Have you ever had one of days where it seems you have so much to do that it feels like you are getting nothing done? That is what the last 24 hours have seemed like to me. At least 6 times I went into my stamp room to start making this card for a little boy to give his mom for Mother's Day. Every time I started the card the phone would ring, I had to go pick up my car in the shop, I had a friend coming over to stamp a project we had planned today, ect. It took more than 24 hours to get the time I needed to get the card made but it is done! I hope he likes it! The best part of the card it comes with a Stampin' Up! gift certificate that his mother can redeem at anytime with me.

I am leaving in the morning for Michigan to spend some time with my mom who is very ill. Before I leave though I have a couple more cards to share with you that are part of an upcoming class next Saturday. My class that was supposed to be tomorrow had to be canceled until I got back. So if you have time and want to come, email me!

By the way, the stamp used above is one you can get for FREE when you spend $40.00 in the mini catalog or host $150.00 party. This offer ends at April 30. You can order online 24-7.

One highlight next week will be getting to meet and take a class from Jan Tink on SCS. She is so funny and talented which just reminded me I forgot to buy her some chocolate! Off to the store again, see you when I get back!

These were the goodie bags made for us at retreat filled with Sticky Tape, Dimensionals and Clear Embossing Powder from Phyllis. The flowers were made with the Big Shot.

Below is a CD case that we made into an album. Another version of this will be available as a tutorial the first of May with step by step instructions as my project of the month.

If you live in the Huntsville area there is still time to sign up for my Saturday morning stamp class this week.

I was asked this question last week by Kim and since we had gloomy rainy weather I waited till today to take some pictures to show her. I use a rack I got from Pottery Barn that rotates which I just love.

We also are lucky to have this wonderful old hardware store downtown Huntsville that operates as a gift kind of shop. It is run by the historical society and you never know what is going to be there. The merchandise changes seasonally but they usually have these great wire card holders in stock. I use these a lot and always for class displays. These cards were from last months card class.

Saturday was retreat day for our First Impressions group led by Joann Wiemers. We spent the day just outside of Nashville with the Stampin Sisters and had a really fun day thanks to my wonderful friends! We made a Purse with Faux Alligator trim, some fun jewelry inspired by Phyllis Shepherd and Joann, a CD Album, and some awesome cards! Wanna see?

This is a card holder made from a sheet of cardstock. Isn't it cute?

All week I will be posting projects from retreat.

Parisian Breeze is one of my favorite papers. It has wonderful texture and beautiful colors. I bought a second pack before I even used the first one.

The ribbon on this card is our Taffeta Ribbon dyed with Baja Breeze ink.

The first card has no stamping on it, it used the Big Shot Butterfly Dies SU sells. The second card was stamped with Friends 24 - 7. I forgot to take a picture of the surprise in this card and that is under the bird image is a 3 x 3 note card you can stick a note or gift card in. I fringed some Baja Breeze ribbon to make the embellishment above the saying. I used our new chocolate chip brads with the Word Window Punch to decorate the bird image.

The Embossing Folder for the Big Shot, that is. I love the look of the card and they can be made quickly if you need to make a lot of cards for something.

The top layer is Vellum and I cut out around the design. I used Vellum Tape to attach the Vellum to the card. The ribbon used is from the new Mini Catalog.

I have spent the last 3 days in my stamp room and have made quite a few cards so here is another one using And many Mower from the Mini Catalog.

I made this card last month and have several requests to do a tutorial. Here it is finally!

To start cut out 7 scallops using the scallop punch and a 1 1/4 inch circle out of Pretty In Pink. Sponge the scallop edges on both sides in Pretty in Pink.

Spritz lightly with water and crumple the scallops.

Cut between each of the scallops about half way down to form the petals.

Fold the scallops in half, then in quarters. Place a large glue dot in the center of a 1 1/4 inch circle. Place 6 of the scallops around the circle. With a mini glue dot attach the last scallop in the center of the flower. Fluff the flower out and attach to your card with mini glue dots.

I did this card last week intending to use it for a swap coming up this weekend until I realized I would have to do over 50 of them. It is a brayered card using Thoughts and Prayers similar to one I did last month.

I have been grabbing pink paper all week it seems. At least looking at these 3 cards you would think so. The first card was done with Just Beach, the second card was done with the Manhattan Flower Die and the 3 card was made with the large scallop die and some retired SU stamp sets.

This card was stamped with Stazon and then colored with our Markers in Regal Rose, Certainly Celery and Summer Sun. I used Crystal Effects on the sandals. I used the wheel from the Mini Catalog, Lazy Days and VersaMark.

Our Manhattan Flower Folder meets Great Friend from the Mini Catalog. The saying label is cut out with the Match Box Die. This card takes about 5 minutes to make. The butterfly was stamped on white with Versamark and then I used Iridescent Ice to Emboss it before cutting it out. I used some Pink Pirouette around the edges.

My friend Kathi had to make about 40 of these the other day so I helped her get them cut out and stamped. I don't remember the name of the retired stamp set we used. The paper is Regal Rose and sponged with Chocolate Chip. We used Eyelets at the top of the invitation to attach the ribbon with. We used a punch to cut out the neck on the bib.

With Easter right around the corner I thought I would make this little basket to take to the lady who does my hair today. I filled it with Hershey's Kisses. The basket is made with the Scalloped Envelope Die for the Big Shot. I used some retired DSP because I really like this pattern. The bunny is made from all Stampin' Up! punches. I realized when I put this picture up I forgot his whiskers! I'll remedy that before I give him away.

The punches used for the bunny are large oval, small oval for the ears,  large oval for the feet and the word window for the feet, 1 3/4 circle for the body, 1 1/4 for the stomach, 1 1/4 for the head, 1/4 inch for the cheeks, heart punch for the nose and hands, and the smallest circle punch for the eyes.

The handle is 2 pieces. The Certainly Celery piece is 1 1/2 inches wide and so was the designer paper before I used the Eyelet Punch to do the edges. The ribbon used it our white taffeta ribbon. I hope she likes it!

If you would like to make a larger basket, look at my project of the month.

Here is another swap card that was shared by Melissa. I thought it was so cute! It was lots of fun to make a great choice for using the beachy set.

I think I used more than 5 different stamp sets to make this card. I love the black, white and red color combo. The saying is from Great Friend available in the new mini catalog. I stamped the flowers in Black Stazon. I also used the Big Shot Matchbook Die to cut out the black layer on the greeting.

Just where does the time go? It seems I never get caught up these days. I am going to share a few more swaps with you from our shoebox swap last weekend. We had everyone use the new Occasions Mini Catalog for the swap. This card was the one I did using the new Good Friends Stamp Set. The second one is another card I did using Choo Choo. The first card is the one I chose for the swap.

This card was designed by Nelda. She managed to use every stamp in the set by decorating the inside of the card and the envelope. Isn't it darling? The stamp set used is Forest Friends and it also contains a bunny and a owl.

Karen brought this card to the swap. He is perfect for Easter and I love the bright colors! The stamp set used here is An Egg-cellent Easter.

Charity designed this cute little matchbox die. The images are from Good Friends.

Celeste brought this card to our swap. I love the colors and the stamps in this set. The set is called Soft Summer.

All of the stamps you see here are in the new Mini Occasions Catalog available today.

Please check the monthly archives on the right for more cards and projects.