Nutz about Stamping

First make memories, second preserve them!

Recently my son and I did our favorite activities together - cook. For years we have shared conversation, tastings, recipes and fun times in the kitchen and when I was back home recently we chose a cooking class at Sur la Table to enjoy together. 

Below are some of my favorite photos from the event. And when I get settled in my new apartment I plan to unpack my Project Life products (Memories in the Making bundle) for some memory making hours. 

***To place an order for Project Life products, click here!

 

And here's a few of the photos I took to capture our time together:

 

Do you have favorite memories you want to preserve too? Consider Project Life - it's fun and it's easy!

Bring birthdays back with this Botanical Builders card

Stampin' Up! has a viral campaign to bring back mailed birthday cards and I am on that bandwagon! This week I have a second Botanical Builders birthday card idea, along with a video tutorial (down at the bottom of this page) to show you how to make it at home. 

 I love hearing from you - post your comments below:

 

Here are the supplies I used - click on any of these images to head over to my Online Store:

Botanical Blooms Photopolymer Bundle
$51.75

Enjoy The Little Things Photopolymer Stamp Set
$17.00

 

 

Botanicals for You card

Stamp Set: Enjoy the Little Things (140958)

Ink: Basic Black Archival

Paper and cutting dimensions:
   Basic Black: 8 1/2 x 5 1/2"; 2 1/4 x 3 1/4"; scrap for flower center
   Botanical Gardens paper: two patterns, four pieces total - 2 x 2 1/2" 
   Old Olive: 2 1/8 x 3 1/8"; two pieces: 2 x 1 1/2"
   Cajun Craze: 2 1/4" square
   

Other: Big Shot, Magnetic Platform, Botanical Builders framelits (140625), 2-Way Glue pen, SNAIL adhesive, Stampin' Dimensional, paper piercing tool
   

And now for the video tutorial: enjoy!

Stampin' Up!s Sale-a-bration ends soon

Have you heard about Stampin' Up!s SALE-A-BRATION? It's our biggest promotion of the year! And there are three ways to earn FREE products:

Promotion Dates: January 5 - March 31, 2016

Click on the catalog cover to download it to your desktop!


Place your qualifying order here! 

 

SHOP: For every $50 you spend (before shipping and tax) you get to choose one FREE product! This is the perfect time to purchase products from the new Occasions catalog (see yesterday's blog post) and earn more for free!

JOIN: This is the best time of year to join Stampin' Up! and my team. You can become a demonstrator for just $99 and choose $30 more of FREE products for your Starter Kit. (that's $155 of products for only $99) And your kit ships for free!

HOST: Need an excuse to get together with friends? Host a qualifying party during Sale-a-Bration and earn $25 more Stampin' Rewards! You can even apply your Hostess Awards toward your Starter Kit!

If you have placed an order through me in the past six months you should have received a paper catalog in the mail as a thank you. If not, click on the catalog image above to download one to your computer desktop or tablet. 

I love hearing from you - post your comments below!

Are you grateful for someone special?

 Today I have a cute card that uses the Grateful Bunch stamp set to make a birthday card - a creative way to show someone how grateful you are to have him/her in your life:

I love hearing from you - post your comments under this blog post!

Want to place an order for the supplies to make this card? Click on one of the images below to hop on over to my Online Store!

Grateful Bunch Birthday card

Supplies:

Stamp Sets – Grateful Bunch (#140691) or Grateful Bunch Bundle (#140801); Endless Birthday Wishes (#137553)

Cardstock – Mint Macaron (#138337); Basic Black (#121045); Whisper White (#100730); It's My Party DSP Stack (#140552)

Stamp Pads – Cucumber Crush (#138324); Melon Mambo (#126948); 2015-2017 In Color Markers (#138333)...use Mint Macaron

Misc. – Project Life Corner Punch (#135346); Blossom Bunch Punch (#140612); Gold Wink of Stella (#141898); Blender Pens (#102845); Dimensionals (#104430); Simply Scored Board (#122334) or Stampin' Trimmer (#126889)

Measurements:

* Mint Macaron – 4-1/4” x 8-1/2”

* Basic Black – 3-5/8” x 4-5/8”; 1/4” x 4-1/4”

* Whisper White – 3-1/2” x 4-1/2”; (2) 3-1/2” x 4” (use one for stamping)

* It's My Party DSP – 1” x 4-1/4”

Instructions:

1. Score Mint Macaron cardstock at 5-1/2”; fold on score line.

2. Attach 1” printed paper strip along bottom of Mint Macaron cardstock.

3. Attach black strip above printed paper strip.

4. Attach 3-1/2” x 4” white cardstock above black strip (inside of card).

5. Round all corners of Mint Macaron cardstock using Corner Punch.

6. Stamp sentiment on lower portion of 3-1/2” x 4-1/2” white cardstock using Melon Mambo ink.

7. Stamp leaves using Cucumber Crush ink. Color leaves using Mint Macaron marker.

8. Layer stamped white cardstock onto black cardstock. Attach to top flap of card front.

9. Using Melon Mambo ink, stamp flowers on white cardstock. Use blender pen to color in flowers (squeeze lid into ink pad creating a palette in lid). Punch out; attach to card front using dimensionals. Color center with Gold Wink of Stella Brush.

Grateful Bunch Photopolymer Stamp Set
$21.00

Gold Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush
$8.00

 

 

 

 

 

Have you thought about joining Stampin' Up!?

This is definitely the month to do so!

First: The benefits of joining now:

Do you like the idea of:

- a discount on your favorite products?
- a chance to earn extra cash?
- TONS of exclusive creative ideas at your fingertips?
- $155 in products for only $99?

DURING SALE-A-BRATION (Jan. 5 – March 31), you’ll receive up to $155 in your choice of products with the $99 Starter Kit.  That’s an extra $56 in FREE products!

You have total control over the products YOU want in your Starter Kit! To read more, head over here!

Second: Monthly team meetings (virtual or local) and one-on-one support for business builders! Here's some photos from team meeting last week:

 

Third: Create, create, create - after all, that's what we LOVE to do! At last week's team meeting, I challenged my team to create cards using pieces of the Botanical Gardens suite. Here's three of those cards - they are generic so each member can add a phrase for a needed occasion when the time is right:

 

Come on now, don't you want to join my team? Click here to join the fun!

Join my Creative Express Club for days of crafting fun

I am quite excited about my March Creative Express club projects because I will be using my favorite Occasions Catalog bundle: Botanical Blooms (pages 26-27) the perfect bundle for so many occasions:

Here's the products I will be featuring this month:

Why hop on board Creative Express? 

1. to increase your knowledge of stamping: layouts, techniques, color combos, and  much more (there's something for everyone in this club!)
2. to learn creative ways to use Stampin' Up! stamp sets, accessories and techniques: we'll show you how to combine products together to make amazing projects
3. all project ideas are yours to keep - forever! Try our ideas when the time is right for you!

Click here to join this fun club!

Want more information? Here's what we offer:

• monthly crafting fun, each with a different theme
• 12+ project ideas emailed directly to you
• qualify for a bonus video tutorial each month
• a suggested products for our monthly theme
• measurements and supply list for each project

Hurry and join so you will get this month's projects!

Would you like exclusive stamping ideas emailed to you every month?

Then going my mailing list today!

Here's why:

• 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 virtual clubs with registration and payment links
• card maps and challenges
• special offers and surprises sprinkled in
• it's FREE! 
• tomorrow my next issue emails out
• 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 page
• Type your name and email address in the boxes supplies
• Choose which newsletters you want to receive: Stamp only, Scrapbook only or both!
• Click "Sign-up"
• As soon as you do you will hear a voice recording advising you to watch for a confirmation email
• 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.
• You will receive a welcome email with an exclusive project idea as a thank you gift!

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

Have you sent a card to a friend recently?

Stampin' Up! has a viral campaign to bring back mailed birthday cards and I am on that bandwagon! Today I created a Botanicals for You video tutorial to show you how to create a friendship card that could be used for birthdays or just because you want a friend to know you are thinking about her. 

I love hearing from you - post your comments under this blog post!

Here are the supplies I used - click on any of these images to head over to my Online Store:

Botanical Blooms Photopolymer Bundle
$51.75

Botanicals For You Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$0.00

 

Botanicals for You card

Stamp Set: Botanicals for You (141237) - FREE with a $50 product order

Ink: Basic Black Archival

Paper and cutting dimensions:
   Whisper White: 8 1/2 x 5 1/2"
   Botanical Gardens paper: 2 1/2 x 4"
   Old Olive: 2 3/8 x 4 1/8"; two pieces: 2 x 1 1/2"
   Cajun Craze: 2 1/4" square
   Mint Macaron: scrap

Other: Big Shot, Magnetic Platform, Botanical Builders framelits (140625), 2-Way Glue pen, SNAIL adhesive, Stampin' Dimensional, paper piercing tool
   

9 easy steps to creating a sweet treat

 Today I have a fun and super cute sweet treat idea that you can easily make in 9 simple steps, using these products - click on any of the photos below to head on over to my Online Store: 

 

Apple Of My Eye Photopolymer Stamp Set
$21.00

All About Sugar Photopolymer Stamp Set
$17.00

Cellophane 4" X 6" Bags
$4.50

 I love hearing from you - post your comments under this blog post!

 

Supplies:

Stamp Sets – Apple of My Eye #140736, All About Sugar #138684

Paper – Pumpkin Pie #105117, Cucumber Crush #138335, Whisper White #100730, Brights Designer Paper Stack #138434

Ink – Pumpkin Pie #126945, Cucumber Crush #138324

Other – Curvy Corner Trio Punch #139683, Label Bracket Punch #132153, 1 ¼” Circle Punch #119861, 1 ¾” Circle Punch #119850, White Satin Ribbon #134549, Handheld Stapler #139083, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder #101930, Heat Tool #129053, 4” x 6” Cello Bag #102757, Dimensionals #104430, (6) Candy oranges

 

Measurements:

* Pumpkin Pie - 4 ¼” x 6 ½” – score at 1 ½”, (2) Label Bracket punches

* Pumpkin Pie Designer Paper – 4” x 4”

* Cucumber Crush - 1 ¼” x 2 ½”, (2) 1 ¼” circles

* Whisper White – 1” x 3 ½”, approx. 4 ¼” x 5 ½”

* White Satin Ribbon – 12”

 

Instructions:

1. Fold the Pumpkin Pie cardstock to create the base. Adhere the Designer Paper to the inside.

2. Place orange candy inside bag. Fold over bag and staple to the inside of the flap and the back.

3. Stamp the orange stamp on the large White cardstock and QUICKLY sprinkle with Embossing Powder; heat set. Stamp and fussy cut “Sweet Treats”. Stamp and punch “You’re just the sweetest”.

4. Cut the (2) Pumpkin Pie label brackets in half. Layer them on the back of the sentiment to make a border.

5. Punch all (4) ends of the 1” x 3 ½” White cardstock with the Curvy Corner Trio Punch.

6. Layer (1) 1 ¼” circle punch on the 1 ¼” x 2 ½” Cucumber Crush. Adhere the White punched piece and slide the remaining 1 ¼” circle punch underneath.

7. Punch embossed orange with 1 ¾” circle punch and cut the orange in half.

8. Adhere all the pieces at the top, using Dimensionals on one of the orange slices. Adhere the Sweet Treats on the front of the bag with (3) Dimensionals.

9. Tie ribbon in a square knot to hide the seam and trim the ends.

Wish someone special a beautiful wedding day

Are you looking for a beautiful wedding card idea? Look no more! Grab your Rose Wonder bundle and in mere minutes, make this gorgeous wedding wishes card yourself! (don't forget you can make many more, just change the phrase inside!)

Rose Wonder Photopolymer Bundle
$49.25

Gold Foil Sheets
$4.00

 

I love to hear from you - post your comments below!

 

Supplies: 

Stamp Sets: Rose Wonder Bundle (#140804-photopolymer stamp set AND Rose Garden Thinlit Dies) 

Inks: Memento Black (#132708) 

Paper: Whisper White (#100730), Basic Black (#121045), Gold Foil Sheet (#132622) 

Other: Pearl Basic Jewels (#119247), Big Shot (#113439), Die Brush (#140603), Decorative Label punch (#120907), Fine Tip Glue Pen (#138309), Dimensionals (#104430) 

Measurements: 

* Basic Black card stock: 8-1/2” x 5-1/2” scored at 4-1/4” 

* Whisper White card stock: 3-3/4” x 5-1/4” (inside layer) and scrap to stamp/cut wedding wishes 

* Gold Foil Sheet: 4”x 6” and 1/2” x 5-1/4” strip for inside edge 

Instructions: 

1. Using framelits and Big Shot, cut out rose image from edge of foil sheet and punch out label from leftover edge. Use die brush to remove small pieces from rose. 

2. Adhere gold rose to front left side of black card stock with fine tip glue pen (a little goes a long way!) Don’t worry if glue oozes out…it will dry clear. You may need to set a heavy object on top to make it stick…if so, use a piece of cellophane over rose so it doesn’t glue to the object! 

3. Stamp “Wedding Wishes” Memento Black ink on white card stock scrap and cut out with framelit. 

4. Adhere saying to gold label with dimensionals. 

5. When glue is dry on the front of card, cut out around the rose image, leaving a black edge. 

6. Adhere white inside layer with gold foil strip behind the card stock on right edge. Stamp “Wishing You” sentiment in black in lower left corner (covered by card front) and add label to top right corner 

7. Adhere large pearl to flower center and smaller pearls to edge of Wedding Wishes (the edge of sentiment label may be covered by the flower, but that’s okay!)

Don't let a small stamping mistake ruin your day

Everyone makes mistakes when stamping - including me! I have been stamping for 13 years and I make stamping mistakes weekly - and I am here today to show you one way to fix a common stamping mistake.

This week I created this really pretty card and the last thing I did was stamp the phrase: CROOKED!!! I am sure this has happened to you, right? 

UGH.

In the Flowering Fields sample below I stamped the 'happy birthday' phrase last instead of first. Keep that in mind when you are stamping - stamp your phrases first in case you make a mistake. Then you can easily flip the card stock over and try again. 

I have a handy solution idea if you make a mistake when the card is almost complete: stamp the phrase a second time onto a piece of scrap card stock, trim it into a rectangle and adhere it right on top of the crooked one! In the sample below I added a Hello Honey circle (Owl Builder punch) to draw attention to the phrase instead of hoping nobody would notice the layer. Be bold, be brave! (smiles)

Do you need solutions to other stamping mistakes? Email me at: [email protected] and I am happy to help come up with solutions!
 

How to make four cards from one design

Two days ago, I created a blog post and video tutorial showing you a quick and easy birthday card idea along with a stampin' techique using the White Gel Pen. A list of products I used to make these cards is at the bottom of this post - click on any photo to head over to my Online Store where you can place an order. 

As promised I have two more card ideas today - to give you some variation on the same theme. On the first card I moved the bow up above the phrase - it seems to look more pleasing to my eye there:

 And on this final card I used my Owl Builder punch and scrap Basic Black card stock to add three tiny dots to the top left corner - to fill in a bit of the white space there - that space needed a bit of something in my mind:

Want to purchase the products I used to make these cards? Click on any of the photos below to hop on over to my Online Store:

 

Flowering Fields Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$0.00

Perfect Pairings Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$0.00

Ovals Collection Framelits Dies
$27.00

It's My Party Designer Washi Tape
$8.00

Botanical Gardens Designer Washi Tape
$8.00

It's My Party Designer Series Paper Stack
$26.00

Baker's Twine Combo Pack
$6.50

Owl Builder Punch
$18.00