New Online Training Class and SAB Class

I'm pretty pumped about this.  One main thing I keep forgetting is there are new stampers joining our little craft world everyday and I'm just trying to make the coolest cards I can.  Do I ever take the time to go back to the basics?  Not much. My new club has several new stampers in it and I feel so conflicted.  I don't want to steamroll past the basics for them, but don't want to bore my pros at the same time.  Stampin' Up! is offering a tutorial of the basics.  If you are a new stamper, I highly recommend checking this out.  I'll be watching it and sharing it with my club Thursday night.  We all could use a little reminder :)

Online Stamping Class Now Available February 26, 2013
Our new online stamping class is now available! This class shares innovative ideas to get the most out of your supplies (from stamps to the Big Shot) with clever tips and techniques. Divided into six sections focused on a variety of topics, this class includes videos, step outs, and supply lists for 30+ projects.
Check it out.   Go here and put the code in :)  At $14.95 (item 133385) it's a great value for anyone.

I would be a bad blogger if I didn't share a project with you too :)  Last Friday I had the opportunity to have an AM class with a few great girls!  I'd like to get that group a little bigger.  Morning is so fun and less stressful for me too.  We made 5 cards using almost all the products in the SAB catalog.  Here is the Madison Ave card.

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Friendly Phrases, Madison Ave
Paper: White, Calypso Coral
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral
Tools: small scallop punch
Accessories: calypso coral bakers twine, Pool Party SAB buttons, jumbo rhinestones, dimensionals, glue dots

Scallop Magnetic Bookmarks

I'm not an avid reader.  When I finally find a book I LOVE and can't put down, I think it deserves a pretty bookmark.  My mom taught me to never dog ear the pages of a book.  My downline, Kimmy, made me one and I had to try it myself.  So easy!

Kimmy made the pretty pink one and I chose to try out my print poetry DSP.  I love these new little DSP packs.

Supplies for my bookmark:
Stamp Set:
Paper: Midnight Muse, Lucky Limeade, very vanilla, print poetry dsp
Ink: Midnight Muse
Tools: Big Shot, 2 tags die, scallop punch, 1-1/4 and 1-3/8" circle punches
Accessories: Summer starfruit ribbon and magnets

I scored it almost half way then put on the magnets.

Swarm of Swallowtail

Once again, I rebelled against getting the Swallowtail Stamp for a while.  I was able to just say no to the giant doily, but I couldn't hold out on the butterfly.  I'm not a huge fan of flowers, but I do love me some butterflies and owls.  I had a swallowtail class a few weeks ago and this was my favorite one.

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Swallowtail, Trust God
Paper: Early Espresso, Pool Party, White, early espresso core d'nations paper
Ink: espresso, versamark
Tools: Big Shot, lacy brocade embossing folder, decorative label punch, heat tool, sanding system
Accessories: pool party embossing powder, dimensionals

Don't look too hard for the punch that made that pretty tag at the bottom b/c yours truly created it by mistake.  Here is how I made it.

1.  punch out decorative label punch

 



2.  attach some kind of scrap handle
 

4.  Feed tag back into punch and line up like so

 

5.  This is what you should have now

6.  Then just trim around the edges

 And voila!!  Yea Me!!!

Stationery Gift Set

Here is the last 3D project we made at the event.  The only thing I would change is using cardstock instead of DSP for the main folder.  Kinda flimsy, but very cute in person.  A charming thinking of you gift.

Supplies:

Paper: Tea for Two DSP, Calypso Coral, whisper white

Accessories: crochet ribbon, curly punch, paper doilies, sticky strip,

glue dots, artisan embellishments kit, silver brads

Delicate Designs Folders, Oh Hello Stamp set, lucky limeade ink

Swaps

I didn't make 50 swaps for the event like was recommended.  I am sooooo picky when it comes to cards I like, but I did get a few pity swaps and I liked them a lot.

One of these things is not like the other.

If you watched Sesame Street when you were little, I'm sure you'll remember the spot where they quartered the screen and showed 4 different scenes.  Then they sang, "One of these things is not like the other.  One of these things just doesn't belong."  Ok, well, this post is only related to that first part :)  I got this from Dawn's blog.  She's just great.

Ok, now you'll have to study them for a while.  The technique is called spotlighting for obvious reasons.  Here they are separately.

Here is the video on how to do this technique.

Customer Love

As I've said before, I make make make for people and I love every minute of it, but it is rare for someone to handmake me something.  My customer/friend, Sheri, made this adorable thank you note for me.  It meant a lot to me!  We'll call it a belly band thank you.

Thank you, Sheri!

 

I also got this beautiful valentine from Cindy.  Thanks Cindy for all the cards you send me.  They don't go unappreciated!

 

 

Tri Shutter Album

Ok, I got this beauty delivered to my email this morning.  I wasn't sure I would have time to make it, but I had to share it with you.  It's called a tri shutter album and it is totally cool!  I got it from the blog called I stamped that by Michelle Surette.  Check her out.



I did a search for the directions and people are selling it anywhere from $10-$20.  So, we can all thank Corrie for taking the time to film this tutorial and share it for free!

Sycamore Street

I saw this one in a blog and I just thought, "WOW!"  I hope you are taking advantage of Sale-A-Bration.  I'm enjoying it VERY much!  When I saw it I was trying to figure out what framelit this was even though I knew that's not what it was.  It's just one of the designs from the dsp cut out.  Awesome, huh?

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Fabulous phrases
Ink: Calypso Coral
Paper: Island Indigo, Whisper White
Tools: Big Shot, perfect polka dot embossing folder, jewelry punch, scallop border punch
Accessories: SAB button/ribbon Calypso coral, linen thread, glue dots


CORRECTION!!!  If you wanted the template for the luminary, please go to yesterday's post.  It's on there now :)  Thanks for all your inquiries :)

Tea Light Luminary

The ladies running the event I went to last week really thought out of the box.  This is the vellum luminary we made.  Thank goodness for battery operated tea lights.  Email me if you'd like the templates.  Addition!!! click here for a printable template to make this.

Supplies:
Stamp Set:  Elements of Style
Paper: Early Espresso, Vellum Cardstock
Ink: Crumb Cake
Tools: Big Shot, large scallop die, 2 and 3 inch circles
Accessories: 1-1/4" pink ribbon ???, crochet rosettes, jumbo and basic pearls, sticky strip

Double Easel Card for Drew

I didn't make a card for my daughter this year.  She would rip it up on sight.  My son, however, loves anything that I make for him especially if it does something other than just open :)  My dear friend and stampin' buddy, Maureen, let me case her card.  Look how wonderful she did.

So, I knew Drew wouldn't really like a pink heart so I had to change a few things.

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Amazing Family
Ink: Real Red, versamark ink
Paper: Real Red, Black and White
Tools: Big Shot, heart framelits, stripes embossing folder, chevron embossing folder, Heat tool
Accessories: hung up cute clips, silver embossing powder, neutral buttons, soda pop tops, glue dots, dimensionals


Here is a side view of Maureen's card

Here is a video tutorial on the Double Easel Card.

My husband's Vtine Card

My husband is an aerospace engineer.  His personality is exactly what the career implies :)  So, that means I don't have to come up with some crazy ornate card for his Valentine's Day.

I thought this covered the range of emotions for him :)  I used the occasions piercing pack and the stamp SWAK that I got from the clearance rack recently.  It's just a good stamp to have :)  But tomorrow, I went all out for my son :)

Happy Valentine's Day and tutorial

A few weeks ago I participated in an event at our downtown library.  It was a valentine themed event.  What I didn't realize was I was surrounded by romance novelists.  That was fine except I took my 6 year old son to be my assistant.  As you can imagine, these writers' books were on display at their tables.  When I peeked around, I mostly saw scantily clothed men and women holding each other in a "warm" embrace.  That was the first red flag.  Then each writer went to the microphone to talk about their book.  As soon as I realized what was happening, I quickly went up to the organizer and said, "Is there going to be anything said that my 6 year old shouldn't hear?"  She said no.  Thank goodness.  I was very worried.  I was surrounded by horny middle-aged women.

I was told to demo projects for 2 hours.  I enjoyed that.  I got a lot of cross stitch done on the cute Sweet Threads kit.  I always like to make a special door prize.  This one beats every one I've ever made.  Am I a bad person b/c I was secretly mad that the lady who won my prize doesn't even craft?  I was mad!  Because a crafter deserved this work of art.

Supplies:
Stamp Set: From My Heart, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Primrose Petals Core D'nation paper, White, pool party, More Amore Laser cut DSP (red scallop heart)
Ink: Pool Party, Primrose Petals
Tools: Big Shot, designer rosette die, honeycomb embossing folder, word window punch, 2.5" circle punch
Accessories: tea lace doilies, pool party ruffled ribbon, jumbo rhinestones, SAB pool party ribbon

On this day of love, I just wanted to run out of the room and not give my bag away.  I was too proud.

Correction.  If you wanted the dimensions for the box pleat, please click here.

For my Drew

My son, Drew, is very high maintenance.  The boy never learned how to play by himself.  He just has to be around us and talking non-stop!  He always wants to make projects together b/c I'm a stampin upperer, he calls me.  Once we sit down to craft...it's just a hot mess, but he is so proud of what he makes.  He always asks me to put notes in his lunchbox telling him how much I love him.  So, I'll do one better.  This idea was given to me from my stampin up Gma out in Seattle.  They did this project at their quarterly training meeting.  I decided to make it and will hang in on Drew's door Valentine's morning.  He will be thrilled.  Doesn't matter if it's girly.  If his mama made it for him, he'll feel like a million bucks...and that's how you want your loved ones to feel on Valentine's Day.  I hope you have someone in your life to make beautiful things for.

 Supplies:
Stamp Set: "just for you" from the Pop-up posies designer kit, en francais background stamp
Paper: Tea for Two DSP, very vanilla, soft suede
Ink: espresso marker, soft suede ink
Tools: boho blossoms punch, big shot, alphabet dies
Accessories: natural ribbon, glue dots, sponge dauber, basic pearls, 1/8" vanilla ribbon
everything else comes all together in the Pop-Up Posies kit

 

 

Cute Valentine Happy

Here is a take at the matchbox fold card.  Again, I didn't write down the dimensions, but it's pretty easy to figure out.

Supplies
Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Primrose Petals, White, Pool Party, More Amore DSP
Tools: Big Shot, Heart a Flutter framelits, heart framelits, simply scored tool
Ink: Primrose Petals
Accessories: primrose petals ribbon, dimensionals, sponge dauber

Spring Charger Plate

This was an unusual project that I altered a little bit to suit my taste.  Great idea though.

Supplies:
Paper: Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade, sprinkles and showers DSP?
Words: printed from My Digital Studio
Tools: petal punch, 1/2" circle punch, large and small butterfly punch
Accessories: plastic charger plate, KIT?, glue dots, sticky strip

Sale-A-Brate in the AM

Announcing my Sale-A-Bration in the morning class!

Friday Feb 22nd 9:30 AM

I have several customers who for different reasons can't make it to evening classes.  I was supposed to be teaching 3D papercrafting through the university this winter, but I didn't have enough interest.  So...that leaves my Fridays open for a few weeks.  Thus....a morning class!  I have used every product in the Sale-a-bration catalog except vintage verses.  So, if you need some help deciding which product(s) you'd like to get over the next month, come use them all.  If you didn't get the evite, please let me know if you'd like to join us.

This class is 5 cards for $15 and $10 more for an extra set.  With a $50 order, you will get the class for free and a free set from the SAB catalog.

Please bring adhesive and scissors.

RSVP: Feb 13th at noon.

Please bring your friends.

Oh Goodbye

Well, enough of the Oh Hello this week.  Here is the last card we made with this set last weekend.

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Oh Hello
Paper: Crumb Cake, Tea Time DSP, Early Espresso, vanilla
Ink: So Saffron, Early Espresso
Tools: Big Shot, embossing folder, large scallop punch, 1-3/4" circle punch
Accessories: crochet rosettes, thread

Oh Hello

This set was one of the last ones on my list from the spring catalog.  I am so happy I have it now, b/c it makes such beautiful antique cards.  Here's just one more reason I love this set.  I have done something similar to this folded strip, but this one is a box pleat.  I didn't think to write down the dimensions for the simply scored, but I'll try to find out.

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Oh Hello
Paper: Lucky Limeade, white, tea time DSP
Ink: Lucky Limeade, calypso coral
Tools: brocade embossing folder, labels framelits, big shot, simply scored tool, scallop border punch
Accessories: crochet ribbon, sticky strip, dimensionals

Correction: Here are the directions for the box pleat provided by my lovely downline, Stephanie.  Visit her sometime :)  Go here.

Here is what she shared.

I enjoyed learning to make a box pleat for the strip of scalloped DSP at the bottom.  I started with a 1 1/2″ x 8 1/4″ piece of DSP and first punched along the bottom edge with the scalloped edge border punch, then scored vertical lines for the folds that form the pleat.
Score at: 1/2″, 3/4″, 1 1/2″, 1 3/4″, 2 1/2″, 2 3/4″, 3 1/2″, 3 3/4″, 4 1/2″, 4 3/4″, 5 1/2″, 5 3/4″, 6 1/2″, 6 3/4″, 7 1/2″, 7 3/4″.
Once I had the DSP folded along the pleats as desired, I adhered it to the front of the 4 1/4″ wide card using Sticky Strip (Snail adhesive is great for adhering flat pieces of cardstock together, but sometimes you need an extra-strong adhesive when you are adhering something on embossed cardstock).  I just used a few glue dots to stick the piece of crochet trim on top.

More Oh Hello

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Oh Hello
Paper: White, Crumb Cake, Tea Time DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Calypso coral marker
Tools: Big Shot, embossing folder, mini butterfly punch
Accessories: crochet rosettes, burlap ribbon

Oh Hello Again

Here is another card we made last weekend.

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Oh Hello
Paper: White, calypso coral, pool party
Tools: Big Shot, square lattice embossing folder, dotted scallop ribbon border punch, one of the other new embossing folders
Accessories: doily, pool party ruffled ribbon

Fun Stamp Day

I had the privilege to hang out with some of my downline and other local demonstrators Saturday.  It was an all day stamping event and let me tell you.  That is the fastest 7 hours I have experienced in a long time.  I had such a wonderful time with friends and used new products that I would have otherwise not purchased.  The set we got as part of our fee was the Oh, Hello Set.  I was very impressed with the cards they came up with and I'll share those with you over the next couple of days.

 

This card is called a Z fold.  I've seen them for years, but never made one quite like this.  It's very easy.  Just fold your card like you have always done, but then fold the front of the card back on itself.  Very pretty!



 

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Oh, Hello

Ink: So Saffron

Paper: Bashful Blue, White, Tea Time DSP

Tools: Big Shot, oval framelits

Accessories: antique brads, vanilla seam binding, crochet rosettes, doilies

 

Here is a better view.

 

 

Valentine Hearts

Ok, maybe you've read about how much I adore Brian King.  His blog is stampwithbrian.com.  He is a downline of Mary Fish.  He just started a few months ago, but man, he is going gang busters and is very creative and funny.  This card came from his blog.  You should check it out!

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Itty Bitty Banners
Paper: Black, White, basic gray, melon mambo
Ink: Melon Mambo
Tools: Big Shot, heart framelits, heart embossing folder, bitty banner framelits
Accessories: dimensionals

I love the use of negative space in this card.

Honeycomb Galore

I got this lovely idea from Mary Fish.  I just love her stuff.

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Perfectly Penned
Paper: White, Summer Starfruit, Print Poetry DSP
Ink: Midnight Muse
Tools: Big Shot, honeycomb embossing folder
Accessories: Midnight Muse ribbon

Here is a quick video on how she did the hexagons.  Why SU! didn't include a hexagon punch, I'll never understand.  Hopefully in the new catalog.

New Product Release

 

I tell ya what.  SU! is on a role.  I wish they turned 25 every year.  Here is yet another new product.  It's called Sent with Love.  It's available Feb 1st - April 30th.

 

Item	Description	Price
131847	Sent with Love Stamp Set (clear-mount; English only)	$17.95
132182	Sent with Love Designer Series Paper	$10.95
132851	Pretty Bundle Includes the Sent with Love Stamp Set, Sent with Love Designer Series Paper, and Calypso Coral Baker's Twine	$25.50 20% off retail value!

The Sent with Love Stamp Set and Sent with Love Designer Series Paper are only available during this special offer. After April 30, they'll both fly away!
In addition, you may purchase the Sent with Love Digital Kit (item 132914; $9.95). Please note that the digital kit is not included in the bundle.