• SHOP NOW

  

• Get Email Notification When I Update My Blog

  Enter your email address:

   Subscribe in a reader

  

• Search for:

A new project- two days in a row- are you proud of me?! I sometimes miss the days when I blogged a new project every single day. I had so much more time to stamp. But most of the time, I am 100% happy with my decision to focus more on the kids and quit my business. These kids will only be this little once!

Enough of me being sappy! Here is ANOTHER card I made using the Papertrey stamp set Everyday Button Bits……

I swear I will be showing you some projects using a couple new stamp sets I got from SU!!! Next week!!! But when I got this set- I was so inspired that I whipped up like 5 cards in just a couple hours.

For this one I sponged some clouds with Bashful Blue ink. I also used that fancy Eyelet border punch from SU. The rest is from Papertrey Ink. Can you tell that I am starting to get a bit addicted to this cute little stamp company?!!!

Have a fantastic weekend! I will be back tomorrow with a fun digi scrapbook page!

Today we are going to the beach!!! The kids are very excited about that! And then tomorrow we will be heading back home. The end of a vacation is always bitter sweet. I am just so happy that we were able to have this special trip with our kids!

Here are the last 2 of the scrapbook layouts….

I made all of these pages 6×6. I put b4 together to make a 12×12 document and then sent them to Costco to print. Then I cut them apart and glued them into a paperbag album! I added some ribbon and some tags for additional jouraling and gave it to my friends as a keepsake of their family vacation! Very fun and fast and cheap!!! Now it’s time to make an album for my family! : ) I hope you enjoyed!

I am running a little behind getting my posts ready for this week. But I do have Christmas cards to show you all week. I will have one up later this afternoon so come back!!!!

Did you have a great weekend? I had the pleasure of spending lots of time with my sweet kiddos and my fantastic hubby. We even went to my favorite restaurant for dinner last night- Oreganos. Yum!

The card that I have for you today is one of my recent favorites! I am going to have to use the layout again real soon. It was a SFYTT a couple of weeks ago.

I have been on a kick lately of making all occasion cards. They are great to have on hand!!!

I used all SU! product on this card except for the oval and scallop oval nesties. But SU! does sell similar shaped dies for the Big Shot. Speaking of SU!, have you seen the new in colors??? They will be available on July 1st and I have them on my wishlist!!! They have in color markers and polka dot ribbon this year. Yay!!!!! Cannot wait! Good thing I have a birthday in July (hint hint, hubby!!!)

It has been so good to hear from you guys!!! Keep leaving those sweet comments, as I have so missed blogging. It feels great to be back!!!

Recipe:

Stamps: Echoes of Kindness, Great Friend

Paper: Tea Party DSP, Whisper White, So Saffron

Ink: Basic Black

Other: Oval and Scallop Oval nesties, Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Photo Corner Punch, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery Markers, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon, Half Back Peals (from the Pretties kit)

 

I am so sorry. I know that many of you were waiting for me to put my stamps up for sale yesterday. But I had a crappy morning. I was at a meeting (with friends) and I had all my money from my open house stolen from inside my purse. I felt very violated and upset and so I never did get to put the stamps up for sale. Instead, I spent most of the night nursing a headache. And I STILL have the headache.

I hope you will forgive me!!! I will unpack the stamps tomorrow and they will be up for sale first thing on Monday morning.

 

This may be a somewhat wordy post and so I apologize in advance. I have a lot to say!

I will be celebrating my 2 year anniversary as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator in just a couple of weeks. These past two years have been amazing!!! As most of you know, I was never a hobby demonstrator. From the time my starter kit arrived, I ran a business. Some of you reading this may recall my first class! I tought a baby album class and it lasted until the wee hours of the morning! I was a bit embarressed. But to my surprise- most of them came back for my second class. And I think they are all still great customers after 2 years and dozens of classes!

Also, in my first month as a demo, I got a booth at the Women’s Expo in Glendale. This is a HUGE event. Boothes were not cheep! And I did not have much time at all to prepare. But I worked hard. And several of you helped me! I know someone out there remembers lugging tons of stuff for about a mile around the arena. And someone else remembers me driving home- bleeding. Literally. It was a long and hard weekend! But it was the start of an amzing business!

I have had the pleasure of traveling all over the state to do workshops and classes for friends. I have learned so much! Did you know that I only had one stamp set and one ink pad when I signed up to be a demo?! I have come a long way. I was a complete stamping novice 2 years ago- and today, I feel like I can call myself an artist. I have even been published a few times! I am proud of myself!

But building a business took time. And that meant that I gave up a good deal of time with my family and friends. I was talking to a downline yesterday and she said  "we are still friends." It struck me. We had been friends for years before I became a demo. But after I became a demo- she became my cusomer and later my downline. Now when I see her- it is to stamp or pick up an order. In many way we lost track of our friendship.

And my poor family…..in order to run my business, I needed to work Monday through Friday in my office. I needed to design class projects, do blog posts, paperwork, and place orders. And I couldn’t do it with the kids around. So I made a tough decision to send them to a preschool/daycare facility. They love it there. And they are very happy kids. But then as my business really grew- I needed to do classes and workshops on the weekends. So I had to leave the kids with my hubby. Many times I felt like the kid’s teachers saw my kids more than I did. I would often miss them and wish that I could be at home.

And that is where I am today. I was once a stay-at-home mom, who needed something ….more. And that is when I found Stampin’ Up! Having something that was all mine, got me through some of the toughest times as a young mom of 4 babies. It gave me a break.

This past weekend, we took the kids to the park. My five year old, Kyler, was having a blast. And then he ran up to me and said  "Mommy, it is taking me a long time to grow up." I couldn’t agree less! How did my "baby" get to be so big?! And why would I want to miss one more day that I don’t have to? In just a few months he will be going to Kindergarden! Yikes!

I am the first to admit- I was not a great SAHM 2 years ago. The kids were a lot to handle on my own. I was tired and stressed and not very happy. But I would like to think that I am a different person now. A stronger person.

So with great fear, anxiety, and excitement- I have decided to go back to being a stay-at-home mom! Yikes!

So what does this mean for you? I will no longer be a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. Not even a hobbyist. At first I was going to keep my demo status for the discount. But then I started saying stuff to myself like "I’ll just do a class every other month." or "I’ll just keep my scrapbook clubs going." And I had to tell myself "no!" I LOVE papercrafting and stamping!!!! I am going to be very busy with my kids and when I do get some needed "mommy time" I want to feel free to make something for me. I don’t want to have design something for a class or workshop. I want stamping and scrapbooking to be my get-a-way. Therefore, I will be contacting demo support in the next couple of days to end my career with Stampin’ Up!

As for the blog- I am keeping it!!!! I love blogging! I love to hear from all of you. In many ways- we have become cyber friends. And I look foward to logging on each day. But you may see some changes. For one- you are going to see me using my favorite stamps and supplies. So this means- they may be retired and they may not even be by Stampin’ Up!  Gasp! Although, I still think that Stampin’ Up! has the BEST papercrafting supplies- I am not going to limit myself. If I see something I like- I just may get it!!! Another change, is that I may not be able to posts every day. I am not sure yet how much time I will be able to steal away to craft. We will just have to see!

One more thing for you- I am going to be selling LOTS and LOTS of my stamps and supplies here on my blog!!!! I am going to get rid of any set I no longer like or use. This will include current sets from the catalog. So it will be a good chance for you to get some discounted supplies!

Is anyone still reading this? If you are…then you must be one of my very devoted customers. I want to say one more time- that I have loved the past 2 years!!! You have all made me smile. I am starting to cry now so I know I need to end this ramble!

See you soon friends……

 

So are wondering what happed to me yet??? I have been painting my Master Bathroom and Bedroom. It is quite the project!!! But I am happy to report that it is just about finished. Now I will be able to spend some time stamping!!! I will be back tomorrow!

Still no stamping mojo!!!! I have gone through idea books and magazines. I browsed my favorite blogs and craft websites. I went through my patterned paper and all my stamp sets to see if something would get me excited. Nothing!!!! So I have taken a break. I went for a walk, did some errands and caught up on some shows I had saved on Tivo. Still nothing!!!

What do you do when you loose your stamping/scrapping mojo?? Please leave me a comment with your suggestion!

Again- if you see my mojo somewhere- send it back right away!!!

I am home from Disney! I had a GREAT time but I am exhausted and a wee bit sick. Plus I had a super long travel day. Our plane had some mechanical troubles and I ended up stuck in St. Louis : ( 

Anyway- give me a day or two to read the hundreds of emails I got, catch up on all the Stampin’ Up! announcements, and post a couple projects that I already have made! Plus- I will show you a few of my favorite pics of my son from Disney World!

So will anyone be having an adult beverage this evening? The stamp set Cheers to You makes me want to get the blender out and start mixing fruity cocktails. Then reality hits and I remember that I don’t know how to make cocktails and I am spending New Year’s Eve with 4 preschoolers! But I can dream right? And stamp!

Yum!!! I got this stamp set from my parents for Christmas. It’s very fun! Plus- I am loving this card layout as it allows me to show off some yummy designer series paper!!!

Don’t forget to check out my Class By Mail kits that I have for sale. I have a limited number of them to sell so they won’t be available long!

Have  great night! Have fun- but be safe!!! Happy New Year!

Recipe:

Stamps: Cheers to You

Paper: Murifield DSP, Kraft, Whisper White, Water color, Baja Breeze, Pacific Point

Ink: Black Stazon, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze

Other: Aquapainter, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon

← Previous Page — Next Page →

• 

• About

  Jamie Sears
  San Tan Valley, AZ
  sears1130@gmail.com.com
  

• Catalogs

  
• 
• 

• Categories

  • 3D
  • Big Shot
  • Blog Candy
  • Cards
  • Christmas
  • Class By Mail
  • Class Projects
  • Club Project
  • Copics
  • Digi Scrapping
  • Fathers Day
  • Halloween
  • Holiday Mini Catalog
  • Paper Pretties
  • Papertrey Ink
  • Pictures of the kids
  • Pink Cat Studios
  • Sale A Bration
  • Scrapbooking
  • Special
  • Stampin Up!
  • Taylored Expressions
  • Tutorial
  • Uncategorized
  • Valentines

• Archives

  • July 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008

• Fine Print

  This blog reflects my personal offers and classes as an Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. All content is copyrighted so please do not submit my work for contests or publication and/or reprint my articles without permission. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Stampin' Up!