Poppin' Pastels

Last night was our demonstrator meeting. Check back tomorrow and I'll have the swaps from the meeting to show you. This was supposed to be my 3-minute demo but at the last minute I changed it (no joke, just hours before the meeting I changed it). I saw this other project online and liked it so much that I had to share it. Because it was done last minute I didn't get a picture of it. But I'm going to make another one and show you, because it's just soooo cool. It will be a while before I can show you though. Currently I have my post scheduled through August 7th or 8th. But keep checking back I'll make sure to show you.
Even though I didn't show this for my 3 minute demo it's still an awesome card. I was going to show 2 techniques in my demo. The first one is a variation on Poppin' Pastels. It's a great technique. Stamp your image in versa mark then use your pastels to pounce on the image and where the versa mark is the pastels will stick. But instead of doing it on cardstock, I did poppin pastels on our grosgrain ribbon. So cool. This is the burgundy ribbon with black chalk on it.
For my second technique I wanted to showe how you can dye our corduroy brads to any color! This technique works best with the kraft ones. I only had pumpkin pie on hand and it worked with those too-as long as you're going darker. I've seen a few different ways to do it but I like this way best. To dye the brads, use your aqua painter and get the brad really wet then use your aqua painter and some reinker of the color you want to change your brad to and 'paint' the brad. Then use a paper towel and dab the excess ink off. Then go over it again with the reinker and aqua painter, dab again with the paper towel and continue until you get your desired color. I did the burgundy ones 3 times. I think that dabbing the excess off you get a more true to color look. I tried without dabbing and the brad looked black. So that's how I like to do it. Here's the card I put them both on.
Wow that's a really long post, I bet you're ready to see the project now huh?

Both techniques together-isn't that awesome!

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Greenhouse Garden (again)

Cardstock: White, Bravo Burgundy, Old Olive

Ink: Perfect Plum, Bravo Burgundy, Versa Mark pads, Bravo Burgundy reinker

Accessories: Chit Chat Rubons, Burgundy ribbon, Pastels, Scallop Border Punch, Corduroy Brads, Aqua Painter, dimensionals

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow!!

Swap

Our meeting is tonight. I just got my swap done. Whew, I was beginning to worry it wasn't going to get done. The theme this month is new In Colors, which limits me to only 6 colors to choose from. Then I knew that I wanted to use the Thoroughly Modern DSP so then the colors I would use were chosen for me. Bermuda Bay and Soft Suede. But for some reason I had major trouble coming up with a design and layout. So where did I turn? The catalog of course. This card is a copy of one of the catalog samples. The card that I copied is on page 95 of the catalog. It's the card that uses Melon Mambo. I changed the stamp set, colors and where the ribbon is. The sample in the catalog gave me a great start and I turned that into a great card! Don't you just love our catalog for that very reason. So many samples and so many ideas!

For my card, I used the Inspired by Nature Set and embossed it with Clear EP on Bermuda Bay cardstock. The DSP is so nice and I love that ribbon! Check back this weekend and I'll have my swaps from the meeting!

Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Inspired By Nature and A Little Birthday Cheer
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Thoroughly Modern DSP
Ink: Soft Suede and Versa Mark
Accessories: Clear EP, Heat Tool, Scallop Border punch, dimensionals, Bermuda Bay ribbon

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow!

Hey Cupcake!

Another birthday card! I think this birthday card is it for a while. I never realized how many people I know have summer birthdays! But that's exciting. I think birthday cards are my favorite to make so I always enjoy them. This birthday card was inspired by this blog. It's Laurie's blog, and she's amazing. She also post really yummy recipes on her blog, so it's a win win blog and she has great ideas. I loved how she used a button for the flame on the candle, so cute and so I just had to try it too! This card is for my downline Corrina, her birthday isn't until Saturday but I figured I would be on top of at least one birthday card this month and get it out in time. So she'll get it a little early but that's ok. More time to celebrate!

The DSP on the card is another pattern from the Thoroughly Modern DSP pack. Such a pretty package of paper!

I used rubons for the greeting again. I just love the chit chat rub ons. You get so many different phrases and they're so easy to put on your card.

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Party Hearty

Cardstock: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, White, Close to Cocoa, Thoroughly Modern DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, So Saffron

Accessories: Button, dimensionals, Scallop Border punch, Chit Chat Rubons, linen thread, mini glue dots

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow!

Tutorial Tuesday-Fun Bird Card

I have the cutest tutorial for you today! It's so cute. I first saw it on Stampin' Addicts and I knew right away that I wanted to make this card for Logan. I've changed it a little bit but it's still OH SO CUTE! So to start you'll need the large scallop circle die for the big shot. I used a Brilliant Blue standard 8.5x5.5 piece of cardstock scored down the middle at 4.25 and then I cut it with my big shot making sure not to cut through the scored part so that it opens and closes like a normal card. You'll also need one 1 inch circle in Brillinat Blue (cut in half), two 1 inch circles in white, two 3/4 inch circles in black, two of the largest flower from the Boho Blossom Punch in Brilliant Blue, two of the smallest flower from the Boho Blossom punch in Pumpkin Pie, one small oval in Pumpkin Pie. Sponge all Brillant Blue and Pumpkin Pie pieces with the coordinating ink pads.

Glue the feet (Pumpkin Pie Flowers) to the bottom of the card on the back side. Glue the two Brilliant Blue flowers to the top (the scored part) of his head.

Put the eyes together. Black on white and the half circles for the eyelids. I used dimensionals to attach them to the bird.

Attach the beak and your super cute bird is done!

How adorable is he.

Logan is going to LOVE this card!!!

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow!

Final Deal of the Week

Second post of the day.

The last deal of the week is the Heart to Heart punch. It's on sale this week for only $10.99. You only have until July 31 to get this special deal. Call me today!

Sunflower Birthday

Happy Monday! I hope you had a nice weekend. It has been so hot here so we spent most of the weekend inside. I have a busy busy week coming up. We have our demonstrator meeting on Thursday so I need to get a swap and my three minute demo done. It's also my last full week before convention. Which means I gotta get to the bank, gotta get to the library make sure Logan and his Dad have plenty of bedtime stories, and so much more and that's just the non SU stuff. To prepare for convention itself I need to finish my shoebox swap and gifts and more more more. I remember when I registered for convention I was like, "I have so much time to get stuff done" Now I'm quickly running out of time.Well it will all get done, one way or another. For today's card I have a simple birthday card. This card I sent to another one of my sidelines. Kim (or Kim 2, we have 2 Kim's in our group). Today is her birthday, Happy Birthday Kim!!! I hope she got this card in time, otherwise it will be a belated birthday wish!

I watercolored the image with blender pens and markers. Isn't it great that our In Colors come in markers!!!

Supplies:
Stamp Set: A Flower For All Seasons
Cardstock: Dusty Durango, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, White
Ink: Staz on and Going Grey pads, Dusty Durango, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Crushed Curry and Close to Cocoa markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Textured plates, Blender pens, Chit Chat rubons, Scallop Border punch, dimensionals

Thanks for looking see you tomorrow for Tutorial Tuesday!

Matchboxes for Logan

Quick post today. I made these cute matchboxes for Logan to open when I'm away at convention. Each little box will have a note or toy or treat and it will just be something fun for him to look forward to everyday. I leave Tuesday and get back on Sunday and so this gives him a box to open on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Then when I talk to him everyday on the phone he can tell me about his special present for the day. I'm sure he'll be excited. It will be more of a challenge for Dan to only let him open one box a day.
I used some retired DSP for this box. I like the colors and they're very kid friendly prints.

Thanks for looking, see you Monday!!

Stampin' Addicts

Second post of the day.
I found this AWESOME website called Stampin' Addicts they have tons of great SU samples and they're giving this set of big shot dies away!
Stampin Addicts has so many ideas using the Big Shot and you all know how much I love my big shot. I use it so much! They're giving away a Big Shot Die Pack as part of the Stampin’ Up! summer celebration. Isn't that awesome! There isn't much time left to enter so hurry, head over to their webite and enter yourself!

Bitty Box

I have more new stuff for you today. This box is a die for the Big Shot and my number one die on my wishlist. And it's so cute! It's the Bitty Box and Envelope die. I used the Greenhouse Garden stamp set....again! I just can't stop using it. It's so pretty. The box really is bitty. The finished size of the box is 2.5x2.5 and .75 inches high. So it's pretty small...BUT I checked and even though I didn't get a picture of it, it does hold 2 Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares. Which is my number one concern when making a box :) The envelope is pretty small too, perfect size for a small note. My note card inside the envelope is 2x2 so the envelope is just slightly larger.

Check out that new Modern Label Punch, isn't it awesome!

I do recommend sticky strip when putting the box together. I just used SNAIL and it didn't hold as well as sticky strip would have. And SU designed this box so that the tabs are the perfect width for sticky strip.

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Greenhouse Garden and Upsy Daisy

Cardstock: Ruby Red, Vanilla, Certainly Celery, So Saffron DSP

Ink: Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, Certainly Celery Old Olive

Accessories: Big Shot, Bitty Box die, Modern Label Punch, Celery ribbon, dimensionals

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow!

Modern Elegance

I spent alot of time yesterday trying to figure out what I'm going to do for my shoebox swap at Convention. It is coming up so fast now. In only 2 weeks I'll be in Salt Lake City waiting for General Session to start! So I did alot of browsing yesterday on Split Coast and saw a card like this, where I got my idea. I love how elegant this card looks but I won't be doing it for my swap, it takes a lot of ink pads and other stuff. I'm trying to keep my swap very nice but simple. The less stuff I need to travel with and keep track of is my goal. And I didn't want to take 6 ink pads checked in my luggage. So I decided against this one. But I did figure out what I'm going to do and I'll show that to you the week of convention. It's so pretty and I know you'll like it.
On this card I'm using some new DSP. It's from the Thoroughly Modern pack and that DSP is so pretty. The design on this card doesn't really show much of it, it's just little dots, but I'll have plenty to show with the other patterns soon.

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Flores Suaves

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Vanilla, Thoroughly Modern DSP

Ink: Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Old Olive, So Saffron, Summer Sun, Rose Red

Accessories: Blender Pens, Vanilla ribbon, dimensionals

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow!

New Decor Elements

I spent Sunday putting up some new Decor Elements around the house, here's one of them. This one is the Level 3 decor element. It was bigger than I thought I would be so it took a couple of days to figure out where to put it. We finally decided that it would go best by the front door. I think it does. It looks great. It comes with 'extra pieces' for the stand for the bird cage and I still have 2 of those left and it's still taller than I am (I'm 5'6 by the way).

That's one of our cats Cinderella, who refused to move for the picture. She's not a very smart cat and I sure hope she doesn't think that's a real bird. That may sound really bad, but everytime she walkes by it she meows at it. Poor cat.

I'm not sure why the wall is different colors in all 3 pictures (the one at the top is what it really looks like).

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow!

Tutorial Tuesday-Simple Pop Up Card

I'm so excited to show you this card today it's super easy and I just love it. My upline Amber did this type of card for a swap a couple months ago and I've been waiting to do it. So let's just get started. I've already pre-stamped and assembled the front of the card. I'm using the new Greenhouse Garden stamp set. I stamped the base of the flower in Lavender Lace then I used Lovely Lilac Craft ink and stamped the detail and then embossed it in clear embossing powder to give it extra dimension and shine! It looks A-MA-ZING in person. You'll also need a piece of cardstock for the inside of your card. I'm using white that measures 8x5.25 score in half at 4. You'll also need a word window punch. The rest I'll explain as we go.

First, you're going to punch a word window on each side of the white cardstock, making sure the score line runs through the center of the punch.

After you have your two windows punched, you'll need a ruler and a bone folder or what ever you use to score with, and score one line on the top and one on the bottom of the word window punches connecting the two punches. See picture above.

Then you're going to fold on all your score lines as shown above.

Glue to the base of your card.

I needed a bigger base to assemble my flowers so I glued a 1.75x1.75 piece of cardstock on the part that pops up on the card. This step is not necessary especially if you have a smaller image to glue. After I got that piece in then I just added all the flowers that I cut out for the card.

The card will fold flat to mail then pop out every time! Isn't that great! I just love it! I showed it to Dan when I was done and he liked it too! He also noted that "I should make a card like this with the bear stamp" Or he can just read this and make one by himself right?

Here's what the front looks like.

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow!

Deal of the Week

Second post of the day.

The Deal of the Week this week is the Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware. Normally $29.95, this week only $18.99. You have until Monday July 27 order it for the sale price!

New Favorite Stamp Set???

I had some time over the weekend to play with my new stuff and I think I may have found my new favorite stamp set. This set is so pretty and sooooo easy to use and I just can't believe how stunning the images come out when you stamp them. The pictures don't do the set justice either. They're about 100 times prettier in person then they could ever be in pictures.
So what stamp set is it? It is Greenhouse Garden. It's a two step stamp set-which I love and I used my stamp a ma jig-which I love even more, to get everything lined up perfectly. When I first saw this set in the catalog, it went to the top of my wishlist. AND believe it or not, not including hostess sets, this is the ONLY stamp set I got with my order, the rest is accessories, which I haven't even touched! Anyway, here's the card, so pretty. I just love it. For the leaves I just used the smallest flower in the set. Worked great! The rest of the card was left pretty simple. I wanted the focus to be on the flowers.

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Greenhouse Garden

Cardstock: Old Olive, So Saffron, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, White

Ink: Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, So Saffron, More Mustard, Certainly Celery, Old Olive

Accessories: Old Olive Ribbon, Stamp a ma Jig, dimensionals, Chit Chat Rub Ons, Scallop Border Punch

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow for Tutorial Tuesday!

Upsy Daisy Notebook

Well I finally got a chance to work on some new stuff! I bought the So Saffron Upsy Daisy Decor Element with the intention of making this notebook. I'm still not sure what I do with the rest of them. I wanted to make a nice durable notebook for convention. I'm a note taker and there is never enough room for notes in the convention books they give us so I always bring another one.
I used the thick window sheets for the cover. The Chocolate Chip cardstock in under the window sheet and the rest is on top of the window sheet. The butterfly is also a decor element from the medium Flutter. I put that on some paper, cut it out and used dimensionals to pop it up. I just love this notebook. I had wanted to put 'Convention 2009' on it but I don't think it needs it. Plus I'm not sure where I would put it.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, So Saffron, White, Window Sheets

Accessories: Crop a dial, Dimensionals, sticky strip, Chocolate Chip ribbon, So Saffron Upsy Daisy and Chocolate Chip Flutter Decor Elements, notebook (6x9)

Thanks for looking, see you Monday!

Chipboard Quail

Good news and Bad news. Good news: My order came yesterday. Love it all and can't decide what to do first! Bad news: Didn't get a chance to stamp anything or work on anything after my new order came so I don't have anything brand new to show you. BUT I do have a cute card with a cute set. I'm not loving this card, but Dan said that he liked it. Maybe I'll mail it to him so that it arrives when I'm gone at Convention. I covered the chipboard with the new Dusty Durango In Color.
I do love this set. I'm just not wild about the colors and layout I think. Perhaps it will grow on me.
I will have new stuff tomorrow. I'll be spending the morning delivering orders then come home and stamp!

Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Happy Together
Cardstock: So Saffron, Ruby Red, Dusty Durango, Chocolate Chip, White
Ink: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Chip Board Scallop Square, Chit Chat Rubons, Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Tombow multi glue, dimensionals, sanding block

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow!

Upsy Daisy Thanks

Happy Thursday! And is it ever a HAPPY Thursday, my order with new stuff is supposed to come today!!!! I cannot wait. I'm so excited! I'll have lots of new samples of stuff to show you tomorrow and all next week!
Today's card I just love, I know that I say that about almost every card but I can't help it I love them ALL! I got the idea for this one from Mary's blog. I thought the embossing looked so good on the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP that I wanted to try it out for myself. And it's amazing! It looks great! I made this card for my friend Niccoli who invited me over to her house on Tuesday for dinner and I'm going to send this card with a nice note thanking her.

I love the subtle flowers stamped behind the greeting too. It really adds to the card. Other then the embossing it's a pretty straight forward card. I love the polka dot ribbon!

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: White EP, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, Dimensionals

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow!

A Rose and a Window Sheet

Before we get to the project I want to let you know of a very special offer from SU! If you've ever thought about being a demonstrator now is the time to sign up. And SU is offering a special $85 Mini Starter Kit! Here's what's in the Mini Starter Kit

• For All You Do stamp set
• Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad
• Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad
• Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
• Dusty Durango Classic Stampin' Pad
• Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad
• Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad
• Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
• In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
• Plus the business supplies to get you started.

The standard Starter Kit is also available and added to it at no extra cost is

• All six of the new In Color Classic Stampin' Pads
• One pack of In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")

These are such great deals, it's hard to pass up! If you would like more information about signing up please call me. I would love to talk to you!

For today's project, I made another Birthday Card. I didn't realize that I knew so many people with July birthdays. This one is for one of the Mom's in my Mom's group that meets every week. I really love the colors on this card and I think it came out so beautiful! Yes that's a window sheet. I haven't used them in a while, I don't know why I still love them to pieces. There's a greeting stamped on the inside, then the white cardstock opens and that's where to group will sign all our messages to her. Supplies:

Stamp Sets: A Rose is a Rose, It's Your Birthday

Cardstock: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Basic Gray, White

Ink: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery, Old Olive

Accessories: Window Sheets, Scallop Border Punch, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Mini Glue dots, dimensionals, Stamp a ma Jig

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow!

Tutorial Tuesday-Jumbo Paper Clip Bookmark

Before we get to the tutorial here's something fun. While my sister was visiting last week she went to Walgreens and found these two bottles of nail polish. She got them just because she thought they were pretty, when I saw here wearing them I said "Hey those are the new In Colors!" They're so close in colors, it's almost a perfect match.

The Melon Mambo one is Wet and Wild #454D called Lavender Creme (no clue why lavender but that's what the bottle said-go figure).

The Bermuda Bay one is #446C called Caribbean Frost. So if you want to wear the new in colors, head on down to Walgreens and pick up a bottle or two!

For the tutorial today, I'm going to show you how to make a bookmark with a jumbo paperclip. I'm using chipboard and the cute hippo from the Pun Fun set. I've already colored and cut out my hippo and covered my chipboard with DSP. You'll also need alot of dimensionals.

Assemble the top decorative part of your bookmark. I just used dimensionals and attached my hippo to one of the stars.

Then place your jumbo paper clip on the back, bottom of the image you just decorated. Cover with dimensionals. Make sure to put plenty of dimensionals on the inside of your paper clip loop to hold it in place. I didn't do this on mine but I suggest on yours you also put dimensionals around the top of the loop around your paper clip. My star on my paper clip rock back and forth slightly because there's nothing anchoring it down. I also stacked my dimensionals 2 high to be deep enough for my paper clip.

Attach the other star on the back and you're done. Super simple.

Place it in your book to hold your spot!

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow!