Shoebox Stampers

More swaps for convention!

I am on my way to convention in Salt Lake City, UT so I thought I would share some of my swaps I made for convention.  There will be several thousand demonstrators, so given time constraints, I set my goal for 300 cards.  So I created 50 each of 6 designs for swapping, plus some 3x3 cards, a 6x6 scrapbook page, and 2 3-D items.  Whew!  That's a lot to do!

Instead of giving directions for each one, I would like to highlight parts of each card.  You are more than welcome to email me and ask about more specifics.  This first one uses Seeing spots and three of the new In Colors: pink pirouette, riding hood red, and kiwi kiss!  I really like how they all go together so well, and throw in my favorite color, Elegant eggplant, and I am HAPPY!!!

The second one uses Wonderful You, a set from the previous catalog, again with my favorite color, elegant eggplant, and employs the technique faux silk.  It's so simple - just stamp your images on a piece of tissue paper, then crumple it up and open it carefully.  Apply a glue stick to the surface of your cardstock and then rub the tissue paper over it as it falls.  This creates ridges, wrinkles, and interest. 

The third one uses a sentiment from Heard from the heart colored with perfect plum and pale plum Stampin' Write markers.   I also used the  shaving cream technique for the trees - simply swirl drops of ink in shaving cream and then lay your cardstock on top.  You never know what you will get!  It's just amazing!

The last one I think I'll share today is a little notepad.  It uses the new Bella Rose Designer Series papers and Riding hood red and Pink pirouette inks.  I simply assembled the front cover, cut typing paper to size, then made a back cover from the cardboard that comes in the designer series papers.  I have a rubicoil which punches the holes and the coils I have found online.  Very cute - I keep counting them to make sure that they are all there because my daughter keeps trying to swipe one!  Wouldn't they be cute for a party?  Maybe a Mother's Day project?  The possibilities are endless!

If you need any of the new supplies, contact me - they are available August 11.  I'm taking reservations for the new catalogs so email me to get your copy!  There is sure to be a lot of surprises! 

Sneak peek at new stamps and papers

I have been having fun with the new stamp sets and papers.  Stampin' Up! gives demonstrators a sneak peek (and a discount too!) of some of the new stamp sets, colors, and Designer Series papers, which we can then use to create swaps.  These 2 samples are for a mail swap group that I am in - we create a certain number of card fronts and then the hostess, Becky in MI, gets them all and mails them back.  So these are my two!

The first one is a holiday card (yes, already!) using Deer Friends, a level 2 hostess set (yes, demonstrators have the opportunity to purchase some of the hostess sets before they even show up in a catalog!) from the new Fall/Winter Idea Book and Catalog 2008.  I used the gingham print from Bella Rose DS papers placed on a strip of Riding Hood Red.  I rolled the Spunky spots jumbo wheel across the top of Close to cocoa cardstock with chocolate chip ink (unfortunately it is retiring so I hope the girls forgive me - the retired accessories list wasn't available yet!).  Then I used the scallop punch with a piece of chocolate chip cardstock and the 1 3/8 circle punch with a piece of Riding hood red.  I stamped the gingerbread man with Riding hood red ink on pink pirouette cardstock then punched it out with the 1 1/4 circle punch.  I stamped the gingerbread man again with chocolate chip ink on whisper white cardstock, then punched that out with the one inch circle punch.  I layered them all together then put them on top the strip.  I then stamped Holiday greetings from the Sincere Salutations stamp set with chocolate chip ink and voila! 

The second card uses the couple from To have and to hold stamped in Basic black ink on whisper white cardstock.  I used a blender pen to add real red ink to the bride's flowers and the groom's tie.   I used the 2-way glue pen to add liquid glue to her dress, bodice, and veil, then poured Dazzling diamonds glitter over that.  I used the greeting from Heard from the heart (a new stamp set coming out in August) with real red and basic black markers.  I taped real red narrow grosgrain ribbon across the front, then used another piece to tie the knot.  Finally, I placed the whole piece on basic black cardstock.  Now I just need to know someone who is getting married! 

I can't wait to get my cards back! If you would like any of the supplies (the stamps are SO fun!), make sure to email me at me to place an order or to host a workshop (the only way to earn Deer Friends).   

Retired list available until August 10!

Well, some days you do the things you need to do, and some days you realize you didn't do the things you needed to do!  So, only four days late, here is the retired list!  There are several of my favorites (Bud basics, Snow flurries, Snowfall, Print pattern & Polka dots & petals) that are going, but that's just to make room for new favorites!  If there is one you would really miss, make sure to email me to place your order before it's too late!  You can also go to my website to see other promotions. 

Refreshments for July class

I found another Bisquick recipe that is easy and really good.  Plus, I like that I can substitute various pie fillings for different tastes.  This one has just a few ingredients (Bisquick, milk, butter, eggs, vanilla, sugar) and comes together really fast.  The recipe can be found here but adds almond extract to the one that is in my cookbook. 

I can't wait to make it with blueberry and apple pie filling.  And the best part is that it makes TWO 9x9 pans, so I have the morning and evening class set! 

If you have an idea for a quick dessert, let me know.  I can't wait to hear it!

Build a flower retires

I just love this tin!  We used it a couple months ago to create cards - 32 total.  There are four color schemes inside with various self-adhesive cardstock die-cuts - certainly celery, lovely lilac, rose red, and bashful blue.  With each color set, we created 8 cards.  The set we chose to go inside as the gift were smaller and sized at only 4x4, but they could still use a typical gift envelope. 

With the tin, we stamped the flourish from Baroque motifs with Versamark ink, then embossed in Crystal clear embossing powder.  We used extra flowers from the kit to decorate the tin.  To add the ribbon, we used the Crop-a-dile to punch the holes (you have to straighten the lip of the tin to get the tool in, then bend it back).  Then we just threaded the ribbon through.  Very easy! 

For the cards, we used several additional supplies, including Basic black ink, stamping sponges, ribbon, basic black and whisper white cardstock, the four colors in inks, and various sentiment stamps (I used ones from Hugs & wishes, Everyday flexible phrases, and Sincere salutations).  If you have any questions about this project, just let me know.  You can also contact me to order the Build-a-Flower tin, but do it soon!  When it is gone, it's gone! 

Bud Basics is a retired stamp set

We have had this set for a couple years.  I believe it arrived first in the Spring mini of 2006 and had a couple coordinating wheels to match.  I really love using this set since it is so versatile - you can use the Bud outline wheel and fill in with the stamp set or use the stamp set by itself.  You can do just about any card-giving occasion including Christmas.  Here are a couple samples to share. 

The first one is simply a 3x3 card, one of my favorite sizes!  I used bashful blue cardstock for the base and placed a piece of night of navy cardstock across the center.  I used the scallop, the 1 3/8 inch circle, and the 1 1/4 inch circle punches to create the focal point.  I stamped the bold flower from Bud Basics in bashful blue ink, then the outline in night of navy ink.  I finished it all off with a bashful blue brad.  Very simple and versatile!

This next card is a holiday card, but there's so much going on right now with "Christmas in July," that I thought I might be able to get away with it!  I stamped this one with the outline stamps, then filled in the images with the bold stamps using bravo burgundy, pretty in pink, and always artichoke inks on very vanilla cardstock.  Using the color spritzer and the Zig painty pen, I spritzed gold ink onto the front.  I layered this on bravo burgundy cardstock.  Then I stamped "be merry" from Warm words in bravo burgundy ink on very vanilla cardstock and punched it out with the small oval, then punched the large oval out of bravo burgundy cardstock.  I adhered the two ovals together and used the 1/4 inch hold punch for the end circles.  Finally, I threaded a piece of pretty in pink narrow grosgrain ribbon through the oval and taped to the back of the very vanilla cardstock.

When you decide you love the set as much as I do, send me an email to see how you can get your hands on your own set! 

Happy stampin'! 

Hodgepodge hardware 25% off!

I am sad to say that the current hodgepodge hardware is being discontinued, but this may be good since it's on sale!  To show the HH, I made this card which we used for a  card class and I demonstrated for a workshop.  I really love the scallop punch (though I really tried to resist, but that's futile!) and can't wait to make the same card for the holidays using the punch for an ornament instead of a ladybug!

To create this card, I stamped the background with Weathered (retiring August 10) using Close to cocoa ink on Close to cocoa cardstock.  Then I punched 5 scallops from Berry bliss Designer Series papers, then folded each one in half.  I adhered them together, alternating the patterns then attached them to the pretty in pink cardstock.  Using the 3/4 inch circle and 1/4 inch circle punches, I create the head and antennas with some little dots with a close to cocoa marker for the pathways of the antenna.  I stamped the words on scrap paper in Purely pomegranate ink (also retiring) then punched them out using the large oval punch and adhered that to my card.  Then I placed the HH on top and using the paper piercer, made holes for the brads, then attached the metal to the card. 

Clear as mud?  Contact me for more details or to purchase your own Hodgepodge Hardware! 

Refreshments for June class

I know this is a silly post, but I love to bake, and try to make something for every class that I have.  I thought I would share maybe one a month just for fun.  I've heard some demonstrators do full meals, but there is just no way for me - I prefer baking and if you sign me up for anything other than a dessert at a potluck or family get-together, well, you're still gonna get a dessert!

For a morning class in June, I wanted to do something different, and I love to use Bisquick recipes because they are simple and easy.  So I tried one called easy drop danish in the Bisquick cookbook.  It is super simple and can be found here (yes the name is different on the website).  There's only five ingredients in the biscuit (Bisquick, milk, sugar, butter, and fruit preserves), then a simple glaze for the top.  Everyone seemed to like it, especially Ben, who ate 4 over the course of the day!

If you have any ideas for simple quick but delicious refreshments let me know!  I'd love to try them!  Enjoy!

Unexpected favorite stamp set

I have never thought of myself as religious, especially growing up.  Sure, I believed in God, but that was about the extent.  When Grace was born, she required open heart surgery (at just 18 days of age!) and promptly flatlined the next morning when the nurses picked her up to change her sheets.  This is not my AHA! moment.  When my husband went home a few days later to do laundry, he checked our messages and had one from Dorothy, the gal who did my hypnobirthing/child birth classes that went something like this: "Hi.  I woke up this morning at 4:17, not sure why, but said a quick prayer for Grace then went back to sleep.  Hope things are going well..." 

The hospital called us at 4:20 to tell us they were "having problems with Grace."  Hmmm...AHA!

Anyway, we started going back to church a little bit with Grace, then I went more with Andrew, the third baby, when he wouldn't sleep in.  I would get up for 8:00 mass and take the baby while Bob and the other two slept in.  Then we enrolled Grace in Catholic school, and well, you have to go now! 

So, anyway, back to the stamp set...I have had things happen since having kids that have strengthened my faith, and I know who to talk to when I have problems.  So when I saw this stamp set in the Fall 2007 catalog, I knew I had to have it!  This card is actually CASE'd (or copied) from one I saw in PaperCrafts for August 2008 that I really liked (it used Wild About You from our catalog).  It's simple but sincere.

To create the card, I cut a piece of Always artichoke designer series paper 3/4 inch x 5 1/2 inches for the right edge.  Then a 1/2 wide piece of chocolate chip cardstock, both layered on mellow moss cardstock.  I tied natural hemp around the card.  Then using a piece of very vanilla cardstock measuring 2 x 3, I stamped the cross from Refuge and Strength in mellow moss ink, then the words on top in chocolate chip ink.  Very easy and simple.

Teacher gifts

Well, I thought long and hard about what to have as my first post, and I thought this fit the bill!  My son has been attending a school that is 42 miles away (read one hour with traffic!) for four years and tomorrow is THE LAST DAY!!!  He has mild to severe hearing loss and has been attending Moog Center for Deaf Education for children with similar issues.  So to thank the teachers I made these picture holders.  I was going to do coasters with their pictures but I was told that may be a bit egotistic!  So this is a good compromise because they can remove the pictures and use one they like. 

I used "Hear, speak, live" since their goal is to have ALL the kids, with hearing aids (like my Ben) or with cochlear implants, to hear and speak, and therefore, to live full lives.  I made seven of these using Designer Series papers that I had on hand. 

To create this picture holder, I first covered one chipboard coaster front and back with a colored cardstock that matched my printed paper.  Then I covered the front of another chipboard coaster in a 4x4 square of cardstock.  I added a piece of Designer Series paper that is 4x2 at the bottom and placed a piece of 5/8 inch grosgrain ribbon across the "seam" which I taped to the back.  Finally, I stamped a 2x3 piece of cardstock with the solid leaf stamp from Wonderful You, then used the Classic Double Alphabet (sorry, it's retired, but there are several to substitute) to stamp the words.  I rubbed the edges of this focal point the Chocolate chip Classic ink pad to help it stand out, and used Dimensionals to help it stand up.  Then I simply adhered 2 clothespins inside about 1/4 inch from the top to create a sandwich.  You can push the front and back together to open the clothespins and hold a picture.  Very easy and fitting, I think!