Monday, August 27, 2012

Papillon Potpourri

These butterflies are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!  Some are realistic, some are just decorative, and some of them have my favorite feature in a stamp......they have a matching punch.

This card has many elements new to the 2012-2013 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog.  First, of course, is the stamp set.  It has 6 butterflies in various styles and 2 different sizes.  This is one of the large ones.  I stamped the image in Basic Black and then colored in the wings with my Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Markers.  The coordinating punch does fit this stamp, but I wanted to keep his little antenna on.  The butterfly is up on a dimensional also.  If you want to, you can punch out the butterfly and put him directly on the images stamped so the antenna show behind him.  The flowers in the row are from the stamp set Bordering on Romance.  I inked just enough flowers from the row to go across my frame area.  

Speaking of the frame area, don't you just love the NEW Apothecary Accents Framelits shapes.  So do I, but I have a small confession here.  I don't own them yet.  I bought the NEW Essentials Paper Piercing Pack to work on some other projects.  I used the shape that coordinates with the Apothecary Accents and my piercing tool to pierce this shape on my cardstock.  I then used my paper snips to carefully cut around outside the holes.  One of my new go to sentiment sets Loving Thoughts, a couple quick punches for highlighting under the butterfly and viola.  

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Products Used:
Stamps:  Papillon Potpourri (WM#123757 , CM#123759), Bordering on Romance (WM#125480, CM#125482, Digital #125619 ), Loving Thoughts (WM#125843, CM#125845)
Colors:  Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Basic Black Ink
Accessories: Essentials Paper Piercing Pack (#126187), Paper Pierce Mat (#126199), Paper Piercing Tool (#126189), Dimensionals (#104430), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (#118874), 1-3/8" Circle Punch (#119860), Paper Snips (#103579)

Papillon Potpourri (WM#123757, CM#123759)
Essentials Paper Piercing Pack (#126187) 

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Highlights with Bleach

I came across the cutest card in my stash.  It had this wonderful zebra image from the stamp set "Zoo Review" that had the stripes bleached out.  I loved the look of the black and white card with just a little color in the middle. So I looked through my stamp collection and pulled out "Crosses of Hope".

The main image is embossed with Black Embossing Powder.  I then took a small paint brush and lightly brushed on some bleach.  Each color of cardstock will react differently to the bleach.  Sometimes it turns a lighter shade, sometimes it turns close to white and other times it turns a completely different color shade.  I suggest testing a small scrap before doing this on your project.

I also dressed up the inside of the card with the same cross and sentiment from the stamp set.  This would be a wonderful card for any number of religious occasions.

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PRODUCTS USED:
Stamps:  Crosses of Hope (WM#117136, CM#120567, Digital #129595)
Colors: Basic Black, Whisper White, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Black Embossing Powder (#109133), Heat Tool (#129053), Versamark Ink Pad (#102283), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (#119275) 

Crosses of Hope (WM#117136, CM#120567, Digital #129595)
Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (#119275) 
Heat Tool (#129053)
Original stamp set mentioned above--Zoo Review (WM#122197, CM#122199)

Friday, August 24, 2012

Double Take

One of my favorite places to get inspiration for new cards is from old cards.  I was going through some old swaps I have had in a box for, well, we'll just say "a long time".  The stamp set has been long retired and some of the cardstock colors are even gone.  I LOVED the layout though, so it was a prime candidate for an update.  I liked it so much, I made two.

The first card features the Aviary stamp set.  This stamp set comes with 4 bird cages, 4 birds and what is commonly used as the stand to put the cages on.  I didn't want to have my cages hanging in mid-air, but also wanted the decorative part of the stand to show.  I turned it sideways and love how the cages can hang from the base of the stand.  It's hard to see in the photo, but I spritzed the main area with my Gold Glow Smooch Spritz.  Inside the card I have a bird cage also.  The torn edge was inked with a direct to paper technique. It is a little heavy for my taste, so next time I think I will use a spounge for lighter coverage.

The second card features the stamp set Reason to Smile.  SU! offered this stamp set as a special during the month of July.  Though this stamp set was only offered for the one month, it is still a great stamp set for this layout.  I encourage you to look through your older, dusty stamp sets and see if you have a retired or "forgotten" (gasp) stamp set that would work great for you.  I colored the image with ink from the lid and a blender pen.  The accessories are part of the new In Color collection for 2012-2014.  3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Raspberry Ripple and the In Color Dahlias (Gumball Green).

The sentiments for the two cards come from current stamp sets, Perfect Punches and Loving Thoughts.

PRODUCTS USED:
Card 1:  Aviary (WM #116956, CM#120462, Digital #124476), Perfect Punches (WM#117022, CM#120516), Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Basic Black, Gold Glow Smooch (#118770), Scallop Oval Punch (#119856), Melon Mambo Scallop Dots Ribbon (#122985)
Card 2:  Reason to Smile, Loving Thoughts (CM#125843, CM#125845), Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse, Shimmer Paper (#101910), Scallop Oval Punch (119856), Raspberry Ripple Stitched Satin Ribbon (#126845), In Color Dahlias (#127556), Blender Pen (#102845)

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Aviary (WM#116956, CM#120462, Digital #124476)
Perfect Punches (WM#117022, CM#120516)   
In Color Dahlias #127556



Thursday, August 23, 2012

Stationary Box

A friend of mine asked if I could give a donation for their schools upcoming "Bingo Fundraiser".  The winners of each bingo game will get a ticket to put in the drawing for the item of their choice.  This is my donation to the fundraiser.  It is a stationary box, a note pad and set of 6 cards w/envelopes.

I got the instructions for the box off of pinterest.  Here is the link to the INSTRUCTIONS I used.  I did use a larger box.  When you are selecting your box, be sure the total of the front and 2 sides do not go over the length of paper you are using.  I only had about 1/8" to wrap around the back, made for some frustrating moments.  The Designer Series Paper I used is retired.  It was an older pack of hostess only product.  The Concord Crush (purple) of the flowers is also retired.  SU! has a large selection of Designer Series Paper to choose from.  Since each pack comes with multiple sheets of coordinating designs, they are perfect for projects such as these.  Depending on the size of your boxes, you can get approximately 6 boxes from 1 pack of Designer Series Paper.

The flowers are from the Fun Flowers Bigz L Die.  I cut the die with 3 sheets of cardstock at once (Concord Crush, Bashful Blue, and Melon Mambo).  All three were colors from the DSP.  You can look in the catalog to see what colors are in each pack of DSP.  I also write them on the back of the pack for easy reference later.  I mix and matched the flowers for the two designs.  The flowers on the note pad are left plain.  Each layer on the box flower was put through the Big Shot with a different embossing folder.  Both flowers are held together with a Glitter Brad from the Soft Subtles Collection (retired--still available in Bold Brights).

The DSP is held to the box with Glue Stick.  The two halves of the box and the flowers are held together with Sticky Strip.

Products Used:
Paper:  Retired Cheerful Treat DSP, Retired Concord Crush, Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo
Accessories:  Glue Stick (#104045), Sticky Strip (#104294), Fun Flowers Die (#121812), Retired Soft Subtles Glitter Brads, Big Shot (#113439), Various Embossing Folders

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Monday, August 13, 2012

In Color Fabulous Florets

Time for some cards!  It feels great to put ink to paper again.  Stampin' Up! just keeps giving and giving.  They have come out with a great selection of In Colors for the 2012-2014 collection.  They even did all of us stampers a great service by upgrading all their stamp pads to a new firm foam pad and reformualting several ink colors.

I made this card using a simple masking technique, featuring the Fabulous Florets Stamp Set and 2012-2014 In Colors:  from left to right...Gumball Green, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, and Midnight Muse.  If you look carefully there is a floret stamped on the inside.  Just a little something extra to dress up that special note to a friend.

The NEW FIRM FOAM INK PADS:  The new ink pads are FANTASTIC!  The ink coverage on the stamps is so much better.  It takes a light-tap of the stamp to the ink pad for a great clean image.  The ink pads have the same flip design as before, making your ink pads ready every time you need them.  They have upgraded the top label to an easier to read glossy label that will not chip or fade.  On the bottom of the ink pad is a name label in 4 different languages that can be adhered to the end of the ink pad.  The new firm foam pads are available in all of the exclusive Stampin' Up! ink colors including all In Colors.


Reformulated Ink--
Five ink colors have undergone formula changes to improve functionality and color stability with the new firm foam pads. These colors are
  • Basic Black
  • Basic Gray
  • Marina Mist
  • Perfect Plum
  • Tempting Turquoise
All five colors of the reformulated inks have been fully tested and approved. While using the new ink formula in the old Stampin’ Pads is fine, Stampin' Up! does not recommend using the old ink formula for these five colors in the new firm foam pads. 

Fabulous Florets (WM #123025, $23.95) (CM #123027, $17.95)
Also available as a My Digital Studio Download #124110, $3.95

ORDER ONLINE 24/7 at My Demonstrator Website.  Check out my Frequent Stamper Miles Program.  

Thursday, August 9, 2012

MDS Angry Birds

My son 's birthday is this weekend.  We decided to go with an Angry Birds Theme this year.  Treat sacks at our local store are $3.50 for 8 little angry bird sacks.  This does not sit well with me.  My Digital Studio to the rescue.

I created this postcard on MDS2 and will attach it to the front of a standard ole' brown lunch bag.  The grass area is done with the torn edges stamp in three layers of Gumball Green and Old Olive.  I resized and rotated a few squares to make the sling shot.  The bird itself is one of the new features that comes with MDS2.  You can now add a photo to any punch shape.  I found the face of the bird online and put it into the circle punch.  The feathers behind are the 5 petal flower punch.

Check out the curve to "Happy Birthday".  Again thanks to MDS2, you can now make your words follow along a curve or zig zag.  A few drop shadows and some cupcake top clouds....viola'.....we are done.  This took very little time to do.

To check out more on the features of MDS2, check out the SU! My Digital Studio Website.  Be sure to watch a few of the videos in the training section.

Purchase MDS2 or other Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 at My Demonstrator Website.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Clearance Rack Finds

There are tons of great products in the clearance rack of the online store.  They are "WHILE SUPPLIES LAST", so get yours today.  You can go to the Clearance Rack in My Demonstrator Website Store.


Here is a small selection of some great deals and things for upcoming holidays.

Stampin' Up! just added several of the retired (yet still wonderful) fabric bundles for only $0.99.  They have Candy Cane, Deck the Halls, Springtime Vintage and Sweet Stitches.  You get 3 Fat Quarters in each bundle.  You can't do that good on a great sale at the fabric stores.



Cherry Trim Designer Printed Album 6"x6" Ring Album--$4.39
Bat Punch--$9.59

Wicked Fun Designer Series Paper--$4.79 



Tuesday, August 7, 2012

MDS2 is Mind Blowing!!

It has been awhile since I have posted.  After our move "life" just took over.  I have been checking out some of the new things that SU! has come out with and made a few new cards that I am ready to share, but the moment I saw MDS2 I couldn't wait to tell you.
My Digital Studio is a fantastic program for all your Digital Papercrafting needs, but MDS2 is Mind Blowing!



Here are just a few of the exciting new features you get with MDS2.....

  • Multiple colors in one stamp image
  • Crop your stamps or embelishments
  • Have embelishments or Designer Series Paper in ANY COLOR!
  • Easily fill punches with photos, DSP or even TEXT.
  • Make text follow a shape (any curve or line you can think of)
  • More abilities with grouped objects
  • Mirror options for DSP, embellishments, groups, etc
  • View page layouts side by side
  • Add rounded corners to DSP or photos with a simple click
  • Decide you want your project to be a different size....no problem....want to make your scrapbook page a card...you can do that too.

Trust me when I say that MDS2 is a must have program for everyone.  
To help those who want to get the most out of MDS2 Stampin' Up! has put out an entire new series of videos with step by step instructions for each feature.  Check them out in the training section of www.mydigitalstudio.net  WARNING: Once you see how great this program is you won't be able to contain your excitement.

TRY IT FOR FREE!
Try MDS2 for 30 days for free.  Simply select the program from My Demonstrator Website Store.

PURCHASE IT TODAY!
Option 1: MDS2
Comes with the Full Program and a limited bit of digital content.  Item #130644-Download, Item#130645-Disk Coming Soon.  You can purchase this for $39.95 in My Demonstrator Website Store.

Option 2: MDS2+
You can purchase the FULL version INCLUDING over $500 worth of content for $79.95 in My Demonstrator Website Store.  Item #130646 (download).  Item #130647-Disk Coming soon)  Content is not the same as original MDS.  It has been upgraded to new trending stamps, embelishments and papers.  Check out the new content here.

UPGRADE to MDS2!
Already own My Digital Studio, upgrade the software online to MDS2 today for only $19.95.  Select the upgrade item #130650 from My Demonstrator Website Store.