Stampin-Style

PPA154 - Birthday Flourishes

Stampin' Up! Flowering Flourishes
& Itty Bitty Banners

It time for the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge.  This time were pairing Crumb Cake, Rasberry Ripple, and Calypso Coral.  Although I love these colors individually, incorporating them into a single creation was a bit of a “challenge!”   (I guess that's why we it it such!)  I turned to Flowering Flourishes, a modern interpretation of flowers, and a DTR inking technique that created a beautiful designer look perfect for any occasion.  Enjoy!

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Flowering Flourishes Wood Mount (126365)
• Itty Bitty Banners Clear Mount (126257)

Ink -

• Raspberry Ripple Classic (126859)
• Raspberry Ripple Stampin' Write Marker (126856 - set of 5 In Colors)
• Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker (123002 - set of 5 In Colors)
• Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Marker (120967)

Paper -

• Very Vanilla Card Stock (101650)
• Cajun Craze Card Stock (119864)
• Raspberry Ripple Card Stock (126842)

Accessories -

• Raspberry Ripple 3/8'' Stitched Satin Ribbon (126845)
• Basic Rhinestones (119246)

Tools -

• Bitty Banners Framelits (129267)
• Delicate Designs Folders (127023)

Putting It Together Tips:

• What fun this card was to make!  I love coloring stamps with markers with the anticipation of the finished image.  This one exceeded my expectation.  Use the brush end of your Stampin' Write marker to add color to the rubber image.  I started with Crumb Cake, then Calypso Coral, and finally Raspberry Ripple.  Then it's time to do your big bad wolf impersonation - huff on your stamp to moisten the ink without adding too much moisture.  Then quickly stamp the image.  PERFECT!
• Placing rhinestones were always a challenge until I discovered using the tip of a craft knife to remove the rhinestone from the backing paper and perfectly position it on the project.  Place your finger tip on the rhinestone to affix it to the paper while you remove the blade.
• Framelits are the perfect way to give that fussy cut look without any of the time consuming cutting!  I especially love it when the Framelits and stamp sets coordinate.

Time's running out on the biggest sale of the year.
Sale-a-bration ends March 22, 2013.
Purchase $50 in merchandise from any active catalog
and receive a free item from the Sale-a-bration catalog. 
Plus get a Valued Customer point from me towards
$50 in free merchhandise. 

PPA153 - A Candle For Every Year...

Stampin' Up! Sale-a-bration
& Best Of Birthdays

Welcome to the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge.  The sketch this week (provided by our very own resident sketch artist, Margaret Moody) has multiple components.  I was a bit taken back by the strucure and initially found it a bit challenging to design around.  But then I remembered that each component doesnt have to be completey different.  You can use the same color but separate it with texture as I did.  Sketches are such a great way to get creative.  So just do it!

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Best of Birthday Clear Mount (132929)

Ink -

• Daffodil Delight Classic (126944)
• Island Indigo Classic (126986)
• Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker (123002 - set of 5 In Colors)
• Island Indigo Stampin' Write Marker (123002 - set of 5 In Colors)
• Pool Party Stampin' Write Marker ((123002 - set of 5 In Colors)
• Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Marker (119677)

Paper -

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Island Indigo Card Stock (122923)
• Calypso Coral Card Stock (122925)
• Pool Party Card Stock (122924)

Accessories -

• Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack (130812 - Sale-a-bration item)
• Anywhere Glue Stick (104145)
• Blender Pen (102845)

Tools -

• Fancy Fan Folder (127751)
• Paper Snips (103579)
• 1 3/4" Circle Punch (119850)

Putting It Together Tips:

• The circle punch was just big enough to get 95% of the image, but finding a mat was another story.  So I used my Anywhere Glue Stick and glued it to a piece of Calypso Coral Card Stock, and then carefully cut a 1/16'' border around the circle with my paper Snips.
• The flag on the left side was another use for my Anywhere Glue Stick.  I cut a strip of paper longer and wider than I needed.  Placing the end of a piece of ribbon directly on the glue stick, I placed my finger on top and then pulled the ribbon across the glue stick.  Then I positioned it on the Island Indigo Card Stock leaving a slight border from the edge.  Repeat the process two more times and then trim the flag to size with you Paper Snips.
• The cake candles were colored with the fine end of the Stampin' Write Markers.  The cake and platter were colored using Classic Ink pads and a Blender Pen.

The is the best time of year to buy Stampin' Up!  For every $50 you spend, you not only get a Preferred Customer point towards $450 in free Stampin' Up! Merchandise from me, but you get free merchandise right away from stampin' Up!  Check out the Sale-a-bration catalog link at the top of this post!

Something's Fishy!

Stampin' Up! Vine Street Embossing Folder
& By The Seashore

For my last card club my friend Jill asked me to design a note cards set.  I had been eyeing the By The Seashore set and thought this might be the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.  But what's a note card set without a box to put it in?  Check out my video series in Mike's Minute for creating the perfect custom size pizza style box.  The measurements for this set's pizza box are below.

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• By The Seashore Clear Mount (126532)

Ink -

• Calypso Coral Classic  (126983)
• Pool Party Classic (126982)
• Lucky Limeade CLassic (126984)
• Wisteria Wonder Classic (126985)

Paper -

• Calypso Coral Card Stock (122925)
• Pool Party Card Stock (122924)
• Lucky Limeade Card Stock (122926)
• Wisteria Wonder Card Stock (122922)
• Note Cards & Envelopes (107311)

HERE'S A TIP - buy the Card Stock and Pad Kit (122993)!  It's like getting the paper for free!

Accessories -

• Wisteria Wonder 3/8'' Ruffled Ribbon (122973)
• Glue Dots (103683)

Tools -

• Simply Scored (122334)
• Vine Street Textured Embossing Folder (130492) Free Sale-a-bration item

Putting It Together Tips:

• Here are the steps to create the pizza box:

1. 1. Cut a 8 ½’’ x 11’’ piece of card stock 9’’ x 6 ¼’’
   2. Decorate the card stock with stamped images of your choice.
   3. With decorated side up, score the 9’’ side at ½’’, 4 ¼’’, 4 ¾’’, and 8 ½’’
   4. With decorated side up, score the 6 ¼’’ side at ½’’ and 5 ¾’’
   5. Fold all score lines away from the valley.
   6. Snip the ½’’ score lines on both 9’’ sides.
   7. Apply a Glue Dot to each of the 6 tabs.
   8. Adhere tabs to inside of sides. 
   9. Sharpen folds.

• Cash in on the Vine Street Embossing Folder.  It's is perfect for this stamp set as it reminds me of seaweed, but the impression is so crisp, it could stand on it's own!  Sale-a-bration is the best time of year to stretch your crafting dollar.

Organized Crime - The Components - Part 1

On January 31 I introduced you to the chaos that was once my office and the nervana that is now my crafting space.  I had some wonderfully supportive comments on both my new crafting space and also the swatch book I created in My Digital Studio to track my stamp sets.   Today I'm going to show you the tools I use for ribbon storage.

I was contacted by one of my blog readers - Trish - to tell me about her new Ribbon Roll Control product so I just had to try it!  I am hooked!  Not only do the individual racks stack to save valuable real estate on your crafting surface, they can even be wall mounted.  AND the NO TOOLS REQUIRED assembly is wonderful.  This is the perfect soliution for those of you that buy full rolls of ribbon.  It also holds Baker's Twine And my Color Coach and Stamp Swatch books.  Check out the video below.

 

But what if you're one of those individuals who also has lengths of ribbon not on spools?  Not to worry for there's a solution for you too.  Best Craft Organizers offers cabinets that you can customize with 1“ through 4” deep drawers.  The 1“ deep drawers are perfect for storing wood mounted stamps sets - either in the clamshell or out.  (I prefer out so I can get more in each drawer)  But they also offer drawer inserts perfect for storing ribbon.  And they have this great tool to wind the ribbon lengths into tight spools to fit in the section.

I hope these tips help you turn your stamping space into a more user friendly environment.

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Sent With Love

Stampin' Up! Sent With Love
& Best of 25 Years - Love

Stampin' Up! Is busy again with specials.  This time it's a neat little set called Sent With Love for those times when a little note of affection is just the ticket.  Pair this with the Best of 25 Years exclusive set for February, Love,  and you have all you need to get your message across.  Check out the details of the Sent With Love set below.  Then below are the images from the Best of 25 Years for February.  Click on the pics to go to my store and order.  All you need is...

Hang on to your 25-year proof of purchase sticker, and adhere it to your Stampin’ Up!® collectors card, which is included with each stamp set.

For every six Best of sets you buy, you can send in your collectors card for a FREE set of your choice valued up to $14.95!

Must be redeemed by April 30, 2014.

PPA152 - Curly Cute Birthday

Stampin' Up! Curly Cute
& Secret Garden

It's time for another Pals Paper Arts color challenge.  This week the magic elixir is Pool Party, Real Red, and Primrose Petal.  I love designing my own designer series papers.  So when a color combination like this presents itself, it's the perfect opportunity to do just that. It's amazingly easy to do and you'll always have the perfect DSP on hand for your projects because you set the color palette.
Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Curly Cute Clear Mount (120510 )
• Just Believe Clear Mount (120453)
• Secret Garden Clear Mount (129144)

Ink -

• VersaMark® (102283)
• Pool Party Classic (122938)
• Real Red Classic Ink (126949)
• Primrose Petal Classic (125858)

Paper -

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Basic Black Card Stock (102851)
• Pool Party Card Stock (122924)

Accessories -

• 1/2'' Basic Black Scallop Dots Ribbon (124145)
• Black Stampin' Emboss Powder (109133)

Tools -

• Heat Tool (129053)

Putting It Together Tips:

• Designing your own DSP is easy and fun.  Here's how you start. 
  
  • Cut to size your card stock and lay it on a scrap piece of paper large enough to take off stamping. 
  • Start with your lightest color and place an uneven number of images distributed evenly over the paper.  I rarely do more than 5 of any image. 
  • Then take your next lighest color and repeat the process filing in the spaces - again no more than 5. 
  • Complete the process with your third ink color.  And your done.
  • A few design tips: 
    
    • Remember to stamp off the paper.  Dont confine the images to the paper size.  Stamp part of the imager on your card stock and part off the card stock.  This is what gives the illusion that the design came from a much larger piece of paper.
    • I suggest that the images be unique to the color choices.
    • Leave white space.  Don't feel you have to cover every square inch of card stock.  Plenty of white space keeps the design open and airy and prevents a “too busy” finished project.
• I always use the Embossing Buddy to remove any static or body oil from my card stock prior to using the VersaMark® ink and embossing powder.  It greatly reduces the stray powder that so often ruins your creations.
• Design you cards with three components for that professional clean look.  On this card I have the black ribbon, the sentiment, and the image.  Clean and Simple.

It's Sale-a-bration.  You' find some great deals on free products and joining Stampin' Up! HERE!  Or download the Sale-a-bration brochure HERE!  Plus with every $50 you purchase you also get a Valued Customer point with me towards $50 in free Stampon' Up! Products.  Check it out HERE!

Happy Birthday Cupcake

Stampin' Up! Best of Birthdays & Sweet Shop DSP

Here's my first in a series of creations from the Best of 25 Years stamp set collections.  As part of our 25-year anniversary celebration, we're bringing back some of our favorite stamp images from the last quarter century and combining them into 12 sets, which will release - one set per month - during 2013. Even better, along with some great classic images, each "Best of" set will also include a never-before-seen image!  Click on the banner on the right to download the flyer.  This post features the Best of Birthday set along with a retired Designer Series Paper that is still available through the Clearance Rack and a real bargain of $2.59 for 12 sheets.

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Best of Birthdays Clear Mount (132929)

Ink -

• Soft Suede Classic (126978)
• Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker (123002 - 2011-13 Set)

Paper -

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Calypso Coral Card Stock (122925)
• Pool Party Card Stock (122924)
• Sweet Shop DSP (125408)

Accessories -

• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• Anywhere Glue Stick (104145)

Tools -

• Blender Pen (102845)
• Paper Snips (103579)

Putting It Together Tips:

• I wanted the stamped cupcake to look like the DSP cupcake, so I used the Blender Pen and Soft Suede to give the frosting the same shaded look.
• DSP is the fastest way to create impact.  Use the color palette in the DSP for ink and card stock and you're good to go.
• The stamped image was stamped first on Pool Party Card Stock with Soft Suede Classic Ink.  Then I stamped it on Whisper White and colored the image.  I clipped it out using my Paper Snips - don't try cutting this small image with big scissors - and fastened it using the glue stick.  Perfect!  The image just pops off the paper!

Don't forget when you purchase your stamp sets from me, you'll get a 2 1/2'' x 4 1/4'' card with the image on it.  Create your own swatch book of stamp sets.

 

Organized “Crime”

Okay! Okay!  It's true!  I am an organizational junkie.  I can spend hours in places like the Container Store.  I Am helplessly drawn to the plastic box aisles of stores like Big Lots and Walmart.  I have a label maker with 10 different colors of label tapes.  So when I finally decided to redesign my craft room, it was no easy task to decide what I wanted it to look like.   For starters the room I was targeting was a mess.  It was a room that I shared originally with my partner as our home office.  When I retired and he took the room over, it also became the room where things landed we didn't quite know what to do with.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words...
 
Once I had my wish list complete, the demolition began.  Step 1 was to remove everything from the room.  Several car loads to the local thrift store later, the room looked a bit better - or at least emptier!

Major holes had to be repaired in the walls after the cabinets were removed.  The old asphalt tile was removed and replaced with porcelain tile.  Thew room got several coats of paint.

Here's the finished room.

I wanted the space to accommodate 8 people for classes, so I purchased a square table with a built lazy susan.  The crafting area contains a computer screen I can use to show MDS demos, excerpts from the 3 years of Convention video sets I purchased, and it also allows me to connect my iPhone and play music. 

Over the next few weeks I'll be highlighting some of the specific tool organizational ideas I incorporated into this dream space.

As part of my new organizational series of posts, I am also adding a service to any customers.  I have created a swatch book with My Digital Studio similar to the Stampin' Up! Color Coach swatch book used for our Color Collections.  But this swatch book is for stamp sets.  When you purchase any stamp sets from me, Simply let me know my email and you will receive by mail a 2 1/2'' x 4 1/2'' card with the stamp set on it, the item numbers for both clear and wood mount, and the cost.  Punch a hole in the corner and secure them with a scrap book post like our Color Coach, or just hold them together with a rubber band.  It's a great way to keep track of what you have. 

 

Sale-a-bration Is Here At Last!

Stampin' Up! Sale-a-bration

Our annual Sale-a-Bration Kicks off today and runs through March 22nd, 2013.  As always, there are some exclusive Sale-a-bration stamp sets, embossing folders, ribbon & buttom packs, paper punches, and digital content for My Digital Studio available. 

Join Stampin' Up! During Sale-a-bration and your Starter Kit increases in value to $156.50 in product.  All products in the Starter Kit aere your choice so even if you already have some great Stampinb' Up! products, you can add on to your stash with no fear of duplication!  It's a great deal to celebrate Stamin' Up! turning 25!

Let's start by Hosting a great, fun-filled party!  Here's the game plan:

If your party total is at least $400 you get:

$65 in Hosting Dollars

50% OFF Any Full-priced Item

  Contact me and let's start setting up a party!

PPA151 - Two Hearts

Stampin' Up! You are Loved &
Itty Bitty Banners

It's time for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge.  This week it's a sketch by our own resident Design Team member, Margaret Moody.  Okay, so I know you all are going to laugh at me but I had to look at this sketch from a different perspective - upside down.  NOT ME, the sketch!  I just couldn't get my mind to work the way it was.  I also decided to incorporate part of  the design into the actual mechanics of the card and turn it into a asymetrical gate fold card.

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Itty Bitty Banners Clear Mount (126257)
• You Are Loved Clear Mount (123779)
• En Francais Wood Mount (109521)

Ink -

• Soft Suede Classic (126978)
• VersaMark® (102283)

Paper -

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Cherry Cobbler Card Stock (119685)
• Brushed Gold Card Stock (102935)
• Red Glimmer Paper (121790)

Accessories -

• Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder (109129)

Tools -

• Embossing Buddy (103083)
• Bitty Banners Framelits (129267)
• Hearts Collection Framelits (125599)

Putting It Together Tips:

• Although your dimensions will vary depending on the two sides of your gate fold card, I suggest you use one piece of Brushed Gold card stock and imprint the En Francais image.  Then cut the card stock in half for the two sides.  This ensures that the writing will align on the front of the card.
• Speaking of aligning images, I discovered that the Brushed Gold card stock was smaller than the En Francais stamp so I couldn't see it to line it up.  I took a piece of scrap 8.5'' x 11'' copy paper and placed the Brushed Gold card stock on it allowing 1'' from the top and side of the copy paper.  Measure this and draw a line if you're not good at eyeballing it.  This way you can align the top and left side of the stamp with the edges of the copy paper and the print will be even on the Brished Gold card stock even though you can't see the card stock.  Boy, did this save a lot of card stock!  PLUS the writing lines up perfectly across both panels of the card!
• Don't forget your embossing Buddy when you work with embossing powder.  It sure keeps the stray powder from sticking to the card stock and ruining your project!
• When using Framelits, print your image first on the card stock, and then position your Framelit perfectly over the image and secure it with a piece of Painter's Masking Tape.  It keeps the Framelit from having a mind of its own!

To celebrate our 25th Anniversary, Stampin' Up! is re-releasing some of our favorite stamps from the past quarter century. 

A different collection of stamps will be available each month starting January 14, 2013.  Check them out HERE!