Downline Card Winner!!

This card was made by my downline, Sherry Collett.  She made it for a swap with our group the Inky Angels.  She won 1st place with this card!   Congratulations Sherry!!  There are a lot of details to her card that does not show up on my picture.  It's beautiful in real life.

Downline Swaps

I had a downline meeting last week and here are a few of the cards that were made for our swap.

 This one was made by Sherry Collette.  She showed us the technique on the top part of the card.  It is very cool using our reinkers, a Krylon paint pen and alcohol.  

 Here is a close up of the technique. She did not know the name of the technique, but it was very similar to polish stone except that you wipe the ink that is on the felt on the glossy paper instead of pounce it.  

This was Dottie Vexler's card.  She used that yummy glitter paper!!

 This was Darnell Gannon's card.  I believe she said she cased the card, but not sure whose.  Love the color combination.

 This was Patty Shipley's Card.  Love the colors!


They all did a great job and I am so happy they participated in the swap!!

Butterfly Pin Card

I made this card using the Beautiful Butterflies Sizzix Bigz Die #114507 from the Stampin' Up! IB&C.  After using the Big Shot and cutting 2 of the largest butterfly I glued them together and then stamped it with Staz On Ink using the clear stamp set Elements of Style #120045.  I used Rose Red and Old Olive Markers and Blender pens to color in the Butterfly.  Then I used #107066 Color Spritzer Tool to fill in the blank spaces with just a little splattered look.  When I was done with the stamping, spritzing and sponging the edges I used Crystal Effects over it.  When it was dry, I waited til the next day.  I added a pin on the back so that I could wear it.  I attached it to this card a made so that you could give it as a card/gift and they would have the pin to wear once they saw the card.  

Here is a view of the inside of the card.  

 Here you can see how it is attached to the card.  I used a hole punch to punch the holes to attach it.

 Here is a close up of the butterfly. Sorry it's a little blurry, but it was the best my camera would do.  I hope to have a class on this card soon!! 

Yep, it's my birthday!!

Don't look too close at those balloons! They reveal my age!!  Yikes how did that happen?  Where did all those years go?  Well here's a little info to let you know a little bit about me and where all those years went to!

I was born and raised in Victoria, TX....yea, not too many people know where that is at...so let's just down south.  Did the usual went to school there, went to college there, got a job there.   I thought I would live and die there til I met my wonderful husband, Jim.

We have been married for 22 years.  He is in the Navy and luckily we have not had to move too many time.  We have lived in CA, VA HI, and now we are living in VA again, where we have been for the last 12 years.   

I have two wonderful children.

Sarah (18 years old) and Robert (21yrs old).  They are really great kids!!  They have kept me busy over the years with school, sports boyfriends, girlfriends and just life in general.   But now they are both living away from home.  Sarah is attending Texas Tech in Lubbock TX and Robert is attending Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA.  


About 6 years ago I became a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  Business was slow and I was not sure what I was doing (still not always sure), but I do know that I love what I do and I enjoy sharing it with others.  So, after a few years I began to grow a downline.  

 Here are a few of my downline that attended Regionals in Baltimore with me this past year.  What wonderful ladies these are!!  They are a group of the most talented, giving, friendly, fun ladies, but most important they are my FRIENDS!!  I love them and only wish I could do as much for them as they have done for me over the years.  They have taught me so much!!  


So, that is my life in a snap shot...would not want to bore you with too much about me.  This is a stampin' site and it would not be complete with out something that I stamped.  

I will be adding information on this card on my next post.  Have a great day and Happy Stamping!!

colour Q challenge

I finally tried one of Color Q challenges.  I had a card swap last night with my downline at our meeting.  I was having problems coming up with a card and decided to go to colour Q website and these were the colors they were using this week.  It's crumb cake, pretty in pink, pink pirouette, whisper white and blushing bride (which I did not use).  The swaps theme was something from the Stampin' Up!  Occasions Mini Catalog or the Sale-a-bration catalog.  I used Bliss #123217 from the Sale-a-bration catalog.  If you would like to know how to earn this set for FREE just email (jnrsjones@cox.net) and I will be happy to help you out. 

I actually did 2 very similar cards.  On the one above, one butterfly has dazzling diamonds.

  On this card the butterflies have Stampin' Up! Basic Pearls Jewels #119247.   I ended up making the one with the pearls.  I used organza (needs to be synthetic material, you can use satin, but takes much longer to heat up) to make the little flower.  Using the circles #2 Sizzix die #114526 I used the smaller 3 circles and cut 3 of each of the circles out of the material.  I used the crop-a-dile #108362 to punch a hole in the middle and then added the pink rhinestone brad #109110 in the middle.  Once that was done and it was ok that the circles were not all lined up, in fact, it was easier this way.  I applied heat with the heat tool #100005.  The flower begins to take shape super fast using this tool.  Please use some tweezers or something to hold the flower down while applying heat.  Also note ** do not touch the brad until it has cooled down**.  Yes, that is from experience.  I was trying to flatten one of the layers and my finger touched the brad and ouch!!    

I also used the Color Spritz Tool #107066 to add the little dots since we no longer have itty bitty stamp set.  I thought that added a nice little touch.  Then I sponged the edges and viola my swap card. 

Stamp Camp Project

This was one of my stamp camp projects in December.  I found the tutorial on the internet and cannot remember whose blog it was on, but it was sooo cute I had to "case it"  I think it was on Create with Mary and Connie's blog. 

This was the inside of the little package.  It was a countdown to Christmas.  I think the original one was a countdown to Halloween. 

Birthday Card

This was a birthday card that I made for my friend, Sam.  She LOVES coffee, so I thought I would make this card for her.

 I also made her this cute little picture inside the frame.  It's like a 3x3 frame, so the cups just fit perfect inside.  I liked how it turned out.  

 Here is a picture of the both of them together.  I think she liked them. 

Managers Reception

This was a group of us that went to Manager's Reception together.    Suzy, Natasha, Brenda, Twila, Me (Norma), Dirk's wife, Becky and Natasha.  I think that is everyone.  This was before we left the Gaylord to Wildhorse Saloon.  We had such a good time!

Lisa Freeman, Me and my upline, Colleen Magness, at the Wildhorse Saloon.  Love those cowboy hats!!

This was one of the many many horses that they had at the Saloon.  I just had to take a picture with at least one of them! 

THANK YOU!!

I need to send out a huge THANK YOU!! to my downline, Toni, for helping me learn how to put pictures on this blog again.  I had no way to download my pictures and she came to the rescue!!  So, Thanks Toni for taking time to help me.  Hopefully I will start to have more regular post.

Leadership

WOW!!  Leadership was fabulous!!  Stampin' Up! really out did themselves this time.  It started with Managers' Reception on Wed night at the Wild Horse Saloon in downtown Nashville.  YeeHaw!!  Before leaving the hotel SU! gave all us cowboy hats to wear (love mine!!).  We had a great time!  The food was delicious!!!  Love brisket, they had pulled pork too, but I'm a Texas girl!  There were 2 performers for the night, first one being Dave Robbins and then Brother Trouble.  People were out line dancing, but I just sat by the sidelines and watched. 

When we returned back to the hotel, SU employees were waiting for us with a brand new stamp set and our Leadership bag/purse!!  Love both of them!!

Then the next 2 days were a just whirlwind.  I don't know how SU manages to fit so much in in 2 days.  We had classes, main stage, prize patrol, dinner, demonstrations, momento mall and so much more on just the first day!!  Next day started with general session and a FREE gift for everyone! What could be better?   What about a free gift at the end too??!!  SU is the best!!  They still gave out prizes through the event, but unfortunately I did not win, but I think everyone that attended was a winner.  

I was able to meet new friends, see old friends, learn new things, see a wonderful city, get free stuff and well my head is still spinning, but it's all good!!  Can't wait to share everything with my downline and customers. 

Hope to get pictures up soon!!