Faux Linen and Betsy's Blossoms set

Hello!  I played around with the Faux Linen technique and one of the new stamp sets...so fun! I think that next time I will stamp the background and then sand over the top instead of sanding first.  I could not see the sanding as well as I would have liked.  I also might sponge a bit of Primrose around the edges for a bit more color. 

Stamps:
En Francais
Betsy's Blossoms
Betsy's Blooms wheel (in So Saffron down the left side)
Kindness Matters (sentiment)

Colors:
Primrose Petals
Basic Gray
So Saffron

Goodies:
Victoria Crochet ribbon
Pearls
Sanding blocks
Sponges
Glossy white cardstock
Oval and scallop oval punch
Sticky Strip
Dimensionals

Happy Stamping!
Stef

New ink pads

I have had several folks question me about the new firm foam ink pads.  From now on, when you purchase any stamp pad from Stampin' Up! you will get a new firm foam pad.  This new pad will ensure that it won't buckle up around the edges and will stay firm and even.  Also, SU changed formulas on a handful of ink pads to ensure that our pads won't change colors down the road.

I have tried my new pads (so much fun to play with the new colors) and love them!  Shanon West has a great video with more details about the ink pads.  Let me know what you think.  I love getting comments!

In a nutshell:
-Tap lightly and you will get crisp, complete coverage on all stamps.
-The pads are more juicy than before but will stay juicy longer...hooray for sponging!
-The pads won't buckle on the edges or dip in the middle of the pad. 

Happy stamping!
Stef

Uncle Sam Punch Art card

Howdy!  For my monthly swap I wanted to do something patriotic because it was Memorial Day yesterday.  Also, one of the theme options was Fourth of July...lol!  He was super easy to create.  I combined several cards that I found online to come up with this fun one.  I borrowed Dawn O's Uncle Sam and Connie B's layout...voila!  (-:  My creative juices were "rusty" so this project gave me a jump start.

For the hat I punched out a Cherry Cobbler square and a white one.  I trimmed a few "slices" off of the cherry square and adhered them to the white one.  A Midnight Muse Word Window punch completes the hat for the brim.

I put a 1 1/4" circle (sponged first) on top of the white scallop circle.  A small circle from the punch pack works well for the nose (sponged first).  I used a Black marker to draw the eyes and mouth.

Punches:  Scallop Edge, 1 ¼” square, 1 ¼” circle, punch pack circle, 2 ½” circle, Word Window, Scallop circle

Accessories:  Sponges, Snail, Bone folder, Cherry Cobbler ribbon, Dimensionals, Square Lattice folder, Big Shot

Colors:  Midnight Muse (new), Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette and Bashful Blue

Happy Stamping!

Stefanie

Happy Memorial Day

Happy birthday to my sweet daughter!  Today she turns nine years old...sigh! 

Also, a happy Memorial Day to all of you!  Thank you especially to the brave men and women who risk (risked) their lives for us so that we might live in the greatest land on earth!  Thank you to the wives and husbands who stay behind to "hold the fort".  Thank you to the children who miss their daddies and mommies who are gone.  Thank you to the parents who miss their children. 

Thank you especially to my father who served in the US Navy for years and spent months under the water in subs.  I love you and I am so proud of you, Dad!  I missed you so much while you were gone but I am glad that you loved our country enough to fight to keep it free during Vietnam and the Cold War.

Thank you also to my father-in-law who served in the Army and was stationed in Europe more than once.

I am so proud to be an American!

Happy stamping!
Stefanie

Faux Linen Technique

Faux Linen

Directions:1) Rub a sanding block or sandpaper over a piece of Glossy White card stock, from top to bottom and then side to side.

2) Ink a sponge or sponge dauber, and rub the ink over the sanded surface to create the linen look.

3) Stamp your image.

Tip:
You can also stamp a background image on the card stock before sanding.

 Today is such a busy day that I am borrowing a technique from the Stampin' Up! demo website.  I have always loved this particular technique.  Send me a sample and I will post it on my blog.  (-:  I think that I will mess around with this technique this weekend and post something.

Happy stamping!
Stefanie

Nursing Home Day

Here are the projects that we will be doing at the nursing home today.  I have two extra helpers because the activities director will be on vacation; of course, my two best helpers will be with me as well!  (-:  My children go with me each month and do a fantastic job.  I also have help on the prep work for the projects from one creative girl. 

The project must be simple with few layers.  Adding embellishments can be tricky so I employ the KISS technique...lol!  Keep it simple silly!

Most of the these projects are retired stamps because it is a fantastic time to bring out old favorites.  If you see a stamp you don't recognize...shhh...I had quite a stash from before I became a demo and my daughter loves to delve into that drawer.  (-:

Happy stamping!
Stef

Mail Call

Here are the cards I have gotten in the mail recently.  Some are with familiar current sets and others are retired sets.  Enjoy!  The Hope card below was made by my sister-in-law; she recycled a gift bag for the clever background.  Julie made the center card; check out the nifty vase she punched.  The last card looks oddly familiar...

Happy stamping!
Stef

Going, going, gone!

Hello Ladies!  Don't forget that many stamp sets and accessories are retiring at the end of the month.  Tonight I am placing my last "old" catalog order so call or email if you want something before it is gone.  If you prefer to order online don't forget to specify me as your demonstrator so you get the cheaper prices.

Here is the link to the retired stamp sets by picture.  If you prefer a list, here it is.

Here is the link to the retired accessories by picture.  If you prefer a list, here it is.

Happy stamping!
Stef

Masculine Card Swap Part Three

Hello!  I am not sure how the top one counted as a masculine card swap but it is lovely!  Don't forget that the cute dog (D is For Dog) stamp set is retiring this month...  I love the Open Seas stamp set and was tickled to see someone use it for the swap.  Wish I had thought of it....  LOL!  Regardless, I am tickled pink that SU decided to keep that one around after the mini catalog.  (-:

Happy stamping!
Stef

Masculine card swaps

I am sorry...the picture just would not sit correctly!  LOL!  These cards were part of the monthly swap in which I participate.  The theme this month was masculine cards.

Happy Stamping!

Stefanie

Masculine Cards Part Two

Once again, the computer program is smarter than I am!  Sorry about the card on its side.  I will have to take my pictures differently in the future.

Happy Stampin!

Stefanie

Mother Daughter Tea Party

Hello and good morning!  For Mother's Day on Sunday our church had a Mother Daughter Tea party during the Sunday School hour.  Alysson and I had a ball decorating the table and prepping for the party. 

We made beaded napkin rings for the lovely linen napkins that Aunt Mary made for our wedding gifts (many years ago).  I used my Great Grandma Lee's tea pot and vintage tablecloths.  Alysson and I picked the roses from our yard and she sprinkled rose petals below the glass bowl of flowers.  You can see the cute little pink purses that I made Sunday morning for the table; we filled them with mints.  I had a glass dish with fun tea packets as well.  The party was a big hit!

Hope your Mother's Day was as fun as ours!

Stefanie

Basket Upgrade for Club

I changed the handle of the basket to a ribbon punched handle and covered the basket brim with Pear Pizzaz cardstock.  I also added the doily punch to the front and layered the Boho Blossom punch on top.  The crowning "jewel" was the large pearl on top of the flowers.  I like it!  It has more personality and bling now. 

Colors:
Pear Pizzaz
Poppy Parade or Peach Parfait
Whisper White

Supplies:
Designer Series Paper (retiring In Colors)
Triple Layer Doily punch (retiring soon...sniff!  I really have used this punch on personal projects.)
Boho Blossom punch
Ribbon Border punch (retiring soon)
White grosgrain (shown but I am substituting the ribbon below)
In Color ribbon (retiring)
Large pearls
Chocolate candy...yummy!
Adhesive or Miracle Tape

Cut your strips as follows:
Basket slats- 3/4" x 5 1/2"
Basket brim- 3/4" x 6 1/2"  (I made this strip longer than the tutorial specified.)
Basket handle- 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Click here for the tutorial that my friend found online.

Happy stamping!
Stef

Faux Patina Page Club Project

Good morning!  I hope that everyone had a lovely Mother's Day! 

Splitcoaststampers had a great tutorial for Faux Patina a few weeks ago and so I CASED the gallery.  There was a clever card similar to this page and I thought that it would convert nicely to a page.  If you do not typically scrap 6x6 pages this would make a lovely focal point on a larger page.  For those of you who do not scrap, fold this page in half to make a a card that fits in a regular envelope.

Stamp Set
Baroque Motifs (Retiring soon)

Colors
Crumb Cake
Always Artichoke
Marina Mist
Early Expresso

Supplies
Big Shot
Vintage Wallpaper Folder
Beautiful Wings embosslit
Narrow vanilla ribbon
Sponges (lots of them!)
Gold embossing powder
Powder Pal
Heat Tool
Pearls
Versamark pad
Dimensionals

Happy stamping!
Stefanie

Happy Mother's Day

Today is our Mother-Daughter Tea (during Sunday School) and I made these little purses to put on my table.  I volunteered to decorate a table and provide the china, etc.  I had so much fun making the beaded napkin holders and ordering a few extra replacement pieces for my china!  I will post pictures of my table later this week. 

I am sorry for the delay in posting this week.  Doc gave me some meds that made me SO groggy that  I hardly did a thing this weekend.  The purses were made this morning before everyone woke up and the beaded napkin holders were last weekend.  I finally just refused to take the meds last night so I would be alert today. Definitely time to call doc on Monday!  LOL!

This cute littel basket is our club project for the month.  It is cleverly made by strips of DSP or cardstock.  Now that the creative juices are flowing I will spruce it up a bit and repost it soon.  I think that a few more retiring accessories would be great to add wow to the basket.  A friend did a demo on these baskets at Suzanne's big upline meeting.  I loved it!!  Wouldn't this be a cute Easter basket or May Day basket?

Happy stamping!

Stef

Tunnel Card Club Project

Good morning, Ladies!  This month is my "Salute to the Retired List" month.  LOL!  This card uses all retiring colors and stamp sets.  So sad to see them go...  Yesterday I went through my stamps and pulled all of the retired ones.  I also printed off the stamp index from the new catalog (gasp..yes, all demos can view it online) and checked out what I had on the new list. 

Stamps
Awash with Flowers
Sincere Salutations

Colors
Concord Crush
Poppy Parade
Pear Pizzaz
Blushing Bride

Goodies
Heart labels
Sponges
Circle punches, punch pack, 1/2", 3/4"
In Color ribbon (going soon)
Circle Rhinestone brads (going soon)

Fold the inner cardstock in half and then fold the halves in half.  I adhere the ends of the inner card and the outer card together after making the folds.  Remember to do your stamping first!  The heart is centered easily after the cards are adhered.

Happy stamping!
Stef

More Sneak Peaks

I am sorry that I had no post yesterday.  I am getting over an allergy "thing" from this weekend and have not had the energy to stamp.  LOL!  Just when I started to feel better I got an allergy rash on my neck and face so now I look and feel lovely.  (-:  Thank God for meds and lotions. 

Here is a sneak peak...

I hope to stamp today so that I can have club projects to post tomorrow.  Due to the holidays my club schedule has been altered so that most of the clubs meet one week earlier than the norm.

Also, I ordered 9 boxes of the new catalogs on Monday!  Hooray!  If you are interested in a new catalog please let me know.  Club members get a catalog as soon as they arrive.  I also placed an order for sneak peak items so you will get to see all of my goodies soon.  Hooray!

Stef

Occasions Mini catalog Carryover stamp sets

Occasions Mini Stamp Sets Still Available May 3, 2012 If you love the sets in the Occasions Mini Catalog, you are in luck! Because of the short time period between the end of the Occasions Mini Catalog and the launch of the 2012-2013 annual catalog, SU decided to make the carryover stamp sets available early--starting today! The following stamp sets are available for purchase. We hope you will enjoy this extra little sneak peak to the annual catalog. I am downloading a copy of the new catalog right now!  Hooray!!!  I can hardly wait to peak at the pages.  (-:  Don't you wish that you were a demo too?  Hint...hint...  (-: Stamp Set Name Item Number Wood-Mount Clear-Mount Baby Prints 125470 125472 Love & Laughter 125475 125477 Bordering on Romance 125480 125482 Apothecary Art 125525 125527 Mixed Bunch 125535 125537 Tea Shoppe 125545 125547 Mouthwatering 125675 125677 Loving Thoughts 125843 125845 Salon de thé 125934 125936 Etiquetas florales -- 125941 Art floral 125964 125966

Mickey punch art

The kids have been begging to go to Disney World so we made a savings jar. 

Valuable lesson #1 Money does not grow on trees, just leaves.

Valuable lesson #2 Enjoy the journey.

Valuable lesson #3 Any excuse is a good excuse to stamp! 

Supplies:
Strawberry jam jar from Aldi
Big Shot
Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder
Sticky Strip
1 3/4" circle punch and 1" circle punch (mouse head and ears)
2 1/2" circle punch and 1 3/4" circle punch (for lid)
Decorative Label punch (for lid)
Satin Ribbon, Real Red
Grosgrain Ribbon, Whisper White (covers words on lid edge)

Colors:
Basic Black
Real Red
Whisper White

Stamp Set:
Word Play

Enjoy and happy stamping!
Stef

New Colors Anyone?

Gumball Green

Midnight Muse

Primrose Petals

Raspberry Ripple

Summer Starfruit

Happy stamping!

Accordian-folded Flower or Lolly

Hello Ladies!  A few months back I demonstrated this flower (or "lolly") but I found thisSU  tutorial and it looks so much easier, especially when you use the Simply Scored tool. 

May 7th I can order the new catalogs!  I will post when I get my catalogs so keep checking back.  (-:  I heard that SU made the hostess levels (of free goodies) in smaller "steps" so it is easier to get to the next level of free goodies.  Hooray!

Happy Stamping!
Stef

Accordion-folded Flower Directions:1) Cut card stock or Designer Series paper to 12" x 3/4". 2) Score strip every 1/4" the entire length of the card stock and accordion fold the score lines. 3) Adhere ends of card stock together (Sticky Strip works well). Let dry. 4) Holding the card stock with two hands, twist one edge of the strip into the center as shown to create a flower shape. 5) Adhere a punched circle to the flower center on one or both sides (Pop-Up Glue Dots work well) to hold shape in place. Tip: Experiment with different sizes and score intervals to create the desired shape of your flower.

New Starter Kit Price!!! $99

The new standard Starter Kit is here! Now, every new Stampin' Up! demonstrator can create a customized Starter Kit for just $99. This is just one of the ways Stampin' Up! is demonstrating the My Way philosophy of doing business-by making the Starter Kit completely customizable.

With the new, flexible Starter Kit, you can customize creativity-your way. Each kit contains a business supplies pack (valued at $65)-things that every demonstrator needs to start her business. After that, the choice is yours to put together a kit with any of our high-quality products. You can choose $125 worth of any traditional or digital supplies to create a kit valued at over $190 that still ships for free!

Now opportunity comes at a lower price, and with complete customization, and sharing the Stampin' Up! opportunity has never been easier. By reducing the concern about the cost of getting started, you can focus on what matters most, starting your business-her way. This offer is here to stay, and there has never been a better tool to help you share the Stampin' Up! opportunity!

Click here to see a flyer.

Click here to see a PDF of possible kit choices.

Contact me today if you are interested in taking advantage of this fabulous offer!
Stefanie

Carryover Products from the Catalog and mini catalog

Hello, Ladies!  These are the carryover items from the Spring Mini catalog.  I apologize for posting last year's items for the past few days.  What can I say?  Blonde moments come to us all.  LOL!  (-:

Click here to see a list in PDF.  (-: 

Happy Stamping!
Stefanie

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