Saturday, June 30, 2012

THIS WEEK'S MOJO MONDAY SKETCH!


So, here's this week's Mojo Monday sketch!!! This was a little tricky! The gave us a choice of 2 styles-round or square! I've never had much luck with the round so I decided to go with the square! 

 Here's their sketch:





And here's my creation!

I went with Aviary, a stamp set that I love but rarely use!! It's so cute, but it has to be just the right occasion! When I decided to go with these colors, I thought, yellow=birds!!!

Once I got going, this wasn't that difficult a sketch after all!!!! I love that new Fan Fold embossing folder! It goes perfectly with the DSP Summer Smoothies! And the Floral District DSP really coordinateds well with the Rich Razzleberry & Daffodil Delight! Throw a little Baja Breeze in there & you get this card!!! lol

The new folders are a bit larger than the older ones, and I'm sure it's just me, but I think they give a better impression! Stampin' Up! says no-same ole' high-quality folders, just bigger, but i really like them a lot!!!!

This is just a close up of the little birdies!!! I also sneaked another one in on the card! Can you find him?? So cute!!! It's a nice close up though because you can really see the embossing! So pretty!!!!

Any questions about this card feel free to contact me at jmets23@yahoo.com!

If you'd like to see more Mojo Monday cards, check out the website listed above! You can play along too!!! You'll see my card there as well as many other super ideas!!! Looking for ideas for the round card, you'll see a bunch there! If you make a card for the challenge, email it to me!! I bet you'd love to see it here!!!

Happy Stampin'!

Friday, June 29, 2012

A SEA OF SWAPS!!!!

But I can't show them to you yet!!!! It's killing me!!! I'm working on a bunch of great swaps for the big convention in July!!! I'm doing 4 organized swaps-a card swap, a 3x3 mini card swap, a 6x6 calendar scrapbook page swap, & a recipe swap! I will have soooo much to show you when I get back from convention!!!! But I can't show my swaps until I leave! So watch for them on July 18th!

What's a swap you ask? Well, it's when a group of stampers-in this case, Stampin' Up! demonstrators-get together & "trade" items. It's to help with ideas & designs. You get a set of guidelines to follow. There are different kinds-cards, tags, scrapbook pates, 3D items, etc. They can be just about anything! The cards are typically card fronts only! 

The whole purpose is give each other ideas for designs, etc.  If one of my customers wants a particular stamp set demo'd, and I don't have that stamp set, I can share some of the swap ideas to help my customers get new ideas! The nice thing about convention is the swaps are demonstrator quality-usually pretty nice!!! So we give & get some fantastic ideas!

I have tons from last year's convention! If you'd like to see them, just let me know! You probably have some of the stamp sets!!!

Recently, my upline Angela organized a mini 6x6 scrapbook page swap! There were only 4 of us, but we got some cute pages!!! They needed to be "brights, with at least 1 embellishment! Here they are!!! First, warning, not all the products are Stampin' Up!!! (mine is though!!!) This was not a demonstrator swap-just a fun swap among friends! You can do one too!





It was so much fun to get the swaps!!! They're all pretty nice, huh? Can you guess which is mine?

Contact me if you'd like to organize a swap or get a swap going! I can help! It's a lot of fun & you really get some great ideas!!!

Happy Stampin'!

ANOTHER POST TODAY!!!

Yeah, I'm a posting queen today!!!  Bear with me (it's a little slow at work! lol Don't tell Alex! lol)!!!!

Do you see on the right side of these posts there's a place to
"Follow Me" (thank you Kat for getting me on the right track in that department!) on the blog? Please add your info there! I'd love to have you all on my list! You can also see the names of others on there who have amazing blogs as well. You can go to their blogs & see some amazing creations! Lots of different creative styles! If you visit them, tell them I sent you!

Oh, another thing, when you visit these blogs, it's always nice to leave a comment! As demonstrators or even just crafters, we love feedback on our creations! It's nice to know they "reached" someone on some level! So always feel free to leave a comment on the posts that "move" you to do so!!!

Happy Stampin'!!!!

ONLY A FEW DAYS!!!!

So, you see the cute little cake that keeps flashing right to the left of this post?? Well, that's our June promotion!

 If you join my team, you will get $125 worth of amazing Stampin' Up! products for only $99!!!

Oh, and you will ALSO get $50 in FREE product from our Patio Party Suite!!!!

But only a few days left!! This amazing offer ends July 1!!! Don't miss out!

If you click on the cake, you will see what great products you get for FREE!!! Plus, you get to choose your own demo kit!!!

Whether you want to do what I do, or just be a hobby demo who is looking for great discounts on ALL the Stampin' Up! products, this offer is for you!!!!! Contact me asap!!!!

Happy Stampin'!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

FUN LITTLE GIFT BOX!

I was busy creating the other day, and I remembered a tutorial I had seen awhile ago for this cute little "gift" box! I'm sorry that I don't remember whose it was so I can credit them!  Cute though, huh?



This entire little box is made with Designer Series Paper-this one happens to be Twitterpated!  There's just a tiny piece of cardstock on the insides of the top & bottom for looks & to hold the box solid.

It will hold about 6 or so chocolate "Kisses", so that's the approximate size! It'd be great for a party favor or little gift for a co-worker or family member. Just sweet!
I've made these bows before! This one is small, but they can be nice & big also! 


They are so easy! They are made with strips & a brad! They look great on a gift because of the 2-sided colors! Need details? I can get them to you! Contact me for info!!!

Happy Stampin'!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

PRAYERS PLEASE!

One of my great friends and a fellow stamper-in fact, my former demonstrator!-, Maryann, recently moved to Colorado Springs, CO. She has a great new job & is looking for a great new start! So far so good-until this week!

Well, most of you  have heard of the terrible fires out there right now. She & her furbaby (Ginger!) have had to evacuate their home. The fire as of right now is burning approximately 24 square miles of land, homes, businesses & everything else in it's path. She is on the outskirts of the evacuation area, so hopefully her home will be fine. But I'm sure there are many others who won't have a home to return to when this inferno ends. At least she is now safely out of the "danger zone".

So tonight before you go to bed, say a prayer of thanks that you are safe & sound, and that He will watch over those in harm's way.

Happy Stampin!

PAPER PIERCING CHALLENGE!

My Late Night Stampers friends' challenge this week is to use paper piercing on a project!  Luckily, I purchased all the new paper piercing gadgets from the new catalog, so I thought how much fun will this be!!!  So I started creating! Here's what I came up with!


 I used Lucky Limeade & Regal Rose cardstock. They seem to complement each other nicely! 

The stamp set is Apothecary Art. I'm still trying to figure out where I stand with this stamp set! It's nice, and they have the awesome 
Labels Collection Framelits to go with it, but it's a bit fancy for my taste! There is a nice little journaling stamp in the set though for the scrapbookers in the group!

Anyway, I stamped the image on Very Vanilla, & used q-tips and ink pads to color it in. Bigger images I would have used the Sponge Daubers, but these flowers are small! 

I embossed the edge of the card with the Adorning Accents Embossing folder and then cut with the Adorning Accents Edgelit die. 

The new piercing pack actually has shapes to "outline".  See!

Ya, kinda hard to tell in the photo, so check out the catalog page 181 . 

 I used the Fancy Flower punch was used for the flower along with the small Floral Frames Framelit. Glad I had a few of the buttons hanging around!!! And the Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine was the perfect finishing touch!

It was actually a pretty easy & quick card to make once I came up with the design! I'm pretty happy with it! I'm not sure who I'm going to give it to yet though!!! So many people in my life to thank & be thankful for!!!

Anyway, if you'd like more details, feel free to contact me!!! 

Happy Stampin'!!!!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

INSECT CHALLENGE!

No, not mosquitoes buzzing in my ear!!! Although that is happening too! 

My friends over at Late Night Stampers have a weekly challenge! This week's was to use an insect in a card. Well, if you know me, you know that's not a good thing! I hate bugs!!! I don't even have many stamps with bugs! 
So I had to get a bit creative! But in between getting ready for Open House yesterday and the gazillions of swaps I'm working on for convention, I decided to go "old school" with the bug thing! 

So this is what I came up with!  What d'ya think?



I made the cute little lady bug with the 1 3/4" circle punch. Then used the little half-inch punch for the spots! I "blinged" it up with Dazzling DiamondsAwash with Flowers had great little flowers for  the background, and the cupcake punch was used to make the clouds!
 I do love his twirly little antennae tho! 
I still don't like bugs! I sure hope next week's challenge doesn't make me itch! lol

Happy Stampin'!!!
 

Saturday, June 23, 2012

FUN OPEN HOUSE!!!

We had a great time at the New Catalog Open House today!!! I met was so happy to "play" with some good friends! I even met some new friends! Some very creative new friends!  Everyone seemed to have fun with the make & take, and some "returning" to Stampin' Up! were thrilled with the new catalog & the whole new catalog program!  Here are some fun pics of the event!

 This is my daughter-in-law Gina enjoying some homemade mint iced-T while stamping away!!!
 Billy made the most adorable card for a friend's wedding! He had fun going outside the box from the original!!!

In fact, many of the cards were outside the box!! We used Betsy's Blossoms stamp set. I am loving that set more & more each time I use it!!! We worked with the new In-Colors!

The original is in the middle! Look how creative everyone was!!! Here are some of the beautiful cards!


The new stamp pads were a real hit! 

Then the DIL hit the "stash" in the Craft Room & got creative! See her creations! Gina's fairly new to stamping, but I think she's already a rock star!



Well even if you couldn't make it today, there's still plenty of time to get in with the new catalog!!! 
I'd love to come do a workshop for you & show you the great new products we have & show you how to get a lot of your faves for FREE!!! Contact me at jmets23@yahoo.com to book your event now!!!

Well, it's been a very busy day! Time for bed! 

Happy Stampin'!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE!

Looking for something to do Saturday morning? Come on up for a 
New Catalog Open House! (10 am-12 pm, my house!)
I will have some fun items from the new catalog! Try out the new paper piercing tools (fun!), new Stampin' Scrub (amazing!), new stamp pads (Wow!), etc.! 
You can make a cute little card (read to bottom to see it!), check out the new items, maybe win a prize & have a nice cold iced-T!

Book your next party that day & receive a FREE Snail! Place an order for $50 or more,  & I will pay the taxes on your order!  Good stuff!

Want to see the Make & Take? Look below!


You will use the new Betsy's Blossoms stamp set & several of our new In-Colors! This card is all stamped-no Designer Series Paper! And oh so easy!

You can also pick up your new catalog-FREE!!! Yup, you heard correctly!!! FREE! Contact me now to reserve your space at jmets23@yahoo.com!

Hope to see you there!

Stay cool!!! Happy Summer!

Happy Stampin'!!!!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

I'M UPLOADED!

Pop over to Mojo Monday & see all the amazing cards made from the sketch!!! You'll even see mine!!!! Here's the link: http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/

AS PROMISED!


While trying to beat the heat today (98 degrees according to my thermometer-Happy First Day of Summer!), I decided to try out some new cards!
 
Well, I promised I'd try a card from the "Monday Mojo" sketch! Here it is! What d'ya think? 
I tilted it on it's side first of all.  I used ALL Stampin' Up! products!
I used 2 stamp sets: My Friend (p. 122) & Pleasant Poppies (p. 72).  The card base is Lucky Limeade, with Midnight Muse & Primrose Petals accents. The images were stamped in Midnight Muse, Lucky Limeade & Primrose Petals on Natural White cardstock with Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine to tie it all together.  
Instead of using squares for the 3 little squares, I used the Curly Label punch with the 1" square punch. I also used the Modern Label punch for "my friend". I have a neat trick for matting it! Contact me to find out how!!! 

I really like how this card came out! I may actually hop over to "Mojo Monday" & submit it! I'll let ya know how it works out!

Nothing to do Saturday morning? Come on over and play! Come see some of the new items from the new catalog! Make a cute make & take! Want to see what we will be making? Check in tomorrow!!!


Happy Stampin!

Monday, June 18, 2012

MONDAY MOJO!

Happy Monday! I have found a great blog called Mojo Monday! Every Monday they put out a "sketch of the week"! I know it's nice to have a "roadmap" sometimes when you just can't get there! 
So I thought it would be fun to post the design this week!
                                                   

 If you go to the website listed on the sketch, you can upload your card using the design! But it's only good for 1 week! This challenge ends Sunday, June 24.  Of course, you can use this design anytime you'd like! 
I'm going to make one tomorrow (or maybe Wednesday!) & post it for you! Then, I might even upload it to their site! Who knows, maybe it'll win something!!! lol I already have a couple of ideas! 


I know I always like to see sketches like these to help get my creative juices flowing! Right now I am busy designing tons of swaps for the Stampin' Up! Annual Convention in Salt Lake City in July! I can't wait! But I have lots of designing to do!!! lol


Well, try it out! Let me know what you come up with! Email it to me at jmets23@yahoo.com, & I'll post it here!!!!


Happy Stampin'!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

FRAMELIT FRENZY!

Ok, can I just say I am in LOVE with the framelits! All of them! They really do such a nice job with a super clean cut and sooooo easy to use!!!
So I got this set called Apothecary Accents, but wasn't sure what to do with it! 


Very usable & useful shapes right? Many of the new stamp sets coordinate with this set! I decided to use the biggest one!
I got the very pretty Pleasant Poppies stamp! It's a ginormous size! Very pretty though! So I stamped it & cut it out with the largest framelit in this set!  What do you think?


I used some of the older In-Colors here-specifically Calypso Coral & Pacific Point! I have always loved those 2 colors together! That really cool embossed background, by the way, is the new Chevron embossing folder! Super nice, right??
So anyway, I stamped the image, then lined up the framelit to hit just the tops of the poppies.  I used my blender pens to color them in. Don't know if you can tell, but I used some Dazzling Details to add a little "bling" for fun!!

Now, did you notice the little "holes" around the edge? When I got all the new paper piercing accessories too!!!  The new Stampin' Pierce Mat, Paper-Piercing Tool and Essentrials Paper-Piercing Pack are great tools to add just that special touch! Similar in theory to the old small piercing pack, this one has guides for many of the new (and old) punches & framelits! Perfect & so easy to add that extra lovin' touch!


Boy, I have to find some better lighting for my pictures! Anyway, here are the cool piercing tools! Definitely worth the try!!!!

Next time, my review of the new Stampin' Scrub!!!!

Happy Stampin'!!!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

NEW CATALOG "CASE"!

Ok, so I decided to CASE a card from the new catalog! When I first got the catalog, the flower on page 110 caught my attention right away! I actually bought the stamp just because of that picture! It's called Quint-essential Flower (#126790, $8.95).
So here's my creation!


So I started with Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper! Interesting combination of colors! Here I used Summer Starfruit, Soft Suede & Cajun Craze! Never thought to combine them, but those are the colors in the paper. I really like them!!! I stamped the image on Very Vanilla
I followed the actual directions in the catalog exactly! I used the 4 punches they did, except I used the In-Color Dahlia in Summer Starfruit in the middle instead of the 1/2 punch. I even went a step further & used the 2 1/2" circle punch to make a "base" for the flower! Perfect fit!!!! 
Not sure if you can tell from the picture, but I used dimensionals to pop up the flower & give it dimension.
To finish it off, I used the Linen Thread with tags stamped with the Tiny Tags stamp set & cut out with the Jewelry Tag punch.
I now love this stamp! It was so quick & easy to make & really has that WOW factor! Give it a try!!!

Happy Stampin'!

Friday, June 15, 2012

FIRST CARD WITH NEW CATALOG GOODIES!!!

I finally had time to break into my new goodies from the new catalog! I received my order on Monday this week, and just finally got to play!!! I am just so over-the-top excited about all my new toys! I got stamps, framelits, embossing folders, etc, etc, etc!!!! I am in all my glory!  
So I decided to use my new framelits! This particular set is called Floral Frames!!



These framelits are so much fun to use, and sooo easy! They work with the Big Shot! If you haven't tried them you really need to! They are great for "nesting"-meaning they come in several close sizes so you can build a design! They are small & easy to store too!

So here's the card I made!


Sorry for the shadow! I wasn't in the best lighting!!! I used the very lovely Floral District Designer Series Paper! The coordinating cardstock Rich Razzleberry and Daffodil Delight!  Not sure if you can tell, but I distressed the flower petals to give them some dimension! 
What's that in the middle you ask? That's one of the adorable new In-Color Dahlias in Raspberry Ripple. Cute, huh? I decided to use up some of the discontinued ribbon I got for Sale-A-Bration in Lucky Limeade. It's a shame-I love this ribbon! 
Notice the background of the card! That's the new Fancy Fan embossing folder! So cool! And if you dig through the catalog, there is some DSP that actually has that same pattern in it! I'm not going to tell you which one though! You're gonna have to search for it!  
The sentiment is stamped with the new Itty Bitty Banners stamp set, and cut out with the new Bitty Banners Framelits! Wasn't sure this set was for me, but now I love it! So nice to have! The stamp set looks good even without being cut out with the framelits! This one I stamped in the Rich Razzleberry & inked the edges to make it "pop" since I used the same color as the background. 
So overall, I like my first card from my first order from the new 2012*2013 Catalog!
I hope you like it too!!!!

Happy Stampin'!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

POST OF HOPE!

Today's post is a little different.  No stamping, no cards.
Tomorrow night I will have the honor of participating in our area's annual 
Relay for Life! I am a proud member (for many years now) of my local theater's team, The Drama Dearies.  
If you don't know, Relay for Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, to help raise funds for research. I'm sure there isn't anyone who hasn't been touched in some way by this terrible disease. I sure have. Far too many times. 
This is a poster I did for the relay. Each team this year has the task of choosing 3 cancers that have affected it's members. Our team is doing leukemia, breast cancer and angiosarcoma. 
I chose the poster for angiosarcoma because it is very personal for me right now. One of my closest friends is bravely fighting this rare and aggressive of cancer. She is my hero. Her name is Becky, and she is only 36 years old. Not fair, right? That is the reason we participate in the relay. 
So for those of you struggling with this disease or caring for someone who is fighting, prayers to you all. One day there will be an end to this!

More cards tomorrow!

Happy Stampin'!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

A COOL TECHNIQUE!

This is a very cool technique that my friend Sherrill Graff over at LateNightStampers shared with me to share with you! I think the effect is amazing! Give it a try & email me your photo! You never know what might show up here!!!
sherrillgraff-001.jpg 
Sherrill has been very helpful to me and tons of others at Stampin' Up! But she is also an amazing artist with her stamps! If you get a chance, pop over to visit her blog parttimepapercraft.blogspot.com She has some fun techniques to share!
Thank you Sherrill for all  your help!!! Can't wait to see you in SLC in July!


I've been busy playing with all my new goodies I got from the new catalog yesterday!!! I don't have anything to show you yet because most of what I'm doing is swaps for the convention in July. Don't want to give anything away!!! I will soon have some fun samples for you to look at. I can't wait to work with my new Framelits!!!!


Well, the rain is lifting here & we are on to sunshine tomorrow! Yeah!


Happy Stampin'!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

HOW CUTE ARE THESE?

Well, I haven't had time to play so much with all my new goodies yet! Tomorrow is the day for that! 
I just thought I'd share a couple of cards I made with some new supplies!!! 

You might notice how beautifully bold the images are! Well, you will love the new Classic Stamp Pads! They are so much easier to stamp with! Lots less "tapping"!!! Brilliantly bold!!! You will love them! When you get your new In-Colors, you will get the new stamp pads! Of course you can order any colors you'd like! They are all now available!!!

 This is made with one of the new Hostess Sets, "A Cherry on Top" (#125969w/125971c). You might see a little glare on the card. That's because I stamped the dome on the clear Window Sheets (#114323, $4.95). I used Jet Black Stazon ink(#101406, $7.95) because it is a permanent ink and did not smuge on the window sheet.  I then simply cut it & attached! 
More practice with the new In-Colors! I really love how they go together! Plus, until I get playing with my big order from yesterday, these are the only new stamp pads I have! I really love them! I know I'm going to end up ordering them all!!!


"Betsy's Blossoms" again! This time I colored the stamp with the In-Color Markers & cut the big flower out! Don't know if you can tell from the picture, but there are Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246, $4.95) to adorn the flower & under the sentiment. 
Love that Baker's Twine! Can't find that color in the catalog? That's because it's not there! I used the Whisper White (#1242620, $2.95) & "dragged" it across the Raspberry Ripple (#126859, $5.95) ink pad! Great way to color your ribbons! Just be sure to let them dry before you try to use them! It can get very messy!!!!


Last one for today! I was soooo excited when they brought back this stamp set! You probably remember it from the Summer Mini Catalog last summer! It's called The Open Sea (#123030, $26.95w/0123032c, $18.95). Being a Cape Cod girl myself, I love any nautical/beach stamps! This was one of my faves because of the "antique" look of it! 
Notice the shading around the circle? I used the Frost White Shimmer Paint (#1168540, $5.95)on a Stampin' Sponge (#101610, $3.50) and just "dabbed" around the edge. It really has a nice "wave-like" glimmer to it. Thought it was kind of nautical!


Well, off to visit my NEW stuff!!!! More tomorrow!


Happy Stampin'!!!!

Monday, June 11, 2012

SOOOO EXCITED!!!!

Oh my goodness I can't stand it!!!!!! I came home from work today & found 2 BIG Stampin' Up! boxes on my porch waiting for me!!!! My first big order from the new catalog!!! I can't wait to play!!! So much to see!!!! I'll be sure to post pics when I finally get to explore my goodies!

If you'd like to see them, stop by my house on June 23 for a small Open House! I will have a make & take for you to do, a door prize, and all these goodies from the new catalog to show you! Don't have your new catalog yet, you can get yours that day, for FREE!!!!!! Fun time all around!!!

Well, off to play!!!

Happy Stampin'!!!!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

ANGRY BIRDS ARE HERE!

I had a "playdate" recently with my good friend Gail who brought me the directions to this adorable card!

 I must add that it was CASE'd from www.stampwithtami.com (thanks Tami White)It's all made with Stampin' Up! punches! Can you guess which ones? I'll give a hint: 2 of the punches were the Owl Builder Punch (#118074, $16.95) and the Cupcake Builder Punch (#121807, $16.95)!  Can you see where we used those?  Go ahead & get out your punches & see! Punch art is becoming very popular in the card-making industry these days!  This card also uses the crimper. I was so sad when it was retired this year! It's a cool tool! Only 2 stamps were used on this card. One was from Teeny Tiny Wishes (#127802, $26.95 clear-also comes in wood). What's the other?
Well, if you'd like detailed directions, email me! I'll share!!!!
Remember, if you host a party, you can get a lot of these supplies for free! Make your OWN Angry Bird!

Happy Stampin'!

ICS BLOG HOP-EASTER LILIES

  Happy spring! Well-almost! Here on the Inspire, Create, Share Blog Hop we are going "springy" this month-Hopping into spring! I...