Build a Banner Tips and Tricks

Wasn't the Stampin' Addicts Fall Blog Hop spectacular? So many great ideas for Fall from the Holiday Catalog.  If you missed it, the sites are all deep linked together so you can still make your way through the hop.

I promised today to share some tips and tricks I have learned about using the Build-A-Banner kit.

Colors: Pumpkin Pie, Summer Starfruit, and Basic Black.  Punch: 2-3/8" Scallop Circle.  Accessories: Build A Banner Simply Created Kit, Halloween Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit, Pumpkin Pie and Summer Starfruit Ink Refills, Sponge Daubers, Black Stazon Ink Pad, Basic Black Chevron Ribbon.

For the SPOOKY banner, I used the Stampin' Spritzers to color the background on four of the pennants.  This can be a little tricky and I will admit to ruining a few pennants before I got it right. But with the suggestions offered at convention and through trial and error, I have a few tips to share.

First, add about 30 drops of reinker to the Stampin' Spritzer and then add rubbing alcohol to fill the bottle about 3/4 full.  (70% alcohol works better than 90%).  Before you spray the pennant, make sure to protect the surrounding area.  I placed mine in a cardboard box.  Place the stencil over the pennant.  Prime the spritzer onto a scrap (or into the corner of the box) just to get a feel for the direction of the spray and saturation of it).  Hold the spritzer 8-10 inches away and spray lightly.  Don't over do it!  The more you spray, the more it bleeds under the stencil, so be careful!  Carefully remove the stencil.

For the other pennants and the letters (the ones with the polka dots on them) I used a sponge dauber to apply ink directly to the pennants using the stencils. 

The other thing to share about this is coloring the Black Chevron Ribbon.  I got this idea from my friend Rhonda Griffin over at the Stampin' Bunny.  I used a sponge dauber to add color the white portion of the ribbon pumpkin pie.  You can see that ribbon here:

You can also see on this pennant how I added a few 2-3/8" scallop circle punchies to the banner too.

Colors: Tangerine Tango, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry.  Punch: 7/8" & 1-1/4" Scallop Circles.  Accessories: Build a Banner Simply Created Kit, Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper, 1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon, Naturals Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Many Marvelous Markers.

For this banner, instead of using the spritzers, I colored directly on the pennants with the Stampin' Write Markers.  As you can tell, the colors turn out much more vibrant when you do this, but it does destroy the tips of your markers so you might want to used your old ones and then buy new ones to replace them.  I also dipped the tip in matching ink refills when they started to get a little dry. 

Here is a close up view of the smaller burlap pennants between the larger pennants:

I am already thinking of other banners to make for parties and Christmas, and other holidays.  Come back on Wednesday to see the mixed-media project plus a bonus mixed-media project.   See you then!

Window Framelit Fun Fold

First off, no MDS Monday this week, because on Friday I am participating in a Stampin' Addict's Blog Hop featuring My Digital Studio projects.  So come back on Friday to see a boatload of My Digital Studio ideas and stuff.  So today, you get a regular creative post.

At convention in July, Shelli Gardner showed a really fun card on the mainstage that featured the Window Framelits in a trifold card.  You can see her original card on her blog: So Shelli.  When I saw that card, I knew I would have to CASE it.  After all, my customers love to buy what I show, and I know they would have to have these Window Framelits if I showed them a card like that.

So for my September Stamp Clubs we made this card:

Colors: Basic Gray, Midnight Muse, Marina Mist, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White. Stamps: Friendship Preserves.  Big Shot: Window Framelit Collection, Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Accessories: Stampin' Write Markers, Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon, Festive Paper-Piercing Pack, Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper, Simply Scored.

This window shape is fabulous for so many projects.  For this one, I used the two largest sizes and then scored them just a little bit off where the circle meets the square notches.  I adhered the flaps to the back and then added a few more framelits to the the top. 

I used the Festive Paper-Piercing Pack to get those paper piercings perfect like that.  In October, you can get that pack free when you purchase a Christmas Gift pack.  Contact me today for all the details.  And ff you come back on Wednesday, I will show you a second card I made with this same layout, but this time for Christmas.

BOO banner

Several months ago, my friend Lynne asked me to design a BOO banner for a quick mini class for some of her coworkers.  Hard to believe but that class is now tomorrow.  Here is what I came up with:

Colors: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Whisper White.  Stamps: Googly Ghouls. Big Shot: Perfect Pennants BIGZ L, Typeset Alphabet Bigz, Window Frames Collection Framelits, Chevron Textured Embossing Folder.  Punches: 1-3/4" Circle Punch.  Accessories: Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Googlies, Glitter Brads.

Here is a closer look at one of the pennants:

This banner will also be offered for $8 at my SPOOK-tacular Stampin' Buffet coming up Saturday, September 29 and Friday, October 5 at my house in Farmington.  You can get all the details of the class right here on my blog by clicking on the tab above.

Live too far away to come to my class?  I am also offering this project as a kit.  The kit does not include any stamped images, but does include all the pieces and embellishments precut and textured and ready to assemble for $10 (includes shipping and handling).  It is just one of the kits I currently have available.  To see them all, visit my KIT PAGE.

August: So much to share!

Once again, the months are just slipping right on by and now we find ourselves in August already.  Still not sure how that happens. August 1 is a busy day for Stampin Up! and I have a lot of news to share. So much news I'm having trouble deciding where to start because they are all very exciting things.  One thing is for sure, I will be taking a break from sharing a project today and convention pictures just so my post doesn't get tooooooooooo long.

HOLIDAY CATALOG

The Holiday Catalog is now live with so many things to love.  For the first time, Stampin' Up! is offering bundles of coordinating products at discounted prices to customers. There are four bundles featuring a stamp set with matching framelits for the Big Shot, two that include a stamp set and a project kit, and one that is a desk calendar with a holder all 15% off when you purchase them together.  Click on the Holiday Catalog on the left to take a look for yourself and let me know if you'd like a catalog sent to you.  You can also shop on line anytime.  I will be sharing more projects and showcasing some bundles in the coming weeks.

SPOOKTACULAR RECRUIT SPECIAL

Ever thought about joining Stampin' Up!  August is a fabulous time to do just that.  If you haven't already heard, the starter kit is now completely customizable.  You can pick any products from any current catalog, up to $125, for only $99.  So if you've had your eye on the Big Shot, the Many Marvelous Markers, or My Digital Studio, or just lots of fun stamps, buying the starter kit will save you some $$$$.   And in August, the deal is even better.   All new recruits this month will receive the Howl-O-Ween Printer's Tray Project Kit.

This kit is only available to new recruits and the demonstrators who recruit them and is not available to purchase.  Contact me today if you would like more information.

MY DIGITAL STUDIO 2

I love My Digital Studio.  I've love using it to make scrapbook pages, albums, cards, invitations and so much more.  But I am over the moon about the new features available in My Digital Studio 2.  I've been chomping at the bit to get my hands on it since Stampin' Up! showed us just a few of the 75 new features of this updated software package.  Some of the highlights:

• Design in spreads
• Create with custom canvas sizes
• Add more than one color to a single stamp image
• Resize vector stamp images while keeping them crisp
• Retint embellishments, Designer Series Paper and more.

You can download your free 30-day trial version of the software starting today, even if you've already used a free trial of the original MDS.  Just head on over to my online store for your free trial. If you've purchased My Digital Studio in the past, you can update to MDS2 for $19.95.  The full-version of the software is still $39.95 and MDS2+ features the full software and over $500 in downloads for $79.95. All of these versions are also available in my online store.  I will be downloading mine today and will have more information to share on Friday.

31% OFF FOR 31 DAYS

To celebrate the release of MDS2, Stampin' Up! is offering 31% off of 31 different digital content options during August and nearly all print products as well. The Floral District Content CD can be added to any order, but the other 30 digital downloads are only available online.  You can get them at my online store: paula.stampinup.net.

I know I will be busy creating with MDS2 this month so I can take advantage of 31% off albums, individual pages and much more.

WHEW!!!  That was a lot of information to share. And can you see why I didn't know which to share first?  What are you most excited about this month?

Holiday Catalog Sneak Peek!

July is almost over and I haven't even had a chance to show you any sneak peaks of any new products coming out in the Holiday Catalog that starts August 1.  So today, I'm sharing a card I made for the Stampin' Addicts Christmas Card swap.  It may seem a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but if you plan to send out handmade cards, it's NOT to early. :)

Colors: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla.  Stamps: Heart of Christmas.  Big Shot: Holiday Frame Textured Embossing Folder, Apothecary Accents Framelits Collection, Heart Framelits Collection. Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Core'dinations Card Stock, Stampin' Sanding Block, Pearl Jewels.

Do you notice all the new stuff on this card?  First is the fabulous Holiday Frame Textured Embossing Folder.  It is an oval wreath shape and has a lovely baroque feel to it.  Here I ran the new Core'dinations Card Stock through the Big Shot with this folder and then sanded it with the new Stampin' Sanding Block.  When you sand away this card stock, a monochromatic color is revealed.  Very fun!

The Heart of Christmas Stamp comes as a single image.  Here, I used markers to color right on the stamp to make the image multicolored.  And because the look and feel of the card is kind of vintage-y, I used Crumb Cake ink to distress everything on the card.  I love the way it turned out!

But you also might notice a major OOPS! on this card.  Swaps are always suppose to contain current product.  I just realized as I was posting this that the little heart stamp on here is RETIRED!!!  Yikes.  Substitute out that heart for another heart, please.

I promised to share more convention information with you each day this week too.  So today, I'm going to show you all the fun stuff you get for going to convention:

When you show up for convention, you pick up your bag and stamp sets for Make and Takes.  This year we received Your Amazing and Daydream Medallions from the main catalog and Affection Collection from the Holiday Catalog.  What isn't in the photo are the Make and Take projects because there wasn't room (and I haven't finished two of them).  Inside the bag is a convention book that contains all the schedules and other information you need and nice pen for taking notes of course. For attending the Make and Take sessions, we also received three different bonuses: Rhinestone Jewels, Primrose Petal Ribbon and the In Color Dahlias.  During one of the Main Stage presentations, I won the Friendship Preserves Stamp set with the matching Paper Piercing Templates and a new Paper Piercing Mat and Tool. In addition, everyone at the Closing Session received Moving Forward, the Ronald McDonald House Charity set for this year, and the Mixed Medley Hostess set from the Holiday Catalog.  And just for attending six different classes during convention, we got a really fun stamp set that goes along with theme of the convention.

Did I miss anything?  Oh ya, all the great idea and business tips.  They are kind of hard to show in a photo.  I seriously considered not going to convention this year but I am so glad that I did.  And look at all the fun stuff I have to show for it.