Hoppy Easter!

This is just a crazy busy week at my house.  My youngest son is getting baptized on Saturday so we have all kinds of company coming in from out of town.  And of course we all get to celebrate Easter together with our special friends and family which is just an added bonus.  But that leaves me to prepare a few special meals and of course have my house company ready.  So I have been AWOL for the past few days.  I hope by the middle of next week to be back to regular posting.

But I have an Easter project to share so I knew I had to make the time to post today.  A week or so ago, Stampin' Up! posted the most adorable Bunny Box on the company blog.  I knew it would be the perfect project for my club last week, so I made my own version of it:

Colors: Naturals Ivory, Coral Calypso, Bashful Blue, Basic Black and Crumb Cake.  Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners.  Big Shot: Ovals Collection Framelits.  Punches: Large and Small Oval, Cupcake Builder.  Accessories: Designer Printed Brad, Coral Calypso Baker's Twine, and Tea for Two Designer Series Paper.

I made the body using the middle-sized Oval Framelit for the body of the bunny and then the smallest one for the feet and ears.  The inside of the ears and paws were made with the Large Oval Punch and the egg with the small oval punch.  I just love how the little nose and whiskers turned out.

My club ladies loved it and most of them ended up buying the Oval Framelits so they could recreate them for their friends and grandchildren.  Here's a picture of the back so you can see that it really is a box:

The box on the back was made with a 5" x 8-1/2" piece of card stock placed in the simply scored the long was and scored at 2-1/2", 4", 5-1/2" and 8.  Turn the card stock the other way and score at 1-1/2" and then assemble as a box.

I hope you and your families enjoy a lovely holiday weekend together.  I know I am looking forward to it!

Scrapping the Old Fashioned Way

Recently, Stampin' Up! put out a call for demonstrators to apply to be Event Display Stampers.  I figured I might as well apply since I had several projects already made that fit the criteria.  However, there was one project I didn't have and it was something I haven't done in a LONG, long time.  I needed to design a one page scrapbook layout.  And not with My Digital Studio.  The old fashioned way.  Eek!

It's been a very long time since I've done it, but I set out one day a couple of weeks back to do just that:

Colors: Real Red, Island Indigo, Pool Party, and Whisper White.  Stamps: The Open Seas, Perfect Punches. Big Shot: Apothecary Accents and Hearts a Flutter Framelits, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL, Typeset Alphabet Bigz, Honeycomb and Textured Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folders.  Punches: XL Oval and 1-3/8" Circle.  Accessories: Real Red and Pool Party Core'dinations Card Stock, Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper and Ribbon, Silver Basic Buttons, Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Sanding System.

I probably should have shared this page a week or so ago because it does have a touch of Sale-A-Bration on it: the Designer Series Paper and the Island Indigo ribbon in the top corner. But it also features some fun products from the Spring Catalog: the Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing folder, the Core'dinations Card Stock and the Silver buttons. 

I haven't used the Core'dinations Card Stock nearly enough, but it is a great way to add a little texture to your project.  The paper itself is textured and then when you sand it, you reveal a lighter version of the same color underneath.  Here I used it to give the title a weathered, beachy kind of look:

I don't know that I will go back to old fashioned scrapbooking very often, but it was fun to challenge myself a little bit. 


And are you surprised that Stampin' Up! is running yet another promotion?  This time it is one week only so if you want to take advantage, jump on board now!!

Yep, this week all fabric is 50% off.  The sale starts today and ends next Sunday.  Contact me today if you would like to take advantage or click the shop now button above.

Last Day to Sale-A-Brate

Here it is, the last day of Sale-A-Bration 2013.  Did you get all the freebies you wanted?  If not, it isn't too late.  Just get your order to me by 8:00 p.m. MDT today or shop on line anytime before midnight MDT.

I have one more Sale-A-Bration project to show you and it also features the Bloomin' Marvelous set from the brochure.  This is the card we made at one of my Stamp Clubs last month:

Colors: Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Elegant Eggplant and Whisper White.  Stamps: Bloomin' Marvelous.  Big Shot: Square Lattice and Textured Frames Textured Embossing Folders. Punches: XL Oval and Bitty Butterfly.  Accessories: Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon, Rhinestone Jewels.

 

To make this card, we used the "Stampin' Off" technique.  This is a very simple way to add monochromatic images to your project without having to clean your stamp in between.  All you have to do is ink your image up in the darkest color of your card (Elegant Eggplant in this case) and then stamp with it three times before you ink it up again.  Each time you stamp, the image gets lighter and lighter but in the same hue.  It just so happens that by time you stamp Elegant Eggplant off three times, it looks a lot like Wisteria Wonder.

The only trick to this is if you are going to be stamping off the edge of your paper, it will not remove the ink uniformly from your stamp. So if you keep stamping with that image, it will not produce a good quality image the second and third time.  To solve this problem, when I stamped off the edge of the paper, I reinked my stamp and then stamped off on a scratch piece of paper first before I stamped it on the card.

And it is important to remember to stamp first and then run it through the textured embossing folder.  It does not work to do it the other way around. 

This was not the first card I made.  The first time I did this card, I used different colors.  I still like the effect, but I thought my customers would prefer the purples instead.  But here is the original:

Color: Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Lucky Limeade and Whisper White. Stamps: Bloomin' Marvelous.  Big Shot: Square Lattice and Textured Frames Textured Embossing Folders. Punches: XL Oval and Bitty Butterfly.  Accessories: So Saffron Taffeta Ribbon.

I also didn't get the rhinestones added to the butterfly on this version, but it still produces a beautiful affect.

If you haven't already received this fun stamp set free with a qualifying purchase, don't wait any longer.  Contact me ASAP and let's get it ordered for you.

Sale-A-Bration: The End is Near!

Sale-A-Bration ends this Friday, March 22.  So if you haven't already taken advantage of this great time to shop Stampin' Up!, now is the time.

I still haven't shown any projects with this Bloomin' Marvelous stamp set that is only available during Sale-A-Bration:

Colors: Not Quite Navy, Pool Party, So Saffron, Whisper White.  Stamps: Bloomin' Marvelous and Occasions Alphabet.  Big Shot: Apothecary Accents Framelits, Honeycomb Texture Impressions Embossing Folder.  Punches: Bitty Butterfly, Elegant Butterfly, Large Oval.  Accesories: Core'dinations Card Stock, Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Rhinestone Jewles, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack.

This card was loosely based on a card I saw on Stampin' Connections by Diane Vander Galien.  I changed up the colors and the butterfly images and added a different greeting.  This Bloomin' Marvelous comes with some really cute sayings but I needed this to be for my birthday class so I used a different one.  I love the Occasions Alphabet stamp set because it has 26 different fun greetings in it.

I do have an order going in this Friday if you are interested in taking advantage of Sale-A-Bration and combined shipping.  Just let me know.  You can also jump on over to my online store and shop to your hearts content there.  Just do it before Friday so you get your free items.  Don't miss out!

MDS Monday: Invitations

It's been a long time since I featured an MDS project here on my blog, but that is what you are getting today.  My younger son just turned 8.  And in our faith, that is when you get baptized.  Here is the announcement I made using MDS:

Colors: Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Pool Party and Whisper White.  Digital Stamps: Decorative Overlays Chevron.  Punches: Flag, File it Fun Label 1, Modern Label.  Other Digital Embellishments: Pool Party Brad.  Photography: Paula Wright

I knew I wanted to do a double-sided 5x7 postcard for these.  Originally, I had both sides going the same direction, but it just wasn't coming together right until I flipped the back side. In MDS there isn't a way to really to have one page of your project portrait and the other landscape. But I just took all my elements and turned them 90 degrees and voila!  The only other thing I needed to adjust was the location of the drop shadows because MDS thought the object was going the other way.

Another hobby (that doesn't come close to competing in time and effort with my Stampin' Up! business) is photography.  About a year ago, I bought my first DSLR camera and I just love it and I love to take pictures of my boys with it.  I told my husband when we got the camera, it would save us money in the long run because before, I was paying someone to do all these pictures.  Really, it just means that I am taking their pictures even more than before and they grow tired of it quickly.  Now what I really need to get better at is Photoshop.  All in good time.

And today is the perfect day to have an MDS Monday because Stampin' Up! has announced some fabulous changes!  Starting today, MDS2+ will be known as just MDS.  And the even better news, it is now only $19.95!!  And if you bought the original version of MDS and haven't upgraded to the new version, it is now available FREE!  Not ready to commit to it yet?  There is still a free 30-Day Trial available as well.  You can find out all about the new changes here: MyDigitalStudio.net

Who doesn't like a little Spring Surprise?

I
Stampin' Up! is announcing new thing every week these days and today they revealed yet another fun Spring Surprise.  Now through May 30, you can purchase a sneak peek set from the new 2013-2014 Catalog before the catalog is released.  It's called A Round Array and it coordinates perfectly with the 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch.

And not only does it coordinate perfectly, right now you can purchase the stamp set and the punch together and save 15%!  Here is the flyer with all the details:

I can't wait to get my hands on this cute stamp set.  One of the things I just love about Stampin' Up! is everything coordinates so perfectly together and this is just another great example of that. 

Twisted Gift Card Holders

Back during the Stampin' Addict's Spring Catalog Blog Hop, Kathleen Brill-Myrice showed some really cute Twisted Cards.  I knew immediately that I wanted to turn them into Gift Card Holders for my Birthday Bash Stampin' Buffet:

Colors: Tangerine Tango, Rose Red, Island Indigo, and Whisper White.  Stamps: Pretty Petites (SAB). Punches: 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, 1-3/4" Circle, Owl Builder and Petite Curly Label (SAB).  Accessories: Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper (SAB), Floral District and Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper.

You can find the directions on how to make these cards on Kathleen's Blog. They really aren't very hard, just a little time consuming to get the printed paper cut just right.  On the inside of these cards is more printed paper and a little pocket, perfect for slipping a gift card into.

These are available to make this weekend at this weekend's Birthday Bash Stampin' Buffet.  Today is the last day to RSVP for this class.  This is also a good time to point out that Sale-A-Bration ends in just nine short days.  Don't miss out on your chance to get the Pretty Petite Stamp Set and matching Petite Curly Label punch and/or the Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper FREE!  Contact me today to find out how.

Best of . . . 25 Years!

2013 is a very special year for Stampin' Up!  It marks the 25th anniversary of this amazing company.  You all know how much I love this company.  I love that I can build a business on my own terms and that they offer wonderful products that I can pass along to my customers.  And I love that they are a Utah company, so I am supporting a local business that provides jobs right here in my home state.

In honor of the company's 25th anniversary, Stampin' Up! is offering the Best of 25 Years collection of stamp sets. Each set is comprised of the best stamps Stampin' Up! has offered over the past 25 years in a certain theme, plus on brand new image, compiled into a single stamp set.  A new stamp set is released every month. 

It is a little embarrassing that I am just now getting around to sharing the Best of Birthday set that came out in January.  But the good news is, the sets are all available until March 31, 2014 so even if you missed a month or two, you can go back and order them now.  Here I used one of the stamps for a card that will be offered at this weekend's Birthday Bash Stampin' Buffet:

Colors: Pacific Point, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, and Pool Party. Stamps: Best of Birthdays.  Big Shot: Circles #2 Die. Punches: 2-3/8" Scallop Circle.  Accessories: International Bazaar Designer Series Paper, Brads.

This was the only stamp from this set that I ended up using for the class but you can see the rest of them here:

February's set features the Best of Love:

March is Best of Flowers, but I will be ordering that set this week and will show you some samples of it really soon.  Each set is only $14.95.  And in honor of the 25th Anniversary, Stampin' Up! is giving you a bonus if you order at least six of these Best of sets: a free stamps set of your choice $14.95 or less. I love some free stamps and I can't wait to see what the other sets will be.

Whirly Pinwheels

For some reason, March is always associated with windy days.  Remember making kites in March as a child?  Well, today, I don't have kites to share, I have pinwheels.  The Spring Catalog features a little sizzlet die that cuts the perfect cute pinwheel.  Here I have put two of them on a card:

Colors: Wisteria Wonder, Coral Calypso, Lucky Limeade and Whisper White , Crumb Cake.  Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners. Big Shot: Pinwheel Sizzlet S Die, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL, Cloudy Day Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Accessories: Brads, In Color Prints Pack Designer Series Paper.

This is loosely based on a card I saw on pinterest.  I love the textured clouds behind the pinwheels.  It just adds a little something special to the card.  Once you cut the pinwheels out with your die, I found it easiest to use one of the paper piercing tools to finish punching out the holes for the brads.  You do have to carefully gather all those ends together in the brad to keep from ripping through the holes. And you can't use a larger brad because they don't work.  (Ask me how I know. :))  These pinwheels are just glued to the page so they don't turn.  I suppose you could put the brad through the paper to get them to spin, but that seemed like a lot of work.

I will be offering this card at my Birthday Bash Stampin' Buffet next Friday and Saturday, along with nine others and a few other special projects.  You won't want to miss it!

Paper Pumpkin Monthly Subscription Service

Have you heard about Stampin' Up!'s new monthly subscription program?  It's called Paper Pumpkin and it's perfect for those of you who want to make a few things every month, but have limited time or space.  So how does it work?

• Each month you receive a unique, surprise kit with a project.  It might be cards, journals, décor, or something else.  Everything is even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
• Each kit is designed to give you a 30-minute creativity escape.
• Your Paper Pumpkin is shipped to you on or around the 15th of the month.  
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month.
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95 per month (and shipping is included!)
• There's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.

The first kits begin shipping next week so you will want to sign up today and if not today, than definitely before March 10.  We even have a sneak peek of what that first kit includes:

Do you see that bonus clear block in the first kit?  Everyone needs one of those!  Ready to sign up?  Head on over to mypaperpumpkin.com and be sure to let them know that I sent you.


Not ready to sign on the dotted line yet?  Later this month, a trial kit will be offered.  You can get that kit and then decide for yourself how much you will love this service.  I will post again when that kit is available.

Sent with Love

I don't usually post on Tuesdays, but I missed Monday this week while I was trying to finish up my Birthday Class so I am posting today instead.  I mentioned on Friday that there is just so much happening at Stampin' Up! right now.  One of those things is the Sent with Love Promotion.  For a limited time, Stampin' Up! is offering this fun travel-themed stamps and designer series paper.  I finally got around to playing with it this week:

Colors: Whisper White, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Real Red. Stamps: Sent with Love.  Big Shot: Scalloped Envelope Die.  Punches: Postage Stamp, Petite Curly Label, Rounded Corner and Small Heart.  Accessories:  Sent with Love Designer Series Paper, Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button Bundle and Baker's Twine.

This cute little tag with matching pocket are just one of the projects that are available to make at my Birthday Bash Stampin' Buffet.  I have all the details posted now here on my blog and on my facebook page.  

To make the tag, I used the Scalloped Envelope die and instead of adhering it like an envelope, I made it into a pocket.  Then I just wrapped the Sent with Love paper around the middle and added some of the stamps.  The postage stamp stamp does have a heart in the middle, but I wanted to add some dimension to it so I punched one out and popped it up.  The inside tag was cut just smaller than the opening and stamped.  For the tab, I punched a piece of the printed paper with the petite Curly Label punch from Sale-A-Bration.

Now for the details on the promotion. The Stamps and paper are available individually or together in a bundle with a package of Calypso Coral Baker's Twine.  And the bundle is discounted 20% so you won't want to miss out on that!  The offer ends April 30.  Here is the flyer from Stampin' Up! with all the details:

Blue Ribbon

We made it to March!  I hope it is feeling Spring-like where you are.  We're still waiting for it here but I have hope that it is just around the bend.

A new month means lots of news from Stampin' Up!  I'll be posting more about each of these things over the next few weeks, but the one I didn't want to wait on was the introduction of clear stamps.  Yep, you saw that right, Stampin' Up! has finally found the right clear material to make stamps you can see through!  The first set they are offering is called Designer Type and offers 57 stamps for the amazing price of $13.95.  The set will be offered on a limited basis as a test to gauge customer interest in clear stamps.  So if you are interested, be sure to vote with your dollars and buy the Designer Type set.



The card I have to show you today DOES NOT feature the new stamp set.  It's so new, I don't even have it yet.  But after convention last year, Stampin' Up! offered a discount on the Blue Ribbon stamp set from the main catalog to attendees, and I'm a sucker for discounts so you know I had to have it.  But there it sat, all lonely for the past six months.  A week or so ago, I was looking at stamps I hadn't used since I bought them (and there are several.  EEK!) and decided to break this one out of it's purgatory.

Colors: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, and Very Vanilla.  Stamps: Blue Ribbon.  Big Shot: Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Punch: 1-3/8" Circle. Accessories: Regal Collection Designer Series Prints Pack, Natural 7/16" Ribbon Trim.

I also had a bunch of scraps on my desk that were just begging to get get put on a card so I made this one too.  I don't usually share retired stuff on my blog, but I couldn't resist today:

Colors: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Bashful Blue.  Stamps: Blue Ribbon.  Punch: 1-3/8" Circle.  Accessories: Festival of Prints Pack (not currently available), Natural 7/16" Ribbon Trim.

The first card will be offered at my Birthday Bash Stampin' Buffet March 15-16.  Watch for all the details to be posted here and on Facebook this weekend or maybe Monday if it takes me an extra day. I hope to see you there!