Retiring Accessories list is out and it is long. Remember stampers, these items are while supply last only!
check it out. You can order online at www.cindywaldroff.stampinup.net or shoot me an email and I'll take care of it for you. Don't wait, it might be to late!

Repost- Inspired by Nature

This is a re-post of 2010- but worth repeating! The Oxford American Dictionary defines passion as "strong emotion, great enthusiasm for something". The Bible says in Psalm 38:9 (NLT) "You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh." Why is this even important? We are often motivated by our passions, whatever they are. It is important to understand how our passions affect us and how we can use those passions to achieve all God has for us. In my part of the country people are passionate about Football! It dominates most conversations during the season. Much money is spend on tickets, tailgating, apparel, and a host of other stuff to support the team. People go crazy over football. I like football okay, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over a lost game, coach, or player. I tried to make a list of the things that really bring out strong emotions in me, good and bad. It really all boils down to relationships. My relationship with Jesus Christ, my personal Savior, my husband, my children, other family members, friends and even customers from my Stampin' Up! business are what motivate me the most and most often control my decisions. My business does allow me to focus on my other relationships. It offers me the flexibility to put first things first. I love to stamp! It is relaxing and invigorating at the same time. I really love to get comments on the cards I send and to know I touched someone else with a word of encouragement wrapped in a little card I made. I have been very blessed with new relationships and really good friends I would not have met if it hadn't been for my stamping business. For this I am very thankful. One of our Stamp sets that I love is named Inspired by Nature. I used it this week to create this card as a reminder to live each day with passion for the things that are truly important to me. This card is for you, my customers, family and friends. Thank you for your love and support for growing my business and blessing my life.

Supplies: cardstock Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, and Natural White Ink: Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede, Always, Artichoke, Chocolate Chip Stamp Set: Inspired by Nature Technique: sponging background, large flower stamped and then colored with Chocolate Chip marker

"Technique A Week" Day

Hey Ladies, Hope you are all doing well. I am fine. It has been a great week. Busy, but still relaxing some. I have seen grand-babies, but not kept them all week as usual, a little mini vacation for me! So lets get to stamping stuff. I am showing yall a card today that is one of my favorites!. I love this stamp set and am really sad to say it is on the retiring list. It is a great set. Only in wood and double mounted, but I love it. It's called Inspired by Nature #111656 price is 23.95. The set contains 4 stamps. I made this card for a workshop where I was demonstrating watercolor techniques. The base cardstock is Regal Rose and the layer is Natural White. It is a heavier paper that Whisper White and handles the watercolor technique better. I stamped the tall grass in Pear Pizzazz first, then inked my flower stamp with markers: Pear Pizzazz, Regal Rose, Rose Red and Daffodil Delight. After the stamp was inked up, I lightly spritzed it with water, then stamped it over the grass. The water just wets it enough to give that water-colored look. And that's all there is to it. Easy Peasy! But gives a very dramatic effect. So if you don't have this stamp set in your collection don't mess around, it will be gone May 31st. Tomorrow I'll show you another card using the same set that looks totally different. Until then, God bless yall and go be a blessing to someone else today.

Ok Girls, time is running out!

I am suppose to get so much done this week. Jen and Brett are home from their honeymoon and I don't have the kids this week, so I have this long list of projects, right? Well, the first project was actually to get my TAXES done! Yes, it has taken two days and a sleepless night. But, Thank Goodness they are signed, sealed and in the mail! Even better there is a refund coming our way. So you can see way time is running out has special meaning for me, however, that really isn't what this post is about. You only have 13 days left to get some great stamps out of the Occasions Mini. The sales period for it will end the 30Th of April. One of my favorite sets in this Mini has been the Mixed Bunch and coordinating blossom punch. It is a very versatile stamp set. This card was made with that stamp set, and the DSP from the Sale-a-bration flyer (RIP) I loved that paper. Also, Poppy Parade is the color in this paper and ink the flower was stamped in. It is an amazing color, but will retire in May with all the 2010-2012 "In Colors". If these are items you really want, head over to my online store or shoot me an email with your order. I'll be happy to take care of that for you. Have a great day and be a blessing to someone around you. The you will truly be blessed.

Sad Day, Happy Day

This is always a sad day for SU demonstrators. The List of stamp sets that are retiring from the current cattie and will not be carried over to next years catalog, is like losing old friends. However it is a great opportunity for customers to get those sets before they retire. And the happy day comes this year June 1st when we see all the new sets we just must have in the new 2012-2013 re-designed catalog. So, look at the list and make your list of the sets you really want before they are gone. The Accessory List will be posted on the 25th of April. This month would be a great time to have a workshop and host a Retirement Party! Shoot me an email and set a date, as the hostess you will earn free product of your choice! Click on the link on the left column to see the list of retiring stamp sets. Have a blessed day and be a blessing to someone else!

I just thought I was busy last week!

Well, the week before the wedding I thought I was really busy. You know, running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. If you're not from the country and haven't seen this event, it is really gross and yes, the head-less chicken runs around like crazy. I was mistaken! Last week was nothing compared to this week with a 5yr old and 1 yr. old staying with us, 24/7! I am not only busy, but exhausted and tired of answering unanswerable questions, like" why is the cat looking at me?". Needless to say my house is not clean, the laundry is not done and the blog as not been updated! Today should be a technique day, but if y'all will forgive me I'll try to get back on track next week. How about some wedding stuff I promised?

Jen's colors were shades of purple. We decided Perfect Plum was the best match and Elegant Eggplant was a good monochromatic combo. This picture is of the invitation closed. I stamped the front area with the flourish from Elements of Style in Perfect Plum. The small

embellishment on top is layered with Elegant Eggplant and Perfect Plum and Whisper White. The white piece was embossed with the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder and then lightly sponged with Perfect Plum ink. The top flap was punched with the pinking heart border punch. I was very pleased at how these turned out. Oh, you can't see it, but the white piece was also sprayed with a mixture of white glimmer paint and alcohol for a nice little shine.

The open invitation is a little surprise. I cut the card stock 4.25 x 11, then cut one piece in half at 5.5 and layered it over the first piece to give it added length. This gave me room for the invitation, the RSVP info, and driving directions to the venue. I did some random stamping inside with the same flourish and a small flower from the Barque Motif stamp set. I also punched the down flap with the pinking heart punch. These were a labor of love and I enjoyed making them, I forgot to take a picture of the envelopes which were stamped with the same flourish and the flaps embossed with the same Elegant Bouquet embossing folder. I have to admit that good ole Tombo ran all the envelopes through the Big Shot for me. He is such a big help. Okay that's enough for today. I'll share more next time. Have a very blessed day and be a blessing to someone else.

I'm thinking .....

My plan is to do Technique a week on Thursday, however this week that is just to close to the wedding day so I'm doing it today. If this technique has an official title I don't know what it is. I call it dusting in the Amelia Bedelia sort of way! It's not removing, but adding just a touch of color around the edges of a project. It can make all the difference in the world. It helps pieces to pop out and gives them definition. Around the edges of a card it can give you the aged or worn look. As you see around the bunny , I dusted the Whisper White with Pretty in Pink, otherwise the different parts of the bunny would not have definition. I also did it around the Happy Easter. This is a very useful and much used technique when stamping. So, get out your sponges or sponge daubers and try it out on your next card. All you do is hold your card stock in your hand and dust the edge with the sponge or dauber with an up and down motion to add a little color to the edge. Easy peasy! Gotta go. Have a very blessed day.

April's reason's to stamp

Here are some not so well known reason's to stamp(like we need reason's).

April is Autism Awareness Month, National Kite Month, National Pet Month, and Southern Belle Month

The First Week of April is Laugh at Work Week

The Second Week of April is Garden Week

The Third Week of April is National Volunteer Week

The Fourth Week of April is National Dance Week

The Fifth Week of April is National Pie Week

April 2nd is International Children's Book Day

April 10th is National Sibling Day

April 18th is Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day

April 23rd is Talk Like Shakespeare Day

April 29th is National Pet Parents Day

Of course, I really like "Southern Belle Month"! oh, and national pie week, who wouldn't like that a whole week to honor pies! Pecan, Pumpkin, Apple Pie...this is why I have fat thighs! Just a little ditty from the past. Laugh today it is good like medicine! Be Blessed.

Easter is coming!

I love this time of year. Spring is in the air, flowers blooming, you should see my roses, the real ones, not the knock out ones, they are beautiful. As you may have read we are preparing for a wedding next Saturday. I know, the day before Easter! What was that girl thinking! But it will be beautiful. I have been stamping place cards and gift bags and embossing napkins and making favors and ...... the list goes on. It has been fun and I plan on sharing these things with you after the wedding.

But, in the middle of this chaos I have had a few other things to do. I am sharing at a MOPS group this week, we are doing two really cool cards. I'll share the cute one with you today. I always have a little trouble with the whole bunny thing at Easter, it is such an important day in my faith and I really don't think there were cute little bunnies hopping around at the foot of the cross. Never the less, it is fun for the kiddos and I love cute little bunnies! When my children were growing up, we did celebrate the Easter bunny on Saturday before Easter and then prepared our hearts for Easter Sunday! It worked well. Anyway, here's the card. It was inspired by two ladies, Jan and Gwen, love their work. The base is natural white card stock layered with Marina Mist and Bashful Blue. The bunny is made with 2 small ovals(retired), 1 inch and 1 1/4 inch circles, and the modern label punch for his feet. Oh yes, don't forget the Boho blossom small flower for the little tail. I dusted the outer edges of the pieces with Pretty in Pink. The clouds are the top of the cupcake punch. I used the large oval for the Happy Easter out of Tiny Teeny Wishes. The back ground is stamped in Marina Mist and Rose Red using the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set. The little flower is from the small punch trio set punched out of Rose Red with a little bling embellishment. Cute, huh? I hope the ladies enjoy doing it. Well, blog post is getting too long. Gotta run. Be Blessed!