My Talented Friend - Deana

I am in a monthly 'Buddy Swap'.
How exciting to open this month's envelope and see that the swap I'm receiving is from my friend,
Deana Schultz.
We attended the Branson Regional together recently, and had such a good time.
She is a special person and I just love being around her.

She attended my Demonstrator Stamp Camp last week. Once everyone had left, and I was tidying up, I found this little gem along with a sweet note from her in my stamping room.
It's a birthday cake made with paper covered chocolate nuggets attached to a Styrofoam form. It is just the cutest thing and what a great idea for a birthday gift or baby shower.
It has all kinds of possibilities.
I'm going to be CASING this, Deana!
Thank you!
And thank you for your friendship!

Nature Walk With a Clear-Mount Block Background

Did you know you can use our Clear-Mount Blocks as a background stamp?
Clever, huh?
The 'D' size block was used for the image above.
I loaded the block with Crumb Cake Classic Ink, then stamped off once.
I lightly darkened the edges with Early Espresso Classic Ink and then stamped!
I love the look.
With all the different sizes we carry,
you can have a different look whenever you need one!
Inspired by Kelly Acheson.

GRAB BAGS OF DISCONTINUED STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS!

Beginning April 1, and continuing while supplies last, you will be able to purchase special "grab bags" in my Online Store. These grab bags will come in three sizes: the $5, the $10, and the $15 grab bag. Each bag will contain a variety of discontinued products that could include a combination of any of the following: ribbons, Accents & Elements, chipboard, Designer Series Papers, and Simply Sent kit components. Grab bags will not contain stamp sets or tools.

Please keep the following in mind:

• Grab bag orders can only be placed in my Online Store: http://www.pamdurso.stampinup.net
  
• There is no minimum purchase required to participate in the grab bag special offer.
• There is no limit to the number of grab bags you may purchase; however, grab bag items are only available while supplies last.
• All grab bag sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges.
• Not all grab bags will be unique.
• You should use the following item numbers when ordering grab bags:

Item	Description
125873	$5 Grab Bag (containing at least $20 worth of products!)
125874	$10 Grab Bag (containing at least $40 worth of products!)
125875	$15 Grab Bag (containing at least $60 worth of products!)

Easter Blossoms

This has to be one of the most beautiful cards I have seen in a long time.
The stamp is from the set called Easter Blossoms found in the Occasions Mini Catalog.
It was stamped in Basic Black on Bashful Blue card stock.
The blossoms were filled in with a Signo White Gel Pen,
and then Basic Pearls randomly placed.
The embossing folder, called Square Lattice,
makes that background piece of Whisper White set off the whole card.
What a dramatic effect.
Inspired by Lisa Young.

Spring Is Blossoming Promotion

Spring is Blossoming Promotion: April 1 - 30, 2011

The Stampin' Up! Spring is Blossoming Promotion offers you the opportunity to purchase two sneak peek products from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog. You can get these brand-new products in one of two ways:

1) Online Order

• Spend $20* on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.
• Both items can be purchased once the $20 minimum is met; there is a limit of five per product once the $20 minimum is met. Ordering another $20 of Stampin' Up! products resets the limit and allows you to purchase another five Designer Series Papers and/or stamp sets.

2) Host a Workshop

• Host a $350* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE! If you would like to place a combined order with friends or place a single order through me to earn these products free, let me know!
• There is a limit of one Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper per workshop.

*Net sales before tax and shipping

Click here to view/print the Four Frames stamp set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper

Border Punch Frame

By using a Border Punch to form a 'frame',
you can add a whole new look to your cards.
This frame is made by using the Scallop Border Punch
on a 3 x 3 piece of Whisper White Card Stock.
Those scallops work so well with the scallops on the top of the cupcake,
and the little Pompoms below.
I love Pretty In Pink and Melon Mambo together.

Oh No! Last Day of Sale-a-bration!

It comes only once a year,
Today is the last day
to take advantage of the
free stamp sets
available through our promotion,
Sale-a-bration.
BUT...
it's not too late!
Place your $50 order with me today
and you could have this lovely stamp set called
Bliss
absolutely
FREE!
Tomorrow,
it's

GONE!
:o(

Petal Cone Die Carrot

Don't tell Farmer McGregor, but Peter Rabbit is at it again!
However, he is going to have a hard time dragging that carrot home.
The inside is full of jelly beans!
It's made by using the Big Shot and the Petal Cone Die.
(The uses for this die are endless! Put it on your must-have list!)

The top is secured with Certainly Celery Wide Grosgrain Ribbon.
It will keep that mischievous Peter from getting a stomach ache
and eating too many jelly beans.

We make projects like this at my monthly Stamp Camps.
We have a blast and would love to have you join us.
Check my schedule here:
http://www.pamdurso.stampinup.net
and make plans to join us next time!

Punched Wedding Bells

Isn't this pretty?
Can't you just hear the wedding bells ringing?
Those bells are made using the Round Tab Punch and the Wide Oval Punch.
After punching the Round Tab, turn the Wide Oval Punch upside down so you can see the hole. Insert the Round Tab piece into that hole and and punch, rounding off the top.
Voila', you have a bell!

I also used the Big Shot die called Swirls & Scribbles to get the curly-Qs.
The sentiment from All Holidays, was stamped in VersaMark and heat set with Silver Embossing Powder. I then punched it out with the 3/4" x 15/16" Oval and placed on the
Decorative Label in Brushed Silver Card Stock that I punched twice to make it smaller.
My designer paper is retired, but I couldn't resist using it for this card.
I think the Pearls and Organza ribbon make it all so pretty.
Inspired by Jan Tink

Pompom Fun

One of the new trims in our Spring Catalog is called Pompom Trim.
I am positive my mom added something like this to the dresses she sewed for me
back in the day.
(Way back!)
It's a fun addition when added in the strip-form,
but I saw potential elsewhere!
By cutting each individual 'Pom', you can add it to all kinds of things.
Like party hats as I did in the card above!

Or bunny butts!
This little box is made by adhering four pieces of the Petal Card Punch.
His ears are from the 5-Petal Flower punch,
his head the 3/4" Circle Punch
and his body is the 3/4" x 15/16" Oval Punch.
The Pom is placed over the Small Heart Punch.
A chocolate egg is sitting inside!
Inspired by Mary Fish.

Vintage Easter

Easter is just around the corner.
Time to think about your Easter cards.
I used the Springtime Vintage Designer Paper as the background
after running it through my Big Shot
(I seriously do not know how I could do without my Big Shot!),
and the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.
Love that quilted look.
The stamp set is called Easter Blossoms.
That silhouette reminds me of a couple of little girls I know
who used to hunt for Easter eggs so many years ago!
(They still look for a treat every year!)
Inside her basket are three little Pearl eggs.
The bow is Victoria Crochet Trim.
Just perfect for the whole vintage look.

Aviary Card

This little bird looks so lonely.
Looks like all his friends have flown the coop.
Okay, I'm a stamper not very good at jokes.
This stamp set is called Aviary.
His birdcage has been cut out and popped up with Dimensionals.
Inside, the sentiment says,
"i miss you".
Poor little birdie.
CASEd from Sarah Wills.

Two For the Road (and a Designated Driver!)

I have never had a martini in my life,
so I don't know why this card appealed to me,
but I thought the embedded olives were just too cute.
They were made using circle punches and sponging the edges with ink.
I adhered them to the card stock and ran it through the Big Shot in the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. The martini glass is from the Cheers To You set.
I added just a dab of Crystal Effects on the little olive in the glass to give a shine.
Inspired by Christy Butzen.

Here is the same stamp set only using the margarita glasses.
Now I am a big fan of the margarita, so I know why this card appeals to me!
I originally found it on my sister, Penny Thomas' blog
www.penguinstamper.blogspot.com.
Makes me want to kick off my shoes and run my toes through sand,
while wearing a big brimmed hat.
Those little umbrellas are cut out and set up a bit using a Glue Dot!
They are made shiny with Crystal Effects.
I punched that cherry out with our Red Glimmer Paper
using the Build a Cupcake Punch, it's the perfect size!
On the fruit and rims of the glasses, Dazzling Diamonds were added.
Thanks for the CASE Penny!

Being Green Isn't So Hard After All!

Have I mentioned that I love to Blog Surf?
You find the most wonderfully talented stampers that way.
One being Dawn Olchefske.
She is one of the busiest demonstrators I have ever met. I love her style.
I noticed this card on her blog and since I have this stamp set,
Flower For All Seasons,
I jumped to 'lovingly' CASE it.
I changed a couple of things, but stayed with her awesome design.
Isn't it cute?
This stamp set is Free during Sale-a-bration with an order of $50!
But hurry, the promotion ends March 31!
Kermit wants to come home with you!

Hurry to get this stamp set FREE!

I am a BIG fan of Diana Gibbs.
I saw this card on her blog, and had more fun reproducing it.
So much so that I tried it in several different color combos using
the designer paper called Patterns Paper Stack.
The stamp sets used are called Sweet Summer and So Happy For You.
Each one is FREE when you place an order of $50.
But only until March 31 when the promotion, Sale-a-bration ends.
How can you resist that little bee?
Place your order with me now
and he could 'bee' yours, FREE!

Easy Easel Calendars

I had several little calendars left over from a past project.
Every time I would sit at my stamping table
they would stare at me as if to say,
"USE ME!"
So I finally did.
I fashioned an easel from card stock, so they could be easily seen on a desk.

I ran several colors of designer paper from the Patterns Paper Stack
through my Big Shot using the Top Note Die.
Topped it off with a pretty flower made from the Scallop Circle Punch.
Now I am ready to go whenever I need a little gift for someone special.
I think those calendars are finally happy!

Cupcake Boxes

You need a box to carry your cupcake, don't ya?
Here's a little box that is just perfect.

Using the Big Shot Bigz die called Perfect Setting #115961,
I made lots of paper cupcakes.
The box pattern I found on Wendy Hawkinson's blog,
www.gotrubberwillstamp.blogspot.com.
I went crazy with different color and pattern combinations from the
Designer Series Paper Patterns Stack-Subtles Collection #117152.
To keep my paper cupcake fresh,
I placed a piece of Window Sheet #114323 over the circle opening.

Cuteness all tied up with a bow!

Itty Bitty Strawberries

The weather, at least today, is warm and sunny.
Spring is peaking it's stubborn little head from behind the clouds.
Which means strawberries are not far behind!
I am a sucker for strawberries...
and
3 x 3 cards!
The little example reminds me of a tray of sweet strawberries at the Farmer's Market.
I used Crumb Cake card stock #120953, and scored the front at 1" and 2", turned it and did it again up to the center fold. I ran Real Red card stock #108482,
through the Big Shot #113439 using the
Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder #117335 to form 'seeds'.
Then, using Stamping Sponges #101610,
I applied Soft Suede Ink #115657, to those raised dots.
The Small Heart Punch #117193, was used next to make the body of the strawberry,
The four petal punch from
the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack #118309 in Old Olive card stock #100702,
was used to make the leaves.
The sentiment is from the stamp set called
Tiny Tags #118592.

Bring on the Spring and bring on the strawberries!
Inspired by Erica Cerwin.

Altered Notebooks

The Pieces of Heart Team gets together once a month at an area restaurant
to catch up with each other and talk stamping.
This month we brought our notebooks that Jayne Singleton 'challenged' us to alter.
It was interesting to see how different each one was and how talented our group is.

Above is Jayne's notebook.
The designer paper she used is called Love Letter #117162.
The flowers were made using the Big Shot and the Fun Flowers die #121812.
She showed us a card she had made using the same theme and it was so pretty.
That paper really catches your eye.
Love it, love it, love it!

The next notebook is by Judy Sumner.
So beautiful!
The designer paper is called Greenhouse Gala #117167. The flower is stamped on Vellum #101856 with the new set called Build a Blossom #121923, and then punch out using the
new Blossoms Petals Punch #121808.
That little bird is from the stamp set called Nature Walk #121925

Because I Care #118384 (Hostess Level One) is the stamp set Patty Schnell used on her notebook. The way she colored that hydrangea was just beautiful. The card stock beneath it was run through the Big Shot using the diamond Texturz Plate #114512.
She used tiny Pearls #119247 to accent.
Such a soft look.

I think we met Jayne's challenge!
It was so much fun to do and so we are up for another!
Next month we will get together, once again, to see the results.
Stay tuned!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO YA!

I was just tickled to have received this card from my friend and downline, Patty Schnell.
What a great use of the stamp called Medallion #115223.
Placed in the middle and popped up with Dimensionals is the a' la carte stamp called
Lucky Shamrock #121939.
Thank you, Patty. I feel very 'Lucky'!