Wednesday, August 26, 2009

MOJO Monday Sketch 101



I can't believe that Mojo Monday is already 101 weeks old! To celebrate turning 100 last week, they provided a sketch for every day of the week. I will be sharing my creations with you later on this week. But today, I'll focus on this lovely square card sketch. What do you think?






I haven't created very manly cards, but I can do them! Here's one that I did for my father-in-law's birthday. To re-create this card:
  • Start with a 5" x 10" Very Vanilla card stock and fold in half.
  • Trim a piece of 4-3/4" x 4-3/4" Sage Shadow card stock and lay aside.
  • Trim out one 3" x 3-1/2" and one 2" x 3-1/2" of "To the Nines" Designer Series Paper. Layer these onto the Sage Shadow leaving a nice even border around the designer paper.
  • Wrap one end of the 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon (5" long) behind the Sage Shadow card stock and trim the other end.
  • Layer this piece onto the Very Vanilla base.
  • Cut 2-1/2" x 2-3/4" Chocolate Chip card stock, 2-3/4" x 3-1/4" Sage Shadow card stock, and 3" x 3-1/2" Very Vanilla card stock .
  • Layer these onto each other and adhere the the Very Vanilla card stock onto the base card with Stampin' Dimensionals.
  • Using the Central Park stamp set {113732}, stamp the image in Chocolate Chip classic ink pad onto Very Vanilla card stock. Clean and then stamp again using Sage Shadow classic ink pad but slightly askewed for a shadow effect. (Central Park stamp set is a dormant set so it is not shown in the main Idea Book and Catalog BUT is still available for purchase.)
  • Cut the image out with the 1-3/4" circle punch and adhere to card with Stampin' Dimensional.
  • Don't forget the sentiment! Using the great Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (115370), stamp "Happy Birthday" (or whatever sentiment you want) with Chocolate Chip classic ink onto Very Vanilla card stock and trim out. Adhere to card and there you have it.
{Project Details}
Stamp(s): Central Park and Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Sage Shadow Classic Ink Pads
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, and Very Vanilla Card Stock; To the Nines Designer Series Paper.
Accessories: 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon and 1-3/4" Circle Punch.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Things I Love Scrapbook Page



Another make and take from Stampin' Up! Convention was an 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" scrapbook page using a new favorite stamp set of mine: Things I Love (115229).
I love the use of the various circle punches to make a lollipop flower as an accent on the page. Scrapbook layouts do not need to be elaborate. Sometimes simple is simply the best!

{Project Details}
Stamp(s): Things I Love
Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive, and Rich Razzleberry classic ink pad; Whisper White craft pad; and Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker.
Paper: Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, and Whisper White card stock; Crushed Curry textured card stock.
Accessories: Silver Basic Jumbo Grommets; Modern Label, 1" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-3/4" Circle, and 1-1/4" Square Punches; Elementary Ribbon Originals
.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Convention Share Part 2

Swaps are one of the most fun part of Convention. I stepped into the hotel lobby to check in and the first thing I saw were groups of women just trading their creations like little kids, just excited and full of smiles. I didn't know what I wanted to do first, start trading and get my room later or check-in first!

Here are some of my favorites:

By: Jodi Uehara

By: Lindsay Stovel

By: Jacynthe Gauthier

By: Vicki Kiyohara

By: Kim Nolan

Convention Project Share Part 1

Back from a wonderful vacation and so excited to share the wonderful projects we made at convention. Today, I'd like to show you a new favorite stamp set of mine:
"Things I Love" {115229}.

We made three 3" x 3" note cards.


Inside:
To package them as gifts, put them in a nice cellophane bag and place a decorated topper as shown and voilĂ !


Isn't it simple but yet so adorable? Who wouldn't feel special receiving this.

{Project Details}
Stamp(s): Things I Love (115229)
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Chocolate Chip, and Melon Mambo Classic Ink Pads; Bermuda Bay and Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Markers.
Paper: Bermuda Baby, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White card stock; Melon Mambo textured card stock.
Accessories: Medium cellophane bagSmall Square Whisper White envelopes, Dazzling Diamond glitter, Melon Mambo 1/2" polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, Linen Thread, 1/16" Circle and 1-3/8" Circle Punches.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Want to win a "My Digital Studio"?


Have you heard the news? Stampin' Up! is releasing their very own digital scrapbooking program, My Digital Studio. It will be available for purchase this FALL. My Digital Studio will include a rich collection of exclusive Stampin' Up! art, papers, colors, and accessories along with many photo editing features. You will also be able to do so much more with your cards and paper crafting. I am so excited about this new product and cannot wait to share with you.

But I will tell you how you can enter a drawing to get one for FREE. Anyone who signs up as a demonstrator during the month of August will be entered into the Late Night Stampers free digital studio offer. All you have to do to enter is join Stampin' Up! and you will be entered into the drawing. Contact ME today!

Benefits of a Stampin' Up! demonstrator:

  • As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, keep 20% of the personal net sales you earn through workshop and customer direct sales!
  • Earn an extra 10% giving you a total of 30% on your first order of $150 or more when you place your order in the first 45 days of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.
  • Earn additional income (which we call volume rebate) on your monthly net sales of $400 or more. Together, your instant income and volume rebate can reach up to 40% of your personal sales a month!
  • Pre-order select stamps, accessories, and tools before general public sales.
  • Earn free stamps within the first six months you’re a demonstrator through our Stampin’ Start program—a program that helps you establish a thriving career.
  • Earn cash bonuses, product bonuses, incentive trips, and other awards as you achieve success through our awards and recognition program.
  • Receive monthly publications, Stampin' Success, as well as access to the demonstrator web site where you will receive project ideas and tutorials.
  • NO PENALTIES if you choose not to continue. To receive continued benefits, a minimum of $300 in sales, which can include peronal sales, is required for each quarter.
Click here for details on the special mini kit. Contact me TODAY! Discounted kit ends soon.

Ronald McDonald House Volunteer needed


Fellow Stampin' Up! Demonstrators are trying to reach a goal of supplying their Ronald McDonald House (Las Vegas, NV) with an additional 300 cards. If you can and would like to participate and help them reach this goal, please click on the following links for more information.

To show my support, I will be hosting a stamp a stack event on Friday, September 18th between 9:30 am - 11:30 am. Let's see how many we can make and share in this wonderful project! Contact me if you're interested!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Big Shot Commercial

After convention, I went on a lovely vacation and have been unable to post things that I have learned, the wonderful projects that I made, and so on. But I will be posting very soon. However, I wanted to share this video, "Big Shot Hero". Every year for Convention, Stampin' Up! holds a commercial contest and this year's winner was created by a fellow demonstrator, Linda Heller, and her team. Congratulations to them and for allowing us to share.








Friday, August 7, 2009

Thank You Medallion


I love the Stampin' Up! catalog. It is not only a catalog but an idea book! The front cover showcases a beautiful card using the Medallion Background and Framed with Love stamp set that I just found to be so beautiful. I had to make one of my own.

Here is my version of this card using a color challenge from a while back: basic gray, really rust, more mustard, and very vanilla. I ran out of Really Rust card stock so I took my handy brayer tool and made my own Really Rust card stock by rolling Really Rust classic ink onto my Very Vanilla card stock. To add more texture, I stamped the small floret onto the brayered Really Rust card stock. I just love the elegance of this card.



{Project Details}
Stamp: Medallion Background (115223), Framed with Love (114389), and Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)
Ink: More Mustard, Really Rust, and Basic Gray classic ink pads
Paper: Very Vanilla card stock and Basic Gray textured card stock.
Accessories: Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Lots of Tags Sizzlits, Pretties Kit and Brayer.



Thursday, August 6, 2009

Tutorials from Blog Tour: Part 2


As promised, here is a tutorial on the mini tote that I shared on the Royal Blog Tour. You'll need the Big Shot and the Box #2 Bigz XL Die. You'll make the box as normal but leave the top flap and secure the side flaps inside the box with sticky strip.


Then adhere TWO of the Box#2 together.

Instead of using the top flap as my handles, I wanted to add extra height on my tote so that you could carry it comfortably and see the scalloped detail on the handle. So I cut TWO 3-3/4" x 5" of Chocolate Chip card stock. Trimmed the top corners with a 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch. Then adhere the pieces to the top flaps and to each other.
(Sticky trip on the top flap)


(Sticky strip on the bottom of one side, sticky strip on both top on bottom for the other side)

Using the Large Oval Punch, make a hole for the handle. Then for the decorative part on the handle, punch a large oval in Pumpkin Pie card stock and then use the Scallop Oval Punch.




(You'll do that 2x for each side of the handle.)

To finish the whole project, layer the scallop oval onto the handle, wrap the boxes with Designer Series Paper or with a large decorative ribbon as I did and voilĂ .

Another simple yet eye catching project! Enjoy!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Tutorials from Blog Tour: Part 1

A few weeks back, I was a participant in the Royal Blog Tour. Due to time and other restrictions, I was not allowed to post more details on my projects. Fortunately, I am able to do so now. The first card that I shared was this card using "On a Pedestal" stamp set. To achieve the tiered look, I used the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig tool and coloring the desired areas of the stamp with marker.

For the mini cupcakes on the bottom tier, I punched the Cameo Coral card stock with the Scallop Oval punch. Then I punched the icing out with the 1/2" circle punch. Punched another 1/2" circle out of the Chocolate Chip card stock, cut in half, and used it as the bottom of the cupcake.

Last but not least, I thought I would share on how I got the rouching on the Certainly Celery ribbon. Snip one end of the ribbon down the center. Separate the ribbon and carefully pull the center thread. Its that simple!




Hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Come back for Part 2 tomorrow.