Friday, August 29, 2014

August Stamp Club

Today I am excited to share with you are projects from Stamp Club last night. Our monthly club is finally getting started back up again for the first time since we moved. I am so excited to catch up with old friends and get to know a new one. And I had so much fun planning our projects. Since the last time I ran our Stamp Club, Stampin' Up! has added some amazing products to the catalog that we will be using for our 3-D projects. The great thing about that is that everything we make is easy to then take home and make more on your own and even change it up as you see fit. I started out with gift card holders because now that my kids are back in school I am already thinking of teacher gifts and thank-yous for all the help I get with my kids. The 3-D project uses the Gift Card Enclosure Pack. We also made a coordinating card using the Scallop Tag Topper Punch.

Supplies Used: Gift Card Enclosure Pack, Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper, Crisp Cantaloupe & Whisper White card stock, Pool Party & Basic Black Ink, Chalk Talk & Oh Hello stamp sets, Big Shot, Chalk Talk Framelits, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Sticky Strip, Pool Party ½” Seam Binding ribbon, Whisper White Baker’s Twine, Clothespins, Basic Pearls, 1 3/8” Circle Punch, Artisan Label Punch

1.       Run each flap of the gift card enclosure through the Big Shot using the embossing folder. Double check the direction so the embossed image goes the direction you wish.
2.       Stamp your sentiments. Punch the, “For You” sentiment using the circle punch. Layer it on the Crisp Cantaloupe card stock that’s been punched with the Artisan Label punch. Run the, “Thanks so much” sentiment through the Big Shot using the coordinating framelits from the Chalk Talk framelit set.
3.       Tie ribbon on inside sentiment and adhere. Be sure to locate slots for gift card so you don’t cover them up.
4.       Wrap band of DSP around the closed gift card enclosure and adhere ends using Sticky Strip. Make sure it’s loose enough to slide off the gift card enclosure.
5.       Add sentiment to belly band using Sticky Strip. Tie Baker’s Twine on clothespin and add to belly band along with a Basic Pearl.


Supplies Used: Crisp Cantaloupe Ink, Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper, Sahara Sand, Whisper White & Crisp Cantaloupe card stock, Sassy Salutations, Happy Watercolor & Chalk Talk stamp sets, ½” Seam Binding Ribbon, Scalloped Tag Topper punch, Dimensionals, Big Shot, Chalk Talk Framelits, Stampin’ Up! Trimmer

1.       Using the trimmer, with the short side of your card base at the top, put a mark one inch in from the right side. Line this mark up with the edge of the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch and slide the paper all the way to the back of the punch. You will have to work it back past the guides for making bookmarks. Punch the card base and flip it around to punch the other side. You can either put the mark on the back of the card base and line it up again with the right side of the punch or just rotate the paper and line the mark up with the left side of the punch. Repeat punching technique.
2.       Trim off excess card stock. Score one punched flap. From the edge with the scored flap, measure 4 ¼” and score to create the fold of the card.
3.       Stamp your images. Cut sentiment using Chalk Talk Framelits.
4.       Adhere layers of paper together and tie card closed with seam binding ribbon.


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Terrific Tips Tuesday

Today's tip is a simple one, but it was a good reminder for me. I have been busy trying to get caught up on my kids' scrapbooks. I was working on a page that didn't have a lot of room for an embellishment because it was an award certificate. But it needed something. Since it was my daughter's scrapbook I could get away with flowers (for the boys, I tend to work more with the star punches and dies that I have). Tip #1: I picked colors that were in the award so there was some cohesiveness. Tip #2 Layer! Stampin' Up! has so many options with their punches. Many of them have coordinating punches that make it easy to layer to add depth and color. Tip #2 Add some detail. Here, I used Basic Pearls. They were the perfect touch.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Flashback Friday

Today's flashback card takes us back to Stamp Camp in June 2012. We used one of my favorite stamp sets, The Open Sea. This set is great not only for making masculine cards, but also beach or travel themed and it also lends itself to an aged look. I even used it this week when I was scrapbooking our beach vacation!

This first card uses one of my absolute favorite stamp sets, The Open Sea. It was in the 2011 Summer Mini Catalog and it seemed like it retired. However, Stampin' Up! gave us a notification that even though it didn't show up in the Idea Book & Catalog last year that it was still available. And to my joy it will be in the new catalog starting June 1st. Check it out on page 104. (Clear Mounted #123032 $18.95, Wood Mounted #123030 $26.95) I especially love this set because it makes a great masculine card. And, let's face it, those can be hard to come by. It's great by itself but this time I paired it with Word Play, a fun "sentiments" set with creatively designed phrases like "You mean the world to me", "Wish Big" and "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams".  When paired  with the ship image from The Open Sea you can send a fun, cheeky message to a graduate, a father, or a birthday celebrant. 
Stamp Sets:
The Open Sea
Word Play

Paper:
Not Quite Navy
Pool Party
Riding Hood Red
Whisper White

Ink:
Not Quite Navy
Crumb Cake
Pool Party

Accessories:
Riding Hood Red Ribbon (retired)
Big Shot
Houndstooth Embossing Folder
Scallop Squares Duo Die

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Terrific Tips Tuesday

Hello, Friends! Today's tip is short and sweet! I'm getting my kids ready for their first day of school and I could use some simple right about now, how about you? This tip is as simple as tap, tap, tap! That's all it takes to get your stamp perfectly inky and ready to stamp with. Just tap, tap, tap! You don't need to rub or mash your stamp into the ink pad. In fact, doing so may ruin your ink pad or get ink where you don't want it which could ruin your image when you stamp. Make sure your ink pad has just the right about of ink in it - too much and your image could bleed or blur and too little and you'll be seeing spots. Of ink, that is. But not a crisp, pretty image. You'll save your wrists, too, with just a tap, tap tap. Give it a try today!

Friday, August 15, 2014

Flashback Friday

Today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite cards. I love the stamp set, retired hostess set Faith in Nature, I love the colors and I love the layout. Even if you don't have this stamp set, I think this is a great card to CASE (copy and share everything). Make it your own! Pick your favorite thing about the card - the layout, the colors - and make it your own!


With the launch of the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog, Stampin'! Up launched a new Hostess program. I think it is much more favorable for the hostess, allowing her to be more flexible with the Hostess Dollars she earns through hosting a workshop and also has the added incentive of half-price items with qualifying shows. Now is the time to host a workshop if you have ever considered it before! So to that end, I just had to highlight this amazing Hostess set, Faith in Nature. It is only available with the Hostess Dollars earned through a workshop. Grab an Idea Book and Catalog and check it out along with the other beautiful Hostess sets today!

Stamp Sets:
Faith in Nature

Paper:
Rich Razzleberry
Pear Pizzazz
Baja Breeze
Pocketful of Posies DSP
Naturals White

Ink:
Pear Pizzazz
Early Espresso

Accessories:
Blender Pen or Sponge Daubers
Lace Border Punch
Sponge

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Terrific Tips Tuesday

Hello, creative friends! This week I've been working hard at getting caught up on my scrapbooking. I am so excited about Stampin' Up!'s new partnership with Project Life and I've been digging into my new Project Life goodies. It's been really helping me fly through the pages from our vacation, which can get tedious when you have 3 kids, 3 scrapbooks and about a thousand pictures. ;) But the best part has been having the ability to pair Stampin' Up!'s traditional 12x12 page protectors with the Project Life pocket pages. I don't have to commit to either way of scrapbooking - and neither do you! That's my tip, today. If you have been on the fence about Project Life, the best thing about trying it is it doesn't have to be a full-on commitment. It's great when you are in a hurry, don't have much time or have a ton of pictures you are trying to wade your way through. It's also fun just to try something new creatively. Check it out today!

Project Life 2

12" X 12" Page Protectors by Stampin' Up!

Variety Pack 12" x 12" Project Life Photo Pocket Pages

Friday, August 8, 2014

Flashback Friday

Here is one of my favorite sets of Stamp Club projects from a couple years ago:

I have said it before and I'll say it again: I just love my Stamp Club! The women in it have become true friends and first and foremost I look forward to catching up with them each month. I also LOVE the projects we get to try at our Club meetings. This month is no different. Both of these ideas I have recently found while searching the internet for card ideas. I never have to go far, though, because Stampin' Up and its demonstrators are so great at sharing new and wonderful ideas.

The first project I found on our demonstrator web site where demonstrators can share their ideas. For instructions, you can follow this link.
I thought this would be a neat project since it seems we are still in the cold and flu season and I thought tea and cookies would go nicely with a "get well" card.
Stampin' Up! itself recently shared a video with demonstrators on how to make an easel card. I wanted to share this project with my Club as well, so I created this "get well" card. The how-to video for easel cards can be found on YouTube HERE.



When I was practicing the easel card, I came up with this bright little card that I'm hoping some birthday girl soon will enjoy when she opens her mail. :)

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Terrific Tips Tuesday

Today's tip is an exciting one about a new promotion from Stampin' Up! If you love the Big Shot like I do, or if you haven't made the leap into Big Shot territory yet, this is for you! 


Now during the month of August if you purchase a Big Shot you will receive one of five FREE stamp set/framelits bundles of your choice.

If you already own the Big Shot, there's something for you, too! You can choose one of the five stamp set/framelits bundles for 15% off. 

This is a great deal no matter how you look at it, so don't miss out! 

You can see the flyer with bundle information HERE, or browse online HERE.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Flashback Friday

Today we are flashing back to one of my favorite cards. While many of the products used are retired, I hope you find some inspiration!

Hello again! You know how some people dream in color and vivid detail. Yeah, that's me. So, this is a card that came straight from my dreams. Don't ask me to explain it. I see the world in living color and I am in love with it. I think that's why I like creating cards so much. I love playing with the colors and designs and getting them to all work together in harmony (admittedly, some better than others). Much of  this is in the eye of the beholder and I am well aware of that. Some of the cards I love the least are the ones others like the most and vice versa.  I love the simplicity and yet the detail to this card. I hope you do, too! (Oh, and don't miss my crazy love of gray and yellow together, either. And green. I love green. And, well you get the idea.)


Stamp Set:
Whimsical Words

Paper:
Wild Wasabi
So Saffron
Basic Gray

Ink:
Basic Gray

Accessories:
Fancy Flower Punch
1 3/4" Circle Punch
Lattice Embossing Folder
Lattice Trellis Die
Big Shot