Swallowtail

One of the new stamps coming out in the Spring Catalog is the Swallowtail stamp and I am in love!  I did two different cards with the stamp and although I loved the initial blue butterfly, it made a HUGE mess!  So I will definitely re-think how I make it again in the future.

Blue Butterfly

For this one I embossed it with black embossing powder and then I colored part of the butterfly with the Pacific Point marker and then went back over the white areas with the Glimmer Effects and it looked very nice and I pulled the blue over into the white to give it a blue tint.  I let it dry for two days and it was still smearing EVERYWHERE!  I ended up ruining 3 of the cards and was not a happy camper.  So no more glimmery shimmery stuff for me.

Orange Butterfly

This one was really fun to make!  I did the black embossing again, but this time, I used sponge daubers and shaded in some of the butterfly with Pumpkin Pie and it looks great in person!  I think I could jazz this up with some rhinestones or something else fun. How cool would that be???

All in all, love, love, love this stamp!!!!

Happy Stamping!

Glittery Organizing Fun!

Who says functionality can't have a bit of glitter?  Can I just say I love Hobby Lobby and Michael's?  I went down to Gilbert to visit family over the weekend and I just had a ball!  Shopping, shopping and more shopping!  (Sorry, honey!)

I needed some fun things to put cotton balls, marbles, extra Dimensionals, Dazzling Details, Twine, Sanding Blocks, misc. stamps and other tools that I need to have handy.  So I picked up a few pails at Hobby Lobby and then my mom found this great turquoise glittery buckets that I HAD TO HAVE!  So now all of my goodies have happy homes!

The green box on the bottom has all of my wheels and the blue one has my misc stamps from Rubbernecker.

The little buckets and pails have all the cotton balls, marbles, Dimensionals, etc. and they are right here at my work station!  No more going over to the cabinet to find the cotton balls!

The skinny green and blue polka dot box has a nifty drawer organizer in it and has some creative embellishments in it so I can see them all at one time.  It is like my own little treasure chest of fun!

The sparkly boxes on top I picked up at Target and they are just there because they are too darn cute and fit perfectly with my shelves!  Absolutely no purpose other than making me happy!

=)

Card Class Survival Kit

My Bunky Bag

My mom makes these cute little Bunky Bags for all sorts of goodies; groceries, books, pets and card class!  These little guys are the perfect size for our Card Class Survival Kit!  Filled with all the things you need when going to Card Class!

The Inside

Here is the inside of my cute little Bunky!  I just LOVE the colors!!!!!  But I have all the goodies I need to go to class!

So what exactly is in the Survival Kit?  Well, whatever you feel YOU need to survive Suzy's Card Classes!  Scissors, chocolate, booze...kidding!  Maybe!!!  I could fit a little bottle of champagne in this baby!

The Survival Kit Contents

Alas, no bubbly in this Bunky, but there is CHOCOLATE!  THAT is a key item in the Card Class Survival Kit!  Along with a little trash can, extra sponge, chocolate, double sided sticky tape, wipes AND Kleenex to dry off, scissors, the Pick Me Up for those pesky pearls and rhinestones, Embossing Buddy, Dimensionals, distressing tool, marker to sign the back of my cards with and a Blender Pen!

What all do you put in your Card Class Survival Kit?  What can you NOT live without when making cards out and about with your closest friends???

Supplies and More Supplies

Who says trash needs to be ugly?  Or in this case, extra trash bags, packing tape, envelopes for bills (ugh), paper for the printer and extra cards!  This stacking rack just used to be piled with crap, lots of crap!  So during our wintery jaunt Wal-Mart, I picked up the green and turquoise cubes and voila! Instant prettiness!  The green one has the trash bags and packing tape.  The blue one has my big envelopes for work and the big envelopes for bills.  They all fit perfectly!

Since we get soooooo much dust here in Bloomfield, I put my extra paper in the clear tubs above the cubes. It keeps the paper safe and dust free!

I had picked up a bunch of photo boxes at Michael's in the springtime that matched my cottage colors and I keep the extra cards I have from classes along with the extra kits!  So much easier than hiding them under the tables and having to crawl under them to figure out what I have left!  Plus they were only $1!  Can't beat that for cute and resourceful!  I am sure my husband is wishing I was that cheap, because I got cute AND resourceful down pat!  ;o)

Wait til you see the really cute stuff tomorrow!!!!!  It glitters!!!!!

More Organizing Fun

OK so I couldn't drag a bunch of the stuff that needed to go up in the loft so it looks like I got to play in my cottage after all today!  Woo hoo!

Last week was just absolute insanity with making cards and during that time I realized that I needed to be a bit more productive and I needed a few more things in place to make sure I was utilizing supplies and my time more efficiently!  My hubby nicely took me out in a snow storm and I was able to pick up a few much needed supplies to make my life a whole lot easier!

One of my biggest issues/messes/great consternations are my scrap papers.  I love to keep my scrap paper and there is no reason to throw it away especially when I need it!  So I used to put them in big gallon baggies by color family and store them in some cute boxes.

Green, Blue and Purple Boxes full of scraps

And you know, there was nothing really wrong with that system, except let's face it, I am lazy.  I had to get the boxes down, find the right baggie, open it up and find the piece of paper I am looking for.  Plus the clean up was tedious!  I had to sort the scraps, pull down the boxes, find the right baggie, yadda yadda yadda.  Way too much work!  Especially when I am making 30 to 50 cards a day!

Soooooo, I switched up my method!

I picked up two 12x12 plastic 3-drawer systems at Wal-Mart for $12 and each drawer has a color family!  I just whip it open throw in scraps I am not using or pull out the little drawer and grab out the piece I need!  The green box you can kind of see at the top does hold all of my white and ivory paper because I use that the most and most of the time I need to size it so I can just take the whole box with me.

I can't tell you how wonderful this new system has been and how much time it has saved me!

Love, love, love, love!!

Re-Organization of the Cottage

Spending VERY LONG hours in the cottage making a slew of cards has really jump started the "re-organizing of the cottage" project.  It started out as just a couple of tweaks, but now that I have totally been engrossed in the functionality of my space I need to get some things changed pronto!

Last weekend, my hubby braved the snowy weather and took me to town to pick up a few emergency supplies and this weekend I have been having a blast at Michael's and Hobby Lobby with my family back in Gilbert!  Oh my gosh!  Wait til you see some of the fun things I picked up to help organize all of my goodies!

Although a few things are going to need to be re-organized, I am happy to report that my color organization and stamps are still AMAZING!  Talk about life savers when it came to making cards this past week now I just need to get the rest of the cottage running just as smooth!

I promised my honey that I would get our room and office organized on Tuesday, but Wednesday...oh, that is all my cottage!!!!!!!  Unless I sneak away and do a little bit of work on my "breaks" from the house!  he he he

I will post pictures of some of the changes when I finish them up along with pictures of the cards I have been working on as soon as I get back home.  I totally forgot my camera cord so pics will have to wait!

Until then, stay warm!!!

Suzanne

Down with Pneumonia

Well I don't think this Valley of the Sun girl was meant for winter!  Winter for me is typically FREEZING when it is in the 60's and taking the pooch for a walk in 30 degree weather probably wasn't my brightest moment!  Therein, Suzanne got to spend the entire Thanksgiving holiday with pneumonia. My poor husband had 5 days off for the holiday and he has spent the last 8 days playing nursemaid to his wimpy wife, even going so far as going to the gas station at 1:30am to get me Vick's vapor rub.  He REALLY deserves a GREAT Christmas/Birthday/Anniversary present this year!

Aside from the "sunburn" side affect from the meds, I think I am doing a bit better, but then I thought that on Wednesday morning before I over did it!  Oops!  But I definitely need to kick this in the can before I do my 7 hour drive back to SUNNY and WARM Arizona on Friday, hold my last Christmas card class AND I need to kick out 375 cards by December 13!  I think I need a healthy Suzy Clone!

So HOPEFULLY I will be posting some of the latest creations on my blog SOON!

Hope everyone had yummy turkey, tasty taters, and lots of pumpkin pie for the holiday!

Happy Stamping!
Suzanne

Simple Christmas Greetings

I had a slam dunk rush to get some Christmas cards finished and out the door in less than a day and I am happy to say I got all I needed out the door just in the nick of time!  Some of the cards I tweaked and made a bit more simple than the originals, some were CASE'd and then there are the ones I have fallen in love with!  Enjoy!  Now off to get my butt in gear so I can finish the last of the 345 cards yet to make before December 1st!  Eeeek!

MY FAV!!!

Our App is LIVE!

That's right!  Suzy's Card Classes App is LIVE and ready to go!  Can't find us in the app search?  Go ahead and scan the QR code and instantly have it on your phone!

Talk about FUN FUN FUN!  

You can RSVP for classes, pre pay, get discounts, check out our pictures, purchase cards and connect with us on Facebook all from the convenience of your Smart Phone!  Don't have a smart phone?  That's ok, because the app is on the main page of our blog!  You can plan and have a wonderful time right from our blog site and still get all the features that the phone app has.

So download and send me your feedback!!!!

Thanks and happy stamping!

Suzanne

Heading into the App World

Our new app is coming to a phone near you!  That's right, I have made into the App World!!!!   During our Advanced Card Class this past Saturday, Nikki and Marsha came up with a great idea of having an App for my classes.  This way they always knew when the classes were, what we were making and what time the classes were.

Well ladies, you talked and I listened and today I created my very own app!  I was able to publish it to my blog today and the app for the Android and iPhones will be up and running in about a week.  Of course, now that I have submitted I have TONS of ideas to update the app with!  I am just giddy with glee every time I think of it!

Before it goes live, you can check out the app in action on the right hand side of my blog!

As soon as it goes live into the App World, I will let you all know where to find it!!!!

Did I mention I was super excited????

Happy Stamping!
Suzanne

Why I Stamp

A hobby is one of those wonderful little gifts that we give to ourselves; purely selfish, all about "me", makes me happy and no one can take it away endeavors.  There are many different reasons for having hobbies and let's face it, regardless of the reason a hobby is an essential part of being YOU.

For me, one of my hobbies includes stamping and making cards and I LOVE IT!  However, it wasn't a love that I actually HAD, it was one I fell into accidentally and I can't tell you how instrumental it has been in my life.  Let's face it, stamping saved my sanity!!!

Reasons for My Saved Sanity (which is still questionable!)

• I went through a BAD break up where I locked myself away from the world and I sat in my jammies all weekend long and made cards to my little hearts content!  Not that I think hiding from the world is HEALTHY, it did give me the time to really look at myself and make some much needed changes to me and my life.  PLUS, it was a lot more fun than therapy!  

How could I NOT stay in my jammies and play with a room like this?

• Stamping allows my mind to be free to really get in some serious "me" time.  To contemplate change in my life, plot ways of combating the fight with my son over homework, fantasize about far away places and listen to great music that I love. 

• Stamping is so much better than therapy!  Not that I can say it is cheaper, but it is better!  Not only is better for some alone time, but when I have the girls over for a class it is like a wonderful group therapy!  We all get to leave our "motherly" responsibilities at the door.  We have girl time and don't have to worry about cleaning the kitchen, dealing with our children's attitudes, our men's dirty socks in the middle of the floor or the worries and the frets of daily life.

• Earlier this year, I picked up and moved away from my home, from my family, from my children, from the world I know and loved most.  I got married last December and it was time for me to actually go and live with my hubby!  (A novel concept, yes?)  Thankfully, explaining to him the importance of having a stamp room was not lost to him and he THANKFULLY built me a little cottage to stamp in. I can not tell you how ESSENTIAL my cottage is to my well being!  When the emotions of feeling overwhelmed or missing my family is at its pinnacle, I can go into my cottage, get away from it all and pull myself together.  It is my sanctuary!  I absolutely HATE the place I live in, but Stephan has created my own little oasis, my own perfect paradise, my piece of heaven.  I don't think I would have been able to handle the change without having my cottage and my stamps surrounding me.

At the end of the day, stamping HAS saved my sanity.  It gives me time to think, boosts my self confidence, makes me stronger to deal with all of life's trials and tribulations, brings me closer to friends, allows me time to dream and the best part is I get to share it with other people!

Of course, I should take this time to say, "Thank you, Mom!  Thank you for buying those Stampin' Up! stamps at Tina's party 15 years ago, thank you for encouraging me, for helping me decorate my studio all of those times and for all of your holiday card orders!!!"

Happy Stamping and Happy Hobbying!  

Suzanne

Stampin' Up!

For those of you who are Stampin' Up! demonstrators, is anyone else having issues with the shipping lately??  I placed a HUGE order and they are shipping it through the USPS???????   So I don't have a tracking number AND I have a PO Box.

Help!!!

Christmas Card Class

Today is the last day that Garrett will be here before he goes back to Arizona and we have had a nice week!  I figured I would give him a break from his mom and let him zone out in front of the TV and I would get some work done.  One of which is posting my Christmas cards for our Christmas Card Class coming up!

I had a hard time getting the cards just right and totally lost my mojo last week and had to smack myself around to clear the cobwebs out of my head, but I finally have it!

Tracie Inspired 

Vicki Card

Tracie and Vicki are two of the ladies that attend my card classes and these cards were just too perfect and fitted their personalities like a glove!  Or a shoe in Vicki's case!

The classes have been a huge hit and I am now up to three different dates!!!!

If you would like to join us we have:

Saturday, November 10th - Chandler, AZ

Saturday, November 17th - Aztec, NM

Saturday, December 1st - Chandler, AZ

You can RSVP on our website!

Reason to Smile

This has such a summery feel to it and I love the simplistic style.  I haven't used Calypso Coral too often, but I think with the Daffodil Delight and the Lucky Limeade it just looks perfect!  Plus, I got rid of some more buttons!!!!  

Butterfly Dreams

I just love the soft whimsical feel of this card!  I saw another card very similar to this somewhere and I thought it was just too wonderful not to CASE.  It was fun and so simple to stamp and I just love it!

Octopus Fun

For some reason kid cards really kick my butt!  Men card are difficult, but kid cards, ugh!  I come to a complete stand still and review all the reasons why I shouldn't even bother!  But this card turned out so cute and I had a blast making it!  The Pacific Point and Lucky Limeade just look so amazing together!!

It is hard to tell in the picture, but I did some Ice Embossing Powder over the scallop circle with the octopus on it and it really adds a nifty texture.  I just love the fan embossing folder as it reminds me so much of waves and works perfectly with the ocean theme.

I think I am going to do a similar card using the turtle from the Summer Splash stamp set.  He is just too cute not too!

Triple Layer Daisy

I have been absolutely paranoid to try the triple layer cards.  It just seemed like way too much cutting and size configurations to really bother my scattered brain with.  But Lyssa at Song of My Heart Stampers is amazing and she did this incredibly easy tutorial on how to cut, stamp and create an amazing card!

So I figured I would try my hand at it!

After making a couple of the triple layer cards, I will admit I feel a little silly being so intimidated.  Now, I laugh in the face of the Triple Layer Card Monster!  =)

Happy Stamping!
Suzanne    

Busy, Busy, Busy

It has been an absolutely crazy few weeks and like most everyone else, it promises to get even more chaotic!  I have over 600 cards to make by December 1st, 3 card classes left in the year, 3 more Virtual Card Classes, my parents are moving this coming week, my son is coming to visit next week for 5 whole days!!!  I think it is safe to say no cards will be made next week with Garrett in town.  However a trip to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Durango is DEFINITELY in order!

In the meantime, I have been busy whipping up cards and putting together card matrix to keep track of all the orders.  Which reminds me!  I need to put together some Christmas cards to put in the antique shop!  Ahhhhhh!   Better add that one to the list!

Here is one of the cutesy birthday cards I made last week.  It was nice to pull out the buttons and use those up!  I have really enjoyed the Reason to Smile stamp set and Melon Mambo with the Pumpkin Pie just makes such a cheery card!

Wait til you see the other cards I have made using the same stamp set!

Happy Stamping!
Suzanne

Cookie Boy

I have been dying to use the cute quote on the front of this card and what better use for it then on this adorable Cookie Boy card?!  I am loving the More Merry Messages and Scentsational Season stamp set with coordinating Framelits!  Because let's face it, there is no way I would cut that little cutie out with scissors!

I figured a little bit of bling for his buttons were in order to jazz him up for the holidays a bit!

LOVE HIM! 

Thanksgiving Card Class

It feels so wonderful getting back in the groove of having my card classes planned out and next classes cards finished!!  This Saturday is the Halloween Card Class AND I will even have my Thanksgiving Cards there for all to see!   SO HAPPY!  Plus, now that I have my website up and running, you can even RSVP for the class online!

 RSVP for Thanksgiving Class!

This is my FAV!  I love the pumpkins!

Happy Stamping!
Suzanne

New Website

I have been having a fun time working on my new website and although it isn't COMPLETE it is a start!  I must say that my favorite part so far is the sign up section for my classes!  I am REALLY hoping that it works out well and helps with streamlining all of the RSVP's.

Right now I use a combination of Facebook and email and even though Facebook is very convenient, not everyone replies or is even on Facebook so I have to go back to email.  Which, let's face it, is really the best way.  HOWEVER, I use Constant Contact for newsletters and such so maybe I can integrate the email in with the website RSVP page!   Oh ya, baby!

I would really like to get my little shop up and running by the end of this month, so we shall see! Hopefully the busy gods will take pity on me and leave me to my own devices!

So if you get a chance, head on over to Greetings From Suzanne and let me know what you think!

Happy Stamping!

Suzanne

Suzy Sells Sea Shells

I absolutely loved making this cute little card, although now that I am looking at it, I should have added some twine!  I used a bit of the Iridescent Ice embossing powder to give it a bit of a sandy look.  I am not a fan of cutting out little critters, but it worked out fabulous with the shell, starfish and sand dollar. Except for forgetting about the power of the twine, I think it came out quite nicely and I may just have to do this for one of my classes!

Happy Stamping!
Suzanne

Busting Out the Classes

As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I know I should be doing parties and building up my business, participating in swaps, going to events and meetings, but at the end of the day I just like making cards and hosting workshops.

I was going to switch it up a bit and get out of my comfort zone, but then I realized that 1) it was a lot of work 2) I was slacking on some of my workshop duties 3) why was I trying to "change it up" when all I really need to do is make it better!

So after a couple of months of trial and error I am back to where I need to be!  Getting my butt in gear with my current workshop group, adding an advanced class because let's face it, my girls are amazing and they need a bit of a challenge every now and again, AND I am going to take advantage of living in two states!

I have an amazing network of ladies in my hometown of Gilbert, but I am only there 8 to 10 days a month.  The rest of the time I am in Bloomfield so my brilliant husband suggested I get out of "the compound" and get to hosting more workshops!  He has some great ideas every now and again!

I did a bit of calling around and the Aztec library has rooms for $25 and let me tell you, Aztec is the cutest town!!!  I don't have to go into Farmington (ick), I get out of the congested and construction hell of Bloomfield and we can all meet in the middle in cute little ol' Aztec!  With hanging flower baskets on the street lamps, an adorable small town feel, and it even comes complete with a Scottish Fiddle Society!  Not that the Scottish Fiddle Society has anything to do with making cards, I just love that they have one!

Of course, being new to town and only knowing two people aside from my husband and his family, I may have an issue with finding people.  I am, however, going to brow beat my two cousins who live in Aztec to go my classes.  They may torture me with promises of other things, but it may be worth the pain and suffering!  I am hoping the library will allow me to put up a flyer or something and I may even try to coerce my husband to hand some out at his school to some of his teacher friends.  =)

All else fails, I may resort to begging on the streets or dragging women in by their hair caveman style.  Although, it would be super wonderful if anyone has any other ideas, aside from the club and hair dragging, to bringing in the card makers I would be most grateful for the suggestions!!  I would hate to get arrested during  my first New Mexico card class attempt!

Happy Stamping!
Suzanne

Cupcakes and Birthdays

Nothing says "birthday" quite like yummy cupcakes!  I had an absolute ball playing with the cupcake and cherry stamps from Stamps by Judith.  This month's Virtual Card Class features the cupcake stamps and this is just one way of mixing it up and having some fun!

Sad attempt at stenciling

Last week, Jordyn and I painted the small wall in my cottage a gorgeous shade of blue!  I have the drop down ladder into the loft that comes right down against the wall and I can't put a dang thing on the wall nor can I put anything in the middle of the wall.  So I got this brilliant idea to stencil big dandelions on the wall!

Super cute, right?

Well, it SHOULD be super cute, but it is an EPIC fail!

 The first dandelion I did is the one in the lower left.  Talk about SMEARING!  I wanted it to be super white, but all I got was a super smunched wanna be dandelion.  By the time I did the last one (the third from the left) I was getting the hang of it, but alas, they will never be a vibrant white dandelion, only a "watermark" dandelion.

My poor dragonfly was quite the white blob, but I broke down and opened the can of blue of paint and fixed him up quite nicely.

Those little floating white things are dandelion tufts...or they are supposed to be!

I used the blue painters tape to hang them up with and I should have used the spray adhesive, maybe they would have turned out better!

OR I should just stick to making cards and leaving it at that!

Halloween Cards

Before Jordyn got her for her week vacation before college starts back up again, I DID get some work done on some cards.  Primarily because I want her help in putting the kits together for my Halloween class coming up in September!

I was a nice mom and took her shopping today and we went crazy at the thrift stores buying up books!  Most of them were $.50 to a $1.00 and we had a BALL!  I even splurged and took her out to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory!  Yep, I think I am a GREAT mom!

So when she has to start putting kits together for my next 3 classes coming up in the next month, I don't think she has room to complain!

So I am thinking in between piddle patrol, putting together kits and puppy proofing the cottage Jordyn is going to be one busy girl the last couple of days of her vacation!

Happy Stamping!
Suzanne

New Addition to our Family

It has been a very quiet last couple of weeks for me as far as the computer goes.  I have been enjoying the company of my daughter who is up visiting me for a week AND we decided to add another family member to my Gooseberry Cottage Menagerie!

Currently I have, Vinnie the Tortoise, who after a nasty run in with my poochy Marley, is doing very well and back to zipping around his turtle pen.  There is also Barry and Baby Barry the frogs that live in the courtyard at night.  Evel Knievel the Lizard that enjoys jumping OVER Vinnie's pen at break neck speeds, two praying mantises that are keeping our tomatoes safe, the plethora of birds that are NOT keeping the flies, mosquitoes or hornets away, but they are fun to watch and listen to.  You would think that would be enough, but I am missing Marley something fierce and I just HAD to get a new poochie!  (Marley went back to Arizona with my son and as much as I miss the boy, I may just miss the pooch a tad bit more!  he he he  KIDDING!....Kinda!)

So after MUCH ridiculous begging and pleading, I talked my husband into getting another dog and I would LOVE to introduce you to Miss Hedy LaMoore!

Chewing on her ball with Jordyn

Sniffing out the bad guys!

Chillin

We aren't too sure what kind of dog she is as we got her from the Humane Society in town, but she is too stinking cute, has big feet and is sleeping nicely in her crate.  So how could I not have fallen in love with her?!  Of course, asking me after she has chewed up something terribly important will probably be the true test of doggy love!

Cupcake Retreat

Well we made it!  7 months in the making, 6 and a half hours in the stamping and a whole slew of cupcakes to be eaten!  I would say we had a wonderful little success in our first stamp retreat.  We had 17 wonderful ladies show up and Kathy saved my batootie at the last minute when we out grew our original location for the Cupcake Retreat!  I even got to see an old costume I wore and my mom made 20 years ago!  (No, there is no way I could still fit in the Cinderella dress!  20 years and more than 20 pounds later doesn't crack it!)

Cupcake Bunkies

 These cute little bags were designed by my mom and she made one for everyone.  They are the perfect size to put your supplies in; tape, pearls, Dimensionals and finished cards.  Love, love, love them!  THANK YOU, MOM!

Cupcake Prizes

You can't have a party without give-a-ways, right?  We had a fun "grab bag" section for those people who brought cupcakes.  We had cupcake card sets, cupcake topper picks, an apron, cupcake tray, cupcake pins, so much fun!

Grandma and mom getting started early

The room all set up!

Then of course we had some of our finished products!

Crystal Effects sat out to dry

Absolutely love the tilted ones!

Thank you to all of the ladies who came out and have a fun time and all of the newbies!  Since we had a unanimous decision to do this again, we will definitely make some changes!!   Earlier and mid break were wonderful suggestions!!!

Happy Stamping!
Suzanne