Shoebox Stampers

Instead of why, how about why not?

You know today is the end of the demonstrator special - a mini starter kit, complete with business supplies to start earning money right away for just $85, right? 

 

Or, if you don't have very many Stampin' Up! stamps and accessories, you can go with our standard kit for $199, and get our new In Color ink pads and paper package for free (a $43 value!). 

This is a great time to join, and here are just a few reasons:

• Product discount: a 20% discount on all your stampin' supplies!
• Extra income: earn enough to pay a bill or a car payment (I personally haven't purchased stampin' supplies out of my pocket in almost four years!).
• Scheduling flexibility: you work when you want so you can enjoy time with family, friends, and yourself!
• Support: Stampin' Up! offers a website, monthly full-color publication, events, and more to help demonstrators succeed!
• Recognition: awards, trips, and more to show appreciation for your hard effort!

Plus, if you love to scrapbook, you can include our Stampin' Memories add-on for $50, which gets you started showing scrapbooking with stamps (my go-to stamps for scrapbooking are alphabets - you never run out of e's!).

 

Plus, you can customize your kit to reflect your tastes!  When you decide to join (and you can be anywhere in the United States), you'll need one thing: the password to join online!  When you go to my Demonstrator website, click on join now, and enter shoebox stampers so you can become a demonstrator too!  Then watch your mailbox because I'll be sending you a care package of ideas, samples, and more!  If you have questions, make sure to email me right away so you can take advantage of this great offer (and don't forget the great Just for kids promotion too)! 

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Scrapbookin' on Saturday - lucky you

Have you ever gone out to your car to find that it won't start?  It's usually on a very busy day, right?  You have lots to do, places to go, things to see, etc, and that is the last thing you need!  Well, that was how it was a couple days ago for me when my camera, my beautiful, sleek, perfect-picture-taking camera, died.  I turned it on, set the micro setting, then...nothing!  I was so upset, my kids were giving me hugs and trying to make me feel better.  The good news is we think we can fix it; the bad news is the part is on backorder and won't arrive until the middle of September, so until then, I guess I'll just describe projects or share some from our website.

Just kidding!

Thank goodness my dad is a collector, not of guns, not of fishing lures or baseball cards, but electronics, so he had a camera I could borrow.  It's old, so bear with me on the pictures.  I'll keep playing with it and tweaking it, but things may not be what you are used to for a while.

Anyway, this Saturday I pulled some of Grace's pictures that I had already scrapped for Ben.  While I really wanted to copy the same layout, I was inspired to create a new one!  That doesn't happen too often, so I went with it and played free-style, so to speak (which means no sketches, samples, etc!).  

 

I just love our new melon mambo, and that color paired with orchid opulence really pulled the decor from Grace's room out of the pictures.  I used the mix of taffy alphabet and just perfect alphabet for the title in basic black craft ink.  However, I didn't think it felt finished...

 

So I added the sentiment from Define your life stamp set - it's a definition of "lucky" to work off the title.  But it still wasn't finished...

So I added the flowers using the Three for you punch and silver brads.  Okay, now I'm finished. And while the pictures aren't great, they are better than verbal descriptions!  I will work on taking better ones during daylight hours tomorrow, but for now, it's better than nothing.  Check back and hopefully the pictures will be better.  Wish me luck!

Wish shoe stampin' (and scrapbookin') fun!

Shake out some take-out!

While you would normally find something sweet and sour in this container, this take-out box only contains sweet...sweet thoughts that is!  I recently found it at Dollar Tree - they had several colors, including white, pink, green, orange, and blue.  If you are like me, you tend to purchase when you see something, so I had this one on hand.  The little cards we created for Ben (see this post) fit inside perfectly, and the contents are even better than lo mein noodles!

I had to work very hard to make this acceptable for a boy (you know I love embellishments, especially our pretties kit, felt flowers, rhinestone brads...) so I pulled out some black vinyl and used our top note die for the base.  The B is from our On Board Timeless Type chipboard and is inked in yoyo yellow craft ink (remember, those are Ben's favorite colors!).  I added basic black and yellow grosgrain ribbon (sorry, the yellow is retired, but I have a couple yards if you really need some!) and black gingham ribbon. 

I love this card - the girl who made it decided the have the caterpillar going up a stalk of grass! 

Now I'm just wondering...how soon will you be heading to the dollar store for your own take-out box?  And what will fill your container? Most importantly, how will you decorate it???

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Our Decor Elements growth chart is not just a growth chart!

Remember the Decor Elements growth chart I shared with you at the beginning of the month?  It's a special order item until September 30 for $24.95.  Here's a great idea for your craft room that's not so obvious!

 

First, she cut out the ruler and placed the markings on the edge of her craft counter.  Then she replaced the numbers.

 

She now has a perfect measuring tool to cut perfect lengths of ribbon, quickly measure scraps, and more.  What a great idea! 

Now, I wonder what she will do with the other parts - the tree and bird?  I think it would be nice in a frame, or above a door, or...what do you think?

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Holiday mini coming soon!

There are so many wonderful things coming in our new Holiday Mini - it makes me glad to be a demonstrator because I can purchase them all early!  Here's something I made using our new Autumn Splendor stamp set.

 

I don't know what it is about leaves, but I love those sets!  This one I paired up with our new Designer Series paper, Autumn traditions.  Can you guess why I love it?  It pulls in elegant eggplant, my most favorite color of all!  This card uses a base of kraft cardstock, and pulls in the colors from the print, including more mustard, always artichoke, and ruby red.  The sentiment is from our Holiday Best, a level one hostess set stamped in elegant eggplant.

 

I finished the front edge with our scallop edge punch, then sponged elegant eggplant ink.  I found that without the ink, the front edge blended into the inside and disappeared.  

If you haven't put this stamp set on your wish list yet, give me time!  I will have plenty of ideas to share with you.  Can't you just see this on scrapbook pages, cards, tiles, and more???

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Stampin' Up! in the news

Soon after our recent convention, an article appeared in the Deseret News from Salt Lake City about the special announcements and activities.  You can see the article here. 

 

This picture above shows the huge room where we do the make n takes.  It was one of my favorite events - besides getting new stamps, finding the goodies at lunch, trading ideas with others, learning new ideas, sharing suggestions...

 

This is another one of my favorite things - the endless idea boards!  There are so many submissions for contests and ideas that Stampin' Up! can color coordinate the boards beautifully! 

If, after reading the article by Carma Wadley and seeing the pictures by Michael Brandy, you think you might want to attend next year, by all means join!  Our current mini kit is perfect, or our standard kit, with an additional SIX ink pads and multi-colored package of paper, is even better for starting a business for fun or financial aid.  This could be the stimulus you need!

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Ben's fundraiser is a HUGE success!!!

I wanted to share the cards we made for Ben, plus tell you how the fundraiser did.  I made sure to keep them simple because I was sure to be busy!

I called Ben's mom to verify his favorite colors and found that he likes yellow and black, so I created a couple cards that used them.  This little card uses Refuge and Strength in crushed curry and basic black - I thought, given the situation, that this could be a very suitable card.  What I didn't realize was how many of the kids would choose this one!

I looked through my stamps to find something 8th grade boy-ish, but had to settle on space ships and bugs!  This one uses Pun fun in yoyo yellow and night of navy with our new modern label punch.  I stamped the rockets several times so it looks like it is taking off!  Fun!

Like I said, I pulled out our Bugs & kisses and paired it with Inspired by Nature to have grass.  The sentiment actually says "Sending your worm wishes on your bug day," but didn't want the bottom half so I used a chocolate chip marker.  This was my most popular card - kids and adults alike chose this one.

This last one uses our new Autumn splendor stamp set found in our Holiday mini brochure in elegant eggplant, ruby red and more mustard.  Another simple card - I would have liked to use our scallop punch, but didn't think it was boy friendly!  Instead I used our small oval punch with a sentiment from Teeny tiny wishes.  

Later in the week I will share some of the cards (Julia in first grade made one of each!!!) and the container for them.  What I couldn't believe was that, when I spoke with Peggy this morning, the total raised was at $5,400, and she was still expecting more donations to come through!  So, if you participated, thank you so much!  Things like this renew my faith in the world!

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Scrapbookin' on Saturday - reading to zoe

Grace just adores her cousin, Zoe, who is about to turn three.  This is a picture that Zoe's mom gave me so I didn't have any others to go with this.  Sometimes a single photo is a nice change!

 

This pages uses our new crushed curry for the base, with a strip from our Razzleberry lemonade designer series paper for interest.  The photo is matted in melon mambo to pull out the pinks in Grace's nightgown. 

The title is in the rich razzleberry and melon mambo dye inks (because we don't have craft in those colors) using both our just perfect and taffy alphabets.  The flower from our Pretties kit is for fun - you can't go wrong adding a silk flower!  And I really like the flat pearls -a great bit of textural interest without the funky shape! 

If you haven't scrapped in a while, you should challenge yourself to create a page quick.  I was in a hurry to make this one, with the fundraiser coming up and other classes, and created this one in about 1/2 hour!  See if you can do it!

Wish shoe stampin' (and scrapbookin') fun!

Don't miss out tonight!

Tonight is my Open House and I am so excited about the projects!  You can see the first two samples here, and I have the last three below.  They use some great new stamp sets and accessories, as promised!

 

This one uses our Animal Stories stamp set, a new one that is part of this month's Just for Kids promotion.  I also used the Tall Tales designer series paper that coordinates - this would be a good child card, or for someone who likes elephants, or for someone who is forgetful (you know, elephants never forget!).  I applied ink to the bottom with plastic wrap - how easy is that?

This next one uses our Vintage Ornaments #1 Decor Stencil.  Notice how it's not a Christmas card, but wouldn't it be nice with holiday colors and an ornament?  I used our texturz dies on the not quite navy, and Stampin' Write markers for the sentiment from Thank you kindly.  

This last one features a hostess level 2 stamp set, Asian Artistry.  I punched a 1 3/4 inch circle from melon mambo, then removed a bit with our 1 inch circle punch.  The stamp is embossed in gold and then colored with inks and a blender pen.  It's an easy card with a bit of bling!

I have a couple spots still open, so if you are looking for some fun tonight, make sure to reserve your space below or email me right away!  Can't wait to stamp with you!

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Survival chocolate for the First Day of School

Of course, I remembered to create something for the kids' teachers the morning of the First Day of School, so thankfully I had some chocolate lying around.  Hershey's packages their chocolate wafers similar to Ghiradelli, though it's a bit smaller.  That simply makes it cuter!

 

All you need is cardstock (I used Designer Series papers), strong adhesive, and a crimper.  Cut to size and wrap, then close off ends.  Crimp each edge and embellish!  I really love making these - they are so easy but fancy.  You can see more of these I've made here.  I found another sample here as well.

I hope you remembered to start the year off right sooner than I did!  If you gave a teacher gift, make sure to share it with me, either this project or something else!

Wish shoe stampin' fun!