Nutz about Stamping

In-Color Poll closing in 7 days

Do you realize that on July 31st the current In Colors will be retiring forever? How will I manage without my Wild Wasabi (so much fun to say!) and River Rock? Over the past year I have loved hearing what you think of each In Color and the different color combinations we have played with to create cards and scrapbook pages. I would love to know which In Color has been your fav and so created a fun poll to see which color will be missed the most. Take a look down the right hand side of my blog and let your opinion be heard! The poll will be closing on June 1st.

Here's a sample scrapbook page made with my beloved Wild Wasabi and a little Soft Sky thrown in. (It goes with the scrapbook page that I posted on May 15th)

 

A 'bump in the road' off of I-540!

Ruth, a demo friend of mine, sent a photo of a card she made. I just loved it and decided to copy her design to show to all of you. Here is Ruth's card:

When I contacted Ruth to ask her how she made the chipboard star silver, she told me she had used a Silver Encore stamp pad. Much to my dismay, I realized I did not have this stamp pad and so thought I couldn't make this card. Then I got to thinking, I wonder of many of you have the same problem? You see one of my cards posted and think you can't copy it because you don't have the same supplies I used. So I decided to challenge myself to make Ruth's card in several different ways to prove to you, and myself, that it can be done! (I have never let a 'bump in the road' get to me!)

After thinking a bit, I remembered that I have silver embossing powder. I know that I can emboss using Versamark so I wondered if I could ink up the chipboard star, sprinkle on some embossing powder and create my own silver star. And it worked:

Next I realized I am fresh out of silver brads (guess it's time to put in an order huh!) so I thought, what could I do differently to Ruth's card to make it more my own design?

Using the same background papers and layout and my cool-looking silver star, I dug around in my drawers to create three additional cards, each with its own twist.

This sample uses some left-over Rub-Ons, even at the bottom to take the place of the silver brads.

 

 

Then I dug out my Soft Subtles buttons and natural hemp to create this card:

 

And here's my favorite one of all. Back to the Rub-Ons, but this time I used a small black Rub-On on Certainly Celery paper before punching it out. And next I slide the entire layered paper pieces higher up the card front so I had room for the "thinking of you" Rub-On.

So the next time you see a card that you love, don't be discouraged if you don't have the same supplies. Take a look at what you do have and add a little twist of your own. Then you can 'celebrate life' too!

FREE Hodgepodge Hardware Kit from Stampin' Up! PLUS 20% off the Starter Kit!

I've got a great way for you to expand your toolbox! For the entire month of May, buy the Starter Kit (AKA the Gotta Have it All Kit) and get 20% off, PLUS a free tin of Hodgepodge Hardware (p. 188) from the Spring-Summer Collection 2008 (a $27.95 value!).* The Starter Kit (p. 209) comes complete with all the tools you'll need to start a successful business or just get a bunch of supplies for a great deal--$359 worth of stamping supplies for only $159! Construct your kit by selecting the nuts and bolts of your stamping supplies, and take your toolbox to the next level! Contact me for more details on how to benefit from this incredible deal!

Here's a card using hodgepodge:

Now You're Cookin' in Raleigh!

Announcing a brand new class!

Ingredients: 5x5 art journal, designer paper, "Voila" stamp set and PRESTO: A recipe keeper for you, a geat gift idea for friends and family, or a huge jump start for Christmas!

Date: Saturday, June 7
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Cost: $15. Class fee includes everything you need to create this great recipe keeper. Contact me to get $$ off the price of this class with the May On Board chipboard special!

Limited to 10 participants. Pre-register by May 25th to hold your spot. Beginners welcome!

Scrapbooking 101

Need some assistance to get started scrapbooking? Here's a neat acrostic that I saw on TV a few years ago.

S - Select your photos. You can either adhere them as is or crop them to highlight or enhance part of a photo.

C - Choose colors. Pick a main color from the photos or enhance a background color to make it more visible. 

R - Render mattes. An extra color matte under one feature photo will make that photo "pop" off the page.

A - Add a page title. You can create one using stamps (my fav!), print one on your printer onto cardstock, or create one by hand.

P - Place embellishments. Add a litte interest to your pages with punches, ribbon, designer paper, brads, etc.

And finally, don't forget the most important part - journaling! The story that goes with each page is just as important as the photos. Years from now we may have forgotten those neat details that made that event so memorable so either handwrite them or create them with your computer and printer. This final detail will make each page complete.

Scrapbooking Color Combos that Work

When I first started scrapbooking, I had such a struggle figuring out color combinations for my pages. Here's a few tips to help make your layouts stress free:

a. Get a Color Coach - this tool is an instant guide to pleasing color combinations. Turn the wheel and you'll be pleased with new color ideas for your pages.
b. Use your photos - pick up on a color found in your photos, either in the background or even subtle colors in clothing.
c. For black and white photos - choose colors that are spicy!
d. Make good use of neutral colors - try Basic Gray and our white gel pen
e. Think about hues - warm colors vs cool colors
f. Think light and dark within the same color family. For example, Ballet Blue, Night of Navy and Bashful Blue
g. Remember Art class in first grade? Primary colors and secondary colors. Try each separately or mix a secondary color in with primary colors for an interesting flair.
10. Think seasonal. Green Galore and Real Red over winter break, Pretty in Pink, Real Red and Whisper White for February, Only Orange and Basic Black for October, and so on.
11. For a masculine feel, think masculine colors (yes real men do wear pink!) such as Basic Brown, Not Quite Navy, Really Rust, Old Olive, etc. for your main page backgrounds.
12. Use our fabulous double-sided Designer Paper series as accents for your pages and pull corresponding solid color backgrounds from those designer papers.
13. Simply Scrappin' kits - everything is color coodinated for you and each kit includes loads of die-cut self-sticking accents. Use these kits as intended or create batches of greeting cards instead.
14. New use for junk mail - use the flyers you get in the mail to give you hints on popular new color combinations. I especially like the Target flyers and use their clothing colors and college dorm room accent colors as fun scrapbook page color ideas.
15. Look at design elements that are all around you. For example - do you eat cereal for breakfast? Take a look at the colors used on the cereal box to attract your eye. Those colors are there for a reason so experiment with them: Tony the Tiger's neckerchief adds an interesting accent color for your Only Orange and Basic Black scrapbook pages!
16. Call me for ideas. When you purchase something from me, you get me to go along with your product as your Raleigh stampin' expert. I am happy to work with you on all your scrapbooking needs!

8 Cool Products to Scrapbook With

1. Simply Scrappin' Kits: Each kit contains textured eight 12x12 cardstock, six sheets 12x12 patterned double-sided paper, and 8 sheets of self-adhesive die-cuts! A great time saver for a busy scrapbooker.
















2. Designer Paper Series - coordinates with solid color 12x12 paper and can be used to cover chipboard. One sheet offers two pattern possibilities or cut a sheet into strips and use both on your pages.




3. Wheels and Wheel Guide - and you thought wheels were just for cards!













4. Versamark - use any stamp set that coordinates with your page theme or designer series paper to make a water mark background on solid 12x12 card stock.















5. Chipboard - cover it, color it with Classic or Craft pads and create a cool page! And don't forget the fabulous Crop-a-dile that punches through chipboard to add brads or ribbon with ease.














6. Ribbon - run a length of ribbon to separate your page into sections then add photos. Or add it to enhance a certain photo on a page.















7. Brads - I love to add some dimension on my pages by attaching some brads to create new focal points.














8. Punches - so many different shapes can be created with our fabulous punches - you can even combine them to make some creative animal and object shapes!

Save time! May Stamps-in-the-Mail Club

It is so much fun when a package arrives in the mail with stamps, accessories, and paper. It's even better when this package contains step-by-step instructions and color photos showing four cards you will make with this kit. No time spent thinking up card layouts - it's all done for you! Just follow the layout instructions using the stamp set and pre-cut cardstock.

My May Stamps-in-the-Mail Club features Pretty Amazing found on page 83 in our catalog. Here's one of the cards featured with this kit. Contact me today to join my club.

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

I just love May: the flowers are out, the weather is finally warm and it's National Scrapbooking Month! Stampin' Up! is offering a fantastic On Board Chipboard sale to honor this special month: When you spend $35 on any Stampin' Up! products, you'll get 25% off all chipboard products found on pages 178-179 in the catalog.

Here are some ideas for our great chipboard products: On Board Art journals: journal through your pregnancy, baby's first year, wedding planner, recipes, telephone/addess book, mini albums, tribute journals, technique books, daily/yearly planners, and travel journal. On Board clipboards: Advent calendar, grandma/grandpa brag display, child's artwork display holder, family photo frame, graduation memo clipboard, teacher gift, adminstrative professional's day gift, decorative to-do list holder, recipe stand, calendar holder or photo frame holder. And of course all On Board Blossoms and Basics, Accents, and Lots of Letters can be used to decorate scrapbook pages, cards, paper crafting projects, art journals and clipboards.

I am offering a variety of classes for May and June featuring our On Board products. These classes are mainly advertised through my website and in my e-newsletters. Sign up for my e-newsletters and you'll get some additional specials this month only!

This quick and easy card uses a chipboard flower that was covered in Chocolate Chip classic ink.