Update

Unfortunately my mom's health is continuing to decline. She was admitted to the hospital last night because her liver has started to fail. She will stay there for a few days but the doctor says there isn't anything else they can do at this point. Ok anyway just wanted to give a quick update & hopefully make my post a little less depressing by sharing the card set I created for U Stamp...

New On Line Class From SU!!!

So here's the details....

The Basics (Download) Item#133385
Price: $14.95
Learn innovative ways to get the most out of your supplies (from stamps to the Big Shot) with clever tips and all the techniques you need to start creating with success. Divided into six sections focused on a variety of topics, this class includes videos, step outs, and supply lists for 30+ projects. Join the fun!

Ready for Stamp a Stack!

Well its been a heck of a week around here! My hubby has been in Florida since Monday & I can't wait to see him today! I want to thank you all those that have been praying for us. I know that's the only way I made it through the week alone. Plus I got all the SAS card samples done! The grace of God is so amazing! I have done them a little differently this time so my gals have lots more creative options! So we will have 5 different card choices but most of the cards have extra options on the designs.

Pinwheel

Birthday Flowers (Yellow Flower or Butterfly)

 

Ice Cream

Midnight & Crumb Cake (Flower, Butterfly, or Phonebooth)

Vintage Bicycle (Pink or Blue)

Class Details:
His & Hers Stamp a Stack
March 9th 11:30am **Will be RESCHEDULED
You will choose which cards & how many of each you want to stamp!
Class Fee: $30 for 15 cards Add an additional set of 5 cards for just $5!

RSVP & card choices due by March 1

*Please bring your adhesive, scissors, dimensionals, & liquid glue*

I Love Midnight & Crumb Cake!

These will be part of the March 9th Stamp a Stack offerings!

Stamp a Stack Coming Soon!

Just a quick post...Here are 2 of the samples for the March 9th

His & Hers Stamp a Stack!

I hope to have them all up by Sunday. =)

STAMP CAMP TIME!

Save The Date!

Paper Crafts



I got my March/April Paper Crafts magazine & there on page 77 was my card! It was so cool because along with my complimentary copy of the magazine they returned my card!

 

Thanks for taking a peek!

A Creative Mess!

First off I want to say THANK YOU to those of you that have left comments & prayed for us! I truly truly appreciate it. I know that prayer changes things & today was more confirmation of that. Today was pretty good for mom. We took her to the doctor & got the results of her blood work. One of the things that could be causing the dementia to be so bad is a bacteria in the instenstines so she will start on medications to treat that. There is hope for her over all condition to improve & I am so very grateful for that.
Anyway I had a chance to take a few photos today & wanted to share one.
I found some really fun tags at an antique store we stopped at yesterday & this one was my favorite.

I got the eye roll from hubby but I loved the saying. LOL!
Hope you have a great weekend!

Best Ever!!

I had to share a bit. First off the last few weeks since my mom got sick have been extremely hard for us. From her condition she has started to develop dementia & it is so difficult to watch & makes caring for her even more difficult. Before she went in to the hospital she was sharp as a tack, now with in a few weeks she can't even remember how to dial a number on the phone. Yesterday we gave her some pastries to give to a friend she was going to be seeing & when she came home she gave the pastries to my girls & told them her friend had given them to her for them. The other day she caught something on fire trying to make eggs while I was in the shower. Luckily #2 was quick to act & no damage was done. She isn't eating much, having difficulty walking, falling, hallucinating, etc. As I said before it's been a roller coaster. I have developed stress related pain & stomach problems plus struggling with depression. I keep reminding myself that God will not put more on me than I can bear but at times it does feel like I just can't take anything else. I know that the Lord is my strength & He will always give me the grace to make it through but I'm just being honest about my feelings. Aside from dealing with mom I still have hubby, kids, homeschooling, housework, 2 businesses (SU & Pampered Chef), ....yeah so you get the picture. I am not complaining I am just telling you all this so you can understand how much what I am about to share means to me. Yesterday was one of the really bad days around here. So last night at 12:01 my hubby, who has been AMAZING through all of this, hands me a cute Starbucks card & says Happy Valentines Day! Aw so sweet right?! Then he says there is something else & points to the dining room, I'm thinking maybe he got me flowers or something so I go out & see this...

I seriously was breathless & speechless for a moment. Which NEVER happens!!! I know some of you may not "get it" but I have wanted one of these typewriters FOREVER! As you may or may not know I absolutely LOVE vintage things especially when I can use them in my photography or to display my cards. This was #1 on my list of things I would love to own someday but since you can't just run down & pick one up at Target or any old yard sale it has always been kind of just a dream of mine. So when I saw it sitting there it was...THE. BEST. GIFT. EVER!!! The fact that he just didn't get a card or flowers, which don't get me wrong, I would have totally appreciated but he thought so far beyond that. I know God is ultimately responsible for all of this & because my hubby is my angel here on earth he used him to give me one of the "desires of my heart" as the bible says. There aren't many tangible items that move from the "I want" category to a true desire of my heart but this for some reason was one of them. It was truly God showing me not only how immensly my husband loves & cares for me but how much He does too! Today was also pretty great. I got to spend the day out with my sweetheart & all 4 of our daughters! Anyway I just had to share that. I hope that if you are going through a difficult time that you will be reminded that through it all God loves you & he will bring you through. He is always faithful & has our best interest at heart even when we don't understand why things are going the way they are.
Ok before I go, here is the first card I got to photograph along side my beauty...

I made this card a couple weeks ago, actually the stamped image panel is a left over from the last swap I did. I added the adorable tiny hot air balloon from the Collage Curios set & the antique brad plus hand cut the black matting down a bit. The rest just came together as I went. I didn't have a clear vision when I started I just didn't want to waste the extra stamped image. Anyway it was the perfect card for this photograph!
Thanks for stopping by & hanging in there while I shared. Until next time...Hugs~ Mercedes

Quick Cards

Well it's still a roller coaster ride over here so I haven't been able to post as often as I'd like but anyway I'm here now...I have a couple of very quick & simple cards to share since that's all I have time to make these days. The first one I made with the Best of 25 special edition set Best of Birthdays! I love cupcakes so I just had to have this stamp.

 

The next one was a simple card with a vintage feel. I paired the SAB Vintage Verses & Established Elegance.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope your day is blessed! 

Until next time...=)

Finally a Card!



Well I feel like I haven't shared something I've made in forever! Not because I haven't been busy creating but because most of what I have created has been for the new round of U Stamp so it has to stay under wraps until it goes public over there. Oh yeah before I forget to tell you the huge news....Karen Burniston, creator of the Pop n Cuts die, will be one of the guest designers in this round of U Stamp! SQUEEL!!! I can't wait to see what she creates! 

Anyway last night I was playing with the beautiful products from the Spring mini & this card was born! It's a lot different than I had originally imagined but sometimes that works out for the best...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Print Poetry DSP Stack! Hopefully I will have more time to play with it because the patterns & colors just really inspire me. So I used the patterns to guide my stamp set decisions & kind of mimic the style of the DSP. Stamps I used: Secret Garden (flower), Vintage Verses (swirly), Memorable Moments (sentiment). I think it all worked very well together. Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you're inspired to take a peek at the Print Poetry DSP & get crafty!

New Pop n Cuts Dies!

Just wanted to share a great video by Karen Burniston, designer of the new SU Pop n Cuts dies!

Checkin' In

I have been performing my juggling & high wire act in the Weber family circus again! Not literally of course but that's what it feels like. I need a VACATION!
Anyway...I wanted to pop in & share a little. 

#4 had a great time at Chuck E Cheese. I decided since they were having a birthday party over the weekend that I would make a cake instead of ordering one. Lets just say I was reminded why I don't make cakes. LOL! It tasted fine but it was NOT pretty. Ok on to the party details. Since #2 & #3 have their birthdays so close to Christmas doing a big party in December usually doesn't happen so this year we decided to have one party for all of them in January. They had a blast! But I was absolutely worn out by the end of it. Whew! I haven't been that exhausted & had so many body parts hurt at once in a looong time. They are totally My Little Pony fanatics so that was the party theme. Of course the local party stores could not make my life easier & stock such items...but we did find some stuff on the internet & we did a little DIY stuff. The girls had some stickers & I found some really cute blank cupcake picks that happened to fit my 1" circle punch perfectly so we punched out some of the stickers & made these...

The cake was so yummy! It was white cake with fresh strawberries inside & whip cream icing. Mmmmm! I found the plastic pony decor on line & popped it on top of the cake. I wish I had taken more pictures but I was running around like a crazy person the whole time. 

One of highlights for the girls was the face painter! Yes #4 got Spiderman! Another of her favorites! Weird because she has never seen any Spiderman cartoons or anything but she is currently refusing to take off her Spiderman pajamas that we bought yesterday at Old Navy. Everyday she pretends to be a different character which ranges from Rainbow Dash, Simba, Baby Bear, Spiderman, Puppy, & a few others. And watch out if you call her by the wrong name, sheesh!

 #2 got a pretty butterfly & #3 got the 49ers logo, she is a big football fan! Anyway enough about the fam how about some super fun NEW RUBBER!!!! SU just released 2 new stamps sets! I am totally drooling over the Sent With Love set! OMGosh can't you just imagine sending your bestie a super cute card & stamping the envelope with the adorable "Please Deliver To"!!!  And this set has matching DSP...Yes, Please!

Click!

The second new release is the February Best of 25 Years set! Just in case you missed the January set, its still available! Click Here

Click!

Ok I guess that's all I have going on for now but I will be back soon with some new cards!
Hope your weekend is great!

Feeling Sentimental Swaps!

Just wanted to pop in really quick to share 2 more swap cards I made! Of course I had to use my favorite SAB set, Feeling Sentimental!

 

In less than an hour my baby will be 3! It still boggles my mind how quickly my girls are growing.

Happy 3rd Birthday to my Precious Princess! Thanks for stopping by.=) I hope to share some photos of the birthday girl soon!

More Paper Pumpkin Info

Sweep away the mundane-your creativity carriage awaits!

I'm Paper Pumpkin . . .
I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I'll help you to escape your life with some paper fun.
I come in a sweet box, but you'll really love what you find on the inside:
All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create pinable projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!
Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone (even you) can enjoy!

Get Started
It's so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program starting Monday, January 14 by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it. Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family-every month!
Of course, you'll want to know more. So here's the nitty gritty:

• Each month we send you a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We've even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape.
• We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let's say you sign up on May 10th, we'll send your kit around May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, we'll send your first kit around June 15th.)
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95 per month (and shipping is included!)
• There's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.
• Starting in early March, we'll offer a Try-It kit if you'd like to try Paper Pumpkin for one month.

Here's How You Order

Sign up for your monthly Paper Pumpkin starting Monday, January 14 by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it. Don't forget to designate me as your demonstrator! (Mercedes Weber)
Starting in early March, you can try Paper Pumpkin for one month by visiting our online store.

A Free Gift in Your Very First Kit
The Welcome Kit is the very first Paper Pumpkin you will receive in your first month of membership. The Welcome Kit includes a free gift-a clear acrylic block!

Questions? We've Got Answers

Why are we offering Paper Pumpkin? Paper Pumpkin is the perfect introduction to Stampin' Up! We designed it for crafters that want to create a project each month, but aren't quite ready to build a stamp collection (yet).

How does shipping work with Paper Pumpkin?
Your Paper Pumpkin will be automatically shipped to you each month (so fun!). Because we are auto shipping these, the pricing structure is slightly different from our other Stampin' Up! products.

Of course you can do your Paper Pumpkin kits at home but if you prefer stamping with friends, I will be offering a Paper Pumpkin Stamp Night the last Friday of the month! I will also have additional project ideas on display using some of the kit components!

Hope you will join me in March!

Fun Filled Weekend

Wow Friday night was sure a blast! I had a house full of 12 of my stamping friends!  We had such a good time stamping, chatting, & drooling over new products! Here is a peek at the 2 cards we made...

 This one was based on a card I saw in a photo of the SU Leadership display boards.

This one is a modified version of the card the gals made. I had some extra pieces cut so I got to play a little after everyone left. I added the bakers twine, button, & chevron stamped behind the sentiment. This card is also a case of one from the Spring catalog, I just gave it a Valentine make over!

Saturday night the party continued! I got to do a Pampered Chef party for my friend Gayle & we had a great time! The appetizer recipe we made was super delicious, so good in fact I re-made it for my hubby today for a game day snack. GO NINERS! Now I'm deciding on possibly having a Super Bowl Stamping Party! Guys can watch the game while the gals get together & make cute stuff! What do ya think?

Also wanted to let you all know about the fun stuff going on in the SU world

1. Paper Pumpkin www.mypaperpumpkin.com
2. New Single Stamps (Assortment 3 & Assortment 4)
3. Sale-a-Bration
4.Best of 25 Stamp Sets
5.My Digital Studio Gallery (Just in case you haven't checked it out!)  www.mydigitalstudio.net
6. Stampin Up MDS & Card Making Tutorials on You Tube

Thanks for stopping by! Hope your weekend was great!

Getting Ready to Sale-a-Brate!

Click here to see the New MUST Haves!

I feel like I haven't stamped with my gals in months! Now if all goes well we will be getting together for my Sale-a-Bration Kick Off Party this Friday! I am SO excited to share the Spring Catalog & Sale-A-Bration offerings with them. I am sure they will love it all as much as I do!

Hope they are ready to CREATE! 

Click here to see the FREE STUFF!

 

 

 SHOP SU ON LINE!!!

This card was inspired by a display project from SU's Leadership conference. Wish I could have been there but even if I had been able to afford to go all the way to Orlando the timing would have been horrible with Mom being so sick. Praise God I couldn't go! Anyway I just have to live vicariously through all the lovely photos. I hope to be back tomorrow with more cuteness but we shall see since my precious #4 is still battling her cold.  Also just an update Mom is home resting in her own bed finally!
~Hugs

p.s. Check out this video for a new SU card kit for DUDES!! LOL!

Stepped Up Chalkboard Card

First off I wanted to thank all of you that have sent me encouraging messages & prayers. I appreciate it more than you know. Mom is doing better but still in the hospital. My girls will finally get to see her tomorrow since she has been moved out of ICU. #4 is still sick so she may have to wait a few more days to visit.

I also have to say a Big Huge Thank You to my sweet, talented, friend & downline, Stephanie http://www.berrysweetness.com/ . She sent me the absolute cutest card set today! Totally made me smile! She used the new Sale-a-Bration set Patterned Occassions & now its on my must have list! I will ask her if I can share them with you.

Anyway...

It seems like everywhere you look you see chalkboards! They are surely all the rage right now & I happen to be a huge fan! But since I don't have a spot to hang one of these cuties yet I figured the next best thing would be to make a faux chalkboard card!

I actually made 2 versions of this card this stepped up version & a simplier one for our demonstrator get together. Surprisingly all my friends chose to do the simplier one. I think I might teach this technique at our next Technique Tuesday class. =)

Update & a Valentine

Well first let me share a little about whats been going on in my world...this week has been full of frantic stamping, little sick kids, & my mom almost losing her life...yeah like seriously. So I will start in that order like I said a couple posts ago I had to get my 60+ swaps out like asap, in between dealing with #4's fever & wiping her nose every 5 seconds. Of course when she is sick all she really wants to do is have me hold her 24-7...which I love to do but it makes it very difficult to get ANYTHING else done. #3 was also sick but she is easier to take care of & having her on my lap is like having a Labrador trying to be a lap dog. She wasn't as sick as #4 either. Then my mom started not feeling well (not the same sickness). She has been having health issue for awhile but it got really bad & we had to take her to the ER. They admitted her & the next morning the doctor instructed us to call the family to visit since things looked pretty bad for her. While I was doing that they took her to the O.R. I got all the girls packed up & headed over. Thankfully & prayerfully when I got there they said things weren't as bad as they thought so she may survive. Something about blood vessels had not ruptured as they previously thought. The doctor thinks she may be able to prolong her life with the proper treatments & a very strict healthy lifestyle, other wise he says her life expectancy is less than a year. Oh My Gosh...Nothing like a good slap of reality. My mom lives with us & has since I had #2, they are like 2 peas in a pod, seriously! All my girls are really close to her but if  my mom goes out of town #2 is crying & telling us she misses grandma until the day she returns. In comparison if I go out of town its like "Ok bye Mom". My heart was breaking not just for the thought of losing my mom but having to tell #2 & the other girls...anyway so far mom is stable. I also have to thank my incredible husband who sometimes I swear is my guardian angel. To say he is a blessing from God which I so do not deserve is an understatement. While I took care of the girls he stayed with my mom in the ER late in to the night & was right back there as soon as the visiting hours started, he talked to the doctors, updated my family, comforted my mom, supported me, & was seriously just amazing.

So as of now #4 is still sick, my swaps went out too late so will probably be returned ^ insert sad face, but THANK GOD Mom is stable. Ok if you're still reading this, thank you & here is a little eye candy!

This was one of the "late" swaps I made, my favorite one. The new Valentines DSP is just so stinkin cute! Ok now I've got to get back to the kiddos but thanks for checkin in with me today. ~Hugs

Supplies-
Stamps: Thats the Ticket (item#128072 w/128075 c)
Paper: Pool Party, Primrose Petals, Very Vanilla, More Amore DSP, Doily
Ink: Primrose Petals
Big Shot: Cloudy Day Embossing Folder, Scallop Heart die, Heart Framelits

Floral Dress Form

This dress form die is definitely one of my favorite new toys from the Spring Mini! I received some free dsp in a card making magazine I subscribe to & it was so beautiful I just had to use it. Since I rarely stray from SU I decided to make a similar card using the new Tea for Two DSP also. 

 

I have been having so much fun but now I have to go get to work on my 60+ cards for an upcoming swap! Till next time...

February Stamp a Stack!

I am excited about this one! Actually I'm always excited about getting to stamp with friends!
Here is the first sample for the His & Hers Stamp a Stack coming in February.

I saw some great cards on Splitcoast Stampers & they were my inspiration for this card. Especially loved this one  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2302791?&cat=23838 Did I mention that this set is my favorite at the moment? LOL!
Thanks for stopping by today!

Happy New Year & a Birthday!

Today was #2's 8th birthday! She wanted to eat at her favorite place, The Sandwich Spot & go play at Bounce a Rama. My hubby took the day off to be with her on her special day. I know that means alot to her. She loves to be with her dad!

Awww aren't they cute!=)
Ok now its almost time to usher in 2013! I can't believe it! To celebrate SU has this cute calendar page as a free download! You can get it by going here & adding item#132962 to your shopping cart.
Well I hope you are having a fun & safe New Years Eve! I hope to be back tomorrow with another sneak peek card.

Black & Gray

I thought it was only fair to give my other favorite SAB stamp set, Vintage Verses a little love. So I inked it up with the big beauty, Swallowtail from the Spring 2013 catalog.

Basic Black, Basic Gray, & a little Summer Starfruit made for a winning combination! Simplicity was definitely my goal with this one. This stamp is so perfect for quick & beautiful cards! I have lots more cards to share so stay tuned...=)

For a Dude

Making guy cards is always a little challenging. I wanted to use the "Feeling Sentimental" Sale-a-Bration set since that is my current favorite. Here is the card I came up with...

I went with a distressed grunge kind of look instead of the soft vintage style. I noticed when I sponged Soft Suede ink on Basic Gray cardstock it looked a little like rusted metal. I also sponged it on the Pool Party to grunge it up. Overall I think it had a pretty good guy vibe going on even with the little touch of ribbon. Hubby gave it his approval so I guess its manly enough. LOL!

Also just an FYI there will be a "His & Hers" Stamp a Stack coming (hopefully) in February! So if you need to stock up on your dude cards this will be a great time to do it! Details to come...

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!