About Me - Update

Pamela Staples
Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator
Phone: (919) 300-0128
Email: sunnygirlscraps@gmail.com

My name is Pam Staples, Stampin’ Up! Independent Demonstrator. I am a Scuba Diving, Scrapbook Stamping addict toting a Canon EOS D40 married to the love of my life, Mike!

Welcome to my blog, SunnyGirlScraps!

My primary hobby and crafting passion is scrapbooking followed by rubber stamping. I have over 18 years of scrapbooking and 10 years of stamping experience. My first scrapbook project was to document a 1 ½ month college seminar traveling throughout Western Europe. It was a trip of a lifetime so it was important that I preserve my photos and memorabilia which led me to create my first scrapbook. As you can imagine, I was quickly hooked on scrapbooking and have created many masterpieces since my first scrapbook!

The first Stampin’ Up! Workshop I attended was over 10 years ago and was immediately hooked on rubber stamping. I love making handmade cards and gifts. Rubber stamping is also a natural fit with my love of scrapbooking leading me to quickly incorporate stamping into my scrapbook designs. When it came time to plan my wedding, it was an easy decision to make my own invitations and wedding favors using Stampin’ Up! products.

On March 23, 2009, I joined Stampin’ Up! as an Independent Demonstrator which has brought my love of scrapbooking and rubber stamping to a new level. I absolutely LOVE what I DO creating beautiful handmade cards, scrapbook pages and 3D projects such as custom journals. On both a personal and business level, I thoroughly enjoy sharing my passion for scrapbooking and stamping by teaching others how to get started in a new craft , by bringing their hobby to a new level as a scrapbooker and stamper or by joining my team as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

I was originally nervous about becoming a Stampin’ Up! Independent Demonstrator because I didn’t think I could meet the quarterly minimum of $300.00 but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is an attainable goal. Since I first discovered Stampin' Up! I had thought it would be a great business opportunity but I didn't think I could be successful as a demonstrator. It took a very talented friend to convince me that I had the abilities and potential to be a demonstrator. I've also discovered that to be a successful demonstrator all you really need is to have a passion and love for crafting - you don't have to be a Monet or Van Gogh! I'll be honest, being a demonstrator is a wonderful business opportunity and if you've ever thought of becoming a demonstrator I would LOVE to have you join my team by clicking HERE!

To date, I continue to enjoy scrapbooking and stamping whenever possible. I have a wonderful craft studio setup in my home located in Smithfield, North Carolina. As a Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator, I host crops and classes in my home on a regular basis. To learn more about these events, I encourage you to check out my Calendar of Events by clicking HERE! I am also available and would love to help you earn free Stampin' Up! products by teaching a workshop in your home. If you are interested in hosting a workshop, please call (919) 300-0128 or email me at sunnygirlscraps@gmail.com.

On a personal note, I am originally from Bloomington, MN.  I attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and graduated with a Major in English and Minors in Business and Art. After college, I moved to Denver, CO to attend a post-graduate Paralegal Program which led to a successful 15 year career as a Corporate Securities Paralegal. Since 2006, I’ve been a Stay-At-Home-Wife as  I focused on my health while hoping to have children as we dealt with infertility, a miscarriage and cancer. Then, in early 2008, my husband was offered a wonderful position at Talecris Biotheraputics leading us to move from Minnesota to Smithfield, NC with our pets. Once we were settled into our new home in North Carolina, Mike and I decided to pursue domestic adoption of a newborn infant and we've been approved to adopt since January 9, 2009.  In September 2009, we were matched with a Birthmom and we brought our son home on September 23, 2009.


Over the past year, we've lost a couple of pets.  Both Ashbey and Gabriel passed away.  Ashbey passed away in October 2009 from liver failure and Gabriel passed away on May 19, 2010 from cancer.  They are both greatly missed!  We then added another furry family member to our household on June 5, 2010 with the addition of our Golden Retriever puppy, Cooper.

Here are the newest family additions:

Our son, Caleb (his adoption was finalized in April 2010!) and Cooper!

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Father's Day!

First Time for Father's Day!

This past Sunday was my husbands first Father's Day!  We had a very enjoyable, relaxing day starting with Church.  Admittedly, the thought crossed our mind to sleep in and skip church but I needed to work in the Nursery so we dragged ourselves out of bed and made it to church!  We were so glad to be there and enjoyed the service as is always the case.

We really didn't have any big plans for the day.  After Church, we came home for lunch which was Salmon Burgers (Yuk!) for my husband and bratwurst for me.  Mike LOVES those Salmon Burgers!  Anyway, lunch was tasty.  Caleb and I then took Mike shopping for some new work shoes along with tennis shoes.  On our shopping trip, Mike found what he needed and we also found some cute Robeez shoes for Caleb's trip to Minnesota along with a great 4th of July outfit.  I also took the opportunity to stock up on my favorite Bath & Body shower gel.

It was a wonderful Father's Day...  Of course, the one thing I forgot to do was give Mike his Father's Day card on FATHER'S DAY!  Oops...  So, I gave him his Father's Day card early Monday morning.  He really loved the card and thought it was suitably masculine :) which makes me happy.  I love the card as well.

Here is his Father's Day Card:

Card Recipe:

Stamp Sets:  All Holidays (114916) and Sentimental Journey (Wood Mount 118513 / Clear Mount 120075 - 2010 Summer Mini)

Ink Pad:  Night of Navy Classic (102977)

Cardstock:  Night Of Navy (100867); Not Quite Navy (101722), Very Vanilla (101650)

Big Shot:  Stampin' Up! Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976 -2010 Summer Mini)

Accessories:  Corduroy Brads (Retiring 6/30/2010)

 

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Summer Time Fun

Ahhhh... Summer!  Family vacations, going to the beach or the lake, taking the boat out and camping!  These are only a few of my favorite things to do during the summer months.

In just a few days, I'll be heading to Minnesota with my son, Caleb, to enjoy 3 weeks in Minnesota.  I'm really looking forward to the trip but will also miss my husband along with all the pets.  I wish Mike could have joined me for part of the time on this trip but he just doesn't have enough vacation time available yet.  But I do look forward to going on a family vacation this fall.

Well, we've had a lot of fun lately preparing for this trip but also planning for when I get back.  I will be home for 1 week before I turn around and head to Salt Lake City, UT for the Stampin' Up! Convention.  I'm so excited about going to convention.  At the end of May, I received an early copy of the new catalog.  I was able to scour the catalog and come up with ideas for Convention Swaps.  I have two swaps designed with most of the cutting complete with the plan to get them to the point where I only need to assemble them.  There is still some work to do and I'm hoping to get some Big Shot work done before I go to MN so I can bring the unfinished swaps with me to MN with plans to finish them on vacation.  My mom has actually volunteered to help!  I still want to design at least one or two more cards for swapping but we'll see if we are able to accomplish that goal.  My desire is to have around 300 to 400 cards for swapping - a lofty goal for my first time attending convention.

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Fresh and simple card

Fresh & Simple

Today, I'm featuring a fresh, simple and fairly easy card to make.  I need a quick card for a Chat & Challenge on SUDSOL.  So, I looked around at my messy craft table and decided to play with a mix of items that are both new and not so new. 

This card features some new items as part of the sneak preview to the new 2010-2011 Stampin' Up! Catalog.  Check out the ribbon!  And the base to this card is a beautiful, Marina Mist blue.  I absolutely love the Marina Mist. 

Card Recipe:

Cardstock:  Marina Mist
Accessories:  Bitty Buttons (2010 Summer Mini Catalog), Bitty Punches and Marina Mist 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon
Stamp Sets:  Razzle Dazzle and Perfect Punches
DSP:  Island Oasis (2010 Summer Mini Catalog)
Colors:  Marina Mist, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz

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