Polka Dot Punches Gift Card Holder

Here is a gift card holder I made with the Sale-a-bration stamp set, Polka Dot Punches. I started with 4 circles punched with my 1 3/4" circle punch. The colors are Pink Passion, Only Orange and Real Red. Next I stamped the image from the Polka Dot Punches stamp set in the 3 colors and punched them out with the 1 1/4" circle punch. I attached them to the card and then put a silver brad through the center. Next, I stamped the greeting from the A Little Somethin' stamp set and punched it out with the scallop square punch and attached it to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. Next I stamped the border from the All Scallops stamp set and the with my scallop border punch I punched out the border. I sealed the 3 edges of the card with my mono to make the pocket. The inside where I will attach the gift card holder, I put a strip of Pink Passion on the top. I then folded a small piece of Whisper White taffeta ribbon and put a silver brad through the center.

CD Holder

I finally got a bootleg copy of all the songs that were played at the last Bruce Springsteen concert I went last summer to. I made a copy of the CD for my friend Colleen. It started with printing all the songs on a piece of Sahara Sand paper. I typed them near the top of the piece of page, so when I printed and folded the paper in half they would okay on the back side of the CD Holder. I then punched a circle near the top with my 2 3/8" circle punch. I then laid down a strip of the retired Outlaw paper and then punched the circle again. Inside I laid down a strip of Basic Black so it would show through the circle cut out. I laid down sticky strip on the left and right hand side of the CD holder. I then die cut a Serif Essentials B with my Big Shot. I printed Bruce on a piece of card stock and cut and adhered to the B. Lastly strips of Basic Black trimmed the tops and bottoms of both sides. Two black brads finish the project off.

More Fifth Avenue Floral

I have to say I starting to love Fifth Avenue Floral. It may be on my next order. On the Inkredible board, we have another challenge. It is to make something with a unique fold. So I decided to make a gatefold card. I stamped the florals, cut them out and attached them to the bottom half of the card. The bottom of the card the background is the Baja Breeze Patterns designer series paper. There is a eyelet border in between. I used the jumbo whisper white brads to keep the fold closed. I wrapped some silver cord around the brads to keep the card closed.

Fifth Avenue Floral Shadow Box

I am so happy I got to spend two days this weekend with my stamping friends. While I was with Colleen and Tracy on Friday, I got the chance to play with the Good Friends stamp set. On Sunday, when stamping with my friend Natalie, I got to play a little with her Fifth Avenue Floral. Here is a shadow box I created for my parents. It's a picture of them at my brother's wedding a few years ago. I stamped the flowers and cut the out out and attached them to the page with Stampin' Dimensionals. I laid down a strip of Baja Breeze designer series paper along with a strip of white taffeta ribbon. The finishing touches were the 3 halfback pearls on the page along with the Love that I die cut with my vinyl and Join in the Cheer die. I love my stamping friends for letting me play with their toys!

Love Scrapbook Page

Here's one of my favorite photos of my niece and my mom during the holidays. I die cut the letters from the Serif Essentials alphabet. I then used the Hearts Sizzlets to make the Heart. I then diecut the circle with the Circles #2 set. Then came strips of Candy Lane Designer Paper and Chocolate Chip card stock. The finishing touch was the 5/16" Jumbo Chocolate Chip brads. Love those brads!

Good Friend Scrapbook Page

Here is this week's color challenge using the Good Friend stamp set. I decided to make a scrapbook page with my niece and nephew for the challenge. The colors for this week are Old Olive, Pacific Point and Tangerine Tango. I stamped the bird and then using my Clear Sizzex Circle diecut I was able to position the picture just right and get a perfect circle around the bird. I then diecut the Scallop Circle which fits nicely inside the Clear Circle. Next I stamped some flowers from the Good Friend stamp set and cut them out and attached the to the page with dimensionals. The greeting also comes from the stamp set. The finishing touches were the strips of Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point designer series paper and Jumbo 5/16" Silver Brads.

Make sure to check out the following links for more ideas using the color combos of the week from our color girls: Colleen, Debbie, Lorraine, Kelly, Traci and Tracy.

Color Challenge for This Week

Well better late than never. Here is this week's color challenge: Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Old Olive and More Mustard. I made a magnetic bookmarker for this challenge. Of course I had to pull out my favorite new birdie set, Cheap Talk. I stamped the birds in the blue color and with a Q-tip I cleaned off their beaks and used my More Mustard Stampin' Write Marker to color. Next I stamped the words from the Everyday Flexible Phrases. I put a photo corner in the bottom right hand corner. Some vintage brads and paper piercing finish the bookmarker off. The bookmarker folds open like a card and on the inside I put two strips of magnetic in place. I love making these bookmarkers, I can't tell you how many times, my bookmarker has fell out and I could find where I left off. Now with the two magnetic strips, the bookmarker stays in place!

Make sure to check out the following links for more ideas using the color combos of the week from our color girls: Colleen, Debbie, Lorraine, Kelly, Traci and Tracy.

Love Red and White

I have to say one of my favorite colors to stamp in is red and a white background. So are the flowers from the Big Flowers set that I punched out with my circle punch. I layered it on top of red and white paper layers. The top of the card the polka dot background stamp was stamped. The greeting comes from the sweet serendipity stamp set. The finishing touch was the red gingham ribbon.

Happy 50th.

Here's a birthday card I made for a friend of mine who is turning 50. I started with our retired chipboard On Board Simon Upper and the circle I believe comes from one called Accents and Elements. I sponged craft chocolate chip ink on the chipboard. The challenge for me is that I ran out of zero's a long time ago. I took a circle and made into one of my zero's. My friend is a big Nascar fan, so I stamped the toy car from the retired toy box stamp set and colored it in with my Stampin' Write Markers. With my Coluzzle I cut it out and placed in the center of the circle. I then used my crop-a-dile and punched a hole in the top and tied a bow with the wide chocolate grosgrain ribbon. The background of the card is the retired Kraft Patterns designer series paper. I added a strip of chocolate chip card stock and then stamped the word celebrate from the Fundamental Phrases stamp set. The finishing touch was the chocolate buttons.

Happy Homemade Gift Bag

Here is a homemade gift bag. I started with the sticky cut letters. I sprinkled chucky glitter on the h. I then stamped the word happy from the retired polka dot & paisleys stamp set. I used my coluzzle to cut out the white space around the letter. Next I die cut the scallop with my big shot. Next I cut out two butterflies from the flight of the butterfly stamp set and attached them with dimensionals.. I put down some retired cutie pie designer series paper. I then added a strip of the double stitched ribbon on the bottom and tied a bow on top.

Quick and Easy Gift Tage

I started with the lion from the Wild About You stamp set. I cut him out with the Coluzzle cutting system. Next I die cut a circle with my Sizzex Circles #2. Next came the retired Patterns Paper in More Mustard. I then made a scallop eyelet border. The greeting came from a the retired All Year Cheer. The finishing touch was the poly twill chocolate chip ribbon and the wide grosgrain bow I tied around the present. To keep the tag attached to the gift, I used my crop-a-dile to punch a hole in the tag and I then used my linen thread to tie into place.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Just wanted to post the beautiful flowers I just got delivered from my sweetie. Hope everyone has a fabulous day with their loved ones!!

Wedding Wishes for a Friend

Here is a wedding card I made for a friend of mine that is getting married. I started with the retired LeJardin designer series paper which I adhered a strip to the bottom of the card along with a strip of Sahara Sand. The colors were the inspiration for this card, Sahara Sand and So Saffron. I stamped the image from the retired Brocade Basics stamp set. The greeting comes from the Together Forever stamp set. The finishing touches were the So Saffron button and the Very Vanilla wide grosgrain ribbon that I made a tailored bow with.

Even More Valentine's

I decided to make a few Valentine's to send out to family and friends. In doing so, I found a great way use the 6x6 Patterns designer series paper packs I have. I took a piece of 6x6 card stock. I punched the eyelet border. When I was done I folded the paper over to the edge. Next I covered the top of the card with the Real Red Patterns paper. I then took a strip of pretty in pink laid across the length of the card. I then stamped the Hugs & Wishes from the Love Ya Bunches stamp set. I cut a little heart out with the scraps of designer paper and put in the center of the image. I tried to use the hearts in the Heart to Heart punch but found they didn't fit right. So I stamped the back of the paper with the Heart to Heart image and cut the heart out. Lastly two brads finish the card. The great thing about this size it fits in standard mailing envelope. I used different patterns of paper and the card came out cute each time. So if you are wondering what to do with those paper packs that you earned. Here's a great card size to send out little thinking of you cards!

More Valentine's

On page 147 of the catalog I got the great idea of putting the Love You Bunches stamp set and the Define Your Life stamp set together. So here is my version. I stamped the birds from the stamp set on Watercolor paper and then colored in the birds with my blender pens and Pacific Point ink refill. I then punched it out with the 1 3/4" Circle punch followed by my Coluzzle. I then stamped the definition. I adhered the images to a piece of Good Morning Sunshine designer series paper. The finishing touches were the wide real red grosgrain riboon, the eyelet border punch and two real red buttons. I am going to be in big trouble when I run out of the buttons. I loved having buttons as an accessory in all the color families. I also have to add that I am beginning to love Pacific Point. May need to get more DSP in that color family.

Color Challenge for the Week

Here is this week's color combination, just in time for Valentine's Day: Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette. I decided to make M&M holders for the challenge. I started with a piece of paper cut 4 1/4" x 8 1/2". I then scored it at 3 1/2" and then at 7". The 1 1/2" at the bottom I folded up and stapled it to make a pocket. I then put a strip of Riding Hood Red over it to cover the staples and to add an accent color for the front of the card. Next I made a border with my eyelet border punch. Next came the Sizzlet Hearts die cut with the Candy Lane paper. I then stamped the little heart from the You & Moi stamp set and punched it out with the 3/4" square punch and attached it to the front with a dimensional. The greeting came from the Hugs & Wishes stamp set. To keep the M&M holder closed, I put a pop-up glue dot.

I also made a little gift card with the color combo. I punched a scallop square of Bella Rose designer paper. I then threaded a Button Bouquet and tied a bow. I stamped the word love from the Fundamental Phrases. I paper pierced the corners as a finishing touch.

Make sure to check out the following links for more ideas using the color combos of the week from our color girls: Colleen, Debbie, Lorraine, Kelly, Traci and Tracy.

Large Oval Daisy Card

One of my favorite flowers is the daisy, but I have to say I am not a fan of stamping in craft pads. I can't wait for things to dry. So I love the fact, I can make a daisy with just few punches, large oval to be exact and a 1 3/8" circle punch. I put the flower on top of large black circle I cut out with my coluzzle. I then stamped the greeting from On Your Birthday. The finishing touches was the black gingham ribbon and the black brads. Happy Friday Everyone!

Sketch Challenge

Well this week, my friend Kelly posted a sketch challenge for all our fellow demonstrators. I welcome you to join me in the challenge, I have to say it was a lot of fun starting with a sketch this time and just copying. They always say use our catalogs for inspiration, why re-create the wheel, use Stampin' Up!'s ideas and make them your own. So our challenge and yours if you decide to take it is... On Page 9 of the Sale-a-bration brochure there is a birthday card, take the card and make it your own. Here is the card from the Sale-a-bration brochure, it features the Polka Dot Punches stamp set that you can earn for free with a 50$ purchase.

Here is my version of the card I first looked for designer series that s paper that had stripes in it. I found it in the retired Frosty Day designer paper from the Holiday Mini. I put a strip of the Frosty Day on the side of the card. Instead of the 4 circles on the side, I decided to go with a chocolate chip scallop edge followed by a strip of close to cocoa. Next I took a piece of Frosty Day in the Tangerine Tango color and adhered it to the front of the card, next I pulled out retired poly twill chocolate chip ribbon. Next came the circle image, I cut the large circle with my Coluzzle. I then took my Love You Bunch stamp set and with my Stampin' Write Markers, I only colored in the scallop edge from the Hugs&Kisses image. I stamped in the card stock and punched it out our scallop circle. Next came the image from the great Rock Star image from the hostess exclusive A Little Somethin', I punched this image with the large star punch. The finishing touches was the Fire Rhinestone and the paper piercing on the large circle. I did a free hand job of piercing, but I did after I adhered all the images. I used the scallop circle as guide for where to put the paper piercing. I tried to put it equal distance from the scallop edge and the edge of the large circle. Lastly came the PARTY ON, from the Fundamental Phrases stamp set. We had the word party in that set, with the on I masked off from the word congrats from the set. I have to say I like the outcome. So use the Idea Book & Catalog for inspiration, you will surprise yourself with the results. Thanks Kelly for the challenge.

Monogram Notebook

Here is notebook I made for my friend Kathy as a good-bye/new job gift. I figured this would be great for her first day at her new job taking notes. I started with the Rainbow Sherbert designer series paper. I then die cut the scallop circle with my Big Shot, followed by my Paper Shapers punch and then die cut a chipboard coaster to make the K. Then a strip of Whisper White was adhered. Turquoise brads finish it off. Lastly, White and Turquoise ribbons were tied to the top of the notebook. I found these great steno pads in Office Depot, they have a clear cover on top which helps perserve the artwork.

12x12 Scrapbook Page

Here is this week's color challenge in a 12x12 scrapbook page. The color challenge for this week is Pretty in Pink, Rose Red and Close to Cocoa. I pulled out some retired designer paper for this challenge. For the hearts, I used the Prints designer series packs and pulled out the pink and rose red. I die cut the hearts with my Sizzlits Heart Set. I adhered a strip of pretty in pink grosgrain ribbon and then attached the hearts. I then tied bows and attached them to the ribbon with mini glue dots. Next came the background, that is another retired designer paper, Frosty Day. Next came the title, I diecut it with Big Shot using the Billboard Alphabet. I attached the letters with my 2-way glue pen onto a Oval Image I cut out with my Coluzzle. I then layered it on top of 2 other oval images I cut out. Next I punched out to Hearts with my Heart to Heart punch. I attached the larger heart to the title with a Stampin' Dimensional. Next came the Eyelet Border followed by a strip of Pretty in Pink. The finishing touch was the two Rose Red buttons. I just love these pictures of niece Julie, she just cracks me up!

Make sure to check out the following links for more ideas using the color combos of the week from our color girls: Colleen, Debbie, Lorraine, Kelly, Traci and Tracy.

February Open Workshop

February's open workshop will be held on two dates:

Sunday, February 22nd 3 p.m.
Monday, February 23rd 7 p.m.

We will be making three projects. Learn how to make a mini chipboard album with our Big Shot and how to heat emboss. We will be working with new stamp sets, Cheep Talk and Musical Expressions and new Big Shot dies, Oval Scallop and Circles #2.

Workshop Fee: $15

Bring a friend that is new to stamping and me and you and your friend will pay half price for the class fee! So you and your friend will only have to pay $7.50 for the class. Place a 50$ order or more and your class fee is waived.

Please RSVP as soon as possible for all events so that the card stock is ready for everyone to start stamping when the event begins.

Free Idea Book with Online Purchase

From February 1-April 30, 2009, get a free copy of the award-winning Idea Book & Catalog with every online purchase.

To receive a free idea book, simply:
Place an online order on my demonstrator website, click on the Shop Now button on the following link.

There is no minimum order required, and you can combine this offer with any of our other current offers. So place your Sale-a-bration order and get free products and a free Idea Book and Catalog!

Stampin' Up! will be offering free idea books with the first 22,000 orders or until April 30, 2009, whichever comes first.

Sale-a-Bration

It's Sale-A-Bration time again at Stampin' Up!, and free product is what it's all about!
Every year Stampin' Up! gives customers, hostesses, and new demonstrators the opportunity to earn fantastic, FREE, limited-edition products they'll enjoy for years to come.

Here's how Sale-A-Bration works:

Customers

When you spend $50 on Stampin' Up! merchandise, you'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration reward. There's no limit-for every $50 you spend, you can select another free Sale-A-Bration reward.

Hostesses

When you host a workshop of at least $300 (before tax and shipping), you'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration reward in addition to all of the regular hostess benefits!

Recruits

During Sale-A-Bration, anyone who joins as a demonstrator can choose any stamp set-a value of up to $47.95-from our current Idea Book and Catalog. Plus, for a limited time, get 15% off the price of the Starter Kit!

The Sale-A-Bration promotion starts on February 1 and runs through March 31, so don't miss your chance to earn free products! You can also view the Sale-A-Bration brochure online.

So easy a 3 year can use it

Here is my niece playing with one of my paper cutters. I have to say she loves it, so much easier to use the paper cutter than a pair of scissors for her little hands. After she was done, she saw a box of stamps and proceeded to tell me we needed to stamp a picture on one of the sheets. Oh, it makes me so happy to see she wants to stamp and create!

New Big Shot Dies

I just got my big box of goodies! I have to say most of the toys are all Big Shot dies! I was busy yesterday trying them all out so I can visually see them all and how I could use them.

First came the Oval Scallop, see in the photo, it actual die cuts the scallop in blue and then at the same time it does the oval, so it is like getting two die cuts in one! Next I did the Billboard alphabet, it was die cut in Brown and then in red I stamped the Short Order Alphabet, so you can compare the two. Next came the Oval Sizzex. It comes in a set of 3, I die cut them in blue. You can see the 1st two clearly, the last one, I layered the Wide Oval in red on top to see how they would layer up. It actually fits nicely onto of the smallest oval for layering purposes, zoom in on the photo and you should be able to see it. Just for a comparison, I then punched the small and large oval. So know we have like 7 oval shapes and you don't need the coluzzle!

Next, I die cut the Lots of Tags, it is 4 Sizzlets, bu you actually get 5 tags. I punched our Word Window punches and layered it on top of two of our tags to see how they would layer. Then I took the Wide Oval and put it on another tag. Then the last tag I layered the 1 3/8" square.

Next came the Sizzex Circles #2. You will see it comes in a set of 4. The Sizzex Circles, I die cut in the Bashful Blue, then I proceeded to punch out our circles with our punches and layered them. The 2nd circle, I the 1 3/4" circle fits on top, the 3rd large circle the 1 3/8" circle fits nicely on top. The smallest circle is actually a 1" circle.

Next came the Sizzex Clear Circle and that fits beautifully on the Scallop Circle! Yeah! No more coluzzle or Circle Cutter! This is going to be great for mini albums. The best part is that it is a clear die cut, so you can position the Sizzex to see what you are cutting out.

Next, I got the Flower Layers with Leaf. It comes with 3 flowers and a leaf. Also each of the centers of the flowers get cut out as well. I love how the leaf gets a little cut in down the center. The last Sizzex I got was the Swirly. Look how great it looks paired up with these flowers. I see beautiful scrapbook pages in my future. This is as far as I got yesterday with my new toys. Now that I see what they all look like visually, let the creating begin!