I'm out enjoying my summer vacation with my fam, but IT'S still D-WEEK!! D is for Deals and Discounts!! Wahoo!!  Simply Serif Mini Alphabet Set 20% off!  Only $25.57 and perfect for labelling all of your kids' school supplies as well as personalizing any card or scrapbook page.

D-Week continues until Tuesday, September 4th. 

I can see how very fun it is to play along with online challenges. So, I'm going to try create projects for a couple of regular challenges and then decide which ones to stick with.  Here is a sketch challenge called retrosketches that I have used to create a digital page.  Hope you like it. 

Following the Stampin' Up Convention one of my goals was to post a video. I had no idea what I would do a video about or how to go about making a video, or who may want to watch my video, but nonetheless I set out with that goal. So... guess what I did today? Yep, recorded, edited and posted my first video! Wanna see it?

You're already heading for the kitchen for a fork aren't you? 

Here is another look at the cards I made using the bows in the video.

I had a ton of fun making my first video and now that I've done it once it will be easier to do more.
Hopefully, not only do you think I'm a superstar, but that you also go ahead and try making this cute bow then share your projects below :)

Okay okay. I guess I can not just simply post the Scrapbook and Cards Today August Colour Challenge for you to do.  I suppose I will play along too.  Oh oh, don't twist my arm. 
But seriously, I have been sharing the monthly colour challenges, and while I love looking at them I hadn't had the guts to try to make something with the colours that they had put together.
I am getting braver! That is a good thing. 
And I think I picked a good month to start because these are my kind of colours. I gotta have the neutrals but I like the pop of the pool party, pacific point, and gumball green. 
I was all set to go down to my idea studio to make a card (which seems to be a new usual for me) but instead I opened up the new My Digital Studio 2 to play (oh what fun it is) and here is what I created.  

I really like the Howlstooth and Scaringbone Designer Series Paper and can really see how versatile it will be throughout the year, so that was where I started.  I also have seen a ton of cute projects with hexagons and wanted to try it out. The rest just kind of came together.  The pictures are of our family friend Anne who visited us last summer from Finland. She really enjoys art and I hope that she would like this page. 
What do you think of my first attempt at the Colour Challenge? 

I like hearing from you. I like hearing your opinions, likes dislikes, suggestions, and about your life. Really. I do.  That is part of the reason why I have set up a survey to find out more from you.  I would love to have classes that you love and have the at times when you can make it.  If you wouldn't particularly mind spending 2 minutes to fill this out that would be great http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2LNTWZ6.  Thanks.

BTW, when you participate you can enter into a draw for a $20 gift certificate.  You have until August 15th at 11:59 to enter. It is so worth your two minutes... believe me.  

Youw ill be happy to know that I did not spend my long weekend in front of my computer entirely, but I did sneak away to play with My Digital Studio 2+.  As mentioned before I tinkered with digital designing last year using Microsoft Publisher...I was able to do some basics and that was fine with me. Though there were some things I would have liked to do, but it just didn't have that capacity.  Now, with My Digital Studio 2 I thought why not give it a test drive.  
As we were camping I did not have any access to tutorials on the web or anything, so my first try out of the gate I created a 12x12 scrapbook page using a designer template and that was really super easy.  Here it is:    

Not too bad, hey?  But then again, using an already designed page makes it pretty difficult to mess it up.  So then I decided to stretch myself a bit and create a 12x12 page from a blank canvas.  MDS 2 is fairly easy to navigate. I found the elements I was looking for quickly and could add and delete them to my layout with the click of a button.  Here is my solo attempt:

What do you think? I was inspired by the background paper with all the &s.  I love that it features pictures of my oldest son and I at different times over last few years.  I really like the overlay, the stamps, the ribbon, actually I really like the whole darn thing :)  I'm looking forward to looking at some of the tutorials and trying even more new cool techniques with the new MDS 2...stay tuned for more soon.

Just a brief post that my new craft room is coming along.  We got the pegboard up last night and organized nearly all of my tools and supplies.  And I moved a bit of furniture.  Today I got a new decorative inspirational element (oh, the suspense). And I finished sanding the new desk - next week I get to start priming - Hurrah!  I've got a creative idea for the outside of my door.  But, I've still got this big blank wall...hmmmm...still thinking on that one.  Will keep you posted on the progress.

For those who have a long weekend (like we do - BC Day) relish it! And post lots of pictures on Facebook tagging friends in other provinces and states (who do not have aforementioned long weekend) just to rub it in :D  LOL LOL LOL! 

So much Stampin' Up news to share with all of you :)

First, the new My Digital Studio 2 and 2+ are now available for download - Yay! Did I mention that you get a GREE 30 day trial - Double Yay!!  I tinkered with digital a bit last summer and really liked it, but haven't kept up with it.  From what I saw of the new MDS 2 at Convention I'm thinking it is going to be awesome.  I plan to download and play over this upcoming August long weekend, then I will hopefully have something to share.  BTW, to go along with the release of MDS 2 we have 31 days of saving with 31% off of 31 digital kits and printing products. What a way to start with digital - woo hoo!

Second, the new Holiday Mini Catalog is available! While at first I did think that it was a little early, I can now see the benefit of planning fall and winter classes now. Yep, while everyone is at the beach I am making snowflakes and dreaming of hot chocolate... well, not quite.  But, the catalog is amazing and has some super cool new products that I can not wait to create with. 

Third, August also boasts a Starter Kit bonus.  When you sign up in August, you not only get $155 worth of ANY PRODUCT you choose for just $125, you also get this sweet and scary Howl-o-Ween Printers Tray PLUS I will add a Christmas theme set to switch out for the next season!!  If you've considered the starter kit (for any of the many very good reasons, like "it's a great value, I love the products, but that's all I want" to "I would like to have a discount on the products that I am going to buy anways" to "This is a fantastic company and a great business opportunity for me and my family"  then give me a shout and we can chat about how Stampin' Up fits with you. 

Well, that's a lot of new news.  Take a minute. if you need to. Absorb it.  It's all good. Now go get you're FREE MDS download.  What are you waiting for?  Click the link!  HERE IT IS AGAIN! CLICK IT! ;)