New Year Motivation

Is anyone else having a hard time getting back into the swing of things? We returned Friday night from our AMAZING vacation, and all I can think about is either crawling into bed or packing up and moving to Paris!!! It was SO AMAZING! Sophie keeps telling everyone how the Eiffel Tower sparkles. <3 We definitely made some memories to last a lifetime!

While we're happy to be back home, sleeping in our own beds, "playing with our own toys", we're all pretty sluggish - partly due to jet lag, but also partly due to the post vacation blues. The only way to combat this sluggishness is to get to work and FIND your motivation!

I am an avid goal setter, so I've spent today reflecting on my ideas for 2017. Today I'm going to share some suggestions that may help you get back into the groove! (And a project to display in your home to remind you of this motivation!)

Every year, instead of setting New Year's Resolutions, I choose a theme for the upcoming year. This year is Get Creative. While that obviously means practicing creativity everyday, I also want to use it as a reminder to explore all the options. Instead of running out and buying a new whatever, can I do without it? Is there something else that can work in it's place that I already have? It reminds me of a saying I've heard my entire life:

Use it up,

Wear it out,

Make it do,

or do without! 

What does that have to do with stamping? Well, there's a box sitting by my desk full of fun new product. Is it going to collect dust and be sold in new condition once it retires? Or is it going to be put to use creating lots of beautiful cards to send to friends and family to celebrate a special occasion or brighten a gloomy day? My GOAL is to put it to use! Use it up and make room for more! 

I've also discovered that a creative brain needs more than just one focus, so with my yearly theme, I then use the following list of words to prompt me with specific things to focus on.

Start

Plan

Read

Achieve

Remember

Recognize

Become

Go

Improve

Less

More

Practice

Learn

Just fill in the blank after each word to find some motivation for the year/month/week/day! (For example you could say START a garden, PLAN your meals, etc.) From THESE focuses you can set "SMART" goals. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely)

Of course, while thinking about these goals is fun and fulfilling, making a cute reminder to hang up on the wall is even better! Use the Large Numbers Framelits Dies to cut out 2017 from your choice of glimmer paper. Adhere that to the top of your choice of cardstock, then stamp the above list of words down the side of the page. Another option would be to type it up in a pretty font or just use your own handwriting in your favorite stampin' write markers! 

Product List

Large Numbers Framelits Dies

[140622]

$31.00

Labeler Alphabet Photopolymer Stamp Set

[141936]

$17.00

Gold Glimmer Paper

[133719]

$5.00

Silver Glimmer Paper

[135314]

$5.00

Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper

[135315]

$5.00

Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper

[140550]

$5.00

Red Glimmer Paper

[121790]

$5.00

Many Marvelous Markers

[131264]

$110.00

Brights Stampin' Write Markers

[131259]

$29.00

Regals Stampin' Write Markers

[131262]

$29.00

Subtles Stampin' Write Markers

[131263]

$29.00

Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers

[131261]

$23.00

Ways to Reuse, Recycle Christmas Cards!

Well, Christmas is over and if you haven't already cleaned up for New Year's Eve, you will soon! It's always sad to put away Christmas, and one thing I especially hate throwing out are Christmas cards! The fact that someone took the time to send me a card in the mail means a lot. Isn't there a way to reuse that beautiful card without tossing it? Pinterest to the rescue! I found this fun post with 9 ways to reuse those cards. It got me thinking about all those fun die cuts that would look phenomenal with Christmas cards!

Oh my goodness, #5- can you imagine that with the Home Sweet Home thinlits??? SO CUTE! To get a variety of sizes, you can also use the Baker's Box Thinlits!

You can make garland using ANY of our punches or framelits and ribbon!

With the tag topper punch you can EASILY turn cards into gift tags!


Product List

Home Sweet Home Thinlits Dies

[140279]

$38.00

Baker's Box Thinlits Dies

[138279]

$33.00

Tag Topper Scalloped Punch

[133324]

$23.00

Banner Triple Punch

[138292]

$23.00

Paper Pumpkin September 2016: Something Good to Eat

It's not too late to get your Halloween on!  Join me for a "virtual party" on Tuesday October 11th ! You guys are gonna LOVE this!!! 

Here's one project we're going to make:

The best part is that ALL make & take supplies are included (YES, the frame is included!!!) with any order of $25 or more if you use hostess code: MBXA3QDS at checkout! SHOP NOW or during the virtual party! This offer and hostess code is good until Friday October 14th at midnight.

Now...I LOVE Halloween projects, so I always look forward to the September Paper Pumpkin kit! This year was no exception! In fact, it was THE FIRST kit that I didn't know what was coming before I opened the box! I was HOPING for a Halloween kit, and OH MY GOODNESS did Stampin' Up! deliver!!! Seriously, EVERY Halloween kit has been one of my favorites!!! Even better, these ADORABLE containers can be used for ANYTHING!!! I'm planning on SOOOOO many different holidays with them! I may or may not have already ordered several refill kits. :) I absolutely LOVE the pre-printed Halloween tags. I kinda wish they were part of the stamp set! That cat and cauldron! Supah cute!  I know some of you are so not into Halloween.... we can still be friends. Seriously, this kit is ALL about those adorable test tubes! You can use them for ANY occasion!!!

Unfortunately, I haven't had time to put anything together yet, but I DID make the case insert. I posted it in THIS facebook group but figured there were some of you who might not have seen it yet. So here you go! If you have any questions on printing, PLEASE post them in that group and as a community we can get it all figured out for you!!! Thanks again for stopping by!!!

---

LOAD of Paper Pumpkins!!!

Holy Moly this was 5 years ago!!!

Oh my goodness. So, I keep going back and forth with Paper Pumpkin. Should I continue to make the case inserts? Should I continue my subscription? Yes? No? Well here's what I decided after my New Catalog Kickoff party: even though some of my monthly boxes sit collecting dust, they were a GREAT quick and easy make and take to leave on the table, instructions included, when I had ZERO time to prep! So subscription? CHECK! I can't give up this sweet monthly treat!!!


Case inserts on the other hand... here's the deal. My computer is on it's last leg (or whatever the computer equivalent of a leg would be) so it's not as easy as it once was to create the insert and post it. HOWEVER, if there are enough people who use them, please leave a comment below and I will continue. Otherwise, I'm gonna have to be done. I have no idea how many people really do use these printables. So, if I can get say... 50? comments below I'll continue. That being said, here are a few printable case inserts of the past few months and a fun alternate project I made for my little entryway display shelf with this months SUPER CUTE kit!!!

Printable for May

 Printables for April

March printable is in the works... check back soon. I'll also have printables for a few of the stamp sets that are exclusive to card kits! (Watercolor Wishes & Oh Happy Day...) 

Also, don't forget to leave your comments! Otherwise, once I finish what I've already started, this will be the end of the printable case inserts. Just let me know if you use the case insert or not! Thanks for stopping by!