Last Weekend of August

Hello my friends.  Yes, I have been away for a little while.  Trying to squeeze as much summer as I can before the girls head to school.  We didn't do anything for the month of July so we're pushing everything in right now! It's a crazy pace so I apologize for not blogging sooner.

Just a friendly reminder that my September classes will be starting soon.  If there's one that you really want to attend, it's not too late to contact me.  I'm looking forward to meeting all of you in a more intimate setting. 

I made this card a week ago but didn't put it on my blog.  Not because I didn't like it.  It is a very basic and simple card that I wanted to keep for moments like these when I wanted to showcase something fast and easy.  I used Peach Parfait (love that name) cardstock and ink.  The sentiment was stamped with a stamp from the stamp set "Word Play" (page 156) and the key image is from the gorgous stamp set "Established Elegance" (page 130).  I then used some brads (page 199) that seemed to match the paper perfectly.  The ribbon was actually a small piece of scrap that I found in my basket of odds and ends (but still from Stampin' Up) which just goes to show you - keep everything! You never know when you're going to need that little piece of paper, ribbon, etc.

Enjoy the weekend!

DSP - Sketches

Hello my friends.

For something a little different...I decided to use a sketch that I found in one of those cardmaking magazines.  A sketch? Simply put, someone has thought of the design for a card and you follow it in how you want your card to look like.  It kind of takes the guess work out of it.  For the times that you are just brain dead and today, I am.  You can always follow someone else's or you can make a sketch  for yourself before committing to gluing pieces of cardstock together. 

Here's what I came up with:  I used a piece of Domestic Goodness Designer Series Paper (page 52) and a 1 1/4" Circle Punch (page 112) .  I scattered the circles on a Barely Banana piece of cardstock as the base.  I put that piece of Barely Banana through the Big Shot (page 215) with a embossing folder called Perfect Polka Dots (page 219) I then used a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock to stamp my sentiment which came from a mini catalogue last year that unfortunately, is not available anymore.  But I still love it.

It was an easy card to put together - mainly because I didn't have to design it.  I just followed the sketch and used what is some pretty awesome Designer Series Paper.  Cardmaking shouldn't be creating the wheel...you're still creating but getting a hand in the process.

Can't Stop Distressing!!

Hello my friends.

Today I thought I would talk to you a little about a technique called "distressing".  You know when you hold an old letter in your hands, and it's faded, crumpled, off-colour or even torn? It looks like it has its own story to tell.  That is what distressing is like.  You can make your projects look old and faded.  In the design world, it's also called Shabby Chic.  I call it PRECIOUS.

Now, Stampin' Up has their own kit for making distressed projects (page 303) which is definitely on my wish list.  I mean, it's the SERIOUS way of distressing because it comes with a sanding block, an emery board and some other tools to make it more authentic.  But I wanted to see first, if I would like the look before I commit to a kit.  This is what I did.

I used Pool Party as the cardbase, Wisteria Wonder as the layer on top of that and then Pear Pizzazz as the main cardstock on top.  I put that piece through the Big Shot with a Lattice embossed folder and then stamped with the "Love & Sympathy" stamp set which I think is essential to have on hand for those moments that come unexpectedly.  It's always a good idea to have a card on hand for those kind of times.  I embellished with a piece of Chantily Crochet Trim (page 194) and antique brads (page 198) that bring the whole Shabby Chic look come together.  I torn the edges a bit and worked on the fibers of the paper by using a pair of scissors along the sides to give it a more worn look.  I like it.  I like it a lot.  But I didn't stop there.

There's a wonderful stamp set in the new catalogue on page 130 called "Established Elegance" and it's perfect for using with this technique.  Here's what I did:

This stamp set includes 10 old fashioned stamps that are really cool to work with.  As you can see, I distressed everything, the cardbase (Concord Crush), the second layer (Pool Party) and the small piece of Designer Series Paper (from the Timeless Portrait collection page 78).  I embellished with a piece of linen thread (page 194) and an antique brad.

Yeah, I think I'll invest in the kit.  I love, love, love this look! What do you think??????

My apologies

Hello my friends....

You must have been confused about yesterday's post and then there was no video.  I spent a whole day trying to upload it and turns out that it was too large to post.  Sigh. 

Back to regular blogging.  Which is fine.  After all..it's Try It! Thursday.

Stay tuned...

Big Shot - Versatile Wednesday

Hello my friends.  It's Wednesday and we're nearly at the end of the week.  Hope it's been a good one for you so far.

I wanted to do something a little different today.  I actually did a video...not sure if you will understand it since I'm jumping all over the place.  I did have a outline/script of what I wanted to say but since I was at a disadvantage of doing the video with one hand, there was a lot of ad libbing because I lost my place several times.  So, it might seem a little hurried, fuzzy and repetitive.  In advance, I apologize but  bear in mind that this is my very first video.  We'll see how this goes...if I should hang up my movie star/directing ambitions or not.  I'm thinking I should just nip it in the bud LOL.  Or get an assistant but my 7 1/2 year old was in bed....

The topic for today is the Big Shot...if you need any clarifications or if you have questions, please let me know! As I said in the video, it works with cardstock (paper), chipboard, fabric (great for making quilts), cork sheets (like the material you see used to make bullentin boards), magnet sheets (for magnets!) and sheets of wood.  All of these materials can be purchased from Stampin' Up.  Its truly a versatile tool and an awesome investment (it's cheaper than most industry die cutting machines so please don't be turned off because of the price) - it will last you for a very long time.  It will never go out of style.  It's simple to use and there are no batteries to worry about or having to figure out where to plug it in because it's all manual. 

If you want to see how you can create more projects with it, I'll be happy to show it in a future video.

Thanks for reading and this time, for seeing!

Young Vermillion - Ta Da! Tuesday

Hello my friends.  I'm not sure if this is so much a Ta Da! as it is:  here's one stamp that you CAN invest in.

If you're new to the stamping world or you're trying to get your feet wet in cardmaking and don't want to commit to an entire stamp set, you can purchase single stamps from the "a la carte" section of the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalogue.  The stamp that I purchased is found on page 20 and it's called "Young Vermillion".  These single stamps are great for just trying your hand at stamping or even just to add to your collection of pretty stamps to use on a daily basis.   I think this is going to be one of my favourites.  It's stunning.

Here is what I did with it:

Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Cardstock:  Melon Mambo as the cardbase, Very Vanilla cardstock for stamped image, background paper is from the Brights Collection Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (page 186)
Accessories:  Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon, beveled windowpane (page 198), and scallop trim border (page 211)

I know exactly who I'm sending this card to, someone who is recovering from surgery.  I think it will brighten her day to get something like this in the mail.  I know it would if it was me!

Last Two Weeks of Mini Catalogue!

Good morning and happy Monday!

Just wanted to remind everyone that the Summer Mini is good until the END OF AUGUST.  Any items that you absolutely love, you should get now because I don't think you can get them again.  So because of that, I just HAD to make a card using "The Open Sea" stamp set and the "Nautical Expedition" Designer Series Paper (DSP).  An excellent stamp set to invest in especially if you want to do a lot of masculine cards but I think it's a great set for any occasion.  Here is what I came up with.

I used Basic Black cardstock as the base and then just layered pieces of the Nautical Expedition DSP.  I really distressed the edges by using a pair of scissors to grunge it up a bit.  I then used some baker's twine (page 194 in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalogue) to add some dimension and a star brad (retired but I think you can purchase it on the Clearance Rack).  With the image of the ship, I heat embossed it using silver embossing powder (page 201) which I decided last minute to do and I'm happy with the results.

Don't let this stamp set go by without ordering it!!

Scrapbook Saturday

Hello my friends.

On Saturday, I dug up some pictures of a religious event that happened earlier this year but I haven't had the chance to put it in a scrapbook layout.  So I decided to do one and this is what I came up with.

I used some Designer Series Paper that I had on hand and just never used.  I also used chipboard hearts and letters (that you can dye, stamp, colour) and inked them in Peach Parfait.  I also used a small piece of Peach Parfait cardstock to put a little journalling for two pictures that I wanted to signify the significance to:  one, that Jaida was really sick that night and two, this was the first time I did Gillian's hair and I was really proud of it.   I have to work on putting more on the page but I really like the clean, streamlined look.

Scrapbooking always puts me in the cycle of creating more because I enjoy it so much.  I really don't do it enough.  What have you scrapbooked today?

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt

Hello my friends and anyone new that I might have attracted to my blog! Welcome.

Tonight, in preparation for showcasing something for my blog, I decided to flip through some articles in the Stampin' Success magazine that demonstrators get each month.  It has ideas for projects, celebrates creativity, has experiences from people of all walks of life, and helps demonstrators like me to set goals and reach them.  This month has been sort of a milestone month for me because I have set some goals with my good friend Anne and I have been reaching them.  Like the quote from Theodore Roosevelt says, we have to first, believe that we can.  And I really believe that I have found the job that I've been looking for in Stampin' Up.  Remember when you were 16 years old and you had to figure out what you wanted to do with the rest of your life? Well, that was me only up to recently! Sometimes, we try different things to see how and if we like it.  I've tried everything you can possibly imagine.  I even tried to set up my own photography business.  But nothing seemed to motivate me more than what I do with Stampin' Up.  I've never thought of myself as a creative person.  I love scrapbooking but that's more for me than for anything else.  And hey, I know I'm not saving the world or making a difference with my stamp pads and stamp sets.  But I am hopefully, brightening up someone's day when they get their mail and they see something homemade just for them.  Or a person comes to one of my classes and learns something that they once thought was impossible.  That's what I like.  That's what keeps me going and what keeps me motivated.

There are so many good things in store for the next few months.  I hope to share it with you all as well as the excitement and enthusiasm that playing with bits of paper can bring.  Just believe that you can and you're halfway there!

September Classes - Come on Out!

Hello my friends!

Yes, I'm still going to do Try It Thursday but I wanted to post the dates of some the classes that I will be offering for the month of September.  If you are interested in attending any of them, please let me know so I can order the supplies needed to complete the class.  I am so excited because a lot of the products that we will be using is from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue.

Saturday, September 3 - 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Button Buddies class based on the stamp set "Button Buddies"
Set of 3 x 3 cards (8 in total)
If you bring a friend, you will get a FREE set of buttons that are also needed for the class - a $10.95 value!
Class cost:  $35.00

Friday, September 9 - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Girls Night In
Come join me for an "all girls" night with coffee, snacks and cardmaking.  Learn a technique and bring home a finished product OR the stamp set that is being used that night.  "Under the Big top" is the stamp set that is being featured.
If you bring a friend, you get a special gift from me to say thanks!
Class cost:  $35.00 OR class is free if you purchase the stamp set from me ahead of time

Saturday, September 17 - 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Chicks and Chocolate
Did I get you at "chocolate"? Come to a chocolate themed class that features the "Up, Up & Away" stamp set.  Nobody is going home until the last piece of chocolate is gone!
If you bring a friend, you will get a special gift from me to say thanks!
Class cost:  $35.00 OR class is free if you purchase the stamp set from me ahead of time

Friday, September 23 - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Learn a Technique Class
Impress your friends and family with techniques that will make your card projects awesome!
Embossing, Faux Silk and Watercolouring will be featured
If you bring a friend, you will get a free gift from me to say thanks!
Class cost:  $30.00

I really hope that one of these classes catches your attention and that you'll want to come out and have some fun playing with me! It's always nice to get something homemade in the mail and it's always fun to send it.

Let me know what times and days work for you and we'll get started on this journey together.  Thanks for reading this blog and making my journey with Stampin' Up a rewarding one!

Stampin' Up Beveled Windowpanes - Ta Da! Tuesday

Hello my friends!

In thinking of what to amaze and inspire you with today, I looked around and found a package of these beveled windowpanes that I had purchased and then did nothing with.  Well, I tore open the package and decided that today was the day!

You can find these beveled windowpanes in the new 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue on page 198.  They come in three sizes.

I chose the middle one to "experiment" with.  These come in a package of 12 and the purpose of these little acrylic frames is either to highlight a stamped image or to layer it with Designer Series Paper.  I decided to do a stamped image.  I used the tea bag stamp and the sentiment from the "Morning Cup" stamp set (page 54) and I used the standard stamp wheel called "Take a Sip" (page 54 as well). I used a piece of retired ribbon (Kiwi Kiss) to finish it off.  I used Peach Parfait cardstock as the cardbase and Pear Pizzazz cardstock that I put through the Big Shot (page 215) with a Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder to give it some texture.

I really like the look that these little windowpanes give a project.  I think I will be using them more often not only on cards but scrapbook pages as well.  It just gives it a more unique look.  Give them a try! Let me know when I can order them for you.....

Under the Big Top Stamp Set

Happy Monday!

Remember that card I did yesterday using the Big Top Birthday Designer Series Paper? Well, there is a really CUTE stamp set that goes with it perfectly.  It's found on page 63 of the Idea Book and Catalogue and it's called Under the Big Top.  As you can imagine, it is a circus theme that will fit any occasion yet still keeping true to being fun and adorable.  I think this stamp set will be one of my favourites.

I made this card today using Poppy Parade cardstock, the Big Top Birthday DSP and a stamp from the set.  I embellished with a piece of Cherry Cobbler/Early Espresso baker's twine.  I really like how it turned out.  The design of the card is simple and probably a repeat from most of the cards I've done so far but I just wanted to showcase the product instead of a technique. 

If you are interested in ordering the stamp set or the Designer Series Paper that coordinates with it, let me know and I can place an order for you.  Remember, this month's promotion is if you buy three packages of DSP of any theme, you get the 4th one free.  It's definitely a good deal to stock up on.

Stay tuned for upcoming classes that I will be holding in September.  I'm really excited about them! And I'll have an awesome incentive if you choose to bring a friend! I'll post them soon, I promise!

Big Top Birthday DSP - Scrapbook Saturday

I purchased some great designer series paper called "Big Top Birthday" that is full of colour and fun.  I have the coordinating stamp set "Under the Big Top" (page 63) that I will showcase tomorrow.  Really, I LOVE this paper.  And I used an alphabet stamp set which I think is one of the important things to get.  It makes scrapbook pages more easier to put together.  It can really make the title stand out.

I wanted to scrapbook about our family going to the fair and no better paper would make this a more fun scrapbook page.  As I have mentioned before, all Stampin' Up designer series paper is two sided so you can do so much with a package. 

I kept the embellishments simple - a brad and some buttons.  With colourful paper like this, you don't want to clutter your layout with too much "stuff".  I made the title banner out of Island Indigo cardstock (love, love, love this colour) and attached it on...a toothpick.  But you wouldn't have known that unless I told you so that's our little secret...shhh.

I hope you like this layout.  It came together fast but also captured a fun moment that our family shared together which is what scrapbooking is all about. 

Try It Thursday - Belated naturally

One of these days, I'll get myself on track.  I know I'm a day late with this post but I hope it was worth the wait.

As a Stampin' Up demonstrator, we get monthly magazines that showcase different products and techniques that we can use to inspire and share.  One of the ideas that I found in the July 2011 issue that I really liked is this one. It's called a Matchbook Album.  And it's super easy.  The premise is one piece of cardstock (in this case, I used Concord Crush) and simply folded it twice, one side longer than the other so that it resembles a matchbook.  I used an embossing folder with my Big Shot to give the cardstock some texture and to make it look a little bit more than a piece of cardstock.  I stamped the definition of gratitude from a retired stamp set and the profile pictures of the little girls come from the new stamp set called Forever Young (page 79).  I used some Melon Mambo pom pom ribbon for the edge.

Because of how small the final product is, I didn't want to stuff it full of pictures.  This is the kind of album you should be able to carry around in your purse or bag if you want to show friends and family the latest picture of your little one or family.  So I chose only 3 pictures that I matted on Wisteria Wonder cardstock which I embellished with ribbon on the sides.  I chose to keep the embellishments to a minimum so it wouldn't be bulky.

I really liked how the final product turned out.  I was able to slip it into an envelope so the album would be able to withstand the chaos of my purse.  The next time you see me, ask to see it so I can show you what it looks like.

Happy Friday!

Ta Da! Tuesday - A Day Behind Schedule

Hi everyone.  Sorry for the belated post.  I was working on this card all evening because it used a special technique that I found on Splitcoast Stampers which is a website devoted to stamping and cardmaking.  The technique that was used on my card is called Paper Beads.

First, I used some of the beautiful Timeless Portrait Designer Series Paper (page 78 in the new Idea Book and Catalogue $13.50 for 12 sheets of double-sided paper) not only as the background but also as the paper beads that were easily made of small strips of the same paper, only the reverse side.  I like the way it turned out but I can tell that if I had to mail it to someone, it will be a little bulky and so I would want to put it in a padded envelope just so that the paper beads don't get wrecked in the mail.  The one thing that I would change? I wouldn't have put the glitter on the paper beads.  I felt it looked a little clumpy yet it seems to make them stand out which is a good thing too.  I guess I'll have to iron that technique out a little more! Hey, WE'RE all learning.  That's the fun part.

The sentiment is from the Word Play stamp set which is a great stamp set for any occasion (page 156 in the Idea Book & Catalogue) that might come along.  Definitely my go-to stamp set when I need something specific to say.  The twine used on the card is my favourite baker's twine that I finally have in the 3 colours it comes in:  Cherry Cobbler/White, Early Espresso/White and White.  It's a simple yet delicious touch (as the names imply!).

I will be also sitting down this week to plan for some cardmaking classes coming up in September.  I hope you will join me in having some fun for an evening of learning techniques, using great products, and just have an evening where you don't have to do anything but play with paper.  So watch out for that exciting news coming soon.   If you're interested in getting the new 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalogue, please drop me a line and I'll get it out to you as soon as possible.  And one more thing...Stampin' Up has a new promotion this month that if you buy three packs of any Designer Series Paper, you will get the fourth pack free! You can go to the website to see what they all look like or you can refer to the catalogue itself on pages183-185.  It's a great deal and it's really beautiful double-sided paper which gives you more bang for the buck.  If you would like to take advantage of this promotion, just contact me and you will also get a free gift from me to say thanks.  It's a win-win situation so give me a call or  e-mail me!

Holiday Monday - Timeless Treasures

Happy Holiday Monday! This holiday snuck up on me...didn't even know it was coming! But it was a perfect day to do a little bit of  cardmaking.  Today, I used one of my favourite stamp sets called Timeless Treasures (item #118748 $25.95 for wood and item #120615 $19.95 for clear).   I wanted to use the colour combination that I used on my scrapbook page on Saturday:  Lucky Limeade, Elegant Eggplant and Wisteria Wonder. 

I don't know who I'm going to send it off to yet but I hope whoever it is, they'll like it.  Because the sentiment is definitely true.

Tomorrow is Ta Da! Tuesday and I have what I hope, is a real Ta Da! I saw it on a website and thought "that is so cool!".  Well, let's see if it works out! See you tomorrow.