Wednesday, January 28, 2015

You Brighten My Day

Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone walked up to you today and said, "You brighten my day"?
That's the fun name of the stamp set used for this card - which is absolutely 
FREE with Sale-A-Bration going on.  And then, of course, the cool paper 
Best Year Ever is also FREE right now, thanks to Sale-A-Bration 
(one of my favorite times of the year).

I was inspired by the wonderful sketch at The Paper Players for
 their challenge this week.
They have such a talented crew and lots of inspiration.
Tips - 
  • There's a punch that coordinates perfectly with this stamp; however, I wanted to use it in a circle for this card, so I used tape on the "frame" and inked the stamp up.  After it was inked, I took the tape off and had only what I wanted to use for my card inked!  So easy.
  • I've really been enjoying Washi Sheets lately.  In fact, I'm teaching a couple classes using the Washi Sheets in February.  I fell in love with Washi Tape right away, and now it's the same for me and Washi Tape's big sister, Washi Sheets.  So many uses - it's really cool and versatile - you can cut strips (like I did here), punch it, use it with dies ... the list goes on and on.
I also wanted to link up to the Can You Case It challenge.
CYCI #54
It doesn't get any easier than this challenge!

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you have a chance to get inky today!
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Monday, January 26, 2015

Swaps!

When you do a lot of papercrafting, a great way to
see what a lot of products look like without spending the
money on the products, is to swap a project made
with something that the other person may not have.
(Clear as mud?  Let's see if I can explain it better for you...)
I participated in a "swap" with 15 other people,
and this is the project I swapped with them.  I'm so looking
forward to receiving mine and seeing what they created.
Then I'll get to show my friends/customers all the cool things
the other products (that I don't own) can create.
Swapping is a great way for me to show my customers how
 they can utilize products without my having to purchase everything
out there that Stampin' Up! sells.  Swaps make sense for me, my
swapping friends, and my customers.
I CASEd this idea from one of the World Artisan Winners of SU!
Tip - When you're swapping, you don't need to come up with a spanking
brand-new idea all on your own.  Look for inspiration and CASE (Copy And
Share Everything) an idea that someone else has made.  When you swap
your goodie with your fellow swappers, they may have seen it somewhere,
but they probably haven't made it, so they're still getting something "new"
to them! 
Make today a wonderful day ~ thanks so much for stopping by!
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Friday, January 23, 2015

Love Some Valentines

Valentine Cards aren't just for little ones in 
school - grown ups like them, too!  I'd love me some Valentines!
I CASEd this fun card that we created at Stamper's Club
from someone on Facebook.  When I went to look at the card,
I can't find any watermark to give them credit.  Hmmm.  Good
 reason to be sure watermarks are put on projects uploaded to
 the Internet . . . anyway - I changed out the Embossing Folder
 and the envelope on the card, as well as the sentiment, too.
I wanted the hearts to be "exploding" wildly
out of the envelope, and they're the focal point of the card. 
That envelope is the gift card size created 
using the Envelope Punch Board.
It's so handy to have since you can
create an envelope in any size you want from gift card size to 6
 inches-something by 8 inches-something.  That would be one BIG card!
Stamping Tips -
  • Maybe you're a whizz with scissors, but they cause me issues at times.  In order to create the perfect "fishtail" on my sentiment banners, I just pull out the 1" Square Punch or a Hexagon Punch.  Instant fishtail!  Yay!
  • To help the envelope hold together with real "staying power", use the Fast Fuse adhesive.  That stuff is like Sticky Strip as a Snail wannabe.  Love it!
Thanks for stopping by today~Remember...getting inky leads to happiness!


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Thursday, January 22, 2015

So Much Fun!

Stamper's Clubs are so much fun!  We talk, create, laugh, 
and tease each other for hours.  We're talking about 
having some total girl time . . . something we NEED!

To help my buddies, here are two of the projects
 from this weeks' clubs:
 Here we used the Mini Treat Bag Thinlit with a tag 
created with the Lotus Blossom stamp set.
I can tell I'm going to reach for that bag over and over again - so cute!
 The papers were from the Regals and In Color collections of 
Designer paper Stacks.  Since the papers are 12 x 12, you can 
get two bags out of it.  The paper is cut into 6 x 12 pieces.
 Doesn't this look like a tuxedo?  Love it!  So dapper with that snazzy bow tie.  
Everyone's projects turned out to look fantastic!
Thanks for coming, gals.  You're the best.
I'll post the Valentine cards tomorrow . . . so until then,
Thanks so much for stopping by ~~ I truly appreciate it.

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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Weekly Deals = Super Savings

On Tuesdays, Stampin' Up! lists their Weekly
Deals - and if something in the Weekly Deals
is on your Wish List (almost everything is on mine
since it's as long as my arm anyway), then the
Weekly Deals truly are an absolute steal. 
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And so many of my customers have been
ordering through my website these days, I thought to
help them out, I would post the Weekly Deals here, too,
and not just on my Stamping and Creating Facebook Page.
 
Hope you find a thing or two on the Deals list that helps
you out with your crafting!
 
Thanks so much for stopping by ~~

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

What an Adorable Treat Bag

I used this thinlits die to create a little treat bag last night
and fell instantly in love!

So easy to use and absolutely stinkin' cute, too . . .
            
The video shows lots of ways to use this
papercrafting great tool.  This die really is amazing!
 
Thanks for stopping by ~ hope you have a chance to get inky today!

Monday, January 19, 2015

Ready for Stamper's Clubs

I've got a couple of sneak peeks for my wonderful
customers and members of the Stamper's Clubs
that will be meeting this week . . .
only problem - I can't get my computer to
upload the pictures!! 
I'm so sad.
Anyway - at least I can give out the
Hostess Codes for everyone.
 
Tuesdays Club - (Gayle is the hostess) R4Z46CQS
Wednesdays Club - (Jen is the hostess) C6QTMMJS
 
So - ladies - I guess the sneak peeks - as well as the cards themselves -
will just be a mystery until we meet this week. 
You'll love all the projects!
Can't wait to see you!!
 

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Draw The Line 'Cuz I'm Crazy About You

Whew!  Comfort zones are there for a reason - you know?  
Draw The Line and Crazy About You are two 
stamp sets I've never thought to put together until I 
came across the ColourQ and Freshly Made Sketches 
challenges for this week.  
After seeing those challenges, it was just a given to 
me that all these elements of color, layout, and stamps 
would be used to create this delightfully fresh card.
Those colors were so out of my comfort zone, too;
 however, they're such a pleasure together!
Stamping Tip:  When masking a shape on a card, be 
sure to "overmask" the areas you want to keep ink free.  
That way, when you're working on the card, you're able to do 
so without worry over accidental smudges or smears.  
Such fun!  Thanks so much for stopping by ~ Hope you have 
a chance to get inky today.
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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

One-Layer Winter Birthdays and New Beginnings

Winter birthdays are everywhere in January!  
At least they are for me - how about you?

Creating a one-layer card so often means doing some 
masking, so I had lots of fun 
fashioning this winter birthday card.  I think birthdays 
bring fresh, new beginning for each of us every year.  

I'm linking up with the Less Is More New Beginnings challenge 
Stamping Tip - When you're masking a card like this, 
use Grid Paper or a work surface with a grid 
so you can keep your lines straight for laying 
down your large Post-It Notes.

Thanks so much for stopping by today ~~ Hope you have a chance to get inky!
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