Dollar Tree Gift Bag Big Happy Planner Cover for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is only one month away, so I figured I would make my cover now and enjoy it for at least two months (I made it a week ago)!

This one was a first for me though! Why you ask? Well, it is because I made this planner cover out of a gift bag I bought last year from Dollar Tree! Yes, a one dollar bag! The back cover I made using Stampin’ Up! (SU!) Designer Series Paper (DSP) Fancy Frost. Below are the simple steps used to make this cover. Enjoy!

Card Candy: Jar of Love & VIDEO

I have been waiting to do this post for a while now, but just didn't have the right stamp set to use for my first one! Once I got my Jar of Love stamp set, I knew it was the one!

What is Card Candy you ask? Card Candy is simply pre-made embellishments that are ready to go when needed.

When made for others, it usually comes in a set, packaged in a bag with a topper, and each piece is coordinated with each other. When finished, you stick dimensionals (or your choice of adhesive) on the back and leave the backing on it so that whoever you are giving it to can keep it safe from sticking to anything until ready to use.

How I Post to Pinterest ALL Week in Just 30 Minutes!

YES! You read that correctly! Just 30 minutes a week and I pin every day! How do I do it you ask?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link AND purchase, I get compensated.

I use an app/site called Tailwind. While I have only used Tailwind for about 1 week (maybe 2 by the time I post this), I fell in love with it IMMEDIATELY!

Hello Card and Homemade DSP

Last week I published this post, sharing a card that I made with what I call "homemade dsp". I took a piece of cardstock and using a stamp set of my choice, and some ink, created a design, making it look like it's designer series paper.

I also shared this photo (see below) as a sneak peak, using the same stamp set used in that post, just using different colors.

August Do-Over: Thank You Card and Homemade DSP

Back in July, I started a challenge of my own called the Do-Over Challenge. I decided that each month I am going to take a card that I made a few years ago, when I first became a demonstrator and re-do it, with a little creative freedom of course. The challenge is that the card I am redoing has to have at least one retired stamp or color and I have to create a new card using current stamps and current colors.

Check out the first Do-Over Challenge here.

This month I am redoing the card below that I made using the old Secret Garden stamp set.

Balloon Celebration Congratulations Card

This week's card is featuring only one stamp set, Balloon Celebration, and three of the five 2016 - 2018 In Colors. This set is the second set that I saw posted EVERYWHERE that I knew I had to get to replenish my current SU! collection .

A lot going on with this card, but I think it looks good! All sorts of colors, shapes, and patterns.

And of course a card isn't completed without a little something something on the inside...

Stampin' Up! DIY Color Charts Download & Video

[UPDATE: Subscription link now includes the 2017 - 2019 In Color PDF. If you subscribed by May 30, 2017, you should already have the updated PDF in your inbox!]

Do you need an updated Stampin' Up! Color Chart? Look no further because I've got what ya need! Lol. 

I posted about these color charts before, but little did I know that I was STILL behind on In Colors after being gone from SU! for two years! I know...I didn't do my homework lol.

So...here is another post with updated pdf of the SU! Base colors and In Colors from 2011 - 2013 through the current 2016 - 2018 In Colors.

Each set is on its own page so once you download the file, you can just print the pages you need!

This is what it looks like completed (see below) for the current 2016 - 2018 In Colors. Sorry for the poor lighting, it's actually very difficult to take a picture of white paper lol, but I think it serves its purpose.

July Do-Over: Sweet Cupcake Masculine Happy Birthday Card

So a few weeks ago I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator after taking two years off...YAY!!! I had been longing to get back in the game and I am happier than ever now! The only thing I was disappointed about was how many of my stamps, punches, framelits, etc. were now retired!!! I am talking like 90% lol.

So needless to say not only do I have two years of in colors to catch up on, but I need to restock on pretty much everything!

Anyway, as I went down memory lane looking through my box of cards I made 2-4 years ago, I found so many cards that I wanted to re-do with current stamp sets.

SO that's when I came up with the idea that I should do a monthly series where I re-do a card I made years ago using current stamps! Hence the title "Do-Over"!

Stampin' Up! DIY Color Swatches

Is the SU! Color Coach helpful for you, but just doesn't match the color of the cardstock EXACTLY when you need it for that purpose?

If the answer is yes, then you're like me and you'll probably like this project!

I decided to make my own DIY color swatches using the SU! card stock that I had (pictures above).

What do you need?

All you need are THREE things:
- Card stock of choice
- Punch of choice (pictured above is the Pansy Punch)
- Dark and Light Marker

Next, you just punch out the pieces using the punch of choice and write the color name on each piece.

Below is a video I posted to my youtube channel showing exactly how it's done and can be applied using any card stock, punch, and markers of your choice!

What color swatches have you created? Leave a comment below and share!

If you are interested purchasing product or in becoming a Stampin' Up Demonstrator for business or just hobby, send me a message, I would love to hear from you!

Is Swagbucks Legit? How to make money on Swagbucks!

Wondering if Swagbucks is legit? Asking yourself does Swagbucks really work? Can you really get free money from it?

I asked the same question and after stalking the internet for various Swagbucks reviews and YouTube videos of others using it, decided to try it myself and the answer is YES it really works!

NO you won’t be able to quit your day job, but incorporating it into your every day routine (or every other day) is definitely worth it.

In this video (see below) I share with you how I use Swagbucks, how to earn “swagbucks”, and even some of the gift cards i’ve redeemed over the past few months using Swagbucks.

If you would like to try it out for yourself, head over to http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/betheswag (my referral link) and give it a try!

You also get I believe 30 SB for signing up.

I would love to know what types of things work for YOU and what you have gotten so feel free to comment below!

Adobe Illustrator Tutorial | How to Manipulate Shapes Using Shape Builder and Pathfinder Tool

This video is the fourth video in my Adobe Illustrator (AI), tutorial series. In this video we will walk through: Shape builder tool Pathfinder tool Merge and Unite shapes Divide and Trim shapes Intersect and Exclude shapes Crop shapes Examples of a few simple shapes to build using the shape builder tool and pathfinder If you missed parts 1 - 3 on using the line segment tool and using shapes, then be sure to check those out in the playlist here. Head on over to my YouTube channel and check it out!

Follow Me on Bloglovin'

Hi everyone! I am now on Bloglovin'! If you don't know what it is, check it out here. Bloglovin' is an easy way to follow your favorite blogs and discover new ones. Head over and check it out!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Stampin' Up! 2015-2017 Color Charts!

Stampin' Up! 2015-2017 Color Charts!
[UPDATE: Head over to my updated post here to get the newest color charts and sign up for all future color charts!] 
Though I am not a demonstrator anymore (I plan to get back into it later this year though!), it seems my last post, 2.5 years ago providing the 2013-2015 Stampin' Up Color Charts stays my MOST popular post! So I decided to go ahead and update the color chart for the 2015-2017 In Colors.

How To Get FREE Magazine Subscriptions

In this video I will show you how to get free magazine subscriptions using the methods I personally use to get my free magazines (meaning it's legit).

Adobe Illustrator (Ai) Tutorial - Using Shapes Part 2

This video is the third in my Adobe Illustrator (AI), tutorial series. In this video (Part 1 and Part 2) we will walk through:
- Creating Rectangles - Creating Rounded Rectangles - Creating Ellipsis (including pac man!) - Creating Polygons (with differing number of sides i.e triangles) - Creating Stars (with differing number of points) - Changing the stroke and fill of shapes - Overlapping shapes - Working with resizing and anchor points - Working with custom corners
Head on over to my YouTube channel and check it out!

Adobe Illustrator (Ai) Tutorial - Using Shapes Part 1

This video is the second in my Adobe Illustrator (AI), tutorial series. In this video (Part 1 and Part 2) we will walk through:

- Creating Rectangles
- Creating Rounded Rectangles
- Creating Ellipsis (including pac man!)
- Creating Polygons (with differing number of sides i.e triangles)
- Creating Stars (with differing number of points)
- Changing the stroke and fill of shapes
- Overlapping shapes
- Working with resizing and anchor points
- Working with custom corners

Head on over to my YouTube channel and check it out!

Adobe Illustrator CC Tutorial - Using the Line Segment Tool

This video is the first in my Adobe Illustrator (AI), tutorial series. In this video we will walk through:

Drawing horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines
The effect of using the alt key
What are anchor points?
Extending an existing line
Rotating lines
Using Shift+Click to get straight lines
Moving lines using guides

Head on over to my YouTube channel to check it out!

May Card Club...2014 - 2016 In-Colors!

May Card Club...2014 - 2016 In-Colors!

I hosted my LAST Card Club here Friday night (tears) so wanted to end with a preview of the new colors for the ladies. Each card we made featured one or more of the new colors. I also featured one of the new stamp sets Work of Art which by the way I didn't think I would like and now that I have used it...LOOOOOVE IT (say it like they do on Dragon Tales if you know what I am talking about...)! I also got some of the new DSP in there as well which I also love and will be posting a few projects I made using it over the next few weeks. Although it was my last Card Club here, I hope to get a new group of ladies to share my ideas with in my new town! The ladies also love decorating the inside (I do too) so I posted a picture showing the inside as well. I usually do not post dimensions, but if anyone really wants them just shoot me a message.

Ok so enough "talking" and onto the four cards I made and their ingredients...

Dryer Sheet Card Experiment

Dryer Sheet Card Experiment

I have been traveling all day, but wanted to get a quick post out on something I made a whole ago and just never got the chance to post. A card made using a used (and washed a second time) dryer sheet! I had always heard of the idea and saw a couple of crafters do it and wanted to try it for myself. This was just a tester and now that I know I can do it I want to make a complete card.

A quick run down of what I did and used...

- Used the Flower Shop stamp set and matching Pansy Punch.
- Stamp Pads and Cardstock used are Daffodil Delight and Raspberry Ripple and I used Whisper White too.
- Embossed the punched out flower with versa mark, heat and stink powder, and dazzling diamonds.
- Used a glue stick to adhere the dryer sheet to the card stock (taped the excess to the back if some hung over since I popped the top layer up using dimensionals.
- Popped the flower up with a dimensional as well.

So here it is...

Pomp and Circumstance Graduation Card

Pomp and Circumstance Graduation Card

I needed a graduation card for my cousin's graduation from William and Mary a few weeks back so below is what I came up with. The colors were inspired by the school colors green, gold, and silver. The stamp set I bought a few months back because I knew I would be attending two graduations and I wanted "Graduation specific" stamps. I had also just bought the Flowering Flourishes stamp set thanks to Pinterest (the enemy) because I kept seeing so many awesome cards made with it and I finally gave in! Hope you like it, she loved it :-). I also posted the "ingredients" below the picture if you would like to see what I used to make it.