Nutz about Stamping

Sundays with Sizzix

Today's video tutorial demonstrates how to create a beatiful yet very simple-to-make birthday, anniversary, wedding, or retirement card using the Big Shot and the Manhattan Textured Impressions die.

Here's a photo of the card:

Gather together the following to create this card:

Card stock: Almost Amethyst (5.50 x 4.25 for card base, 4 x 5.25 for top strip), Whisper White (4 x 5.25 for top layer, scraps for Best Wishes oval)

Punches: Eyelet Border (#113692), Large Oval (#107305), Scallop Oval (#114889)

Accessories: Big Shot, Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions die (#114517), Bone folder, sponge, Whisper White Organza ribbon (5.50" strip), Snail Adhesive

(Did you know you can purchase the supplies used to make this card at my online store which is open 24/7 for your convenience? Click here to check it out!)

And now for my video tutorial. Enjoy!

Crazy for Cupcakes

Yesterday I designed another card for my 10-15-25 class on Saturday. When choosing stamp sets to feature at this class, I created card samples for a variety of occasions. Crazy for Cupcakes has to be one of my all time favs for creating birthday cards! It is so versatile and the phrases are a perfect match for the images. If you love to stamp and color, check this stamp set out. I have my fingers crossed it will not be on the retirement list which will be posted on Monday.

Recognize the Tea Party designer series paper strip in the background? Left over strips of paper have so many uses! And you can't see it in the photo, but the tray the cupcakes are sitting on was decorated with Dazzling Diamonds glitter, the best glitter (imho) in the stamping world!

If you wish to join my 10--15-25 class on Saturday at 2:00 pm please email me today at [email protected]. The class fee? Only a $25 order for product of your choice!

Sesame Street Mommy & Me Class

Do you have little ones at home who love Sesame Street? Do you have nieces, nephews or grandkids and need a set of cards on hand? Do you need a super cool teacher gift idea or simply want a rainy day project for you and your child?

Check out this neat idea developed by a fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator:

Here's the best part: I am prepared to bring this class to you (or host your class in my home) if you are local OR if you are long distance, you can buy this as a Kit to Go, including supplies and full color instructions with photos!

Click here to see my available class dates. Class fee: only $20.00

Click the Buy Now button below to order this class. Note: punches and pre-stamped images are not included. You can stamp your own sentiments or choose the purchase option to add the Family Phrases stamp set, both of which includes Priority mailing to your home.

Kit Choices

Basic Kit $24.95Family Phrases Kit $48.00

Summer Fun Hostess Bonus Promotion

I am so excited! Stampin' Up! just announced a brand new promotion for the month of June:

Dates: June 1-30, 2009

Promotion Details:

The Summer Fun Hostess Bonus Promotion has two parts:

• Hostesses who hold a $250-$399.99 workshop will receive an additional $20 in hostess free merchandise dollars.
  
• Hostesses who hold a $400 or more workshop will receive an additional $40 in hostess free merchandise dollars.

So what does this mean? It means you can earn extra product and/or stamp sets based on the sales at your party! Call all your friends, find a free date in June, then email me at [email protected] to book your party. We'll plan it together but I'll do all the work while you and your friends have all the fun.

See my available June dates - click here!

Card Map

How about a fun card map challenge for you to take part in? I saw a card map online that caught my eye and decided to create a masculine card following the design. There are many possibilities depending on the theme needed for the card, such as birthday, Father's Day, thinking of you, etc., and the designer series paper you have on hand. Here's the card map:

   

 

Take a fresh look at your stamp sets and card stock and see what you can come up with. I did the same and came up with the following card:

I used Trendy Trees (#113258) and Manchester designer series paper (#112464) to create my masculine birthday card. Here are the measurements for the rectangles under the main stamped image:

Artichoke diamond panels: 1 7/8 x 3 7/16”

Kraft diagonal panels: 1 11/16” x 1 14/16”

Now it's your turn - create a card using this map and your Stampin' Up! stamp sets and accessories and email it to me at [email protected]. Who knows? You just might get published on my blog!

New Class: What in the World are Window Sheets?

Have you seen this product in the Stampin' Up! Occasions mini catalog and are wondering what they are? Then this class is for you! Come create four beautiful cards using one Printed Window Sheet and take a second sheet home too! Please bring your favorite adhesive.

What in the World are Window Sheets?

Date: Saturday, June 6

Time: 10:00

Cost: only $15 (includes one complete pack of Printed Window Sheets)

Here's a photo of the beautiful cards you will make at this class! Don't miss out on this class as the Occasions mini catalog retires at the end of June and this fabulous product could be retired forever.

RSVP with payment is due no later than Wednesday, May 27th to reserve your spot. Beginners welcome! Long distance class also available - additional shipping costs will apply.

Sundays with Sizzix

Thanks, Judy, for emailing me to gently point out that I had forgotten to create a video tutorial on how to create the beautiful Quilt Card that I posted several days ago.

Here's a photo of that card, using Brocade Blue as the feature color:

Gather together the following supplies and then watch the video below for complete instructions.

Quilt Card

Stamp Set: Oval All

Card stock: Brocade Blue (4.25 x 5.50, sraps), Whisper White (two pieces: 4 x 5.25, scraps), Level 1 Hostess Patterns Pack (6 sheets of Brocade Blue patterns paper)

Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Oval, 1 1/4" Square, Corner Rounder

Ink: Brocade Blue

Ribbon: Ribbon Originals: Valet (4.50" long strip) 

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, Standard Cutting Plates, Bone Folder, Snail adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals

Don't forget one of the May specials which would be perfect for making this card: Buy three packs of Designer Series paper and you get one additional pack for FREE! Click here to see more information on this special.

And now for the video. Enjoy!

Do you have a special request for a video tutorial? Email me at [email protected]!

Scrapbooking S.O.S.

Sometimes a very talented card maker will tell me she is hesitant to become a demonstrator and start her own business because she doesn't scrapbook and wouldn't be able to help anyone who does. And I just as often hear from a very talented scrapbooker that she doesn't "do" cards and so wouldn't be able to help anyone who does.

Stampin' Up! has an art gallery of card and scrapbook samples created by the Home Office and talented card creators and scrapbookers that is available only to demonstrators to support them with ideas, techniques and samples. They also publish a monthly magazine with creative samples and business tips and in the past year have offered teleconference calls, class ideas, and video tutorials too, some of which I have already shared with you.

Today's post is a super cute baby scrapbook page taken right from the demonstrator website:

Baby scrapbook page (12" x 12")
Stamps: Short Order Alphabet Stamp Set	Paper: Card Stock Naturals White 8 1/2X11 Simply Scrappin' Rock-A-Bye Boy
Ink Classic Stampin Pad Old Olive	Accessories: Coluzzle Cutting System Starter Set Stampin Dimensionals Clips Assortment
Instructions Baby page (12" x 12") 1. Stamp name in Old Olive ink on Old Olive textured page. 2. Adhere Chocolate Chip textured card stock (12" x 7/8") to page approximately 1-1/2" from top. 3. Adhere “Sail away” die cut border to bottom edge of page. Adhere wavy Bashful Blue border above “Sail away” border. 4. Adhere photos to left side of page. Adhere month labels to photos using Stampin’ Dimensionals. 5. Adhere “Baby” die cuts to top of page (adhere both letters “B” using Stampin’ Dimensionals). Adhere “100% all boy” circle die cut to page using Stampin’ Dimensionals. 6. Print journaling on Naturals White card stock (5" x 5"). Distress edges of card stock and attach clip to left side. Adhere journaling to page using Stampin’ Dimensionals. 7. Cut circle from Tangerine Tango textured card stock (6" x 6") using Coluzzle Cutting System. Adhere die-cut sails to circle. Adhere small star die cut to right sail using Stampin’ Dimensionals. Adhere bottom of sailboat to circle using Stampin’ Dimensionals. Adhere circle to page using Stampin’ Dimensionals. The May $75 Scrapbook Starter Kit promotion is the best I have seen in years. Contact me at [email protected] to join my team or to order the supplies to make this cute page and let the fun begin!

10-15-25 Class

Want a fun event to attend? Check out my brand new class:

10-15-25 Class

Would you like to have a variety of cards tucked away for many different occasions? Then this brand new class is perfect for you! Make 10 cards, each taking 15 minutes (max) to make. Cost of the class: only a $25 order.

Date: Saturday, May 30
Place: My Stampin' Spot
Time: 2:00 pm OR 6:00 pm (whichever time is best for you!)

Must place your product order by May 27 to reserve your seat.  Beginners welcome! 

 

Email me at [email protected] to place your order.  (shipping and tax will apply - please indicate which class time you prefer) 

 

Would you like a sneak peek at two of the cards created just for this class?

 

 

Don't miss out on your chance to enjoy this class. Due to class popularity please be advised that effective immediately, class seats will be held for prepaid registration only. 

What I have Learned as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator (part one)

If you know me at all, you will quickly see how much I LOVE being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator! The past six years have zoomed by and in the past three my business has grown so much my life has become amazing! My All About Stamping team of demonstrators are some of the best friends I have and then there's my customers - the best EVER!

I thought I would share with you several valuable lessons I have learned as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator:

I have learned:

• that there are not enough hours in a lifetime to make all of the projects that I will see and want to copy
• there are no mistakes in stamping.........even as I wonder," How will I fix this?".......there is always a way

• that no matter how exhausted you are from your day, a chance to sneak away to stamp with friends will suddenly revive you (and chocolate makes it ever so much better!)

• that your children may tease you or complain about all your supplies and your stamping, but they love being able to use your punches, your card stock, your SNAIL, your Sticky Strip, etc. to create school projects
• that I can't mount stamps straight no matter how hard I try.  But, I've also learned how to use my Stamp-a-ma-jig!
• how to ask if you have anything "liquid, fragile, perishable, or potentially hazardous" in a package you are trying to mail - yes, I go to the post office a lot!
• that cats love to drag ribbon off the spools and all around the house and will manage to do so no matter where you try to hide the spool. A second lesson: ribbon is not digestible!
• that stampers are great recyclers.  Who else can find a way to use an empty paint can, empty Pringles tube, empty toilet paper roll, empty Starbucks glass bottle, etc.?
• that I no longer think in color terms of red, yellow, blue - yes, it is now Riding Hood Red, Real Red or Ruby Red and does it go well with the Olive Green, Garden Green or maybe Kiwi Kiss? 

• that people are so thrilled with themselves when they complete their first project! 

• Having a downline is so rewarding and their feedback/input can be so uplifting for me!
• that you can meet and become friends with people you would have NEVER met otherwise!

• that being a Stampin Up demonstrator is the best job in the world!
  

Have you thought of becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? You can do so for only $75 until May 31st. Click here to download a document that explains everything you needed to know about being a demonstrator. And stay tuned for more valuable lessons I learned!

Fifth Avenue Floral scrapbook page

Another favorite pack of designer series paper is the Urban Oasis. This too will be retired in June due to the fact that all In Colors will be retired and this paper has Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss in it. I love one of the patterned paper in this pack as it matches the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set. My dilemma was how to use two sheets of this patterned paper with 11 scrapbook club members. Then it hit me! What if my club members created their own patterned paper using Fifth Avenue Floral and the Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss Classic ink?

So here is the result which turned out to be just as popular as the page on yesterday's blog posting. I think the trick to a heavy pattern is to keep the top layers very simple:

So I drew from the Basic Gray, Whisper White and Baja Breeze in the background and used layers of matching cardstock for the photo mats. Once I decide what photos I will use I will add a jounaling block using similar colors to complete the page.

If you'd like to join my scrapbook club, contact me today as the next round begins in July! And don't forget to order your favorite designer series paper - click here (and then click on "paper") to see all the different packs.

Walk in the Park Scrapbook Page

I am really going to miss this particular pack of designer series paper when it retires in June. I have loved making cards with it, running it through my Big Shot, creating 3D projects using it and now creating scrapbook pages with it.

Yesterday my Scrapbook Club met for their May meeting and created three pages. Of course I had to use Walk in the Park on all three! The sample I am going to share with you today was a very simple layout but oh, so pretty! I also used my Big Shot to create two Little Leaves sizzlets using Baja Breeze and Going Gray. These became accents on the page. I used the Scallop Edge punch and an image from Matchbox Messages stamped in Basic Gray at the top of the page. Simple yet effective, yes?

My scrapbook club ends in June but a brand new club will be starting in July, along with a brand new Stampin' Up! catalog! If you want to join my club, contact me at [email protected].

Urban Garden Gift Bag

When a fellow demonstrator shared this gift bag idea, I immediately fell in love and decided that my Anything but a Card Club would have to make it at our May meeting. This creation is a great way to use up scrap designer series paper - in this case Urban Garden designer series paper (#112042). One of the members had asked about the Corduroy buttons and so I surprised her by adding this element to the word phrase on the bag. If you decide to make this at home, our gift bags (#100900) come three to a pack and the Curdoroy buttons are found in the Occasions mini catalog (#114345). The finishing touch was the Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon (#111372) which, I am sad to point out, will be retiring in June.

 

My next Anything but a Card Club will be starting again in late July. There is no club fee as each member is required to place a minimum of $15 order each time we meet (with 10 members in the club). Contact me at [email protected] to join.

Sundays with Sizzix

Friday was the final meeting of my Anything but a Card club and so I wanted to choose three really special projects to round out the club meeting. Today's Sunday with Sizzix video tutorial features the Daisies #2 Bigz die to create a Daisies photo frame, adapted from a project that a fellow demonstrator created.

Here's a photo of the completed project and read on for the ingredients, measurements and the video tutorial.

Ingredients:

Cardstock: Old Olive (two pieces 2.25 x 2.50 and scraps), Whisper White (scraps, two pieces 5.50 x 5.25), Walk in the Park designer series paper #115123 (3.25 x 5.25)

Stamp set: Oval All (#113790)

Accessories: Dollar Store 4x6 photo frame, 2-way glue pen, Snail adhesive,Stampin' Dimensionals, Big Shot, Daisies #2 (#114520), Little Leaves Sizzlet (#114511)

Punches: Scallop Oval (#114889), Wide Oval (#112082), 1/2" circle (#104390)

Ink: Old Olive

Video Tutorial:

 

 

To order the supplies used to create this Daisies photo frame, please click here. To join my Anything but a Card Club, which begins again in late July, please email me at: [email protected].

Hi Friend Scrapbook Page

Want a quick and easy scrapbook page using the Sunshine Garden Simply Scrappin' Kit? Check this out and the instructions below:

 

Ingredients:

Stamps

• None were used

Paper

• Sunshine Garden Simply Scrappin' Kit

Ink

• Old Olive Stampin' Write marker

Accessories

• Apricot Appeal 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
• Button Bouquet
• Stampin' Dimensionals

Instructions

1. Adhere Certainly Celery textured card stock to Baja Breeze textured card stock. Adhere photo to Certainly Celery textured card stock. Adhere strip of Designer Series paper to side of photo.
2. Adhere strip of So Saffron textured card stock below photo. Adhere strip of Designer Series paper above So Saffron textured card stock. Tie Apricot Appeal ribbon around page.
3. Adhere "Hi" die cut to page. Adhere small flower above "i."
4. Adhere "Friend" die cut to page using Stampin' Dimensionals.
5. Adhere flower stem die cut to page using Stampin' Dimensionals. Adhere flower die cut to page; layer second flower die cut to first flower. Thread crochet thread through button and tie, then adhere button to flower center.
6. Journal with Stampin'  Write marker.

Simply Scrappin' kits are the way to go for anyone who has a very busy life. Click here to order the supplies used to make this scrapbook page!