Happy Sunday!!! Close your eyes and sing…" I get by with a little help from my friends…." This is what this post stems around…. my friendship with Mary Fish and Brandi Cox!

I am super excited to be my upline, Mary Fish's guest stamper…wow – what an honor and what a fun post I have for you! Is this just too cute…too practical….and too much fun!

One of the things that I dearly love about Stampin' Up! is the relationships you build…and today's post is an inspiration from a fellow Stampin Up! Demonstrator that is not in Mary's line but someone that I follow! I picked up the phone one day…introduced myself and asked if I could come to one of her Crop Clubs! It was a plain and simple as that!

If you follow my Blog, this is when I had a road trip to North Carolina to see my daughter and had a free evening and went to have "girl fun" with Brandi Cox! It was a blast and I look forward to spending many more fun times with Brandi! One talented lady and we instantly connected!

Is this super or what…

Think about how many people would love this!

Let me back- up….Tuesday evening was the unveiling of discontinued products as well as SUD were able to preview the NEW catalog ( and YES – you will love….LOVE it!) I was going to be Cinderella waiting for midnight…so I was mass producing these gems…(20 in all) and then it HIT ME – I am on the East Coast and I will never make it…I didn't – finally hit the pillow at 1:30 a.m. and Wednesday was a L O N G day for me at work!

Last week on a post…I asked for comments on which 3 stamp sets did you think would be discontinued? The winner will get one of these super fun note pad portfolios! And the wimmer is……Jeanie…Please email me and let me know which color you want!!! WOOT-WOOT!

Her comment:
Beautiful card Susan! – Here are my 3 guesses for retiring stamps: Raining Flowers, Lean on Me and Daring Adventure!

This is a perfect gift….for a friend, a hostess, a co-worker – my wonderful husband took his administrative staff to lunch in honor of their special day on Wednesday and there were 8 of these on the table as they sat down for lunch! I always like to make them something handmade and they all loved it! I mixed the colors up and the table looked so pretty!

Brandi is the "queen" of videos and this one is one to watch! (She is after me to start doing videos….and with her help – I might take the plunge) Please check out her video showcasing this project. I did follow it pretty much – but I did make some changes that I felt worked better for me….and this again is what I love about SU….you can do you projects YOUR way!

This uses the basic's…stampin' trimmer, the Simply Scored, a Stamp Set that was featured in the Spring Catalog, Secret Garden and Bundle as I also used the Big Shot and coordinating and as you can see – I used a variety of fun and festive colors!

Here is a quick run down of colors that I used: Daffodil Delight, Rose Red, Gunball Green, Not So Navy….an just had a blast stampin' here and there – there is no right or worng way…just have FUN!

TIP ALERT!!! – Do you remember that it is a "pet peeve" of mine to have a stamp that does not give you that clean and crisp image….TRICK – use your sanding block to scruff it up….works  like a charm and always remember to re-ink your pads!

I do think it is important to have the ink refills – why would yu go to all of the work and time you put into a project only to find in the middle of it that your ink pad needs a little help!?!?

I do agree with Brandi that the Tombow glue is super strong, super economical, and super easy to use!!! I do think we overlook it often, but it really is a great adhesive for a good strong hold! A couple of things that I did differently than what Brandi showcases….

• I use the sticky strip to put together and adhere the inside pocket….I found it to be easier for me to do and also – cleaner!
• I chose not to put the leaves on as I found them to be in danger of getting torn…
• I matted a lager piece of coordinating paper behind the sentiment for a contrast of color and I did tear it as Brandi did…..loved the look!

This has been a joy to share this with you and I hope that I have inspired you! I also hope that Mary and her husband are having a FABULOUS time in FIGI…..a trip well deserved! Mary is one special person and I am just about at my 1 year anniversary as being a Stampin' Up Demonstrator and I feel like I have grown not only as a paper crafter but also as a person!

Being a PAL and being a part of this great company has brought to me a HUGE extended family! I have never, ever experienced anything like this in the fact of the amount of true friendship, inspiration and support is amazing!

I would love for you to be on this journey with me and join my team and be a Mary Fish PAL as well! Also, I am part of Mary's PALS Partner Program! Please email me and I would love to reach out to you and listen to your needs and goals! With the amazing incentive now – WHY NOT! If you are alreay going to purchase products….why not get the, at a discount delivered right to your door!

I made the commitment at the beginning of the year to blog daily and I am proud to say that I have kept true to my word! ( Thanks for the gentle nudge Mary!) I have learned to love sharing not only my work, but also my personality!

Please sign up for my blog subscription in the upper corner underneath the catalog! This way you can start your day with me every morning with a cup of coffee and let me inspire you!

Have a wonderful day, many thanks again to Mary and until tomorrow…..