Another Clear Case Stationery Set

  I hope you all aren't bored with seeing another clear case stationery set!  I've even spared you from seeing the 3 I made for Alex's preschool teachers as end of school thank you gifts!

  I made this one for my cousin that graduated high school last week.  I ordered a cute hot pink Thirty-one tote and filled it with all kinds of goodies she might need at college...small sewing kit, sunscreen, deck of cards, mini screwdriver set, regular screwdriver set, stain spray, wrinkle release, ear plugs, air freshener, duct tape, crazy glue, 3M removable hooks, band aids and more stuff that I can't even remember.  I thought these were all things they don't tell you you need to pack for college but sure would be nice to have!  I included the stationery set with the tote and tried to coordinate it with the tote as my aunt told me these were her favorite colors.

  I used Circle Circus and embossed various circles onto Melon Mambo cardstock.  I used the large rickrack trim from the Tasteful Trim die to wrap around the center.  I made sure to personalize it with a "j" and added a pen.

  The notecards were very simple and coordinate with the case.  I even had some of this retired Pumpkin Pie rickrack leftover from several catalogs ago.  It went perfectly!

  For the notepad I just punched out some Whisper White and Melon Mambo circles and adhered them to the Pumpkin Pie cardstock I added to the top of the notepad.

  Off to get ready for my morning class!  Have a great Wednesday everyone!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?


Stamps: Circle Circus

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie


Accessories: white embossing powder, Tasteful Trim die, scallop circle punch, letters die, rickrack trim (retired), small circle punches

Happy Graduation Class of 2012

  I hope everyone had an awesome Memorial Day weekend.  My parents and brother just left this morning after a nice visit.  I didn't do any stamping other than getting prepared for my classes tonight and tomorrow.  All of those new supplies are just sitting there and I'm so anxious to sit down and play with them!  Maybe tomorrow afternoon!

  In the meantime here's a 2012 graduation card that I made for my little cousin who graduated from high school this month.  I used her school colors (or as close to them as I could get with Stampin' Up! colors) and some fun bling!

  No stamping on the outside, just the sentiment on the inside.  All I did was punch out squares in Cherry Cobbler and Silver Glimmer Paper and made a checkerboard pattern.  I used the numbers die to cut out "2012" in black cardstock.  Then I added a whole lot of adhesive rhinestones to each number.  Then I popped each number up with dimensionals.

  I thought this was a fun card and could easily translate into a masculine graduation card by leaving off the rhinestones.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: none

Ink: none

Paper: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Silver Glimmer paper


Accessories: number die, square punch, adhesive rhinestones, dimensionals

Betsy's Blossoms Preview

  I hope everyone has fun plans for the long holiday weekend.  My parents are visiting from out of town so we've got a full weekend ahead of us.  Hopefully the grandparents can keep the boys occupied for a while at some point so I can do some stamping....we'll see.

  My card today is one that I made before leaving for vacation.  I had received a few online orders and wanted to send out a quick thank you to those customers.  My box of pre-order goodies (another perk of being a demonstrator) was just sitting there screaming to be used.  I've barely touched the supplies and the new catalog goes live on June 1st! 

  How many new things can you find on this card?  If you said everything but the Labels Collection Framelit and the Baja Breeze bird body than you are correct! 

  The base of the card is one of the new In Colors called Primrose Petals.  I used a piece of DSP from one of the new packs called Patio Party.  This DSP collection uses 3 of the new In Colors; Primrose Petals, Midnight Muse (dark blue) and Summer Starfruit (yellowish/green).

  Around the DSP strip I added a piece of the new 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon.  It's harder to see on the Whisper White ribbon but it has a cute running stitch going down the center.  This is a wonderful replacement for the soon to be retired 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.

  I stamped the bird from the new set Betsy's Blossoms.  Once in Baja Breeze and a second time in Midnight Muse so I could cut out the wings and pop them up with dimensionals.  I cut the bird out with a Labels Framelit.

  The Thank You banner from the new set Itty Bitty Banners.  I stamped it in Primrose Pink and then cut it out with my paper snips.  There is also a new set of Framelits dies that coordinate with this set so that will make all the Big Shot fans very happy!

  I can't wait to find more time to play with the new In Colors as well as the new accessories and Designer Series Paper packs. 

  For my local stamping ladies:  If you missed the May 22nd deadline for stamp club next week and still would like to attend just e-mail me by tonight to reserve your spot.  I'm cutting supplies this weekend and need a final count.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?


Stamps: Betsy's Blossoms*, Itty Bitty Banners*

Ink: Primrose Pink*, Midnight Muse*, Baja Breeze

Paper: Primrose Pink*, Patio Party DSP*, Whisper White

Accessories: Labels Framelits, dimensionals, 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbons*
 
*New Products Available on June 1st!

Button Love

  Good morning everyone!  My group had our demonstrator get together last night and it always energizes me to talk with other demonstrators and see projects they've been working on.  We talked about some of the new products coming out in just a week!  And I gave them a quick preview of My Digital Studio and showed a few projects I've made with the saftware.  We might actually even get to some stamping at the next meeting!  =) If you're ever interested in learning more about being a demonstrator just let me know.  Stampin' Up! has recently re-vamped their Demonstrator Starter Kit to totally customizable so you get to choose $125 worth of any products for just $99! 

  On to the project for today!  I made this card to send to my Grandma for Mother's Day.  She was quite the seamstress and was always sewing something or other.  Her eyesight isn't what it used to be so I don't think she sews much anymore but I thought she would appreciate this card.  And the buttons almost feel real!

 

This card is a combination of retired and current products.  Got to try to use up the stash you know!  The base is Wild Wasabi with a layer of the Sweet Stitches DSP (retired) next.   I added some large Melon Mambo scallop trim at the bottom of the DSP.  I made the scallops with my new (to me) Tasteful Trim die which I LOVE.  I think my stamping ladies are really going to like playing with this die at classes in the future.

  Next I stamped the button card from Sew Suite (retired) in Chocolate Chip ink and then cut it out.  I used the Sweet Button embosslit and cut out some matching buttons which I covered with a healthy layer of Crystal Effects and let dry.  Once they dried I adhered them to the button card and popped the whole thing up with dimensionals.  

  The finishing touch is the "love" stamped and punched out.  And to be honest I'm not even sure which set the "love" came from.  I'm not near my stamp room to check! I added a Vintage Trinket safety pin and a baker's twine bow.  

  I really liked how this one turned out.  The colors are fun and bright and the buttons really pop off the card with their pretty shine.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Sew Suite (retired)

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Paper: Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, Sweet Stitches DSP (retired), Whisper White

Accessories: Tasteful Trim die, Buttons embossit, Vintage Trinket pin, baker's twine, dimensionals.

M-I-C-K-E-Y .....

 M-O-U-S-E....

  Sorry I've been absent so long!  We surprised the boys with a trip to Disney World the day after Mother's Day and were in Florida for almost a week.  I've been playing catch up (you know how that is after a vacation) so far this week and haven't had a chance to even get into my stamp room no less actually stamp something.  But that is on my list this morning after I drop the little guy off at preschool.

  Instead of stamping I'll show you the cute (if I do say so myself) gift bags I made for the boys to tell them about our trip.  I had cute Mickey Mouse t-shirts made up for them to wear the day of the trip and put them in Mickey Mouse gift bags.  I read them a poem I found online and then had them open the bags to find the shirts.  Matt videotaped it all and he said that Alex seemed to get the surprise faster than Ryan.  I'll have to watch the tape and see for myself.  I think Matt & I might have been more excited than the boys initially!

About 3 minutes after we told them we were going to meet Mickey Mouse in Florida

  Of course the Mickey Mouse bags were made with Stampin' Up supplies!  I used Real Red and Basic Black cardstock and just cut it to size to fit on the front of a small plain kraft gift bag.  I used the Circle Scissors Plus to cut 8 circles out of Basic Black.  I sandwiched 2 circles around the handle and adhered them together with Sticky Strip.  Then repeated the process for the other ears.  Finally I added 2 white buttons to Mickey's pants.

  I had some bright yellow (like Mickey's shoes) tissue paper stuffed in the bags as well but didn't get a photo of that before the boys took their shirts out.

  It was a fun, quick project and I want to try to do some more themed bags for birthday parties and such.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: none

Ink: none

Paper: Real Red, Basic Black


Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, white buttons, sticky strip

Twitterpated New Neighbor Gift

 Well the Flyers couldn't get it done the other night against the Devils so I will have a lot more free time in the evenings to stamp instead of watch hockey!  I'll miss watching hockey but won't miss seeing my team stink it up on the ice!  =)

  I'll be putting this free time to use by making up some more of these welcome new neighbor gifts.  Our neighborhood is having a lot of new construction these days and pretty soon people will be moving into these houses and I want to welcome them with a little something.  I found these cute little jar candles at the Dollar Store.  They smell really nice and come in colors that coordinate with some Designer Series papers that I have.  All it takes to make a nice but inexpensive gift (I think there are 10-12 new houses being built so I don't want to break the bank!) is to coordinate a card with a little something.  Stampin' Up! DSP is perfect for this project!

  I just wrapped the candle with some DSP.  Stamped the tree from the retired Sale-a-Bration set Good Neighbor and then punched it out and layered it on a Riding Hood Red circle.  I added a Basic Gray taffeta ribbon knot to tie it in with the card.

  For the card I used a Pear Pizzazz base (see how it matches the candle?) and more of the Twitterpated DSP.  I inked up the little house scene with my markers and then punched it out with the scallop circle punch.  I paper pierced the scallops for another detail and also added a Basic Gray taffeta knot.

 If I don't have many projects to share in the next few days it's because I'm too busy looking at the new Stampin' Up! catalog!!  Yes, it's here!  Demonstrators were able to get their copy mailed out on Monday and mine arrived on Tuesday (yes I had to do expedited shipping, I was just too excited!) along with a bunch of fun preorder items!  Customers are able to see and order from the new catalog starting on June 1st.  Don't wait to get retiring items...they will be gone on May 31.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Good Neighbors

Ink: Pear Pizzazz,Riding Hood Red, Basic Gray, Island Indigo

Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Twitterpated DSP, Riding Hood Red


Accessories: circle punches, taffeta ribbon, scallop circle punch, paper piercer

Delightful (Masculine) Birthday

  It was my husband's birthday on Friday so we had a lot of celebrating going on.  I made Eggs Benedict for breakfast, then we went out for lunch and for dinner we had yummy "Mertz Burgers", scalloped potatoes and corn on the cob for dinner.  We topped off all that eating with Angel Food cake, fresh strawberries, homemade ice cream and whipped cream for dessert!  I don't think I was hungry until Sunday afternoon!

  Here is the birthday card that I made for him.  I used a recent color challenge over at Create With Connie & Mary and the layout is from Paper Players.

  The base is Sahara Sand.  The next layer is textured Night of Navy with paper piercing along both edges. 

  I finally got the Tasteful Trim die and used it to make the scallops with the Peach Parfait DSP.  There are super fun shapes on this die and they are perfect in lieu of ribbon which doesn't usually work on a guy card right?

  The sentiment is from Delightful Dozen (remember me saying that I use this set on every other card....might be every card lately!).  I colored it with markers and stamped it on a Whisper White circle that was cut with the Circles #2 die. 

  I added a Peach Parfait Glimmer brad (yes, still trying to use up these In Colors!) at the top and 3 Night of Navy brads at the bottom.  I popped the whole panel up with dimensionals.

  I really like this color combination for a guy card.  The pop of Peach Parfait keeps it from looking too serious and the textures and shapes keep it from being too boring!  No fuss, no frills = a winner of a guy card!

  I got my peek at the new Stampin' Up! catalog this morning and my very own copy will be here tomorrow!  Woo Hoo!  Not much will be getting done at my house tomorrow!  =) Lots of fun new things to drool over.  I think my wish list might be very long this year!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Delightful Dozen

Ink: Peach Parfait (retiring), Sahara Sand, Night of Navy

Paper: Sahara Sand, Night of Navy textured (retiring), Whisper White, In Color Hostess Pack DSP (retired)

Accessories: paper piercer, dimensionals, brads, Tasteful Trim die, Circles #2 die

Fifth Avenue Mother's Day

Another hot one in Richmond today.  It didn't start out that way though; it was kind of chilly and rainy this morning.  All morning I felt guilty that I sent Ryan to school in shorts and a t-shirt and decided that I wasn't going to listen to the radio weather anymore!  Then Alex and I came out of the grocery store around noon and it was bright and sunny and the temperature was rising.  I didn't feel so bad about the shorts and t-shirt anymore! 

  Tonight my Flyers (yes, I am part owner! Ha!) are playing another playoff game so I wanted to get this posted now.  They looked horrible against New Jersey the other night so I hope they can get their act together tonight for game 3.  Sometimes it's painful to be a Philadelphia sports fan (hello!  Eagles!!).

 This is another Mother's Day card.  Have I said before how much I like the Delightful Dozen stamp set?  I think I use it on every other card.  It has such a nice selection of sentiments and font styles that it works for so many cards.

  The layout of this card came from the Paper Players challenge a few weeks back.  I follow several challenge blogs and always jot down the challenges on a scrap of paper to keep in my stamp room for whenever I get a few moments to make a card I just pick a challenge and start working (who am I kidding?  Working?  Playing!).  I find this is a faster process then just starting from scratch.  Sometimes my card ends up very far from the challenge but it's a starting point.

  The colors are the same as my card yesterday; Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie, Calypso Coral and Bravo Burgundy.  I made this one with Whisper White before realizing that the ColourQ challenge was to use Very Vanilla!

  The base is Whisper White and then the Whisper White panel was stamped with the Fifth Avenue Floral stamps in the various colors.  Then I used the Edgelits scallop die and Adorning Accents embossing folder on the 2 sides.  I meant to pop this panel up but stuck it down too fast...sometimes you can get a layer apart...other times not so much....this was a not so much time.  Oh well. 

  I stamped my sentiment in Bravo Burgundy and punched it out with the wide oval punch and then layered it inside of the Designer Frames e.f. which I cut out with my paper snips.  I added some Pool Party ruffled ribbon and a Sale-a-bration Everyday Enchantment brad and then popped everything up with a dimensional.

  If you love Fifth Avenue Floral get it this month before it's gone forever.  This is a set that is on the retirement list which is only good until May 31.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?


Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Delightful Dozen

Ink: Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie, Calypso Coral, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White

Paper: Whisper White, Calypso Coral

Accessories: Edgelits, Adorning Accents embossing folder, ruffled ribbon, Everyday Enchantment brad, wide oval punch, Designer Frames e.f.

Mother's Day Butterflies

  It was a blazin' hot 91 degrees here in the Richmond area today (at least according to my car's thermometer)!!  It certainly didn't feel like May 2 that's for sure.  I kept wishing the pool was open so the boys and I could go cool off.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit cooler!

  My card today is one I made over the weekend using last week's Colour Q Challenge.  The challenge colors were Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie, Calypso Coral, Bravo Burgundy and Very Vanilla.  I saw these colors and thought they looked good together, then I looked closer at the Bravo Burgundy and was like "Gah!".  Bravo Burgundy is not a color I use very often and usually just on Christmas cards or if it shows up in a challenge.  It took me a while but I got it done!  And the Bravo Burgundy doesn't look terrible does it....granted it's a VERY small amount but still!  =)

 
 I have quite a few Mother's Day cards to make and send every year and I try not to wait until the last minute to get them made.  I have a few checked off my list with a few more to go.  This one was pretty quick once I figured out what to do with the Bravo Burgundy!

  The base is Very Vanilla embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. Then I cut a Labels Framelit and embossed the edge which doesn't show up well in the photo.  I then stamped the sentiment in Bravo Burgundy ink. 

  I used the Beautiful Wings embosslit and cut out the butterflies using the other challenge colors.  They are each adhered with a tiny bit of dimensionals and accented with some adhesive pearls.

  I really like the clean look of this card.  The pops of colors work against the neutral background.

  Don't wait to get your Mother's Day cards made! 

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?


Stamps: Something to Celebrate (retired hostess set)

Ink: Bravo Burgundy

Paper: Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie, Calypso Coral

Accessories: Labels Framelits, adhesive pearls, dimensionals, Vintage Wallpaper e.f., Beautiful Wings embosslit

Summer Smooches Stationery Set

 Today is like Rex Manning Day (if you know this reference without looking it up you rock!) for us Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  Stampin' Up! released a select few products from the new catalog for us to order early.  It's really exciting to get to see new products early and a great perk of being a demo.  I know some ladies who signed up for this sole reason!  If you're interested in getting perks like this as well as a great discount give me a shout...there is a new Starter Kit that is completely customizable!  You can choose anything you want!

  Today I'm sharing the project we did for my April class.  It's a Summer Smooches Clear Mount Case Stationery Set (that's a mouthful isn't it?).

  We made 4 note cards with envelopes, 4 3x3 notes with envelopes, a notepad and pen.  All this fits into the clear mount stamp cases that Stampin' Up! sells by the 4 pack.  These little babies make great gifts and I know a few of my ladies were going to gift the one they made at class for Mother's Day.

 Here is the sample that I made for class.  The ladies each got 6 sheets of the Summer Smooches DSP (one of each pattern in the pack) to customize their case, cards, envelopes, pen and notepad.  It was fun to see the different combinations they chose.

   We used the Bright Blossoms stamp set and I made up 4 different designs to give them a starting point for their own cards.  We also lined the inside of the A2 envelopes.  This is a great touch especially if you're giving a set of note cards as a gift.

  Most of the ladies used the matching markers to color the stamps since the images are on the smaller side it's easier to use the markers to vary the blossom colors.  Each class attendee also received 2 yards of the Daffodil Delight seam binding ribbon to use on their cards.

  The little 3x3 notes are adorable!  We used the Simply Scored Diagonal scoring plate to make custom envelopes for the 3x3 notes.  Even more adorable!  All the ladies really liked being able to make their own envies.

 And here's my example of the customized notepad and pen.  The notepad is a junior legal size that I had the office supply store cut down to fit into the case.  A little bit of DSP for both and you have some nicely coordinated accessories to go with your stationery set.

  If you missed out on the Summer Smooches sneak peek don't worry!  The Designer Series Paper, Daffodil Delight seam binding ribbon and Bright Blossoms stamp set will all be in the new catalog and can be ordered starting June 1!

  Thanks for looking!  Happy Rex Manning Day!

  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Bright Blossoms

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight

Paper: Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP

Accessories: Daffodil Delight seam binding ribbon, scallop circle punch, paper piercer, Simply Scored Diagonal Scoring plate, paper piercer