Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Embossing Dem Cards - Video - 101 Class

Oh yeah!  It's Wednesday! I've got a video for you . . .
What a couple of adorable cards!  And so easy, too.  Just love those embossing folders.

So get out there and create somethin' today, okay?

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Did you know?  Shopping is quick and super easy at my online store.

Thanks for stopping by today ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Wood-Mount Stamps v. Clear-Mount Stamps


Last week, I had a brand new stamper ask me, "Why Clear-Mount Stamps?"  "What's the big deal, and what the difference between clear mount and wood?"

That got me thinking.  To be honest, I like to buy both.  I like that I always have a block available when I have a wood-mounted stamp on hand.  And in the past, the clear stamps weren't always so great for stamping.  Well, not wanting to sacrifice quality to join the clear-mount craze, Stampin' Up! worked hard to resolve issues that had plagued unmounted stamps. Their  clear-mount option is using the same great rubber for their stamps customers have come to rely on. No quality was sacrificed. So no matter which you decide to get, you'll still get the same crisp images and excellence stamps.

So what are the differences and the advantages for you?

Clear acrylic blocks allow you to see where your image is going. The stamps are still the same, mounted on foam backing which adhere to a clear acrylic block. An image of the stamp is on the back of the foam so you will be able to see through and place your stamp exactly where you want it to go.  With the wood-mounted stamps, you can always use a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, and it will work great for you.
Blocks are available in different sizes and can be purchased in a bundle, so they can be used with any size stamp. If you no longer want to store or carry around wooden blocked stamps you have more options. Clear blocks make it easier to take the images you want to crops or anywhere you want to stamp.
Every crafter has storage issues. Wooden-blocked stamps take up more room. With the clear block option, storage space is cleared up. Stamp sets are purchased in DVD cases. The cases are see-through and the stamps have an optional image on the back. You now have a system where the image you are looking for is easy to find and at your fingertips. 
Large blocks also have another great advantage for those out there who like to do collages; multiple images can go on one block. They can design their look right on the block to stamp just once. This also works well with numbers and letters. You can spell out the words you want. Position them precisely on the blocks and only have to stamp once. No more trying to line letters up as you stamp one letter at a time.

Both clear and wood stamps are made with die cuts. This allows you to start with your project right away. There is no need to condition the stamp. Just place it on your wood or clear block, ink it up and start to stamp. Don’t worry about clean up either. Blocks and stamps clean up beautifully with Stampin' Scrub and Stampin' Mist.

So . . . I hope that clears up some questions you may have!

As always, you can sign up for my free newsletter right here.  

Shopping is quick and super easy at my online store.  

Thanks so much for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Monday, February 25, 2013

Recipes by Design


Recipes come in many forms. They may have been passed down from your great-grandma. They may be from a magazine you just flipped through and have to try. There are the tried and true and the recipes used for special meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Recipes, just like pictures, hold special memories.
Last year, for my nephew's wedding shower, we invited everyone to share a recipe with the couple by including a recipe card in the invitation.  When party-goers arrived, we took a picture of them to put with their recipe in a recipe scrapbook for the soon-to-be-married couple.

Stampin’ Up! has a great selection for what you need to preserve these memories.  It doesn’t matter if you are just starting to collect wonderful recipes or if you already have a recipe box, folder or kitchen drawer, overflowing with recipes.  

You may already have a recipe box filled with organized recipes.  There are a host of ideas. It would be a great gift for a bride or a mother-to-be.  A future daughter-in-law may be thrilled to open a shower gift of a recipe box filled with family recipes to welcome her. A new mother may love to have recipes which have been known for generations to please kids in the family.  A child moving out on their own may find a recipe box full of comfort food recipes just the thing.
 You can give recipes as a gift to an aspiring cook. A young girl or boy who is just learning to cook may enjoy filling up a box with recipes as they learn their cooking skills. Grandma may love if you make her some special recipe cards so she can finally put down those recipes everyone is longing for her to pass down.

Do you have a special recipe everyone is always asking you for? Package  your recipe in a basket with some of the ingredients, and you have a special gift.

Food is part of our lives. Many of our memories are centered on food. Make the place which holds your recipes, or those recipes of someone you love, a special memory. Including pictures with your recipe cards is such a great idea. Think of how special the happy couple would feel every time they use one of those cards and there was a picture of the person who wrote it down for them!

Stampin’ Up! helps us keep these memories safe. Let me know if I can help you with ideas. Just think of all the wonderful possibilities. 

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Shopping is quick at my online store.  

Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Friday, February 22, 2013

It's all in the Details


Kits are great for making the intended projects quickly. 

For the last couple of days, I’ve shown you how a kt can be used as the perfect jumping-off point for your creative fun!
A great treat box
Don't you love using just a few creative twists to step up the Boutique Boxes Designer Printed Kit to create cards, gift card holders, a treat box and more?
It's all in the details!
What I used:
• Boutique Boxes Designer Printed Kit (#129306)

Paper
• Very Vanilla card stock (#101650)
• Basic Gray card stock (#121044)
• Crumb Cake card stock (#120953)

Accessories
• 4” x 6” Cellophane Bag (#102757) 
• Adhesives: SNAIL Refill (#104331), Mini Glue Dots (#103683), Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430), Sticky Strip (#104294)

Tools
• Punches: 1” (#119868)
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Shopping is quick at my online store.  

Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Being Swell

It was soooooo hard to step outside today.  To begin, it was about 21 degrees outside - and then when the wind chill was added in, the temp was about 2 degrees!!  Brrrrrr!

That's winter for ya!  Well, at least it's been a good one.  Or should I say, "It's been a swell one"?

I may not think of the cold weather as 'swell', but I sure do think of this card as swell!!  
What a swell card!
And easy doesn't begin to describe the making of this little beauty.  This card is good for guys or gals, young or old, and suits lots of occasions.
Who do you think is swell?
I made up lots of these and gave them away very quickly.  I know lots of swell folks!

What I used:
Paper - Parker Patterns Designer Series Paper, Cherry Cobbler card stock, Very Vanilla card stock, Crumb  Cake card stock
Punches - Square punch, Curly Label, 1-1/4" circle, 1" circle
Ink - Not Quite Navy, 
Stamp set - Ciao Baby!
Accessories - Bone Folder, Natural Trim, SNAIL adhesive refill, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Show someone that you think they're swell today.

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Shopping is easy at my online store.  

Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

It's Super Swell

Oh, yeah!!  It's Wednesday . . . I've got a video for you!
I really like making this swell card - so easy to do and everyone will love getting it!  So fun!

What I used:
Paper - 

  • Parker Patterns Designer Series Paper
  • Cherry Cobbler card stock
  • Very Vanilla card stock
  • Crumb  Cake card stock
Punches -
  • Square punch
  • Curly Label
  • 1-1/4" circle
  • 1" circle
Ink -
  • Not Quite Navy
Stamp set -
  • Ciao Baby!
Accessories -
  • Bone Folder
  • Natural Trim
  • SNAIL adhesive refill
  • Glue Dots
  • Stampin' Dimensionals
You can sign up for my free newsletter right here.  And guess what?  I'll send you a free PDF tutorial as a thank you.

You can shop at my online store.  24/7.  

Thanks ever so much for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

It's Too Hot In Here -- and Boutique Two

Today I chose to wear a really cute little black and red wood dress, with tights, and with boots.  It was a great outfit for winter.

And then our heater at work went a little nuts.  Now - we are unable to open up a single window and we're on the third floor -- so opening a door to the outside is a bit out of the question.

I began to swelter, sweat, and just feel plain miserable as the temperature in our office got closer and closer to 90 degrees!  Yep!  Summertime in the office only!!!  And I thought my own personal summers were bad.
I could feel the sweat as it ran down my backbone and down into my underthings.  Ugh!

For the first time this winter, I could hardly wait to get out into the cold when work was over.  What a day!
So . . . enough of that.  You want a project already?
What an adorable gift card holder!
You know not to judge a book by its cover – now you know not to judge a kit by its basics!
Kits are great for making the artist-designed projects quickly - they are even better as a jumping off point for your creative fun! 
lots of fun detail
The Boutique Boxes Designer Printed Kit includes instructions for 8 simple boxes and note cards - perfect when you need a quick gift. Use this great kit to create more! A gift box for a friend, a masculine card, a treat box for a thank you gift, a gift card holder that shows your special attention, and more! 

All from an inexpensive kit you’ll want to keep on hand for last-minute gifts and also make stepped up versions ahead of time to be ready when you need special gifts. 
Here's the back . . . 
You’ll love impressing your friends with gifts that look like a million bucks - you don’t have to tell them it all started with a kit! 
Oooooo!  What could that be inside?  One of my favorite things . . . a gift card!
What I Used:
• Boutique Boxes Designer Printed Kit (#129306)
• A Little Greeting stamp set (#129111)
Paper
• Very Vanilla card stock (#101650)
• Basic Gray card stock (#121044)
• Sahara Sand card stock (#121043)
• Crumb Cake card stock (#120953)
• Summer Starfruit card stock (#126839)
Ink
• Classic Ink Pad – Basic Gray (#126981)
Accessories
• Adhesives: SNAIL Refill (#104331), Mini Glue Dots (#103683), Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430), Sticky Strip (#104294)
Tools
• Big Shot (#113439)
• Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#127749)
• Punches: 1/2” (#119869), 1” (#119868) & 1-3/4” Circles (#119850)
For other ideas, you can sign up for my free newsletter right here.  

You can shop for these great products at my online store anytime you want. 

As always, thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Bundle It -- Boutique Boxes


Are you busy? 

That seems like such a silly question. I’ve never had anyone say they weren’t! 

Even though we're all busy, it's important to make time in our lives for ourselves. It just seems crazy that adding things into your schedule can make you less stressed. 
A fabulous box I made using the Boutique Boxes Kit (the "back")
Guess what -- it’s true! 

Spending time with friends and doing creative activities, like stamping, actually lowers the stress level. 
Here's a shot of the front of the cute box - don't you love it?
Stamping kits are a great option for busy folks. 

The planning, coordination, and cutting are all done for you - so you don’t have to spend time on that. You can simply put together the kits as they're designed, step them up with a few embellishments, or use the kits as a springboard for your own creativity! 
The Boutique Boxes Designer Printed Kit, along with the coordinating A Little Greeting stamp set, is a great kit to start with. You can have fun and whip out the trendy boxes and note cards in a flash. 
Or you can go crazy with creativity and convert the kit into full size cards, gift card holders, larger boxes, and so much more. The sky is the limit! 
The box and a couple of mini notes to go inside - how cute!!
So make a date with yourself or your friends and do something for you today!

What I used:  
• Boutique Boxes Designer Printed Kit (#129306)
• A Little Greeting stamp set (#129111)
Paper -
• Very Vanilla card stock (#101650)
• Basic Gray card stock (#121044)
• Sahara Sand card stock (#121043)
• Crumb Cake card stock (#120953)
• Summer Starfruit card stock (#126839)
Ink -
• Classic Ink Pad – Basic Gray (#126981)
• Classic Ink Pad – Summer Starfruit (#126991)
• Stampin’ Write Marker – Neutrals Collection (#119703)
Accessories -
• Medium Envelopes – Very Vanilla (#107300)
• 4” x 6” Cellophane Bag (optional) (#102757) 
• Adhesives: SNAIL Refill (#104331), Mini Glue Dots (#103683), Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430), Sticky Strip (#104294)
Tools -
• Big Shot (#113439)
• Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#127749)
• Punches: 1/2” (#119869), 1” (#119868) & 1-3/4” Circles (#119850)
• Stamping Sponges (#101610)
• Sponge Daubers (#102892)
• Stamp-a-ma-jig (recommended - #101049)

You can sign up for my free newsletter right here.  And guess what?  I'll send you a free PDF tutorial as a thank you.

You can shop for these great products at my online store.  24/7.  

Thanks so much for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Friday, February 15, 2013

Fun For Your Friday

Whoo Hoo!  Finally Friday - gotta love that day . . . I know I do - and this one is gonna be even better 'cuz I'm leaving work a little early to run errands that I've been ignoring for waaaaay too long!

Isn't that the way it does, though?  Anyway, I'm looking forward to all this day has to bring - yep!  Bring it on.  I'm ready for ya!

I also wanted to be sure to share some pics of the Wednesday Video card (the vid can be found right here in case you missed it - want you to find it super easy).
A Wonderful Card for Lots of Different Occasions


I love the colors in this card and also the fact that this baby can be changed out with other colors/stamps/punches so easily.

Versatility is a good thing.















What I used:
Stamp set - Ciao, Baby! (@129645 - wood; $124274 - clear)
Paper - Not Quite Navy (#101722), Daffodil Delight (#119683), Very Vanilla (#101650), Cherry Cobbler (#101650), Marina Mist (#119682), Parker's Patterns Designer Series Paper (#131021)
Ink - Marina Mist 
Accessories - SNAIL Refill (#104331), Mini Glue Dots (#103683), Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430), Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#127749), Big Shot (#113439), Punches: 1” Circle (#119868), 7/8” Scallop Circle (#129404), 2-3/8” Scallop Circle (#118874), 1-3/8” Circle (#119680) & 2-1/2” Circle (#120906)

You'll feel like you're number one when you give this cute card to someone special.

I know it's easy to keep our cards when we like what we've made - just take a picture of it with our phone or iPad so you can look at it later and re-create the card to your heart's content.  

Share what you've made.  That's the way to make others happy - and you'll make yourself happy in the process!!

You can sign up for my free newsletter right here.  And guess what?  I'll send you a free PDF tutorial as a thank you.

You can shop for this embossing folder at my online store.  24/7.  

Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day


Let's see what Wikipedia has to say about Valentine's Day:
"Saint Valentine's Day, commonly known as Valentine's Day, or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is observed on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it remains a working day in most of them.
"St. Valentine's Day began as a . . .celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus." 
"The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards."
From the American Profile magazine, I found:
"Esther Howland, often referred to as the Mother of the American Valentine, propelled Valentine greeting cards into an industry when she began making and selling cards in the 1840s and'50s in her family's book and stationery store in Worcester, Mass."
Here's an interesting fact - Valentine's Day is second only to Christmas as the most popular occasion to send greeting cards.
Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!  Thanks for stopping by today ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Award-Winning Card

Oh, yeah!!  It's Wednesday . . . I've got a video for you!
My customers tell me they cannot believe the difference a bit of embossed card stock adds to a project!

You may be thinking that it doesn't make that much of a difference - but seeing is believing.

Just a quick crank of the Big Shot turns basic card stock into a richly-textured embellishment.  

I do have to warn you . . . creating easy embossed texture like this can be addictive!
Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#127749)
Tip:  Because card stock that has been embossed with the Textured Impressions Embossing Folders has so much texture, it takes more SNAIL than you would normally use to get a a good bond.  Or you can also try using Mini Glue Dots to get a strong bond . . . sticky strip is also a wonderful item, along with the Dimensionals.


What I used:
Stamp set - Ciao, Baby! (@129645 - wood; $124274 - clear)
Paper - Not Quite Navy (#101722), Daffodil Delight (#119683), Very Vanilla (#101650), Cherry Cobbler (#101650), Marina Mist (#119682), Parker's Patterns Designer Series Paper (#131021)
Ink - Marina Mist 
Accessories - SNAIL Refill (#104331), Mini Glue Dots (#103683), Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430), Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#127749), Big Shot (#113439), Punches: 1” Circle (#119868), 7/8” Scallop Circle (#129404), 2-3/8” Scallop Circle (#118874), 1-3/8” Circle (#119680) & 2-1/2” Circle (#120906)


You can sign up for my free newsletter right here.  And guess what?  I'll send you a free PDF tutorial as a thank you.

You can shop for this embossing folder at my online store.  24/7.  

Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!



Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Simply Radiating

I'd say it's "red hot".  

Yep.  That's one way to describe this card -- when I taught a group how to make this awesome card a couple of weeks ago, one of the ladies called this card "sexy".  OOooooooo.  I like that one.

How would you describe this card?
All those warm colors -- Valentine written all over it . . . that's for sure!!

Details, too!  We can't forget those fun little touches that make this card all our own!!
Lovin' that brayer!  The looks you get from it are so smooooooooth.  This was a fabulous CASE, that I switched around to use what I own, from Michelle Zindorf.  

What I used:
Stamp sets - Hearts a Flutter (#129249 - wood/#129252 - clear); Everything Eleanor (#124162 - wood/#124164 - clear)
Card stocks - Basic Black (#121045); Whisper White (#100730); Real Red (102482)
Inks - Basic Black (#126980); So Saffron (#126957); More Mustard (#126964); Cajun Craze (#126965); Real Red (#126949)
Miscellaneous - Brayer (#102395); SNAIL Adhesive Refill (#104331); Glue Dots (#103683); Bitty Buttons (#118761); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (#119246); Stamping Sponges (#101610).

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Shopping for these supplies is easy on my online store.  

Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Pretty Lovin' - Valentine Idea

I cannot believe it -- today is our older son's 19th birthday!  How crazy is that?  For me, that's pretty nuts.  I remember so clearly when he was born, so I'm havin' a hard time realizing that he can possibly be 19 already.  I think I'm getting a feel for how it must be for my parents!

So -- happy birthday, sweetie!  May you enjoy many, many more.
I began on the Valentine cards, of course, and I want to share them with you this week that has Valentine's Day in it.  
This is one of my favorites, and I CASEd it from Michelle Zindorf.
Super easy to make, and the colors are great 'cuz they're different for a Valentine's Day card.  Oh, I know . . . the pink is right up there with the typical stuff; however, the use of Early Espresso and the River Rock just help this card stand out -- in my opinion.  What do you think?
The Antique Brad has a nice touch, too.

What I used:
Stamp Set - You are Loved (#123777 - w/ #123779 - c)
Card Stock - Early Espresso (#119686); Pretty In Pink (# 100459); and River Rock (#108640)
Inks - Early Espresso    Pretty In Pink (#126955); Melon Mambo (#126948) and Raspberry Ripple (#126859)
Punch - Modern Label (#119849)
Misc. - White Stampin' Emboss Powder (#109132); Heat Tool (#129053); Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (#113439); Square Lattice Folder (#119976); Brayer (#102395); Stamping Sponges (#101610), SNAIL Adhesive Refill (#104331); Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430).

The sponging around the Pink image before it was adhered to the River Rock really helps set the image apart from the rest of the card. Details, details, details.

Hope all the details go well for you today.

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Shopping for all you need to make this card can happen on my online store.  

Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Friday, February 8, 2013

Truly Heartfelt

Sure do love Michelle Zindorf.  I CASEd this absolutely beautiful card from her, and we made it during the last Stamper's Club.
Rhinestone Jewels are like drips of water in this lovely card

The inside was finished up nicely, too.
Such a classy card - perfect for sympathy, birthday, get well . . . thank you card, even!
 Love it!  You'll find a step-by-step tutorial right here.

Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Making Prayer Journals with the Gals

I just love Sale-A-Bration.

I hosted a FREE Prayer Journal get-together where we created our own prayer journals out of plain composition books

(thank you, Mead) and lots of fabulous coordinating paper from Stampin' Up!
like the Razzleberry Splash Simply Scrappin' kit (#126930)

and the Bandstand Simply Scrappin' kit (#126928)
I also had lots of other papers - designer and cardstocks - that all matched and looked fantastic together.
Let's see those gorgeous creations, shall we?
 Charlene
 Everyone was so proud of their creations . . . We have Teri's granddaughter
 Here they are together
 Pat
 Deb
 Pat
Marla
It was fun to create the books together.  The Prayer Journals are as unique as the people who are going to use them.

You can sign up for my free newsletter right here.  Ideas galore -- just for you!  (cuz you're special)

Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Love What You Do


February is the month of love, and when I think about things that I love, Stampin’ Up! always comes to mind. You see ... I love what I do.

 I love to stamp.
I love to create.
I love to scrapbook.
I love making a difference in people’s lives.
And I just love being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator.
 Imagine working one night a week. Imagine at the end of the month that you are able to pay a bill from your monthly budget, make a car payment, pay down your debt, or even just have some extra spending money in your pocket. What could that do for you and your family?
 
Whatever that is for you, the Stampin’ Up! business opportunity can help you to do that.
 Stampin’ Up!’s theme for this year is 25 Years of Making a Difference, and my goal is to  make a difference in other people’s lives, too. Consider becoming a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, and you’ll see firsthand the difference it can make in your own life. Contact me today so that we can figure out if this opportunity might be exactly what you’re looking for.

You can sign up for my free newsletter right here.

You can shop at my online store.

Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!