Any Size Card-VC Rocks Blog Hop

I am so glad you joined me from Terri's blog.  Wasn't that just the cutest??  Terri does so many awesome things.

I just love VCRocks, they challenge me to keep stamping and blogging-no matter what.   I was wasn't able to sleep Wednesday night-so what is a girl to do??  Why she signs up to make a card for a blog hop; isn't that what everybody does??  No, just me? OK.

Once again, I am going to prove the best invention and investment is a Big Shot.  Why is that you ask?  Not only did I sign up to do a blog hop with this wonderful groups of ladies, but I did it in the middle of the night-before going away with my husband.  Thanks to the Big Shot I had a handy dandy card made in less than 10 minutes.  Most of that was searching for supplies (can we say messy craft room?). Any how....

here is my card-not the best photo since it was taken with my cell phone as I was running out the door.

I cut the card base with two layers of Night of Navy card stock using the Top Note die. (I snail on the left side for it to open).  I used the Fun Flowers die to cut the flower from retired card stock, and I embossed the petals with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.

I quickly put the flower together with a black glitter brad.  A thank you verse from a retired set I had on my shelf to put away stamped with white Staz-On.

Once again I have managed to prove there is always time for cardmaking even if you only have 10 minutes.

Now, that you are tired of hearing my many ramblings, head on over to Eileen's blog, she has some really fun stuff for you to check out.

Until next time,

Don't Lose Your Place

Are you like me?  I go to bed to read and it doesn't take long before the book is resting on my chest or the floor.  Or if I manage to stay awake, my bookmark falls out.  Well, I have been wanting to make one of these bookmarks for a long time.  I finally got around to it with the new Blossom punch from the Occasions Mini catalog.

Ok, so I made several. And can you tell what series has been my favorite lately?  (I can't wait for the movie Hunger Games to come-I just hope they stay true to the story)  This is a fun project to make, even though there isn't a bit of stamping on it.  I used the large scallop circle punch for the base, the blossom punch for the main flower and the middle is a circle punch that was put through the big shot with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder.  I used my FREE buttons I got from the saleabration catalog. (Don't forget the saleabration catalog ends March 31, 2012)  The ribbon loops around to hold the pages tight. Now I won't lose my place.

Here is a close up of the pink flower.  It shows the center fairly well in this photo.  I think the pattern almost looks like stamen of a flower, don't you?  I know my mother is laughing hysterically since I have the dark brown thumb of the family and I can only grow weeds!  However, I have seen living flowers (just not in my yard LOL)


Until next time,

Is It A Valentine or A Birthday Card

Well, it's both actually.  I had originally made this card for January stamp club.  However, my daughter loved it and wanted one for her birthday.  Her birthday is within a couple days of Valentine's Day so it worked out well.

For a 7 year old Diva, she didn't want much.  Breakfast in bed and a homemade card.  She got the card and we went to the diner down the street for breakfast this morning.  That part was a present to me, I didn't have to cook or do dishes.  Moms are so sneaky that way.

It's snowing today (not nearly as bad as the day she was born) but we still decided to stay home and we promised her we would go to Build a Bear later in the week.  Until then she can use my big shot and make paper Build A Bears.

Valentine's For Grown Ups!

What do you do when you are running out of time for ideas for the monthly stamp club?  You CASE of course (copy and steal everything or copy and share everything-depending on how you look at it).  Once again I went to the world wide web.  Here is the most sophisticated lollipop holder I have ever seen.  This is certainly not the lollipop holder you send your elementary student to school with.  Well, at least not at my house.

I thought that is a Valentine with style.  Oh no, I didn't have heart lollipops.  But wait, as usual I did have some secret chocolate hidden from the kids.  I know, you are completely in shock from that statement aren't you.  Since my club ladies are family, friends and close coworkers I was willing to share with them.  All of them are over 15 so they can appreciate Good Chocolate.

Once again, the Big Shot came in super handy.  One scallop envelope in River Rock, a small piece of Paisley Petals dsp, Cherry Cobbler punched with the Fancy Flower punch, a Bitty Button with hemp twine and retired ribbon.  Of course if I had thought of this project myself with these colors I would have ordered the Old Olive satin ribbon.  Oh well.  Besides, I had chocolate, so the ladies forgave me for not having a current ribbon color.  Thank you Ladies.

Hmmm, I hope my husband doesn't get jealous that he got a basic simple card and the ladies got a "Valentine's For Grown Ups".

Until next time,

Strawberries & Chocolates

I don't know about you, but I consider chocolate its own food group.  Put it with fruit and it's twice as healthy.  Well, as soon as I saw this I knew I HAD to make one!  It only took minutes to make-even better. Anything that can be this cute and made in a matter of minutes is great if you are like me and always "winging it". (Organization is not my strong suit).

I am thrilled with the set PS I Love You from the Mini Occasions catalog. Yes, it is a Valentine's Day set, however, I think most of the verses could be used for any card for that special love of your life.  I think it is extremely important to tell people you love them.

I have seen small strawberries with other dies for the Big Shot and have thought "I need to get  that die sometime".  Once I saw this made with the Petals Cone Bigz Die, Flower Folds XL Die, and the Two Tags Die, I thought "I already have all those. Yippeee!"  I think this size is even better than little tiny strawberries that might only hold a small chocolate.  This one holds a ton of chocolates!

Here is a close up to show the texture of the Polka Dot embossing folder.

I hope my hostess liked it, even though she is on a diet (and looking great by the way).  I told her she could give the chocolates to her teenage boys.  Boys will eat anything.

Come back soon to see how many projects I made using PS I Love You.

Until next time,

Stocking Gift Card Holder

I just love my Big Shot and the Holiday Mini catalog!  Some people hate to give gift cards because they don't look like much.  That can never be said again with this gift card holder! I just love EVERYTHING from the Holiday Mini Catalog. (Quick order your supplies before Jan 3, 2012- when this awesome mini catalog ends!)

I love the Forestwoods Lodge DSP, the Mini Jingle Bells, the Holiday Stocking die, and the stamp set Dear Santa!  Wouldn't you just love this stocking even before you knew it held a gift card inside???  I sure hope my family members act surprised when they get one of these.  Of course they won't know which stores I got gift cards from!

Until next time,

Thanksgiving, Black Friday & Stamping!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Wednesday we had a snowstorm which made traveling so much fun.  Can you hear the sarcasm?  But we did make it to my mother in laws house fine since I have all wheel drive.  And like most houses my mother in law and family made WAY too much food.  We had desserts galore. A wonderful recipe that was made using a gluten free cake mix was a recipe from Paula Dean on Foodnetwork that can be found here. If you like pumpkin pie, you will LOVE THIS!

My poor mother in law had to be at work at 4:00 am for Black Friday. I felt so bad for all those retail employees.  Late Friday afternoon I did go to small dollar stores and that was it.  I knew they wouldn't be busy and I wanted to get extra goodies for the child I chose on the giving tree. I really hope the child like the goodies I bought.

Here are some stamping goodies I made that I will be making more of. I love that Stampin Up came out with all the Christmas stocking products.  My favorite things to make are Christmas cards and I have TONS of snowflakes.  I have so many that I have even been telling myself I have so many I can't possibly use them all in one holiday season. Don't tell my husband I said that! But thanks to Stampin Up I have an entire new obsession- Christmas stockings!  Here is a tag we made in club.  I am going to make a bunch more of these to put on plain paper gift bags.

Close up of tag.

The medallion was made using the Scoring tool.  My favorite tool next to the Big Shot.  Of course the Holiday Stocking was cut out with my Big Shot as well as the ornament from the Stocking Accents die.  The bling is the Dazzling Details glitter glue.  And the Cherry Cobbler ribbon from the mini catalog too. I hope all these items make it into the Big Idea & Catalog next year.  I just love them all.  The faux stitching is made with the white gel pen.

Until next time,

Holiday CASEs

Due to work and two classes, I don't have time to sit and play with my new toys nearly as much as I would like.  Ok, so I would have to be independently wealthy to get to play as much as I would like.....

Anyhow, I do check out some projects online.  I found great projects by Tami White and Patty Bennett recently.  They were simple and cute and fast!!!!  All the things I need if I want to play. (I'm still irritated with my coworker who said biology is sooo easy!  I may not forgive her for another 3 months! Just kidding-at least she helps me out when I need it.)

Here are my versions of super cute super easy projects.  And feel free to CASE (copy and share everything) yourself.  First is a cute Santa face. Patty used him as a 1/8" bag topper.  I decided he would make a cute tag.  I used my Big Shot and Two Tags die to cut the tag and then I used the new stamp set Dear Santa.  I think next time I will place the "to & from" a little higher and stamp "Santa" underneath so it will look like it is a gift from Santa.

Next from Patty, I CASEd a pencil topper.  I just love pencil toppers!  I love to give students pencils for the different holidays.  Especially since they can never keep their pencils for more than a day or two (grin).  So here is my pencil topper using the new stocking punch.  He is so stinkin' cute and only takes a few minutes to make.  Can you tell what his antlers are made from?  you guessed it-the snowflake punch.  A tiny piece of red glitter paper scrap will make his nose.  A small pearl makes his eye.  Tombo liquid glue is wonderful for this project.  I am warning you, it needs just the smallest line of glue around the edge.

Finally, Tammy White inspired this card.  Another super fast, easy card to make.  A little stamping, a little punching and a Big Shot and there you have it.

Some how this week, I need to take an all day Bio Lab, write a paper on stem cell research, go to Social/Emotional Development of Young Children and get ready for my stamp club on the 9th of October. It looks like it will be a fun filled week. At our club, we are going to be making awesome gift card holders with the Big Shot! The girls are going to love it!

Until next time,

FREE BIG SHOT!!!! WHAT A TREAT!

Sorry for shouting, but who wouldn't scream over getting a free Big Shot die cutting machine?!?!?!  That is Stampin Up!'s promotion is for October!  I am not tricking you about this treat!

Become a member of my team during October and you will receive a FREE BIG SHOT  (or $100 free merchandise of your choice).

You receive all the benefits and discounts for being part of  the Stampin Up family.  Join now to be a hobby demo and order things just for yourself, or join and work your business as a full time demonstrator.  The choice is yours.

Here are the details:

• Any new recruit who signs up during the promotion period will receive a Sizzix Big Shot Machine or $100 in Stampin' Up! products of their choice from any of our current catalogs.
• Sign up online and you will be given access to the Promotional Product Bonus order type via email approximately one hour after you sign up.
• New Recruits should ensure that their free total comes as close as possible to $100 without going over since the Promotional Product Bonus order type will not allow items beyond $100 to be added to the order.
• Those who mail in their Independent Demonstrator Application (IDA) can simply list the items they want for free on their accompanying order form.
• New recruits will have until November 30, 2011, to redeem their product bonus

Starter Kit

• New recruits may purchase the standard or Digital+ Starter Kit, and may add the Stampin' Memories, Definitely Decorative, or My Digital Studio Software Add-On for the regular add-on price.
• New recruits may substitute a Textured Impressions Embossing Folder ($7.95 or less; see pages 218-219) for the Always Bird Décor Elements (p. 233) that comes standard in the Starter Kit.
• New recruits who join Stampin' Up! during this promotion are still eligible for any programs available to a new recruit, including but not limited to the Extra 10% Instant Income offer, Stampin' Start, and the opportunity to purchase a Business Booster Kit.
• As always, the demonstrator Starter Kit is only available to new recruits and not to current demonstrators.
• Starter Kit order form deadlines:
  • Mail: Monday, October 31, 2011 (received in office)
  • Online:  Monday, October 31, 2011; 11:50 PM (MT)
  
  
  
  Wouldn't you just love to join the wonderful world of stamping and get a discount on all your supplies while you are having fun?
  
  Contact me today with any questions you may have.  I would love to answer them for you.  I just know you want to be part of my stampin' team!!  Please don't keep this a secret-pass the information on to your friends as well!
  
  Until next time,
  
  Until next time,
  
  

Spooky Spiders Are In My House

Ok, Ok, so they're not all that spooky.  They're sort of cute actually.  This is a close up of one of the spiders.  It's a Halloween card with a little bling. 

The spider eyes are rhinestones that have been colored with a permanent green maker.  Isn't that a cool little trick.  Now I can have any colored rhinestone I want.  (I have an entire bucket full of permanent markers-wide tip, skinny tip-you get the idea.)

The other part of the bling on this card is actually sprayed onto the card base.  I took some all purpose shimmer paint and mixed it with rubbing alcohol in a small travel spray bottle.  My measurements were very scientific.  I poured some alcohol into the small bottle.  Next, I took the "stem" of the sprayer and dipped it into the shimmer paint.  Stuck it into the alcohol and repeated the process a second time.  I think the scientific term I used at my stamp club was "blop".

I had bought the Frightful Sight DSP and I used it on the inside of the card.  I just love the little creepy spiders crawling all over the place.  I stamped Goblin Greetings on Whisper White cardstock and punched it with the Decorative Label punch. 

This was a fun, quick card the ladies enjoyed making at stamp club.

On a side note.  I will probably be posting only once a week for awhile.  I seem to have bitten off more than I can chew.  I am taking two classes for my job, teaching regular school during the day, adult ed once a week (Christmas cards-Yippee my favorite!)  Needless to say, my time to be at home and sit in-front of my computer is very limited.  So for a while the blog will have to come near the end of my to do list.  Should anyone ever tell you to take Human Biology online because "it's easy" is a liar! Hahaha.  Oh well, I might as well get the hard classes over with first. Right??

Until next time,

Holiday Mini Catalog 2011 Is Here!

I am SOOOO excited for the new Holiday Mini catalog! I want one of everything!  One of my favorite things is to make Christmas cards.  Of course,in the past few years, I have had to try to curb my obsession with snowflakes.  Well guess what???  Stampin Up has Christmas stocking!  Stocking stamps, coordinating punch, big shot die.  Now I can start a new obsession, collection, or whatever it is I can call it to get it in my hot little hand LOL!  So you can dowload the catalog here.

I am also in LOVE with the new tool called Simply Scored!!!  OMG as the kids say.  This is the Best invention ever.  I have seen score boards with 1/8" scoring lines, this is even better.  It has "markers" to put in place at the top to mark where you need to score.  My good friend needs to get one of these.  I love her dearly, but she is a little ruler challenged.  I say that with love-so don't think I am picking on her.  She is ok with the 1/2" and sometimes she gets the 1/4".  Now she is going to astonish her family with some fancy fold cards.  (We won't tell her family I places the markers on the Simply Scored board so she would know where to score.)

There are also awesome fall, Halloween, and even Valentine's items in the catalog too.  Like I said, I want one of everything!  I am going to have so much fun with all these new things.  (Boy, I am going to have to get my homework done first thing every night so I can go play with fun stamping stuff.)

Until next time,

Blue Awash With Flowers

Here is a card I made for a VC Rocks challenge.  It was to used black and white and one spot of color.  I had been itching to use this set for something!  I knew right where the color would go.  I originally thought of using Real Red with the black and white.  Then I thought how that combination gets used all the time and I wanted something different.  I had Tempting Turquoise sitting on my desk from something else-so that's what I used.  The verse is from the hostess set Precious Butterflies (contact me to learn how to earn it).  Next, three black brads were used for another focal point.

After coming up with this card, I needed some cards for a swap I was participating in with fellow demonstrators.  I discovered I didn't have enough brads for 10 cards.  That's ok, any "mistake" is a chance for an alteration or another layer.  So I decided to make a black butterfly using the Big Shot.

It just goes to show it doesn't take owning "everything" in the catalog to make beautiful cards or scrapbook pages! Shhhh I won't tell your husband if you won't tell mine and we can still order all the toys we want!

Until next time,

Monday, Monday...

Anyone remember that song?  My oh my, where has this past week gone?  I can't believe I have already started school shopping for the youngest child.  Told the middle child it would be ok even if he couldn't go into the Air Force due to asthma. Wished the oldest child Happy 21st Birthday (how the heck did that happen??)  On the same day my oldest turned 21, it was my high school class reunion. 

In between the Bucksport Bay Festival and this week, there still has been visiting family and having birthday parties.  Which brings me to this posting finally.  What do you get a six year old who is having a birthday and is going to a new school this year?  "A kid's debit card" of course.  I always thought they were called "gift cards" until my six year old enlightened me.  How could I have been so foolish not to know such things?

The one thing I do know is a "kids debit card" needs a cute package and it needs to be fast.  Fast=Big Shot.  I cut two pieces of cardstock that I had from some place that was glittery and special for a birthday.  I used the scallop square die.  I made a little pocket with the two squares and used a glitter brad for a hinge.  Used some blue ribbon for a knot.  I used a verse from the new hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes.

Here is the "present" opened. Now the lucky birthday boy can go shopping and use his new debit card!

Until next time,

 

Here is the last of the sympathy cards for awhile.  I absolutely love the stamp Sail Away.  This card is a clean and simple card-but it took me the longest to make.  I think I had 5 or 6 attempts to get it right.  Being so clean and simple, the smallest mistake would show.  I made 4 cards in the time it took me to make this one card.  Oh well.  I know the family receiving this card will cherish it for a long time.

I used the oval from the Oval Scallop Frame & Big Shot for a reverse masking technique. I sponged the background on, colored in the boat with a black marker and stamped the sail on a scrap piece of Whisper White card stock and raised it with dimensionals.  Stamped a verse on it and there you have it.

Until next time,

Happy Fourth of July

Here is a card I made for the June stamp club using the stamp my dear friend/customer had ordered earlier from me.  Don't you just love friends that you have known since you were little, and at the last minute you can just say "Hey, I'm using your stamp for our club" even before they get to see it in person, let alone use it?  I know I do, thanks again Kellie, you're the best!
So I think I have to order Land of the Free from the Summer Mini Catalog before it ends August 31.  Or maybe I will just keep borrowing Kellie's.

We used Real Red and Night of Navy card stock and markers.  Night of Navy ribbon.  We punched Whisper White stars with the star punch that retired.  I will miss that punch, I don't own many 4th of July stamps (obviously) and I use it every year for celebrating Independence Day.  We also used the now retired star brads.  We also used the Big Shot and the Square Lattice embossing folder.  Everyone loves this technique.

I hope you have a fun and safe 4th of July!

Until next time,

Happy New Year Stampin' Up!

July is the start of the Stampin Up New year.  Isn't the new catalog just wonderful?  If you need to see it online, click here.  Or you can click on the sidebar.

There are so many wonderful items in this catalog: stamps, new In Colors, dies for the Big Shot, beautiful designer series paper, ribbons, buttons and all sorts of things I can't even remember right now.  My catalog is all highlighted with what I have, and I have a wish list going.

Another great thing this year is the new Hostess Benefit Plan.  Once  a  workshop reaches $150.00 in sales (before tax & s/h) you earn $25 to spend on ANYTHING YOU WANT!

It can be spent on any items from the catalog you want or you can spend it on Special Hostess Items at a special low price.  Invite everyone you know to a workshop and if sales reach $400 or more you get any item at 50% off,  including the Big Shot.  I use mine for everything.

You can earn the Big Shot for half price!

Contact me today to schedule your workshop!  stampinstace@gmail.com

Until next time,

VC Rocks Blog Hop II, 2011

Thanks for joining VC Rocks second bloghop of 2011.  You probably joined me from Kim Overholt.  For a complete listing of all the participants start here.

Here is a card I made with a triple purpose.  I knew I wanted to join VC Rocks bloghop which this month is featuring the Big Shot (my favorite tool).  Also my best friends son, who is in Cub Scouts, was crossing over from Wolf to Bear. Finally,  it was also his birthday.  We also bought him a real Build a Bear with a Scout outfit with shorts & hiking boots-part of the inspiration for the card as well. (Wish I thought to have taken a picture of that as well.  My daughter named the bear Scout LOL)

I used the Build A Bear die and the Bear Essentials die for the clothing; along with the Bear Boy sizzlits for the hat.  I used a Chocolate Chip marker for the little paw print.  The cupcake is from the level one hostess set; colored and cut out & raised with a dimensional.  The flowers and butterfly were stamped with a  sale-a-bration set.

Please hop on over to Marisol Gutierrez's blog for some more really cool Big shot ideas.

Until next time.

One of Many May Birthdays

May really seems to be a busy month for birthdays. I have 4 friends who have their birthdays within 3 days of each other!  Plus the rest of my family and friends.

Here is a card I made my friend/co-worker.  I used Perfect Plum card stock and DSP.  Also, I used the Big Shot and Fun Flowers die.  I distressed the flower by just crumpling it up in my hand and sponging it.  I added a vanilla button with twine and vanilla ribbon.

The Fun Flower die is becoming one of my favorite dies.  I am sure there will be for you to see with it this summer. Only three more weeks of school left!  Yippeee!

Until next time,

VC Rocks Challenge

A challenge on VC Rocks was to use 2+1.  Select two colors from the same color family and the third color from a different family.  Black and white were free colors.  I picked Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and So Saffron.  I embossed them with the lattice embossing folder.

Part two of the challenge was to take the 3 colors, make them into a card and using only ONE verse stamp, make the card a congratulations card or a praise card.  I used "friend" from the Just Believe set.  I punched it out with the new decorative label punch.  I also added three rhinestones for a little bit of bling.

Until next time,

Downline Meeting Make & Takes

 My upline Cindi Kugell, has a downline meeting every month.  Since I joined Stampin' Up it has snowed every first Saturday of the month.  This month I finally got to go.  It was suppose to be bad weather that day as well, but it turned out to be nice so it was a last minute thing.  It was nice meeting such a great groups of ladies (please don't ask me to remember everyone's name because I couldn't).  Anyhow, a few ladies had make and takes to demo a few ideas they had.  The above card used a really cool technique I knew about but had never done.  All the wiggly lines are made with a rubber band on a brayer.  And I learned with the bird punch the wing is the attitude. 

Next was a sneak peak share; which is what I copied for my group of stamp ladies, changing up the colors a bit.

Lastly, we had our choice of a 6"x6" scrapbook page or a 3"x6" card.  I selected a card.  I did get a little smudge on it but I didn't want to use up all Cindi's paper.  Anything with a little smudge on it, my friend calls her "prototype".   Keep it for the idea and make a good one for someone else.  Besides, I like the layout so I am sure I will make something similar at some point.

Until next time.