A Week of Birthdays

We’ve had three birthdays in one week at my deployed location.  With the new crew coming in, I’ve taken the liberty of becoming the card lady.  One of the Airmen in the clinic wrote on a card, “Happy Birthday, statistics continue to show that those who have birthday’s live longer.”  I just about started laughing because I have never seen those statistics, but know it is right on!  LoL.

Last weekend I was able to have a stamping session in our day room of our dorm.  I was like a kid in a candy store.  I will begin posting more recent cards with the new products from the 2013-14 Catalog.  Have you received yours?  If not click here to get your free copy today!

This card was put together prior to the start of my deployment.  Hope this card has inspired you to create something similar.  Please feel free to buy products used to make this card by clicking on images below.


Until the next post…

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Happy Birthday to My Best Friend!

cake1

Many of you who visited me during the Pals Blog Hop asked about what my stamping area looks like in my room where I am currently located.  You can see the picture on my Facebook page.  I’m still trying to get used to develop a normal schedule and I hope it kicks in soon.  I’ve got an important class to finish up and then I’ll have all my extra time to do nothing but Stampin’ Up!  I’ve also began receiving beautiful cards from my stamping’ Pretty Pals.  If you only knew the excitement I feel when the mail arrives and there is a handmade card or handwritten letter.

Although I keep in touch with family on a daily basis, I just thought I’d let you know that deployed military members really do LOVE LOVE LOVE hand written notes.  They are more personal and a written word on paper takes thought, love and care to put together.  We can feel the love that was put into it and as we tear the letter apart we can really feel the love come out of it and it makes us happier than an email.

So if you’re reading this and you have a loved one deployed send them a letter or make them a card, go ahead make their day! =)  Don’t worry about how it turns out.  It is a treasure in their hands and the words will bring them a little bit of “home” in a far away place.

Today is my best friends birthday.  I hope by now he has received it and really loves it.
Happy Birthday Michael!

Until the next post…

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Happy Day to You

Oh Happy Day…. these Friendly Phrases bring me lots of happiness.  This sentiment is one of my favorite in the set because it can be used as either a birthday card or just wishing someone a lovely day.  Take a look at the rest of the set here.  I guarantee you are going to love it.

Happy to You 2

I will begin my journey in just a few more days and I want you to go with me.  Get a free tour as I stamp my way to the other side of the world.  How can you go with me?  Simply type in your email address on the upper right side under My Paper Journey link.  If you’d like to receive birthday cards or other goodies from me, don’t forget to fill in your mailing address and birthdate.

Until the next post……

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If you make cards when you travel… what supplies do you take with you?  I’m taking my Stampin’ Spots.  Have you ever seen them?  They make an awesome traveling companion.

Stampin’ Up! Another Birthday Cupcake

I made this quick & easy card during my lunch break the other day, just to show you that a very cute simple card can be made from someone who “thinks” they can’t make beautiful cards.  A simple piece of card stock and a stamp will bring a great ray of sunshine to someone on their birthday.

I took a leftover piece of Basic Gray card stock (121044) and cut out the center with my Apothecary Accents framelits (127003).  I’m saving the cutout piece to use later on a different card that my brain hasn’t thought of yet… LoL.

To add the silver icing I used Versa Mark clear ink (102282) and a blender pen (102845) on the swirl and added silver Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109131) to give it a shine.

It still seemed a little plain to me, so I punched out a little basic black  flower (121045) with the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309).  Tiny heart was punch out with Melon Mambo (115320) using the tiny heart in the Owl Punch (118074).

The cupcake image came from the Easy Events set (123225) and the sentiment was taken from the Patterned Occasions set (129624), that you will be able to earn for free from Sale-a-Bration (starting Jan 22nd) with a $50 purchase.

 

Paper Pumpkin Player’s here’s another chance to activate…. LoL.  I thought that was cute.  It reminded me of my childhood cartoon, The Wonder Twins.  If you haven’t taken advantage of become a Paper Pumpkin Player, you’re missing out on free monthly blog candy.  Here’s the question:  Does this card fit your style of clean and simple or are you thinking “too much white space?” =)

Last night, I had one of the best conversations with a new friend.  She basically confirmed that we as people are in control of how we let others make us feel.  It’s often hard to overcome, but it CAN be done!  After all, when others point something out about you there are always more of their own fingers pointing back at them.  Boo-ya!  Thank you so much for the wonderful conversation Ms. Margaret.

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Butterfly Wishes From Me to You


This post is dedicated to two of my lifetime friends Carmel and Joy (also one of my Circle of Pals).  Why?  Because today they celebrate their birthday’s.  Happy Birthday ladies.

I love the Papillion Popourri butterflies stamped on the First Edition specialty paper.  The butterflies gracefully float up and away.  I just love it!  The Natural Composition specialty paper has an embossed feel to it, naturally.  The pictures just don’t give the beauty of the paper any justice!

If you have this paper, leave a comment letting other visitors know how the paper feels to you.  Don’t forget to visit Friday’s Post for your chance to win a FREE stamp set!  Mon., Dec. 17th is the last day.  I haven’t had any orders and if only one person places an order by midnight Monday, they will get that FREE stamp set.

Stamping is my hobby and I love sharing my cards and other crafts I make with you.  I sometimes have stressful days and when I do, I sit in my craft room and turn my anxiety into positive energy by making cards and sharing my love of stamping.  Two months ago I celebrated my first year anniversary with Stampin’ Up!  and my stress level has dropped so much… I LOVE IT!

Keeping up with my blog takes a lot of work, but it’s a positive addiction I cannot and will not let go of.  I sometimes don’t know what to write, except to write what I’m feeling and thinking of a card that I have made.  Thank you so much for stopping by and a special thank you to my faithful subscribers!  You guys/gals ROCK!

Other Supplies Used:
Punches: Modern Label (119849), Word Window Punch (119857)

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There’s No Such Thing as Too Much Bling!

 

I made this card to celebrate my one year Maggie Made Cards blog anniversary.  A huge THANK YOU is never enough to my younger brother, Frank. My vision for the blog has been to CREATE, SHARE, AND INSPIRE you!  I hope I am doing just that.  My eyes light up and if there’s any stress in my bones, it just withers away when I’m stamping. You too can brush up on your skills, whether you are a beginner or advanced card maker.  My goal right now is to introduce you to your greatest stress reliever! Will you take the Stampin’ Up! TEST DRIVE and get your starter kit before the New Year?  Make it your Christmas gift to yourself or maybe you can hint about receiving a Stampin’ Up! gift certificate. To create the rubies, I took colored in our basic rhinestones with a red Sharpie.  The secret to perfect flames is to place small pieces of Daffodil Delight on the smallest pear shapes on the Sizzlets Large Paper Doily as shown below and run it through your Big Shot.

Products Used:  Embellished EventsSizzlets Large Paper DoilySilver Glimmer PaperCore-dination Card Stock

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One in a Million Again!

This card accidentally posted behind my back! LoL… I was updating my blog from my iPad and I somehow hit publish without knowing it.  I felt panic as I noticed it a couple minutes later after three people viewed it.  I started hitting buttons as fast as I could, I was shaking… like a leaf falling from it’s tree vine.

But I pulled it back and now here it is… once again weeks later.  Yes!  It’s a Connie Steward Flash Card… I just can’t stay away from her technique.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about take a look at it here.

Imagine this, the person who get this card will be my One in a Million (just like the stamp set).  Are you still reading because you want to know how I made the leaves?  Well, let me tell you… I used the leaves in the Language of Friendship.

I could hear you asking… but, how did you get just the leaves on the paper?  I used a the Stampin’ Write Wild Wasabi marker.  Yes, it was that easy… LoL.  Go on… try it, you know you want to.  The adorable button is from the Brights Designer Buttons collection.

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Stampin’ Up! is trying out something new!  They are excited to offer you the chance to buy single pieces from these select stamp sets:  Word Play, Perfectly Penned, and Seasonal Sayings.  Click on each image below to view stamps or read prior post here.

      

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A Little Birdie Goes Tweet Tweet Tweet

My featured stamp set (For the Birds) wins my heart.  Why?  Because it is perfect for the beginner stamper.  It has seven different stamps to make your first creations with… from sending birthday wishes, tellin’ somebody you miss them, and even a Merry Christmas stamp!  This is a must have with your Starter Kit now!

I was lost in trying to use this very different paper pattern called International Bazaar.  I would never call it ugly, but I would say it gave me a little creative block (LoL).  I wanted to use my Adorning Accents Edgelits since buying them when they first came out and this was the perfect layout!

So I took the Daffodil Delight cardstock to help bring out the yellow in the Internation Bazzar Designer Series Paper and used the Adorning Accents Edgelits to frame the sides and the Beautiful Wings Embossilits for the butterflies.

Match your Designer Series Paper patters perfectly each time by using my handy dandy Coordinating Colors cheat sheet.  Feel free to print it and use it.  What better?  Sharing it with a friend.  Come on, share your secret and be a good friend.

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Unique Birthday for a Unique Lady

Have you ever sat in a meeting, a class, or  simply relaxing and you get a vision in your head of a drawing or something you want to put on paper?  It happened to me for the first time in ages.  I mean, I’m seriously not crafty, but people think I am because I make cards, coasters (out of tiles).  I didn’t invent them, I simply copy and share what I see.  Anyway, back to my sketch.  I was sitting a class a few weeks ago and I just had to draw a picture of a sketch that exploded in my head.  Well, it looks a slightly different, but it’s a good match don’t you think?

I used my sketch to put together today’s birthday card for my sister-in-law who is a very unique lady.  She has had the same job for over 20 years working for an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Feliciano S. Navalta.  I haven’t met someone else, besides my dad, who has worked for the same employer at the same location all these years.  Wow!

People often comment to me about how crafty I am.  It actually makes me laugh because I don’t consider myself crafty.  I can’t even draw stick figures to save my life… LoL.  That’s when I get really excited about sharing my love of making cards and other crafts.  I love the feel of paper, I love cutting, snipping, and shaping paper to make it come together.  I’m not so good with color combinations though.  You can say I have a cheat sheet, it’s called a Color Coach.  Stampin’ Up! makes it so easy with their Color Coach.

Let this coach help you put together custom color schemes to express your unique creativity.  Whether you want a quick reference of all colors in a collection, a card for every color, or blank cards to record your own color combinations, this swatch book is for you!

■ Text in English, Spanish, French, and German
■ Includes 55 double-sided cards with removable metal post fastener
■ Includes color theory cards and individual color swatch cards
■ On individual color cards, one side shows color, the other side lists coordinating colors
■ Card size: 2-3/4″ x 4-1/2″

If you are interested in getting started, but don’t know where to start or you just want the kit and NOTHNING  else, I can make it happen without any future committments.

My personal guarentee is that I will personally return your money if you are ever approached to hold a class or make a sale by me!  The starter kit comes with $125 worth of fantastic product and best part is… you get to choose what you want or I can help you find out what you want.

Yes, for $99 your Starter Kit  comes to you with FREE shipping!  You can use my Circle of Pals as your stepping stone…. NO STRINGS ATTACHED!

If you get your kit during the month of August, you also qualify to receive a FREE Spooktacular Project w/Your New Kit!  Feel free to call me 707-646-1972 or email me (maggie@maggiemadecards.com) and take advantage of me. =)  As an added gift, I will give you a color coach booklet for FREE.

Handmade Card Ingredients

Stamp Set:  Itty Bitty Banners, Mixed Bunch
Paper:  Real Red, Subtles DSP, Soft Suade
Ink Pad:  Soft Suade, Whisper White Craft
Accessories:  Scallop Edge Circle Punch, 1 3/4 Circle Punch,
Basic Rhinestones, Paper Piercing Tool

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A Simple Teen’s Birthday Indeed!

A week and a half ago my daughter from another mother (me) became a teenager.  She’s not a typical teenager, nor a girly girl that needs to have the make-up, nor the heels, nor the fashion named clothes.  She prefers jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers… and I love her bunches!  She reminds me of myself and no matter what she doesn’t fall into peer pressure.  That’s my girl, Leila.  Now lets go play paintball again!

It wasn’t until this week that I realized Leila’s birthday is one day after my military anniversary.  I was beside myself when I shockingly remembered that July 28th was my 23rd anniversary since joining the 1% club.  WoW!  I’m still in shock… I was in the reserves for 16 of those years and so far I am still LIVING THE DREAM.

NOT ENOUGH TIME TO CREATE CARDS?:  Go digital!  Download your FREE trial of My Digital Studio HERE!  What is My Digital Studio?  It is a user friendly digital software program that allows you to express yourself and impress your friends when you create projects using MDS 2, My Digital Studio’s digital design software.

With the FREE 30-day trial, you’ll get:

  • Full access to the software at NO COST for 30 days
  • Full access to design tools to create cards, photobooks, calendars, and more
  • Full access to a sample of exclusive artwork from MDS 2+
  • The chance to buy additional downloads that you can keep after your trial expires
  • Ability to order your projects from our professional print services
To use the software more than 30 days, buy MDS 2 (software only) or MDS 2+ (software plus $500 in content).

MDS AUGUST SPECIAL:  Get 31% off 31 digital content options and most of our print products for all 31 days in August! Feed your My Digital Studio addicted customers and tempt the ones that aren’t. With digital goods on sale and the 30-day FREE trial of the software, August is the perfect time for them to enter the digital designing craze and see what it’s all about.

What’s on sale?:  ALL cards, photobooks, individual pages, and tags. That’s right: print any photobook, board book, swatchbook, individual pages, greeting card, postcard, trifold card, or tag-all for 31% off.

Some of our best digital content. 30 downloads and 1 content disc. Yup, that equals 31.

 

Handmade Card Ingredients

Stamp Set:  Itty Bitty Banners, Make a Cake
Paper:  Real Red, Whisper White, Bashful Blue
Ink Pad:  Real Red
Accessories:  1 3/4″ Scallop Circle Punch

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If you are reading this… you are AWESOME!
Thank you with my whole heart for scrolling down this far.
YOU are truly appreciated.

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A Reason to Smile with a Happy Birthday on the Go!

As I go through my Stampin’ Up! journey I have discovered that clean and simple is my signature. I’ve tried making cards with the bells and whistles, but it just doesn’t seem to work for me. I find myself going back to a simple layout with a very simple design. My white space is my happy place. =)  What is your style?

FREE CARD CAMP:  Do you live near by?  Fairfield, Travis Air Force Base, Vacaville, Suisun City, Dixon, Cordelia, Napa, Davis, or even Sacramento.  I had a spot open up and I now have 4 open seats.  I teach basic card skills and you will learn how to quickly put a personalized card all for FREE.  Sign Up up now and bring your smile. Email me if you have any questions.


REASON TO SMILE:  During July, you have the opportunity to purchase an exclusive stamp set, available only through this special offer!  Get the Reason to Smile Set (up to a $20.95 value) for just $5 when you spend $50 on any Stampin’ Up! products.  One $5.00 stamp set per customer.  Call me if you have additional questions (707-646-1972).

Reason to Smile – Wood Mount Item (131274) – $5.00
Reason to Smile – Clear Mount Item (131275) – $5.00

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If you are reading this… you are AWESOME!
Thank you with my whole heart for scrolling down this far.
YOU are truly appreciated.
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forward to a friend by clicking on envelope icon below.