Nutz about Stamping

Summer Splash

This past weekend I realized with a shock that all of the Summer Mini catalog stamp sets are going to retire this week....eek! So I went through my stamp sets to find all the ones I would be packing away and spotted Summer Splash.

I had originally bought this set for all the beach photos I planned on taking when on my girls week away this summer. The idea was to relax and regroup with a great group of friends. Mission accomplished because I didn't take photos to scrapbook like I had planned!

So here's Summer Splash used to create a card:

 

 

I also used my Tasteful Trim die and scrap papers to create the waves under the surfboards and added a Rhinestone Jewel to draw attention to the "just for you" phrase. (Recognize the Nautical Expression designer series paper?)

If you have lots of summer beach photos you'd like to scrapbook this fall, don't wait - contact me ([email protected]) to add Summer Splash to your stamp set collection too!

Sail Away card

Today's card features a stamp set that is going to retire on August 31st - Sail Away. This has been a very popular stamp set - not only is it cost effective but it is great for masculine cards.

Since the Nautical Expressions designer series paper is also going to retire I decided to combine these two retirees to create this card:

 

Did you notice the Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine in the center of the card? After I adhered the twine I used four Stampin' Dimensionals (one in each corner) of the Sail Away top layer to pop it off the card front. Although you can't see it in the photo, it is a very nice effect.

If you didn't purchase Sail Away when the Summer Mini catalog first came out and you wish to do so now, click here to go to my Online Store, open 24/7!

Sundays with Sizzix: Stripes Embossing Folder

This is the last week to purchase products from the Summer Mini Catalog, so I decided to feature a stamp set and designer series paper from the mini in today's video tutorial. We all need masculine cards tucked away and The Open Sea and Nautical Expressions designer series paper are perfect for any masculine occasion!

The Open Sea card

Stamp set: The Open Sea #123032, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Not Quite Navy

Paper: Not Quite Navy (4 ¼ x 11, 3 ¼ x 4 ½, scrap 1 ¾" wide), Whisper White (scraps, 3 1/8 x 4 3/8), Nautical Expressions designer series paper #122343 (4 x 5 ¼)

Punches: Decorative Label, 1 ¾" Circle, Modern Label, Word Window

Accessories: Big Shot, Platform, Standard cutting pads, Stripes embossing folder #123128, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive

And now for the video tutorial. Don't miss my special offer below the video, ending August 31st!

Stampin' Up! has an August designer series paper promotion that you won't want to miss: Buy 3, Get 1 FREE! This is the perfect time to purchase your favorite designer paper packs, including the Summer Mini designer series paper, to be ready for all your fall and holiday cards. Click here for the promotion details.

I will be submitting an order to Stampin' Up! this week. If you are a long distance customer you can add to my order (to save on shipping costs) and I will mail your order from my house to yours for FREE. Get your order to me soon as my special offer ends August 31^st. And if you order The Open Sea & Nautical Expressions paper I will send you several sample ideas for you to create at home! Are you a local customer? You are welcome to add to my order to save on shipping costs too!

Summer Mini Catalog

I know that most of you are drooling over your brand new Holiday Mini catalog but as your Stampin' Up! demonstrator I have three important reminders to mention today.

The Summer Mini catalog ends August 31st. Now is the time to have one final look at all the products you had on your Summer Mini wish list to make sure you got what you wanted. After August 31st, these products will retire. And if you misplaced your Summer mini or didn't get one from me in the mail, click on the photo of the cover to access a PDF document to download to your desktop.

The Buy 3 designer series papers packs and Get 1 FREE promotion ends August 31st. This is the perfect month for scrapbookers, stampers and paper crafters to get their favorite designer series paper packs and get one more for FREE. Click on the above promotion photo to see the flyer.

The Strength & Hope campaign ends August 31st. $2 from the sale of every set will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. This is a beautiful stamp set that has a place on your stamp set shelf. Won't you help make a difference too? Click on the photo above to see the images in this stamp set.

I know that this reminder has you thinking twice about all the promotions that end August 31st. I am placing a large product order this weekend and you can save on shipping by adding to my order. And for those of you who live long distance from me (US only, sorry), email me ([email protected]) your order by Sunday at 7:00 pm EST and I will pay to have it shipped from my place to yours after it arrives at my Stampin' Spot! Please include your phone number in your email so we can make order payment arrangements. First time buyers welcome!

 

 

Hurricane Preparedness

Here's a tongue-in-cheek way to prepare for Hurricane Irene, shared by a fellow demonstrator! Copy the following list and check it off as you go. Feel free to forward this list on to your crafty friends:

Hurricane Irene Preparedness List

1. Overnight any necessary stampin’ supplies needed to lock myself inside safe from the storm

2. Purchase battery operated lamps for craft room

3. Stock up on batteries

4. Purchase necessary crafting sustenance – Root Beer, Assorted Nuts, chocolate bars, BBQ ptotato chips, wine, popcorn, berries (all kinds) – these are my favorites – substitute your favorite snacks

5. Download and print ideas I have saved to CASE on my computer in case the power goes out

6. Charge cell phone

7. Wash most comfy sweats so they are ready to live in for the day

8. Charge camera battery (consider purchasing extra camera battery) because you know we need to take pictures of the storm to scrapbook!

Joking aside -  be safe and have a creative (and dry!) weekend!

Project 52 - Week 19

Isn't it funny how a couple of weeks can go by with nothing much exciting going on and then several events all hit you at once? That's what has happened to me lately. Lots of fun events to scrapbook in my Project 52 album!

Today's page relates back to Week 16 when I scrapbooked a change in my, as I lovingly call it, day job.

  


I moved to a new school over the summer so I thought this big event in my life was worth scrapbooking. I have been adjusting to a lot of new faces and names. The staff is really fun and we had a great time at our first staff meeting of the year. The theme was FWES Rocks, complete with inflatable microphones and guitars, washable tattoos and karaoke machines playing motivating rock songs.

To create the page I used one of the Whisper White pattern background papers and the Notes & Details stamp set. I like how the focus is on the photos first and the swirl stamp adds an interesting "detail" too.

If you'd like a free class on My Digital Studio, or to learn more about digital paper crafting, I'd be happy to add a date on my calendar to show you all the amazing things you can do with this program. Happy scrappin'!

Serene Snowflakes

This past weekend I held my first of three Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack classes. The attendees made fifteen Christmas cards with envelopes - three each of five different designs!

Here's one of the cards made at my class:

I stamped two images from Serene Snowflakes in two different colors and finished with a phrase from Heard from the Heart. And of course no holiday card is complete without a splash of Dazzling Diamonds glitter so I added some in the center of each snowflake for a beautiful bling!

I mentioned earlier that this class was the first of three so it's time to announce class number two:

Date - Sunday, September 18th
Time - 2:00 pm
Cost - you have two choices: a. $30 flat fee OR b. a $60 order for product of your choice

If you wish to register for my next Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack using the flat fee choice, you can do so now below:

 

Otherwise, contact me to reserve your spot and I will be in touch for your order!

Want to come to Fiji with me?

Yes, you read that correctly - Fiji!

One of the two incentive trips Stampin' Up! is offering this year is an all expenses paid week-long trip for two to Fiji! I am going to earn this trip and you can too!

Here's what you need to do:

- contact me to join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator. And there is an added bonus if you do so by September 4th. Everyone who joins my team by September 4th will receive the Sweet Cakes stamp set which will be a brand new stamp set in the Occasions Mini Catalog (unveiled in January, 2012).

- choose which stamp sets, ink and card stock colors you want in your Starter Kit (isn't it nice that you can choose your faves?)

- let your friends and family members know that you have a new business venture and they will be happy to help you get started!

- follow an Incentive Trip plan that you and I will create together

- attend Stampin' Up! events and online training designed to help you build your business

- contact me and my fabulous team members for guidance, tips and ideas any time you need them!

To help you understand the business and all it can offer to you and your family, I am holding a free Opportunity Event on Sunday, August 28 at 1:00 at my Stampin' Spot. You are invited to attend and bring along your questions. Of course we will be doing some stamping too so please RSVP to: [email protected].

So, what are you waiting for? Let's get you started on your new business and Incentive Trip plan and we'll celebrate your success in Fiji!

For more information on the Starter Kit and to see a video produced by Stampin' Up!, go here.

Button Buddies at Ronald McDonald House

Tonight I will be at the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill stamping with the residents there. Sometimes I struggle with what to design and plan as I don't ever know who is going to stamping with me. But this month I immediately knew what stamp set I wanted to use: Button Buddies (#122737 Clear Mount).

I have loved this stamp set since I saw it in the new catalog and it was on my very first demonstrator order.

So I spent some time today before my Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack planning and prepping this card:

 

I had two containers of Regals buttons that I wanted to use so chose my card stock colors from the same color collection. This clean & simple Button Buddies card will be easy for all ages to make at the House tonight.

 

Sundays with Sizziz – Berry Blossoms Notepad Case

The Stampin' Up! Regional workshop in Charlotte, NC was a blast! I learned a lot of new tips and tricks for stamping and paper crafting and even won a Prize Patrol stamp set!

But the best part was handing out the gift I created to my team and seeing how excited they were when they opened them. Today's video tutorial shows you how to make these beautiful cases:

Berry Blossoms Notepad Case

Paper: Berry Blossoms designer series paper #122350 (7 x 10 ½", 5 x ½")), Whisper White (11 x 1 ½"), Lucky Limeade scraps

Accessories: Big Shot, Extended Cutting pads, Tasteful Trim die #120893, 2-Way Glue pen, Snail Adhesive, Note pad, Itty Bitty punch pack, Clear-Mount Stamp Cases #119105

And now for the video tutorial. Enjoy!

I have a confession - in all the excitement I forgot to take a photo of what I put inside this case! But to see some other Notepad cases (and what's inside each) that I created for my team, click here to my Facebook Business page.

Don't forget - this is the perfect time to pick up your favorite designer series paper packs with Stampin' Up!s August designer series paper promotion - click here to see more details. To place an order for products to make your own cases, click here.

Stampers Survey

Today Stampin' Up! comes to Charlotte, NC for an all day Regional workshop. Several members on my team are traveling there for the day to learn some business tips and to see veteran demonstrators share their creative ideas. And of course there are make-n-takes too!

Stampin' Up! events are so much fun! When I was at Convention this summer the attendees were issued a challenge and this week it was announced that we earned our challenge! And our reward is: THREE free stamp sets!

And for some odd reason, I am at a loss at to where to begin. So I am turning to you. If I called you and told you that you had won three free stamps sets, which three would you choose?

Have a look through the Idea Book & Catalog (and the Holiday Mini if you received your copy this week) and think about your top three must-haves. Then use the "Comments" button below to share your choices. My "free three" cannot include Hostess stamp sets as those are reserved for you when you book a workshop or host a catalog or virtual party.

Which three would you choose?

Floral Fillers card

The other day when I was checking my mail I had two greeting card envelopes in my mailbox. I wasn't expecting to get any cards - it wasn't my birthday - so I was very curious and couldn't wait to get back into my house to see who had sent them.

My day instantly became better! One of the cards was from one of my "uplines". When I joined Stampin' Up! 8 years ago the person who recruited me is known as my upline. She has an upline, who has an upline and so on. Connie is a couple of levels above me but still considers me one of her "downlines" and offers trainings and incentives to help me grow my business.

And Connie sent me this card....

to congratulate me on my business sales in July! She used her Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Floral Fillers stamp set and Butterfly Punch to create this card.

I learned how nice it is to get an unexpected treat in my mailbox and plan to pay it forward to my customers this fall. And if you are wondering what the second greeting card was about, you'll have to check back here - I'll post about that card soon.

Remember that when you see cards you love you can order the supplies to create them at home. You can shop in your jammies in my Online Store, open 24/7.

Halloween Scrapbook page

I love Halloween scrapbook page ideas! I have already mentioned that at my team meeting in July I made swaps from some brand new team members. And since our swap theme was 6x6 scrapbook pages I had to make a Halloween page, now didn't I!

Here's the page I created, using Wicked Cool and the Frightful Sight designer series paper:

This page could be added to a larger 12x12 page and be a focus feature on that page.Or it could easily stand alone - add a photo, some journaling and pop it into your 6x6 album.

If you love scrapbooking, consider hosting a Stampin' Up! scrapbook party for you and your friends. Hostesses can earn a lot of free products perfect for upcoming holiday photos and pages!

Don't miss out on Stampin' Up!s August promotion for designer series paper. This is the perfect time to pick up several packs to be ready for your fall and winter projects. Click here to learn more!

Wicked Cool Halloween Card

One of my Card Clubs met last night and our lovely hostess for the month, Pam, requested a Halloween card idea. I LOVE the Wicked Cool stamp set and decided to bump it up a notch for my club meeting.

 

Here's how I created some unique touches for my card:

- I stamped the En Francais background in Basic Gray on Whisper White.

- I stamped the Wicked Cool candelabra, Spooky phrase, and web with Basic Black Craft ink then embossed the images with black embossing powder

- I added an embossed Houndstooth Basic Black strip under the Spooky phrase and popped it up using Stampin' Dimensionals

- For a final touch of bling I added two Rhinestone Jewels to the Spooky layer. Cheryll, one of the club members, added a third Rhinestone Jewel to the center of the web - a great idea!

My card also uses the fabulous Frightful Sight designer series paper as a background layer. Check out this cool paper on page 185 of the Idea Book & Catalog.

If you and your friends love Halloween, host a party in your home (or mine) and we'll plan a great event together! Contact me at: [email protected] for my open dates.

National Joke Day

Who doesn't love a good joke? And isn't it fun to have a National Joke Day? Although it might seem odd to have a rubber stamping and scrapbooking blog post about jokes I would love to share about my favorite new (and funny!) stamp set in the Idea Book & Catalog. And I can honestly say that this stamp set is a show stopper. Whenever I watch a stamper browse through the catalog, when she gets to this stamp set - she stops, reads the phrases aloud and has a good chuckle.

Introducing: Not So Seriously - check it out on page 55!

And for those of you scrapbookers who love a good smile, here are some quips I found online to share with you:

"Been there, done that, have the Layout!"

"This is not cat hair around my house; it is a creative use of fiber."

"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the lord my soul to keep but if I should die before I wake, please Lord, let them scrap my funeral great!"

Top 10 Signs of a Scrapbook Addict

• You're the only one at a social gathering yelling, "Just one more photo, folks; I don't have enough for a two-page spread!
• Blue photo split backs {or Stampin' Dimensional backs!} can be found in unusual places--school lunch bags, briefcases, pants pockets, the dog's water bowl.
• A regular sandwich is no longer acceptable--it must be cropped or cut with decorative edges.
• You try to claim your album purchases as a medical expense because it's such good "therapy".
• You buy a new pink swimsuit because it matches the pink photo mounting paper.
• Your child is the only one in agriculture class who thinks "crop" is to "cut your photos."
• You decide to give your child piano lessons so you'll be able to use the musical instrument stickers that are in the Big Pack.
• You redecorate your family room to coordinate with your photo album covers.
• Your three year old wants to know if her coloring book is "archival quality".
• You're in a fender bender and your first thought is, "I wonder what die-cut shape will coordinate with this event?"
• Scraps from your corner rounder cuttings can be found in unusual places: school lunch bags, briefcases, the laundry, the dog's water bowl.
• Of course a scrapbook addict doesn't follow a 12 step program but a 12 x 12 step one.

What's your favorite joke? Use the comments section below and share it with us - clean jokes only please!

Have a fun day!