Stampin', Scrappin', and Diaper Duty

Temple Picture Giveaway!

2011-11-10T07:44:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I posted on the blog. I'm actually thinking of converting to more of a DIY-craft blog instead of strictly stamping. But in the meantime, I wanted to post about my friend Chelsie's gorgeous temple pictures. You can check out her blog here:
http://ldstemplepictures.blogspot.com/2011/11/free-16x20-lds-temple-picture-giveaway.html?showComment=1320939700976#c2599256778458891181
She's doing a giveaway that runs until November 15, so be sure to check it out!

June One-Sheet Wonder Class

2010-05-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

One-Sheet Wonder Class

10 Cards with Envelopes

Friday, June 4

7:00 PM

$14 ($12 for Club members)

Bring a friend and you'll both get a free gift!

Looking for a fun, affordable night out with the girls? Then this is the class for you! You'll go home with 10 cute, versatile cards- and the price includes envelopes! And remember, all of my classes include instructions, with pictures, so you can recreate the class projects on your own.

The trick to this class is the One Sheet Wonder. We'll stamp a single sheet of Whisper White cardstock, and then you'll cut along the lines pre-printed on the back and VOILA! You have all the pieces you need to create 10 cute, coordinating cards. Plus, you'll love having the instructions on hand so you can make more cards in the future. Just swap out the colors and the stamp set, and you can have an entirely new look.

This class is fun whether you're an experienced stamper or you've never put a stamp to ink in your life. It's a great chance to bring your friends who haven't tried stamping before. And remember, when you bring a friend, you'll both get a free gift!

The deadline to register for this class is Friday, May 28. Hope to see you there!

My Digital Studio is awesome!

2010-04-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

I haven't done much to promote the new digital scrapbooking software from Stampin' Up!... because I hadn't even loaded it on my comptuer yet! I don't know what made me nervous, but I've never done any digital scrapbooking and I guess I was worried it would be hard. Well, guess what. It's not! It's so easy!

Steve's cousin is getting married and I offered to do the invites for her bridal shower. My mother-in-law wanted to mail them like postcards and we needed to get them done pretty quickly. I gulped, took a deep breath, and decided to make them using My Digital Studio. I bought the software clear back in November and it's been sitting in my desk drawer. I loaded it on my desk top, which was very easy. Then I started playing. First I opened up an existing card template, using the Summer Home scrapbooking kit. I moved around the flowers and added some more text boxes. I even figured out how to add more embellishments, so I added ribbon, buttons, and some other flowers. Even though I had never used the software before, and was teaching myself as I created, I made this invitation in less than half an hour:

Then my mother-in-law talked to Meagan and found out that her wedding colors are going to be aqua and yellow. So we decided to tweak the shower invites to match. I figured I could just swap the red elements for yellow. It wasn't quite that easy, since the scrapbooking kit doesn't have yellow in it. But I just deleted the red flowers and then used digital punches and stamps to make the yellow ones. I can't tell you enough- it was SO EASY! I changed the colors in about ten minutes and came up with this:

I am hooked! The card front size was 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 (standard quarter-sheet card size) but we wanted to print them as 4x6 photos. My Digital Studio (MDS) has an export funtion that is so easy. I exported the card as a JPG (basically turned it into a picture). Then I just opened up my Windows Photo Gallery that I use to make basic corrections on my pictures and I cropped the card to 4x6. I ordered the pictures as basic 4x6 prints through the Sam's Club website. For 1 hour processing they were .13 each. Thirteen cents! It cost us less than $4 for 25 invitations, including tax!

I'm still learning how to use the software, but I am sold. It's fantastic. And I am not a digital scrapbooker. I promise you, it really is easy. You can expect to see more digital projects on my blog because I love it. The software is $79.95 and comes with tons of digital papers, stamps, punches, etc. Stampin' Up! is constantly offering new downloads so you can update your software, and they are very inexpensive.

Visit my website at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stephaniegittins/ and click on "Shop Now" in the top right corner to check out all the digital options.

Note: for those of you who already have a program for digital scrapbooking, you can use the downloads with other programs, like PhotoShop. So you can download the buttons, ribbon, stamp sets, etc without having to buy the MDS software.

Color Renovation!

2010-04-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

I promised you details on the upcoming color changes, and here they are! It's been a long time since Stampin' Up! renovated their color selections, and they're making some big changes. The new color collections are fresh and fun and I'm so excited to get my hands on some new shades! I'm going to describe the changes here, and I will also have a display at Girls Night Out on Thursday. There is a lot of information, so if you have any questions, just let me know!

First, let's review the current color choices. Right now, Stampin' Up! offers:

4 color families, with 12 colors each, for a total of 48 colors
6 In Colors (change every year)
7 neutrals

That's a lot of color, and while variety is great, it can also be overwhelming. The changes are intended to update and simplify the color offering. So here's what's changing. Starting July 1, we will have:

4 Color Collections (10 colors each) for 40 Core Colors
5 In Colors- will be introduced every year, and will now last for TWO YEARS! Woo hoo! That means that this year we'll have 5 In Colors, and then next year we'll have 10! (This year's 5, and next year's 5.)

The new Color Collections are the Brights, the Regals, the Subtles, and the Neutrals. They are made up of current colors, returning In Colors from prior years, and 5 new core colors. Stampin' Up! is also retiring 30 of their old colors to make room for the changes. While there are a few old friends on the retiring list, most of them are colors that I rarely, if ever, use. I'm excited to get some fresh new colors to try! My favorite is the new Cherry Cobbler, which is the deep, dark red that I have been longing for!

There is a link on the left for both the new color configurations, and the retiring colors. If you have some of the retiring colors, I'd suggest buying at least one ink refill for your pads, and possibly some cardstock. They will be available until the end of June so you have several months to get the items you need.

This is a lot of information, so please contact me if you have any questions. As the change gets closer, I will have more details for you on the kits that SU! will be offering to make the switch easier. For example, if you already have the complete marker set, there will be a kit with just the new markers, and a new insert for your existing case. I will post that information as it becomes available.

Be sure to come to Girls Night Out on Thursday- I'll have cardstock samples of the new colors, and a visual display to help you see how the changes are happening. Hope to see you then!

May Scrapbooking class

2010-03-15T08:39:00.000-07:00

Scrapbooking Class with 6x6 Accordian Album

Friday, May 7

7:00 PM

$20 ($18 for Club members)

Bring a friend and you'll both get a free gift!

May is National Scrapbooking Month, and to celebrate, I'm offering this fun mini-scrapbook! We'll start out with a short scrapbooking class- ideas on how to get started, color selection, page design, etc. Then we'll make this adorable 6x6 accordian scrapbook!

The scrapbook comes together very quickly, since we'll be using the "Cool Kids" Simply Scrappin' kit. The accessories are self-adhesive and almost everything for the project (aside from some white cardstock & ribbon) is included in the kit. If you don't want the album as an accordian, you can make separate 6x6 pages. These would be adorable in a 6x6 album, or layered on larger scrapbook pages.

The great thing about this scrapbook is that it's all about someone special in your life. The pages include journaling prompts such as "Favorite Trips", "My Friends", "Favorite Music", etc. Such a great project to capture a child (or adult!) just the way they are right now. My six-year old can't wait to fill out this book as soon as I'm done with it. There's also plenty of room for pictures.

I hope you'll join me for this fun, easy class! I'm working on a special gift for those who bring a friend. If you want more than one, you can get additional kits for $2 off the class price. (You might not have time to complete multiple kits, but the project is very easy and all you'll need on your own is adhesive.)

The registration deadline for this class is Friday, April 30! I hope you'll be able to make it!

Incentive for March class

2010-03-03T20:19:00.000-08:00

I'm excited about my March Card Organizer class but I'd really love to get a few more people signed up! As you know, when you bring a friend to one of my events, you and your friend both get a free gift. Sometimes this is your choice of items out of my prize bucket; other times it will be something special. And because I want to entice you to attend my March class, I've come up with something special.

Everyone that attends my class on Friday, March 12 will receive their choice of one of these cute Post-It note matchbooks. They're perfect for sticking in your purse or by the phone.

And to sweeten the deal, if you bring a friend to the March class, you will BOTH receive a matching pen for your notebook! These pens are adorable! They were only available at the Stampin' Up! Convention, and they feature artwork from popular stamp sets. The other side of the pen has the Stampin' Up! logo.

I am ONLY making these fun gifts available at the March class, so I hope you'll join me on March 12 at 7:00! Cost is $22- $20 for Club members. You can click here for more information.

I will be in Salt Lake Friday night (3/5) so I am extending the class registration deadline until Saturday, March 6. Email me or give me a call to sign up.

Medallion in Really Rust

2010-02-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite stamps in the catalog is the Medallion background stamp. It's so big and elegant; it makes any project easy. This is a quick card I made for my husband's cousin. I stamped the Medallion in Really Rust, applied some Creamy Caramel around the edges directly with my ink pad, and added the greeting at the bottom. Super easy, super fast, and makes a statement for sure.

Stamps: Medallion, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Inks: Creamy Caramel, Really Rust

Paper: Really Rust, Creamy Caramel, and Naturals Ivory cardstock

Accessories: Small Oval, Large Oval, and Scalloped Oval Punches. Hemp twine, Stampin' Dimensionals

Arrrr, Matey!

2010-02-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

Arrr, I love these pirate cards! I don't know who made them- they were swaps my friend Lisa got at Convention this last year and I made her let me take some photos. But I adore them because of their simplicity. The cards measure 3x3 and they use Whisper White, Real Red, and Basic Black. The white embossing on black cardstock really makes the pirate image pop. Just a tiny bit of ribbon or a scalloped edge is all the cards need to make them WOW. These cards use the Pirate Time stamp set, which matches the Pirate Party kit. My boys are totally having pirate birthday parties this year. And they're going to like it, dang it! Because I said so!

Altered Business Card Holder

2010-02-22T10:36:00.000-08:00

The Office Collection class on April 9 includes several sheets of Designer Series Paper and extra Sticky Strip so you can alter your own projects at home to match the items we'll make in class. I wanted to give you an example of what you can do. This doesn't use the Thoroughly Modern paper, since I was trying to match something else, but you get the idea. Here's my business card holder before:

I got it for free from the company I used to use for running credit cards. It was small, functional... and ugly. Here it is AFTER:

Oh my gosh, isn't it adorable???? I love pink, so I gush over this more than I should, but I LOVE how it turned out. And it took about 5 minutes, for real. I cut a small piece of Night & Day paper (from the Holiday Mini- not currently available) to fit the front. I added a scrap piece of Regal Rose cardstock. To finish it off, I just layered two Rose Red flowers from the Flower Fusion felt, put a Clear Rhinestone Brad in the center, and stuck it on. That's it! And Sticky Strip works perfectly for all of it.

No more bleh Discover Logo, no more boring business card holder. Now I smile every time I see it! So what's sitting on your desk that could use a little bling?

Host a workshop with me- get a bag for free!

2010-02-17T10:16:00.000-08:00

Aren't these bags adorable? They were only available at Convention last year and they went like hotcakes! They are a sturdy fabric and have a plastic insert for the bottom. The designs are from the Circle Circus stamp set, which is one of my favorites. Anyway, I bought quite a few of them, and I have a few left. So I'd like to pass them along to you!

Here's the deal: I want to get a few more workshops on my calendar. So, while the bags last, if you hold a workshop with me, I'll deliver your order in your very own Circle Circus reusable shopping bag! You can even choose which one you want, until they're gone.

Why book a workshop? It's a great way to earn free stamps & accessories. But more than that, it's a fun evening with your friends. I'll teach you new techniques & projects, and I'll show you creative ways to use the supplies you already have. I love to personalize workshops, so you can even request specific things you'd like to learn. (For example, an entire class on heat embossing techniques.) We can make the workshop hands-on, or I can demo more projects and have one make & take at the end. I can even focus on scrapbooking or cards or 3-D items, depending on your interest.

So contact me today! We'll plan a fun night for you and your friends, AND you'll get one of these great shopping bags for free!

April Stamp Class

2010-02-16T08:41:00.000-08:00

Office Class

Friday, April 9

7:00 PM

$20 ($18 for Club members)

Register by Friday, April 2
Bring a friend and you'll both receive a free gift!

I'm in love with the Thoroughly Modern office collection from Stampin' Up! We're using it for both March and April's classes. In April we will make an organizing set to spruce up your work area. We will make five projects (more photos below), and two of them are made from altered file folders!

The class price includes a full roll of Sticky Strip and several extra 6x6 pieces of paper. We will use about 1/3 of the Sticky Strip on our class projects, and then you can use the rest to personalize the other items on your desk so that everything matches!

Notebook

Includes a notebook, a pen loop, and a pocket for cards or other items.

Coupon Book

Includes four pockets which you can personalize as desired.

5x7 Magnet board with 3 magnets

Jar with Lid

Perfect for paper clips, candy... or whatever you want to keep close at hand!

Card and Envelope

Plenty of paper left over for your pencil holder, frame, etc.

You can take your paper and Sticky Strip home to create whatever items you like to keep on your desk. This lets you personalize your favorite organizers to match.

I'm excited about this fun class; why should we settle for ugly, boring organizers? :)

March Stamp Class

2010-02-16T08:13:00.000-08:00

Card Organizer Book

Friday, March 12

7:00 PM

$22 ($20 for Club members)

REGISTRATION EXTENDED TO SATURDAY, MARCH 6!
Attend the class and you'll receive a Post-It note matchbook
Bring a friend and you'll both receive a matching pen!

I love this book, and I know you will too! It's perfect for keeping track of birthdays, and each page has a pocket for cards that you plan to send. There are some fun techniques involved in putting the book together. It uses half a package of Designer Series Paper. We will be spiral binding the books that night, and they also have a cover made with our fantastic Window Sheets. This will help protect them for years of use. The book will also have pink ribbon on the binding; mine just hasn't arrived yet. :)

Here is a photo of the inside of the book. You write each month's birthdays on the front of the pocket. I have used the Thoroughly Modern paper so that it will match April's Office class.

I'm excited to show you how to make these fun, functional books! I hope to see you on March 12!

I have created a fun incentive for this class only- check it out here! A free Post-It note matchbook just for attending, and a matching pen if you bring a friend!

Valentine Stamp Camp on Friday!

2010-02-03T22:52:00.000-08:00

I was going to load a project but I can't find a stinkin' thing on this computer. We just moved our pictures over but they are not organized yet and I am STRUGGLIN'! So I will work on it tomorrow, but I just wanted to remind those of you who signed up that the Valentine Stamp Camp is at 7:00 on Friday at my house.

Class attendees will get the first peek at March and April's class projects- I'll post that info on the blog on Saturday. May and June will follow shortly, along with Girls Night Out dates for the next few months. One of my goals for the year is to plan these classes out in advance. I hope that makes it easier for you as well!

Second Girls Night Out project- with Heart Treat Cups!

2010-01-30T12:30:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to register for the Valentine Stamp Camp! Scroll down for more info.

Here's our second project from Girls Night Out on January 28. This project uses the adorable new Heart Treat Cups with the matching Sweetheart stamp set.

Some of you may remember the round Sweet Treat Cups that we used a few months ago for Girls Night Out. They are still available in the Occasions Mini Catalog, but I love these new hearts! They match perfectly with the Full Heart punch, so it's really easy to create a layer to go over the top.

The Sweetheart stamp set is shaped to go around the cups. We used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to get our words just right around the punch. (Stamp BEFORE inserting the treat cup- you'll thank me!)
One tip for using these cups. There are many different ways to make the candy easily accessible. For these cards, we traced where the heart cup would go before attaching it. Then we used the perforating tool in the Cutter Kit to perforate a little x. You can just punch through the back when you want to get the candy.

Here's a close-up so you can see how the treat cups work. They're self-adhesive- just peel and stick! And since they are 12 for $2.95 and don't hold a whole lot of candy, they're economical too.

When I bought the candy, the package claimed they were glittery. Um... not so much. I was disappointed when I opened them; I wanted edible bling! But if you look close they are kind of shimmery, so I guess I can accept that. *SIGH*

Stamps: Sweetheart
Inks: Lavender Lace
Paper: Regal Rose, Lavender Lace, and Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Full Heart & Heart to Heart Punches, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Heart Treat Cups, Cutter Kit, Cutting Mat

Girls Night Out treat pouch

2010-01-29T14:32:00.000-08:00

(*Scroll down to see Stamp Camp info*)

A big thanks to all of you who attended Girls Night Out last night! It was so great to see you. We made Valentine projects and I wanted to share them with everyone who wasn't able to attend. First, we made this fun little treat pouch:

This pouch is made with the Petal Card die and the Big Shot. You just fold up three of the flaps and attach them with a little glue. We used the Scatter Sunshine Jumbo Stampin' Around wheel with Real Red ink on one side of the cardstock so the lining of the pouch has a pattern.

On the outside, the red heart is the adorable new Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit. These little hearts are adorable all on their own... but they layer perfectly with the Full Heart Punch! Stamp your image first, and then line it up on the bottom of the punch for perfect placement, every time.

We used the Simply Said stamp set, which is an "oldie but goodie" that's been around for years. It's not technically a "Valentine" set, but I love how versatile the images are. And this little text heart fit perfectly.

Just a little Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, a small punched flower and a gel pen center, and this came together quickly and easily! You could put "to" and "from" info on the back of the pouch to make fun little Valentines for your kids or anyone who needs a little treat.

Here's a funny story from last night. When I was right in the middle of demonstrating the projects, my six-year old quietly came upstairs, snuck to my side, and asked "Mommy, do we have a key for my bedroom door?" Everyone laughed. He got his tool box out of the garage and with Daddy's help, was able to get his door open again. Funny boy.

I will post our second project tomorrow. Let me know what you think of this one!

Stamps: Simply Said, Scatter Sunshine Jumbo Wheel
Inks: Close to Cocoa Classic Pad, Real Red Jumbo Cartridge
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Real Red, and Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Sizzix Big Shot, Petal Card die, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Full Heart & Trio Flower punches, Dimensionals, Uniball White Gel Pen, Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Jumbo Stampin' Around Handle

Valentine Stamp Camp!

2010-01-26T09:45:00.000-08:00

Wow! My first post of the year! Sadly, the blog had to take a back seat for a little while, but I'm excited to post some new projects for you. I hope you can join me for my Valentine Stamp Camp!

Friday, February 5 at 7:00 PM
$18 ($15 for Club members)
Bring a friend & you both get a free gift!
Please register by Saturday, January 30

I love these projects because I created them with fun new products from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Since red and pink are two of my favorite colors, I fell in love with this paper right away and used it as the theme for our stamp camp. I am going to post some close-up photos of the projects, but I'm not posting detailed instructions. If I have left-over supplies, I will make take-home kits available for purchase.

All projects:

6x9 Clipboard with matching pen- perfect for love notes, phone messages, displaying photos, etc.

Coupon Book- can be customized for kids, spouses, parents, friends, etc. I will have ideas for you.

4 cards (3"x3")- attach to gifts, leave a note in a lunchbox- a quick and cute way to show someone you care.

And my favorite... a hanging heart basket! I want to make these for my boys to hang on their doorknobs on Valentine's Day. They can hold candy or other small gifts.

I hope you'll be able to attend! I know not everyone can make it to Girls Night Out on Thursdays, so I am offering some alternatives. Please let me know by Saturday if you are coming so that I can order supplies.

I'm not dead!

2009-10-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! It's been a long time since my last post; long enough that my buddy Lisa called to make sure there weren't any tragedies happening at our house! (Lisa is the BEST friend- thanks for checking up on me!) Everything is fine here. It's just been really busy. I know all of you have super busy lives as well; sometimes I just get a little behind. But I have been stamping quite a bit, so I'll have some fun things to show you in the next little while. That's because I've been getting ready for a craft fair I'm doing tomorrow! I would love it if you could stop by and say hi. Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 8 AM - 2 PM
Location: Logan House (330 E 1400 N, Logan- across from Lowes)

The craft fair is free and they'll have quite a few vendors there. They are also giving away $20 vendor Gift Certificates throughout the day. I will have some hand-stamped items for sale as well as a bunch of retired stuff; I'm also doing a drawing for a door prize. Hope you can make it!

2009-09-03T20:20:00.000-07:00

Hello, stampers! You know, I really have alot of projcts to share with you. Strangely, the hardest part for me is getting a decent picture taken & loaded to my computer! This is one of the Girls Night Out projects from July. When we do a 6x6 scrapbook page, I also like to offer an alternate card layout for those who don't like to scrapbook. This one was fun because I just started playing with some favorite stamps & colors, and this is how it turned out. I cut the Top Note shape in half so it would fit on the 3x6 card, but it also makes a nice journaling block on the page & leaves the bigger space open for a photo. I've been playing with Circle Circus & Teeny Tiny Wishes a lot lately, which you may have noticed. They're both just so darn versatile! And I really love Rich Razzleberry. Really. A lot. It's sad, actually. :)

Stamps: Circle Circus, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: Certainly Celery, Rich Razzleberry Classic Pads
Paper: Certainly Celery, Rich Razzleberry, Kraft, and Whisper White Cardstock
Accessories: Sizzix Big Shot, Top Note die, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, assorted circle punches, White UniBall Gel Pen, paper clip

***On the previous post, I forgot to mention that I used the Sizzix Big Shot & the Top Note die. Duh! That's one of the cutest parts of the card, in my opinion! Sorry about the oversight; that's what I get for posting late at night.***

My full-card swap from Convention

2009-09-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

Hey, Stampers! Whew, my first-grader is back to school, my nephew has started kindergarten, my preschooler starts next week... we are finally settling into a schedule! And this weekend, I unpacked all my food storage and put it away (you can see the floor in my storage room!!!) and moved my sewing stuff out of my scrapbook room into that spare bedroom that we just didn't know how to use. How wonderful is it that we have an EXTRA room??? So now that room is the sewing room/library, because I also unpacked our books into the awesome built-in shelves. Whew! It's been busy, but the more we accomplish around here, the more it starts to feel like home. Now if I could just do something about the hideous curtains...

Anyhoo, I doubt any of you are here to read about our home improvement adventures! So let's talk about my project for today. I am a member of the Utah Divas International, which is a fabulous, supportive, fun, positve group of demonstrators from around the world. (If you're curious, there's a button in the right column. Check out our blog- I'm on the design team!) We had a fun dinner Wednesday night during Convention- if you scroll down, it was the party where we were all wearing sparkly antenna. At that dinner we did a full card swap, and this was my contribution.

It's a pretty straight-forward card- just some layers and some coloring with markers. And by the way, HALLELUJAH for the new In Color markers! So happy to finally have those! In my opinion, the thing that makes this card really pop is the center of the large flower. I just highlighted it with my white gel pen. I think it just adds that special touch, and ties in the white label & the white dots on the ribbon. Using the gel pen on the Kraft cardstock turns out adorable every time.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Flower Fancy
Inks: Basic Black Classic Pad. Dusty Durango & Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers
Paper: Basic Black, Dusty Durango, Kraft, and Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Glue Dots (to attach ribbon), White UniBall Gel Pen, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch

Girls Night Out is this Thursday!

2009-08-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder that Girls Night Out is this Thursday- August 27, at 7:00 PM. It's at my new house in Nibley (185 Quarter Circle Drive). If you need directions, just let me know! We will be making a card and a little gift idea. I hope you'll be able to make it!

Also, I am working on a class schedule to take us through the end of the year. I would appreciate some feedback from all of you. If you'll be at Girls Night Out, we can discuss it then. If not, would you mind letting me know how you feel about the following?

1- What nights of the week are best for you? Is Thursday working for Girls Night Out, or would you prefer a different night? How do you feel about classes on Friday or Saturday?

2- What kinds of classes or projects interest you?

Thanks again for everything- hope to see you on Thursday!

2009-08-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

Hey there! This is the 12x12 swap I made for Convention this year. I'm lovin' the new In Colors, and the Circle Circus set! I thought this would be a quick and easy page. It really wasn't too bad, becaue the circles make quick & easy accents, but that was a lot of circle punching! :) I am going to finish one up with pictures, when I can get a minute. I'll post that later!

Stamps: Circle Circus, Spot On Jumbo Wheel
Colors: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Always Artichoke, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Basic Jumbo Grommets, Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, assorted circle punches

Back from Convention!

2009-08-11T22:21:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post a few of my favorite pictures from Convention. We had so much fun! I got to walk across the stage with my friend Jennifer for my 5-Year Anniversary as a demonstrator! I also had my picture taken with Thurl Bailey, which is a MUST every year for THIS crazy Jazz fan! (Thurl is on the Stampin' Up! board of directors). Amber & Lisa & I had fun at the UDI dinner (the theme was bees, hence the antenna bling) and then Friday night, my sister Becky came down to hang out with us and stay the night. Just wait- one of these days she's going to finally sign up and actually ATTEND Convention with us!

I love being a Stampin' Up! demo. It's honestly one of the best parts of my life. I left Convention really thinking about what Stampin' Up! has done for me, and all of the wonderful friends I have made. The last five years have been fantastic; here's to twenty more!

Having a blast at Convention!

2009-08-06T23:07:00.000-07:00

Hey there everyone! It's the end of our first full day of Convention and we are having a great time! As you can see by the time stamp on this post, we don't exactly get to bed early... We are hanging out back in our hotel room (Little America- so great!) working on some last minute swaps. My roomies are Lisa Johnson, my sideline from Laketown, and Amber Meadows, my downline from Logan. I've known Amber since high school, and this is my 4th (!!!) Convention rooming with Lisa.

So had two exciting things happen today. First, I got to take my 5-Year walk across the stage! My 5-year anniversary as a demo was in June. It was my first time on stage, so that was lots of fun. My friend Jennifer Thomas, from the Utah Divas International, walked across with me so that made it even more great.

Then tonight at Awards Night, they were announcing the Artisan Award winners. They contacted the winners a few months ago, so I already knew I didn't win. But tonight they announced the finalists... and my name was on the list! WOOO HOOO! That was such an exciting moment! Even though I didn't win, it was cool to know that they liked my submissions. And it was the first time I've ever had my name read at Convention, so whoopee!

Also, today at Convention they surprised us with the cutest little Stampin' Up! demonstrator Build-a-Bear in the Memento Mall. Coordinates with all the fun new bear products in the mini catalog. She's the most adorable little teddy bear; I'm so excited to put her in my stamp room. She even has her own little black apron. :) I'll post pictures later.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on anything else fun that happens tomorrow. Can't wait to get back and share some of the fun things I've been learning! Happy stamping!

August Penguin Card- Hang Ten!

2009-08-05T07:32:00.000-07:00

Well, today is the big day! I'm off to Convention! I wanted to share a project with you before I go. I am taking my laptop with me and I may be able to post some pictures of stuff I see there, but it all depends on whether I have an Internet connection. Still, stay tuned- I might be giving you some fun sneak peeks!

Remember several months ago when I mentioned I was going to send a penguin card to my brother every month? Well, then we moved and my stamps were packed and it kind of didn't happen. But this month we have started again! Sadly, my cute little penguin was from the Wild About You stamp set, which just retired. I'm going to keep using him for consistency, so please forgive the retired supplies.

I used the Swirly die on a scrapbook page when I entered for Stampin' UP!'s Artisan Award. When I saw the scraps, they immediately screamed out "WAVES!" So I am using them here for my little surfer dude. I just sponged the edges a little bit and layered them. On the bottom layer, a few of the swirls are popped up with dimensionals. I hand-doodled the white on the surfboard. I also hand-wrote the greeting. I don't really like it. I should have left it alone instead of adding the flourishes, but at that point I'd already ruined the card so... It is what it is.

Stamps: Wild About You (retired), Just Beachy (from past mini)
Inks: Baja Breeze Classic Pad (retired). Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, & Basic Black Stampin' Write Markers.
Paper: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie & Baja Breeze (retired) cardstock
Accessories: Sizzix Big Shot, Swirly Decorative Strip Die, White UniBall Gel Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, Large Oval Punch, Sponges

Everyone needs a pink chocolate jar.

2009-07-28T15:31:00.000-07:00

Hello, stampers! I wanted to share this cute little jar with you. I made it with two items that are retired, but everything else is still available. And you could easily substitute something current... but I know we all have things in our stashes that we still like to pull out and use sometimes!

I like to keep chocolate near my stamping space; it just makes me happy! But the ugly bag just wasn't cutting it for me, so I decided to decorate something cute and decorative. I got this great jar at WalMart for about $2. I loved the retro shape and the screw-on lid. On the sides I just applied some of our great Decor Elements vinyl. It was so easy, and looks fantastic on the glass. On the lid I cut some circles out of cardstock and the retired Sweet Always paper, and topped it off with layered flowers from the Pretties Kit, Flower Fusion, and a Square Fire Rhinestone brad in the middle.

But my favorite (!!!) part of the whole jar is the tag. This uses the extra tag image on the Stampin' Up! exclusive Matchbox die for the Sizzix Big Shot. I love this die because not only does it have a great, functional box & lid, but includes three cute tags. And it's only available from Stampin' Up! I love my Big Shot (and yes, I've had other manual die cut systems- I like this the best!) but if you have a different die cut machine, the Stampin' Up! dies will work with it. They are compatible with most die cut systems. If you have questions about this, please ask me.

For the word on the tag, I just inked up my stamp with a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker. This made it super easy to only stamp the word that I wanted. Did you spot the Chocolate Chip brad on the tag? To create the custom color brad that I wanted, I simply dipped the top of a silver brad in Chocolate Chip Craft Ink, coated it with Clear Embossing Powder, and heat-set. Voila! I love it!

Stamps: Yummy (retired)

Inks: Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker, Chocolate Chip Craft pad

Paper: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip & Whisper White cardstock. Sweet Always Designer Series Paper (retired)

Accessories: Pretties Kit, Flower Fusion, Square Fire Rhinestone Brads, Matchbox Bigz XL Die, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Chocolate Chip 1" Double-Stitched Ribbon, Silver Brads, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Decor Elements

Luscious Lemon Bars

2009-07-14T20:37:00.000-07:00

So, what do you think of the new look for the blog? I love it! Ami Israelsen did a fantastic job, as usual! I think it looks so fresh and clean; the projects really pop against that white background! Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

I recently participated in a recipe card swap with some online demonstrator friends, and I wanted to share some of the projects with you. Be warned- we did these swaps before the new catalog came out, so some of them may feature retired items. But I thought they would still be fun for you to see.

This is my swap. (And by the way, this is the BEST lemon bars recipe I've ever had.) I wanted something springy and citrusy, but also simple. I really like how this turned out. It didn't take long to put together but I love all the bold images. I stamped the Kiwi Kiss daisies first and then layered everything else over them. The recipe seemed like it needed something; I really like how the pale yellow looks over the text. It definitely adds some flair without making the recipe hard to read.

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Eastern Blooms
Inks: Kiwi Kiss (retired), So Saffron Classic Pads
Paper: So Saffron, Tangerine Tango (retired) cardstock. Urban Garden Designer Series Paper (retired)
Accessories: 7/8" So Saffron Poly-Twill Ribbon (retired)

New color and stamps!

2009-07-08T22:05:00.000-07:00

Here's another quick card I threw together; it really only took about 10 minutes. This card uses the awesome new Circle Circus stamp set, which I LOVE! The designs are so classy, and very versatile. They also pair perfectly with Stampin' Up!'s various circle punches. In this case, I decided to use the circles as flowers. I just used a thin scrap of Old Olive Cardstock for the stem, popped the circles up on Dimensionals, and voila! Easy, instant, modern-looking flowers.

And do you spot the new color on this card? I love Rich Razzleberry! It's a fantastic, deep purple. I'm going to have a lot of fun with this color during the year!

Stamps: Circle Circus, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: Rich Razzleberry Classic Pad
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, and Whisper White Cardstock
Accessories: 1 1/4" Circle and Scallop Circle punches, Stampin' Dimensionals, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon

My first stamping at the new house!

2009-07-07T22:13:00.001-07:00

Hello, stampers! So did you think I'd forgotten about you? Not a chance! But moving was not the most pleasant thing I've ever done, and I have not been stamping much. However, we're now in the new house (!!!!) so as soon as I got my stamp room mostly unpacked, I had to get my fingers inky. This is the first card I made in my new stamp room, which I'm excited to show all of you. I will post pictures once it's a little more tidy & decorated.

Anyway, my little Ben is turning six on Saturday! Can you believe it? He fell in love with this stamp set the moment he saw it, so I knew I had to use it on his birthday card. The little robots are just so cute, and I love the fun sayings that go with them. I did a little simple watercoloring on the image with my ink pads and Blender Pens. Now, you all know that I'm not an expert watercolor artist, but I'm definitely trying to improve my skills. I'm actually pretty proud of how this little guy turned out! I think leaving the white space is super important. I also think the grey shadow helps ground him and makes it look a little more realistic.

Stamps: Lots of Bots
Ink: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Summer Sun & Going Grey Classic pads
Paper: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise & Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Blender Pens, Black Gingham Ribbon

In honor of the soon-to-be-birthday boy, I'll tell you a funny story. So yesterday Steve and I were headed out to the back yard to trim fire blight out of the apple tree. (NOT my favorite part of the new house, but oh well.) Ben came and found me and said, "Guess what, Mom! I don't need my training wheels anymore!" Of course I was skeptical, but he talked me into coming into the front yard with him. And sure enough, the kid was whizzing around the culdesac on his friend's bike with... no training wheels! He totally taught himself! Of course he wanted Steve to take the training wheels off his bike right then, but Steve was a little busy pruning & told him to wait. So guess what he did. Took his bike into the garage, found his dad's tools, picked out a wrench, and took the wheels off by himself. Yup, that's my little Benji. Way too independent for his own good... but I'm pretty proud of him!

Retiring Accessories Update!

2009-06-04T06:41:00.000-07:00

Hi, stampers! I've been trying to post the Retiring Accessories list, but I can't get it to format correctly in my post. While I try and figure that out... If you want to order something off the list, just give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to email you an updated copy of the list! As soon as I can get the list working in Blogger, I'll post it here. Remember, while retiring Decor Elements and stamp sets are available through June 30, the accessories are only available WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. I will update the list here on the blog frequently.

And an update on us... Yes, we are moving to Nibley! I haven't been doing much stamping, since I'm trying to get everything packed. But my current stamps will be one of the last things to go in boxes! i just can't stand the thought of not being able to use them if I wanted to. (Not that I have time, but I keep hoping...) Anyway, I put in my preorder on Monday for the new In Colors and some fun products from the new catalgog! They should arrive in the next few days, and when they do, I will post photos for you here! Just keep checking back- as soon as we get moved and settled, I plan on doing a LOT of stamping!

May Girls Night Out gift card holder

2009-05-30T16:30:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful time at Girls Night Out on Thursday! I wanted to share with you one of the projects we created. I don't know about you, but I think DADS (mine, Steves, etc) are really tough to shop for, and I usually end up just getting them a gift card. But of course I want a nice way to present the gift, without spending too much time (since the holder usually just ends up in the trash). So we made these cute little gift card holders- they are perfect for dads, graduates, or anyone you'd like to celebrate! I especially love It's a Sign, the fun stamp set we used. It's a set of cute greetings, styled to look like traffic signs. I think it's great for little boys and big boys alike.

Stamps: It's a Sign, Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel
Inks: Pacific Point Classic Pad, Real Red Jumbo Ink Cartridge
Paper: Real Red, Pacific Point & Whisper White Cardstock
Accessories: Bone Folder, Stapler, Small Star Punch, Tombo Mono-Multi Adhesive

April Girls Night Out project

2009-05-27T15:41:00.000-07:00

Wow. It has been way too long since I posted on the blog. Just when I think things are calming down, something else happens! Well, we are now in the process of buying a home in Nibley, getting our home ready to rent, packing up to move... It has been wild. But we are very excited and I think it's going to be a very good change for our family. Especially the boys- the new home has a huge, fenced back yard with big trees. It will be great for them to have somewhere to run.

This is one of the projects we made for Girls Night Out last month. As usual, I offered a 6x6 page, with an alternate card design. We tried out the new Jumbo Grommets from the Occasions Mini Catalog (which are so cute, and so easy to use!) and also the adorable Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper. I really like how they turned out! And I think this is a great example of using flowers on a BOY page, which I do all the time. :)

Stamps: Petal Pizzazz, Little Flowers, Contempo Alphabet (on page), Family Phrases (on card)

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White & Kiwi Kiss cardstock. Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper.

Accessories: Jumbo Grommets, 1/2" Circle Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stampin' Dimensionals, Bone Folder

Ben's Rocket Matchbox

2009-05-07T21:18:00.000-07:00

When I got the new Matchbox Die from the Occasions Mini Catalog, my 5-year old Ben immediately fell in love with it. Ben loves organizing, and he loves baskets, buckets, boxes... anything he can use to fill with "treasures". Of course he nagged me incessantly until I agreed to make him his own special box. This is what we came up with. Ben adores it, and it already looks a little ragged; I took these pictures before I gave it to him. Even though the paper is retired, I thought you'd enjoy seeing the project. And since Designer Series Paper and Textured 12x12 Cardstock are on sale this month (Buy 3, get 1 free!) it's a great opportunity to point out that, just because something retires, does NOT mean you can't keep using it to make adorable projects!

Stamps: Very Punny

Inks: Basic Black Classic Pad. Real Red, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers

Paper: Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper (retired), Old Olive Cardstock

Accessories: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sizzix BigShot, Matchbox XL Die (a Stampin' Up! Exclusive!)

Honey pot card- and tips for Crystal Effects

2009-04-30T09:25:00.000-07:00

Well, as you know, I always have a difficult time getting multiple pictures to line up right! LOL I wanted to share this fun little gift card with you today- nice change from the pink and brown, don't you think? This card measures 3x3. I made it to go with a birthday gift for a friend of mine. I fell in love with this stamp set the first time I saw it. The little bees really reminded me of my kids for some reason. Most of this project is pretty self-explanatory. As you can see, I did a lot of cutting on this one! I wanted to point out the honey, though, because it's my favorite part! I colored it with So Saffron and More Mustard for shading. Then I added Crystal Effects just to the honey. It dries shiny and raised... just like real honey! I love how it turned out- I hope you can sort of see it in the close-up photo.

Here's a few tips for applying Crystal Effects. First, you don't want to cut the hole on your applicator too big. It comes out quickly, so a smaller hole is easier to control. Second, sometimes the applicator will get a little plugged up. I just straighten out a paper clip and jam it down in the tip a few times. Works like a charm! Finally, when applying to paper, start by carefully tracing the desired area with CE. Once you have the edges, then fill in the center. This will help keep the CE from spreading across the paper. Then just let it dry- time required will vary depending on quantity and thickness of CE. And voila- you have a beautiful, shiny, dimensional accent!

Stamps: Just Buzzin' By

Inks: Basic Black, Close to Cocoa & Bashful Blue Classic Pads. So Saffron, More Mustard, Blush Blossom, Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel Stampin' Write Markers

Paper: Mellow Moss & Naturals White Cardstock. Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper (from Sale-a-bration- now retired)

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Stampin' Sponges, Crystal Effects, Stampin' Dimensionals, Bashful Blue Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

GNO Alternate #8- Simply Said

2009-04-28T22:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, bonus! I'm getting bored with posting these cards (and you're probably bored with looking at them!) so I am posting the last one tonight and we'll do something new tomorrow. I have to admit, it got a little old finishing all of them as well... But I guess I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it or something! Don't really know what my deal was- but it was fun when I got them all done! I just have to say- don't you just love the Family Phrases stamp set? I think the font is just adorable. I have used it on all sorts of fun, casual type projects. In fact, we'll be using it this Thursday on one of our projects at Girls Night Out.

Stamps: Simply Said, Family Phrases
Inks: Chocolate Chip & Pretty in Pink Classic Pads. Pretty in Pink Stampin' Write Marker
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, and Very Vanilla Cardstock
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Crafter's Tool Kit, Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

GNO Alternate #7- Fruit!

2009-04-28T22:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, we are almost done with these, I promise! And then I have a lot more fun things to show you. This is another one of the options I made using the pieces from last month's Girls Night Out card. As you can see, pretty simple. I colored the fruit images with markers and added a little paper piercing, but that's it!

Stamps: Tart and Tangy
Inks: Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink Stampin' Write Markers
Paper: Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, and Pretty in Pink Cardstock
Accessories: Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Crafter's Tool Kit, Stampin' Dimensionals

GNO Alternate #6- Hearts

2009-04-23T22:54:00.000-07:00

Here is your next option for the card from March. Sorry about the delay in posts- but you'll be so proud of me! For the first time ever, I entered the Stampin' Up! Artisan Award contest! I never thought I would actually do it, since as you can see, most of my projects are pretty simple. (I'm so limited on time that it's hard to take an hour on a card, let alone three or four!) But I really pushed myself and came up with some beautiful projects, if I say so myself! I really learned a lot about my own abilities, and it was a great experience. I wish I could show you my projects here on the blog, but I am not allowed to post them anywhere. So come to Girls Night Out on April 30 and you can see the pictures on my computer! And I would challenge each of you to take a little extra time and see what you can create. I think you might just surprise yourself!

Stamps: Something New to Love
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, and Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

GNO Alternate #5- Tulip!

2009-04-15T10:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's your next option for the Girls Night Out card. I actually really like this one. The border on the Certainly Celery layer is just paper piercing that I flipped over so you're seeing the bottom. I colored the tulip image with markers, and I used the Scallop Border punch all around the white layer, just for something different. The greeting actually says "Wish big" but I only used the marker for the one word, since the spoton the card was so small.

Stamps: Garden Whimsy, Short & Sweet
Inks: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery & Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Markers
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa, and Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Crafter's Tool Kit, Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

GNO Alternate #4- Spring blossoms

2009-04-10T17:29:00.000-07:00

Here's the next option for the Girls Night Out card! I just love this image from the Asian Blooms stamp set. It looks just like a tree blossoming in the spring. I colored it with markers and then distressed the edges of the white layer with the Bone Folder.

Stamps: Asian Blooms, Short & Sweet
Inks: Close to Cocoa & Pretty in Pink Stampin' Write Markers. Chocolate Chip Classic Pad
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, and Whisper White Cardstock
Accessories: Bone Folder, 1/4" Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon

GNO Alternate #3- Flower card

2009-04-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

Continuing the series of cards made from Girls Night Out leftovers... This card uses one of my favorite stamp sets, Blooming With Love. I think every image in this stamp set is darling, but I especially love this one because of the topiary. This is a pretty simple card- instead of using the border punch, I just tore the edges. I actually tore the bottom of the white piece too, but when I put everything together it was just "too much" so I covered up the rough edge with the ribbon. This would have been cute with the "Mother's Day" sentiment as well (from the same stamp set) but after much deliberation, I went with something more generic. I usually make my mom & mom-in-law more elaborate cards for Mother's Day, so this will make a perfect gift card for another occasion. I cheated a little bit on this one and traded out the pink ribbon for Certainly Celery, but since it's the same width & color scheme, I think it's forgivable!

Stamps: Blooming with Love
Inks: Chocolate Chip Classic Pad. Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, and Certainly Celery Stampin' Write Markers
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa, and Very Vanilla Cardstock
Accessories: 1/4" Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon

GNO Alternate #2- Cupcake card!

2009-04-07T15:59:00.000-07:00

Remember how I mentioned in my last post that I took the pieces from the Girls Night Out card and made different projects? Well, here is the first example. You'll recognize the same paper and ink, but I switched out the stamp set and flipped the layout around. My favorite thing about this card is the little ribbon slide. I looped the ribbon through and attached the whole thing with Mini Glue Dots. Also, the "frosting" part of the cupcake is cut out and stuck on with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Stamps: Party Hearty
Inks: Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink Classic Pads and Stampin' Write Markers
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and Very Vanilla cardstock
Accessories: Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, 1/4" Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Girls Night Out card from March- Popcorn popping!

2009-04-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this fun little card with you! This was one of our projects from Girls Night Out on March 26. If you know my sweet little 3-year old, you know that Spencer likes to sing! And one of his favorite songs right now is Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree. Well, I just got the darling Trendy Trees stamp set with the March Club order, and I was dying to use it! So this card is inspired by Spencer. (And he actually really loves it- every time he sees the card, he starts singing again!)

It's a very simple project. The card measures 4x4. I added a little Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the pink tree to help it pop. I recommend using the Stamp-a-ma-jig with this set to help your branches line up with the treetops. To get everything just right, I stamped the pink leaves first to make sure I had them centered side to side. Then I added the green leaves on either side, and stamped the tree trunks last. This seemed to be a lot easier to line up than starting with the trunks first. Just a little tip!

Stamps: Trendy Trees
Inks: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, and Close to Cocoa Classic pads
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa, and Very Vanilla cardstock
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter, 2-Way Glue Pen, Crafter's Tool Kit (I added the paper piercing on the scallops after Girls Night Out- it just felt like it needed something more!)

I had several projects left over after Girls Night Out, so I completed all of these cards using different stamp sets, but the same pieces of cardstock, inks, and accessories. I will post those cards over the next few days so you can get an idea of how easy it is to make a project your own.

Welcome Home!

2009-03-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

Today is going to be crazy busy, so I wanted to get a post up while I still have a few minutes to myself. My mom has a friend/co-worker and her house burned down about a year ago. They've finally finished their new house, and Mom needed a cute card to go with her housewarming gift. This is what I came up with. The card measures 4x4 and opens up so there's enough room for a little note inside.

I stamped the truck from "Loads of Love" in Basic Black ink and then added the furniture & the driver from "Loads of Love Accessories". You can use a Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement. I think this is one of the most versatile sets in the catalog, since it can be used for any occasion and can even be masculine. The "Boatloads of Love" coordinates perfectly as well- so many options! And my friend Amber always does such darling things with this set that I was inspired to pull it out and use it.

I colored the image with ink pads and Blender Pens. The bottom of the Mellow Moss layer is punched with the new Eyelet Border punch- love it! I actually just hand-wrote the greeting. Mom is a little picky when it comes to her cards, and she was adamant she wanted the card to say "Welcome Home". Since I don't have a stamp that says that, I just did it freehand. I think it turned out okay!

Stamps: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories:
Inks: Creamy Caramel, Mellow Moss, Ruby Red, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand, Going Gray, Blush Blossom, Really Rust, and Garden Green Classic Pads
Paper: Creamy Caramel, Mellow Moss, Ruby Red and Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Eyelet Border Punch, Stamp-a-ma-Jig, Basic Black Stampin' Write Journaler

Bella's Bloom Thank You

2009-03-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

Want to guess what our family crisis was last night? Anyone? I was at InstaCare last night at bedtime getting a staple in my 3-year old's head. The 5-year old threw a book, which was not necessarily aimed at Spencer, but his head happened to be in the way and so... :-) Good times.

Anyhoo, I'm not back to blogging every day, but I'm getting there- we're averaging about "every other" at the moment. I really love this card, so I'm excited to share it with you. After Girls Night Out each month, I usually have some unfinished projects left over. Sometimes I'll finish them up just as we made them, and sometimes I'll play with the pieces and come up with something else. (A good example is the pink & orange card we made last month- I will post a 3rd version of that card in a few days!) Anyway, this project was from about a year ago. I looked through my files and sadly, I didn't take a photo of the original card. But I pulled out the pieces last week and thought "Hmm, I can do something with this." (The original card only had the three base layers- we stamped some large flowers on the white. I added the smaller layers in the upper left corner.)

Remember the "Lucky" on the penguin card? Well, this is the Tres Chic background stamp from whence it came. I decided I'm still in love with this stamp, so I used it again for this project. And if you consider how many words & flourishes are included in this design, you can see how many ways you could use it just by pulling out your markers. The flower is from Bella's Bloom. I used my Stampin' Write markers to color the leaves and flowers so I could get a two-tone look. And the circle "Thank You" is from Lovely Labels, which is one of my favorite greeting stamps. It worked perfectly with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch, and I thought the swirls really matched the background. I also sponged a lot of Chocolate Chip ink around all the layers to add a little "distressing" and definition. I like how this turned out- it's elegant, but not over the top.

Stamps: Bella's Bloom, Tres Chic Background, Lovely Labels
Inks: Mellow Moss, Rose Red, & Chocolate Chip Classic Pads. Mellow Moss & Rose Red Stampin' Write Markers.
Paper: Mellow Moss, Rose Red, and Whisper White Cardstock
Accessories: 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Sponges, Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon

Bugs and Kisses!

2009-03-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not quite up to every day yet, but I'm certainly doing better! This is just a quick little gift card for my cousin's little boy's birthday. As you can see in the background, the wrapping paper was red and green stripes. It was left over from Christmas, but it was all I had left! To hopefully make it look a little less Christmasy, I made this matching little gift card. It only took a few minutes to throw together, but I thought it turned out really cute. And Amanda can use it in Caleb's scrapbook later as an accent. For a little extra pop, I cut out the lady bug and added her with a dimensional. Inside it says "Worm wishes on your bug day." Perfect for a little boy, don't you think?

Stamps: Bugs and Kisses
Inks: Basic Black, Glorious Green, Real Red Classic Stampin' Pads
Paper: Glorious Green, Real Red and Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals, Red Gingham Ribbon, staple

March Penguin Card

2009-03-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

I am posting twice today since I didn't post yesterday. My goal is to get back to posting daily. I feel like now that life is calming down a little, I actually have a few brain cells functioning again!

This is a unique card, to say the least... My little brother, Chris, is serving as a missionary in South Dakota. My mom has started sending him an ugly tie every month, so I am doing a card to go with each of them. If you know Chris, you know he has a... fascination... with penguins. He just loves them. No one knows why. But I thought it would be funny to make each card with a penguin on it. I've created a new "Penguin Cards" category, so as the collection grows, you can view them all by clicking on the tag on the right.

So for March, he obviously needed a shamrock, right? This one wasn't too hard to incorporate a penguin. I created the shamrock with the tall heart from the Heart to Heart punch- I punched 4 and applied them with Stampin' Dimensionals. I colored the penguin with markers, stamped him, cut him out, and applied him with Dimensionals too. I think it looks cool, but I doubt Chris will really even notice...

Probably my favorite part of this card is the greeting. I needed something for St. Patrick's Day, but I don't have any stamps like that. Finally, in desperation, I started looking at the Tres Chic background stamp. It had the word "lucky" in it! I just colored that one word with a Handsome Hunter marker, and I had an instant greeting! I'm definitely going to be doing that a lot more- the Tres Chic stamp has tons of words and flourishes on it. I edged the oval punch with marker as well, to help it stand out.

I hope you enjoy the Lucky Penguin, and are waiting on the edge of your seats for April! :-)

Stamps: Polka Dot background, Wild About You (penguin), Petal Pizzazz (stem), Tres Chic background (greeting)
Paper: Mellow Moss, Handsome Hunter, Whisper White cardstock
Ink: Mellow Moss & Handsome Hunter Classic Pads. Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, and Handsome Hunter Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Paper Snips, Stampin' Dimensionals

February Girls Night Out card

2009-03-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

Hello stampers! Here, as promised, is the card we made at Girls Night Out in February. If you scroll down to the previous post, you'll see my alternative version- same paper, inks and accessories, but I traded out the stamp set for a very different look.

This card was made using the fantastic Sale-a-bration set, Botanical Blooms. I just love the soft, elegant style of this set- and the 2-Step Stamping makes it so easy! For the center image, we stamped the flowers and stems. Then we stamped the leaves on either side. For the center leaf, we stamped on a scratch piece of paper, cut it out, and glued it on top. For a neat dimensional look, though, we only applied glue in the center and then bent up the edges of the leaves. It really added a lot of texture and dimension to the card. Finally, the greeting is from one of my favorite sets, Elegant Cheer. I love the vintage, distressed style.

Stamps: Botanical Blooms, Elegant Cheer
Inks: Tangerine Tango, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Sizzix Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plates, Stampin' Sponges, Tangerine Tango Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Glue Dots

I'm ready for Spring!

2009-03-10T13:46:00.000-07:00

Whew! A big sigh of relief... things finally seem to be improving a bit at our house! Steve's surgery was two weeks ago, and he is doing a lot better. After his first physical therapy session, his knee swelled up, the swelling spread to his foot, and he had a lot of pain. None of us were sleeping well... not good times. Then all my kids got the stomach flu, and then I got the stomach flu. But now, FINALLY, I think there's a light at the end of the tunnel! Thanks so much for your patience with my slow blogging the last little while! I've had a lot more time the last few days, and I have been doing quite a bit of stamping. I have enough projects to keep you busy for quite a while!

I don't know about you, but I am tired of winter! And if you're in Northern Utah like I am, you know that Mother Nature has been teasing us! Sunday, I could see my lawn, and was starting to think I would be able to clean out my flower beds soon. Monday, we had two feet of snow. No kidding. So I thought today I'd post a fun, bright, spring project to help us all get in the mood!

This card uses the same colors as the card we created at Girls Night Out in February. I will post that card tomorrow. After I created the card for GNO, I had some pieces left, so I made this sample to show you how just swapping out your stamp set (but using the same colors and accessories) can give you an entirely different look for your project! I love the fun contrast between soft Pink Pirouette and vivid, juicy Tangerine Tango! I think it looks like ice cream! I stamped the flower layers and leaves on Very Vanilla cardstock, cut them out with my Paper Snips (quality scissors make it so easy!), and layered them with Stampin' Dimensionals.

You may have noticed the subtle, polka dot texture on the Pink Pirouette background. This was done using the fantastic, exclusive Stampin' Up! Texturz plates for the Big Shot! We had so much fun using them at Girls Night Out- they are super easy, super quick. And since you get six textures with every set of plates, they are a great bargain. I think they add just the special extra touch to any project.

Stamps: Petal Pizzazz, Thank You Kindly

Inks: Tangerine Tango, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss

Paper: Tangerine Tango, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla Cardstock

Accessories: Sizzix Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plates, Tangerine Tango Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Button Bouquet, Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Snips

Red and Black Wedding Card

2009-02-25T11:33:00.000-08:00

First, I just wanted to update everyone on Steve's knee. He had surgery yesterday, and everything went very well. It took a little less than an hour, rather than the 1 1/2- 2 hours the doctor had estimated. He is doing better today than he was yesterday- the pain has been pretty minimal, and today I even caught him hopping around the kitchen without his crutches. BAD STEVE! Still, it's been lots of fun to see him on Lortab! Thanks to everyone for your concern; we really appreciate all of your support!

Also, I wanted to remind everyone about Girls Night Out tomorrow night- 7:00 at my house! We'll be using some of the cute Sale-a-bration products, so I really hope you can make it! (And for entertainment, we will have my husband on drugs...) :-)

This is a wedding card that I made for my mother-in-law. The card base is not Stampin' Up! cardstock, but in color it is pretty similar to Very Vanilla. (She buys blank cards for me and I decorate them. It definitely makes me appreciate Stampin' Up! quality!) It might be hard to see in the photo, but I added a subtle striped texture to the base by using the scoring blade on my paper cutter and scoring a line every 1/2 inch. I was very pleased with the result! I also love this stamp set- Together Forever. It's a very elegant style, and the images make it extremely versatile. I stamped the flowers in black and colored them wtih Stampin' Write markers for deep, vivid color. Finally, I LOVE the greeting at the bottom- it was so easy but turned out great! I just stamped the mr. mrs. in black, and then the ampersand in red over the top.

Stamps: Together Forever
Inks: Basic Black & Real Red Classic Pads. Real Red & Always Artichoke Markers
Paper: Non-SU card base. Basic Black, Real Red, and Very Vanilla Cardstock
Accessories: Paper Cutter with Scoring Blade, Stampin' Dimensionals

An explanation

2009-02-18T15:12:00.000-08:00

Hello, stampers! First I want to post a photo of the fun project we did for Girls Night Out in January. And then I think I owe all of you an explanation as to why my blog has suddenly fallen off the face of the Earth. First, the project:

I got the template for this cute little gable box on Splitcoaststampers.com. I modified the pattern slightly to make it a little more easy to follow- and I'll be typing up a template for all the Club members to put in their technique books. It takes a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock for the box, plus any embellishments. I used the Candy Lane paper for the box. You may notice that the colors are not Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette, which are the colors listed for that Designer Series Paper. This specific sheet of paper- the stripes- had more pink colors in it, so I used Regal Rose and Rose Red. I love how versatile the papers are- they give you so many fun options for your projects! The finished box is pretty big, really, and holds quite a bit of goodies. I filled it with candy and a Scentsy bar for Ben's kindergarten teacher.

Stamps: Love You Much
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Rose Red, Regal Rose Cardstock. Candy Lane Designer Series Paper.
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Pad
Accessories: Wide Oval Punch, White Gel Pen, Heart to Heart Punch, Dimensionals, Crop-a-Dile, Corner Rounder Punch, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon

And now, I just wanted to give you all a little bit of background on what's been going on at our house recently. Don't worry- no big crises (and no, I am NOT pregnant!)- just lots of different things that have collided all at the same time.

Steve tore his ACL playing Elder's Quorum basketball on February 5. For those of you not familiar with EQ, this is church ball. It can get a little wild. But when Steve's tragic accident occurred, he was actually at the other end of the court with no one near him. Ironic, isn't it? Anyway, this knee has been giving him trouble for years, but now it's finally bad enough that he has to get it fixed. He had his MRI today, and he's scheduled for surgery on 2/24. Nothing life threatening, of course, but it has sure changed all of our plans! He's been super busy at work, trying to get ready for the time he'll have to miss. Not to mention that after his surgery, he'll be pretty much helpless for a while, so I've had to really clear out my schedule & find a sitter for anything I have planned in the next few weeks.
Steve is also the Scout Master, and that's been incredibly busy lately. His troop is attending a Klondike derby this weekend. Yes, camping in the snow. I know. I can't think of anything more stupid either, but that's a bunch of Boy Scouts for you! So that's required weeks of planning, lots of nights out, and he'll be gone all weekend.
Steve again- he has a business trip the first week in March! I KNOW! Two weeks after ACL surgery! On crutches, in the airport! I am just shaking my head, but I am a supportive wife... so... More time as a "single" mom. As you can see, a lot of these things don't really have to do with me, except that I'm married to this crazy guy and have to kind of keep everything else running while his life falls apart.
We are considering the possibility of putting our house up for sale in a few months. We aren't relocating or anything- we're just at a point where we need to put a lot of money into our house (finishing yard, basement, etc.) and we don't want to do that unless we're sure this is the house we want to stay in long-term. And we're not sure. So I've been cleaning and de-junking and packing non-essentials into storage, trying to get things in shape so that we could put a sign up (hopefully around April) and see what happens. If the house sells, great- there are a few in the area we have been looking at. If not, then fine, we'll stay here. But it's sure been another level of stress.
I have my own "side project" that I've been working on for about a year. I am too self-conscious to disclose what it is right now because I'm a DORK, but when I finish it, I'll let you know. But I really want to get it finished, so I've been putting in a lot of time.
I have had a lot of stuff happening the last few weeks as well- church responsibilities, kids out of school, etc. Just enough craziness on top of everything else that I haven't even walked past my stamp table most days, let alone actually sat down and stamped something.

So no, I am not dead. I am still doing clubs, and Girls Night Out is still on for February 26 (my mom will be babysitting the kids... and Steve, 2 days after surgery....) and everything's fine. But unfortunately I've fallen behind on blogging. So please be patient with me- I promise I'll be doing better as soon as we can get through some of this other wild stuff!

BOY calendars

2009-02-06T17:08:00.000-08:00

Hi stampers! Those of you who are in a Club have recieved (or will receive) a cute little calendar with your order from January! I will post pictures of those later, but I wanted to show you these cute "Boy" calendars I made for my brother & my son. First, I made the MC calendar for Jon, my bro who is turning 15 in March. He is a freshman at Mountain Crest, so I put the "MC" at the top and added the little horseshoes (for those of you who aren't local, the Mountain Crest mascot is the Mustang). The stamp set and paper on this calendar is retired, but for the MC decoration I used the Scallop Square punch and the Naturally Serif alphabet with the Sizzix Big Shot. I put magnet tape on the back so Jon can put it in his locker. He was surprisingly excited about my little gift- I thought he would think it was dumb, but he thought it was "Awesome!"

The second calendar was for Ben, my 5-year old son. He absolutely HAD to have the same paper as Jon, since Jon is his idol. We used the long-retired Toy Box set for the robot (he had a hard time choosing between the race car and the dinosaur but the robot won in the end) and then I used the same Naturally Serif alphabet for his name. Since Ben doesn't have anything metal in his room, we attached some Gold Elastic Cord so he could hang it on his bulletin board.

I made these calendars using 4x4 coasters. If you'd like the template for the calendar, click here. A big thanks to Cat for her fantastic calendars!

Two words: Strep throat

2009-01-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

I think the title of this post explains it all. The last two weeks of my life are pretty much... gone. I got it first (and the worst), then Steve, then Ben, and finally Daniel. Spencer still hasn't caught it (and I have my fingers crossed that he won't) but he's so grumpy I don't know how we'd tell the difference! :-)

I wanted to post two adorable recipe cards made by Ami Israelsen. These cards both use the Love You Much bundle that's on special right now. You can view a flier HERE. You get the Candy Lane Designer Series Paper, the Love You Much stamp set, and the Heart to Heart punch (three small hearts) for $41.95! Full price would be $51.85, so it's a great deal. And these are all brand-new products from the new catalog- which just went live today! Ami signed up for some swaps on Splitcoast Stampers and was sweet enough to share her projects with us. I think my favorite part is the ribbon on the bottom of the second card. Sometimes I struggle with how to use my wider grosgrain ribbon- but I think this is a very simple, easy, and elegant solution. And I'm definitely going to have to try these recipes- yum!

Stamps: Love You Much

Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Pad

Paper: Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red Cardstock. Candy Lane Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Heart to Heart Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Pink Pirouette 1 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

No, I am not dead!

2009-01-06T10:55:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone! So I know I slacked off on the blog during December... but I knew it was getting bad when my friend Lisa called to make sure I was okay! (Thanks Lisa! It's good to know someone's keeping an eye on me!) I'm fine, really... just still recovering from Christmas, and things have been busy in the other parts of my life. But now it's the new year, and time for resolving to do better. I am really planning to take a little more time to stamp in the coming months, and I look forward to sharing those creations with you.

First of all, I wanted to post the projects we made at Girls Night Out in December. Sadly, I won't be able to post a photo of my cute little Valentine bag... because before I could get a photo, Daniel decided to stand on it and then tear it up! I love babies. Anyway, I'll put another one together and post it later.

For now, here is the little 6x6 page we made. Something I've started doing recently is offering an alternative way to put the project together, so that those of you who don't scrapbook can make a card instead. I will show you both options here. I'm also working on a 12x12 page with the 6x6 layerd on top to give you some more ideas; I'll hopefully have that done by tomorrow.

I really love how these projects turned out. I wanted a winter theme, and I had some small scraps of this cute patterned paper left over from when we made the Seasons Blocks. This is the Ski Slope paper from the Mini Catalog, and we used it on the Winter block. I was going for a "quilted" look to play off the snowy picture. I love how the pieced paper came together.

Let me give you a few tips to get your "quilt" to look nice and even. First, put down a strip of paper first (in this case, it's a 1/4" strip of Real Red). You can use the squares on your Grid Paper to make sure it's straight. These pieces of patterned paper are 1 1/2" wide, so I put the red strip just shy of 1 1/2" from the side. Then start at the bottom and glue your first piece of paper to the base. You use the red strip as your "bumper"- make sure the patterned pieces are right up flush with the red paper. They should hang over your base just slightly on the other side. Continue gluing the scraps up the side until you've covered the whole edge. Let the glue dry, and then go back with your paper snips and trim the edges. Voila- it looks like you measured every piece perfectly!

The large snowflake is a Sizzix Big Shot die. I love it because it's a Bigz die, so you can use it on other materials like felt, thin balsa wood, tin, etc. In this case, I just cut the shape out of Baja Breeze cardstock. I sponged a little Chocolate Chip ink around the edges of the snowflake and the "quilt", added a Circle Rhinestone Brad in the center, and that's it! Where it was such a big shape, I just glued it on and then cut off the pieces that hung over the edge of the card/page. So while these projects look time consuming, they were actually really easy and quick! And after all, isn't that the best kind?

Stamps: Warm Words (retiring!)

Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Pad, Whisper White craft pad

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, and Real Red cardstock. Ski Slope Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Circle Rhinestone Brads (Ice), Sponges, Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Snips, White Gel Pen for journaling

Christmas cards to match the gift card holder

2008-12-17T10:28:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are the cards I made that match yesterday's gift card holder. I made these for my Visiting Teaching ladies- my partner makes awesome English toffee for them every year, but all I have to offer is cards... :-) The supplies are all the same as yesterdays project, with the addition of Riding Hood Red & More Mustard mats for the main image and some Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon. I love the white edge on the ribbon- such a beautiful touch! And the More Mustard mat really makes it pop. Finally, I wanted to show you how I stamp on the envelopes just to make them a little more special. It only takes a moment- but it definitely adds a WOW! I always like to imagine the postal workers admiring my cute envelopes!

Also, I wanted to remind everyone about Girls Night Out tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 18. You won't want to miss it! We are making some adorable little gift bags (like the ones shown here). Many of you have requested learning how to do these- and I know we're close to Christmas, but it's still in time, right? I can't post the picture because we'll be using some sneak-peek supplies that aren't available until December 23- so you'll definitely want to come! Also, I've typed up directions (with diagrams) for you to take home so that you can remember how to make them on your own. We will also be doing a winter scrapbook page (with the option to make a card instead for those of you who don't scrapbook).

Girls Night Out is at 7:00 at my place! If you need my address, just give me a call or email me. I hope to see you tomorrow night!

One last thing: Don't forget that shipping is free through December 23! Also, sets in the Catalog Sampler are 20% off with a $20 purchase, and all retiring stamps are 10% off through Dec. 23! I have enough orders now that all the minimums are made to qualify for the sale prices and free shipping, so add yours now to take advantage of these great deals! I will put the order in December 23 so that if you wish, you can get free shipping on the sneak peek stuff I will show you tomorrow. Have a great day!

Borders Gift Card for Inspiration

2008-12-16T10:36:00.001-08:00

Hello stampers! Before I say anything else, first I just want to thank Ami for the adorable Christmas background! I should have put it up a lot earlier, but it sure does make me feel festive! I hope you like it- you can tell her how great it is in the comments.

And now, as promised, I am FINALLY gettng back to posting some fun projects. (My work is also featured occasionally on the Utah Divas blog- there's a link to the left. I make sure to send them stuff that isn't on this blog, so that you don't get a repeat.) Like many of you, I think gift cards make a great gift, especially if it's someone for whom you have a hard time selecting a present! My brother in law is that way for me. I draw his name every year, but he loves power tools and other manly things. And I am clueless in that area. So he usually gets cash or a gift card. But I like to package them so that it still feels special, like I took some time on their gift. And that brings us to today's projects.

I have included a picture of the gift card itself, because I took my inspiration from it. I loved the color combination- plus, I wanted the card holder to match! I used Riding Hood Red and More Mustard, and I have fallen in love with using them together. I love how the Mustard kind of glows- it almost looks gold, but isn't metallic. I also used a retired stamp set (sorry!) because it's one of my favorites and I thought it would be perfect for this project. I colored the mistletoe image with More Mustard and Ruby Red markers and then stamped it on Confetti Cream (I wanted a warm, natural looking neutral). Then I sponged More Mustard around the edge to really help it stand out. I kept the card looking pretty simple, since it's for a guy!

I also included a picture of the inside of the card. As you can see, there's a flap inside for the gift card. Some of you may remember making this same style of card back in May. I got the instructions on Splitcoast, so I can't take credit for them, but I really love this pattern.

Stamps: Peaceful Wishes (retired)

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Confetti Cream

Inks: Close to Cocoa & More Mustard Classic Pads. More Mustard & Ruby Red markers

Accessories: Sponges, paper cutter with scoring blade

While I was making this gift card holder, I went ahead and made a few cards (using the same stamps and colors) for other gifts I was delivering. I will post that one tomorrow! So stay tuned- because I'm back to blogging! :-)

DUDE. I love sales.

2008-12-09T09:05:00.000-08:00

Okay. I realize it's been three weeks since I posted, and I sincerely apologize. The holidays get a little crazy, as you all well know, and we've had a lot going on. Surprisingly, though- I expect life to be a little more mellow from here on out. I've got my shopping done, the big parties I was helping with are now over... so hopefully I can find a little more time to stamp.

To make up for my serious stamping slackerness, I have some fantastic news. I will email this out as well, but I'm blogging it first. Stampin' Up! has released their retiring list! The new catalog will go live on January 19, so these are the stamps that are disappearing forever. You can see the lists here:

Retiring List- alphabetical
Retiring List- page number

In addition, through December 23, all stamps on the retiring list are 10% off! Even better, through December 23, all orders over $70 get free shipping! Wahoo- it is shopping spree time! This is one more reason why ordering with the Club is such a good idea. You can get in on the free shipping without having to meet the $70 minimum yourself. Again, I'd like to have the Club orders in by the 12th so we ca n get them here in time for Girls Night Out on Dec. 18. However, I'll put orders in as they come- and I will hold them to combine and get the free shipping, since supplies on these stamps are NOT limited. Here's a link to the list showing the prices with 10% off:
Retiring List- 10% off!

Have fun shopping! You can call or email me with your order- or you can order directly through my website. Just click on the "Shop Now" box in the top right hand corner. Remember, you'll want to go to my site first- don't go directly to the Stampin' Up! webpage to shop. Prices are higher there- you get the best price on my site.

November Girls Night Out- Turkey card

2008-11-21T11:31:00.001-08:00

Here is our first project from Girls Night Out last night, and I'm proud to say that I came up with this one on my own! There have been lots of cute turkey projects all over the place, but as soon as I started thinking about Thanksgiving, I knew I wanted to use Pick a Petal for turkey feathers. I was actually surprised to not see something similar on SplitCoast. I did get a little insiration on how I wanted to put my body & head together, but I didn't see anything quite like this. So yay me! :-)

My purpose for this month was to give all of you some ideas for fun, cute, WOW, easy projects for the holidays. We all want to make homemade gifts and other items, but it is such a busy time of year that it's hard to get anything done. Both this project and the gift tags (see below) are relatively quick, but definitely adorable.

This little guy came together quickly. The hardest part was cutting out the feathers. I just stamped the larger petal five times in different colors, cut them out, and then mounted them on the Kraft Top Notes cut out (can you tell I love this thing?). I sponged Close to Cocoa ink around the Top Note, the greeting, and around the body and head of the turkey. The head is mounted with Dimensionals to give a little more depth. The beak is the tip of the smallest arrow on the My Way punch. I just drew on the eyes with my Chocolate Chip marker, added a little bow and greeting, and there you go!

I can think of all sorts of uses for this little guy. He'd be great for invitations to Thanksigiving dinner, placecards on the table, just a decoration on your mantle... I think I'll mail one to my little bro, who won't be here for the holiday. Hope this inspires your creativity- and gives you yet another way to use the Pick a Petal set!

Stamps: Pick a Petal, Holidays & Wishes

Inks: Ruby Red, Really Rust, More Mustard, Not Quite navy, Old Olive, and Close to Cocoa Classic Pads. Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker

Paper: Naturals Ivory, Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Kraft, Pumpkin Pie (beak)

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Sizzix Big Shot, Top Note Die, My Way Punch, Mellow Moss Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals

November Girls Night Out- Christmas tags

2008-11-21T11:18:00.001-08:00

Here is our second project from Girls Night Out last night. We made a set of three little gift tags. They measure 2x2 (so you would cut the piece 2x4 and score it in the middle). We added a second layer, and I put out all three corner punches to give everyone some options. The white layer is stamped with the adorable, CHEAP Holiday Trinkets set. Lots of fun! This was our technique for the evening. We stamped the images in Craft Ink, which is a pigment ink- it's more opaque and takes longer to dry than the Classic Ink. Because it stays moist longer, you can use it for heat embossing in color- we used Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder. I took some close-ups so you could see how it sparkles. It's such an easy way to add WOW to your project. W punched the images out with the Curly Tag Punch (one of my favorites) and then punched a hole in the corner with the Crop-a-dile. This tool makes it a breeze to cut through multiple layers of cardstock, as well as tin, chipboard, etc. A loop of Gold Elastic Cord provides the finishing touch. The elastic will make it so easy to attach these little tags to gift bags, treat jars, etc. It is fantastic quality- the edges don't fray, and it doesn't stretch out. You can find it in the Holiday Mini Catalog, where it's only $4.95 for 25 yards. That is a great price.

A word on Craft Ink: One of my favorite things that Stampin' Up introduced recently was the Craft Ink Spots. You can get a set of 12 (available in the Color Families) for 25.95. It's such an affordable way to get the Craft Inks, which open up a whole new realm of possibilities. And obviously, one of my favorites is embossing with all the wonderful colors.

Stamps: Holiday Trinkets

Inks: Real Red & Green Galore Craft Ink Spots

Paper: Green Galore, Real Red, Glorious Green, and Whisper White Cardstock

Accessories: Curly Lable Punch, Heat Tool, Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Corner Punches (Rounder, Tag, Ticket), Crop-a-dile, Gold Elastic Cord

Girls Night Out reminder

2008-11-19T20:57:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers! Just a reminder that Girls Night Out is tomorrow night at 7:00 PM at my house! We're going to make some fun Thanksgiving and Christmas projects, so I hope you'll be able to make it. If you get a chance, please give me a call or shoot me an email to RSVP. If you forget, still come- I always make a few extra projects just in case!

Also, an apology for my lack of posting this last week. We've been super busy with family obligations this week, so blogging has fallen by the wayside temporarily. My little bro Chris left on his mission today! We're going to miss him, but we are so excited for him! It's going to be a fantastic experience for him; I know my mission really changed my life in so many ways. However, he's going to South Dakota... that would not be my first pick. They've already had two severe blizzards. His packing list included heavy-duty boots, long underwear, a sleeping bag... I'm so glad I ended up in sunny, gorgeous North Carolina! :-)

Cathi's Moose Card

2008-11-13T11:38:00.000-08:00

Here's my last card from Cathi- isn't it cute? I love this little moose. This card is pretty easy- just some stamping and sponging. But I love how it turned out. And I don't know about you, but I find masculine cards really difficult; I always want to add too much "froufiness". So I love the simplicity of this card.

You'll notice Cathi used a piece from the retired Hodgepodge Hardware assortment. However, Stampin' Up! has a huge variety of accessories, and it would be very easy to substitut something from the current catalog. I think I would recommend a Jumbo Eyelet, one of the Mini Library Clips, or a Build-A-Brad.

Stamps: Moose You, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Inks: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Not Quite Navy, More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, and Very Vanilla Cardstock
Accessories: Hodgepodge Hardware (retired), Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

Rub-Ons for 20% off!

2008-11-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers! I just wanted to announce the Stampin' Up! promotion for November. Until November 30, all rub-ons are 20% off, with a $20 purchase! That is a great deal- and the rub-ons are already an awesome value! If you've bought other brands in the craft stores, you know you'll pay $3-4 for a single sheet. These packages come with 2 sheets in coordinating colors, and they are BIG sheets- 6X12! Plus, they are just crammed with adorable images that match many of SU! stamp sets!

Never used rub-ons? I love them because they are so versatile. They are fantastic for curved surfaces, and for surfaces like glass, plastic, etc. And they add such a nice touch to your regular stamped projects.

I am offering my own special- if you order with the Stamper's Club (which goes in Nov. 15) I will waive the $20 minimum purchase! So go ahead and stock up on all those adorable rub-ons you know you've been wanting; you will love what they do for your projects!

You can view the flyer here.

Brown and pink butterfly

2008-11-07T14:24:00.000-08:00

In a previous post, I mentioned that my friend Cathi send me three darling cards. Well, this is #2! Can you spot all the punches on this card? The only one I can't figure out is how she made the antennae for the butterfly. Any ideas?

I think my favorite is the pink daisy made out of the scallop circle punch. You simply punch out the circle, and then cut straight down towards the center from each little scallop, creating a petal. Add a contrasting center, and voila! Darling. There are so many versatile things you can do with punches; they are one of my favorite tools!

Stamps: All Holidays, Bitty Backgrounds
Inks: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa & Chocolate Chip cardstock
Accessories: Small and Large Ovals, Scallop Circle punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, 1/8" Circle Handheld Punch, Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon

Wedding card for Lynette

2008-11-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

Hi stampers! I thought that since I made you wait so long between posts, I'd give you two projects today to help make up for it! This is another card that I created for my mother-in-law. The card is about 5x7.

I was going for a very elegant theme on this card and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I used the big swirl from Baroque motifs for the background- I just stamped it twice in Not Quite Navy. It didn't matter if the swirls overlapped, since I was putting the accent point over top. This is one of my favorite stamps in the entire catalog. It is so incredibly versatile, and gives you such an elegant look with practically no effort.

The accent point is the heart from Always, heat embossed in silver. I stamped the heart again in Not Quite Navy on the Brushed Silver cardstock. Then I cut out the white heart and layered it over the Silver cardstock with Dimensionals. This is a trick I've used with this image many times (as you've seen in prior posts) but I never seem to get tired of it. Finally, I just stamped the greeting at the bottom, and the card was done! This greeting is from Elegant Greetings, which retired several years ago, but my mother-in-law bought it specifically to use on her cards. If you want a similar look, Elegant Cheer is a current set which I abolutely ADORE- and at $17.95, it's a great bargain!

Stamps: Always, Baroque Motifs, Elegant Greetings (retired)
Inks: Not Quite Navy Classic Pad, VersaMark
Paper: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, and Brushed Silver cardstock
Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals

Cathi's elegant red & gold card

2008-11-06T08:09:00.000-08:00

Hi stampers! Whew, it's been over a week! Time flies when you are having fun. We had a wonderful time at Girls Night Out on Thursday. I really enjoyed our samples and I will be posting them soon. I am sorry that some of you weren't able to attend; hopefully we can get together this month! Girls Night Out in November is scheduled for Nov. 20- that's a week early because of Thanksgiving.

In the meantime, I really wanted to share this beautiful card with you. Cathi is a dear friend from Splitcoaststampers, and we recently traded some items. Along with the stuff we traded, she sent me some adorable cards! I especially loved this card- it is such a beautiful, elegant design. I don't think it shows up well in the picture, but the images are stamped in Gold Encore! ink. It achieves such a subtle, shimmery look. On the red cardstock, the gold ink darkened in some areas, so it's a beautiful black gold effect. And don't you just love the layers of gold cord wrapped around the bottom? This is a card that would come together very quickly, but will definitely make the recipient say WOW!

A note on using Encore! ink. This wonderful, metallic pigment ink provides a beautiful alternative to regular ink. However, because it is pigment ink, it takes longer to dry. I recommend using your Heat Tool to set the ink before putting a project together to avoid smearing. In addition, you should always heat set metallic ink before using it in a scrapbook.

Stamps: Artfully Asian (just retired, but Embrace Life would be a great alternative), Baroque Motifs (greeting)
Inks: Gold Encore! pad, Real Red & Sage Shadow Stampin' Write markers
Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, and Very Vanilla Cardstock
Accessories: Gold Elastic cord (in mini catalog- awesome value!)

Birthday bag for Daisy

2008-10-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, before I get to the project... I thought it might be helpful to explain why my posts have been a little less frequent lately... I got my Christmas present early!!! My dear sweet hubby bought me a laptop! I am thrilled, and I LOVE the new computer... but most of my pictures are not saved on this computer. And I've had the old computer off most of the time, so to post one of my photos, I have to go down, turn it on, etc. But I'm slowly getting some new photos taken and saved on this computer. As I make the transition, it will get a lot easier. So thank you for your patience!

Now, I'd like to tell you a little about this darling gift bag. I am SO TICKLED with the way it turned out! Our new neighbors have a darling little girl named Daisy. She just had her first birthday, and we got to attend her Halloween/Birthday party. My boys loved it. It was absolutely the social event of the season here on our little block! So I was very excited to have the opportunity to make a girl-themed project. I get a little bored with cars, dinosuars, etc.

This is just a generic white gift bag. It's not one from Stampin' Up- theirs are bigger, higher quality, and I wished on Saturday that I had one. But I didn't, so I used what I had. The paper is retired, but I wanted to use my hot pink tissue paper and it was the only paper that matched. I just used my jumbo Stampin' Around wheel & a Basic Black ink cartridge, and wheeled a cute design all over the tissue paper. It wasn't hard, but the tissue paper does tend to want to cling to the wheel, so just go carefully. I stamped the little swirly in Basic Black. Here's a tip when stamping on a gift bag: you will have that little bump where the side of the bag is folded in. I simply took a small strip of thin cardboard (like comes in the back of a package of Designer Series paper) and stuck it inside the bag to give me an even stamping surface. Worked like a charm! The large flower was just stamped on Whisper White, colored with markers & a white gel pen, cut out, and glued on. I love the button for a fun accent!

Finally, the little gift card was a breeze! I stamped the design (from a smaller coordinating stamp set that is now retired) and colored it with markers. I stamped her initial and then hand-wrote her name across the top. I practiced my writing a few times on scratch paper to get it right, and I liked how it turned out. I just punched a hole through the card with my Crop-a-dile (great for multiple layers) and tied it on with ribbon. The whole project took about half an hour, and I really was pleased with how it turned out. And I think Daisy liked it! :-)

Stamps: Doodle This, Doodle That (retired), Doodle Alphabet (retired), Doodle Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel

Paper: Sweet patterned paper (retired), Whisper White, Pink Passion, Basic Black

Inks: Basic Black Classic Pad & Jumbo Cartridge. Gable Green, Pink Passion markers, Basic Black Stampin' Write Journaler.

Accessories: White gift bag, Black Gingham Ribbon, Crop-a-Dile, Paper Snips, Earth Elements & Neutrals Buttons

2008-10-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

Hello stampers! I wanted to share with you another of the cards I made for my mother-in-law. As I've mentioned before, these cards measure 5x7. Sometimes it's a bit of a challenge for me, since I generally make smaller cards and the larger space can feel a little out of my comfort zone. (Does anyone else ever feel that way when they try something new? Maybe I'm just a dork!) But I've had a lot of fun just playing with my stamps and trying out new things. This is a sympathy card, which I always find a little intimidating. I feel like sympathy cards should be fairly simple, but also very elegant. I really like the way this turned out.

This is yet another example of the sponge dauber technique (as described in the last post). Can you tell I LOVE this technique? I think it's because it's super easy, uses supplies I already have, and creates such a WOW effect! This time I used the Fresh Cuts stamp set. This set was on special back in June, and I fell in love with it even though it's not my usual style. (It also has some adorable matching Fresh-Cut Note cards with the die-cut flower in the center.) This was the first time I'd tried using the sponge dauber technique on a collage-style stamp rather than a sold image, and I really like how it turned out. I inked the entire stamp in Baja Breeze, and then sponged on Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss to accent certain portions of the image. I love the soft, subtle look, and I think the scalloped edge adds a really nice accent. If you haven't tried using your sponge daubers yet, I really encourage you to give it a try; I think you'll love the results! (And if you don't have any daubers, they are a great value- you get 12 for only $10.95.) Please contact me if you have any questions!

Stamps: Fresh Cuts, Wonderful Words II (retired)
Paper: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, and Baja Breeze Cardstock
Inks: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, and Kiwi Kiss Classic Pads
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Sponge Daubers, White Organdy Ribbon (retired)

Card from September Girls Night Out

2008-10-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hi stampers! What a crazy week it has been. Anyone else feeling like they don't know where October went? Seriously! Anyway. First of all, I wanted to tell you that today I am featured on the UDI (Utah Divas Internationl) blog! You can see a link on the right side of this page. UDI is a fantastic group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators that help each other with support, friendship, and ideas. I was so blessed to be invited by Jennifer, a friend I met at Convention, and I've really loved being a member. I've since been chosen for the Designing Divas group (big shock to me, I promise) and today I'm the featured Diva. So check it out- it shows a project that I haven't put on my own blog!

Enough about my exciting moment... :-) I wanted to post the card we created at Girls Night Out last month. I have to tell you, I am IN LOVE with this card, and with the Eastern Blooms stamp set. This was one of the free sets we received at Convention this last year, and I have really enjoyed it. The three small flowers come on one block, but I am picky and asked my hubby to cut the block into three pieces so I could stamp them separately. That was a disaster (but this is a story for another time). But after much trial and tribulation, I have 3 separate blocks. Yay! The layout was inspired by this card, which I posted earlier.

Perhaps the coolest thing about this project (in my opinion) was the dry embossing. I used the coordinating Floral Frenzy Classy Brass template to emboss the large flower. First I stamped it, and then turned it over and embossed around the stamped image to make it pop out. So easy, but really adds so much to the design! One quick tip: Before embossing, rub wax paper over the cardstock. It will help your stylus to glide over the paper much more smoothly. I added a row of small flowers across the bottom of the main image to add the finishing touch.

Finally, you might be wondering how I achieved the great multi-colored big flower. It's SO EASY! Check out this card for another example and more detailed instructions. This time I inked the flower in Pink Pirouette first, and then added Riding Hood Red & Tangerine Tango with the sponge daubers. I sure adore this year's In Colors!

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Short & Sweet
Paper: Riding Hood Red & Very Vanilla Cardstock
Inks: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, and Tangerine Tango Classic Pads
Accessories: Floral Frenzy Classy Brass template, light table, embossing stylus, Sponge Daubers

Thank-You notebooks

2008-10-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

Becky (my sister) and I are co-hosting, along with a neighbor, an open house for Suzanne Marychild, a candidate for the Utah State House of Representatives. Now that sentence was a mouthful! We wanted to have a small thank-you gift to send with the ladies who attend (it's an open house for women). We needed something that could be mass-produced quickly, and that didn't require a lot of $$$, but that would be classy. This is what we came up with. These are simple little 3x5 notebooks that I got at Sam's Club. It was about $4.50 for a dozen. We covered them with the very funky, very elegant, Urban Garden Designer Series paper. I have fallen in love with that paper- the color palette is just gorgeous, and I love the silhouette designs. Then we added some ribbon and a simple accent in the corner. I hope our attendees will enjoy them!

I should note that all of the notebooks have the same color of ribbon. For some reason, the color was off in two of the photos. I managed to make it look slightly better, but you can see that it's still not quite right. That's what I get for trying to photograph projects at night!

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Inks: Basic Gray, Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss
Paper: Urban Garden DSP, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze Cardstock
Accessories: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Circle & 1 3/8" Circle Punches

Scrapbook pages from September Girls Night Out

2008-10-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

Wowsers! Almost an entire week since my last post! Obviously, things get a little crazy around here. Steve & I took off Wednesday afternoon to spend the night at the Alaskan Inn up Ogden Canyon. It was a wonderful break- and much cheaper in the middle of the week! Then I've been working hard to get ready for the Season Blocks class last night- thanks to all of you who attended! For those who didn't order a kit, I may have a few extras... but I'm going to offer them to my downline first. I will keep you posted if there are any left.

Meanwhile, I wanted to post the scrapbooking project we did at Girls Night Out last month. We made the 6x6 page on the right. Can you believe that's a picture of BEN? The kid is in kindergarten now! Crazy how much they grow... and how behind I am on my scrapbooking! Anyway, then I created the 8 1/2 x 11 page on the left to give you an example of how the 6x6 page can be layered to suit the size of page you prefer. You could go a step further and layer it on a 12x12 as well- I'll do a sample of that in October.

I really like how these pages turned out. We used the new Under the Stars set, which was on sale last month. I love cute camping sets! And be sure to notice the bright smile on the bear- obviously he visits his dentist! (We added that touch with the white gel pen). I also really liked the colors on this project. In fact, I used my leftover pieces for one of my recipe cards for our swap! It turned out completely different from this page. I'll be sure to post that project for you too.

Stamps: Under the Stars
Inks: Always Artichoke, Basic Brown
Paper: Mellow Moss, Pumpkin Pie, Not Quite Navy, Kraft
Accessories: White UniBall Gel Pen, Watercolor Wonder Crayons (Earth Elements), Aqua Painter, Mellow Moss Gingham Ribbon, Linen Thread, Word Window Punch, Cutter Kit

Added to 8 1/2 x 11 page: Always Artichoke cardstock & Ink, ABC Alphabet Upper, Star Punch

Mini Gift bags

2008-10-05T19:13:00.000-07:00

At Convention this year, Linda Hansen (a fantastic demo & Stampin' Up! employee) showed us how to make adorable little gift bags out of 12x12 paper. Well, I have quite a bit of the 6x6 paper that has been available for hostesses (both in the last catalog & the new one). As some of you may know, I have a second business as a Scentsy consultant, and I was looking for a cute way to package up some bars to use as hostess gifts. These little bags are absolutely perfect, plus it's a sneaky way to advertise Stampin' Up! I love how these bags turned out. They came together pretty quickly, and my hostesses have just adored them. Plus, I'm FINALLY using some of the hostess paper that I've been hoarding! The green bag uses Wild Wasabi, which just retired, but you could easily substitute a different color. The Designer Series Paper is the perfect weight for this project. Would anyone be interested in learning how to make these bags at Girls Night Out? Leave some comments & let me know! If you're interested in doing a workshop, I'd also love to demo these bags for you & your friends. Anyway, I hope you enjoy them- I really love how they turned out!

Stamps: Seeing Spots
Inks: Apricot Appeal & Pumpkin Pie, Real Red & Basic Black, Wild Wasabi & Basic Black
Paper: Prints Pack Designer Series Paper (Retired Level I Hostess), Whisper White, Apricot Appeal, Real Red, & Wild Wasabi Cardstock
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Cropadile, 1 1/4", 1 3/8", and Scallop Circle Punches, Dimensionals, Apricot Appeal, Real Red, & Basic Black 3/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Sticky Strip

Baby card for Abby's sister

2008-10-04T15:20:00.000-07:00

About two weeks ago, a friend called to see if I'd make a card for her sister, who just had her first baby. Of course I was very excited to help out! This card measures 5x7, since the gift was going to be from a bunch of people & they needed a lot of room for signatures. I had a lot of fun playing with the In Colors; I have combined the pinks & oranges quite a bit, but I've not used the blues and greens quite as much. I think it's a really funky, non-traditional color scheme! This card came together pretty quickly. The circles were cut with my Big Shot & Coluzzle- love them! The B was heat-embossed in white. I also added a little sponging to make some of the layers stand out, but that was really about it. I hope the new mom liked it!

Stamps: Just B, Seeing Spots
Inks: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze Classic Pads. VersaMark
Paper: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White Cardstock
Accessories: Coluzzle, Big Shot, Scallop #2 die, Tag Corner punch, Pacific Point Striped Grosgrain, sponges, linen thread, White Emboss Powder, heat tool

Daisy Basket

2008-10-01T11:59:00.000-07:00

This is another card I made for my mother-in-law. For those of you that attended Girls Night Out in August, you'll remember that we made little round baskets using the Big Shot. Well, I had some pieces left over and I was trying to think of some creative ways to use them. This is what I came up with. This card measures 5x7; Lynette likes them a little bigger so that she can put a check inside without having to fold it. I used a multitude of stamp sets on this, but I was just having so much fun playing with my toys! I really like how it turned out; what do you think?

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Flight of the Butterfly, Wow Flowers, Canvas Background (on the basket)
Inks: Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
Paper: Old Olive & Pacific Point cardstock, white generic pre-made card
Accessories: Big Shot, Baskets & Blooms Bigz XL die (SU! exlusive)

Natalie's adorable sucker card!

2008-09-30T21:19:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this gorgeous card with you, even though I don't get any credit for it! This is Natalie Gardner's card swap for August. Isn't it adorable??? She is so amazingly creative. Few things I wanted to point out here. She used the Carousel Notes- she cut them in half, then used one for the half circle background and made the little "cup" with the other half. Awesome. And the little flower sucker, that matches with the other flower glued on top? Love it. My kids seriously want to eat this, and I keep saying "No touchy!!!"

Also, most of the supplies on this card are retired. I think it's a great example of how you can keep using all that adorable stash to make some great projects. The stamp set she used is Office Accoutrement, and then the matching accessories from the last catalog. Colors are Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, and So Saffron. Thanks for letting me post your project, Natalie- I love it!

Thanks, Ami, for the blog makeover!

2008-09-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

Before I blabber about this project, I just want to give Ami Israelsen a HUGE thank you for her help with customizing my blog! She designed the new background and header. She's also been uber-patient with helping me implement it; I'm really not a Blogger expert, but she's taught me so much. Be sure to leave comments on what you think!

I signed up for a swap with other demonstrators using stamp sets from the new Holiday Mini Collection. I used the Season of Friendship set- which I adore! What a great tree- and the seasonal accessories really make it versatile. I really struggled, however, trying to add accessories, because the main image is so large. My sister Becky always seems to get stuck with helping me! She was very good- she helped me place the ribbon, and also suggested the glitter on the snow, which I think was just the perfect finishing touch. So I made 30 of these and mailed them off to Florida on Monday. Next week I'll get 30 different ones back- I'll be sure to post them for you to enjoy!

Stamps: Season of Friendship, Cute & Curly
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, and Whisper White cardstock
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze Classic Pads
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Curly Label Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, 2-Way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals

I love Thurl Bailey!

2008-09-24T21:20:00.000-07:00

In case you're wondering, yes, this is the right blog! I wanted to FINALLY post these photos from Convention! For those of you poor souls who may not know who Thurl Bailey is, he played for the Utah Jazz (WAHOO!) for many years. Now he's a sports commentator here in Utah. We always watch the games on KJZZ when available. Well, Thurl is also on the Board of Directors for Stampin' Up!. At my first Convention, he actually sang for us! I was prepared, having been a fan for a while, but all the rest of those poor, unsuspecting demonstrators absolutely swooned! It was fantastic. Anyway, my good buddy Lisa & I were about to leave one of our classes when Lisa nudged me and said, "Hey, isn't that Thurl Bailey over there?" Not like he's hard to spot, being a bit taller than the average SU! demonstrator, but still. We debated for a moment whether to ask for a photo, but he didn't seem busy so we decided to go for it! It was great. He was so friendly & gracious. We got more photos later, along with his autograph, but by that point my memory card was full. I'll post them as soon as I get a copy from Lisa. Anyway, just wanted to share one of my favorite Convention moments!

Inspiration for Girls Night Out

2008-09-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

Hi! I recently had a request from a customer (hi Julie!) for some retired items. I bought them from another demonstrator, Jill Kirk in Missouri, and this is the adorable card that she sent in the package! I just love it. In fact, I loved it so much that I copied the layout for Girls Night Out tomorrow night. The colors and the stamp set will be different, but the basic design is the same. I hope you are all so intrigued and now want to attend!

**Please forgive the lousy photography on most of these posts! My stamp "room" is actually an unfinished basement, and the lighting down here is not ideal. And I'm no professional. So if the colors seem a little funky, it's entirely the photographer!

Stamps: Priceless, Boho Backgrounds
Inks: Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Close to Cocoa
Paper: Kraft, Very Vanilla cardstock
Accessories: Gold brads, Scallop Circle & 1 3/8" Circle punches, Crafter's Tool Kit (paper piercing)

Boy & Girl Baby Cards

2008-09-23T13:32:00.000-07:00

Since I had just posted a card with the Nursery Necessities set, I thought I'd give you two more examples! These are cards I made for my mother-in-law; she likes having homemade cards to send out, but doesn't enjoy making them. I, on the other hand, do enjoy it, so we're a good pair!

These cards measure 5x7. I create them on pre-made cards that Lynette buys, so the base of the card is not SU! cardstock. It definitely makes me appreciate our quality paper! Anywho, as you can see, these are basically the same card; I just swapped blue for pink. The wheel is stamped in Mellow Moss, as well as the greeting and the moon. I cut out the moon by hand. I stamped the large star in Blue/Pink and used the Large Star to punch it out; the small star is plain White cardstock. Then I simply glued them on the Top Note that I cut out with my Big Shot! I LOVE this die; I've used it a bunch of times! I especially love the perforated edge.

Stamps: Nursery Necessities, Nursery Letters Jumbo Wheel

Paper: Off-brand card base. Whisper White, Pretty in Pink & Bashful Blue cardstock

Inks: Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Mellow Moss Classic Pads. Mellow Moss Jumbo Cartridge

Accessories: Jumbo Stampin' Around Handle, Star & Large Star Punches, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sizzix Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die (Stampin' Up! Exclusive!)

Baby Boy card

2008-09-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

Cute swap from our demo meeting- almost done posting all of those! (Whew!) I have a bunch more cute things that just need photos before they go on the blog, so be sure to keep checking back!

I love the simplicity of this card. Really, the only element that's at all "involved" is a touch of heat embossing. Also, the repetition of the sailboat image is really darling, don't you think? I actually really adore the Nursery Necessities stamp set. It has perfect images for all kinds of baby projects, as well as fantastic greetings. Plus, the bold images really make for quick & easy projects. (And the star images work perfectly with the punches!)

Few quick instructions: Stamp the sailboat 3 times on the Bashful Blue strip- twice in Bashful Blue, and once in VersaMark; emboss with White emboss powder. The strip of patterned paper is from the retired East Coast Prep DSP (Designer Series Paper), but there are very similar papers in the new catalog as well that you could easily subsitute. I don't know if you can see them, but there are stars stamped in red on the Real Red cardstock for a subtle background. Finally, stamp the little "it's a boy" greeting at the bototm & heat-emboss, and add a Soft Subtles brad. I have to admit that this card has a soft spot in my heart, since I seem to specialize in BOY babies!

Stamps: Nursery Necessities
Inks: Real Red, Bashful Blue, VersaMark
Paper: Real Red, Bashful Blue cardstock. East Coast Prep DSP (retired)
Accessories: Heat Tool, Soft Subtles Brads, White Embossing Powder

Ta Da! Season Blocks- Class on Oct. 10 & 11!

2008-09-19T21:46:00.001-07:00

Ok, this is truly ridiculous. I wish I knew how to add pictures and make it look better. Is there a "Blogging for Dummies" book or something???? Oh well- the photos are here and you get the idea, right? :-) I am pretty excited about these! I'm sorry it's been a week since my last post- but obviously you can see what I have been working on! (Well, that and about 1 million other things, but that's a story for a different post...)

I will be offering this class on Friday, October 10 (6-9 PM) and Saturday, October 11 (11 AM-2 PM). The cost is $15. You get a total of 12 wood blocks, with both sides decorated. We will be using some of the gorgeous new Designer Series Papers, as well as the Big Shot (!!!) and a multitude of other goodies. You are welcome to order more than one kit; however, please consider the time involved to complete the project. If you're making a bunch, I suggest bringing a friend to help, attending both class times... or both! Deadline for registration is Friday, October 3. I will have these samples at Girls Night Out for you to see in person- and hopefully the blocks for November as well!

Hope you love them- I do! They're going on my mantle for sure!

Fall Stamping Class Schedule!

2008-09-11T22:41:00.000-07:00

As you may know, there is a calendar on my Stampin' Up! website (http://stephaniegittins.stampinup.net) that shows all of my events. I have Girls Night Out & my classes entered through the end of the year. However, since I know you may not check that site as regularly as you check the blog, I wanted to post a list of the classes I will be offering over the next few months. I hope you'll all join me for these events; I think they will be worth your time!

If you attended Girls Night Out last month, you know that I had a list of classes. Those have all been scrapped, so... just forget about them! :-) I did some evaluating and decided to change my projects to offer you more of the kind of items you've said you want to make. I hope you'll like them- feedback is greatly appreciated!

A few notes. I do not have photos yet. Many of the items we will be using are out of the Holiday Mini Catalog that goes live in October. I just got my Preorder, so I am still working on getting things ready. However, as soon as they are completed, the photos will be here first! You can also see them at Girls Night Out. Also, I am going to offer the classes on a weekend. You can choose to attend on Friday night from 6-9 PM, or Saturday from 11 AM-2PM. Or, if you're making a bunch to use as gifts (Christmas is coming, birthdays, weddings, etc... hint hint hint) then you may choose to attend both times to get things completed. I would also suggest bringing a friend to help if you're making several. Finally, the registration deadline is always the Friday before class. So that's it! Drumroll, please....

Season Blocks (Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11): Adorable wood blocks decorated for the seasons, with the words Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer spelled out. Set of 12 blocks (uses front & back). Cost is $15 per set.
Completer Blocks (Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8): Complete your collection of wood blocks! Includes the words Spooky, Merry, Family (for everyday), and I (heart) the USA. Set of 12 blocks (front & back). Cost is $15 per set.
Family Frame (Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6): They're back, and updated! My most popular class ever. $10 each.

I would love to continue to hold classes where we can make projects that are too involved for Girls Night Out. I will evaluate class attendance and then work on planning into January & February. Please let me know if there are specific things you'd like to make!

Stink you're sweet!

2008-09-09T22:45:00.000-07:00

I promise I've been working on some of my own samples- but I don't want to show you until Girls Night Out! Luckily I still have lots of samples to share...

Cute, simple card- again with they Very Punny set. This is a very versatile one. I just like the soft colors- really plays up the cute skunk. As I mentioned before, I'm working on my watercoloring skills. There are about 500 different products & techniques for coloring in line-art images like this one; I'm excited to share some new ones with you! However, this one was simply done with markers. They're a great option for speed & vibrant color.

Stamps: Very Punny
Paper: Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery & Whisper White cardstock
Inks: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, and Going Gray markers
Accessories: 5/8" Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon

Blooming with Love & polka dots

2008-09-07T21:03:00.000-07:00

This is a cute swap- I can't take credit for it! This card uses Wild Wasabi, which was one of last year's In Colors and is now retired. However, you could get a very similar look by subsituting Garden Green (darker) or Certainly Celery (lighter). I especially like the watercoloring on this card- just so pretty! I am working on my watercoloring skills so I can give you some tips at Girls Night Out. Hopefully that will be this month (September 25) but if I need a little more practice, we'll watercolor in October.

One quick tip concerning this card. Notice the darling polka dot border on the right? That's so easy & cheap to do! Simply punch circles out of a strip of cardstock (So Saffron, in this case) and then layer over a second strip (Real Red). Ta da!- polka dots! I think this card uses the 1/4" and 1/2" circle punches. So there you go- one more use for those punches you already have!

Stamps: Blooming with Love, Wonderful Words
Inks: Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Real Red & Basic Black Classic pads
Paper: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron & Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Silver Brads, Wild Wasabi Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/2" and 1/4" Circle Punches

A new look for the blog... and a rocket card!

2008-09-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

Well, as you can see, I've been fiddling around with the background on my blog. I still can't figure out quite how to make things work, but I'm getting a little better! Still, I do like having a little more color & decoration!

This is another cute card made at our downline training meeting in April. This uses the set "Pun Fun." My boys love the images in this set, but they are especially crazy about the rocket ship. The nice thing about sets like this one is that you can use the image & greeting together for a quick project... or you can mask the greeting and just use the image! They are lots of fun for scrapbook pages, too.

Here's a quick tutorial on one easy method for masking the greeting. Before applying any ink to the stamp, put a piece of Scotch tape over the part you don't want to stamp (ex: the greeting). Ink the stamp. Then, and this is the important part, REMOVE THE TAPE! If you don't, you'll end up with a big ink blob. Finally, stamp the image. Voila! The tape prevents you from inking the parts you don't want.

Stamps: Pun Fun
Inks: Basic Black Classic Pad. Real Red, Yo Yo Yellow, Green Galore & Tempting Turquoise Stampin' Write Markers
Paper: Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, & Whisper White CS
Accessories: Jumbo Eyelets (Pewter), Bold Brights Eyelets (now retired), Real Red Striped Grosgrain ribbon, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Crop-a-dile

Upsy Daisy in the new In Colors

2008-09-01T23:08:00.000-07:00

I have made some truly wonderful friends through Stampin' Up!, and many of them are fellow demonstrators. We decided at Convention that we needed to get together more frequently to give each other support & motivation. Our last meeting didn't work out, but this is the card I made to send them. So sorry, ladies, you get a sneak preview, because I haven't mailed them yet!

This is a really fun technique that I learned at Convention last month. (And this stamp set is on sale for an extra 15% off through the end of September!) This technique works great on solid-image stamps. First ink the entire stamp in your lightest color (Baja Breeze, in this case). Then take your darkest color (Pacific Point) and sponge it onto a few areas of the stamp using a Sponge Dauber. Finally, take your medium color (Kiwi Kiss) and add it to a few other spots. (I suggest using the darker color first because it's easier to see where you've already added more ink.) "Huff" onto your stamp to re-moisten the ink, and stamp. That's it! Gorgeous, blended color, and every one turns out a little differently. I recommend cleaning your stamp in between each use, because you don't want your colors to get all mushy.

I have had sponge daubers almost since I first signed up as a demo, but I gained a new appreciation for them at Convention this year. Those babies can be used for everything! I heard someone suggest that you get enough daubers to have one assigned for each color (or similar colors, like all the reds) so that you don't get too much blending. Others said you could wash your daubers. Whatever you prefer... those little tools are highly underrated! You can expect to see me sharing a lot more projects using daubers in the next little while. And at $10.95 for 12, the price ain't bad, either!

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Best Yet (Level I Hostess)
Inks: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point
Paper: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Scallop Circle Punch, stapler, Stampin' Dimensionals

Erin's birthday card

2008-08-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, now that I know Erin has received her card, I'm posting it! As some of you may remember, at Girls Night Out I was playing with my new SU! Bigshot and some scrap cardstock. Well, I cut out this Green Galore shape with the awesome Top Note die, and decided to challenge myself to use it. This is the result! And since I knew it was Erin's birthday, I sent it to her! I also pulled out my Pick a Petal stamp set, which I hadn't used in a while- definitely gave me a chance to fall in love with it again! I don't know if you can tell, but I paper-pierced a border all the way around the black to match the perforated border on the green piece. Just a word of warning: paper piercing black paper is stinkin' hard because the mat is black too!

Which gives me the opportunity to announce- I'm going to start a Birthday Club! Email me with your birth date and I will put you on my list. During your birthday month, you can get 10% off your entire order! (This doesn't apply to your Club obligation, but will apply to any extra you spend- so if you're a single member, you don't get the discount on your first $15, but you do get it on anything additional. Email me if you have a question about this...) You can all thank Erin for giving me the great idea!

Stamps: Pick a Petal, Best Yet (Level I Hostess- so great!)
Paper: Basic Black, Green Galore, Whisper White cardstock
Inks: Real Red & Basic Black Classic Pads
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, White Gel Pen, Neutrals Buttons, Black Gingham Ribbon

Redesign of card from Girls Night Out

2008-08-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

As often happens, after Girls Night Out I had some pieces left over. I've been having lots of fun playing with them to see what I could come up with! Sadly, I didn't take a picture of the original card from GNO before I gave it away (hope you liked it, Steph J!) so for those of you who couldn't attend... use your imagination! (Unless someone has theirs and wants to send me a photo...) Anyway, the original card had the white & gingham panels reversed. We used the Happiness Alway stamp set and stamped a daisy with the butterfly flying off of it. The greeting was stamped in Chocolate Chip on top of the gingham. The card measures 3x6- normally we make these cards vertically, but I flipped it on its side for a different look. I like this size- you can get 4 cards from one sheet of 12x12 cardstock.

Okay, so that card was cute but I wanted to try something different. And quite honestly, I like this one better! I used the Flight of the Butterfly set that we received at Convention. It's adorable- I keep reaching for it! I stamped the butterfly three times. The solid base is Pink Pirouette; the flower layer is Riding Hood Red; the outline & body is Chocolate Chip. To get the 3-D effect, I cut out the butterfly and only used glue on the body. Then once it was dry, I folded up the wings. This is the same trick I used on my binder clips for Convention (scroll down a few posts to check those out). I've made a promise to myself to give more of my cards away- no sense hoarding them! So this card already found a home- hope you loved it, Amanda!

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly
Inks: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip Classic Pads
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White cardstock. Bella Rose Designer Series Paper (which is to DIE for, seriously!)
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Corner Rounder, Soft Subtles Brads, Flower Fusion Too felt flowers (so excited about the new colors!)

I'm a bus widow!

2008-08-25T19:43:00.001-07:00

Okay, everyone, here's your public service announcement for the day! (Well, at least for those of you in Cache Valley...) Ride the bus! Steve's been working long days, and all weekend, because today they rolled out the route changes. He's pretty excited, especially for those people on the south end of the valley, because it will now be much more convenient to ride the bus into Logan. However, because he's been involved in so many of the changes... he's never home. That gives me lots of time to stamp, though, so I'll have lots of fun things to show you!

For those of you who attended Girls Night Out about a week and a half ago (and thanks to all of you- I had so much fun!) you will recognize this little keychain. I wanted to make a special gift for all attendees. Plus, this is a great example of some of the 3-D gift ideas you can make with paper and stamps- don't have to be a scrapbooker to love stamping! This is just a little mini-Post It note pad with a stamped cover. You have to split the pad into 3rds. I punched a hole in the corner with my Crop-a-dile, added the little ring and some ribbon, and that's it! It was fun and easy. I suggest getting the rings at Hobby Lobby- that was the cheapest place I found them (12 for 1.99). This is the 1 1/2 inch size. The colors on this project were inspired by a flower arrangement in a Zyrtec commercial. Hey, get inspiration where you can!

Stamps: Sprinkles, Flight of the Butterfly, Family Phrases

Inks: Gable Green, Regal Rose

Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White Cardstock

Accessories: Crop-a-dile, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Designer Label Punch, sponges, ring

Stitched Exotics- Groovy Guava

2008-08-24T21:24:00.000-07:00

Here's another quick card using last year's In Colors. It would not be difficult to switch out for some current colors, so I posted the card just for layout ideas. I really like the swirls on this one- I like the white one with the more delicate pomegranate on top. The large flower is created by stamping the flower in Purely Pomegranate on white CS and then cutting it out. Punch out a 5-Petal Flower from Guava Prints paper, and layer- voila! Pretty self-explanatory card- the Designer Series Paper makes things pretty quick! If you have questions, just drop me a line or a COMMENT! (hint hint...)

Stamps: Stitched Exotics, A Beautiful Thing
Paper: Groovy Guava, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White cardstock. Groovy Guava Prints paper.
Inks: Purely Pomegranate Classic Ink, Whisper White Classic Pad
Accessories: Build-a-Brad (Pewter)

Tip of the day: Exchanges and Returns!

2008-08-21T21:15:00.001-07:00

So this isn't actually a technique, but because I was dealing with an exchange the other day, I thought it might be helpful to share a few ideas with you. Stampin' Up! is fantastic about exchanges and returning damaged merchandise! The key is to take care of the matter within 90 days of the original shipping date. As long as you're within that 90-day window, the whole process is pretty simple. On exchanges (wow, I really hate this paper, or whatever) all you pay is the shipping back to Stampin' Up!, and any difference in price on the items you choose instead. If the new selections are less than or equal to the exchange amount, everything else is covered. Stampin' Up! even pays to ship the new items back to you. (If the new items are less than what you're sending back, there isn't a refund- so choose carefully!) Also, exchanged items have to be in new condition, so don't mount your stamps and then decide you hate them!

If the items are damaged (dry ink pads, smooshed cardstock, cracked stamp block, etc) Stampin' Up! covers all the cost- shipping both ways, and everything. They will replace the damaged item with a new one. Damage is pretty rare; this is also why I ship most orders to myself, since I can usually spot problems before they get to you. However, this is where I want to share the most important tip of this post: Inspect your order when you first get it! Don't wait 6 months to realize that there is a problem because after 90 days, additional fees will apply.

Like I said, problems are rare. But if they do occur, please contact me right away. I promise I will do EVERYTHING I can to make it right; that's my job. I can't help if I don't know there's a problem. And Stampin' Up! is a fantastic company. They stand behind their products. So that's it for the blah blah tonight!

How about some comments????

2008-08-21T21:09:00.000-07:00

Ladies. I have a Hit Counter now. I can see the numbers going up. I KNOW you're looking at the blog. But am I seeing any comments? NO. Am I devastated? Okay, no, not really... but comments would be fun! I was hoping the blog would become a friendly place where y'all could exchange ideas, comments, etc. But if you're really, truly, all that shy, I am happy to be the sole voice on the blog, albeit a rather goofy one.

So I was looking through the photos of Lisa's swaps and realized I still had a few with some of the now-retired In Colors from last year. I think they're still really cute ideas, so I'm going to post the photos in the next few days to get them out of the way. This card uses the "Enjoy Every Moment" stamp set, found on pg. 58 of the new catalog. This set is great for both cards & scrapbooking, and because the images are big & bold, it's great for projects when you don't have a lot of time. (For some of us, that would be every project, but again, I digress...)

Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, Pale Plum, Whisper White cardstock
Inks: Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, Pale Plum Classic Ink. Whisper White Craft Ink.
Accessories: Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched Ribbon, 1/2" Circle Punch, Silver Brads

Ben's party invitations

2008-08-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

Ok, I struggle so much when I try to put two photos in a post! I just can't seem to line them up in a way that doesn't look weird. If any of you are blog experts, I'd love some advice!

But I digress. These are the invitations to Ben's birthday party back in July. As you can see, he wanted a dinosaur theme. This kind of surprised me since he's never shown an interest in dinosaurs before, but hey, whatever. The kid's 5- he's allowed to be unpredictable. Anyhow, his favorite color is blue. When we we

pick out a tablecloth, napkins, etc. he was really diggin' the lime green, so I decided to combine both colors on his invites. Not that a single one of those kids noticed that the party had a color theme... but it made me feel cool. It was these invitations that made me fall in love with Pacific Point, one of our new colors- it's such a deep, vivid color. There are 2 different styles because I made the first batch and then realized I needed more, but I didn't want to do the same thing again because I was bored. So if your kid came to Ben's party... that's why you got one or the other. I covered up the party info just in case there's some psycho checking out my blog in hopes of being a stalker, which is highly unlikely, but Steve's kind of the paranoid type. (And now you know why I really shouldn't post entries at night- I think I'm getting a little giddy at this point...)

Stamps: Prehistoric Pals, Family Phrases, Twinkle Wheel (retired)
Paper: Gable Green, Green Galore, Pacific Point, Whisper White cardstock
Ink: Pacific Point, Green Galore, Tangerine Tango Classic Pads
Accessories: Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, and 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Sponges, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals

3-D Convention Swap

2008-08-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

For the first time this year, I made 3-D items to swap at Convention. It was tons of fun, and I wished I had more! These are jumbo binder clips. I covered them with paper from the Bella Rose collection (which is GORGEOUS!) and sticky strip. I also tried out some of the new InColors for the first time, and let me tell you, they are going to be fun! The little accent on the front is attached with a Pop-UP Glue Dot. I cut out the butterfly and glued just the "body" to the circle. Once it dried, I bent up the wings for a dimensional look. These clips are great for holding photos, placecards, recipes, notes, etc!

Stamps: Happiness Always (new Level 3 Hostess Set)
Inks: Riding Hood Red
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, and Whisper White Cardstock. Bella Rose Designer Series.
Accessories: Red Gingham Ribbon, Sticky Strip, Pop-Up Glue Dot. Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, and 1 1/4" Circle punches.

Convention Card Swap

2008-08-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

Wow. Finally getting around to posting again. My apologies for the gap; it's been crazy these last two weeks as I've tried to get back in the swing of things. Big thanks to all of you who attended Girls Night Out on Wednesday! I had a lot of fun! I was so frazzled by having the kids still eating when everyone arrived. However, Steve pointed out afterwards that the reason they weren't finished was because the pilot light on the oven didn't light the first time. We didn't figure it out until we went to put the pizza in. So we had to reheat the oven, and air out the entire house. Fun. Anyway, I enjoyed having you all there, especially those that attended for the first time! It's always great to have a big group. I will start looking for a bigger venue if we can keep it up!

So on to the stamping. I want to post some photos from Convention; I had such a fun time! My memory card filled up in about 2 days (I had forgotten to empty it before I left!) so I will have even more photos once I get copies from my roommates. This card is the swap I made to trade at Convention. I only made 50, and was swapped out the first day! I'll definitely make more next year. I loved the colors on this- I saw a skirt in the store that was a similar design, and adored it so much that I decided to copy it. I really enjoy picking up inspiration in random places, especially when it comes to color combos. The white flowers on the edge are wheeled on in VersaMark ink (I inked up a blank cartridge in VersaMark) and then heat-embossed. I used the masking technique to get the little stitched leaf on the side.

Stamps: Hugs & Wishes, Stitched Exotics, It's Beautiful Jumbo Wheel
Inks: VersaMark, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Basic Gray
Paper: Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Basic Gray
Accessories: Jumbo Wheel Handle, Uninked Cartridge, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Two-Way Glue (for applying glitter), Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Glue Dots (for attaching ribbon)

TODAY IS THE BIG DAY!

2008-08-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

Hello stampers! I'm hovering around my computer all morning because the new catalog goes active today at noon! I AM SO EXCITED! I'll be putting in my order at 12:01 because I'm hoping to have a few more new goodies here for Girls Night Out on Thursday. I will post more about GNO a little later, but believe me, you will not want to miss it. I have lots of fun things planned for you. That's why you haven't had any new posts from me since I got back from Convention- I've been trying to put my house back together, and I've been working on GNO like a crazy woman! I'm trying to get a class schedule worked out through December, and it's stressing me. I hope you'll like what I have to offer...

A big announcement: Stampin' Up! will now be offering the Sizzix Big Shot, selected Sizzix dies, and EXCLUSIVE Stampin' Up! dies! I am so excited! I am selling my Cuttlebug (may it rest in peace) to my sweet mother-in-law so that I can get the Big Shot for you to see. I have done some price checking, and their prices are right in line with what you would pay somewhere else for Sizzix products. Obviously I can't compete with a 40% coupon, but if you find something offered somewhere else at a better price, I will do what I can to match it.

As many of you know, I do have a Cricut, but I think a manual die cutter is a necessity as well. First, because I like to have EVERYTHING, but second, there are a lot of things a Cricut can't cut. For example, chipboard, felt, fabric, thin metal, etc. You can use your manual die cutter for all sorts of projects beyond paper. I am excited to show you some fun ideas at GNO- if my Big Shot isn't here yet, I will at least have some pictures for you.

Stampin' Up! is offering OODLES of promotions this month, but I will post those later so as not to overwhelm you. Hints: Brand new stamp sets for sale, and great offers for new demos. I'll see you this afternoon, AFTER I get that massive order put in! :-)

Having a blast at Convention!

2008-07-31T22:29:00.001-07:00

Hi ladies! So my roommate Crystal has a laptop and I snagged it for a few minutes to give you an update. I'm having so much fun! We've been out to eat at some great restaurants. I'm getting lots of new stamping ideas. And the new catalog? FANTASTIC. Seriously. Y'all are just going to die when you see it. They've promised to reveal some awesome new surprises tomorrow, so stay tuned. So far today they told us in September we'll be getting Decor Elements in new colors and designs. Shelli (the founder of Stampin' up!) will also have something called a Signature Line, which will include her personally endorsed products. Not really sure yet what that will entail, but I'll keep you posted.

I also got three cute stamp sets in my bag- I can't wait to show them to you at Girls Night Out on August 14th! You'll want to be sure to attend, and bring a friend. I'll have the new catalogs for you, as well as oodles of samples and new product to check out. Anyway, it's time for me to get to bed. General Session starts at 8:30 tomorrow morning, but we were there at 8:00 today and still couldn't find a seat. We're planning to get there earlier tomorrow. There are about 6,000 demonstrators swarming Salt Lake City right now! It's crowded, but lots of fun. See you later!

Off to Convention!

2008-07-30T06:07:00.001-07:00

Hello stampers! I'm leaving for Convention today- I am so thrilled! I just want to remind everyone that I will be gone until Saturday evening. I will most likely not have access to a computer, unless one of my roomies unexpectedly has a laptop. So if you need to contact me while I'm gone, please call or text me on my cell phone: 435-757-7929.

Also, remember that the Club orders & retired accessory orders are here. I have them all sorted and boxed, so you can come by and pick them up from Steve if you wish. Or, if it's easier, you can get them from me next week.

Thanks again to all of you for your fantastic support and inspiration over the past year! I'm so excited to start the new Stampin' Up! year off with a bang. See you on Saturday!

6x6 Baby layout

2008-07-28T06:19:00.000-07:00

Still working on swaps for Convention! I will have so many cool projects to post when I get back. This is for the other scrapbook swap I signed up for- a 2 page 6x6 baby layout. There are lots of new products on this layout- make sure you look closely for a sneak peek! I really wanted a look that would work for girls and boys; I think this works. I chose the title because I call my boys "monkey" all the time- sometimes affectionately, sometimes in the context of "Stop jumping on the couch, you crazy monkeys!" The "m" is stamped. The rest of the title was typed on the computer using the journaling font CD. I love that CD because the fonts match a lot of the stamp sets. I printed it in brown ink to match the rest of the page. The monkey is paper pieced- I stamped him once on white paper, and then again on brown patterned paper. I cut out the pieces I wanted to be brown and glued them on top of the main image. Voila- he looks like fabric!

Stamps: Sock Monkey, Jumbo Outline Alphabet, Sweet Stars Jumbo Wheel
Paper: So Saffron, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa Cardstock. Close to Cocoa Prints paper.
Inks: Chocolate Chip Classic Pad. So Saffron Ink Cartridge. So Saffron, Barely Banana, and Regal Rose markers
Accessories: Stampin' Pastels (shading on the monkey's hands, feet, etc.), Scallop Border Punch, Small Tag and Tag Punches, 1/8" Handheld Circle Punch, Sponges, Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Convention 12x12 swaps

2008-07-26T08:34:00.001-07:00

As many of you know, next week I'm headed off to Convention in Salt Lake! Yippee! I refer to this event as my "mommy vacation" and it's my favorite part of the summer. I am excited to bring back lots of new products and ideas to share with you. One of the most fun things about Convention is all of the swapping. Of course everyone brings a bunch of card swaps and you trade with everyone you see. But this year, I tried something new and signed up for an organized swap. I am swapping 12x12 kid pages, and 6x6 baby pages. These are 2-page layouts, so I'll come back with lots of new scrapbooking ideas (and completed pages just waiting for photos!).

This is my project for the 12x12 swap. It's supposed to be a neutral kid page, which was actually hard for me. I worried that all of my ideas were either too girly or too boyish. I hope this will work. Probably my favorite part of this page is the silver-embossed chipboard stars. We did this in May at Girls Night Out. You just smoosh your VersaMark pad all over the chipboard, cover it with embossing powder, and heat. Voila- custom silver stars! (Or whatever shape you choose to use.) The brighter blue is Pacific Point, one of this year's new In Colors- it's so gorgeous and vivid in real life. I hope the other ladies in my swap will like these pages!

Stamps: Independence Day, Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel
Inks: VersaMark, and Pacific Point, Real Red, & Night of Navy Classic Pads
Paper: Real Red, Night of Navy, Whisper White & Pacific Point Cardstock
Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Simon Upper Chipboard, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Scallop Circle Punch, Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Glue Dots, Small Star Punch, Photo Corners Punch

My first Tip of the Day! Reinkers rock.

2008-07-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Girls, I don't know why, but I just feel like blogging today! I think it's because I know I'll be gone at Convention next week and I will be without computer access for several days. (Steve, if you're reading this, which I know you're not, I want a laptop for Christmas! Just sayin'...)

Anyhow, I thought it would be fun to post a helpful tip periodically! I can't promise that this will happen every day, but I think every few days I'll just post a technique or tip that can make your life easier. Our tip for today? Reinkers are so fantastic!

Let me explain. When I collected all my Classic Pads, I gave little thought to reinking them. The pads come so juicy; surely I'd never use up all that ink! Right. Now I'm finally collecting my Reinkers, and they are so wonderful. Here are some tips.

1- If you have to tap your stamp on the pad repeatedly to get it covered with ink, the ink pad needs to be refilled. You should be able to stamp once or twice and have a pretty good, even inking. Now obviously some larger stamps, or stamps with intricate details, will need a little more attention. But if you're whacking away at that thing for five minutes and still get a faded image, it needs more ink. Believe me, ladies, after thoroughly inking my Chocolate Chip pad, I love it so much more! It used to frustrate the heck out of me. HELLO! It was dry!

2- I recommend turning your stamp over and shining it in the light before stamping to make sure it's inked well; the spots with ink will be shiny. It's much better to take the time to check than to ruin your card with a half-inked greeting!

3- Ink your Stampin' Around! cartridges frequently. They suck up a lot of ink, and it takes a lot of ink to keep covering the wheels over and over! I found I was having trouble keeping those little slidey lids on my cartridges. Solution? A 99 cent package of hair elastics. I wrap one around the cartridge to keep the lid on, and then I store them in ziploc bags (organized by color family) to keep them from drying out.

4- Re-inking is easy. On cartridges, I start on top and move the tip of my ink refill back and forth across the ink cartridge, from end to end. You will see the ink soaking in, and the cartridge will be darker. Use the tip of the refill bottle to turn the cartridge, and keep working your way around. You will be able to tell when you've done the whole thing because you'll get back to the dark spot where you began. On pads, I start at one corner and just move back and forth across the short end direction of the pad, until I reach the other side. I work the ink into the pad with the tip of the bottle. You'll be able to tell when the ink pad has enough ink because the ink won't be sucked into the pad immediately! Man, those babies get thirsty!

I hope these tips are helpful. You'll be amazed at how much a $2.75 bottle of ink can make you love your ink pads again! Craft pads are slightly different, but we'll talk about that another time. Also, remember that Stampin' Spots are littler, and thus need to be reinked more often than regular pads. In a few days I'll post some additional ideas on using your Reinkers.

Stitched Exotics & Berry Bliss Paper

2008-07-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd continue posting some cute cards with retiring Designer Series Paper- and this also uses the wonderful Stitched Exotics stamp set. This card is also from the demonstrator meeting in April. I LOVE this set- I debated getting it, but I'm so glad I did. The images are big enough to fill a lot of space when you're in a hurry, but there are also smaller images. The swirls are so versatile (and cute!) and the images can be either fun & playful, or very elegant. I've had a lot of fun with this set.

This card uses the cute Berry Bliss paper, which is just fantastic, but is retiring because it has Perfectly Pomegranate. I have used this paper on lots of girly projects- it has that trendy pink & brown color scheme. I"ll be sad to see it go. Check out my clipboards I did a while back; the pink one was my favorite! (And also the first to sell at the craft fair.) That was good, but also sad because I wouldn't have minded keeping it for myself! ANYWAY. I think it's pretty self-explanatory how this card goes together. The center flowers are stamped on Whisper White, cut out, and layered. I really like the greeting on the bottom- I think it's fun to stamp an image (in this case, a cute flourish) in a lighter color and then stamp the greeting over it in a darker color. It adds a lot of interest and emphasis to the greeting.

Stamps: Stitched Exotics, Hugs & Wishes
Paper: Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa & Whisper White cardstock. Berry Bliss Designer Series Paper
Inks: Pretty In Pink, Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa Classic Pads
Accessories: White Taffeta Ribbon, Pink Gingham Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Polytwill Ribbon (from the prior mini-catalog, but I'm hoping it will show up in the new big catalog!), Paper Snips for all the trimming. Those little scissors ROCK!

Cute card with retiring paper!

2008-07-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

Since this paper is retiring and will be gone as of August 10 (or when supplies run out!) I thought I'd load a cute card to mark its passing! This card uses the Porcelain Prints Designer Series Paper, which is also on sale for 25% off- it's only $7.46 while supplies last! I think the colors in this paper are just gorgeous, and using the patterned paper makes creating a lot easier and quicker. I also like how this card combines a more bold, modern looking stamp set with the soft floral paper. It's a very nice contrast.

Stamps: Enjoy Every Minute
Inks: Blue Bayou
Paper: Porcelain Prints Designer Series Paper, Blue Bayou & Very Vanilla Cardstock
Accessories: Blue Bayou Double Stitched Ribbon, Certainly Celery 3/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, 3/4" Circle Punch