Nutz about Stamping

National Dog Day

This week many people celebrated National Dog Day and I couldn't let the occasion pass by without making a card. After all, that's what I do, right?

I decided to use  My Digital Studio 2 to make a digital card and then I took it one step further. I decided to use a card map I had saved recently. Here's the map:

When making my card I chose the Man's Best Friend brush stamp set which comes with the new My Digital Studio 2 program, along with the Downtown Grunge designer series paper for the striped layer. Here's the card I had so much fun making:

 

And now it's your turn! Take the above card map and see what you can create at home. I'd love for you to share your creation with me too - email me at [email protected] and attach your card map card!

If you'd like to explore the amazing world of digital papercrafting, you can download My Digital Studio 2 here at my Online Store and I will be in touch to offer you private training to help get you started.

Proud to be RemARKable!

Don't you love good surprises in your mailbox? I sure do and the other day when I came home from work there was this bumpy package in the mail from one of my Stampin' Up! demonstrator 
uplines who has been an amazing support over the past few years.

Now I wasn't expecting anything which made this suprise even sweeter! Want to see?

The tag attached to the stamp set bag says: Congratulations! You ranked in the top 30 for 2011-2012!

You could have picked me up off the floor because this is an amazing ranking considering the size of Jan's team. I will cherish this stamp set and what it represents.

Owning a business as unique as you are has so many rewards including fun surprises in your mailbox! Tomorrow is the final day to join Stampin' Up! and earn a FREE Spooktacular Printer's Kit.

Want to learn more? Click here. 

Ronald McDonald House

This past Monday was our night to volunteer with the families staying at Ronald McDonald House. As most of the families have siblings staying at the House I try to design a card that youngsters would like to make, keeping in mind that my choice also has to please adults too.

This month I decided to use Button Buddies and Button Button as the stamp sets everyone would use to create this card:

I like this design because it uses bright colors and different sizes and shapes of punches - everyone enjoys punching! Those who have never stamped before will still be happy with the card they create because it is very easy to create.

Did you know that Stampin' Up! is a corporate sponsor of Ronald McDonald House Charities and that each year they make a monetary donation of support? And you can help too: purchase the Moving Forward stamp set (on page 209 of the Annual Catalog) - Stampin' Up! will donate an additional $3 to support Ronald McDonald House Charities and you have a fun stamp set to use for years to come!

Mixed bunch surprise, part two

Yesterday I showed you the surprise Mixed Bunch card that I received as a thank you for hosting a SUDSOL swap at Convention this summer. Today I am excited to show you the gift that was also in that package:

It's the 2013 Everday Happenings Designer Calendar and Desktop Display Case!

This handy calendar is a great gift idea and the monthly calendar sheets slip easily into the desktop stand up case. Each month has a double sided calendar sheet and on the front of each month is a section for you to note birthdays, appointments and/or special events you want to remember.

I am so pleased (and honored) to have been give the Everyday Happenings Designer Calendar set as a thank you gift. Now that I have seen one up close and personal I will be purchasing several more to hand out as gifts to friends and family for Christmas this year!

 

 

MIxed Bunch surprise, part one

Isn't it nice to check your mailbox at the end of a hard day and find something other than bills inside - perhaps with a surprise Mixed Bunch card inside? That's what happened to me last week. I wasn't expecting a package from anyone so was delighted when I opened the package in my mailbox and found this lovely card inside:

And inside this card was a lovely thank you note for hosting a card swap at Convention for the SUDSOL group (a demonstrator support group from all over the US). I certainly wasn't expecting a thank you card for stepping up to help. I really like this group of demonstrators and am always pleased with any cards I swap with them.

What was used to make this card?

Stamp Set: Mixed Bunch
Punch: Blossom
Ink: Whisper White, Basic Gray
Accessories: Big Shot, Elegant Lines embossing folder, Basic Pearl Jewels
Paper: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Marina Mist

But that's not all that was inside the package. Come on back tomorrow to see the gift that was enclosed!

Sundays with Sizzix: Holiday Collection Framelits

This week I have a fun Christmas card to create using your Big Shot and Holiday Collection Framelits. It is one of the cards that my Christmas Card Class attendees will make tonight!

 

Scentsational Christmas Card

Stamp Sets: Scentsational Season #121190, Joyous Celebrations #128069

Ink: Early Espresso

Paper: Very Vanilla (2" square for mug; 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 for base: 4 3/4 x 3 1/2" for Window & phrase), Early Espresso (5 1/4 x 2 1/2"), Candlelight Christmas designer series paper (5 1/4 x 1 1/2"), Real Red (5 1/4 x 1")

Accessories: Big Shot, Platform, Standard Cutting pads, Holiday Collection Framelits, Windows Colletion Framelits #129021, Stampin Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Scallop Trim Border punch, Ticket Duo Builder punch, Basic Pearls Jewels

And now for the video tutorial. Enjoy!

Did you know that if you bundle the Scentsational Season stamp set with the Holiday Collection Framelits you can save 15% on your purchase? (use bundle #129946 Clear Mount or #129945 Wood Mount when ordering) To place an order for any Stampin' Up! products, click here to go to my Online Store. Or email me at: [email protected] for ordering support.

 

Woodgrain Embossing Folder

Have you had a chance to make any cards using the new Woodgrain Embossing Folder? This is the perfect background for Fall and masculine cards especially when paired up with the new Autumn Accents die and Wonderfall stamp set.

But don't let these suggestions limit you. Sometimes you just need to have a little fun and think a bit outside the box! Here's a fun card using the Woodgrain folder (and Core'dinations card stock) and Owl Builder punch:

 

This was a quick and easy card to make and don't you think the new Googlie eyes add a super cute touch to the owl? Change the phrase and you have the perfect card for a variety of occasions. 

If you want to add the Woodgrain embossing folder to your Big Shot collection, contact me at [email protected] and I'll help you place your order. 

A Business as Unique as You are!

 This is the month to join Stampin' Up! and my team and to build your business, your way! 

Why join my team?

• You are free to goo in a direction that suits your creative style!
• Get your Stampin' Up! wish list at a permanent discount (30% off your first order of $150 or more!)
• Earn extra income (perhaps to take that dream trip?) while doing something amazingly fun! 
• Explore a whole new level of stamping with a really fun group (my team!)
• Meet a whole new group of life-long friends: stampers, scrapbookers, and paper crafters
• Earn FREE bonus products, cash awards and all expenses paid trips

And for August only, when you join Stampin' Up! you will also get this stunning Howl-o-ween Printer’s Tray project kit absolutely FREE—a $60 value! 

Join in August and you get to attend my FREE September creative class. You'll put your Printer's Tray together and participate in four free Halloween projects to share with your friends and new customers!

BONUS: Get a friend to join under you by August 31st and you get a second Printer's Kit for FREE and have a fun person to join you at my free September class!

Remember, when you join Stampin' Up! and my team you a business that is as unique as you are! So contact me at [email protected] with questions.

Christmas Card Class

Did you know that I hold a monthly Christmas Card Class to help you get your holiday cards done before the stress of the season hits?

Here is a photo of my July Christmas Card Class:

Everyone LOVED the cards they made - two of each of the cards in the photo along with envelopes that they decorated using stamps and accessories!

My August Christmas card class is this Sunday and I have a couple of spots remaining. If you want the class details, click here!

But hurry, the deadline to register is Saturday!

Card Club: Jumbo Sticky Rounds

Jumbo Sticky Rounds are strong adhesive circles perfect for creating fabric rosettes, flowers and other craft projects ideas. I was very excited when the hostess of my Holly Springs Card Club requested that the club members learn how to use Jumbo Sticky Rounds at their August meeting last night. 

I love to use Jumby Sticky Rounds to create beautiful fabric flowers to use as embellishments for card fronts so knew that I wanted to show my club members how to do so as well. I went through my fabric stash and chose strips of Timeless Portrait to make this card:

Did you know that you can get retired Stampin' Up! fat quarter packages (three extra wide fat quarters per pack) for only 99 cents while supplies last? Click here to hop on over to my Online Store and choose a few packs to make your own fabric flowers this month. And don't forget to add a package of Jumbo Sticky Rounds to your order!

Ghoulish Googlies Designer Kit

Have you noticed the super cute Ghoulish Googlies Designer Kit on page 27 of the Holiday Catalog? As soon as I saw this kit I had to order it for my upcoming hostesses who love Halloween parties! And I bet as soon as you see the kit contents you'll want one too:

This is the perfect kit to help you make creative treat bags this Halloween! The kit contains:

- 20 printed double sided tags

- 10 glassine bags with die-cut edges

- 50 adhesive backed googlie eyes

- 10 pieces Pumpkin Pie Baker's Twine (only available in this kit!)

And the cost? Only $7.95! 

Use your favorite stamp set for the tags or purchase the Ghoulish Googlies Bundle which includes the Googly Ghouls stamp set!

Halloween will not be the same this year!

My Digital Studio 2: Toxic Frame

When I first leafed through the Holiday Catalog and saw the Toxic Frameable Digital Designer Template for My Digital Studio I knew that I had to get this download (and it's only $3.95!) and create my own framed art.

It took me less than an hour and here it is!

I had a blast making it too. I left an empty border around it on purpose so that when I get it back from Stampin' Up!s printing service I can pop it into a frame and hang it on my wall on October 1st. And since I have created this as wall art I can reuse it year after year which I love too.

As I was creating this template I occured to me that I could create a second one for Christmas, and one for Fall, and one for Valentine's Day and...well, you get it! All you need to do is look through your brush stamp sets (what we call stamp sets in the digital world) and use what you have on a blank page - words and images.

Did you know that you can download My Digital Studio 2 for a 31 day FREE trial? And if you decide to give it a go you can then purchase the Toxic Frameable Digital Designer Template for its minimal cost, create your own wall art and print it before your FREE trial is over!

Want to download My Digital Studio 2 for FREE now? Click here to download it from my Online Store. And if you need some support to create your own frameable art, all you have to do is ask. 

Sundays with Sizzix: Ornament Keepsakes

This week's Sundays with Sizzix video tutorial features one of my August Christmas Card Class cards, using the brand new Ornament Keepsakes!

 Ornament Keepsakes Christmas Card

Stamp Sets: Ornament Keepsakes (Bundle #129950, clear mount), Curly Cute #120150

Ink: Basic Black

Card stock: River Rock (8 1/2 x 5 1/2; scrap pieces for stamping and die-cutting; 3/4 x 3 3/4 for phrase), Basic Black (2 x 5 1/2)

Accessories: Big Shot, Platform, Standart Cutting pads, Fancy Fan embossing folder #127751), Holiday Ornaments Framelits (Bundle #129950), Snail Adhesive, Basic Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (for bow), Mini Glue Dots, Clear Blocks B, D, and H, Paper Snips

And now for the video tutorial. Thanks for watching!

To order any of the products used to make this card, click here to go to my Online Store - remember that all orders $50 or more will also qualify for my 50/50 Board.

And to learn more about my August Christmas Card Class, click here!

Are you on my Mailing List?

This is a great time to 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 2! 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 joining my mailing list. 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 (US only)
• 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!

My Digital Studio 2

I have been having so much fun learning my Digital Studio 2! I downloaded this update last week and have made a goal to create several different digital cards to send off for printing (at 31% off this month!) and have ready to mail to my team of demonstrators. 

I love to send cards to my team for a variety of reasons - for promotions, for sales, for recruting, for their birthdays, for....just because!

Here's one of the digital cards I designed:

On the left side is a white scallop strip which is hard to see on my white blog background. Did you notice the special coloring of "You're so Special" stamp? This is just one of the new features of MDS2! You can color bits and pieces individually using colors of your choice rather than have an entire image be one solid color. The potentional of this feature is mind-boggling! And one of the coolest features of digital designing is that you can add designs, stamps, accessories, etc. on all four pages of a card - no blank white spaces on my cards anymore!

If you want to try My Digital Studio 2  you can do so for a 31-day FREE trial in August only! I will teach you how to use this amazing digital papercrafting program through a series of free video tutorials that will get you started on the basics. 

Click here to download MDS2 for FREE and I'll be in touch with your video link subscription!