They're Here!!!

I love my UPS man. He brought boxes of catalogs just for me!!!!! Well, OK, they're really for you. Stop on by and grab one .... they're $6 each. If I am not here, they will be on the porch - honor system. Just leave your $$$ under the mat and all will be well with the world.

Have a fabulous weekend!!!!!!

~Tricia

Spiffy Stationery Box

I found a link to Jackie Topa's Stationery Box (HERE) and just couldn't contain myself (pun intended). I had to make it. It's not my fault. Instead of her cute tags that she added in one of the holders, I was forced to use chocolate. Can you blame me? This stuff fits soooooo easily!




Since it's relatively tough to tell what the box is really like when it's closed, I was compelled to take an open shot, too. Now you can see the chocolate. Don't drool on your keyboard!!!




I made four cards and four notecards to go inside. The little thingy on the bottom is for notes - gotta have a spot to jot down important stuff that comes to mind while the chocolate is still fresh! I used part of a Simply Scrappin' kit to make this project - the retiring Sunshine Garden from page 164, to be specific. The awesome part is that even if you are not a scrapbooker, these kits can be easily adapted to cards and other projects. The stickers are really hefty and fun to use (and won't fall apart in your hands or stick to themselves before you're ready to use 'em!).

If you are a scrapping queen, undoubtedly you have extra things like these living in your crafting space. Now you have a great use for all the extras - a form of recycling. Ain't life grand?!

May you have joyous time Gettin' Inky today!
~Tricia

Reverse Silhouette

When I saw This Card on Julie Buhler's blog, I just had to do it. Clearly, it's not my fault! Then, when she said to try it using Upsy Daisy, I felt it my duty to play along. So here's my Reversed Silhouette Daisy. Do enjoy!



The colors I used were Basic Black and the soon-to-be-gone Tangerine Tango and Riding Hood Red.

Such a fun and truly WOW-ing technique. Go get inky and try one yourself!

Have a beautiful day!
~Tricia

New Catalogs Almost Here!!!!

According to my email, Mr. UPS will arrive at my doorstep sometime on Thursday. Woo-hoo!!!!! He will be bringing several boxes of catalogs, all ready to jump into the hands of my favorite customers (you!).

For those of you who are Stamp-Camp-ing on Thursday, the down side is that Mr. UPS usually arrives in the evening. You'll be done here by noon. If you're planning on staying until he gets here, please bring lunch! I promise not to tell your hubby (I love you, Patrick .... you're not reading this, right?!?!?!?!?!)

Have an inky day!
~Tricia

Little Kid

So today was a little different than normal. We rescued a goat. Yes, that's a tad odd to read, I would imagine. But he was a little one and was walking along the wrong side of the fence on FM3405 (busy road). I had to stop. There really wasn't a choice. Kind of like mom stopping for dogs when we were little. No option available.

Have you ever tried to catch a baby goat? It's interesting. They don't want to be caught (at least this one didn't). But a TxDOT guy stopped and watched while I went to tell the rancher. Then Mr. TxDOT left and the goat went down a little shelf-thing and got wedged between that, the fence, a small tree, and some brambles. I got a towel from the back of the car and covered him with it. Seems that when he tried to escape from his home, his ear was severed. Yucky looking. No ear. Lots of dried blood. By the looks of it, it happened a couple days ago. Still icky, though.

So he sat on my lap and we drove to the rancher's place around the corner (have you ever tried to drive with a scared goat on your lap?!?!?).

Not his goat. Figures. We put him in the pen anyway and one of the mommas befriended him. Of course, one of the billys head-butted him. Meanie head. The farmer let Ryan and Kristen feed the whole mess of goats, which was way exciting. Not nearly as sweet as the ones in a petting zoo! The big ones continually biffed the others out of the way, and I am surprised that none of the fence collapsed while we were standing there. Pretty entertaining!

That was our excitement for the day. What did you do?!?!?!

Cracked Glass

I think the Cracked Glass technique is quite striking, but I don't use it too often. That's the joy of Fancy-Schmancy camps. I can play with stuff I usually put off and leave in the To-Do pile. Then it gets me psyched to do it more!

This card is one we did at camp. To make it happen, you have to have Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE), which Stampin' Up! calls Glassy Glaze. Stamp your image, put VersaMark ink all over, add the Glassy Glaze, and then go emboss. Repeat until you have three (or 4) layers of glaze. You'll know you're done because the glaze will all the sudden be really really really smooth (and glassy!). Then pop it in the freezer for about 10 minutes. No kidding. The actual freezer. Once it's frozen, take your image out and crack it. No rules here, just crack it 'til you like it.

If it's still sort of gooey, stick it back in the freezer. It's gotta crack. Once you have all the cracks you want, sponge a little ink over the top (we used Creamy Caramel) and wiggle it into the cracks. Just brings 'em out a little more.



Have a great time with this project! Here's what I used: Friends 24-7, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons, Key Tag Punch (retiring), Bella Rose Designer Series Paper (retiring), Kiwi Kiss, Creamy Caramel, and Chocolate Chip ink and paper.

Happy inking!
~Tricia

Nice 'n Easy

Aloha and greetings to all! I love making quick and easy cards that look really spiffy. Enter Fresh Cut Notes. Ya get a package of 15 cards and envelopes for $8.95 that have been pre-flowered. Well, I don't know what else to call it. The petals have already been cut - all you have to do is punch 'em out. And, if you're into having a little tiny catalog spoiler, the new catalog will have some other AMAZING cards that are similar. That's all I can say for now!!!!!!! I LOVE being a demo and already having the new catalog in my hands. July first, here we come!!!!!!!

Anyway, back to the card. I was hanging out at (the very amazing and horridly addictive) www.splitcoaststampers.com and saw a card that someone sent through her Big Shot. WOW! I never thought of sending the Fresh Cut Notes through - what a great idea! It's hard to see the dots in this picture, but they're really there!



Do ya see 'em yet? What's that? You don't yet HAVE your OWN Big Shot?!?!?!?!?! Well, how 'bout if I help you out?! Until the 30th of June, I am offering all my customers a brand-spankin'-new Big Shot without paying tax or shipping. Such a deal! You can't get it from my online site 'cuz it's not a Stampin' Up! deal ..... it's a Tricia's Deal. Send me a note and let me know you would like one and I will make it happen. Happy day!

For the rest of the card, I used the retiring In Color Pink Pirouette. I even dyed the white taffeta ribbon to match. Feel free not to notice that I missed one end. So I am not actually perfect! The felt flowers are Flower Fusion Too (also retiring), and I am having SUCH a great time using my Square Rhinestone Brads. I like 'em more than the circles, but I don't have as many in my stash. Time to shop more.......

Have a wonderfully inky day!

~Tricia

Giraffe Lattice

Holy cow, it's been a billion years since I have shown you a card. Let's fix that, shall we?!

I looooove the Wild About You stamp set and am soooooo sorry that it's on the Last Chance List. But, the new catty has some darn amazing things in it. My list of "needs" is only about a mile long (so far!).



Here's a close-up of the brad stack. I punched a circle of Pretty in Pink to go behind the Filigree Brad ..... it was easier to attach the whole thing to the card without having to find a spot to punch. Just add Mini Glue Dots to the back and all is well with the world!



The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is Raspberry Tart (love it!), and the colors I used are Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, and Pretty in Pink. I also used Filigree and Rhinestone brads, just in case you weren't paying attention!

The DSP is cut into lattice via a tutorial that Dawn Griffith wrote (HERE) Know that the angle you use while cutting is really important. More angle = better looking lattice!

Also, if you forget to use the rule of twos, it's OK to just keep on cutting 'til you're done (that will make sense after you watch the tutorial). You will end up with even spacing and not a wide spot in between. All is well!!!

Hope you're having a wonderful evening - now go get inky!!!

~Tricia

Promised Photo

OK, so a while back I talked about mud bathing after a rain storm. Said something about sharing a picture with you. Well, I think this one is worth at least a thousand words.



Hope your day has been great!!!!

I look forward to Gettin' Inky with you soon!

~Tricia

New In Colors

I love love LOVE the new In Colors!!! Wanna see? Here ya go:



Is that cool and exciting or what?! Follow THIS LINK to Dawn Olchefske's blog and you can see a comparison of the new colors with what's already in your collection. AND, as if that weren't enough excitement for one day, I am hoping to have pictures of the new ribbons with polka dots. They are SOOOOOOOO cool! I will update once I have permission to use that photo.

In the world of annoyances, my sneak peak order still has not shipped. I am going crazy. Even more so than usual. (quit laughing) AND, my pre-sneak-peak order has not yet arrived. Double ack! That means that we won't be using window sheets for Fancy-Schmancy next week. They will arrive sometime during camp. Ain't that the way it works?!

I have a couple pictures to edit so I can share 'em with you. Time to get busy. Actually, time to go get inky!!!!!!!!

Happy day to all!
~Tricia

Last Chance List is HERE!!!

Welcome to June! Stampin' Up! has officially released the Last Chance List (formerly the Discontinued List), which includes accessories. I was excited to see a whole bunch of accessories on sale - many at 50% off!!!

Ordering is gonna get fun, just so you know. The stamp sets are all available until June 30th, but accessories are only available until the current supply runs out. Knowing that many accessories have sold out in previous years with only a 2 week ordering window, I expect it to get pretty silly with the list 4 weeks ahead of time! My recommendation is to place an order now (or really quickly) with all the stuff you "need" on my website (HERE). That way you will know that your stuff is available.

If you really want to be included in a group order (makes sense if you would like less than $50 in merchandise), I will be happy to take your info and order once the total is high enough. BUT you do run the risk of your favorite accessories being gone! (isn't this a fun game?!)

Here is the link to the Last Chance List:
Alphabetical Stamps
Stamp Sets by Page Number
Accessories at 50% discount (through my website, you get the preferred price; then take an additional 50% off)
Accessories at 25% off (same as above)
Everything all together (just for the heck of it!)



Speaking of promotions ..... there's also a Summer Fun promotion for hostesses. During the month of June, host a workshop where orders total $250 and get and extra $20 in hostess money to spend. OR, when your workshop totals $400, you get an extra $40 to spend in the catalog. WOW! I only have a couple spots still open for workshops in June. If you're interested, let me know ASAP so we can make it work for you!

Finally, I am contemplating morphing the Fancy-Schmancy Camps. One option is to work on scrapbook items. Either individual pages or an entire album. Details are far from complete, but it would be great to have your opinions. Wanna do some scrapbooking? Monthly? Every other month? Twice a year? Opinions??????

May your day be sunny and wonderful, and filled with inky projects!

~Tricia