Sunday, March 17, 2013

S{ick}?

As I write this post, I am most definitely not sick, but I know a lot of people are.  I have the perfect little pick-me-up project that you could easily make and give to someone who is a little under the weather.



It's a cute little get well soon mug!  It's super easy to make...
  • you need a 4x11 piece if cardstock
  • score at every inch (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.....)
  • then along the long side, you want to score at an inch
  • trim up the score lines along the bottom to the long score line you made
  • either stamp or add some DSP
  • using the oval framelits made a handle and glue it partly onto the last flap
  • glue the last flap on to the first flap creating a tube like shape
  • then you want to put the tube over a can (helps to make the shape) and glue the flaps down
  • embellish with a tag and fill with fun stuff!
I started with a Chocolate Chip piece of cardstock and embellished with some Tea for Two DSP.  My tag was made with the Two Tags die (wide tag cut shorter) and I stamped with the s{ick} stamp from the Word Play set.  To get all the colors on my stamped image, I used my Stampin' Write markers.  And to attach my tag I used some of the Ruffled Calypso Coral ribbon.  All the colors I used I pulled from colors in the DSP.


This little mug is perfect for so many different occasions.  I did one at Christmas for teacher gifts and included hot chocolate mix, peppermint sticks, marshmallows and a Tim Card.  You could also make a fun tea or coffee themed gift in one of these too.  Since this one is a get well soon mug, I put an assortment of comforting stuff for when someone is sick...tea, cup-a-soup, kleenex, sanitizing wipes.



There you have it...a super fun little gift that would brighten someone's day for sure!  All the products I used to make this fun little project are available in my online store.

Shopping List:
  • Big Shot
  • Two Tags Die
  • Ovals Framelits
  • Chocolate Chip cardstock
  • Very Vanilla cardstock
  • Calypso Coral cardstock
  • Tea for Two DSP
  • Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon
  • Stampin' Write Markers (Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo)
  • Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive
  • Simply Scored

Have an inspired day!





Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Best Of....

I am loving the Best Of stamp sets that Stampin' Up! is releasing every month this year.  Did you know that each set is composed of images from the last 25 years along with one new exclusive image.  So far we have had 3 sets released and you can find links to each one if you click on the tab at the top labelled "Best Of". 

So, here we go with a Best Of project today.  I used the February set (Best Of Love) for this project.

 


Little bit of embossing with the Big Shot, little bit of paper piecing and one of those super cute Soda Pop Tops (squished, of course!).


You can find my video on how to squish the Soda Pop Tops here, or you can see it on my You Tube channel here.

Remember, the Best Of sets are available until March 2014, so you have lots of time to collect them all!  Also, don't forget to put the little 25 sticker onto your collectors card...for every 6 stickers, Stampin' Up! will give you a stamp set of your choice (valued at $17.95 or less), and you have until April 2014 to redeem your free sets.  Join me for my Best Of classes each month (they include the stamp set and some cards!)...you can find all the info on them under the Events tab.  And, you can order any of the sets already out in my online store!

Have an inspired day!






 

Friday, March 8, 2013

Soda Pop Tops....Squished

At first I wasn't sure about the Soda Pop Tops in the Spring catalog.  But, now that I have played around with them, I can say with confidence that I LOVE them!!!!  I do find them a little bulky, so I like to squish 'em for my projects!  This is a project I made for all my downline who attended the Calgary Regional last weekend.


I started with MDS and made the part that was going to go in the squished soda pop top.  I sized a circle punch to 1", filled it with some DSP and then added some hearts and a name.  Then I copied and pasted a bunch of times to get enough for all my downline that was attending the Calgary Regional last weekend.  After printing on whisper white cardstock, I punched them all out with my 1" punch and stuck them into the squished soda pop tops.  The next step is to fill the soda pop top with crystal effects and let it sit for a looooooooong time to dry...like 24 hours!  After they were dry, I punched a hole in them with my retired crop-a-dile and fed a chain through (I found the chain at my local craft store).  The final little touch was to tie a strip of the More Amore Designer Fabric on it.

These make perfect scissor charms......


They also are cute on a bag (in a room of hundreds or thousands of demonstrators with the same bag it's important to make yours a little different than the others!).  Some of my downline even put them on their lanyards along with their name tags for the day.

And, here's a little video showing you how to squish your Soda Pop Tops...it's easier than you think!


Go forth and squish your soda pop tops people...it's loads of fun!

Have an inspired day!





Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Calgary Regional Seminar

Buckle up, grab a hot beverage and get comfy...this is a long post with a ride through my stamping adventure in Calgary, some card samples and a video!  An adventure from start to finish!

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend a super fun Stampin' Up! event...the Calgary Regional Seminar!  Stampin' Up! takes their "show on the road" and does day long regional seminars in select locations across Canada and the US.  We were lucky to have one so close to home, so I had to attend!  And, I was thrilled when the lovely Donna Griffiths from SU phoned and asked me if I would do a 10 minute "WOW Demo"!  Of course, I said yes (I may have yelled it!!!).  I was SUPER excited!

Since I had a 2 hour drive to Calgary and wasn't planing to spend the night, Donna said she would put me in the afternoon so I wouldn't have to get there super early to set up...I could do it during the morning stamping break and lunch.

I got everything ready on my table and chatted with Tom (the best video guy ever!) about what I was going to be showing.  He gave me some tips...how to show my projects to the camera, what area on the table to be stamping on so it shows up on the camera well, etc.  And, after lunch I got all miked up and ready to go!


I couldn't wait to get up there and show my stuff!


There's my name up on the big screen when they announced me!  And, here I am on stage doing my thing!  That's Tom to the right.


All the demonstrators in the audience that day were wonderful...I had a cheering section (actually a couple!).  It was a pretty cool feeling to have my name announced and hear cheers as I walked across the stage to get to my chair!  I wish my kids would cheer like that when I say things like, "we're having beans for supper", or "time to get up, it's a school day", or "time to do chores"!!!!!

I was surprised that I wasn't really nervous at all!  I actually felt super comfortable up there on that stage in front of 500 other demonstrators...I think that's because I love what I do and I love sharing about it...or maybe it's just my crazy need to be the center of attention sometimes!!!!!  I will say this wasn't my first time at the rodeo!  I have demoed at an SU event a couple times before and a LOT at the Millet Meetings I attend...I guess I'm just comfortable stamping in front of hundreds of people!  Everyone seemed to enjoy what I was talking about and the samples I showed.

I talked about classes based on products.  One of the products I chose to talk about was the Pennant Punch.  Do you have the Pennant Punch?  If not, you NEED it!  It's an amazingly versatile punch.  And, if you already have it, dust it off and show it some love with cards like I made to share in Calgary!  Here are my samples.....



You can't really tell in this picture, but the sun was shimmered so it sparkled and shone!

I love a stamp set where you can do everything from baby to Christmas cards and everything in between!

This one was inspired by a card the very talented Kimberley Van Diepen did!

I think that last card was my favorite!

And, I put together a fun little video with one of the tips I shared during my demo.  Enjoy!



Finally, I want to share 2 more pictures.


Me and Donna Griffiths
Shannon West, Me & Bonnie Thurber
The Stampin' Up! staff are so AMAZING!  They are friendly, creative, helpful and always willing to chat.  I truly feel blessed to be part of such a great company!

Have an inspired day!










Friday, March 1, 2013

Photopolymer Stamps by Stampin' Up!

It's a big day at Stampin' Up!......it's the day that SU Photopolymer stamps are being introduced!  These stamps will bring clear stamping to a whole new level with clear blocks AND clear stamps!


Here are some of the features you're going to love....
  • top-quality polymer that will give a perfectly stamped image every time
  • transparent for perfect placement
  • stick amazingly well to our blocks
  • age tested so they won't yellow or cloud over time
 
These stamps will be introduced slowly over time beginning with the Designer Type Photopolymer set (132956) that is offered for $16.95.  Brace yourself...this is a set of 57!!!!!  Yes, you read that correctly...57 stamps for $16.95 (take a few deep breaths so you don't faint!).  You will need clear blocks with these stamps and this set requires blocks A, B, G, F & I for best results!
 
 
 
 
Head on over to my online store and order your stamps today!  Have an inspired day!