Look What Penny Made Me!

As a member of my sister's Stampin' Up! demonstrator group, The T.O.P.I.C.S., (Touching Others with Paper, Ink, Creativity, and Stamps), I was able to attend our annual weekend retreat in Texas. We had a blast! (If you would like to go next year, talk to me about becoming a demonstrator and you can go too!) As a little perk for attending, Penny made each of us one of these cute, cute monogram necklaces, made out of bottle caps! I put the little black 'Bauble' on the bottom. Isn't it cute? I love it. Thanks, Penny, and thanks for a wonderful weekend of stamping my little heart out!

The BIG SHOT Club

I am starting a fun new club with great benefits!

Take a look at this:

Starting in November and after a four month period (in February), you will receive the BIG SHOT Die-Cutting Machine; the Extended Cutting Pads; the Decorative Strip Spacer Platform; the Extended Premium Crease Pad, the Standard Premium Crease Pad; the Decorative Strip Cutting pads; the Standard Texturz Impressions Pad; the Standard Texturz Silicone Rubber Pad; eight die-cut pieces from selected dies (two per month) for you to inspect!

PLUS

A Level 1 Hostess Set

PLUS

$15 in FREE merchandise

PLUS

Three Sale-A-Bration items!

After four months of $49.25, you will receive all of the above! What a great way to acquire all you need to get started making beautiful projects with your new

BIG SHOT!

Contact me today to get your name on the Club list.

pamdurso@sbcglobal.net

Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack Blitz!

The Clearance Rack has been operational for over a year now. It is a great place to discover discontinued Stampin' Up! merchandise for fantastic prices. Now, from October 5 - 18, they have added over two hundred more discontinued items--some up to 80 percent off!

Things to know about the Clearance Rack Blitz:

*Orders for Clearance Rack items can be placed through my Online Store.

*Qualifying orders are eligible for Hostess Benefits/Stampin' Rewards.

*While the Blitz lasts from October 5 - 18, some items, depending on availability, may be made available in the Clearance Rack in the future.

*All discontinued items are available only while supplies last.

*All sales of discontinued items are final.

Come see all the new items in the Clearance Rack and share them with your stamping friends. These are all discontinued items and are only available in my online store! To order online, simply go to my website, http://www.pamdurso.stampinup.net/ and click on the Products Shop Now icon at the top of the page. It will take you to the shopping page. The Clearance Rack icon is on the left of that page. Click that and you are on your way to some great savings!

Have Fun!

Spooky Cuteness

OMG! How cute is this? These little goodies were made with the Petal Card Punch! Punch two, put them together and you have a little 'box' just big enough for a chocolate nugget! They were originally created by Patti Lee, http://www.creationsbypatti.blogspot.com/

Just too flippin' cute.

The pumpkin is made by putting three oval punches together. The mummy is made with the Word Window punch. And the scary bat's wings are made with the 1 3/4" circle punch, cut in half, then punching that piece with the 1/2" circle punch. A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!

Pieces of Heart Stampers Day of Fun

Several of us were very lucky to attend the Happy Holidaze Demonstrator Event in Ferguson, Missouri, Saturday. It was a wonderful day of learning, swapping, visiting, EATING, and of course, stamping. It was flawlessly put together by some very awesome people. I would like to especially thank Karen Graff-Povis, Sarah Klasing, and Sally Nusbaum for making our group feel so welcome and for all they did to put it together.

We put together a display board of some of our works of heart. Here Jayne and Judy are hard at work 'fastening' our cards to the board.
We were pretty proud of the interest our cards generated at the event.

I was honored to have been asked to demonstrate some of the things you can do with the Simply Adorned jewelry line for them. Here is my table with all my goodies displayed. It was fun, but how can you go wrong with all those pretty things?

I always forget to take a picture while we are stamping. But did remember just before we left at the end of the event. That's the cleanest our table was the whole day!
Love these ladies!
Starting from the left is Patty Schnell, Jayne Singleton, (it was her birthday and the whole room sang to her!), Theresa Tesson, and Judy Sumner.
We are already looking forward to the next get-together!

My Kind of Pencil!

Yep, I jumped on the bandwagon and made one too. It's a roll of Rollos, with a Kiss as the point. I KNOW! A chocolate pencil!

Kinda silly, kinda cute, very delicious!

Miss D'Urso's Pencil Holder

From what I understand, a third grade classroom really goes through pencils. What a cute way to keep them on the desk of the third grade teacher!

I just happen to know a third grade teacher, and I thought she could use one on her desk!

I don't have delusions that it won't get beat up by third grade, grabbing fingers,

but in the meantime,

it's cute.

Maybe when she has had a rough day,

she can look at it and know that Mom loves her,

even though she is all 'growed up' and a third grade teacher.

September Halloween Stamp Camp

I had so much fun putting this camp together.

I basically used the Wicked Cool Stamp set and the Wicked Fun Designer Papers with a few others sprinkled in.

To make the flames glow,

we 'stamped' a pencil eraser in Daffodil Delight ink and accented each one.

SPOOKY!

This witch is trying to hide,

but with the 'bling' on her boots she won't have much luck.

We used the Big Shot Spider Web Embossing Folder on card stock vellum for this card.
What you can't see very well in this picture, is that we also sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds on a few strands of the web to give it a dewy look.
On top, is the new Raven Lace. It's so soft and pretty. We tied it several times to mimic a spider. But it's a pretty spider, don't you think?


Hey, it's Halloween! Gotta have chocolate!
This little box is made with the Scalloped Envelope die, using the Word Window punch for the handle. We put two together and tied it up pretty with a satin ribbon.

It just so happens that a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup fits very nicely inside.

Love a chance to make a card look dirty.

Using the Spritzer tool, we did a pretty good job in the dirty department.

We took a strip of the Wicked Cool Designer Paper and fanned it out underneath our sentiment.

Trick or Treat!

Over The Top!

We have some very good friends leaving on a cruise soon. They are lucky enough to have booked a cabin on the new Royal Caribbean ship called the Oasis of the Seas. It is supposed to be 'over the top' wonderful. I couldn't let them leave without a bon voyage from me.

I feel I was lucky enough to have found this little work of art from Heather Klump, who, besides Penny, is my favorite stamper of all time! She is just 'over the top' wonderful too! If you get a chance to check her art, ( I believe her designs are ART!) on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ you will not be disappointed. I immediately went to work on reproducing it.

Could there ever be a better card than this to send to my lucky friends?

This stamp is from a retired set called Words by Wilson. Blender pens were used to catch the shadows and water. It was cut out and then popped up using dimensionals, the water then was placed on top of that.
I think I see Marge and Rich up front wearing the red hats!
Bon Voyage!

Thank you, Heather.

Scholarly Owl

This little guy is so versatile. He is made with our new Two-Step Owl punch and I just love him. On this card, he is learning his ABC's. And look how clever he is to have found a greeting in them! Probably because he is wearing his Poppy Parade spectacles. I think even Sally Jessy Raphael would be jealous! (If you don't remember her, please don't tell me. I am showing my age!) The pencil is made with the Word Window punch and the tip of the Star punch.

Lisa Young is the inspired stamper who designed this cutie.

Houston - We Have a New Driver!

This card is for my nephew in Houston, who just received his driver's license!

I'm proud of him, and wanted to send a special card.

This little car was so easy to make using circle, oval, and label punches.

I especially like the star on the left. It reminds me of the old Texaco station signs.

Appropriate, don't you think?

Anyway, if you see him on the road......give him a thumbs up!

Love ya, Hunter!

Breaks My Heart

I have always had a sentimental attachment to my trees. We were so proud that our Pin Oak in the front yard and the Ash in the back were two of the prettiest and tallest in the neighborhood. I used to turn the corner onto our street in the fall and look at the

splendid colors coming from them,

and it just made me feel good.

Our Ash tree, in the backyard, succumbed this year, to a infestation that hit many in our area. It wasn't long before it was just a sad, pathetic sight. We knew it had to come down before it fell on our house or our neighbors'.

I restrained myself from locking my arms around it and forbidding them to take it down. Instead, I just watched from my bedroom window with tears in my eyes.
That's not a woodpecker! It's a man, taking the tree down all by himself! I was terrified for him, because if something happened to him, I would have to save him!

Boy, would he be in trouble!
I think the reason it was so painful is because so many moments in our lives have been shared with this tree. We have been in this house 26 years. Megan is 28, and Kim is 26. This was their playground while growing up. Under that very tree, they had their picture taken with their first dog. It's where I set up their little blow-up pool, to protect them from the sun. It's where their swing-set sat. It's where confirmation pictures were taken, and then prom. As they grew up, so did that tree. It kept the backyard shaded and cool while we grilled on the patio. It's where the birds nested in the birdhouses my father-in-law made for me. And where the squirrels (I named them Stumpy, who we believe had a run-in with a hawk, and Rusty), entertained me at the kitchen window, while I washed dishes.
Now it's all gone, but the memories.
It breaks my heart.

Punchie Pumpkins

Wow, as soon as we hit September, the weather turned cool and crisp.

Made me think of Fall and all that goes with it.

Steve bought a fire pit last year and I can't wait to try it out with S'mores,

all bundled up listening to football!

(Later smelling like campfire

and having to jump in the tub and throwing our clothes in the washer to get out the smell.

I wasn't a shining example of Girl Scouts, ok? I did, however, like the S'mores part!)

Anyway, one of the things I thought of was PUMPKINS! These two cards are from past camps, and have a Thanksgiving sentiment, but could easily be made for Halloween.

I think this is my all-time favorite pumpkin card. So simple. I simply punched five ovals in Pumpkin Pie (hmm, fitting!), and one in a Garden Green for the 'stem'. Using a sponge, I brushed the edges to give it that shadowed look. Taped them altogether and popped up with dimensionals.
This one was made with nine punched circles.
Each circle is folded in half and adhered to each other until you get a fanned 3-D pumpkin.
I'm kinda getting the urge for pumpkin pie.
Wonder if you can make that on a fire pit....nah.

Military Thank You

Just a simple thank you card

using the template from a previous post.

This one has a patriotic theme. I'm always looking for those.

I think it puts across the appreciation I am trying to show the recipient.

Awwwww!

This week I actually found time to stamp, when I wasn't planning or preparing for a camp. Boy, did I have some fun! I saw this punch art, on the SU demonstrator website, using the large Scallop die. I don't have that one, so I had to scale everything down to the Extra Large Scallop Circle Punch, that I do have. With a lot of trial and error, (more error), I was able to mirror the original with a few touches of my own.

My favorite part of this card is the pacifier.

(Reminds me of that baby on the Simpson's show, with that funny sucking sound.)

Makes me laugh.

How cute?
Since the 'buggy' opens up, I just popped it up with dimensionals onto a layered card.

Some of the pieces are retired. I don't think the sweet lady receiving it, who has become a grandmother for the second time, will mind.

Get back into that buggy baby girl!

TOTE-ally Awesome Opportunity!

Like this craft tote?

It can be yours FREE! (A $39.95 value)

September 1 - October 18

When you join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator it WILL be YOURS!

It is patterned after our Greenhouse Gala Designer Paper and large enough to carry 12"x 12" card stock and a Paper Cutter, as well as punches, ink pads, and accessories.

The starter kit is at a brand-new lower price. There has never been a better time to join the Stampin' Up! family and my

Pieces of Heart Stampers group!

Contact me today and get started with this

Tote-ally Awesome Opportunity!

August Stamp Camp

We had a great afternoon at my August Stamp Camp. We were literally wall-to-wall stamping! And the FOOD! Oh my gosh! Everybody knows you can't stamp without food, and the campers brought some great nosh-ings! Thanks, ladies!

Here are the projects we worked on this month:

I love the vintage, romantic look of this card. The front of the Crumb Cake card stock is cut 1/4" shorter so the luscious, gathered, Victoria Lace can peek through. We used the Vintage Vogue stamp set using Versa Mark, Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke and Soft Suede ink pads. The Modern Label Punch was used to pop up the sentiment. An Antique Brad in the center of the flower pulls it all together. And you know how I love that yummy Satin Ribbon!

This is a special card for a special person!

From romantic to whimsical!

This card is made using the new Owl punch. All his little parts come with one punch. Insert different colors and you can change his personality. He is such a versatile little guy. I have seen him flipped over, punched in white, and voila', he's a ghost! I'm gonna have to try that one myself!

What a great way to use up designer paper scraps. I had a sampler ring of papers from the last catalog and thought, what a great card to use them on. We cut each piece 1" x 1 3/4", lined them up on Whisper White card stock, punched a sentiment and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals. It's even cuter if the strips don't match!

Easy-peasy!

We were really busy with this card. It uses the 1" Circle, Eyelet Border, and the Fancy Flower punches. We ran it through the Big Shot using the Textured Impressions Square Lattice and Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders. Turned out great, don't you think?

This is a note card size sample for a baby. All the card stock pieces used are of the textured version and it just looks so pretty. Once again, with the Big Shot, we used the Clearlits Scallop Rectangle die. The Small Heart Punch and Large Star punch were placed on top of it with the Dimensionals. Imagine it in done with Bashful Blue.

So sweet.

Can you believe that this heart pocket, tiny envelope and little box were all made with the same punch? Depending on how you fold it, you can get all kinds of different looks. It's called a Petal Card Punch and not only does it cut your paper, it scores it too! The little square notes were stamped using the Cute by the Inch stamp set. That little box is just big enough for a chocolate kiss. And of course, a little bling doesn't hurt!

If you missed this camp, make plans to come to the September one! We will be making spooky cards and projects with a Halloween theme!

Don't miss it! Reserve your spot today!

Soft Sympathy

Crumb Cake/Kraft is not the first color that comes to my mind when thinking of a sympathy card. However, after making this one, I will in the future. Watercolor Trio is the stamp set used with Pink Pirouette, Old Olive and Tempting Turquoise ink after being stamped off once or twice. I also used the Color Spritzer Tool with the Soft Suede marker. That color is sponged on the edges of the blocks and around the card. Hemp twine is wrapped around twice and tied together on the left.

Pink Pirouette Stationery Kit

Isn't this pretty?

It's a stationery kit, that holds five cards and five envelopes in two separate little compartments. I was so excited to recreate it after seeing it on the Stampin' Connection for Demonstrators.

(Which, by the way, is an AWESOME resource for Stampin' Up! demonstrators to showcase and share ideas. Whenever I am stumped, I just cruise through the samples there, and I am rejuvenated! I never worry that I won't have something to demonstrate to my stamping friends. Kinda makes you want to be a demonstrator, huh?

Let's talk!)

I kept the palette simple. Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, Vellum and Whisper White ink and card stock. Very dramatic and soft at the same time. The paper is from the Subtles Collection Designer Series Paper Patterns Stack. It has 40 sheets!

I used three Big Shot Embossing Folders, Elegant Bouquet, Perfect Polka Dots, and Square Lattice. Also, the 1 1/4"and 1 3/8" Circle Punch and Scallop Circle Punch. The Black Satin Ribbon adds such a richness to it.

I used Dotto Removable Adhesive underneath the monogramed 'P', (Lovely Letters Alphabet), in case I want change it and give it as gift. If I can bear to part with it, that is!

Book Report

This blog is basically for my love of stamping. But when I am not stamping, (don't be shocked, it happens occasionally!), I am reading. I love books, and if I don't have two at all times, I get a bit panicked. I have to have one to follow the one I am currently reading. Below are two VERY good reads that I wholeheartedly recommend.

THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL

by Philippa Gregory

I have not seen the movie, and was a bit intimidated by the size of this book. But I've heard good things about it, so I dove in. OMG! I was immediately swept away to the court of King Henry XII. I could not put it down. It is all conjecture based on actual facts, so to think some of what I was reading could have happened made it so fun. Do not be put off by the number of pages. You will not regret looking into the lives of courtiers, Kings and Queens.

LITTLE ALTERS EVERYWHERE

By Rebecca Wells

I am currently reading, and laughing out loud at, this little gem. It is the first book of the author of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. It takes me back to the days I spent growing up in Texas, right down to the bologna sandwiches, with Frito's and Cokes. It's like she is in my head! Remember Bonne Bell's White-White, Yardley's Slicker Lip Gloss, Prell shampoo and RC Cola? I am having so much fun with this one, that I don't want it to end. There are some dark and uncomfortable moments the little heroine has, but overall, I love it.

I have another book sitting there waiting for me when I finish it. I hope it will take be worthy of giving it my stamping time! You just never know until you start.

(Yes, Diane, that is the bookmark you made me. I can't read without it. That little sucker stays put whether I throw my book into my purse, car, or bag. One of these days, I am going to incorporate it into a camp. Love it.)