Just a few fun things to check out today.

• Head on over to Lawn Fawn. It is their monthly Inspiration Week… overflowing with inspiring cards.
• Paper Crafts is having a Idol-style contest right now. Fabulous card ideas – wow.
• My Favorite Things is teasing their adorable upcoming stamps.
• It’s Summer School over on the Simon Says Stamp blog. I am a guest today – you can see more of my card and a video there. Here is a peek…

Have you seen anything awesome out there? Share a link… I would love to see it.

Later!

You gotta move quick on this first one… and it is a good one! Check it out…

YES! You could win free spots in ALL future classes! All you have to do is subscribe at Online Card Classes HERE. (If you are already subscribed you will be eligible. But if you aren’t sure, go subscribe again. If you have taken a class before with us, it does NOT automatically subscribe you. So you may want to again to be sure.)

Next… tomorrow is the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop. I am honored to be a part of it again, so please be sure to stop by. There are over 150 people participating. LOVE that.

Oh, and by the way – we have a winner! The lucky gal getting the Neat and Tangled giveaway is Kathy Mc.

See you soon.

Check out Simon Says Stamp’s newest release of dies and stamps.

Such. Good. Stuff.

That’s all. Just wanted to share.

See you soon.

• Ellen Hutson has 20% off everything. Use code “momsday13” for the discount.
• 25-75% of stamps? Yes, please! Just head over to Two Peas in a Bucket. (No discount code needed.)
• I just ordered all the new goodies from Kelly Purkey. And her next kit has some amazing stuff in it. Impressed!
• Do you love bacon as much as I do? It’s my favorite. Therefore, I just had to have this stamp set!
• I am really happy with the Avery Elle Stamp Pockets. They are the perfect way to store your clear and cling stamps… and are back in stock.
• I have shared in the past that I use THIS container to store my clear and cling stamps. Well, I have found it is also perfect for storing completed cards! I just put them in categories. Perfect.
• If you use your phone’s camera as much as I do, you should join me in taking THIS class. Such good people are leading it!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I am in deep denial that Lila is turning one on Monday. So, if you are looking for me, I will be with my sorrows in a bowl of ice cream. lol

Take care!

I have shared here before about my love for Kiwi Crate. The creator and owner of the company was a dear friend of mine growing up and I am so very proud of her. (You can read about Sandra HERE.) Kiwi Crate provides creative kid’s craft, art and science projects in a box delivered to your door each month. If your child or grandchild is between the ages of 3 and 7, you need to join. They are absolutely delightful.

And today I have TWO ways for you to win.

Kiwi Crate has teamed up with Pottery Barn Kids and has a BIG giveaway valued at $750. Just go HERE for your chance to win. Then come back here and leave a comment letting me know you entered and I will pick a winner from the comments. This winner will receive a Kiwi Crate single box from me! (Comments will close at 11:59pmEST on 4/14/13.) Good luck!

This is a GREAT gift, also. If you want to learn more about Kiwi Crate, head HERE.

(Oh and the winner from the Simon Says Stamp Blog Hop was Sammy D and the winner of the Chic Tags was Amber B. We emailed you both. Thanks!)

Memory Box dies… oh how I love thee. And these new ones? Incredible. You can see all the new ones in HERE, but here are my faves…

Memory Box Small Circle Burst Die	Memory Box Norrland Flower Die	Memory Box Fresh Foliage Dies	Memory Box Thread Spools Dies
Memory Box Grand Oak Tree Die	Memory Box Cecilia Flower Outline Die	Memory Box Simple Needle and Thread Die	Memory Box Moustache Dies
Memory Box Hugs and Kisses Die	Memory Box Grassland Border Die	Memory Box Fabulous Phlox Dies	Memory Box Cosmic Star Die

Simon Says Stamp has a new card kit out – it is gorgeous. I am so excited to get my hands on those mini wood hearts…

Truly unique stamps are hard to come by. But the Tim Holtz Blueprints are one-of-a-kind… and so fun. Great for coloring and techniques. You can see them all HERE, but these are my favorites – they are brand new – be sure to check on the great greeting set, too…

Tim Holtz Blueprints Mini 2	Tim Holtz Blueprints Birthday	Tim Holtz Blueprints Easter	Tim Holtz Blueprints Sewing
Tim Holtz Blueprints Travel	Tim Holtz Simple Sayings	Tim Holtz Blueprints Mini 4	Tim Holtz Blueprints Mini 3

Lawn Fawn Summertime Charm Stamp Set	Lawn Fawn Sharp Backdrops Stamp Set	Lawn Fawn So Much to Say Stamp Set	Lawn Fawn Home Sweet Home Stamp Set
Lawn Fawn Daphes Closet 6×6 Paper Pad	Lawn Fawn Pink Lemonade 6×6 Paper Pad	Lawn Fawn Hearts Dies	Lawn Fawn Say Cheese Die

Simon Says Stamp has some great new stamps and dies out. As always, they are fabulous – you can see them all HERE, and these are my favorites…

Simon Says Stamp You Stamp Set	Simon Says Stamp Lots of Hearts Stamp Set	Simon Says Stamp Just a Love Note Stamp Set	Simon Says Stamp Talk Bubbles Stamp Set
Simon Says Stamp Talk Bubbles Dies	Simon Says Stamp Mini Hearts Dies	Simon Says Stamp Falling Hearts Die	Simon Says Stamp You Die
Simon Says Stamp Large Holiday Shapes Dies	Simon Says Stamp Large Hearts Dies

The product I am most excited about from CHA is from Ranger – the new Tim Holtz Distress Paints. These aren’t your normal paints. They have unique properties like the Distress Inks and you will be seeing me use them a lot here. You can get them all HERE.

How would you like to win some new goodies? Just leave a comment here by Friday night at 11:59pmEST for your chance to win TWO Memory Box Dies and TWO Simon Says Stamp Dies! Good luck.

I have some fun links for you tonight…

• Lawn Fawn is sharing their newest stamps and products. They have some exciting things coming! I love THIS first set.
• More of the new 2013 Hero Arts stamps are now available HERE, including the great new ink colors.
• Love THIS card by Donna.
• I am so happy that THESE great marker organizers are available again. They are fantastic.
• I can’t get enough of THIS white wood grain cardstock. You will be seeing me use this a lot here.
• Lovely card HERE. Such a classy look.
• A Blog Named Hero is having a design team call HERE. Lots of talent there!

I also wanted to share quickly a card I did for A Blog Named Hero before the holidays. This is another example of getting more from holiday stamps by using them for winter thank yous…

Lots of stamp layering on this card. My friend Shari is really good at stamp layering (she has a great video HERE), but I really gotta work at it. Once I get results I like, I make lots.

That tiny ink background is awesome – I stamped it twice in two different colors. It is subtle – a good thing for stamp layering…

See you soon.

Below are the supplies used for this card. To find them at Simon Says Stamp, click on the SSS below the thumbnails. For Ellen Hutson, click on EH…

Hero Arts Tiny Ink Spot Background Stamp (SSS|EH)	Hero Arts Thanks a Bunch Clear Set (SSS|EH)	Hero Arts Designer Snowflakes Stamp Set (SSS|EH)	Hero Arts Milwaukee Heat Gun	White Embossing Powder (SSS|EH)
Hero Arts Tide Pool Mid Tone Shadow Ink (SSS|EH)	Hero Arts Pool Shadow Ink (SSS|EH)	Hero Arts Soft Granite Shadow Ink (SSS|EH)	Hero Arts Cornflower Mid Tone Shadow Ink (SSS|EH)	Versamark (SSS|EH)
Neenah White Cardstock 250 Sheets (SSS|EH)	Neenah White Cardstock 25 Sheets (SSS|EH)	Hero Arts Smooth Gemstones

Just popping in quickly to share a great last minute gift idea from my friend Erica Hernandez. I love this and plan to make it for teacher gifts and for the girls. I simply love it. Love it love it love it. (By the way, Erica didn’t ask me to post this – I asked her if I could. I like it that much. Thanks, Erica!)

Check out this fab personalized notepad!

It is so easy to do. First, head HERE to buy the personalized pdf for only $5. Then, print as many pages as you want. And here is the cool part – Erica shows HERE how to turn the printed pieces into a notepad with any white glue like Elmers!

Awesome gift idea.

You can find out more about all this HERE. Fabulous, eh?

How would you like to win a personalized pdf so you can make your own notepad? Just leave a comment here by 11:59pmEST on Saturday for your chance!

Good luck.

Today is the last day of this series. I hope you have enjoyed it!

Here are some more goodies that I consider “Creativity Boosters” – including kits, classes, storage, etc. These things are from some of my favorite non-stamping stores.

Here we go… My Favorite Crafty Things: Creativity Boosters…

Card Kits

There is something inspiring about getting a box filled with cardmaking goodies that all go together beautifully. And with a unique stamp set, too? Love it! Simon Says Stamps makes it easy with their monthly card kits. You can sign up for a monthly subscription at an amazingly low price or by them month by month. Check out January’s kit HERE… it is a good one!

FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Monthly Card Kit Subscription

FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp January Card Kit

FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Monthly Card Kits

Scrapbooking Kits

Are you a scrapbooker? Then be sure you check out Studio Calico. Their monthly kit program is super popular – their scrapbook kits are divine! I love the add-ons offered, too. They also now have card kits and Project Life kits, too!

FAVORITE THING: Studio Calico Monthly Scrapbooking Kits

Online Card Classes

Looking to get inspired and learn more ways to get more from the products you have? Try Online Card Classes. You can go take them anytime, and you will have access for a lifetime. Lots of videos. Tons of cards. Many great guests.

Even better - you can now give a class to someone as a gift. Or you can ask someone to give one to you! It is easy – just go HERE. These are my favorites of the classes…

• Inspiration Showcase – Get inspired by ink, dies, paper, and more with 16 technique-heavy videos, 33 card ideas, and an inspiration canvas.
• Clean & Simple Card Making – Create extraordinary clean and simple designs! With 14 videos and 36 cards, you’ll have new design skills at your fingertips.
• Creative Chemistry – Master techniques with the ever-creative Tim Holtz. This class contains 5+ hours of video content!
• A Cut Above – Learn everything you need to know about die cutting from this two-part class. Sign up for traditional or electronic die cutting… or take both for the ultimate die-cutting class.
• Stretch Your Stamps – Get the most out of various styles and types of stamps with 22 videos and 58 cards!
• Kick Start – Give your creativity a kick start with 32 inspiring videos and 25 card ideas.

And guess what? We just announced our newest class and you can now sign up…

Yay! Hope you can join us. Want a peek in what a class looks like? Here you go…

FAVORITE THING: Online Card Classes

FAVORITE THING: Online Card Classes Class Gift

FAVORITE THING: Online Card Classes Clean and Simple 2 Class

Gift Certificates

Here is another easy last-minute gift to ask Santa for: gift certificates for some fabulous shopping! I would recommend e-cards from Simon Says Stamp, Ellen Hutson, Two Peas In a Bucket, or Online Card Classes…

FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Gift Card	FAVORITE THING: Ellen Hutson Gift Card	FAVORITE THING: Two Peas In a Bucket Gift Card
FAVORITE THING: Online Card Classes Class Gift

Storage

If you took my Kick Start class, you are familiar with my new clear stamp and wafer thin die storage systems. (I show videos explaining it all in the class.) But I thought I would link to what I love here, too, since I love it so much!

I store my clear stamps in sleeves from Office Depot (just cut it carefully down the center seam to create two separate pockets – see more HERE) and then in clear containers from Amazon. I love this system! For wafer thin dies, I use cd pockets from Office Depot and store them in the same clear containers meant for soda cans. I adore this system and it is keeping me organized! Here are the storage goodies I love…

FAVORITE THING: Clear Stamp Storage

FAVORITE THING: Die Storage

FAVORITE THING: Stamp and Die Storage Container

And there you have it – all of My Favorite Crafty Things. I hope you have enjoyed it!

One last giveaway! Leave a comment here by 11:59pmEST on 12/22/12 for your chance to win a spot in an Online Card Class of your choice! Good luck.

Enjoy.

Just FYI – you can get 15% off most products I feature here at Simon Says Stamp by using the code “JMFAVES” by 12/19. You can go HERE to find all of My Favorite Crafty Things – they created a category for easy shopping.

Today I have My Favorite Crafty Things: Die Cutting. I’ll say it – I am addicted to dies these days. In today’s video I mention a few of my favorite brands, and show some fun new interactive/3D dies…

Here are a few brands of dies that I find offer the best quality and variety – Memory Box, Simon Says Stamp, My Favorite Things and Sizzix. (Click on the images to see more options.)

FAVORITE THING: Memory Box Dies

FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Dies

FAVORITE THING: My Favorite Things Dies

FAVORITE THING: Sizzix Dies

Here are the dies (including interactive and 3D dies) I featured in the video. Click on the product image to find out more information…

FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Falling Stars Die	FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Talk Bubbles Dies	FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Folded Banner Die	FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Small Folded Banners Dies
FAVORITE THING: My Favorite Things Dainty Bows Dies	FAVORITE THING: My Favorite Things Beautiful Bows Dies	FAVORITE THING: My Favorite Things Jumbo Cloud Dies	FAVORITE THING: Memory Box Corner Bow Die
FAVORITE THING: Memory Box Floral Delights Die	FAVORITE THING: Crafty Cutts Twisting Explosion Die	FAVORITE THING: Sizzix Create A Bow Die	FAVORITE THING: Sizzix Tim Holtz Pillow Box Die
FAVORITE THING: Sizzi Circle Flip Card Die	FAVORITE THING: Sizzi Square Flip Card Die	FAVORITE THING: Hero Arts Sizzix Stamps Dies

My two favorite die cutting machines are the Vagabond (the big bad momma of die cutting) and the Big Shot. The Big Shot comes with everything you need to use all the dies I show. For the Vagabond, you will need the adapter plate in order to use the wafer thin dies. I also share a link for the Memory Box Metal Adaptor Plate. It is just a great shim that helps with getting complete cuts. (Not necessary but helpful to have.) However, the dies I mention also work in other machines!

FAVORITE THING: Sizzix Vagabond Die Cut Machine

FAVORITE THING: Sizzix Vagabond Wafer Thing Die Adapter Plate

FAVORITE THING: Sizzix Big Shot Die Cutting Machine

FAVORITE THING: Memory Box Metal Adaptor Plate

Oh! And just a heads up – there are some new dies available. Check them out…

FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Large Hearts Die	FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Mini Hearts Set Die	FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Large Holiday Shapes Die	FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Falling Hearts Die
FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp You Die	FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Talk Bubbles Die	FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp String of Hearts Set Die	FAVORITE THING: Simon Says Stamp Curvy Heart Die

Now I can’t mention die cutting without touching on embossing folders. Boy – there are a lot out there! My favorites are from Sizzix (including Tim Holtz and Hero Arts) and Lifestyle Crafts. Here are some newer ones that I am loving. (Yes! That first set has a folder that does a background of triangles. Love!)

FAVORITE THING: Lifestyle Crafts Triangle and Diagonal Lines Embossing Folders	FAVORITE THING: Lifestyle Crafts Sequence Embossing Folders	FAVORITE THING: Hero Arts Sizzix Chevrons & Flourishes Embossing Folders	FAVORITE THING: Hero Arts Sizzix Dot Swirl & Medallion Embossing Folders
FAVORITE THING: James Embossing Folder Set	FAVORITE THING: Decorative Tile Set Embossing Folders	FAVORITE THING: Charles Chevrom Embossing Folder

FAVORITE THING: Tim Holtz Embossing Diffusers

FAVORITE THING: Silhouette Digital Die Cutting Machine

There is a TON to learn about die cutting and embossing! SO many great techniques. By the way – I highly recommend the class A Cut Above to learn more. It covers all the machines, die types, techniques, embossing folders, and more! There are two parts to the class – you can sign up for either or both – one on traditional die cutting and one on the Silhouette. You can get more information HERE. It is my favorite class – tons of videos!

Giveaway time! Leave a comment here by 12/18/12 at 11:59pmEST for your chance to win two dies from Memory Box! Good luck. (All winners from the My Favorite Crafty Things posts will be announced later this week.)

More soon!