UPDATE

Wow! Long time no post. I thank all of those who have been patient with me. This pregnancy has taken a lot more from me than anticipated when it comes to my stamping enthusiasm. For those who are interested, I am still continuing my monthly card kits. They are avaiable for order from the 1st thru 15th of each month. Card Kits include all the consumable materials, pre-cut, to create 12 cards, including instructions to complete your choice of four designs with that months featured stamp set. Contact me for more details. I am not sending out mass mailings on these kits.

Here is the retired accessory list from Stampin' Up! All items are first come first serve. Once an items is gone it is gone, so don't wait to get yours. Contact me today with any questions or to place an order.

The new catalog starts on Aug 10th. As soon as I know when they will be here I will schedule an open house, so you can get your copy.

Thanks again for your understanding with my pregnancy.

Last updated July 31
Item Number -- Product Description
Items in Red are no longer available.

109200 Accents & Elements Build A Flower
110718 Accents & Elements Lucky Star
110719 Accents & Elements Messenger
103158 Acrylic Graph & Grid
108638 Card Stock 12 X 12 In Color
108642 Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Blue Bayou
108643 Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Groovy Guava
108637 Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 In Color
108640 Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 River Rock
108639 Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Soft Sky
108641 Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Wild Wasabi
108644 Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Purely Pomegranate
103975 Card Stock Brushed Copper
108694 Card Stock Textured 12 X 12 In Color
107312 Cards & Envelopes Gift Whisper White
107292 Cards & Envelopes Greeting Whisper White
109116 Notes & Envelopes Long Notes
109118 Notes & Envelopes Love Notes
109117 Notes & Envelopes Pocket Notes*
110729 Notes & Envelopes Scallop Notes
109119 Notes & Envelopes Gift Notes
109018 Classic Stampin' Ink Blue Bayou
109019 Classic Stampin' Ink Groovy Guava
109017 Classic Stampin' Ink Purely Pomegranate
109016 Classic Stampin' Ink River Rock
109015 Classic Stampin' Ink Soft Sky
109020 Classic Stampin' Ink Wild Wasabi
109013 Classic Stampin' Pad Blue Bayou
109012 Classic Stampin' Pad Groovy Guava
109011 Classic Stampin' Pad Purely Pomegranate
109010 Classic Stampin' Pad River Rock
109009 Classic Stampin' Pad Soft Sky
109014 Classic Stampin' Pad Wild Wasabi
110751 Designer Series Paper Azure*
110696 Designer Series Paper Bali Breeze
110749 Designer Series Paper Berry Bliss
109154 Designer Series Paper Cutie Pie
110699 Designer Series Paper East Coast Prep*
109160 Designer Series Paper Fall Flowers
109159 Designer Series Paper Flowers For You*
110697 Designer Series Paper Ginger Blossom
110479 Designer Series Paper Jersey Shore*
109151 Designer Series Paper Le Jardin
110748 Designer Series Paper Notebook*
110750 Designer Series Paper Olive Press
109153 Designer Series Paper Porcelain Prints*
109175 Designer Series Paper Prints Almost Amethyst*
109177 Designer Series Paper Prints Always Artichoke
109173 Designer Series Paper Prints Blue Bayou
109174 Designer Series Paper Prints Brilliant Blue
109178 Designer Series Paper Prints Certainly Celery
109169 Designer Series Paper Prints Close to Cocoa*
109168 Designer Series Paper Prints Groovy Guava*
109171 Designer Series Paper Prints Lovely Lilac
109172 Designer Series Paper Prints More Mustard
109176 Designer Series Paper Prints Old Olive
109170 Designer Series Paper Prints Pumpkin Pie
109164 Designer Series Paper Prints River Rock*
109167 Designer Series Paper Prints Rose Red
109166 Designer Series Paper Prints So Saffron
109165 Designer Series Paper Prints Soft Sky
109163 Designer Series Paper Prints Tempting Turquoise
110698 Designer Series Paper Prints Spring Break
110273 Designer Series Paper Prints Spring Fling*
110271 Designer Series Paper Prints Spring Silhouettes
110272 Designer Series Paper Prints Western Sky
107299 Envelope Confetti Cream Medium
105320 Eyelets Basic
100375 Eyelets Bold Brights
100381 Eyelets Earth Elements
107233 Eyelets Fresh Favorites I
107234 Eyelets Fresh Favorites II
105316 Eyelets Rich Regals
100378 Eyelets Soft Subtles
105515 Hodgepodge Hardware Pewter
105531 Hodgepodge Hardware Antique Brass
105532 Hodgepodge Hardware Aged Copper
101120 Metallic Art Pencils
107307 On Board Accents
109181 On Board Blossoms & Basic
109179 On Board Ginormous Pieces
107306 On Board Simon Lower
102678 Paper Mulberry White
109227 Punch Box Three For You
102686 Punch Handheld Rectangle
100271 Pure Color Pencils
109060 Ribbon Double-Stitched Blue Bayou
109063 Ribbon Double-Stitched Groovy Guava
109061 Ribbon Double-Stitched Purely Pomegranate
109062 Ribbon Double-Stitched River Rock*
109059 Ribbon Double-Stitched Soft Sky
109058 Ribbon Double-Stitched Wild Wasabi
109189 Ribbon Originals Beachfront*
109187 Ribbon Originals District*
109188 Ribbon Originals Fairy Tale
109185 Ribbon Originals Jersey*
109184 Ribbon Originals Sherbert
109186 Ribbon Originals Theater
110716 Ribbon Striped Grosgrain Wild Wasabi*
110281 Rub-Ons Cherished Memories*
110284 Rub-Ons Eastern Elegance*
110285 Rub-Ons Urban West*
110557 Simply Scrappin' Boho Blend
109610 Simply Scrappin' Confetti
110572 Simply Scrappin' Crew Kids Boy
110567 Simply Scrappin' Crew Kids Girl
109597 Simply Scrappin' Home Again
110562 Simply Scrappin' Rose Cottage
109648 Simply Scrappin' Special Delivery Boy
109627 Simply Scrappin' Special Delivery Girl
110587 Simply Scrappin' Summer Days
110577 Simply Scrappin' Tie The Knot
111184 Simply Sent Friendly Notes
109228 Simply Sent Simple Delights
109229 Simply Sent Three Thoughts
106662 Stampin'Around Wheel Daisy Field
107561 Stampin'Around Wheel Garden Annuals
109681 Stampin'Around Wheel Good Dog
109678 Stampin'Around Wheel Kisses
107482 Stampin'Around Wheel Lily Pad
109680 Stampin'Around Wheel Meow
109677 Stampin'Around Wheel Mistletoe
106610 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Basics Outline
107467 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Birthday
109571 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Dilly Dally Baby
109570 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Dilly Dally Friends
109569 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Dilly Dally Party
108423 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Leaves A La Carte
107468 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Nature Hike
108980 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Petals
107464 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Rough Texture
111261 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Spunky Spots
109554 Stampin' Color Index Labels
109553 Stampin' Color Index Labels (French)
106694 Stampin' Kids Markers
101399 Stipple Brushes
102673 Zig Painty
*Items are 25% off and part of our discounted retiring accessories promotion.

May Card Kit

Do you love having cardstock pre-cut for you? Then this is for you!

This month’s card kit items are listed below, and the price of the Card Kit is $15. This kit includes all of the consumable supplies you will need to create 12 cards. Shown is just 1 example of a card you can make with your kit. Purchase the kit, and receive 3 additional full color samples for “alternative” cards you can make with the contents of your kit! In addition, you’ll receive detailed, step by step instructions on how to complete each of the 4 card designs.

Already have the inkpads and stamp set needed to make the cards in this kit? Just buy the Card Kit! Don’t have some (or any) of these items? See the “Add-on Products” list to pick out and order what you need to complete the cards. Just want the Card Kit to make your own designs? Go for it!

Orders for the Card Kits must be received by May 15th. You will receive your kits by the end of the month.

Special Offer for May! Purchase the Card Kit and receive the Coordinating Set, Stitched Exotics at 15% off!
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Purchase the Card Kit and Coordinating Stamp Set by April 30th and not only will you receive the 15% discount, you’ll also receive the Coordinating Jumbo Wheel, FREE ($8.50 Value).

The Card Kit ($15) Includes:
§ 12 Pieces of 5 ½“ x 8 1/2” Real Red Cardstock
§ 12 Pieces of 5 ½” x 1” Old Olive Cardstock
§ 12 Pieces of 5 ½” x 2” Taken with Teal Cardstock
§ 12 Pieces of 2 ¾” x 2 ¾” Chocolate Chip Cardstock
§ 24 Pieces of 2 ½” x 2 ½” Whisper White Cardstock
§ 12 – 6” Pieces of Chocolate Chip Twill
§ 12 – 2” Pieces of Chocolate Chip Twill
§ 12 – 2” Pieces of Real Red Gingham Ribbon
§ 1 Teaspoon of Assorted Real Red Beads
§ 12 – Whisper White Envelopes
§ Step by Step Instructions to complete 4 different card designs using the kit pieces

Add-on Products:
§ Real Red Classic Inkpad ($5.25)
§ Old Olive Classic Inkpad ($5.25)
§ Taken with Teal Classic Inkpad ($5.25)
§ Chocolate Chip Classic Inkpad($5.25)
§ 5 Petal Flower Punch ($15.95)

§ Stitched Exotics Stamp Set ($33.95) $28.86 with the purchase of the Card Kit

Other Optional Purchases:
§ 1/8” Hole Punch ($8.95)
§ Stampin’ Dimensionals ($3.95)
§ Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive ($3.95)

Please Note: I am glad to ship kits directly to you! If the kit needs to be shipped, there will be an extra $3 shipping charge.

Contact me today to order your Card Kit and see how quick and easy card making can be right in the comforts of your home!

Time Well Spent Swarm Box

I attended a Cricut Swarm last weekend in OKC. I had a blast. It's always fun to work on my scrapbooks and pull out my Cricut. I worked on several pages while there and hope to have them done soon. We had a challenge during the event. We were given this box/paper vase to decorate however we liked. I had brought along a few of my stamps to work on a scrapbook page for my class this weekend. I thought this box screamed Soft Subtles flowers.

One of the ladies was kind enough to give me some wire to make the butterflies fly off the box. The paper at the bottom of the box is from a mat stack we were allowed to take from. I didn't win, but am still happy with my creation.

SCS Sketch Layout 171

I made this card when the layout sketch was posted last week, but didn't take a picture till yesterday. I wasn't sure about the simple layout when I saw it, but I really like this one. I can see it used for many quick cards.

I stamped and colored the image from "Pun Fun" first and then cut it out using my coluzzle. The layers are one size bigger than the last. I used a signo gel pen to make the white dots. The top and bottom edge are rub-ons. The sentiment was punched out with the word window punch. I love this years In Colors and will miss them in August. Colors on this card are River Rock, Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, and Whisper White. The coffee in the cup is Close to Cocoa.

For more cards using sketch number 171 check out SCS here.

Life's A Breeze

Here are two simple cards that look complicated. They both have the same concept and used the same stamp set.

The card base is Sky Blue. I then wheeled the "Something Fishy" jumbo wheel onto the Ballet Blue cardstock using Ballet Blue ink. I placed the wheel so it was somewhat off the bottom of the strip. I didn't want that wide of a strip to be on my card. I then tore the top edge to mimic the top of the water.

Little by little I tore a piece of Creamy Caramel cardstock to form the beach. I tore a little bit and then a little more so it lined up where I wanted it to. It is always easier to tear more than to start over, so don't tear too much the first time.

Using my markers, I colored in the various objects from the "Life's A Breeze" stamp set. I stamped them out on Whisper White cardstock before cutting them out. I drew a few lines on the beach with my Creamy Caramel marker to simulate sand edges. On the second card I also edged the beach with Close to Cocoa.

The sun is simple. Take a small square of Summer Sun and stamp the words in the corner. Then punch it out with the scallop circle punch to form the sun edges.

It sounds complicated and lots of steps, but these cards came together very quickly. You can do as much or as little as you like. It can also be easily expanded into an entire scrapbook page.

Sticky Heart & Cosmo Glitter

Here is one of the cards we made at club last week.

The heart is covered with Cosmo Fine Glitter. The scallop edge was made with the corner rounder. White Gel Pen for the dots. The ribbon is the new Chocolate Twill Ribbon in the Occassions Mini catalog. I like the smooth feeling to it. The ribbon slide is from the silver Hodgepodge Hardware collection. The little flower is from the tri-flower punch. It has a silver brad for the center.

This is the card that I did when playing with the sticky cut letters. I used the regular glitter on here. It sparkles well, but I like how the fine cosmo coats better. The star is done with a rub-on and both star punches. "Hooah" it's an army thing. The key tag punch was used to make the dog tags. The silver cord is retired, but worked the best for this project.

Same card--Three openings

For club the other night we used chipboard for one of the projects. I was done making the sample and laid it down on the table. When I looked at it, the card was now facing a new direction. I thought, well that could work also. I couldn't decide which way I liked better. I figured why not let the club members choose which way they want to make the card face. One of the members mentioned to me that she missed the month we did center opening cards. This one was perfect so I made a third sample really quick and all are pleased.

The only real difference in the three openings is which side you stamp the stars and where the score line goes.

For the first two the score line is in the middle at 4-1/4". The stars are stamped at the top by the fold (card #1-bottom opening) or by the opening on the side (card #2-side opening).

For the third card (center opening) score the card base twice, 2-1/8" from each side. Now the two sides should meet in the middle. The blue and red panel covers up the small gap in the center. The card is shown slightly open.

For all the cards I used the corner rounder with the guide taken off to make the scallop edge. The wide strip of red is 5/8" Red Grosgrain Ribbon. The star chipboard piece was coated in Whisper White Craft ink. There is a small star rub-on in the center of the red star punched out with the large star punch and then adheared to the chipboard piece. The stamped stars are from the set "Classic Backgrounds".

Try taking one of your cards today and turning it or making a center fold.

Last Baby post for awhile

I know it has been all baby this last week here. This is the last item I have to show you. It was a card I made quickly one morning to go with her gift. I had a few of the "Nursery Necessities" stars on scallops left over after making the diaper cake. This one came together very fast. This layout is classic and works for any quick card.

The pattern paper is from "Spring Fling". I like the color combination of the bashful, celery and banana. I folded down the edge to reveal the other side of the paper. A quick sentiment from the same stamp set, two brads and done.

Special Shower Card

Yesterday was the baby shower. I was getting ready to go to bed the night before and didn't feel happy with any of the cards I had made to be the card I gave with my actual gift to her. I mulled over it for awhile and decided I would get up early in the morning and make her a new card. I wanted it to be really special and have a special design to the card opening.

Saturday morning I had an idea in my head of what type of card I wanted to do, but didn't know what I wanted the front to look like. I pulled out the Soft Sky Designer Series Paper and the Double Stitched Ribbon to match. I wanted the paper on the inside and the ribbon on the front. I wanted to have a large contrast in shades, so I pulled out some Night of Navy cardstock. What else to put with it was now the question. I tried some Blue Bayou, but it just wasn't working the way I envisioned. I had a thin Soft Sky mat around a large Whisper White panel all backed by the Blue Bayou and Night of Navy. It just didn't look right. I played with the yellow for the moon. I had some ducks. It just wasn't working.

So ditch the Bayou and make the soft sky bigger, changing back to the prints paper to match the inside. Make the Whisper White mat much smaller. Loose the ducks. Picked Barely Banana for the Moon. Give it a Night of Navy mat. Pulled out the Hodgepodge Hardware and some Pastel Brads. The front is now done.

On to the inside. The basic came together easily. I had picked the prints paper at the start. I wanted the Night of Navy mats and accent around the oval. I pulled out a retired sentiment to stamp in Navy. A little bit of River Rock Double Stitched Ribbon with some White Taffata ties. The stars are Barely Banana with the small star punch and put on dimensionals.

I am pleased with the card now. She loved it and everyone was asking me how to make the special fold for the tunnel card. I followed the directions in the SCS resource section.

Evolution of a card

Sometimes fate takes a hand while stamping. You start down one path and then it takes a curve and you end up with something else. Though I am sure that the original thought in my head would have been nice, what I ended with works very well for me also.

The original thought was to have a window punched in the corner to reveal one of the elephants inside. You would open the card and the family of elephants would be lined up. I stamped the elephants in Almost Amethyst using my stamp-a-ma-jig and decided there wasn't much room for me to write my message inside. This card was to go with my gift for the baby shower. So I turned the card out and made the elephant row the front. I sponged some grass under their feet. The stars and moon are stamped in Barely Banana and the sentiment from "Wonderful Words" is stamped in Certainly Celery to match the grass.

Then I started to look at the card. I do like it. I then glanced at the "Wonderful Words" stamp set and noticed the "Thank You" stamp. I thought this card would be cute for the mom-to-be's thank you cards to her guests. I didn't however want to stamp the elephant a ton of times as she needs over 20 cards. So I thought I could cut down on the number of stars and just use one elephant. Here is the result. These will be nice and much easier to do in bulk in one sitting this afternoon.

I don't normally do one layer cards, but I am happy with these. I used Naturals White for the card base, so it was more sturdy. All the images are from "Nursery Necessities" except the sentiment.

Diaper Cake

Stamping can be used in many decorative ways and this was fun to make. It is the centerpiece at a baby shower I am hosting this weekend. It is made entirely of diapers. Some plans for diaper cakes show them as being unfolded, placed around the wheel of diapers and then held together with rubber bands. For this one I kept the diapers folded in half and held each round with cardstock strips and sticky strip. I also liked how it gave a ruffled edge look to the cake.

Most diaper cakes are then decorated with small baby items. I decorated mine with stamped images. I stamped the star from "Nursery Necessities" in three different colors (Barely Banana, Certainly Celery and Almost Amethyst). I punched them out with the large star punch and layered it on a Bashful Blue 1-3/8" circle and a Whisper White Scallop Circle. The stars are up on dimensionals and the whole thing is attached to the Bashful Blue strips around the cake with dimensionals.

I can't tell you how many diapers are in the cake as that is one of the games this weekend. I will tell you that each layer is a different size diaper. I started at the top with a few of the smallest size. On my table I layed out the strip of cardstock to go around the next layer and then layed down the diapers in a long fan. I rolled the diapers around the center with the aid of the cardstock. I had to do this several times to get them just right. For each tier I started the same way and then just added more layers of diapers and cardstock strips to hold it in place.

Baby Shower Favors

I have been busy the last couple of days making these for a baby shower on Saturday. Each guest will get one as a small thank you for attending the event. They are filled with pastel jelly beans--love that after Easter candy sale.
The box itself is cut from a piece of Bashful Blue cardstock. I cut them with my Cricut, Bags, Tags & More cartridge, using the window feature. Using a small bit of snail I put a piece of acetate on the inside of the window. The rub-on is from the SAB set. I tied a piece of Bashful Blue Stripped Grosgrain Ribbon around the handle and then attached the tags. The tags are stamped from the Hostess Level 1 Set, "For Friend" and colored with Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery, then punched out with the Key Tag punch. I adheared one to the front of the ribbon end and a blank one on the back of the ribbon end with snail.
I am still working on the table centerpiece. I hope to have it done this evening.

Card Kit for April 2008

Do you love having cardstock pre-cut for you? Then this is for you!

It’s month #2 of the new Card Kit Service! This month’s card kit items are listed below, and the price of the Card Kit is $15. This kit includes all of the consumable supplies you will need to create 12 cards. Shown above is just 1 example of a card you can make with your kit. Purchase the kit, and receive 3 additional full color samples for “alternative” cards you can make with the contents of your kit! In addition, you’ll receive detailed, step by step instructions on how to complete each of the 4 card designs.

Special Note: You can use any of the images from this Versatile Stamp Set on any of the card designs – the measurements are the same for all, so customize to fit your needs!

Already have the inkpads and stamp set needed to make the cards in this kit? Just buy the Card Kit! Don’t have some (or any) of these items? See the “Add-on Products” list to pick out and order what you need to complete the cards. Just want the Card Kit to make your own designs? Go for it!

Orders for the Card Kits must be received by April 15th. You will receive your kits by the end of the month.

Special: Purchase the card kit and receive the Coordinating Set at 15% off!
Pun Fun Special: The coordinating stamp set is also on the Free Wheelin’ Stampin’ Up! Special this month. You will also receive the coordinating jumbo wheel for FREE! with a “Pun Fun” stamp set purchase.

The Card Kit ($15) Includes:
§ 12 Pieces of 6” x 6” Taken with Teal Cardstock
§ 12 Pieces of 3” x 2 ½” Rose Red Prints Designer Series Paper (please note, the paper selections will vary from kit to kit)
§ 12 Pieces of 3” x ½” Pumpkin Pie Cardstock
§ 12 Pieces of 2 ¼” x 2 ¼” Basic Black Cardstock
§ 12 Pieces of 2” x 2” Confetti White Cardstock
§ 36 – Silver Brads
§ 12 Envelopes
§ Step by Step Instructions to complete 4 different card designs using the kit pieces

Add-on Products:
§ Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink Pad ($5.25)
§ Taken with Teal Classic Ink Pad ($5.25)
§ Rose Red Classic Ink Pad ($5.25)
§ Jet Black Stazon Ink Pad ($7.95)
§ Pun Fun Stamp Set ($30.95) $26.31 with the purchase of the Card Kit

Other Optional Purchases:
§ 1/8” Hole Punch: to set the brads with
§ Aqua Painters: for painting in the images with the Craft ink.
§ Stampin’ Dimensionals: for raising images for a 3-D effect

Please Note: I am glad to ship kits directly to you! If the kit needs to be shipped, there will be an extra $3 shipping charge.

Contact me today to order your Card Kit and see how quick and easy card making can be right in the comforts of your home.

Back in Action

Can you believe it? My computer crashed again. We had to break down and buy a new one this time. I once again lost everything. I have been rebuilding my files again. I have also been very busy spending quality time with the hubby and family visitors for Easter. I may not have taken much time to stamp, but I have several new toys sitting on my desk begging for my attention now. I did get one of the scrapbook pages for my Mother's Day/Spring Scrapbook Class next month done. I also got all the samples for my next card kit finished. I have the ideas in my head for the other 12x12 scrapbook page for the class and for the party favors for the baby shower I am co-hosting next weekend.

Here is a partial peek at the scrapbook page for Mother's Day.

It can be made to either hold one 8x10 photo or two 4x6 photos. There is also a space for some journaling. The title can be easily changed to "spring" and work perfectly.

baby shower invites

I haven't posted in awhile, but I sure have been stampin' a lot. I have been working for the better part of the last few days on my good friends baby shower invitations. I am one of the hostesses of her party and wanted to make these invites special. I made the trial one before starting mass production. I didn't feel like it took too long, so I thought 20 wouldn't be too bad. Yeah, I was wrong. Still, I love them and wouldn't have changed a thing even if I knew they would have taken even longer.

There are two pictures. One is a close up of the closed invite. The other you have to imagine what is behind the envelope (also stamped). I didn't want to reveal any personal information of the other hostess, so the envelope covers the open invite. You can still see the tag coming out of the top and how the sailboat folds up to reveal the time and place of the party. The mom-to-be's registry information and such is on the back of the invite.

The sail boat was colored with markers and stamped onto Whisper White cardstock, then cut out and layered on Confetti White and Barely Banana. The back of the card is Confetti White, which is also revealed when the tag is pulled up. The stars on the front are stamped in the Sky Blue Classic Ink. The full tutorial for how to make one of these cards can be found here.

Stamps: Nursery Necessities, Sincere Salutations

Paper: Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Confetti White, Whisper White

Ink: Sky Blue, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Mellow Moss, Basic Black

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Paper cutter with scoring blade, Jumbo Pewter Eyelets, Bashful Blue Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals

Stamp Club Projects

WHAT A BLAST!!! It was a crazy night, but we all had fun. Saturday night was stamp club. All us had our kids due to various reasons. There were 14 kids from the age of 1 1/2 years to 16 years in my back yard and one infant in the pack-n-play inside. The 7 ladies in attendance seemed to have a good time while their kids played. Here are the three projects we made.

The easter card I showed you last week. It took us some time to share the markers and color our eggs, but we got through it. The Leprachaun I got from someone on SCS. It was fun to make a card with all punches and a wheel. The last project was a scratch-n-sniff sticker. We made the little tag and then tied it to bags of jelly beans before quickly hiding them from our kids.

For those in the area our next club workshop is on April 5th. You are welcome to join us for a small project fee. I will refund your project fee if you place a $30 product order. I also have a scrapbook class coming up on March 15th. Check out my SU! website calendar (http://www.fastamper.stampinup.net/) or send me an email (fa_stamper@sbcglobal.net) for more info.

March Card Kit --"Priceless"

Images Copyright Stampin’ Up! 1990-2008, Designed by Jackie Bolhuis

Do you love having cardstock pre-cut for you? Then this is for you!

I am expanding my business into monthly card kits. With the Monthly Card Kit Program you will receive crisp, new ideas that are sure to inspire your creativity. This month’s card kit items are listed below, and the price of the Card Kit is $15. This kit includes all of the consumable supplies you will need to create 12 cards. Shown above is just 1 example of a card you can make with your kit. Purchase the kit, and receive 3 additional full color samples for “alternative” cards you can make with the contents of your kit! In addition, you’ll receive detailed, step by step instructions on how to complete each of the 4 card designs.

Already have the inkpads and stamp set needed to make the cards in this kit? Just buy the Card Kit! Don’t have some (or any) of these items? See the “Add-on Products” list to pick out and order what you need to complete the cards. Just want the Card Kit to make your own designs? Go for it!

Orders for the Card Kits must be received by March 15th. You will receive your kits by the end of the month.

Special Offer for March! Purchase the Card Kit and receive the Coordinating Set at 15% off!

The Card Kit ($15) Includes:
§ 12 Pieces of 5 ½“ x 8 1/2” Kraft Cardstock
§ 12 Pieces of 4” x 2 ¼” Wild Wasabi Cardstock
§ 12 Pieces of 3 ¾” x 2” Groovy Guava Designer Paper (Patterns may vary)
§ 12 Pieces of 2 ½” x 3 ½” Purely Pomegranate CS
§ 24 Pieces of 2 ¼” x 3 ¼” Whisper White Cardstock
§ 12 – 4 ½” Pieces of Wild Wasabi Striped Ribbon
§ 12 – Whisper White Medium Envelopes
§ Step by Step Instructions to complete 4 different card designs using the kit pieces

Add-on Products:
§ Wild Wasabi Classic Ink Pad ($5.25)
§ Purely Pomagranite Classic Ink Pad ($5.25)
§ Groovy Guava Classic Ink Pad ($5.25)
§ Key Tag Punch ($15.95)
§ Priceless Stamp Set ($25.95) $22.06 with the purchase of the Card Kit

Other Optional Purchases:
§ Stampin’ Dimensionals: for raising images for a 3-D effect


Please Note: I am glad to ship kits directly to you! If the kit needs to be shipped, there will be an extra $3 shipping charge.

Contact me (fa_stamper@sbcglobal.net) today to order your Card Kit and see how quick and easy card making can be right in the comforts of your home!

March 15th Scrapbook Project

I am having an Easter themed scrapbook class on March 15th. This is the 12x12 scrapbook page we are going to make.

I got ideas for several of the elements on the page from people on SCS. The page holds two 3x3 photos and one 4x6 photo. It also has place for another photo or some journaling on the tag. It features the "A Good Egg" stamp set and the new Boho Blossoms punch.

Here are some close-ups of the page elements.

The chick's egg is covered with Irridecent Ice.

The "happy" is stamped onto Spring Fling DSP.

"For Father"

Here is a sneak peak at one of the stamp sets coming up in the Occassions Mini starting this Saturday. It is one of the images from the stamp set "Fot Father". The sentiment is from the same stamp set. It reads, "May HAPPINESS touch your life today as you have so often TOUCHED the lives of OTHERS." The other images in the set is a tool box overflowing with tools, and a crate of apples with some gardening items.

For this card, I first stamped the sentiment in Basic Brown ink onto Really Rust cardstock. Then masking the sentiment I stamped the "Sanded" background in Basic Brown ink. The image is also stamped in Basic Brown ink onto Very Vanilla cardstock. It is layered onto a piece of So Saffron. The bottom edge of both were torn by hand to follow the angle of the image. The image is colored in with watercolor pencils and softened with blender pens. The pattern paper is from Fall Flowers. Two gold brads were added to the top of the image panel.

Birthday Whimsey

AHhhhhhh!! TAXES!!!! Ok now that I have that out of my system, onto the cards.

I made two quick cards last night using the Sale-A-Bration stamp set "Birthday Whimsey". The first card was made as a birthday card. The second I made to be a Baby Shower card. This set is very versitile. You can use the present for just about anything. The cake also. Simply color it something different to match the scheme of the event. The balloons are nice for many occassions, not just birthday. Make them silver or gold for an anniversary. Color match them to your best friends wedding shower. Turn them upside down for......well check back another day for that one, I still need to make that card.

Both of these cards were simple to do. I colored onto the stamps with my Stampin' Write Markers. Huff of air and stamped them on Whisper White card stock. A few simple embelishments and they are done. They are not fancy or anything, but they work wonderfully for that card you need in a pinch.

This stamp set is available for free till March 17th with a $50 product purchase.

Here before we know it

What is it about holidays that makes them come so fast? I feel like we just got settled down after Christmas. Then Valentine's Day came before I could get cards to all my friends. Now Easter will be here before we know it. It is sooooo early this year. March 23rd will be here soon.

To help get some ideas for Easter projects I joined a swap on SCS with a few other demos. Here is my contribution to that swap. I ordered the stamp set "A Good Egg" a couple of weeks ago. I love it in every way possible. There is so much you can do with the little pieces. For this particular card I thought it would be fun to have a non-traditional fold. It opens just under the grass. The grass and basket fold down and the egg folds up to reveal the hatched chick inside the card.

The grass was simple. A strip of Mellow Moss slightly taller than the bottom edge of the card. Using my paper snips I cut it for the grass blades. The basket was made using the tab punch and both oval punches. The egg was fun to make. The stamp set comes with various things you can use to decorate the egg. I first stamped the egg shape onto Whisper White cardstock. I then stamped the flowers and dots all over it. I stamped the zig zag on a scrap piece of cardstock. After coloring it all in, I cut out both pieces and layered them together. There is also open and closed circles to choose from. You could even stamp the egg onto some pattern paper for a decorated look. You could also use all those other small background type stamps to fill in your egg.

The sentiment comes from the same stamp set. I punched it out with the word window punch to place in the corner. The ribbon is 1/4" grosgrain. The ribbon slider is from the Silver Hodgepodge set in the upcoming Occassions Mini Catalog. A few punches of the ticket corner punch for the inside panel and viola. The coloring of the egg took the longest, but the card was simple to make.

Embossing Class

At my monthly club workshop the other night we did some basic heat embossing. Here are the two cards we made. For each one we stamped the image in versamark and embossed with black EP.

The hostess this month had also requested a quick review of wheels as she had a freind with some questions. So we started with the Groovy Guava strip in the middle. It is wheeled with the "Whimsy" Jumbo image in black ink. (TIP: I clean my wheels with stazon ink cleaner. It helps to get that stubbor ink on the rubber much easier.) The card actually opens in the center, just under the Guava piece. To create this fold I scored my paper 2-1/8" from each side.

We then embossed the flower/heart image from "Merci" onto the Whisper White cardstock. Using aqua painters and several In Color ink pads, we colored in the image. It is then matted onto a piece of Wild Wassabi, and attached with dimensionals to the card front. Using the slot punch we made a small hole in the right hand side of the card. This made attaching the stripped grosgrain ribbon much easier. This card doesn't take long to make and people love that it opens in the middle.

For the second card, we embossed the flower cluster from "Embrace Life" onto the Whisper White cardstock. To add some texture, we used a little strip of pattern paper from "Ginger Blossom" and some textured Groovy Guava for the background. The image was colored in with a Stampin' Write Marker this time. We also added a little glitter with a two way glue pen to the tips of the flowers. The best part about this card is that you can use any of the sentiments from the "Sincere Salutations" stamp set and have a card for any need. Special thanks to the person on SCS whom I CASED this card from. It is one of my favorites.

Also at class I showed everyone the basic techniques for stamping with craft ink and clear EP, heat & stick powder for glitter and the look of Irridecent Ice EP on a project.

MIA

I have been missing in action for awhile now. The kids have been moody lately and not allowed for any stamping time. By the time they go to bed, I am exhausted. I did manage to make a couple of cards last week for Valentine's Day. This is the first chance I have had to post them. DH and I had some much needed Iraq prep shopping to do this weekend and it was the Daytona 500 yesterday.

On to the cards.

The first I made for my DH. I had made him a card a few weeks back, but wanted to make another. I bought "Boatloads of Love" with the purpose of making Valentine cards this year, so I was going to use it. I like the little dingy that the tub boat pulls. The set comes with a heart to put in the boat, but a wanted something special for DH.

I made the envelope using the small tag template sheet. The tag itself is the tag punch. It is pulled out so you can see it, but does fit nicely inside the envelope. The saying is from the "Lots of Thoughts" Sale-A-Bration stamp set. The colors are all from the bold brights family. Change out the tag saying and this card would be good for a birthday also.

The second card I made for a friend of mine. She moved back home when her husband deployed. Then through circumstance they got a divorce and she didn't return here. I miss her dearly. She sent DH and I a lovely card the other week, so I wanted to make a special one for her.

I stamped on the ribbon with stazon black ink. There are two flowers layered on one another. They were stamped onto vellum with versamark ink and embossed in gold EP. I then colored them in with my real red marker. The flower cluster is also stamped on vellum and colored in with marker. A few dimentionals and some brads and this one is done.

Here is a close up of the layered flowers.

-----------------side notes----------------

I switched newsletter formats for my monthly mewsletter sent to customers. Many of you didn't open it. After talking with a few of you, it sounds like most of them went to junk/spam folders. I am looking into new options so you can continue to receive class updates.

Until then, be sure to check out the class calendar on my SU! web site. I have added several in the next few months. http://www.fastamper.stampinup.net/

There is still 3 weeks left in Sale-A-Bration. The Occassions Mini starts March 1st. I also have several surprises on the horrizon, so be sure to keep a look out.

Same layout---Different look

One of the deacons at our church celebrated 55 years of marriage the other day. They are such nice people and have been great advisors and friends to our family. I set out to make them a card and this is what transpired.

The numbers are embossed in gold EP. They are the retired Headline Numbers, but there are some wonderful new ones in the Spring/Summer Catalog that would work just as well if not better. The "Congratulations" is also embossed in gold. Again from a retired hostess set. It was just perfect for this card. The paper and embelishments are all current. Gold brads, River Rock Designer Prints, Brushed Gold paper, and cream Grosgrain Ribbon. The "55" is up on dimensionals.

The layout is SC157 from the Wednesday sketch challenges. I liked it so much I made another card. This one features the Flower Fusion felt flowers. The stamped swirl if from "Priceless" and is done in white craft ink. The "cherish" is from "Warm Words". The papers are Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, and Berry Bliss DSP. There is also some Chocolate Chip thrown in for contrast. I love this color combination. A few pastel brads and Pink ribbon and I am done.

More Rub-on ideas

Here are a few more projects that you can do with rub-ons.

The candle has two separate rub-ons. They are also from the Eastern Elegancy like yesterdays projects. I got the candle from the dollar store. The area around the rub-on is clear so it doesn't interfear with the candle colors underneith.
The fishbowl is also from the dollar store. I wrapped a piece of wide old olive grosgrain around the jar and then placed the rub-on just above the ribbon. The fram is also from the dollar store. (Do you see the trend?) I covered the frame with paper from "Berry Bliss". The flower in the 5 petal punch. It has a rub on in white placed on it. There is a rhinstone brad in the center and it is held to the ribbon with a glue dot. The design on the ribbon is also a rub-on. When putting rub-ons on ribbon the grosgrain works the best. I also found it helpful to rub across the ribbon instead of long ways.

Have fun with your rub-ons.

Rub-ons

I had stamping club last night. One of the techniques we used was rub-ons. Rub-ons are very versitile. We used them on baby food glass jars. A couple keys when using rub-ons on glass items. Make sure the item is clean and dry. After you put on the rub-on you will not be able to wash the item, so they need to be for decoration or packaging of small gifts. Nothing liquid. You can experiment with coatings over the rub-on if you want to wach the item. I have not done this yet. I am also leary about putting a coating on something I may eat or drink from.

I used the Eastern Elegancy rub-on on both the jar and the card. The rub-ons come with two sheets, one black and one white. I placed a piece of paper in the jar to make the rub-on stand out better.

Masculine Card??

What really constitutes a masculine card? This is an interesting question. Is it all about the color? Is it about the images you use? Is it about the types of embelishments or techniques you use? Each person may have their own answer to these questions. My opinion is that each of these things has their importance. My DH is nice enough to look at my cards when I am done making them. He will comment if he likes it. That does not mean however that I think he would like to receive the card. I am also not talking about a boys card, but those we give to our older members of the male race.

I don't think he would like to receive a pink card unless it was to congratulate him on a new baby girl. I don't think he would like to receive a card with lots of frilly flowers on it. Flowers maybe if they were used in a subtle way, perhaps for a sympathy card. Same goes for embelishments. Ribbon is fine if it doesn't have lots of ruffles or bows.

So what would be good choices? Hardware is always good. It can surround a sentiment or just brads to embelish a corner. As for colors, darker shades are my choice. It doesn't mean I don't use red or yellow, but not the bright tones. Rich Regals or many of the Earth Elements are top on my list when choosing for a masculine card. I personally like green for masculine cards. Even Certainly Celery from the Soft Subtle family can be nice if used properly. Dark outline layers/mats can give a darker sence to a card also. Selection of paper can also come into account. Textured paper would be good as opposed to just flat cardstock.

As for image I go one of two ways. There are the typical images like vehicles. I like to go also go for the items that are of significance to the person. My dad for instance has a number of apple and cherry trees that he likes to pick fruits from. I like to use images of piles of these fruits on cards for him.

With Valentine's Day soon approaching I wanted to have something to select from for my DH, dad and maybe brother. I made this card the other night. I think it has a nice balance of male colors, images, and embelishments. It could go to anyone as it doesn't lean too heavily to one side, but I would like to think one of the men in my life would like to receive this card.

The image was colored with my Stampin' Up! Certainly Celery Marker. To get the shaded effect I carefully colored the image with the marker so I didn't overlap any of the strokes. Then I went back and colored again the areas I wanted a little darker. Here is a great tutorial for how to this further. The hardware piece around the sentiment is Hodgepodge Hardware Pewter. The Regal colors of the Real Red and So Saffron are not that bright even though red and yellow would normally be considered a girly color. The black mats also help to give some depth, definition and darken the card. The only part I may consider changing is the ribbon. I think it either needs to be shorter on the tails or maybe a different color. I might try a black one there before sending the card.

Inspiration file

Whenever I come across something that strikes me I either save the project to my computer or write it on my list of ideas/tips. Then there are the ones that strike me so hard I just remember them. I have had this tip in the back of my mind for sometime now. When I saw it I immediately put the item I needed on my next order. I have tried before to use it, but the timing wasn't right. It just sat there in the back of my mind everytime I came across the item that I ordered. Well, I finally got around to using it.

What was the item?

It was the "My ABC's" Stampin' Around Wheel. The one that looks like the old grade school paper you used when you learned how to write. Someone had used it to make a their own plaid style background paper. I had out my In Color stamp pads from some previous projects. I started with the Wild Wasabi and Blue Bayou. I rolled each one alternating colors in both directions on the card stock. Then I went in between each pass(actually overlapping) with my Purely Pomegranate ink in both directions.

I loved the way the paper looked. I still wasn't sure how to use it the best still. I looked through all my stamp sets and pulled out the ones new to my collection in the last month or so. I looked at them all and nothing still came to mind. I looked on my bullitan board. I have all the old sketch challenges hanging up their. One stood out to me. I looked again through my stamp sets and found "Unfrogettable" I havn't used it in awhile. The paper looked like it was perfect for a masculine card. The frog would be perfect for a Valentine. A few stamps, some aqua painter watercoloring, and a quick embelishment later and you have my take on a Masculine Valentine card using sketch SC155 and my very own designed background paper. I had actually intended for more of my wonderful paper to show in the background when I got the vision, but the tag needed something else, so it got a strip of Purely Pomegranate underneath the ribbon.

Stamps: Unfrogettable, ABC's Wheel

Paper: Whisper White, Soft Sky Textured, Wild Wasabi, Blue Bayou, Purely Pomegranate

Ink: Basic Black, Wild Wasabi, River Rock, Blue Bayou, Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky

Accessories: Aqua Painter, Wild Wasabi DS Ribbon, Slot Punch, 1-3/8" & 1-1/4" circle punches, dimensionals

Don't forget to check your inspiration file for some ideas you might have forgotten or start one of your own today.

Bleaching

I havn't done anything with this technique in some time. Bleach can be used a couple of ways when paper crafting. You can use it to actually stamp with just like ink. (I will admit to not always getting the best results with this) OR you can use an aqua painter with bleach to discolor the paper after you have stamped on it.

The second would be the technique I used for this card using the SC152 sketch challenge. I first stamped the large flower from "Time Well Spent" onto the Groovy Guava card stock with Versamark ink. I then embossed it with Black EP. I wanted to add a few leaves to my card, so I masked off the flower and stamped/embossed the leaves.

Using my aqua painter I dipped the end in a small container of fresh bleach. Using frech bleach is important. Bleach goes bad over time and will not work as well. It is also not advisable to leave the bleach in your aqua painter. It can ruin the brush tip. Some have had different experiences with this, so it may also have to do with the weather in your area. I then colored with the bleach wherever I no longer wanted it to be Guava. I did this on most of the outline type areas and the leaves.

Each color of cardstock will react differently. Some will change color others with turn a white/gray shade. The Guava turns white. I wanted the leaves to be Wild Wassabi. I let the bleach areas fully dry and cleaned my aqua painter. I went back with my aqua painter dipped in water and colored the leaves with ink from my Wild Wassabi ink pad. To finish off the card I colored the little flowers on the sentiment Groovy Guava. The ribbon is the new stripped grosgrain ribbon. This one is Wild Wassabi.

Sketch Challenges

I am working on some projects for my club next weekend and a Cricut swarm I am going to. I don't want to show those projects just yet. In the mean time here are a couple of cards I made while trying to also catch up on some SCS sketch challenges.

I worked on SC147 first. I don't use the "Define Your Life" stamp set near as much as I would like to. I fit wonderfully for this challenge. I wanted to pull the main image into the rest of the card a little more, so I stamped the "Ll" a few times in the background. For an added embelishment the double stiched ribbon and a pretties flower were a simple choice. I used a little crystal effects to put the half pearl in the middle of the flower.

For SC149 the only thing I knew was that I wanted an image too big for the diamonds. The "Time Well Spent" had a few choices. My DD loves the butterfly. I stamped it out onto some Whisper White card stock. I started to color it in with various In Colors and my aqua painter. I originally thought I would color the main part of the wings, but I didn't want to have all that white area around the butterfly. I had already used the Soft Sky for the wing edges. Groovy Guava was the next lightest In Color I had. I decided to color around the butterfly with that and then decide what color to do the butterfly itself. I really liked the white wings after coloring around it.

The main panel has Soft Sky flowers stamped all around the saying, but it doesn't show on the picture. It looks really nice IRL and help to tone down the large blank area. I played for a while with the mat and ribbon colors. I debated using Purely Pomegranate, but settled on the Soft Sky mats and River Rock DS Ribbon.

USA Eagle

This is the other stamp from "The Free & the Brave" stamp set. This eagle could also be used for Boy Scouts or 4th of July items.

I colored the stamp with Not Quite Navy and Chocolate Chip markers. Stamped it on Whisper White card stock and then colored in the beak with 3 shades of orange and the body feathers with Creamy Caramel. The alphabet is actually "Define Your Life". I colored the uppercase only from each stamp with Not Quite Navy. The ribbon strip underneith is chocolate taffata.

Ahhhhh! NOOOO!!

I love my son. He loves my embossing powders. I do not love him playing with my embossing powders as this is what happens.

The camera was right there so I took a picture of this tragedy. He spilled it all over the new fabric chair someone just gave me to put in my stamp area.

Target $1 Spot

Like many others I have also found these great mailboxes at Target. I made this one for an army wife who led our FRG for the last two years. They are getting ready to leave for a new assignment. It was a great chance to use the new Berry Bliss Designer Paper. The chocolate and pink work wonderfully together. I also finally got the "Boatloads of Love" stamp set to do my Valentine's with. The front is stamped on Glossy White card stock. I used sticky strip to hold the paper to the mailbox and mini glue dots for the flag pieces. "friend-ship" is embossed in white EP.

A couple of thanks

I have two simple thank you cards for you to see today.

The first I made for my customers. I wanted to slip a little thanks and reminder of our next club meeting into their bags. The card is 3x3 and uses the new felt flowers. The picture doesn't do it justice. The new felt flowers are too cute. I know it said 130 pieces in the catalog, but I was still surprised when I open the little tin. There was a nice stuffed bag inside. The colors are fabulous. I wasn't sure at first how I would like the pumpkin, but it is a lovely color. I used the Rose Red ones for the cards. The larger flower layer is the 5 petal flower punch. I tipped the edges in my ink pad. I also used the punch to make some leaves to put behind the flower. I put a rhinstone brad in the center. A little strip of designer prints paper and some ribbon. DONE!! Quick card. I stamped the swirl after I made the bottom part. Next time I would stamp it first so it is tucked under a little more.

The second card is for a special friend. She came over and watched my kids while my DH took me to the hospitol for an IV and some meds. She is a blessing. I wouldn't have made it through the night without her. The sentiment is from "All Holidays". The butterfly is from "Priceless". I did use my cuttlebug on the background. I got the layout for this card from Jan Tink. I saw her card on her blog a month or so ago. Mine is a little simpler, but I really like the postcard look to the main image area.