Stampin-Style

Uncle M! Uncle M!

Stampin' Up! Free Big Shot Promotion Extended

This is your last "shot" to let Santa put a Big Shot in your Christmas stocking!  The Stampin' Up! Free Big Shot Promotion ends at midnight on November 11th.  Purchase the Starter Kit for $175.00 - a $350+ value - and get a free Big Shot.  

Be a part of my circle of stamping friends and enjoy creating greeting cards, scrapbook pages, and 3D items with quality Stampin' Up! products at a minimum 20% discount.  You get:

• A free Big Shot Die Cutting System valued at $99.95 -OR- $100 in free Stampin' Up! supplies from any of the current catalogs.
• 50%  off the retail value of a whole bunch of supplies found in the Starter Kit which can be customized to your needs
• 30% off your first $150 order ($45 minimum)
• 20% off EVERY order thereafter through March 31 2012 with no further obligation.

And these are just the discounts!  You also will receive:

• A free subscription to Stampin' Success, the monthly magazine dedicated to hobby and career Stampin' Up! demonstrators featuring projects, tips & tricks, and business advbice.
• Previews of all catalogs with pre-order benefits
• PLUS many more benefits
• More info HERE & HERE

Contact me and take advantage of this great offer just in time for Christmas!  But it all ends at midnight mountain time November 11th.  And that isn't long, my pretty!  That isn't long!

 

 

A "Little" Sympathy

Stampin' Up! "C" Is For Cat & Pendant Park

Unless you are a pet owner, it is hard to image how anyone can become so attached to a small, furry, unconditionally loving, affectionate animal.  Or maybe it's not.  But speaking as one of those owners I can assure you many is the night that my pets got me through some rough times.  So when I spoke with my local Starbuck's Barista this morning and she told me that last night she had to make that most difficult decision, my heart went out to her.  It's hard enough to lose an animal, but when you have to be the one to make that decision, it becomes even more heart wrenching.  So this post, and card, is for Shelly and the loss of her little friend.

Stampin' Stuff:

Don't forget!
Clicking on the Featured items will take you right to my store.
Clicking on the images will display a larger image. 

Stamp Sets -

• "C" Is For Cat (115764) <-Featured item
• Pendant Park Wood Mount (115456) <-Featured item
• Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)

Ink - 

• Early Espresso Classic (119670) 

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• River Rock Card Stock (108640)
• Early Espresso Card Stock (119686)
• Neutral Collection DSP Stack (117157) <-Featured item

Accessories -

• Early Espresso 5/8'' Grosgrain Ribbon (119955) 

Tools -

• 2 1/2'' Circle Punch (120906)
• 2 3/8'' Scallop Circle Punch (118874)
• Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049) <-Featured item

Putting It Together Tips:

• You may recognize the style of this card.  I created a very similar look for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge 116  That card was a square card.  By simply moving the ribbon to the bottom of the card the design converts beautifully to an A2 style card.  
• You may be wondering what DSP is behind the cat iamge.  That's not DSP at all, but the tree from Pendant Park.  It makes perfect background for smaller punch outs.
• The 2 1/2'' Circle Punch and the 2 3/8'' Scallop Circle Punch are perfect companion punches when you need a matted look.
• I would never be able to perfectly imprint the sayings from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set without my Stamp-a-ma-jig.  And forget about doing precision 2-step stamping without it!  What a great little tool!
• There are only a few more days remaining in the Free Big Shot promotion.  I would love to have you join my group of stampers.  The rewards don't get much better than this and subscribing now will give you 20% + discounts on all Stampin' Up! products through March 31, 2012 with no further obligation.  Contact me for more information.

Purchase the Stampin' Up!  Starter Kit.  
For $175 you'll receive product and business supplies valued at over $340.
During the month of October, receive a free Big Shot or
$100 in free Stampin' Up! products!  
Click here for the details! 

 

PPA117 - Gratitude

Stampin' Up! Leaves Of A Tree &
Day Of Gratitude

Thie week's Pals Paper Arts Challenge is an Element of Style Challenge using ribbon.  Ribbon challenges are always difficult for me as I guess I think the entire card should be ribbon!  Or the focal point should be ribbon.  With very few exceptions the extent of my ribbon use is wrapped around the card stock secured with a knot.  This card used one of my favorite stamps - Leaves of a Tree - and TWO ribbon sources.  I used Basic Black Taffeta RIBBON and the Lace RIBBON Border Punch!  And they turned out to be somewhat of a secondary focal point!  YAY!

Stampin' Stuff:

Don't forget!
Clicking on the Featured items will take you right to my store.
Clicking on the images will display a larger image. 

Stamp Sets -

• Leaves of a Tree (123843 - Holiday Mini)
• Day of Gratitude Clear Mount (121148) <-Featured item
• Autumn Days (115452) <-Featured item

Ink - 

• Basic Black Classic Ink (101179)
• Riding Hood Red Classic Ink (111836)
• Riding Hood Red Stampin' Write Marker (120971)

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Basic Black Card Stock (102851)
• Regals Collection Paper Stack (117154) <-Featured item 

Accessories -

• 3/8'' Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon (119962) 

Tools -

• Lace Ribbon Border Punch (122362) <Featured item
• Scallop Oval Punch (119856)
• Movers & Shapers Punch Windows (115953) <- Featured item
• Movers & Shapers Curly Label (114506)
• Paper Snips (103579)

Putting It Together Tips:

• At first glance this card seems to be somewhat complex, but it is really the rule of three - the image, the sentiment, and the ribbon.  
• Coloring the image is simply a matter of focusing on a very small area of the tree at a time and using the fine tip of a Stampin' Write marker.  You might even go with several colors.  I was going for more of a monochromatic feel.
• Using the paper Snips I cut out the small leaf from the Autumn Days set.  It was the perfect accent to pull the leaves of the tree over to the sentiment.  Invest in a pair of paper Snips they are such a pleasure to use.  You're only as good as the tools you use.  So use the best you can afford!
• Using the very thin Basic Black mat really makes the reds pop.  It also pulls in the black from the tree and the sentiment to give the card coherency.
• The taffeta ribbon was a bit narrow to create the impact I wanted, so I used the Lace Ribbon Border Punch to "mat" the ribbon and give it some presence.
• Paper Stacks are such a great bargain.  Each of the six sets - one for each Color Collection plus one for each of the In Color Collections - contains 4 designs on 6'' x 6'' DSP.  This is the perfect size for card makers.  The In Color Collections contain 4 each of two double sided designs, and the standard Color Collections contain 2 each of two double sided designs.  40 sheets of DSP in each collection.

Purchase the Stampin' Up!  Starter Kit.  
For $175 you'll receive product and business supplies valued at over $340.
During the month of October, receive a free Big Shot or
$100 in free stampin' Up! products!  
Click here for the details! 

Only a Few Days Left

Stampin' Up! Starter Kit & Free Big Shot

Hey everyone,

There's a saying that says if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.  USUALLY!  But not this time!  There's only a few days left until the free Big Shot Promotion goes away and I would love to have you join my group of hobby stampers.   The Starter Kit is just $175 plus tax for over $340 worth of merchandise and supplies and we just throw in the Big Shot for free.  That's a $99 value.  You say you already have a Big Shot?  Then use the money to buy even more quality Stampin' Up! supplies.  It's a great deal with no further obligation.  No workshops!  No selling to friends or relatives.  Your own purchases can qualify you each quarter.  You have until March 31st to decide if you want to renew.  and if you don't, no problem.  You just saved over 50% on the best paper crafting supplies around.  Click here for more information and join me before it's too late!  OR call me at 760 650-9548.

Read what my customers have to say about me on the right!
 

Autumn Spice Look-a-Like

Stampin' Up! Day of Gratitude &
A Blender Pen

For those of you who saw my PPA116 post on Thursday, you saw the Day of Gratitude medallion.  This was created by cutting out the medallion from Autumn Spice Designer Series Paper.  It was not stamped.  However, that does not mean to say that you COULDN'T stamp it, it simply meant I cheated!  LOL  So to assure you that yes, indeed, it could be stamped, (and using a tool many of us would not think of) here are the steps:

Step 1:  Completely ink the medallion stamp with Old Olive Classic Ink.

Step 2: Using your Blender Pen (Yes, that's right - your BLENDER PEN) carefully remove the Old Olive ink from the 8 flower buds near the center of the medallion.

Step 3: Then remove the Old Olive ink from the scallop band surrounding the medallion.

Step 4: Using your Cajun Craze Stampin' Write marker apply color to the buds near the center of the medallion.

Step 5: Using your More Mustard Stampin' Write marker apply color to the  scallop band surrounding the medallion.

Stampin' Stuff:

 Don't forget!
Clicking on the Featured items will take you right to my store.
Clicking on the images will display a larger image. 

Stamp Sets -

• Day of Gratitude Clear Mount (121148) <-Featured item

Ink - 

• Old Olive Classic (102277)
• Cajun Craze Stampin' Write Marker (119678)
• More Mustard Stampin' Write Marker (100076)

Paper - 

•  

Accessories -

•  

Tools -

• Blender Pen (102845) <-Feature item

Putting It Together Tips:

• Make sure you continually wipe off the ink removed from the stamp from your Blender Pen.  A clean pen will ensure a cleanly wiped stamp surface.  Ay residual ink left on the stamp will muddy the color applied to the stamp in steps 4 and 5.
• Huff and puff to add moisture to your stamp before stamping it on card stock.  I tried to lightly mist the stamp, and it caused all the detail to bleed - not a good look.
• I have many more tricks up my sleeve.  Purchase the Stampin' Up! Starter Kit and join my group of stampers.  No experience or commitment necessary!  Learn other neat tricks and tips.  

For $175 you'll receive product and business supplies valued at over $340.
During the month of October, receive a free Big Shot or
$100 in free stampin' Up! products!  
Click here for the details! 

 

 

PPA116 - With Sympathy

Stampin' Up! Spice Cake DSP &
Teeny Tiny Wishes

This week's Pals Paper Arts Challenge is a sketch by our own Margaret Moody.  I rarely make square cards.  Maybe it's because it takes an non-standard envelope, or maybe it's just because I never think about it.  I usually head right for the A2 size ( 4 1/4'' x 5 1/2'') card.  The neat thing about this square card is that it takes only one 8 1/2'' x 11'' piece of card stock for the base.  The other nice thing about this design is that it doesn't require any stamp sets.  You could actually just write the sentiment on the card face.  DSP (Designer Series Paper) is the hero for this creation.  It not only provides the textural interest, but also the focalpoint artwork!

Stampin' Stuff:

Don't forget!
Clicking on the Featured items will take you right to my store.
Clicking on the images will display a larger image. 

Stamp Sets -

• Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370) <-Featured item

Ink - 

• Early Espresso Classic (119670)

Paper - 

• Very Vanilla Card Stock (101650)
• Early Espresso Card Stock (119686)
• Autumn Spice Designer Series Paper (120808 - retired)

Accessories -

• 5/8'' So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon (114618 - Clearance Rack Ribbon Bundle) <-Featured item
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332) 

Tools -

• Paper Snips (103579) <-Featured item 

Putting It Together Tips:

• This is a very quick card to create.  Time is in short supply these days so if you can create a card in under 20 minutes, why not!  The Paper Snips make quick work of cutting out the center medallion.  It is mounted directly unto the Early Espresso card stock and that assembly is mounted on Dimensionals over the So Safron ribbon.
• Speaking of So Saffron ribbon, what a deal!  I've used this ribbon before.  The Clearance Rack has a combo pack of 10 yrads each of So Saffron and Certainly Celery for only $3.49!  This pack coordinates so well with Spice Cake DSP.  The two colors are a shade lighter than More Mustard and Pear Pizzaz so they actually provide a highlight to the DSP colors.  One thing I noticed about the So Saffron Ribbon is that patterns like the Autumn DSP showed through, so I mounted the ribbon over a 1/2'' strip of Very Vanilla card stock so the pattern didn't show.
• One of the techniques I use to make my card components pop is to mat them on contrasting card stock.  Here I used Early Espresso as my accent color.  The mat for the DSP measures 5 1/4'' x 5 1/4''   The DSP measures 5 1/8'' x 5 1/8''  That allows a scant 1/16'' border - small enough to outline the DSP without making the mat a noticable component.  The next mat measures 4'' x 4'' and the Very Vanilla card stock measures 3 7/8'' x 3 7/8''  The center square is 3'' x 3''
• I LOVE Teeny Tine Wishes.  This set is truly an investment you will use over and over again.  I love how elegant and subdues "With Sympathy" is in the lower right corner.  Your sentiment doesn't have to be overpowering to be effective.

Purchase the Stampin' Up!  Starter Kit.  
For $175 you'll receive product and business supplies valued at over $340.
During the month of October, receive a free Big Shot or
$100 in free stampin' Up! products!  
Click here for the details! 

PPA115 - Shine On Harvest Moon

Stampin' Up! Grateful Greetings & 
Season of Friendship  

Fall is my favorite season of the year.  The Pals Paper Arts Challenge for this week is a Fashion Inspiration - Shine on Harvest Moon.  Any time there is a moon theme - and more specifically, a HARVEST moon theme - I think of the times when the moon looked to be huge as it rose in the horizon and provided silhouettes of the trees and structures in its path.  I tried to convey that in my card today as well as provide the vibrant color of the leaves in the moonglow.  I can almost smell the hot apple cider!

Stampin' Stuff:

Don't forget!
Clicking on the Featured items will take you right to my store.
Clicking on the images will display a larger image. 

Stamp Sets -

• Season of Friendship (111776) <-Featured item
• Grateful Greetings (116511) <-Featured item 

Ink - 

• StazOn® Jet Black Ink Pad (101406)
• Soft Suede Classic (115657)
• Poppy Parade Classic (119782)

Paper - 

• So Saffron Card Stock (105118)
• Basic Gray Card Stock (121044)
• Poppy Parade Card Stock (119793)

Accessories -

• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Certainly Celery & So Saffron Ribbon Bundle (114618 - Clearance Rack) <-Featured item
• Scrap of vellum paper

Tools -

• 2 1/2'' Circle Punch (120906)
• Scallop Oval Punch (119856)
• Large Oval Punch (119855)
• Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049) <-Featured item

Putting It Together Tips:

• The first tip is to rush right over to the Clearance Rack and pick up the Certainly Celery & So Saffron Ribbon Bundle.  What a bargain!!!  10 yards of Certainly Celery and 10 yards of So Saffron 5/8'' grosgrain ribbon for only $3.49.  That's .15 per yard.  Both colors are current Subtles Collection colors.
• I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the leaves on my branches.  You don't REALLY need to use it, but I liked the control it gave me.  For those of you like me, it drives me nuts if the image doesn't match up perfectly!  It's a disease, I know.  AND THERE IS NO CURE!   Well, there is.  The Stamp-a-ma-jig!
• I imprinted the tree onto Basic Gray using StazOn and punched the circle out. Then I imprinted the Soft Suede image on So Saffron card stock and matched up the images. Then I trimmed the So Saffron to fit.
• I wanted some of the leaves to be partly in silhouette and partly illuminated by "moonlight" but you could certainly design it so the leaves were either/or.

Purchase the Stampin' Up!  Starter Kit.  
For $175 you'll receive product and business supplies valued at over $340.
During the month of October, receive a free Big Shot or
$100 in free stampin' Up! products!  
Click here for the details! 

 

Pals Paper Arts October Hop - Thanks & Thanksgiving

Stampin' Up! Warmest of Wishes &
It's a Wrap Holiday

Welcome to the October Pals Hop!  This month we're featuring Thank You cards and Thanksgiving inspired cards and projects.  You've likely hopped over from Barbara Chatzkel's blog, Take Out Paper Arts.  I'm your next stop.  Should you hop off course simply CLICK HERE and you'll be back on track!

Here's another one of those projects that I have been wanting to try and I must say I am super pleased with the outcome.  Although I love the It's a Wrap series of stamp sets intended for candy wrappers, I don't really make those kinds of projects very often, so I needed to come up with a project that wasn't calorie intensive!  This fit the bill perfectly.  The small squares measure 3/4'' square and are matted on a 1'' square of Brushed Gold cardstock to create a mosaic background of leaves.  This now empowers you to create a whole series of holiday cards using the various stamps in this set!  Enjoy!

Stampin' Stuff:
Don't forget!
Clicking on the Featured items will take you right to my store.
Clicking on the images will display a larger image. 

Stamp Sets -

• It's A Wrap Holidays Clear Mount (122772 - Holiday Mini) <-Featured item
• Warmest of Wishes Clear Mount Hostess Set (122672 - Holiday Mini ) <-Featured item
• Grateful Greetings (116511) <-Featured item 

Ink - 

• VersaMark® (102283)

Paper - 

• Confetti Cream Card Stock (102835)
• Brushed Gold Card Stock (102935)
• Early Espresso Card Stock (119686)
• Pumpkin Pie Card Stock (105117)
• Poppy Parade Card Stock (119793)
• Cherry Cobbler Card Stock (119685)
• So Saffron Card Stock (105118)
• More Mustard Card Stock (100946)

Accessories -

• Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder (109129)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Pumpkin Pie 1/8'' Taffeta Ribbon (119253) <-Featured item
• Anywhere Glue Stick (104045)

Tools -

• 1'' Square Punch (124094 - Holiday Mini) <-Feature item
• 2 3/8'' Scallop Circle Punch (118874)
• 1 1/4'' Circle Punch (119861)
• Lots Of Tags (114508) <-Feature item
• Little leaves (114511)
• Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)

Putting It Together Tips:

• Probably the most important - and best - news I can share with you is that you can use scraps to create the leaves background.  It takes such a small piece of paper to imprint the wrappers, and even if the whole wrapper doesn't fit on the paper, you can still use a part of it!
• I used SNAIL to adhere the squares to the Early Espresso card stock but I just eyeballed the spacing.  Lay out your card first and position the squares in place.  You can fine tune the plavce,emt as you are adhering the squares to the card stock.
• The Stamp-a-ma-jig was crucial in positioning the sentiment on the tag.  Die cut the tag first and then use a scap of vellum to make the sentiment impression using the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  I used some temprary adhesive to adhere the tag to the work surface as it's kind of small for the Stamp-a-ma-jig to secure it.  Place the vellum over the tag aligning the sentiment on the tag and then position the Stamp-a-ma-jig and stamp.
• I placed the sentiment at the end of the tag so the ribbon wouldn't cover any of it up!
• I added some glue from the glue stick to the surface of the card under the wreath and then slid the die cut Little Leaves in place and pressed them into the glue to secure.  They are far too fragile to apply glue directly to their surface. 

Purchase the Stampin' Up!  Starter Kit.  
For $175 you'll receive product and business supplies valued at over $340.
During the month of October, receive a
Free Big Shot or $100 in free Stampin' Up! products!  
Click here for the details! 

Hop along for more inspiring ideas from Mary Fish's Stampin Pretty, the next stop on the October Pals Hop! Thanks for "hopping" by!

 

PPA114 - Birthday Metallica

Stampin' Up! Triple Treat Flower &
Pewter Stampin' Emboss Powder

This week's Pals Paper Arts Challenge is a color challenge.  I was so happy to see green as one of the colors as I had already decided to incorporate the Triple Treat Flower image in my post this week - SOMEHOW!!!  So when I saw green I knew I had the leaves and the flower could be any color.  This card is actually going to my favorite barista at a local Starbuck's who delivers incredible customer service and is always friendly and personable.  Irene - this one's for you because I like you a "latte!"

Stampin' Stuff:
Don't forget!
Clicking on the Featured items will take you right to my store.
Clicking on the images will display a larger image. 

Stamp Sets -

• Triple Treat Flower (122909) <-Featured item
• Curly Cute Clear Mount (120510 ) <-Featured item 

Ink - 

• VersaMark® (102283)

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Basic Black Card Stock (102851)
• Pumpkin Pie Card Stock (105117)
• Lucky Limeade Card Stock (122926)
• Rich Razzleberry Card Stock (115316)

Accessories -

• Pewter Stampin' Emboss Powder (124114 - Holiday Mini) <-Featured item
• Anywhere Glue Stick (104045)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)

Tools -

• Scallop Trim Border (118402) <-Featured item
• Fancy Flower Punch (118073)
• 5-Petal Punch (119880)
• 1/2'' Circle Punch (119869)
• Embossing Buddy (103083)

Putting It Together Tips:

• If you own an Embossing Buddy, USE IT!  It ensures no stray embossing powder will ruin the look of your finished card.  If you DON'T own an Embossing Buddy, watch for them to become availabale again.  Thay are an incredible tool which, of course, in a wise investment for your craft as all tools are.
• Stampin' Dimensionals are a very affordable way to add pizzaz to you cards and scrapbook pages.  All the layers of the flower as well as the square mat are raised with Dimensionals.  They add such a flair to your creations.
• Whne using the Scallop Trim Border Punch - as with any border punch - I always start by cutting the size of cardstock I need first.  Then I center the cardstock in the punch and make that punch my first.  This not only guarantees that the punches will be identical on both ends, but it also helps to align the punched image with the pattern on the punch for the perfect match.

Purchase the Stampin' Up!  Starter Kit.  
For $175 you'll receive product and business supplies valued at over $340.
During the month of October, receive a free Big Shot or
$100 in free stampin' Up! products!  
Click here for the details! 

 

Check out Mom's Attic for new merchandise added September 2011!  Just added - Holiday stamp sets from the 1999 - 2008 IBCs!