Friday, September 30, 2011

Sparkling Berries


It's that season...time to start making Christmas cards!  The card I'm going to show you today was inspired by a card I saw on fellow demonstrator, Julie Davison's blog.  I loved the layout and have used it a few times for different occasions!


Cute, isn't it!  Did you notice the sparkles on the berries?  That's courtesy of the new Dazzling Details which you can find in the Holiday Mini.  You're going to love this new product!!!

So, this is the second card for my October 6 Get Ahead for the Holidays class.  You can find more info on my Classes and Events page.  I would love to have you join me for a fun evening of stamping!  Contact me to reserve your spot today!

Have an inspired day!


Thursday, September 29, 2011

Vintage Snowflakes

Well, country music night in my office has proven to be quite successful!  A couple of nights ago, Kevin was away for work, the kids were in bed and I took full advantage of the time!  I cranked up the music (the night's playlist was mostly country) and stamped the night away (literally!!!).  I got so many class samples done and I can't wait to share all the pictures with you.


I'm so excited about this first card I'm going to share with you.  It took me a while to get inspired and get what was in my head to translate to real paper and stamps!  I started with a little teaser picture...and I specifically chose this one becuase of the bow!!!  Isn't it a stellar bow?!?!?


Right now I'm loving the look of stamping on DSP...especially the First Edition DSP.  With this card, I went a little vintagey, which is a style that I struggle with, but I think it turned out quite well.  What do you think?

So, would you like to make this card?  How about 5 of them?  This is one of the cards for my October 6 Get Ahead for the Holidays class.  You can find more info on this class on my Classes & Events page.  I would love to see you and your friends at this class!  Please contact me for more details or to reserve your spot.

Have an inspired day!




Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Pumpkins

Last week I had my final class in my Festive Frames series.  We did a fall themed frame and my word this time was pumpkin!



I started with a Bravo Burgundy background.  And, I have a little tip for you!  One of the benefits of our Clear Mount stamps is that you can quickly and easily make your own background stamps. 


I used one of my larger size blocks (Block E) and arranged three of the leaf stamps from the Gently Falling set on the block.  Now rather than having to stamp all three individually, I could just stamp all three at the same time and the end result is a beautiful background!

All of my squares are Crumb Cake sponged with Soft Suede ink.  I stamped some little acorns on the squares that have letters on them.  The acorn is another stamp from the Gently Falling set and the letters were cut from Soft Suede cardstock with my beloved Big Shot!!!

Here's a closer look at some of the other fun elements in the project.


To make these leaves, first cut them with the Leaves #2 Die and the Big Shot, them emboss with the Spider Web embossing Folder.  Sponge with a little bleach...emphasis on little...and when the bleach is dry sponge with Soft Suede ink.
Scarecrow is made from a variety of punches.  The "straw" is bits of linen thread.
The pumpkins are just circles (all from circle dies) which have been roughed up around the edges, sponged and layered together.  The stems are the Modern Label punch embossed with the Houndstooth embossing folder and the leaves are Always Artichoke Denim Ribbon.

I had loads of fun at this class and am thrilled with the final product!

Do you love those leaves on the background?  I am offering a Gently Falling Stamp Camp at the end of October.  At the class, you will receive the Gently Falling stamp set and make 4 cards (each with a different technique)!  You can see all the details on my Classes & Events page.  Please contact me to reserve your spot!

If you would like to see the whole series of Festive Frames, you can look here (Jingle), here (Freezin'), here (Spring) and here (Summer).

Have an inspired day!


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Hybrid Calendar

It's Digital Tuesday and today I have a super fun calendar to share!  I'm offering a special My Digital Studio Hybrid Calendar class on November 1.  At this class you will get a professionally printed MDS Calendar which we will embellish with real embellishments! 


That's the cover.  The calendar is 10x5 with an o-ring coil along the top.  It has a great little mechanism to make it stand on a desk, table, shelf, etc.  Here's a look at one of the pages.


Now, your pages will not be exactly the same as shown!  I've used a convention class sample as my inspiration and made the pages very close to the sample based on the downloads that I have!

Did you notice the little punched flower and button on the cover...or the rhinestones on the snowflakes?  That's the type of embellishing we will be doing!

This class will be held on November 1 at my house.  The cost is $35 and that fee MUST be received before October 11 to allow for printing and shipping time for your calendars.  You can see all the info on this class on my Classes & Events page.  Please contact me to reserve your spot!

Since it's Tuesday, there's new Digital Downloads for you to enjoy!  You can find all the new downloads for today here.

One last thing for today...Have you voted for your favorite stocking in the Stocking Challenge yet?  You can find all the info here...now go check it out and vote for your favorite!!!

Have an inspired day!


Monday, September 26, 2011

The Stocking Challenge

A couple weeks ago I had my Group Gathering with my downline.  We had a fabulous evening of stamping and fun...I will share pictures another day!  I did something different with them this time.  I had a table set up with some supplies and challenged them to make a stocking.  The had to use the new Stocking die and could only use the supplies that were on the table.  And, here's where you come in.  I told them that I would be posting pictures of their stockings on my blog and get my readers to vote for their favorite.  The winning one YOU choose gets a prize!  Each one has a number associated with it and to vote for your favorite, please leave a comment with the number of the one you like best.  This contest will be open for 1 week and the winner will be announced next Monday.






That's all of them!  Now for the fun part.  Remember, you can vote by leaving a comment with the number of the stocking that's your favorite.  Please make sure you leave your name with your comment!  Voting will be open for one week.

If you would like to learn more about this fabulous new die, you may want to consider attending my To Die For Class on October 13.  If you have a Big Shot, the class is FREE (please RSVP so I know how many to prep for) and if you don't have a Big Shot, the class is $5.  Please contact me for more info or to RSVP.

Have an inspired day!




Sunday, September 25, 2011

Simple Wedding

What happens when you're super busy prepping for a huge demo, it's 10 o'clock at night and your husband comes into your office and says, "I need a card for that wedding I'm going to this weekend.  I don't know their colors or anything."?  A very quick and simple, but pretty wedding card is born...and you tell your husband he's lucky to have a wife like you!!!


I started with a Soft Suede base (to make a 5x5 card).  I added a layer of Baja Breeze cardstock, which I sponged the edges, stamped an image from the Wedding Sweet set (stamped in Baja Breeze) and smooched it with Vanilla Smooch Spritz.  I added a layer of vellum cardstock, tore the bottom and stamped Congratulations on it with Soft Suede ink.  To hide my adhesive, I added a fabulous Soft Suede striped ribbon.  Rather than making a knot or bow, I secured the ends together with an Antique Brad.

Have an inspired day!


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Spooky Spiders

Yesterday, I showed you one idea for the new Halloween Decor Elements in the Holiday Mini, and today I'm going to share what I did with the rest of the set.  I HATE spiders...creatures with 8 hairy legs and 4 eyes creep me out!  But, I think they're kinda cool in this application!!!


I started with 1 and a half pieces of Concord Crush DSP (from the In Color stack).  I chose the one with the words all over it...even though it has NOTHING to do with Halloween!  It just worked for my master spooky plan!!!  Once I made my DSP fit my frame, I stamped it with the spooky stamp from the super cute Spooky Bingo Bits set.  Check it out...I love this set!!!

That little mummy is adorable!!!  Ok, back to the project...I stamped the spooky with Concord Crush ink.  Then I smooched it with the Vanilla Smooth Spritz to give it a subtle shimmer!  It was cute, but it still needed something.  So, I dug out my spider webs from my Halloween Decorations and stretched some across the background.  I used lots of different pieces of web and just taped them in place on the back of my background.


The spiders were applied to the glass.  My frame is from Ikea.  It's actually dark brown, but I roughed it up with some sandpaper.  I took the shine off and sanded away some of the brown around the edges.  I love the way this turned out...and all of my boys told me how cool it looked!

Have an inspired day!


Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Spooky Fun

As soon as I saw the new Halloween decor elements in the Holiday Mini I had ideas bouncing around my head for it (kind of like an idea pin ball machine in my head!!!).  I love decorating for Halloween and I love all the little Trick-or-Treaters that come around.  This year's Halloween decor elements are fantastic...becuase I love cute Halloween!  Here's what the set looks like.
Isn't it cute?  I *heart* that little owl!!!  My only issue with it is that I loved it, but didn't want to put it up on my wall only to have to take it down after Halloween.  I found a way to use it and be able to use it every year.  Do you want to see?


It looks like it took more work than it actually did...I promise!  To start with, I crumpled and tore 2 and a half sheets of Cajun Craze DSP (from the Regals Stack).  I then glued it down to the paper that comes in the frame so I knew it would be the right size.  I wasn't too careful when I glued it down, I just made sure it would stick.  Then I rubbed Cajun Craze ink all over it with a sponge...this accentuated the wrinkles and torn edges.  Then I made a moon.  It's done the same way as the rest of the background, only I used So Saffron DSP and sponged it with More Mustard ink.


The actual decor element pieces are applied to the glass in the frame.  They were pretty easy to put on...one piece at a time!  I put the decor elements on before I did the background and used the picture that came in the frame as a guide for where to put the moon.  And, I did have to trim the decor element branch to fit the frame (it's actually 30 inches long and my frame is only 16x20).  My frame is a barn wood frame, which I purchased at a local big box craft store...with a coupon!!!

There are 3 spiders that come in the set.  Tomorrow I will show you what I did with them!

Have an inspired day!





Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Top 10

Every morning I log onto the Stampin' Up! demonstrator website to check out the day's announcements.  And, today, this is what I saw!



We're excited to announce that Creating Keepsakes magazine has named Stampin' Up!'s wood- and clear-mount rubber stamps as one of its Top 10 Tools for 2011!

While Stampin' Up! has long been recognized in the stamping and crafting industry for producing high-quality rubber stamps and exclusive images in a variety of artistic styles, being recognized by Creating Keepsakes is just another validation that when your customers choose Stampin' Up! products, they are choosing the best!

How exciting is this?!?!?  I'm thrilled to be able to say that the stamps that I sell and use are the BEST!!!

Have an inspired day!




ROAR!!!

I've decided that I'm going to try and share some digital projects with you on Tuesdays.  I know that quite a few of you have purchased My Digital Studio (MDS) and I figure I should share what I've done with it...and who knows, maybe inspire you!  You may be wondering why I chose Tuesdays.  Well, Tuesday is the day that Stampin' Up! releases new digital downloads...yep, every Tuesday they release new downloads!  Super fun!!!

Yesterday I mentioned that I had taken two road trips to Edmonton with  my kids for some stamping events and that my parents looked after them when I was busy.  The first weekend, they took the boys to Jurassic Forest for a dinosaur adventure...and they had a BLAST!!!  The boys still haven't stopped talking about it!  My brother and his little one went along for the fun (my boys were thrilled to see their cousin!) and he was nice enough to take some pictures of my kids and email them to me so I decided to do up a digital layout.


My background is Basic Black with one of the hip and handsome overlays in Wild Wasabi over it.  You can't really see the overlay well in the picture, but it's there!  I changed the opacity of it to 40% so it's going to be subtle when it's printed, but it will be just enough to add a little bit of oomph to the background.  You also may notice a subtle fuzziness around my letters.  I added a white drop shadow to them and made it bigger than the default setting.

To make this page, you will need the following downloads:
-Hip & Handsome Overlays
-Letters stamp set
-Tasteful Trim Shape 3
-Wild Wasabi Brads

Here's a little tip for you...I have made some digital books and a few single pages.  The books I have printed, but I have a file called Random Layouts saved in MDS which, when I get enough of them (there's a minimum of 5 single pages to get them printed), I will have them printed too.

Since it's Digital Tuesday, I also have some MDS classes I want to tell you about!

Getting Started with My Digital Studio
This is a FREE class where you can come, bring your laptop if you have one, and learn some tips and tricks as well as basic use of the program.  This class is good for people who have the program and people who may be thinking about purchasing the program.  This class will be on October 5 at 7:30pm.  Please RSVP for this class so I know how many chairs to have out!

Hybrid Calendar Class
In this class you will received a beautifully printed 2012 MDS Calendar which we will enhance with some fun embellishments.  The cost of this class is $35/calendar (you can do more than one if you want) and it will be held on November 1 at 7:30pm.  Registration for this class will close on October 11 to allow time for your calendars to be printed!    Registration fees MUST be received prior to October 11 or you will not be able to participate in the class.  I will have some pictures of the pages for you to see next week on Digital Tuesday!

If you're interested in coming to either of these classes, please contact me.  You can find today's digital downloads here.

Have an inspired day!


Monday, September 19, 2011

Road Trip!

I've gone on a road trip with my kids two weekends in a row to Edmonton!  Both were for me to attend Stampin' Up! events...I'm lucky enough to have my mom and dad living in Wetaskiwin (just south of Edmonton) and they take care of my kids for me while I go to stampin' stuff!!!

The first weekend I was at the We CAN Stamp Mini Convention.  This is a mini convention organized by my upline and it's for her group.  It's a day JAM PACKED with stampin' stuff and it's loads of fun!  This last weekend I was at a Stampin' Up! Regional Event.  I got to see lots of my stampin' friends from all over Western Canada, and I had a BLAST!!!!

One of the hilights of any Stampin' Up! event is swapping.  I didn't make any swaps this time...I've been so busy and I didn't really feel like it.  Funny thing is even though I didn't make any, I still came home with 5!!!  My stampin' friends are the best and I will be sure to share the 5 cards I came home with later this week so you can see how talented my friends are.

Stampin' Up! always has make & takes for us and this year we had two...I LOVE them both.  Here's the first one, complete with a stamped envelope (because Shelli, the co-founder of Stampin'  Up!,  says you should never send a naked envelope!).


I love the colors and the layout of the card.  The sentiment is perfect..."Hope today finds you feeling as loved as you really are"...perfect because I was feelin' the love on Saturday!  Here's a closer look at the main image.


When I showed my mom she commented how much she liked the three little pearls and the ribbon loop. Coincidentally, that's my favorite part too!!!  It's the perfect little finishing touch for the card.

The stamp set used for this card is the You Are Loved set which you can find in the Holiday Mini Catalogue.  If you don't have a copy of the Holiday Mini yet, please let me know!  I would love to send you one!

I'll be back tomorrow afternoon with a digital project to share and then later this week with the other make & take from Edmonton.

Have an inspired day!


Monday, September 12, 2011

MIA

It's been a while since I've posted and I bed you're wondering where I've been!  I've been busy stamping for a demo at a meeting I went to on the weekend and also doing Enumeration for the province.  I have a HUGE area to Enumerate, so it's been taking all my spare time and energy right now.  I have one week left and then things will settle down and I will get back to regular posting...I promise!!!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Well, it looks like a week and a half of little sleep and no appetite has caught up with both Kevin and I.  We BOTH have managed to catch a cold, just in time for the last long weekend of the summer...awesome (that was a very, very sarcastic awesome!!!).  I usually catch a cold in September, but it typically happens a couple of weeks after the kids have gone back to school.  Maybe this means that I won't be sick later this month?  Cross your fingers for me!!!

The blog posts that I wrote in the last week and a half have been written in a state of numbness and overwhelming emotions...I know that kind of sounds like an oxymoron, but that's how it's been!  I went back last night and read what I wrote and wow!  I wrote some pretty emotional and deep stuff didn't I?  I know that's not the norm here at LA Stamper...I try to keep it pretty light hearted and fun.  So, I want to say a huge thank you to all of you that kept coming back and offered prayers and words of support and hung in there with me as I tried (and continue to try) to make sense of and move past this situation.  With that said, lets move on to some fun stuff!

September really is the most wonderful time of the year!  Fall is coming...the air gets crisper, the leaves start changing color.  Fall is my favorite season by far!  The kids go back to school...don't get me wrong, I love my kids dearly, but I crave the routine of the school year...and the HOLIDAY MINI starts!!!!

The Holiday Mini is always FULL of fun stuff and this year is no exception!  New ribbon, gorgeous stamps, fabulous new DSP, mini jingle bells, holiday stitched felt, and so much more!  I can't wait to show you some fun projects using some of these new products.  I know you're going to love them as much as I do!

When any of our catalogues start, I do a HUGE swap with my downline members.  We have a blast stamping ALL day getting loads of samples ready to share with everyone.  We did our Holiday Mini Swap last weekend and it was so fun!  Here is a card made by Heather that showcases the new stocking stamp set and coordinating punch.


Isn't it so cute how she made the Christmas stocking into baby booties just by using pink and doing some creative and easy trimming?  I know that this stocking set and coordinating punch are going to become one of your favorites too!!!

One last thing!  Since my celebration was kind of de-railed, I have decided to offer you a sweet deal!  Since it's my 9th stampaversary, I'm offering a No Shipping, No GST sale for 9 days!  So, anyone placing an order from me between Sept 1 & 9 will NOT be charged shipping or GST!!!  Woohoo!!!  This special only applies to Canadians ordering through me and does not apply to online orders (you must call or email your orders to me).

Have an inspired day!