Nutz about Stamping

Happy Birthday to ME!

Yes, today is my birthday and I have been waiting four long years for February 29th to drop by again. I am so excited to have a real birthday and I want YOU to celebrate with me! So, although it's my birthday you get presents too!

 

 

• For every 4 packs of paper you order today, you get 2 matching Stampin' Write markers of your choice!
• For every 4 ink pads you order today, you get 4 yards of ribbon!
• For every 4 containers of embellishments you order today, you get a cello bag of punched images to match!
• For every 4 rolls of ribbon you order today, you get a container of assorted embellishments!
• For every 4 stamp sets you order today, you get an assortment of die cut shapes from my Big Shot dies!

You have two choices to place your order: click here to go directly to my Online Store OR contact me at [email protected] with your order and I will be happy to place it for you!

Thanks for celebrating with me!

 

 

Ronald McDonald House

I am so proud that Stampin' Up! is one of the corporate sponsors of Ronald McDonald House. Stampin' Up! partnera with Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) to bring comfort and creativity to the lives of Ronald McDonald House guests. Each year, thousands of families stay at more than 160 independently operated Ronald McDonald Houses in North America. These Houses serve as temporary homes for the families of seriously ill children who are being treated in nearby hospitals.

Several Stampin' Up! demonstrators in the Raleigh area volunteer one evening each month to stamp with the residents at the house in Chapel Hill. I am honored to be the lead demonstrator for this house and truly enjoy the time with spend stamping with the families.

Last night was our February evening and I decided to design a card using the Button Buddies stamp set:

 

 

It is a challenge each month to design a card that adults and young children can enjoy stamping. I feel that the snail in Button Buddies appeals to all ages and the colors I chose add a touch of spring in everyone's heart.

If you love to stamp with your children, consider adding Button Buddies to your stamp collection too. Contact me at [email protected] to place your order.

Blossom Builders

Yesterday I featured my Adorning Accents Edglits to make a birthday card and I used two tiny pieces of the Blossom Builders kit. After I completed taping my video I decided to recreate my birthday card using some larger pieces of my Blossom Builders kit to show you a different card idea.

Here's the card I created:

 

 

Don't you love the pieces I used for the flowers? I also changed up the Boho Blossoms punch piece on the phrase layer along with a Itty Bitty Shapes punched circle to add a difference to the strip. 

If you need a quick card idea I highly recommend you invest in the Blossom Builders kit. You will get two 12x12 sheets and one sheet of pink rhinestones too (which I didn't show you on my video). Just think of how many cards you will be able to create!

Click here to see a photo of the entire Blossom Builders kit. And then contact me to place your Blossom Builders kit!

Sundays with Sizzix: Adorning Accents Edgelits

Today's video tutorial shows you how to use your Adorning Accents Edgelits to create a birthday card for a special friend or family member:

 

 

Adorning Accents Birthday Card

Stamp set: Bordering on Romance #125482, Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess set)

Card stock: Lucky Limeade (5 1/2 x 1, 3x3 scrap), Baja Breeze (8 1/2 x 5 1/2, scraps), So Saffron (3x3, 2 1/4 x 5 1/2", scraps)

Ink: Lucky Limeade, So Saffron, Versamark

Accessories: Big Shot, Platform, Adorning Accents Edgelits #125595, Blossom Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Clear Blocks I, H, and B, Snail Adhesive, Mini Glue Dots, Twitterpated Designer Buttons, Blossom Builders Designer Printed Kit #125410

And now for the video tutorial. Enjoy!

 

 

If you would like to place an order for the products used to make this card, click here to go directly to my Online Store or email me at [email protected] and I will be happy to help you place your order. 

And if you want more information on the FREE My Digital Studio Express download and video tutorials, click here. 

Need New Paper Crafting Ideas?

I have the perfect solution for you to consider: join my mailing list!

Why join? Here are just a few great reasons:

- exclusive card samples with photos and step-by-step instructions
- stamping techniques
- tool tips featuring brand new products or my all-time faves
- customer Q&A's - perhaps some you have been secretly asking too!
- information on upcoming classes with registration and payment links
- card maps and challenges
- My Digital Studio samples
- special offers and surprises sprinkled in
- and much, more

I send out two newsletters by email every month - the first contains several articles and sample ideas. The second monthly newsletter is shorter and features upcoming class deadlines and is sprinkled with project ideas other than cards.

For my scrapbooking customers, I send out a third newsletter on scrapbooking and you must choose to subscribe to this newsletter when signing up. This edition contains lots of different scrapbook page ideas and for you digital crafters, watch for digital page ideas too!

If you are not on my mailing list and would like to be, here's what you do:

• Look for the Join My Mailing List heading in the top left-hand corner of this blog
• Type your email address in the box and click the "go" button
• Fill in the requested registration information
• Check off the "Scrapbooking" box if you want to receive an additional newsletter just for scrapbookers (digital or paper)
• Check off your birthday month only if you want to receive a special gift from me
• Click "Save Profile Changes" at the bottom of the registration page
• In a few minutes, check your email. I use a confirmed opt-in subscription process to guarantee that you do want to subscribe. Please watch your email and respond to the confirmation notice that you will receive.

Let all your crafty (and crafty wannbe) friends and family members know about my free newsletters and subscribe today to let the stampin', scrappin' and paper craftin' fun ideas begin!

 

Button Buddies

I have everything designed, cut, prepped and ready to go for my Button Buddies class tomorrow. I absolutely LOVE Button Buddies and all its super cute images and can't wait until my class attendees see the five different cards they will make with their new stamp set (the class fee included the stamp set for them to take home!).

Here's one of the cards they will make at tomorrow's class:

 

 

Seriously. Is that not such a cute card? I got the layout idea from another demonstrator but turned the card on its side (it opens from the right side in the photo), changed the colors, used a different phrase and position and well, it's my own design!

Have you added Button Buddies to your stamp set collection yet? If not, and you'd like to place an order for this stamp set and other Stampin' Up! products, click here to go to my Online Store, open 24/7 for your shopping convenience.

My Digital Studio

The other day I was creating another Project 52 page using My Digital Studio and I started thinking about the free My Digital Studio Express offer that Stampin' Up! has made available. Did you know that you can download My Digital Studio Express for a FREE 30-day trial and use the program to create a variety of digital projects?

Here's the Project 52 page I created - just to tempt you with this free offer:

 

You may be thinking - well, this looks like fun but how will I learn how to use this program? Would you like some support after you download My Digital Studio Express to help you learn how to create digital products? I have a solution for that!

My Offer

If you download your free 30 day trial of My Digital Studio Express through me you will qualify to subscribe for a FREE month of video tutorials to help you get started!

I am currently creating a series of videos to walk you through all the aspects of My Digital Studio and will provide them to you for free! It's as simple as that. After you are comfortable creating digital projects, you are also welcome to print them out on your home computer or you can send them to Stampin' Up!s professional print service before your free trial ends to have them printed and shipped back to your home address.

Ready to get started?

First: Click here to download your free 30-day free trial of My Digital Studio Express.

Then: watch your Email Inbox for an email from me with a private link to subscribe to your FREE month of video tutorials!

Happy digitizing!

 

 

Take it to Heart vs Mixed Bunch

When I was at Stampin' Up!s Leadership conference I created this Mixed Bunch card as one of my make-n-takes:

 

 

I really love the simplicity of this layout and every time I look at this card sitting on my shelf I want to recreate it using different products. (It's like using one of my own cards as a card map!)

Last night I set out to create a new card the moment I saw the Take it to Heart stamp set. I originally thought this set was designed solely for Valentine's Day but when I saw the banner stamp in the set I knew what I could create.

And here it is:

 

 

Wouldn't this card be perfect for an engagement, wedding or anniversary card?

So the next time you have a need to stamp a card, take a look at what you have recently created and see if you can use it as a map for a brand new creation.

Party This Way

Happy Mardi Gras! This fun celebration is full of feasting, parades, parties and much more so what better way to celebrate than to create a Party This Way card:

 

 

 

My Party This Way card was designed to celebrate an upcoming birthday but you can change the phrase to match any occasion worth celebrating. And did you know that with at $50 product order you can earn Party This Way for FREE? That's exactly how I acquired this set - I was running low on card stock, envelopes and accessories and when I listed everything I needed I realized I could get Party This Way for free!

Are you running low on supplies too? Contact me with help to place your order or place an order yourself at my Online Store, open 24/7 for your shopping convenience!

Fresh Vintage

Yesterday I spent some time creating projects for Silke's upcoming workshop. When a customer books a workshop we have fun planning it together and I always ask my hostesses what specific products they would like their guests to use. Silke requested that her friends use the Big Shot and you all know that is right up my alley, right?

Here's one of the cards I am considering for Silke's party:

 

 

I used the Fresh Vintage stamp set, Postage Stamp punch, Riding Hood Red pleated satin ribbon, and Labels Collection Framelits. 

So what do you think? Would you like to make this card at a Stampin' Up! workshop?

If you live in the Raleigh, NC area and would like to book a Stampin' Up! party for you and your friends, contact me and we'll plan a really fun event together. (And I LOVE to spoil my hostesses too!)

 

 

Sundays with Sizzix: Petite Pocket

Today's Sundays with Sizzix video tutorial shows you how to create a Petite Pocket gift idea using your Big Shot and Petite Pocket XL die:

 

 

Petite Pocket Thank You

Stamp set: Tea Shoppe #125547

Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Calpyso Coral

Paper: Whisper White (12 x 4 1/2"),  Calpyso Coral (4 x 2")

Accessories: Big Shot, Extended Cutting pads, Petite Pocket die #123131, Paper Cutter, Rhinestone Jewels, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack #118309, Clear Block B, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine (approx 6"), Calypso Coral 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon (approx 6"), Snail Adhesive

And now for the video tutorial - enjoy!

 

In the video I mentioned the amazing support that Stampin' Up! offers to their demonstrators, with both business building and creative ideas. If you join Stampin' Up! by March 31st your Starter Kit is only $125 and you can customize the products you receive in your kit.

You can create your business YOUR WAY - contact me at [email protected] with questions or to join Stampin' Up! and don't forget to ask me about my Sale-a-bration product incentive too!

My Digital Studio

This past Wednesday when I got home from work I noticed that I had a greeting card from my upline in the mailbox. I don't know about you but any day I get something other than bills or junk mail in my mailbox I consider to be a good day! 

And my smile widened when I opened the envelope and saw this card that Janet created just for me:

 

 

Isn't that super cute? This card was designed using My Digital Studio. A lot of people may think that My Digital Studio is only for digital scrapbooking but no! You can design and print cards, calendars, journals, tags, swatch books and much more. And here's a really cool feature about designing your own cards using this amazing paper crafting program:

 

 

You can also design the inside and it doesn't cost you any more money to do so! No more wasted white space on the inside of my cards. You can insert card stock, designer series papers, punches, embellishment and even photos!

Were you aware that Stampin' Up! is offering a FREE 30-day trial of My Digital Studio Express? You can download this program to your computer desktop, play with it and print out some of your creations during the trial period. You can even purchase additional downloads to use and keep them beyond the trial period. And when the trial is over you can decide whether or not to purchase the Express version. 

If you want to see some My Digital Studio creations made by Stampin' Up! demonstrators and crafters just like you, click here to go to a special public My Digital Studio website.

And if you want to download My Digital Studio Express to try for 30 days, go here. But hurry because the free trial download is only available through February 29th!

Card Map

Want a quick and easy Card Map to try? Check out this one that I found on a demonstrator-only website:

 

 

When I was looking at my stamp sets to use for this Card Map I realized I had a stamp set that I hadn't used yet (gasp) so I chose it and created this card. Introducing Gnome Sweet Gnome!

 

Have you seen Gnome, Sweet Gnome on page 41 of the Occasions Mini catalog? Such a cute and fun set to use. I decided to turn the card map on its side and create a landscape card. You may not be able to see it in the photo but I also used my Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder on the Poppy Parade layer to add a touch of interest to the background.

If you haven't had a close look at Gnome, Sweet Gnome yet I encourage you to do so now - it's a fun set if you love to watercolor using your Stampin' Up! watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons and/or blender pens.

Project 52

Here's a different layout idea for a paper or a Project 52 digital scrapbook page. I am always on the lookout for new layout "maps" and saw a page in a magazine using this layout. Of course the scrapbooker had different papers, embellishments and photos but I looked past those elements to the base layout sketch and decided to copy her idea.

Here's my final product:

 

 

Even though I have a lot of elements on this page - brush alphabet letters, scallop edge border punch strip, and three different designer papers, the photos still stand out on this page which was my intent. 

I love the ease of use My Digital Studio provides and how quickly I can create a page for my Project 52 scrapbook. If you'd like to download and play with a FREE trial of My Digital Studio Express, click here to go to my Online Store, then click on the "MDS Free Trial" button in the top right hand corner. You will have 30 days to give it a try and see if you want to add this amazing program to your crafting possibilities when the trial is over. 

The Three Things I Love Most About Being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Yesterday was a day to spend with someone you love or doing something you love and those moments made me think about what I love most about being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator:

1. Supporting my team: Over the past year I have devoted a lot of time supporting my team of demonstrators. I offer training on topics of their choosing and in one-on-one sessions. I also host a monthly team meeting and email weekly Tidbits and monthly newsletters. I am so glad I have spent this time with my team - their businesses and customer bases have grown tremendously and I know 2012 will be our best year yet!

2. Growing a business: Stampin' Up! has taught me so much, personally and professionally. I love to create and Stampin' Up! provides trainings, a demonstrator art gallery, video tutorials, a monthly magazine, teleconferences, and live events to continue my crafting education. I love coming back from an event filled to the brim with new ideas to share with you! But besides the creative, I have also learned business, communication, and self-management skills that go beyond my Stampin' Up! business. My home is better organized (and prettier too!) and many of these learned skills have transferred to my day job too. 

3. Adding to my family income: My Stampin' Up! business has brought extra monthly finances to my family which has provided special vacations - local and international, dinners out, new toys (laptops, TVs and more!) - whatever we set as goals together. 

This is a great time to join Stampin' Up! with our fantastic Sale-a-bration promotion. The Stampin' Up! Starter Kit, regularly valued at $345, is only $125 until March 31st. If you'd like more information on the benefits of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator click here - you can even watch a video produced by Stampin' Up!

If you'd like me to contact you directly to answer questions you or your family may have, email me at [email protected]