Vintage Nature Walk

  February is almost over and I haven't shared all of my Creative Crew projects for February.  For this card we were to use a stamp set we had to have but then never used or hardly used at all.  When the new Idea Book & Catalog came out last summer I was excited to see that Nature Walk made the cut from a previous mini catalog.  But then it just sat and sat and sat some more gathering dust on my desk.  When I saw this challenge I knew Nature Walk was the set I needed to use....as soon as I mounted it of course!

 The base is Blushing Bride that is sponged and spritzed with Soft Suede. The next layer is a piece of First Edition DSP that I rubbed a Whisper White craft pad all over to fade the printing. Then that layer was also spritzed and sponged and stamped.

  I roughed up a strip of Certainly Celery that was punched with the scallop border punch. On top of that I layered the flower stamped onto Blushing Bride and embossed with the oval Designer Frames embossing folder. I used my Simply Scored stylus and the Whisper White craft ink to color the flowers white.

  I added a few adhesive pearls, a Very Vanilla seam binding fork bow and a Vintage Trinket safety pin for the finishing touches.

  It was great to get this set put together and finally inked it up.  Go ahead and get out one of your dusty stamp sets and get some ink on it!  If you'd like to upload your card to Splitcoaststampers for the Creative Crew challenge make sure you use the keyword: CCREW0212CF.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Nature Walk

Ink: White craft, vanilla craft, Soft Suede

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, First Edition DSP

Accessories:  spritzer tool, pearls, frames embosslits, scallop border punch, vintage trinkets, seam binding ribbon

Baker's Twine Holders

  Good morning! 

  Today I'm sharing some Baker's Twine holders that I made for my two hostess club hostesses last month.  One of the perks of signing up to be a hostess is you get a little surprise something from me on your month.  I saw these a while ago on some blog (of course I can't remember where since it's been so long!) and thought this was a great thing to make using up the empty embellishment containers that I had been saving!  I guess I do share some of my parents and grandparents pack rat mentality!  Try as I might to fight it I guess my weakness is craft supplies!

  These are really easy to make! I just used the Circles #2 die to get a perfect sized circle (the largest) to cover the top of the lid and then the next largest to make a base for the roll of twine to sit on in the container.  I used the center spool from an empty roll of ribbon to wrap the twine around and then just adhered it to the circle base using sticky strip.  The cardstock circle that the spool is attached to is loose inside the container so as you pull the twine is spins.  This also makes it super easy to add more twine in the future.

  I used the Crop-a-dile to punch a hole through the side of the container and used it again to set the silver eyelet (retired) so the twine would have a nice finished hole to go through.

  For the top I embellished it with some First Edition DSP flowers punched with the large scallop circle and then crumpled and flattened for dimension.  I added a little flower center punched with the Triple Layer flower punch and an In Color Designer brad for the center.

  Aren't these little holders so much cuter than the way the bakers twine comes packaged?  We might as well surround ourselves with pretty AND useful things right?

  Don't forget....Sale-a-bration is in full swing.  Now is the perfect time to stock up and get freebies!  Give me a shout if you have any questions!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?


Stamps: None


Ink: None


Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Island Indigo, First Ed. DSP

Accessories: empty embellishment containers, empty ribbons spools, Scallop Circle punch, Triple layer flower punch, Designer brad, eyelet (retired), Crop-a-dile, Circles #2 die, sticky strip

Happy Valentine's Day!

  Just a quick post this morning to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you have lots of people to smooch on and receive smooches from today!

  I sent out Valentine cards to the grandparents, great grandparent and other family members and of course I had to include some photos of the boys....I know no one would care a lick about the card if it didn't have a photo of the boys in it.  I talked Ryan and Alex into sitting still for a few minutes to cut out a construction paper heart and then pose for a few photos.  As you can tell we have a few goofballs in our family.  I was looking just to get one decent photo but it ended up that there were a few cute ones so I decided to make a little photo strip with 3 photos.

  I designed a quick layout in My Digital Studio.  It's just Real Red for the back ground and photos with a white matte.  The photos were easy to get the same size since I just made one photo box and then copy and pasted the others so they were all identical.  I put 2 layouts to a sheet and printed them out on photo paper so they are nice and glossy. I cut them apart and stuffed them into the Valentine's day cards.  It took longer to get my printer to cooperate than it did to design the layout.  It's nothing fancy but I think it's cute!

  If you'd like to play around with My Digital Studio and get a taste for digital papercrafting then check out my post here to learn all about the FREE trial of My Digital Studio.  No obligations to purchase at all.  Can't beat free!

Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Supplies: My Digital Studio, photopaper

Sweet Hearts

 Time is running out to get these Valentine's day projects posted.  I'm sure all of you have your cards made already but maybe you'll find a few ideas that you can use for next year!

  My stamping ladies made this card at our January meeting.  I thought it was a cute one for Valentine's Day but it could also be used as a "Thinking of You" card.

  The base is Pink Pirouette with a layer of Early Espresso on top.  The Whisper White panel is where all the magic is happening!  The Heart to Heart punch was punched once and then the cardstock was flipped over and punched again to get the mirror image look of the hearts.  A strip of Twitterpated DSP was layered behind the punched hearts. 

  Since I wanted my stamping ladies to get to play with as many new Occasions Mini items as I could I just kept adding different things to the top portion of the card.  First the new Adorning Accents embossing folder was used.  How cute are those little hearts!?  Next comes a length of Blushing Bride pleated ribbon.

  The heart from Take it to Heart was stamped in Baja Breeze and punched out with the Large Heart punch.  The sentiment from Petite Pairs was stamped in Early Espresso, punched out with the 1 inch circle punch and then embellished with a Twitterpated button that is jazzed up with one of the new large adhesive pearls.  Just stick the pearl right on top of the button.

 Wow!  That's a lot of new stuff on one card!

  Have a great Monday!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Take it to Heart, Petite Pairs

Ink: Baja Breeze, Early Espresso

Paper: Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Twitterpated DSP

Accessories: Heart to Heart punch, Large Heart punch, 1 inch circle punch. Adorning Accents e.f., pleated ribbon, Twitterpated buttons, Large adhesive pearl,

Snowman Valentine

  Well I think that our lack of snow or even a real winter so far this year has me out of sorts.  I'm wishing for some snow in the worst way.  I know a lot of you who are getting snow on a regular basis this winter probably think I'm crazy.  I like the changes in seasons and love how snow looks on the ground and of course it's fun to play in!  If it's going to be 40 and rainy it might as well be 27 and snowing in my opinion!  Since I don't have real snow to look at I've been reaching for my Snow Much Fun set a lot lately.

  I held a Stampin' Up! Open House last Saturday and invited people who were new to stamping.  I had a lot of fun teaching them about stamping and Stampin' Up!  This was one of the projects they got to make.  I pulled the colors directly from the Color Coach to make a snowman Valentine (love that tool!).

  The base is Bashful Blue and then a layer of Real Red DSP from the Brights collection pack.  I had the ladies tie a piece of Whisper White grosgrain around the DSP and added a Vintage Trinket safety pin to the knot.

  The snowman is stamped in Stazon and colored with Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake and Pumpkin Pie markers.  And since I can't resist using the Glimmer Paper when ever I can I had the ladies punch out Red Glimmer Paper hearts and glued them down around the snowman as if he were juggling hearts.  The whole snowman panel is popped on dimensionals.

  On the inside they stamped "Be my Valentine" from Delightful Dozen and then added another Glimmer Paper heart. 

  I think the ladies all had a good time and enjoyed making their own card.  They got to see how easy stamping can be and I think a few of them might have even caught the stamping bug!  I know you all remember when you caught the bug....I sure do!  There's no turning back now!  Ha!  At least this is a bug that is fun to have right?

  Don't forget about the Free 30 day trial of My Digital Studio.  See my post HERE for all the details.  It's a great way to try before you buy!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Snow Much Fun

Ink: Stazon, markers- Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie & Crumb Cake

Paper: Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Real Red Brights DSP pack, Red Glimmer Paper


Accessories: Grosgrain ribbon, Vintage Trinkets, small heart punch, dimensionals

Winner of the 3 Year Demo Anniversary Giveaway

  I only had 7 entries for my 3 Year Anniversary giveaway so the odds were pretty good.  The winner chosen by a random number generator was 5!  See HERE for the original post.

This is what Shannon Roberts had to say, 

"Congrats!! That is so awesome !! I am sooo loving Fresh Vintage! And the DSP also ooops that's 2 ! Thank you for this opportunity & here's to many more years for you! I have you in my google reader! Thanks for the constant inspiration !"

  Thanks for entering Shannon.  Please contact me with your address at mandysurovy "at" yahoo "dot" com  and I will get your prize mailed out to you.

  Thanks so much for everyone who entered.  I appreciate all of you reading Did You Stamp Today? I hope to be back later with a project but I'm feeling a bit under the weather so we'll see how much I can get accomplished today!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Twitterpated Quilt

  Good morning!  Just a quick post today to show another one of my Creative Crew projects for February.  For this challenge we were to use the new Twitterpated Designer Series Paper or the colors that are in the paper.  If you'd like to check out all the fabulous projects go over to Splitcoaststampers and search the gallery with the keyword: CCREW0212DF.  So many great ideas from this talented group of ladies!

  The designs in the Twitterpated DSP are really great for spring cards.  The base is Pear Pizzazz.

  I made the Top Note patchwork quilt by punching out squares of the Twitterpated DSP and adhering them to a Whisper White base. I then cut the Top Note shape and also embossed the whole thing with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. It's hard to see in the photo but this step gives a nice texture.

   I wrapped some Basic Gray taffeta (retired- Sorry!) around the Top Note and tied a knot.

   The flower from the Bordering on Romance set is stamped with Stazon onto watercolor paper. I got the gray look by stamping off on scrap paper once before stamping the watercolor paper. I watercolored the flower with re-inkers and an Aquapainter.  The flower is cut out using the Labels Framelits.  I added some tiny pearls to the points of the label.

   The sentiment from Petite Pairs was also stamped the same way by stamping off once and then mounted onto a larger Blushing Bride circle.

   Both the flower and sentiment panels are popped up with dimensionals.

  Don't forget to enter my 3 Year Demonstrator Anniversary giveaway!  See the details in this post from last week.  I can't believe how few people have entered for a free stamp set! 

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Bordering on Romance, Petite Pairs

Ink: Stazon, Pear Pizzazz & Blushing Bride for watercoloring

Paper: Pear Pizzazz, watercolor paper, Twitterpated DSP, Blushing Bride 

Accessories:  Top Note die, Vintage Wallpaper e.f., Labels Framelits, circle punches, tafetta ribbon, pearls

Apothecary Birthday

  So were you cheering for the Giants or Patriots?  We didn't really care either way but it certainly was a good game all the way til the very end.  I'd rather see a close game in the Super Bowl than a complete blow out.  But it was fun watching the game with our neighbors and the kids had fun playing together.  So a success as far as we're concerned.

  Today I'm showing one of the cards we made at club last week.  I wanted to make sure my ladies got to see the new Framelits in action.  I paired the Labels Framelits with the Twitterpated DSP and Apothecary Art stamp set.

 Now that I'm looking at my photo it seems that I adhered it slightly crooked!  Oh well...I still think it's a pretty card.

  The base is Island Indigo and then a layer of Twitterpated DSP.  I love this floral pattern!  Then we tied a length of Whisper White organza ribbon around the card front. 

  To make the focal panel the image was stamped in Island Indigo and then we used the coordinating Label Framelit to cut it out.  Next, using the same piece of card stock we used the next largest Label Framelit and cut a narrow border around the opening left from the image.  The narrow frame is adhered directly onto the card front and then the image panel is adhered on top of it using dimensionals.

  The leaves are colored with the Pear Pizzazz marker (some of my ladies went all out with their coloring and that looked great too!).  We used some scraps to stamp the sentiment and then snipped it into a banner.  I find this the easiest way even though you could stamp directly onto the frame.  To finish this one off the ladies choose one of the Antique brads to add to the left side of the sentiment. These brads are awesome an their style goes perfectly with the Apothecary Art stamp set.

  Don't forget to enter my 3 Year Demonstrator Anniversary giveaway.  See this post from last week for all the details!

  Off to get #2 ready for school!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Apothecary Art


Ink: Island Indigo, Pear Pizzazz- marker

Paper: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Twitterpated DSP


Accessories: Labels Framelits, Antique Brads, Organza ribbon, dimensionals

My Sweet Boys Scrapbook Page

  One of the Creative Crew challenges for February was to make a scrapbook page about someone or something you love. To see all the projects for this challenge search keyword: CCREW0212SF at Splitcoaststampers.

  Let me start by saying I am not a scrapbooker.  The thought of creating a whole book using large sheets of cardstock kind of overwhelms me.  I like cards...you make them, send them out and never think about them again.  Really no commitment!  Scrapbooks are a real commitment...and pages can be a lot of area to design.  I'm worried that if I start scrapbooking I'll always feel that I'm behind and having them right here in the house I think I would be tempted to keep changing the layouts and adding stuff....like a page would never be truly complete!  So my solution to this dilemma is My Digital Studio!  I love being able to sit down and just play with the different elements and try different layouts without having to commit to cutting into paper.

  I made this page while my husband and I were watching a hockey game on TV.  I kept changing my mind and adding and deleting things...no commitment!   I used a page layout that I saw on some scrap book website but I forgot to save the link.  If you know where the layout came from please let me know and I'll update my post.

 

 The digital Designer Series Paper on this page actually came from a free download that Stampin' Up! gave away a few weeks ago to their Facebook fans.  The Day in the Life download came with a bunch of DSP, some embellishments, some designer layouts and more. 

  Since the challenge was to focus on someone/something you love I, of course, chose the boys as my subject.  Though I think my title "My Sweet Boys" might be a stretch some days I think the page came out pretty well.  I used a lot of the heart punches and then filled them in with various papers to coordinate with the the rest of the page.  It's great because you can rotate, resize and layer and just play around until you get the look you want.

  Stampin' Up! is offering a FREE 30 day trial of My Digital Studio Express so you can see how easy it is to create scrapbook pages, cards, albums and books using digital versions of Stampin' Up! supplies!  The trial version is a pared down version of the actual program so just imagine that there is tons more on the full program with new digital items being released every week that you can download.

  Check out my online store HERE to download the FREE software.  Just add the trial to your shopping cart and check out...no need to order any other items!  

 Click HERE for Frequently Asked Questions about the My Digital Studio Trial offer.  And of course I'm here to help with questions too!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Supplies: My Digital Studio (MDS)

Sale-A-Bration Post It Note Holder & Happy Anniversary to Me!

  There seems to be so much going on lately.  I had my 2 sessions of stamp club so I can go ahead and start sharing those projects.  The February Creative Crew gallery is up over on Splitcoaststampers.  Go search "CreativeCrew" and see all the awesomeness from the Crew!  Sale-a-bration is in full swing...it's a hard life having to choose between so many FREE items!

  And the most fun for me personally is my Stampin' Up! Anniversary.  3 years ago today I signed up to become a demonstrator!  I can't believe it's been 3 years already.  Time has definitely flown by that's for sure.  So much fun and awesome stamping!  I'd like to thank my local customers because without their support I wouldn't have lasted 3 months no less 3 years.  Some of them have been with me from the start and they aren't bored with me yet....or they are too polite to say so!  =) Thanks also to my blog readers, especially those who leave comments....it's always nice to know that someone besides your 5 year old thinks your stamping projects are cool!

  In honor of my 3 year anniversary I'll be giving away the Silhouette Sentiments stamp set, a pack of dimensionals (one of my favorite things to use on a card!) and one of these super cute Sale-a-Bration Post It Note holders.  All you have to do to enter the giveaway is to become a follower and leave a comment telling me what is your favorite Sale-a-bration item.  If you're already a follower just leave a comment about your favorite Sale-a-bration item.  I'll draw a random winner from all entries a week from now.  US residents only...sorry I can't mail these items outside of the US.

  Here's a close up of the Post It Note holder!

 This little cutie is so easy to make!  The base is a 6 3/4 x 3 1/4 piece of Lucky Limeade.  Score this at 3 1/4 and 3 1/2.  I used smaller note pads I found at the dollar store so if you used a full sized pad you will have to adjust your score marks to account for the added depth or pull apart a larger one to fit.  I think these smaller ones are a perfect size...not too heavy to lug around in your purse!

  On top of the base is a piece of Calypso Coral and then a piece of the Sale-A-Bration paper Everyday Enchantment. I love every single pattern in this pack and I'm having a hard time deciding which one to use on any given project.

  Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade markers were used to color directly on the stamp from the Sale-A-Bration (SAB) set Fresh Vintage.  The image was punched with the large scallop circle punch and then sponged around the edges with Crumb Cake ink.

  Both embellishments are also from SAB.  The brad and the ribbon come together as a bundle!  In the bundle you get 30 Designer Printed brads and 2 rolls of 1/8" Organdy ribbon, 1 in Lucky Limeade and one in Calypso Coral for 20 yards of ribbon total!  Not too shabby!  For this holder I wrapped the ribbon around twice, tied it off and then added the brad on top.

  Don't forget to stamp on a few pages of the notepad!  It's always fun to see a cute little flower at the bottom of your grocery list!

  Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into my 3 year anniversary giveaway!  SAB is a wonderful time start your own journey as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  E-mail me at mandysurovy "at" yahoo "dot" com for more information!  If you're local and interested in learning more about Sale-a-bration just let me know! 

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Fresh Vintage (SAB)

Ink: Crumb Cake, markers- Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade

Paper: Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Everyday Enchantment DSP (SAB), Whisper White

Accessories: Simple Scored, Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad pack (SAB), scallop circle punch