UP ALL NIGHT STAMPER

Stamping Space Makeover with the Gardners

One of the exciting benefits that was offered to Convention goers this year was the possibility of winning a stamping space makeover compliments of Stampin' Up! and designed and executed by Shelli Gardner herself!  Check out this video to see how lucky Tamzin Cochrane got a total space makeover by Shelli, Sterling, Sara and Shalae Gardner.

 

 

 

Jealous?  I know *I* am!!!  Check out all the great ideas and little artistic touches they added to this gorgeous space. Are there any YOU can incorporate into your space?    Send me links to pics of your space and what you love about it and I will feature them here on my blog you can be Space Proud, too!

New Releases for My Digital Studio!

You know, I was so excited about Sale-A-Bration, I forgot to share this week's new digital downloads with you!  Check them out!

Check out those cute little tags and envelopes!  At just $4.95 for a décor template, 10-piece stamp brush set, and 6 embellishments, this is a terrific deal and you can use them for any occasion by substituting other colors, embellishments, anything!

And remember that you DON'T have to have My Digital Studio to use these creativity inspiring digital elements!  They work with most other photo editing programs so you can craft away to your heart's content in the program you already know and love.

And also remember, that these digital downloads are a great instant gratification fix!  You just purchase, download with a couple of clicks and you can be on your way with your new toys right away.

If you have any questions or would like more information - or even see a demo on my laptop - give me a call and we can get together.

My Top Five Favorite Things About Sale-A-Bration 2012

OK, be honest, how many times did you check out the new Sale-A-Bration Mini Catalog?  Doesn't it just call out to you?  "Freeeeeee - everything in me is freeeeeee!"

There are a lot of things about this Mini that I love but there are five things that really stand out for me.  Here they are, in no particular order:

1. The new format. I love the new size and shape and layout of the mini catalog itself.  I love that the fonts are clearer and have more "punch" and that the photos are so crisp on the new paper stock used in the catalog.  It feels more "special" somehow, more befitting of what a terrific promotion Sale-A-Bration is every year.

2. The huge variety of free stuff!  I love that there are plenty of Sale-A-Bration exclusive items but there is also a healthy mix of a great selection of things from the main catalog.  As much as the Sale-A-Bration items are just outrageously adorable, it's nice to know that if they aren't your cup of tea you can still totally indulge and get plenty of goodies that you might have even already had your eye on!

3. The AWESOME sign-on special!  Did you see it?  Just $125 for the WHOLE starter kit - not a modified "lite" version, PLUS free designer paper or free digital downloads every single month you place an order for the rest of the year!  Seriously?  It makes me wish I could sign up all over again!  If you have ever thought it might be fun to earn money while stamping, scrapping, teaching other people hwo to stamp or scrap, or just otherwise have a looooong wishlist, there has never been a special like this. 

4. The additional hostess benefits!  There is never really a better time to hostess a party, class or workshop than during Sale-A-Bration because, let's be honest, this is the time when people spend the most because they are making sure that they get all the freebies they want.  This translates into higher hostess benefits for YOU and this year, in addition to everything you already get as a hostess, you will also get a free tote with a $150.00 total and with a $400 total you get a bundle of ALL of the products on pages 6 and 7.  That's a TON of stuff!  The Fresh Vintage Stamp set, a full package of Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper, one full package of Printed Designer Brads that coordinate with the paper and two full rolls of candy colored, bright and cheery 1/8" Organdy Ribbon.  That's a LOT of goodies!

5. The Elementary Elegance stamp set.  Photos do not do this set justice; it's just beautiful.  Soon I will be posting a sample I made for a swap using this set and you will hopefully see what I mean.  It's so versatile, there's no other set like this and the Curly Label Punch fits PERFECTLY inside so you can really play around with it in very fun and creative ways.  And those greetings stamp out so beautifully; I have been using the "Hello" on tons of projects lately because I love it SO much!

Sale-A-Bration Starts TODAY!

FREE STAMPIN' STUFF FOR EVERYONE!  At least that's what *I* think they should call it because that's what it is!

If you are new to Sale-A-Bration then you are in for a real treat!  During Sale-A-Bration, which runs from today through March 31st, for every $50 you spend on merchandise - anything and everything - you get to take one item from the fabulous 2012 Sale-A-Bration Mini Catalog FOR FREE!

Now if you haven't seen the Sale-A-Bration Mini Catalog yet, I am about to show it to you. You DO need to be sitting though, because this collection of fun and fabulous stuff is going to make you weak kneed!  Ready?  OK, click below.....

Download 2012 Sale-A-Bration Mini Catalog

SQUEEEEE!!!!

Now, I have some things I want to point out but I want you to have time to fully absorb the fabulousness that is this Mini Catalog.  Check back tomorrow where I will share some of my favorites and why I love them.  In the meantime, be sure to check out the awesome additional hostess benefits on page 3 and check out the INSANE special for signing up on pages 4 and 5.  If you have ever had even an inkling that you want to stamp and scrapbook and earn money while doing so, there has literally never been a better time to become a demonstrator (more on that in another post).

Check it out and check back with me tomorrow for more dish about this delicious mini!

Happy Sale-A-Bration Eve!

Just like the night before Christmas, I know I will have trouble nodding off tonight.  Tomorrow is the first day of Sale-A-Bration!  If you haven't yet received your mini in the mail or want a hard copy in your hands, email me or call me and I will get you one.

Check back tomorrow for the details!

Mixed Bunch Butterfly Card

So the other day I showed you a card with a sweet flower from Mixed Bunch.  With a few snips of my Snips I turned one of the bodacious blooms into a beautiful butterfly!  Look!

Here's a closeup of that butterfly -

Can you see how I cut the flower to make the double wings?  All I had to do was follow the pattern on the flower petals - it was so easy!  Can you see a whole flock of these on a frame or in a scrapbook?  In all different colors?  LOVE!

I used glossy cardstock and just pooled some reinker over the design stamped in Staz-On (so it wouldn't run) and then sort of moved the ink around with an Aquapainter.  I backed the white bloom with some orange colored patterned Designer Series Paper that had been sponged over with some Tangerine Tango.  Then I rolled a loooooong triangle of Basic Black cardstock into a tight coil to form the body, adding two superfine strips, coiled at the ends, for antennae.  Adding this one element over several layers really makes a card that pops, don't you think?

Supply List
Tangerine Tango Cardstock, Item #111349
Old Olive Cardstock, Item #100702
Daffodil Delight Cardstock, Item #119683
Basic Gray Cardstock, Item #121044
Glossy White Cardstock, Item #102599
Basic Black Cardstock, Item #121045
First Edition Designer Series Paper, Item #121878
Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper, Item #122637
Mixed Bunch, Item #125535
Blossom Punch, Item #125603
Big Shot, Item #113439
Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Item #120175
Staz-On Jet Black Ink, Item #101406
Tangerine Tango Classic Ink, Item #111841
Daffodil Delight Classic Ink, Item #119672
So Saffron 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Item #122982
SNAIL Adhesive, Item #104332
Stampin' Dimensionals, Item #104430
Paper Snips, Item #103579

Mixin' It Up with Mixed Bunch

In the Occasions Mini there is one set that is SO much fun to play with and I just could not WAIT to get my hands on Mixed Bunch and the coordinating Blossom Punch.  There are so many things you can do with this set and in the following weeks I will be showing you plenty of ideas using this set.

Today I have a sweet little card that was super simple to make (my favorite kind!) but that looks like more than the sum of its parts. Check it out -

Between the layered Blossom Punch, the textured panels and the pleated ribbon, this card has a rich look to it in real life even with its simplicity.  And look!  Do we have yellow pearls?  No, but if you have colored permanent markers, you can color the pearls (and the rhinestones!) to match your projects. 

It never ceases to excite me that you can do so much with punches!

Supply List
Daffodil Delight Cardstock, Item #119683
Pear Pizzazz Cardstock, Item #119795
Poppy Parade Cardstock, Item #119793
Whisper White Cardstock, Item #100730
Mixed Bunch, Item #125535
Blossom Punch, Item #125603
Modern Label Punch, Item #119849
5-Petal Flower Punch, Item #119880
Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad, Item #119782
Big Shot, Item #113493
Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Item #119976
Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Item #117335
Basic Pearls, Item #119247
Pear Pizzazz 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon, Item #125568
SNAIL Adhesive, Item #104322
Stampin' Dimensionals, Item #104430

Brand New My Digital Studio Releases!

Oooh - I am SO excited about this week's brand new digital papercrafting downloads!  If you love love love the Sweet Shop Suite in the Occasions mini, you will be so excited to see what's out this week.  Take a look

See the Sweet Shop Kit?  It comes with a 9-piece stamp brush set, 12 Designer Series Paper patterns, 46 embellishments, and 4 brads for under $10!  How FUN is that?  And the Build A Bots are so cute - they make little boxes!  What a great idea for a boy's birthday party.......the kiddos can help you make the boxes and you can tuck a little treat inside for each party person.

Remember, you don't have to have My Digital Studio to use these fabulous downloads so if you already have a program you love, you can still incorporate these exclusive, not found anywhere else and oh-so- awesome elements to use on your digital projects.

A few quick clicks and you can be crafting in moments!

An Elegant Sympathy Card

While I don't mind making sympathy cards - because I can put my heart into what I am making - I detest the reason for having to make them.  That said, I needed one this week to send to an older couple so I wanted something that would be both pretty and dignified.  The Apothecary Art set in the Occasions Mini has one image that I think is just perfect for this sort of thing and with the coordinating Loving Thoughts words set, you pretty much won't ever run out of reasons for using this set.  Take a look

I got to use my new Labels Framelits set to cut out the mat for the main image and I just couldn't believe how easily and smoothly these worked!  I colored the image with Watercolor Crayons and added some pearls at the protruding edges for some subdued bling, appropriate for the character of the person who passed away (she was a hot ticket!).  The brown satin ribbon sort of reminds me of the armbands that public officers wear (the male recipient of this card is a retired officer) and I added embossed polka dots to the blue panel to echo the smaller dots in the stamped image.

One of the things that IS most comforting to me about being able to handstamp a card like this is that I do have the ability to add those little touches that show how I am honoring the recipients and the deceased.  I can't do that in a card store!  I hope they recognize these little details and understand that they come from a place in my heart that wants to express to them through my card how very much I feel for them.

Don't you love that you can do that through stamping?  Has there ever been a time when you were SO glad you were able to handmake a card for special occasion?  Feel free to share in the comments below!

Supply List
Apothecary Art, Item #125525
Loving Thoughts, Item #125843
Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Assorted, Pages 177-180
Aquapainter, Item #103954
Watercolor Paper, Item #122959
Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, Item #119670
Very Vanilla Cardstock, Item #101650
Melon Mambo Cardstock, Item #115320
Bashful Blue Cardstock, Item #105120
Early Espresso Cardstock, Item #119686
Big Shot, Item #113439
Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Item #117335
Framelits Labels, Item #125598
Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Item #124327
Basic Pearls, Item #119247
SNAIL Adhesive, Item #104332
Stampin' Dimensionals, Item #104430

New Releases for My Digital Studio!

Check out the latest of the weekly releases for My Digital Studio!

Check out those CUTE Valentine postcards you can print and color!  HOW ADORABLE!!!  It comes with four postcard templates and a sixteen piece brush set (brushes = digital stamps) so you can create endless combinations.  And can anyone say "Classroom Valentines"?  Have you priced those classroom Valentine packages in the stores lately?  They are expensive, and for the most part, pretty ugly! 

Instead, picture this.....you and your little ones spend some fun time designing custom Valentines, printing them out on cardstock, coloring with crayons, markers or watercolor crayons, cutting them out and you are ready to go with cost effective, adorable and CUSTOM MADE Valentines!

So how would YOU use these new releases?