Saturday, January 14, 2017

How to Create Perfect Family Photos

Oh the New Year. I love setting goals and planning out what I'm going to accomplish, but sometimes I think I might overdo it a little and slightly overwhelm myself. Either that or I distract myself with other projects! I always have half-finished projects that I plan on finishing...someday. Do you? Or am I the only one? I still have our family scrapbook from 2014 waiting for me to finish, as well as TONS of photos from our recent trip I need to get in a book! I know that's not too bad, but I want to stay on top of it all! I need to make it a priority and SCHEDULE time everyday to work on it until it's done. How do you keep on top of it all?

Speaking of that 2014 family scrapbook... I made a tutorial a couple years ago for a trick to get a perfect family portrait. Even though MDS has been phased out, it will still work with other programs. I totally forgot about it & it could have saved me a little stress over the holidays! ALL I wanted for Christmas this year was a family photo with EVERYONE looking. (I mean, we WERE in PARIS! My wildest dreams came true anyway!!!) Luckily, I did get one photo...


Not too shabby right? I should have taken my hat off, but at least we're all smiling. Anyway, when I got home from our trip and talked with my AWESOME business coach Brenda, she asked me about this tutorial. Honestly, I had completely forgotten about it!!! Or it was just in the back of my mind since MDS doesn't exist anymore. Well, DUH!!! It will still work with other programs! Oh happy day!!! I'm going to go back through our pictures and work my magic! So if I end up looking like Amy Adams or Emma Stone in my scrapbooks...you'll know why! *wink wink*

So here's the tutorial, and an apology for being MIA for a few days. I'm putting the finishing touches on this month's newsletter and you will NOT want to miss it!!! Make sure you are signed up for the "Red Hot Release" by entering your email in the box on the top right of this blog! Thanks again for stopping by!


Monday, January 2, 2017

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! 

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Wednesday, December 28, 2016

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!


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Monday, December 26, 2016

Let the New Year Bling!

Fill those cute tubes from September's Paper Pumpkin Kit with a few pinches of Fancy Frost Sequins! Just 1/3rd full is perfect for a midnight confetti toss! One of the benefits of being a Paper Pumpkin Subscriber is being able to order past kits!

The Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim is wrapped around the tube and secured with a glue dot.

Use the Star Framelits Dies and layer one inside the other to create this Blushing Bride Star outline. Layer the silver 17 with Multipurpose Adhesive OR glue dots if you don't have time to wait for it to dry! Wrap some silver metallic thread around the tube and tie the star to the tube.

Now you're ready to "bling" in the New Year!




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Friday, December 23, 2016

Last Minute Gift Ideas



Wait you didn't get a gift for Aunt Melba?!? Hurry! Send your husband or teenage daughter to the grocery store to grab a gift card (or two or three! You never know who else might show up!) and turn ANY card you have on hand into a gift card holder! You could also make a quick and simple card like this while they're gone! Don't have a card on hand? Grab a piece of 12x12 paper and make 3 gift card holders as shown in this video. Phew! Crisis averted!

I'm always here to help! Next month's newsletter will be going out soon, and you won't want to miss the fun projects, tips, tricks & tutorials inside! Make sure you signup today so you don't miss out!

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Fancy Frost Specialty Paper

I love all the beautiful Christmas products, but you know what I love even more? A beautiful Christmas product that I can keep using after the Holidays! This Designer Series Paper can be used for New Years, Valentine's, Wedding, Birthday, you name it! Take a look at the beautiful ways to use this versatile paper! 


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Monday, December 19, 2016

2017 Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration & Occasions PAPER

Enjoy this video of some of the beautiful paper that will be available starting January 4th! (Unless you want to join my team...then it's available NOW! Just sayin'!)