Summer Watercolor

Today's card uses one of the prettiest sets from the Summer Mini.  I just love the flowers in a jar image...it's perfect for watercoloring!

Pretty, eh?  Here's a look at the rest of the card.

It was designed by my friend and downline Sunita for our Summer Mini swap a while back.  I love the color combination, the way the ribbon finishes off the card and of course the flower image!

Have an inspired day!

Butterflies and Post-Its

The last time I went to one of my upline's meetings, I participated in a fabulous swap.  My friend Winonna swapped a great little post-it holder and I knew I was going to make it with my clubs!  So, that is just what we did in June.

Now, I know it uses retired DSP, but remember, we made these in June!  Here's a look at it open.

We used the Strength and Hope set...that's the set that Stampin' Up! is donating money to the Breast Cancer Research Organization for each set sold (wood, clear and digital).  For some reason, I feel the need to use colors other than pink with this set!!!  This time we used Peach Parfait and Poppy Parade.  And, to create the effect we did the Rock & Roll technique.  Here's a closer look.

Here's another little tip.  See how the butterfly is kind of popping off the page?  Well, it kind of is!!!  It's cut out, wings curled and then glued in with a little Tombow in the middle of the wings.  I know what you're thinking...cutting those antenna out would be painful.  Well, I 'm here to save the day!!!  The antenna were stamped first, then when the butterfly was cut out the antenna were cut off.  When you glue the butterfly back on you glue it so the antenna are in the right spot.  Easy peasy!!!

Have an inspired day!

Summer Fun!

I need to start this post by saying that I totally copied this project from my friend Sherry!  I fell in love with it when I saw it and knew I had to re-create it!

I know, it doesn't look like much in this picture, but take a look at this...

It telescopes out and there's space for some pictures and journalling to remember a special summer event!  It's made with some bright and fun summer colors as well as the Summer Splash stamp set (which you can find in the Summer Mini).  All the circles were cut with the Big Shot and the 3 1/2" Circle die.  And, the rays on the sun were made with the new Petite Pennants Builder Punch...I *heart* that punch!!!  Here are some close ups of the different parts.

This is a great project as is, or all the circles can be used as accents on a summer fun scrapbook layout.  Thanks for the inspiration Sherry!

Have an inspired day!

Totally Ties

Today for Mini Catalogue Monday I have a masculine card to share.  I seem to need a lot of masculine cards during the month of June, and this is one of the ones I made.  It's an easy card to make for any occasion just by changing the sentiment.

I actually did this for the Summer Mini swap I did with my downline and then made a few more because I knew I would need them!  And, I was thrilled that this stamp set was one of the bunch that made it into the Idea Book & Catalogue this year.

I started with a Crumb Cake base to my card which I sponged with Early Espresso ink.  Actually everything on this card is sponged with Early Espresso ink to make it have that shabby vintagey feel.  I love it!  The Always Artichoke layer is the striped pattern from the Regals Stack.  I scrunched it up, tore it and sponged it before sticking it down.  The Not Quite Navy layer was run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder (which I brayered Not Quite Navy ink on first so the pattern would be more pronounced).

Check out the ties!

The ties were colored with Stampin' Write Markers (More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Not Quite Navy) before stamping on Naturals White cardstock.  Again, I scrunched and sponged!  They are matted with a Crumb Cake piece and put on the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

My sentiment was stamped on the More Mustard panel and I finished it off with a sweet little button (actually it's a brad that looks like a button from the Vintage Trinkets).

I love the way this card turned out!  What do you think?  I may even use it for one of my swap cards for Convention...maybe!!!

Have an inspired day!

Flower Notes

At the last meeting I went to, I participated in a Summer Mini Catalogue swap where we each made projects using something from the Summer Mini.  One of the projects I really loved was this (made by my friend Donna!).

Isn't is great!  It's a little notepad...between the decorated flowers are sheet of copy paper cut in the same flower shape as the covers.  And, of course, it has my new favorite punch...the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch, which you can find here.

I loved this project so much, I re-created it with my stamp clubs in May using the Sunny Garden DSP...and my club girls all loved it too!

Have an inspired day!

Triple Layer Fun!

Have you ordered the new Triple Layer Punches yet?  These are the best punches...they're like 3 punches in one.  There are two different styles (the Blossom Bouquet and the Doily) which are so easy to use and so much fun!

I recently used my Blossom Bouquet punch to make a new insert for my Simply Adorned charm.

I absolutely love the way this turned out!  I made it to go with a certain green (or should I say, Pear Pizzazz!!!) shirt I have.  I punched a solid flower from Early Espresso cardstock and then a detailed flower from Melon Mambo, layered them together and stuck them on a little piece of Window Sheet.  In the middle of my flower is a Certainly Celery brad.  So cute, and so easy!  And, when I have it on, you can see my shirt through the window sheet because I've placed my flower off to the side.  I also punched out a second solid flower from Early Espresso and used the flower rung that gets punched with the detail flower together on the back of the window sheet so that if my charm flips over it still looks pretty!

You can see that I weaved some Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding through part of the chain and tied some Rose Red and Early Espresso ribbon scraps on the other side of the chain.  For a little more added interest, I added a vanilla pearl bauble and a trinket key.  I have this charm (1"x1 1/4") on one of our 24" chains.

Now that you've seen the punch in action, you definitely need to add it to your "must have" list!!!  Have an inspired day!

Hope in a Bottle

Did you know that by purchasing the Hope & Strength stamp set in the Summer Mini you will make a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation?  Yep, that's right!  Stampin' Up! will donate $2 from EVERY Strength & Hope set (wood, clear or digital) sold for the duration of the Summer Mini.  Isn't that fantastic?  It's a great cause to support and the stamp set is fantastic...it's a 4 image set that, I think, is pretty versatile.  In fact, I'm working on a Stamp Camp using this set so you'll want to stay tuned for pictures of the projects (I think you're gonna love 'em!).

Today I have a project that my upline made for me using the Strength and Hope set which I loved so much that I completely copied it with my Stamp Clubs this month!

 
The jar is from one of our local dollar stores (I love getting jars for projects from the dollar store!).  Then it's simply decorated with some DSP and ALL of the stamp images from the Hope & Strength set!  Trust me, they're all there...one of them is stamped with Pink Pirouette behind the word image so it's hard to see in the picture.  It's embellished with a little pink punched flower and some fabulous pearls.  Love it!  You'll notice that the jar is full of chocolate covered pretzels.  When I got this, Christy had it full of cute little white chocolate covered pretzels with pastel sprinkles on them...ya, those didn't make it home (it was a 4 1/2 hour drive...girl's gotta eat!!!).  : )  Don't you think these would make a great little something to give to a close friend...a get well thing, a thank you thing, party favour...you get the idea!  And, you could fill your little jar with almost anything!

Christy mentioned that she was inspired by a project in one of our recent Stampin' Success magazines.  I can hear ya..."What's the Stampn' Success Magazine?" and "How can I get one?".  The Stampin' Success Magazine is a wonderful monthly publication for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators.  Stampin' Up! fills it with ideas (both creative and business), new techniques, interviews with other demos, contests, info on specials and loads of fun.  Wanna get a copy?  All you have to do is sign up to be a demonstrator, and right now is a great time!  Until the end of May, the Digital+ Starter Kit is on sale for only $150.50...that's 30% off the regular price.  And, it has loads of stampin' stuff in addition to the digital program, My Digital Studio.  In addition to all that, you will get to preorder stuff from the new catalogue in June...that's a FULL month before everyone else can order from the catalogue.  Now, I should add that we can't preorder everything, but Stampin' Up! does a great job of giving us a nice selection of stuff to preorder...including the 5 new In Colors that are coming!  Contact me today (or get started here) for more information or to sign up!  I would love to have you on my team.

Ok, I have to run.  No post tomorrow, but I will be back on Saturday with a scrapbook layout to share.  Have an inspired day!

Happy Graduation

Graduation season is upon us, and today I have a great grad card to share.  This one was designed by my good friend and downline member, Tara, for our swap a few weeks ago.

It's a grad hat easel card complete with a Baker's Twine tassel!  So fun!!!!  These cards are actually pretty easy to make and are definitely a WOW!  They also make great table number cards or place cards for weddings or parties.  When folded up, they fit into a regular envelope.  Here are a couple more views...

Have an inspired day!

Mini Catalogue Monday-Birthday Wishes

I have another fun card with the Postage Stamp Punch and Pretty Postage set from the Summer Mini to share today.  I think it's safe to say that these two products are two of my favorites in the Mini!!!

The card I have to share today is the second card that my To Die For class participants made at the beginning of May.

I just love this color combination...Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze and Pear Pizzazz!  I used my Stampin' Write Markers to color just the candle cakes from the stamp in each color.  The greeting is from a Level Three hostess set...which you still have time to earn; contact me to book your workshop before it's too late!

Notice the tag and how nicely it layers with the Modern Label and Word Window punches?  This is one of the things I love most about Stampin' Up! products...many of them coordinate with each other to makes them quick and easy to create with.

Have an inspired day!

Mini Catalogue Monday-Sail Away

Happy Monday!  It's been such a busy week for me I'm looking forward to the weekend so I can relax a bit!  Don't worry, I have some posts set up for this week, so I won't be absent all week again. 

So, do you have a copy of the Summer Mini yet?  There are some FABULOUS new stamps and products in there that you have to see!  Today I'm showing one of the cards from the Summer Mini Shoebox Swap I did with my downline at the end of April.  This card was done by Angela and I absolutely love it!

I made the choice to not buy the nautical themed stamps because I'm not sure how much use I would get out of the, but I have to say I have LOVED all the cards I've seen made with them!  And, this one is no exception!  It's all vintagey and nautical and it was so fun to make.

If you would like a copy of the Summer Mini, please contact me and I can get one to you (Canadians only).

Have an inspired day!

Mini Catalogue Monday-Simply Pink

Hello!  It's been a crazy few days for me!  I was at the Diva Show on Friday night, Scrapfest all day on Saturday and baseball yesterday!  It was busy, but a good weekend.  I'm gonna start today with a simple card made with some Summer Mini Catalogue products and finish off with some great Scrapfest pictures.

This was one of the cards I did for my downline swap a couple weeks ago.  It's a super simple birthday card using some of my favorite Summer Mini products...the Pretty Postage set and Postage Stamp punch!

I started with a half sheet of Very Vanilla (I trimmed it a bit smaller than a half sheet) and tied a piece of Pretty In Pink striped ribbon around it.  When I was tying the knot, I added in a little scrap of Crochet Trim.  My tag is pinned to the knot with one of the Vintage Trinket pins...I sure hope those will be in the next catalogue!

The focal point is the birthday cake stamped with Pretty In Pink, Daffodil Delight and Basic Gray (I colored the image with markers).  I then matted it with a Pretty In Pink postage stamp punch and popped it up with some dimensionals.  So fun and so easy!  This card would be great in ANY color!

Now, here are some pictures from Scrapfest...

Busy scrappin'



These girls were busy making their projects...which I shared with you on Saturday's post



We issued challenges throughout the day and these are some of the projects they came up with

Our Excited Door Prize Winner!  We gave away a clear block set with a case that we personalized

Me and Sherri!

We had a blast and were exhausted at the end of the day!  I will say that there's a video of us goofing off on my LA Stamper Facebook page (you can find the link to the right).

Have an inspired day!

Mini Catalogue Monday-Triple the Fun!

So tonight was my Summer Mini Open House and I had a blast featuring the new Triple Layer Punches with a super fun technique..Inlaid Embossing!

I have to say, the new Triple Layer Punches are FABULOUS!!!  These punches are MUST HAVE projects for any punch "collector" and papercrafter!

The girls started by punching some flowers in Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight and Wild Wasabi, which were then used on a fun little card and tag.

The card is where they got to do the fun technique!  First they selected the flowers they wanted to use on the card and glued them onto the Whisper White piece.  Then that whole piece gets embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder and ends up almost looking like a piece of fabric! Once it's embossed, you add a brad to the center of one of the flowers for a little visual interest, some ribbon and a little sentiment.  Then the whole piece was glued onto a piece of Wild Wasabi.

With the leftover flowers, they made a tag.

Of course, the tag was done with the Two Tags die.  I *heart* that die!!!!  The tag is Wild Wasabi.  There's a strip of Marina Mist and a strip of Whisper White across it.  It's finished off with some of the punched flowers layered together, embellished with a brad and stuck on with a Stampin' Dimensional.  Then a piece of Daffodil Delight ribbon was tied at the top.  So cute!

Have an inspired day!

Mini Book

Now that things have settled down a bit with school being out, I'm going to get back to Scrapbook Saturday and share some more scrapbooking with you.  Today I'm going to share a project that the Scrapfest girls did.  I did this sample up before I went on the cruise, so it's done with retired product, but you'll get the idea!

The book is made with 3 cardboard CD covers glued together and then embellished.  Here's a look at my inside pages.

You can see for two of the pages, I made an accordion to hold some tags and 3x3 envelopes with little pull-out pages.  The book was embellished with various pieces cut with the Big Shot, punches and stamping.  I love the way this turned out, and I know the girls had a blast making theirs!  They all got the same supplies that I had, but all the books turned out very different.  It was great!

Have an inspired day!