Nutz about Stamping

Make a Wish

Yesterday I held my team holiday party and we had a great time making lots of card samples to show to all of our customers. Here's a card I created using Make a Wish, a brand new stamp set in the Spring Catalog:

You know what I love about the Spring Catalog? The colors are ones I haven't used in a while, like Tangerine Tango - one of the colors in this new designer series paper. I also used the Labels Collection framelits and Square Lattice embossing folder to add interest and texture to the card front.

Have you gotten your Spring Catalog in the mail yet? If so, check out page 9 for a full view of the stamps in the Make a Wish stamp set.

Only four more days until you can place your Spring Catalog order!!! In the meantime, try this layout idea using the Stampin' Up! products you have at home.

And if you need a stack of birthday cards to be ready for 2013, click here to check out my Birthday Card Stamp-a-Stack class I just added to my Calendar of Events!

 

Sundays with Sizzix: Hearts Framelits

I realized this weekend that the Affection Collection stamp set is going to retire in just a few days so I decided to make a card using this beautiful set, my Big Shot and my Hearts Framelits:

 

Love You Card

Stamp set: Affection Collection #127949 (clear)

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Raspberry Ripple

Card stock: Whisper White (8 1/2 x 5 1/2, scraps), Pretty in Pink (scraps approx 3" square and 1.5" square), Raspberry Ripple (scraps approx 2.5" square), Basic Grey (5 1/2 x 2 3/8"(

Embossing Folders: Perfect Polka Dots, Fancy Fan, Argyle, Square Lattice

Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts Collection Framelits #125599, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear Blocks C and D, Large Oval punch (1 3/4 x 7/8") Wide Oval punch (2 x 1 3/8")

And now for the video tutorial: enjoy!

 

To place an order for the supplies used to make this card, click here to go directly to my Online Store or email me at [email protected] for ordering support.

 

My 3 favorite blog posts of 2012

As we usher out 2012 it's time to be reflective on fond memories and special new friends I have made. It's also a time for me to reflect on what worked well in my business and plan for great new changes for 2013. 

Here are my favorite 3 blogs of 2012! 

Number 1: a moment I will treasure and remember forever. I scrapbooked the memory - an amazing trip with super suprises every step of the way! And funny enough the episode that was taped in early January 2012 was aired just last week. Do you know what I am referring to? I can't wait for Leadership in 2013 - you just never know what might happen!

Number 2: A super fun 3D project idea that got rave reviews from many of you out there in stamping land! There are so many uses for this fun project. I spotted one I made in 2012 hanging on the secretary's bulletin board at work - quite a compliment that she kept it (but ate the delish inside of course!)

Number 3: A My Digital Studio scrapbook page that highlights earning Stampin' Up!s most amazing incentive trip EVER! I am so glad I said "yes" 9 1/2 years ago! I can't even begin to tell you how Stampin' Up! has enriched my life.

I am so thankful that you follow my blog posts every day. And I can't wait to share 2013 with you too!

Want more Stamping Ideas? Then join my Mailing List!

Next week my January newsletter will be emailed so now is the 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 samples
- special offers and surprises sprinkled in
- it's FREE! 
- 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 (US only, sorry)
• 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!

Card Map

I am on a design team crew website for scrapbooking but yesterday I spotted a cool Card Map idea on this site that I wanted to try.

Here's the sketch:

 Underneath the map was a color challenge using: Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard and Crumb Cake. I decided to use My Digital Studio 2 to create my card as I had some new downloads that I wanted to play with. And I decided to use the colors in the challenge too.

Here's my card:

Pretty different huh! Rather than use one punch for the banner I used a smaller Chevron punch and colored each one to match the color challenge. It's neat that we have access to digital shapes and punches that are not yet available in Stampin' Up!s catalogs. 

Want to give My Digital Studio 2 a try - FREE - for 30 days? Click here to download your free trial here at my Online Store. And I'll send you a link to some training videos to help you get started!

And once you download MDS2, give this Card Map and color combo a try!

Spring Catalog Open House

My new catalog products have arrived and I am so excited to show them off that I have decided to hold a Spring Catalog Open House!

Date: Sunday, January 6

Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Cost: FREE!

Place: My Stampin' Spot (in Raleigh!)

Bring: your friends and your $$ Stampin' Bucks$$ to shop in my Stampin' Store!

I'll have my new products to show off and a couple of make-n-takes ready and waiting for you. Please RSVP to: [email protected] so I have enough card stock cut!

 

Ornament Keepsakes Merry Christmas!

 What more can I say? Using my Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and Holiday Ornaments framelits:

 I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! And thank you for being my customer and blog follower!

A Box of Gift Cards Gift Idea

I love surprises and received such a nice one this week. One of my downline (someone who joined Stampin' Up! under me) texted me a couple of days ago to let me know she had dropped a present off on my doorstep. When I got home from Chistmas shopping (yes, I am a last minute girl) I took a look on my porch and yes, there was a bag there.

And here's what I found inside!

Nicole had taken the time to make this beautiful little  Box of Gift Cards (with envelopes) that I could use on my presents this year! Isn't this just gorgeous? She even made the bow using Stampin' Up! designer series paper. 

And then I thought to myself - this is such a super idea I am going to turn it into a class for you! Add a comment under this blog post if you live local to the Raleigh, NC area and would like to attend a class showing you how to make a box of gift cards (think birthday!) to give as a gift to someone special or to keep for yourself to use during the coming year. (You can also add a comment if you live in the US and would like this as an Online class and if I get enough people responding I will make it happen.)

Thanks Nicole - you made my day!

Sundays with Sizzix: Fancy Fan Folder

With Christmas gift giving all around us now I think it is time to create some thank you cards to show your gratitude to your special friends and family. I have a beautiful card idea to share with you using your Big Shot and Fancy Fan Folder:

 

Kindness Matters Thank You Card 

Stamp Set: Kindness Matters #122902

Marker: Soft Suede

Paper: Whisper White (8 1/2 x 5 1/2"; scraps for punching; 4 1/2 x 3 1/4") Soft Suede (4 1/2 x 3 1/2")

Punches: Decorative Label, Elegant Butterfly

Accessories: Big Shot, Fancy Fan folder, Linen Thread, Essentials Paper Piercing pack, Clear Block B, Paper Piercing Tool and Mat, Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons, Mini Glue Dots, Snail Adhesive, Craft Scissors, Simply Scored, Stampin' Dimensionals

And now for the video tutorial - enjoy!

If you want to place an order for the supplies used to make this thank you card, click here to go directly to my Online Store or you can always email me at [email protected] for ordering support. 

Merry Minis Punch Pack

If you are like me, you may have this moment of panic when you realize you need just one more Christmas card but all the ones you made this season have been mailed out. Panic no more! I have the perfect, simple card idea using your Merry Minis stamp set & Merry Minis Punch Pack!

I have been smitten with this set since they arrived. The stamps ink cleanly and stamp without a problem and the punches cut cleanly and create cute little shapes that I could never cut with my paper snips. I could go on and on but I am sure you want to see the card I created:

To add some interest I embossed the card front using my Square Lattice folder. Then I grabbed my punches and created the layers for the Merry Minis images. Quick, easy and too cute!

It is not too late to add these products to your stamp collection. I am delighted the Merry Minis Punch Pack will carry over after the Holiday Catalog retires on January 2nd (check page 36 of the Spring Catalog to see other carry over products) but sad to see the Merry Minis stamp set not on that list. To order the set before it retires, click here to go to my Stampin' Up! Online Store.

And to see a different card using the Merry Minis Punch pack make sure you are following me on my Facebook Business page!

Introducing: Simply Scored Borders Scoring Plate

The Simply Scored Borders Scoring Plate arrived at my Stampin' Spot last week and I have BIG plans for using it over my Winter Break Holidays. But better than make you wait to see all the amazing projects I will create using this new plate I have something even better!

Here's Donna Griffith from Stampin' Up!s home office to introduce the Simply Scored Borders Scoring Plate and to show you how to use it!

I hate to have to tell you this but you have to wait until January 3rd to add this cool new plate to your stamping collection. But I promise to keep you distracted with lots of other cool project ideas while you wait, on my Facebook Business page, my YouTube channel and here on my blog!

A Gift Certificate for Somebody Special

Are you a customer of mine? If you answered yes, you may be the luck recipient of a Stampin' Up! gift certificate! Somebody secret contacted me this week to ask me to make not one, not two, but THREE gift certificates and not for the same person!

So I sat down and created three different gift certificates for three special customers of mine! Here's one of them, using the Snow Much Fun stamp set:

You can't really see it in my photo but I used the Illuminate Glimmer Watermark stampin' pad in the background to catch the eye and add some interest. And of course I used Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the snowball in the photo!

It's not too late to order a gift certificate (or three!) to give to someone special in your life too. Contact me at [email protected] for more information.

And if you want to see the other two gift certificates I made watch my Facebook Business Page and Twitter Feed as I will be posting the photos this week!

My Digital Studio Calendar

You know how much I LOVE My Digital Studio and all that you can create using this amazing program. Last year I created a My Digital Studio desktop calendar and each month's page used a different stamp set and colors.

Here's my December calendar page - it's one of my faves of the whole year!

This calendar was so much to create once I was done I sent it off to Stampin' Up!s printer and had four copies made - one for me and three for special family members. Each calendar was already mounted with the coil binding and stand and in its own box, ready for gift wrapping!

I'd love to show you how to use My Digital Studio! If you have not crafted in the digital sense don't worry - when you download your 30-day trial I will provide you with a series of training videos to help get you started. And once you are ready to roll, you won't want to miss Stampin' Up!s My Digital Studio website where customers and demonstrators can share all their project ideas!

Baked Cookies Day

Say what? Yep, it is National Baked Cookies Day and I have the perfect idea to help you honor this super fun day!

Take your love of stamping into the kitchen using Stampin' Up!s Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps! Create fun and tasty stamped cookies for any occasion. Fit the silicone stamp over bottom of the wooden handle and press into dough—it’s that easy!

Kids would love to help! Food-safe, easy-to-clean. Each set includes suggested cookie recipes. And each set includes 3 silicone stamps and 1 handle. Stamps are approximately 2-3/4" diameter.

Ready to celebate National Baked Cookies Day? Let me know when the timer is done and I'll be right over!!! YUM.

Raleigh Techniques Club

This weekend my Raleigh Techniques Club met and I was so excited to show them the Tone on Tone Technique. If you need an elegant card, or a Clean and Simple card, or a card that grabs attention this is the technique for you!

Here's just one of the three cards the club members will make:

 

 

This Tone on Tone technique card has a Christmas theme using the Merry Minis punch pack with a little embossing thrown in. Do you see why this technique can add a touch of elegance and simplicity too?

The next time you have an occasion to celebrate, try this fun technique! And if you want to see more Tone on Tone ideas, click here become a fan of my Facebook Business page and watch my status updates next week!