Happy Monday to all! Can you believe that we are already half way through the 1st of month of the year!

Sometimes I wish we had a "freeze button" to stop time (for just a bit)…I sure hope everyone had a great weekend! I did….but I worked all day yesterday for special event….but the GREAT news is….I am off today!

I was super tickled with this card as it is a clean, classic and a monochromatic card that is just perfect to send in many ways! When The Occasions Catalog came out….I buzzed right past this stamp set….and then the more I looked at the catalog – it "spoke to me" as I could see many possibilities for it!

I first need to share with you a photo that I took once I stamped the sentiment WITHOUT the stamp-a-ma-jig….lesson learned – I needed it….you can see that it was a bit off and I had already cleaned my focal stamp so I did not want to start back from scratch!

I immediately thought – take a picture of it and share it on the blog…I am human and it is  great way to show you how you can made lemonade out of lemons ( well….it's really not that bad but I loved this image)

There are always options you can do before starting over from scratch! Also, remember…you made this so whomever receives it will be thrilled to know that YOU took YOUR time to make a gift (the card) from your heart! Just walk up and down the aisles of the stores and see the cards out there…..you will be smiling!

Let's get to it!

• Let's start with the stamp set…..it is called Happy Congratulations! So simple….so classic!

• I wanted to use just 2 colors….the basics – black and white! I used the black Staz On ink….why? – I think that this ink gives you a crisp image when using the color of black!

• When stampin the images….I stamped "off" onto a piece of paper to get a "fainter" image and then using the paper snips……a quick and easy trim is all that is needed!

•  After I made my boo-boo in not stampin straight….(see – I told you…it is simply worth it not to use the stamp-a-ma jig)….then you will always be "go to go!" I simply pulled out a piece of scraps and stamped the sentiment and then "free-hand" it!

Works for me….how about you?!?! The finale is the liner! I love this Designer Series Paper – it is the Kaleidoscope Paper…so fun & fresh!

Aren't we sooooo lucky to have sooo many great tools and products to make us have fun each and every day in creating our goodies! I think that the is a great card and can be used for for many occasions!

I have some fun posts this week! I am excited for you to see them! As I have said before…the countdown has begun for Sale-A-Bration! Tomorrows card will tease you with some of the fun!

I also am going to explain to you why Sale-A-Bration is so much fun….so special…and a time not to miss!

I realize that there are many of you that have never experienced the special fun of this time of the year with Stampin' Up! ….so tomorrow I will give you the "low down" why you will want to take advantage of this fun and FREE time!

Have a great day….and until tomorrow!