Clear Blocks as Stamps?

Have you ever thought to use your clear blocks as stamps?  It's super fun and easy and you get a really interesting effect.  A couple months ago at one of my Best Of classes, I used this technique with the Best of Birthdays set.

I used the A, C and G blocks as stamps to create blocks of color on my card.  Then I embellished the blocks of color with some stamping or other embellishments (like a super fun button!).  I added a little bling...a rhinestone on the button and some Dazzling Details on the heart on the cupcake.  The whole card is finished off with some ribbon.

The fun thing about this technique is that it looks different each time depending how much ink you put on the block.  I especially love this technique with more masculine colors or nature colors because it gives a great natural looking texture kind of like rocks!  Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Everything you need to make this card can be found in my online store, so head on over there with the shopping list to place your order!

Shopping List:

• Carstock (Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit)
• Ink (Pool Party, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit,  Basic Gray)
• Stampin' Write Marker (Basic Gray, Primrose Petals)
• Best of Birthdays stamp set
• Basic Rhinestones
• Itty Bitty Punch Pack
• Primrose Petals ribbon
• Dazzling Details (Cherry Cobbler)
• Clear Blocks (A, C & G)
• SNAIL Adhesive

Have an inspired day!

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!

A Little Personalization

I had to take my clear blocks to Convention this year to use with my new stamps for my Make & Takes.  I had visions of thousands of demonstrators (yep, there were just over 3000 of us...granted not everyone brought their blocks and not everyone uses clear mount stamps, but still!) with clear block caddys and them getting mixed up, so I decided to personalize my clear block caddy a little so it wouldn't get mixed up with anyone elses!

Big Shot and Vinyl Sheets to the rescue!!!

I should have taken a before picture!  You can see what it looks like without decoration here.  So, the vinyl sheets I used have been retired, but we do still carry some colors.  You can see the vinyl sheets we still carry here.

I used the new Perfect Pennants die, and the Floral Fusion and Little Leaves Sizzlits.  My letters were cut with the Timeless Type alphabet dies.

For a little punch, I added a circle Bitty Button with some Whisper White Bakers Twine tied in it to the center of the flowers.

I love the way it turned out!  Sadly, I didn't even pull it out at Convention!!!  We decided to bring our Make & Take packets home and have a group Make & Take session at home.  We had fun taking pictures (goofy pictures!) at the photo background place they had set up and then took pictures at the amazing display boards (I have loads of ideas from taking those pictures that I can't wait to share!).

That's all for today!  Have an inspired day!

More Paisley Petals!

Seriously, this paper is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!  The pictures don't do it justice.  Trust me, you definitely are going to want to place a $25 order this month so you can get some of this DSP!!!

Last night I had my regular downline shoebox swap and this is the card I came up with...

Isn't it delicious!!!!  To me it just feels calm!  The base of my card is Crumb Cake stamped with the En Francais background set and the little vine image from the Fresh Cuts set.  I also sponged around the edge with Early Espresso ink.

The focal point of the card is a large scallop circle which I cut with my Big Shot.  On top of that is a circle (cut with the clear circle die).  Where the two pieces of DSP meet, there is a piece of Early Espresso Satin ribbon layered a piece of the crochet trim.  I then added 3 Crumb Cake brads.

The stamped frame with the bird is from the Four Frames set (also on special this month with the Spring is Blossoming promotion).  It is stamped with Early Espresso ink and the bird is colored with the Pastels (had to dust those off!!!).  My words are from the Fabulous Phrases set and the cool thing about those is that I have them in clear mount and I just stuck both words on the block and stamped both of them at the same time!  So quick and easy!

I will be at the Children's Festival this weekend (without my children!!!), so I most likely won't be posting again until Monday.  Have a great weekend, and stop by to see me at the Children's Festival if you can!

Have an inspired day!

Playing with Fabric

Hello!  I hope everyone who had a long weekend this past weekend had a good one!  We had a quiet weekend hoping that Taylor will start to get better!  He managed to get the flu last week and is having a hard time fighting it off.  He's been sick for a week and a half and is now complaining that his ear hurts and sounds like he's getting a cold.  He's been sick for a week and a half now.  I'm glad there's no school this week, so he can just rest and get better!

My stamp clubs played with fabric this month and we had loads of fun!  Over the next few days I will show you the three cards they did!

I *heart* this card!  It's so simple, but so eye catching!  It reminds me of my Grandma and is the perfect card for her birthday.  Both my Grandma's have birthdays in June, so I will definitely be saving it for her (and making another for my other grandma!).

I started with a Not Quite Navy card base which I stamped with the Wonderfully Worn stamp.  This is such a great background set to add just a little something to a card!  I layered on a piece of Baja Breeze which has a piece of Rose Red Seam Binding around it and some paper piercing.  Both the Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze pieces are sponged around the edge with Not Quite Navy ink.

The fabric is from the Springtime Vintage set.  You can see I layered a Rose Red tag (cut with the Lots of Tags dies) and an oval which I stamped with the rose from the Baby Blossoms set.  The Happy Birthday is from the Fabulous Phrases set.  I just put both stamps on the block in the position I wanted them and stamped away!  That's one of the perks of Clear Mount stamps!  There's a lot of dimension in this card!  The Rose Red tag is put on the card with dimensionals and so is the oval. 

A little tip...I have found that the SU Glue Sticks are great for sticking fabric to your cards!  One more little tip...I remember learning in Home Ec (a long time ago!!) that fabric always tears straight.  So, don't be afraid to tear your fabric into the size pieces you want ladies!  Not only does it tear straight, you also get a fabulous frayed edge!

And, one more thing....

Penny sits so good for pictures (Ollie always tries to eat the camera and doesn't stay still long enough!), so I get all kinds of great shots of Penny!  Sadly, I think I take more pictures of Penny and Ollie than the kids.  There's something about this one that just makes me laugh!!!  Maybe it's her ears...or the angle...I don't know, it just makes me laugh!  I wonder what she was thinking as I took this picture?!?

Have an inspired day!

Thank You

Good morning! I have to start by saying thank you to all of you who emailed about Kevin's surgery! We are so blessed to have so many people pulling for him! We haven't heard from the surgeon yet today with the new surgery date, but I promise I will update when we do.

My suitcase is re-packed and I'm almost ready to head out to go to Leadership in sunny Phoenix! I will update when I can while in Phoenix!


As promised, I'm going to show you about the new Clear Mount stamps today! On that note, here's some pictures of how to use them.


They come in a DVD type case. The one I'm showing today is the SAB Whismical Words set. I *heart* this set! You can get the set free with a $65 purchase (before shipping & tax).


The blocks! They look like giant ice cubes to me!

I really like that the images of the stamps on the front cover of the case are 100% sized. To choose which block to use, it's super easy to just place them over the stamp you want to use.

When you get your stamps, you will have to punch them out of the rubber sheet (just like the wood mount stamps) and then if you want put the label on them. There's instructions right in the case and I promise it's super easy! Here's what they look like in the case.

When you're ready to use them, you choose the one you want, choose the appropriate block and then put the stamp on the block. You need to hold it for a few seconds to make sure it's clinging properly.

Now you're ready to stamp!

The best part...you can see where you're stamping!

I love these stamps and think I will be purchasing clear mount most of the time now! They are easy to use, I get the same great results, they take up less space on my shelves and are a bit cheaper! The only downside I've found is that when I used my markers for this project and huffed on my stamp, the block fogged up!!!!

Well, I'm off to put my stuff in the car, pick my boys up for lunch, have a little snack and head out! Until next time my friends!

I've Been Playing...

Happy New Year! I finally got the courage to play with my new CLEAR MOUNT STAMPS from the Occasions Mini and Sale-A-Bration! They looked so pristine in their little cases, I just had to look at them for a while. You know how that is...don't you? I think I was a bit scared of the unknown. I had never used clear mount stamps and was a bit unsure about them, but I'm hooked!!! *grin*

In addition to new stamps, I got new DSP, punches (seriously LOVIN' the new punches!) and some new embellishments. You guys are going to love all the new toys...and you only have to wait a few more days to order! If you're Canadian, you're definitely going to want to log onto my website on Jan 5 and place your order. You deserve new toys too!!!

So I bet you're dying to see what I made with my new stuff, eh? Your wish is my command...

Supplies: Whimsical Words stamp set (SAB); Cardstock-Real Red, Pretty In Pink, Chocolate Chip & Very Vanilla; DSP-Sending Love Specialty DSP; Stampin' Write Markers-Real Red & Chocolate Chip; Ribbon-Real Red Satin; Punches-1 1/4" Square; Paper Piercer; Mat Pack; Stampin' Dimensionals

Love it!!! I made a Christmas card very similar to this one a couple years ago (I think!). I came across it the other day when I was cleaning up my craft room and going through old cards. I thought it would work well as a Valentine's card, so I changed it up a bit and voila!

The squares of DSP are punched with the 1 1/4" Square punch from the Sending Love Specialty DSP. It glitters!!! *huge grin* Sadly, no matter what I tried with the camera, I couldn't get a good glittery picture...so you'll just have to take my word for it! Hee, hee!

The ribbon is so yummy! It's the new Real Red Satin. I'm gonna miss those ribbons in the Holiday Mini, but I think all the colors of Satin Ribbon in the Occasions Mini will make up for it!

Check out the stamped sentiment. It's one of my new Clear Mount sets and is also a set that you can earn FREE!!! Yes, FREE!!! Sale-A-Bration starts on Jan 5, and the Whimsical Words set is one of your free choices when you order $65 (before shipping & tax). YAHOO!!! I'm just a teeny bit excited! I love word stamps that mix fonts, and I think the sentiments in this set are fabulous.
Anyway, to get two colors on the image, I colored it with Stampin' Write Markers. And, to finish it off, I did a row of paper piercing. The picture doesn't show that the block where I stamped the sentiment is popped up with some Stampin' Dimensionals.

And now, a little word about the Clear Mount stamps. The blocks are clear and the stamps are still rubber. The blocks are awesome. So smooth and clear! They have the same groove for your fingers to grip as the wood blocks do, only the clear blocks have it on all four sides. It's great! There is also a foam layer between the rubber and block (the foam layer has the cling coating on it). So you will still get the awesome crisp stamped images you're used to with Wood Mount SU stamps. And, if you like, you have the option of applying a label on the foam so you can see your image through the block. I think it's the best of both worlds. I love the cheaper prices and smaller amount of space these stamps take up on my shelves. I'll try and take some pictures of them tomorrow in the daylight!

Have a wonderful night everyone (or day if you're reading this during the day)!