Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Two More Days!!!



Stampin' Up's! Sale-a-bration promotion ends on March 31st.  So if you want to receive some free products, all you have to do is spend $50 before shipping and tax and you can select from over 70 products FREE - no shipping and tax on your Sale-a-bration purchase!  You can go to my on-line store to place your order and have it shipped directly to your home, or send me an e-mail if you would like me to do it for you, but don't wait, because Sale-a-bration won't be back until next January!

In addition, if you were ever thinking about becoming a demonstrator and sharing what you love to do with others, the Starter Kit, which is always a great value, is being offered at 15% off the regular low price, and comes with an extra $50 in products too!  You can read all about this when you visit my on-line store.  Join  my team and start getting your own discount on everything you order, have access to wonderful training, get sneak peeks on upcoming catalogs, and become part of a wonderful group of people who love to create with others.  Additional Starter Kit discount and bonus bundle also ends March 31st. 

Monday, March 28, 2011

Post It Note Holders



I am always looking for new ideas for products to have at craft fairs and my monthly classes, and when I saw the template shared by demonstrator Jessica Schnoor on how to make these post it note holders I had to try it.  They were really easy to make, and I sold quite a few this past Saturday.  They are the perfect size to keep in a purse or school backpack.  When you become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator you have so many resources at your fingertips, and there is so much inspiration being shared.  Thanks Jessica!

If you would like to try them yourself, you need to start with a piece of 7" x 3 1/2" cardstock.  Score it at 3 1/4" x 3 3/4".  Before you decorate it, place a 5" piece of ribbon to the front and back using sticky strip.  When I placed my post it note onto the back piece, I placed it on top of a 3" x 3 1/4" of cardstock to add more weight, and put sticky strip on the back of the post it note pad, and then placed that on top of the cut cardstock.  I decorated the front, and as you can see there are so many great ways to embellish.

I used several different pieces of Designer Series Paper, as well as buttons and pearls to embellish and decorate.  Have fun trying your own.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Top Note Die Easter Treats

I am getting ready for another Craft Fair this Saturday, and making treat bags is a must.  Last year I sold out of the little peep bags so I thought I would do them again this year, as well as the bunny bags, both made with the Top Note Bigz Die and small cellophane bags. 

Both bags started with a cut Top Note Die piece.  For the peep bag, the eyes were created by punching  with the 1" and 1 1/4" Circle punch, and cutting the circles in half.  The nose is a corner of the Extra Large Star Punch.  I made small slits for the eyes with the uni-ball Signo Gel Pen.  Holes were punched through both the Top Note piece and the cellophane bag with the Crop-a-Dile and tied together with 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon.  I added a Happy Easter sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set.  I purchased peeps in 5 different colors, and I made the Top Note Piece to coordinate with the color of the peep.  When they are all put together in a large basket they are really colorful, and brighten up the table. 

The bunny bag was also embossed with the Perfect Polka Dot folder for added dimension, and the bunny was stamped with Chocolate Chip ink and then punched with the 1 1/4" Square Punch and then layered over a punched Scallop Square.  This bag was tied together using Daffodil Delight 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon.  The Happy Easter sentiment on this bag is from a retired stamp set, but I loved it so much that I couldn't part with it.  It was punched out with the Scallop Oval punch. 

To make today's treats I used the following:
Cardstock:  Whisper White #100730, Pretty in Pink #100459, Basic Black #12104, Pumpkin Pie #105117
Stamp Sets:  Teeny Tiny Wishes #115370, Forest Friends #113748
Ink:  Chocolate Chip #100908, Pretty in Pink #101301
Punches:  1" Circle #119868, 1 1/4" Circle #119861, Extra Large Star #119875, Word Window #119857, 1 1/4" Square #119865, Scallop Square #119884, Scallop Oval #119856
Ribbon:  Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain #109032, Daffodil Delight 3/8" Taffeta #119766
Accessories:  Big Shot #113439, Top Note Bigz Die #113463, Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder #117335, Crop-a-Dile #108362, Small Cellophane Bags #103104, uni-ball Signo Gel Pen #105021

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Easter Wishes

I love how inlaid embossing makes your two pieces of cardstock look like one.  Such an easy technique that brings a lot of texture and elegance to your card or project.

For today's card I started with Baja Breeze cardstock followed by a cut layer of Pear Pizzazz.  I placed the Pear Pizzazz onto the top of the card with snail adhesive and then embossed the front with the Elegant Lines embossing folder.  A few Itty Bitty Punches using Springtime Vintage Designer Paper  and matching buttons were added, along with some Baja Breeze Seam  Binding.  To get the binding to gather, I frayed one end and found a stray piece in the middle that I pulled until I got the amount of gathering I wanted.  I used sticky strip to keep the binding in place, and it works great when you want to add gathered ribbon.

I used the following for today's post:
Cardstock:  Baja Breeze #111352, Pear Pizzazz #119795, Whisper White #100730
Designer Series Paper:  Springtime Vintage #12172 (Occasios Mini)
Ink:  Baja Breeze #111833
Stamp Sets:  Baby Blossoms #121927 wood or #122000, Something to Celebrate #121897 wood or #121955 (Hostess Level 2 - Occasions Mini)
Ribbon:  Baja Breeze Seam Binding #122331
Embellishment:  Itty Bitty Buttons #118761
Accessories:  Big Shot #113439, Elegant Lines Embossing Folder #119277, Dimensionals #104430, Snail Adhesive #104332, Sticky Strip #104294

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Happy Easter

Easter is right around the corner, and I will be working on a variety of cards and gift items for several craft fairs as well as my Stamp Classes.  I hope you enjoy my ideas.

For today's card I started with a card base of Crumb Cake cardstock that when closed measures the standard card size to fit into a regular card envelope, but was cut lengthwise instead.  So when this card is open fully it measures 11" x 4 1/4" (instead of 8 1/2" x 5 1/2").  Either way works but like to change it up.

My two matte layers are Pretty in Pink and Old Olive.  The image was stamped on a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" inch piece of Whisper White cardstock.  After I used my pastels and blender pens to color it in, I cut it into 1" x 3 1/2" pieces and placed them onto my layers.  Victoria Trim was tied onto all of these pieces and then everything was put onto the card base. 

Come back tomorrow to check out some more of my Easter designs.

I used the following to make today's card:
Cardstock:  Crumb Cake #120953, Whisper White #100730, Pretty in Pink #100459, Old Olive #100702
Stamp Set:  Elements of Style #118611 wood 0r #120045, A Good Egg #114974
Ink:  Basic Black #101179, Old Olive #102277
Accessories:  Stampin' Pastels #120962, Blender Pens #102845
Ribbon:  Victoria Crochet Trim #118481

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Baby Bundle

I saw a pretty card by Andrea Munro that used the Scallop Circle Die for her baby card, so after changing things up a bit I borrowed her idea and came up with my own baby girl card.  In Andrea's card she cut up her background into squares, I just left mine one solid sheet and layered it onto another piece of cardstock. 

For today's card I started with Very Vanilla cardstock for the card base, followed by a layer of Early Espresso, and then an embossed layer of Pretty in Pink.  The scallop circle was cut with my Big Shot and the large scallop circle from the Scallop Circle #2 Bigz Die.  The inner circle was punched with the 2 1/2" circle punch.  I stamped the image in the middle, and stamped and cut out the other baby items and placed them randomly over the circles.  Markers were used to color in the images.

For added dimesion to the scallop circle I sponged some Early Espresso ink on the edges.   And, glue dots made it really easy to place the cut images. 

For today's card I used the following:
Cardstock:  Very Vanilla #101650, Early Espresso #119686, Crumb Cak #120953, Pretty in Pink #100459
Stamp Set:  Baby Bundle #118525wood or #120576 clear
Markers:  Blush Blossom #100037, Pretty in Pink #100045, Daffodil Delight #11677, Crumb Cake #120967
Ink:  Early Espesso #119670
Accessories:  Big Shot #113439, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder #117335, Scallop Circle #2 Bigz Die #113469, Glue Dots #103683, Stamping Sponges #101610
Punches:  2 1/2" Circle #120906, Word Window #119857

Friday, March 11, 2011

Happy Thoughts!

Play Date Designer Series Paper was the inspiration for today's card.  One of the sheets has pretty flowers on the one side, and all I did for today's post was cut one of the large flowers out and place it on top of an embossed piece of cardstock. 

I started with a base of Old Olive cardstock and then placed the cut flower on top.  To the center I added a stamped  small flower in So Saffron ink, punched it out and placed it on with a dimensional.  The sentiment is inked with Tempting Turquoise ink. 

Remember - your Designer Series Paper coordinates with the cardstock and ink.  Each package has those colors next to the item # in the catalog.  To help me remember what colors the paper coordinates with I always mark my packages with the color names.

To make today's card I used the following:
Cardstock  Old Olive #100702, Whisper White #100730
Designer Series Paper:  Play Date #117168
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise #100814, So Saffron #105213
Stamp Set:  Apple Blossom #118531 wood or #120139 clear (Hostess Level 2)
Punches:  Scallop Oval #119856, 1/2" Circle 119869
Accessories:  Big Shot #113439, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder #117335. Dimensionals #104430

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Inlaid Embossing Wedding Card

When you place a piece of cardstock or designer paper on top of your card base and then emboss both pieces together, it looks like the two pieces are one. 

Using Very Vanilla cardstock for the card base and a layer of Elegant Soiree Designer Paper which were then embossed with the Elegant Lines embossing folder, all I needed to add to this card to finish it was a Vintage Flower and a small strip or ribbon.  I think this combination makes a really elegant Wedding Card and it was so quick and easy to make.  

If you have your own Big Shot this is such a great technique to try.  The Big Shot was such a great investment and addition to my stamping supplies.  It is something I use in almost all of my cards and projects, and worth the cost for me.  If it is something you have had on your wish list for awhile, now with the Sale-a-bration promotion , this would be a great time to purchase one for yourself.  You would get a great product, and some free products at the same time.  Sale-a-bration runs until the end of March.  Contact me if you have any questions or would like to place an order.  My on-line store is open 24/7 so feel free to browse, shop, and leave any comments too!

The following were used for today's card:
Cardstock:  Very Vanilla #101650
Designer Series Paper:  Elegant Soiree #117163
Ink:  Baja Breeze #111833
Stamp Set:  Occasional Quotes #117048 wood or #120142 clear (Hostess Level 3)
Embellishment:  Vintage Flower Adornment #121879
Ribbon:  Very Vanilla 3/8" Taffeta #109071
Accessories:  Big Shot #113439, Elegant Lines Embossing Folder #119277

Monday, March 7, 2011

Square Punch Birthday Card

Here is another square punch birthday card made with Play Date Designer Series Paper.  In a card I posted a few weeks ago I used the same design and paper pack, but just picked a different pattern of paper and sentiment for the center square.    I like the softness of the papers today.  They are not as bold as the ones I used before.

For today's card I started with a base of Old Olive cardstock, followed by matte layers of Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and So Saffron.  The larger squares are Chocolate Chip and the smaller squares are the DSP.  I put all of these layers together using snail adhesive, and then ran them all through my Big shot using the Square Lattice embossing folder.  I love this inlaid embossing technique.  It really gives your card a great textured, polished look.    The square in the middle and the sentiment on the bottom are the only pieces I did not emboss. 

The following were used for today's post:
Cardstock:  Old Olive #100702, Chocolate Chip #102128, So Saffron #105118, Whisper White #100730
Designer Series Paper:  Play Date #117168
Stamp Set:  Cute by the Inch #116992 wood or #120130 clear (Level 2 Hostess),  Teeny Tiny Wishes #115370
Ink:  Old Olive #102277
Punches:  1 1/4" Square #119865, 1 3/8" Square #119877, Word Window #119857, Modern Label 3119849
Accessories:  Big Shot #113439, Square Lattice Embossing Folder #119976



Thursday, March 3, 2011

Sunny Garden Cards


Original cards design for class
Alternate card designs

Today I am again showing how I turned the original card I offered at my monthly stamp class into two different cards.  The second card uses the same Designer Paper, I just turned it around and used the other side.  Having two designs to choose from on the paper really makes it easy to design a different card.  I also used a different punch on my Poppy Parade strip in the middle, and a new sentiment and ribbon.  The third card uses the same cardstock for the card base and matte layer, but a different piece of DSP from the same Sunny Garden pack for the top layer and the butterflies.  

My Stamping Timesaver:  This is such a great way for me to get a lot of cards made each month, and shows how easy it is to create new cards with very similar materials.  I always try to cut the materials for more than one card at a time.  I find that once I find a design I like it saves time if I cut materials for several cards at once.  When making cards with the leftover materials,  I can just turn the DSP to the other side, add or subtract ribbons, change punches, sentiments, and embellishments, and I find it fun to see how I can create something different with the supplies I precut.  

To make today's cards I used the following:
Cardstock:  Daffodil Delight #119683, Poppy Parade #119793, Whisper White #100730
Designer Series Paper:  Sunny Garden #119831
Ink:  Poppy Parade #119792
Markers:  Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz #119801 - In Color Marker Pack
Ribbon:  Poppy Parade 1/2" Stitched Poly #119263, Daffodil Delight 3/8" Taffeta #119766, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta #109070
Stamp Sets:  Punch Bunch #123250 wood or #123213 clear (Sale-a-Bration), Full of Life #111500, All Holidays #114916, Create a Cupcake #121915 wood or #121982 (Occasions Mini), Just Believe #116948 wood or #120453 clear
Punches:  1 3/4" Scallop Circle #119854, 1 3/8" Circle #119860, Extra Large Oval #119859, Word Window #119857, Eyelet Border #119853, Scallop Trim Border #118402
Accessories:  Big Shot #113439, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die #114507
Embellishment:  Pearls #119247