and bling on them don't you?



Look what I woke up to the next day though - ug. I'm really bad at tidying up as I go along and I always regret that when I get up in the morning!

We made a cute Ghiradelli holder, a fun "Popsicle" card and then decorated one of the pendant notes with one of the pages from my Designer Series Paper sampler, which I won't need any more after today now all that lovely paper is retiring, sniff, sniff!  Here is a close up of the easiest card ever:

Today is the last day to order from the current Idea Book & Catalog :-( But tomorrow is a brand new day with a brand new catalog! Let me know if you need to get your hands on a copy, you're going to loooooove it!

I hope you're having a wonderful summer, please let me know if I can be of any help. Brenda

Happy Easter Everybody!

I hope you are having a lovely Easter - here is a card I made combining ideas from a couple of different people... I love these carrots made from the Trendy Trees set!  On my final copy I ran the basket & handle through the lattice square folder which made it way better but I forgot to take a picture :-( 
I borrowed the oval frame die to cut the basket. And I used lots of punches on the bunny! 1 3/4" circle, 1/2" circle, large oval for the feet and the boho blossom punch for his tail. Too cute!

Fabric Covered Bookmarks

Aren't these adorable? These bookmarks are one of the projects that stamp club members got to make this month. We used the Sizzix adhesive sheets to make a piece of card stock sticky, then we stuck the fabric on before running the whole piece through the Big Shot. It looked great just like that! Then I broke out a different type of sticky paper - the sticky sheets that are made from the same material as sticky strip. I wanted to punch out a circle but, in the past, I've found the red rubbery overlay too thick to punch. But I had a brainwave (first ever!) I pulled off the red layer and stuck on a piece of card stock instead. Then I could punch through! I peeled off the backing and got my Melon Mambo Pom-pom trim and laid it around the edge of the sticky circle, TOO CUTE!  Then all you have to do is stick a button or ribbon in the middle and you have this lovely embellishment. I punch out a circle of turquoise card stock using the Scallop punch that fits exactly inside the top of the tag. And I used Puffies (Stampin' Dimensionals) to attach the card stock and the button embellishment. I just love these! And this fabric is so... cute! I entered into a quilt block swap and I'm using this fabric. I've never quilted ANYTHING before so I'm in that "What was I thinking?" place right now but I'm excited too! I'll have to show you what I come up with...

This fabric and the pom-pom trim is in the Occasions mini that ends in less than 2 weeks so if you need anything be sure to let me know! Or you can shop online here

Have a great week! Brenda