It's true!  I am one of the 2009 Artisan Award Winners!  Let me just say that I am very honored and very humbled to be a part of this group - it's a little mind boggling!

I'm going to convention - Track 4 - and my projects will be on display there.  Very exciting! 

And for something new - here's a sneak peek of a stamp set coming out in the new Idea Book and Catalog on July 1.  It's called Lots of Bots. 



It's a simple little card in Basic Gray, Basic Black and Whisper White.  Those that know me will tell you that I'm always getting cards sent out late!  So I turned this "I'm sorry" card into a belated birthday card.



This one will go to my nephew.  I'm not even going to tell you how long ago he had a birthday!  Bad aunt!  But I think he'll like the robot.  Enjoy!  Hugs, Fran

        

I've been playing with the Pop Up Ball die for the Big Shot - too much fun!  Here's a card that would make a cute invite to a pool party.



The "sun" is made with the piece for the bottom of the Basket and Blooms die.  The wave is the negative of the Swirly die.  The letters are from the Naturally Serif strip die - and the beach balls are circles punched several times and layered together!  The brad on the front is the clasp for the floss that holds the card closed.

Here's the inside -



I cut the ball out of Whisper White, Yo Yo Yellow, Brilliant Blue and Real Red and alternated the sections.  The invite part is from Please Come - I just used Stampin Write Markers and selected the parts of the information that I wanted.  There is a brad on the back that secures the floss.



Enjoy!  Hugs, Fran

        

My friend Jackie came over yesterday and we stamped the afternoon away!  She let me use two of her sets that I don't own - and of course, now I want them!  The first one is Choo Choo (Occasions Mini) and is a case of the card in the mini.



My dimensions were different from the mini - but I made it work!  The next one is Sip by Sip.



I masked half of the So Saffron coffee mug so the coffee ring would go behind it.  Thanks for a fun afternoon, Jackie!  Enjoy!  Hugs, Fran

        

I'm playing catch up right now!  This card was made for the sketch challenge on Splitcoast this week.  It uses the Pink Flamingo DSP and a rub on on the ribbon and flower.  No stamping!  Gasp!



It's a fun way to use the designs in this paper!  Enjoy!  Hugs, Fran

        

The Last Chance List is here!  Wonderful stuff - and it won't last long!

Continuing on with the apron theme - a little boy's overalls.  This is a one-sy template with the apron on top.  I used my 1 3/8" square punch to punch out the neckline.  There's lots of piercing for stitch lines - and brads.  The flowers are only there because I couldn't find a frog! 



Then for a little girl - a carriage made with the Circle Scallop Big Shot Die.





I ran the center stip through my Big Shot using a Texturz Plate.  The wheels are Seeing Spots and the sentiment is Curvy Verses.  (I'm thinking the carriage could also be a Pacman!)  Enjoy!  Hugs, Fran

        

Font of You is such a sweet set - I love the images and the sentiments.  And I'm sort of stuck on using the Parisian Breeze DSP with it. 



I stamped the umbrella twice - once in Chocolate Chip and once in Baja Breeze. 

This one is basically cased from the Idea Book and Catalog -



I stamped the vase in Sahara Sand and layered it over the stamped image.  To get the Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip on the main image, I inked the stamp up in Baja Breeze and then went over the stem lines with a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker.  Enjoy!  Hugs, Fran

        

It's time for a picnic this weekend!  So in honor of my patio - I added some retired rub ons to my trash can!





I'll keep you posted on how well this lasts! 

Samantha went to a birthday party this weekend so I whipped up a Pop Up Cake die card!  This die is easy to use!  The front of the card uses the Party Hearty stamp set and Sweet Always DSP.



(My favorite layout for this set)  And here's the pop up part!



Enjoy!  Hugs, Fran

        

There are lots of cute apron templates out there!  I drew this one up to make some cook out invites - and then got side tracked making a Stampin' UP! apron!



This uses the Bella Rose DSP and Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon.  I made the SU "emblem" with my Hand Stamped stamp. 



If you don't have an apron template, you can find the one I drew here.  This is the original card and shows you how the ribbon laces through the inside of the card.



Bon Appetit comes from the Voila stamp set.  The paper is Real Red from last catalogs Hostess Pack.



Do your paper piercing on the front BEFORE you adhere it to your card and yours will look better on the inside than mine!



Enjoy!  Hugs, Fran

        

Happy May - it's National Scrapbooking Month!  There is a great promotion going this month to help celebrate! Check it out here!

I thought I'd kick off the celebration by sharing the layout that my Scrap Clubs did last week.  I used Doodle This - one of my favorite sets for scrappin'! 



This page also uses the Lovely Lilac Designer Prints paper, Pink Passion, Pumpkin Pie, Yo Yo Yellow and Basic Black card stock and LOTS of glitter!  A note about using glitter on your scrapbook pages - do not use original photos when you use glitter.  While glitter is acid free - it might scratch your photos when it is in your page protectors and/or photo albums. 



This pages are of Samantha and her friend getting ready to go to an 80's party!  How sad that I was pulling things out of my closet for them to wear!  But the "Big Hair" was so much fun!  Enjoy!  Hugs, Fran

        

These sweet little cards and envelope are on the very last page of the catalog - in the under $10 category!  You get 3 notes and envelopes, a double mounted stamp and a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Spot!  I used some Shimmery White card stock to watercolor a flower from Fifth Avenue Floral and mounted it on a piece of Whisper White and Kiwi Kiss. 





What a great way to showcase any of your favorite images!  Enjoy!  Hugs, Fran