Nutz about Stamping

Sundays with Sizzix: Cheep Talk Scrapbook Page

Happy birthday to me!!! Yes, today is my birthday and along with my video tutorial, I will be offering you a time sensitive birthday special. Check it out at the bottom of this blog post!

Today's video tutorial shows you how to create fun scrapbook page titles using the Big Shot. Here's one of the pages my Scrapbook Club created at their February club meeting:

  

 

Cheep Talk Scrapbook Page

Stamp Set: Cheep Talk #113204

Card stock: Ballet Blue (12 x 12; 1 ½ x 11"; scraps), Bashful Blue (6 x 11"), Certainly Celery (5 x 11", scraps, five pieces 2 ½ x 3 ½"), Whisper White (4 ¼ x 6 ¼"; 5 x 4", 4 ½ x 2 ½"), Pawsitively Prints designer series paper #118060 (3" square), Pretty in Pink scraps

Ink: Certainly Celery, Ballet Blue

Punches: 1" circle, 1 3/8" circle, Scallop Border, Trio Flower, X-Large Fancy Flower #118073

Accessories: Big Shot, Platform, Standard Cutting plates, Timeless Type Alphabet Junior #115951

And now for the video tutorial. Enjoy!

 

 

Birthday Special: Purchase any Stampin' Up products totaling $25 or more and you get one Big Shot Sizzlit Die OR one bolt of ¼"Grosgrain ribbon of your choice for FREE! Check out pages 183 and 196 in the Idea Book and Catalog to see what you can get for free.

Offer good only through Terri Walker from February 28 – March 3, 2010. Long distance orders welcome.

 

Scrapbook Page: Petal Pizzaz

This afternoon my Scrapbook Club meets to create three different scrapbook page layouts. This club formed last August and meets every second month for fun, friendship and yes, some scrapbooking too. I really enjoy creating layouts for each club meeting. Scrapbooking was my first love in the paper crafting world preserving my family memories is very important to me.

Here's one of the layouts my club is making today. The club hostess (who also gets the order benefits from the club purchases) requested Spring themes:

 

Petal Pizzaz Scrapbook Page

Stamp set: Petal Pizzaz

Card stock: Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Razzleberry Lemondade designer series paper

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Eyelet Border punch, paper snips, Scallop Border Trim punch, Stampin' Dimensionals (under some of the flowers)

If you would like to attend my scrapbooking classes or for more information on joining my Scrapbook Club, or on how to form a private club for you and your friends, email me at: [email protected] And if you are interested in seeing the other two scrapbook pages my club members are going the make today, go to my Facebook business page and become a fan.

Card Club: Two-step bird punch

I am so excited that my card club meets tonight! I love planning for my clubs each month as I get to design specific projects to suit the club members. Tonight the members are going to make three different cards using Occasion mini catalog products and Big Shot dies.

Here's one of the cards they are going to make, which features the Two-step Bird punch:

  

I love how the card opens in the center, sort of like doors, and this feature is accented by using the Scallop Trim Border punch. The designer series paper just arrived this past week. It's called Bella Bleu:

  

Believe me, this paper looks so pretty in real life - not washed out like the photo of the paper pack above - perhaps you can tell by looking back up at my card.

If you live in the Raleigh area and would be interested in joining a Card Club to learn how to make cards like this one, I have a new club starting in March. Email me at: [email protected] for more information. New stampers welcome!

My Favorite Color Combination

My favorite color combination is Bashful Blue and Basic Black and whenever I am having trouble choosing colors for a card layout I always go back to this favorite color combo. I find these two colors together to be simple yet striking and every time I use them together I get positive comments from my customers and friends.

Basic Black is a great background for most all colors but I think it is outstanding for the Soft Subtles color family. Use it as a layer (or two) so that you can still write a message on the inside of the card or if you decide to use Basic Black as the card base itself add a layer of Whisper White or a matching Soft Subtle color so that the message can be seen.

Here's another baby shower card I made using my favorite color combination:

 

Nursery Necessities Baby Shower Card

Stamp Set: Nursery Necessities

Card stock: Basic Black, Whisper White

Acccessories: Small oval punch, Large oval punch, Scallop oval punch

I would love for your to share your favorite Stampin' Up! color combinations with me. If you click the "Comment" button under this post you can add your faves for us to consider the next time we are creating cards. Speaking of creating cards, you and your friends can book a private class to learn how to make cards for a variety of occasions. Email me at [email protected] to book a date!

Animal Stories baby card

Just like I have a team of wonderful demonstrators that I love to support with business and creative ideas, I am part of a bigger team and get the same support.

This past week one of my "uplines", a demonstrator three levels above me, sent a card sample that I have want to play with. Her sample was a baby card idea done in pink diagonal plaid, using Fox and Friends, on page 31 of the Occasions mini catalog. I don't have that stamp set (yet!) but needed to make a card for a baby boy shower at work this week. So I decided to use the theme of the card, add a bit of my own flavor and use Animal Stories (on page 88 of the Idea Book and Catalog) for my card. 

 

Here's my card, using the Sweet Pea designer series paper pack:

  

The best part about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is getting so many ideas  you want to play with and make your own. The worst part? Not having enough time to make all my ideas! (tough problem to have, huh)

If you want to have your own Stampin' Up! business and be your own boss or make some extra money each month for your family, contact me. I would love to have you join my team! Plus, there's a great special on until March 31st to get your demonstrator kit at a reduced price.

Ronald McDonald House

Last night I volunteered at Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill. The house is so cute - it was designed with children in mind and welcoming even from the parking lot. I stopped and took a couple of photos of the outside to share with you.

 

This is the first thing you see after you get out of the car - isn't that cute? Then you walk along a covered sidewalk toward the front door and look who is sitting waiting for you:

 

He makes me smile every time I volunteer at the house.

I really enjoyed designing the card the families made last night - I knew I wanted to use our fabulous punches as they are a time saver yet add a nice visual detail. One punch I am quite taken with is the new Two-Step Bird punch as it cuts three pieces and makes a nice decorative touch.

Here's the card everyone made - they LOVED it too! The colors are Basic Gray, Pretty in Pink and Ballet Blue. The Big Shot and Perfect Polka-dots embossing folder made the background layer and the image comes from Short & Sweet.

  

Try making this quick and easy card at home; using the phrases in Short & Sweet allows you to tuck away several cards for a variety of occasions.

Sketch Challenge: Eastern Blooms

Here's a fun card sketch challenge you. The layout is nice and easy to follow so let's bump it up a notch or two. First, let's look at the card map sketch:

 

Valentine's Day just ended so unless you like to REALLY plan ahead for your card making, I challenge you to follow this map but not use any heart images at all.

Here's my take on this challenge:

 

Eastern Blooms Card

Stamp set: Eastern Bloom

Markers: Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie

Punches: Scallop Trim Border, Word Window

Accessories: Paper snips, Stampin' Dimensionals

So now it's your turn. What can you create with this card sketch? Send me a jpeg image of your card and it just may show up on my blog too!

Sundays with Sizzix: Scallop Square Rag Purse

If you love fabric arts, if you can sew a straight line and have the Big Shot, this project is definitely for you! Here's what you can create using the Big Shot and Stampin' Up!s exclusive Scallop Square BIGZ die:

  

 

Scallop Square Rag Purse

Fabric: ¼ yard of three different patterned fabric OR ½ yard of two different patterned fabric, 1/4 yard of cotton batting
Accessories: Big Shot, Standard Cutting Pads, Scallop Square BIGZ die #115950, Sewing machine and matching thread, rotary cutter and pad, ruler, Anywhere Glue Stick #104045

And now for the video tutorial. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Place an order through me that includes the Scallop Square BIGZ die and I will send you explicit instructions on how to make the Scallop Square Rag Purse. Email me at [email protected] or go order through my Online Ordering system (then click the Shop Now button).

One Card, Two Looks: Beautiful Wings

At a stamping class a while ago couple of customers suggested that I show some different looks for the same card stock and stamp set. Today's post shows how making just a few small changes can result in a different card idea.

Do you have your Big Shot yet? Both of the cards below use Stampin' Up!s Big Shot and the Beautiful Wings embosslit. Both cards use Melon Mambo and Basic Black and the Whimsical Words stamp set and the Scallop Trim Border punch, which can be FREE with a $50 order.

Here's the first card:

  

I ran the Beautiful Wings embosslit through the Big Shot using Melon Mambo and Basic Black scraps – a great way to use up leftover card stock.

 

Here's the second card:

  

This time I only used Melon Mambo with the Beautiful Wings embosslit but I used two additional products: the Photo Corners punch for the black order and the White Gel pen to add the dots on the small butterflies and on the Basic Black strip.

Which card do you prefer? Click on the comment button right under the post and tell us which one you like best! And contact me to order your Big Shot - think of all the FREE Sale-a-Bration product you will get if you purchase your Big Shot before March 31st!

The Thrill of Victory: my Stampin' Up! Bonus

All this week we have been watching the Olympics and cheering on athletes as they compete in all the different events. We have been living the thrill of their victory and the agony of their defeat.

I am so excited to share my own thrill of victory! I earned a $1000 cash bonus from Stampin' Up! for my sales achievements. With your support I have achieved $100,000 in career sales and am now on my way to my next goal of $200,000 in career sales so I can earn a $2000 cash bonus.

My wish list is about 1000 miles long but I did settle down a bit and decide to invest part of my bonus money back into my business. I purchased the following so we could play with them at my Crop Nights:

    

   

This is not all I purchased but you will have to wait to see more until you attend my classes or if you book a private class for you and your friends. I would love to plan a class featuring the Big Shot and show you some different idea using these new dies.

What would you do with an extra $1000? Join my team and I will show you how you, too, can earn a $1000 cash bonus! Email me to see the demonstrator starter kit, now at a special price!

Border and Corner Punches

Quite of few of you have been loving the Scallop Trim border punch and are now looking at getting the Scallop Trip Corner punch so that you can make scallops around layers for cards, scrapbook pages and paper crafting projects.

I am excited that Stampin' Up! has published their own "how to" video done by one of their employees, Bonnie Thurber. I am sure that you haven't met Bonnie yet so you are in for a real treat when you hear her dry sense of humor. Enjoy the video!

 

Please contact me if you have any questions about this video. And if you want to get the Scallop Trim border punch for FREE you can do so with a $50 product order from any of our current catalogs. Just email me at: [email protected] or place your own order by going to my Online Ordering System, open 24/7! Once there, click the "Shop Now" button.

Simply Adorned

In the Holiday mini catalog, Stampin' UP! announced a brand new line called Simply Adorned. I was amazed by this line and created my A Valentine for my Valentine class around it. This class was just for men and if your man didn't attend, here's what you missed receiving on Valentine's Day. 

   

Our Simply Adorned line beautifully combines the best of two worlds: stamping and jewelry! We designed our Simply Adorned charms to hold a creation you design yourself, making your jewelry truly unique.

 

Simply Adorned charms are lockets--they open up so you can insert your custom stamped image. The Charming stamp set, along with Rub-Ons, glitter, ribbons, and other embellishments, can help you create your unique charm insert. And don't forget that you can embellish the chains with ribbon, felt flowers . . . the possibilities are endless! The frame surrounds tempered beveled glass on the front and flat glass on the back. Because there's glass on both sides of the charm, you can display an image on one side or both. You can create a custom heirloom piece that you'll never want to change, or you can swap artwork in and out, depending on your mood and your wardrobe.

And although we designed Simply Adorned charms to be jewelry, they also make delightful key chains or Christmas tree ornaments. Insert a stamped image or photo of your loved ones, tie a ribbon through the clasp, and you're done!

Here's my first insert that I created with my class in mind:

 

The Simply Adorned line appears once again in the Occasions mini catalog on page 28. Here's the chart in case you don't have the mini catalog:

 

If you want to see the Occasions mini catalog, you can download one by clicking on the image found on the right-hand side of my blog. To purchase the Simply Adorned line or to have a private class for you and your friends, contact me. I am participating in a charm insert swap so will have over 20 samples to share with you soon!

The NEXT product I'm going to buy from the Catalog

I bet you're surprised that I haven't bought everything yet, hehe! I space out what I purchase each month which means that I constantly have new product and ideas to share with you and so that I, too, can feel that anticipation while I wait for my favorite man in brown (my UPS man).

Here's what I'm going to buy next:

 
It's the Eggcellent Eggs Kit in the Occasions mini catalog, found on page 23.

But wait, you say, I don't have little kids around my house anymore. Neither do I so I am not going to use my kit to decorate eggs. I am going to use my kit to make cards, and paper crafts! Check out the kit contents: rub-ons, die-cut flowers and adhesive-backed rhinestones!

I saw some wonderful ideas at Stampin' Up!s Leadership conference in January that I can't wait to show YOU! I have added a new class to my calendar of events called Have an Eggscellent Easter that will feature several unique ideas beyond decorating eggs. Check out my very affordable class here. The class fee includes your very own kit!

And don't miss the Eggcoutrements stamp set on page 22, an eggscellent compliment to the Eggs kit!

  

If you live long distance you are certainly going to want to add this kit to your next order from me. Once your order is placed, I will email you a few unique ideas that I will be featuring in my class for my local stampers. Go here to access my Online Ordering system, open 24/7! (click the Shop Now button)

2010 Olympics project

I am sure you are glued to the TV these days watching the 2010 Olympics and cheering on your favorite athletes. I am not sure you know but I am Canadian born and bred and have spent many days of my youth vacationing in Vancouver, British Columbia and highly recommend this city as a great site for your vacation too.

Along with the Olympics come some great commercials - most of them provide us with a big belly laugh.

Coke™ is one of the sponsors and there is a special design to highlight their sponsorship of the Olympics:

  

 

So how is this related to Stampin' Up you ask? When I was at Stampin' Up!s Leadership conference in January one of the featured speakers told us that soda bottles can be mailed! Yes, mailed to someone's home. So I decided to give this a try. I enlisted my son to drink a six pack of Coke™ (hard job huh!) and I drank a six pack of water so that I could mail a Valentine's present to each member on the first level of my team. I washed each bottle out, let it dry and then added a few tiny bags of product, a few lengths of ribbon and a Valentine's letter that I created using My Digital Studio. 

Here's a photo of one of the bottles:

  

I used mailing labels to stick to the outside of each bottle and took them to the Post Office. When I enquired about whether mailing these bottles was possible, I was told, "Honey, you can mail anything!" Everyone in line at the Post Office thought my bottles were a really fun idea. I even had a lady say to me, "Oh! I could mail my daughter's birthday invites". Think of the possibilities!

If you want to join my team and get fun gifts like this one, email me ([email protected]) for more information. The demonstrator starter kit is on sale during Sale-a-Bration and you get to choose any stamp set ($47.95 or less) in the 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog for FREE as a bonus in your kit. Long distance demonstrators welcome. Click here to see a video about life as a demonstrator.

 

Sundays with Sizzix: Flower Folds Card

There are so many advantages of being on a team of demonstrators and one of them is sharing products. One of the members of my All About Stamping team purchased the Flower Folds BIGZ XL die and I borrowed it for a few days to make a couple of video tutorials to share with you. Today's video shows how to use this die to make this card:

 

  

Flower Folds Card

Stamp Set: Well Scripted #118601 (clear mount)

Card stock: Orchid Opulence (5 ½ x 4 ½"), Shades of Spring designer series paper (two colors: Color A – two pieces 5 x 4 ½" Color B – one piece 5 x 4 ½")

Ink: Orchid Opulence Classic pad

Accessories: Big Shot, Extended Cutting plates, Flower Folds BIGZ XL die #115970, Certainly Celery Satin ribbon (5 ½" strip), Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1" Circle punch #109046

And now for the video tutorial. Enjoy!

 

 

Make sure you come back next week to see another way to use this fun BIGZ die. To order the die or any other Stampin' Up! products, email me at [email protected] or go here to access my Online Ordering system, open 24/7 (click on the Shop Now button).

For more information on how to join my fun team, attend my Opportunity night tomorrow (Monday, February 15^th) at 7:00 pm. Learn all about the fun and advantages of joining my team and being your own boss. Please RSVP as we will be stamping too!