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I absolutely love the new Inspired by Nature stamp set and I love seeing different ways to use it. This card was created by Christy Tyler, my downline, from San Ramon, CA, for her son's 2nd birthday party invitation. I love the way the bugs (Bugs & Kisses) are creeping along under the grass (Inspired by Nature).
Then Christy created a creepy crawly spiral for an ant and a lady bug to crawl up -- or is it down? -- to surprise us on the inside. To make the spiral, just start with a circle of any size and cut around and around and around in a spiral until you reach the center. Apply a Glue Dot to each end, one on the 'bottom' of the circle at the end of the outer most part of the spiral and the second on the 'top' of the circle on the smallest part of the spiral. Lay the circle down inside the card in the desired position, close the card and the spiral will attach itself to the top and the bottom of the card so that, when it's opened, it will 'spring' open inside the card. Oh my but that's a tough one to describe in writing. If it makes no sense to you, just email me and I'll try again! :)
I hope you've enjoyed Cameron's invitation and might consider creating one yourself. I can see so many opportunities to use this spiral-y insert: milestone birthday (black, white and silver), anniversary, congratulations, graduation......... And remember, you're not just limited to one spiral!
On Sunday, the mommies in my daughter, Andrea's, playgroup had a luncheon for her and a request for the attendees to 'create a "Baby's First Year" 12 x 12 Calendar. Several were not scrapbookers at all. But, everyone was successful in creating a great page! Now, I live 120 miles away but I loaded my car with one of Stampin' Up!'s 12" x 12" Days-to-Remember Calendars, two Rock-a-Bye Boy Simply Scrappin' Kits, stamp pads and markers, 12" x 12" and 8-1/2" x 11" cardstock of various colors, a few packages of Designer Series Papers, brads, eyelets, ribbons, punches (but not the Photo Corners punch which was wanted), Rub-ons, crop-a-dile, Snail adhesive, and, of course, stamp sets, Stampin' Mist and Stampin' Scrub. And my new Big Shot complete with dies. I did not load my car with scissors, blender pens, aqua painters, a VersaMark pad or marker! But we had plenty to work with. Except for those who knew they wanted a specific month (that was Christy, my downline, and me---the 2 Stampin' Up! demos in attendance) the others drew their months from a plastic bag.
Here's a hint of the fun and hard work: Andrea and Jen getting started with their pages. Please note the ONE pair of Paper Snips, fortunately brought along by Christy.
Andrea drew February as her month. She's the one who wanted the Photo Corners punch. Take a look at page 77 of the Fall/Winter 2008 Stampin' Up! IDEA BOOK & Catalog, top right corner. This was her page inspiration.
Jen took advantage of the Rock-a-Bye Boy Simply Scrappin' Kit on her May page:
And Amy, who had never scrapped before and knew she couldn't do it, did this great page. She found at least a part of her layout on the inspiration sheet provided with the Rock-a-Bye Boy Simply Scrappin' Kit. I'd say she did a mighty fine job! She also used a few snowflakes from the Big Shot Sizzlets.
I really need to show you the rest of the pages because they're all so cute. July (mine--it'll be a camping theme and I forgot one of the sets I wanted to use) and October's (Christy's) didn't get made on Sunday. Nor did December's (Andrea's) because she wants to have her "I Wish" Simply Scrappin' Kit on hand. She makes a Family Scrapbook every year with the Christmas Simply Scrappin' Kit of the current year and she wants to coordinate the December page with the scrapbook.
Celine's page says 'egg hunt' in the circles at the top:
Jaime, mother of Sydney, the girl my 4 year old grandson is going to marry, created this lovely November page:
Julie is going to make a collage at home for her September page. She coordinated the invitations for the day.
This is Lisa's bright and cheery June page. Lisa was our hostess.
Mary is also a new scrapbooker and did a marvelous August page:
And finally, Brooke's wonderful page for March:
Each of the gals also had to put their month's name on the actual calendar, put the dates in the boxes as well as any significant event taking place during 'their' month. It was a fun afternoon and we were done by 4 p.m. Good going ladies!
Baby's due date is October 5th and the plan is that he be born at home as was his sister, Nora.
Are you inspired to go create a Days-to-Remember calendar yet? It really is fun.
Even here in the mountains of northern California there is a taste of 'cooler' in the air. Mornings and evening are beginning to be just a little more than 'crisp. So what better to enjoy than a cup of hot chocolate or warm apple cider--or hot mulled wine?
My friend and stampin' buddy, Kathy Chono-Herring (who blogs here) and I made this great little Grab-n-Go cup last fall. I've recreated them for both Fall and Christmas stamping events.
It's a Dixie brand Grab-N-Go 12 oz. hot beverage cup (i.e. coffee in my house). You can find them at your grocery store or Target. They come in a pack of 14, complete with lids.
You have to sacrifice one cup
to get a template for decorating your cup. Add about 1/2 inch for the seam overlap for gluing. Then,
just lay the template on Halloween/Fall DSP (Designer Series Paper) of your choice, cut out and
wrap around the cup and either 'snail' or 'sticky-strip' the seam. If you have any extra on the bottom, tuck it under the cup. It will stay. (Those are my new verbs!)
From the center of this template or a duplicate one you make, cut out a narrower template about an inch from the top and about 3"-4" wide (or deep). Trace
onto DSP or cardstock. This gives you the proper curve. I corrugated this
cardstock---if you do that be sure to cut it longer than 'just' around
the cup so it will still wrap around after being corrugated. You do loose some length when corrugating. Add
another layer of DSP for more decoration if desired. Tie some grosgrain around the cup,
top it with a tag and you're good to go. If you have any questions, please ask!
I hope this little project gets your fall off to a good warmy start!
Stampin' Up! demonstrators are a wonderful lot. I'm on several email lists where that generosity has been shown today, just above and beyond expectation. A fellow demonstrator, Gretchen Barron, from Illinois, has established the Stampin' Up! Demonstrators Disaster Relief Network to help coordinate the efforts of the SU community to assist their fellow Demos in getting back on their stamping feet. After suffering great storm damage herself she was helped back onto her feet by another demonstrator, Selene Kempton from Dracut MA. And Gretchen is now paying it forward in a most helpful way.
To learn more about the network and how you can contribute, visit:
This link was sent by my stamping coach, John Sanpietro. I have read the document and it's very comprehensive. Be sure to read on to the comments below the article. I think it reflects the feelings and awarenesses of many of us.
Although it addresses demonstrators, I think our customers are wonderful individuals as well and might like to contribute even an ink pad, a punch, a pack of cardstock. Check it out if you are so inclined. I can't imagine how Gretchen will keep it all in order but--I'm confident that she indeed can. Beyond stamping, her skills are many. Please, don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions.
As I've mentioned in the past, I do a 'class' at my local Mi Wuk Village, CA library on the third Thursday of every month. We actually skipped July (convention and road trip preps) and August (convention and trip!) this year which is the first time in 3 years that a month has been missed. I don't think that will happen again.
Our group (the door is always open to new comers) meets from 1:00 - 3:00 in the afternoon and a $2 fee is charged: $1 goes to High Country Friends of the Library, a group which provides extra finalcial support the 3 libraries in the Tuolumne County library system that are in the High Country: Twain Harte, at around 4,000 ft. elevation, Mi Wuk at 4500 ft., and the third, Pine Crest, at around 6200 ft. The other $1 goes to me for my supplies. To me, this is my community service, not a money making endeavor. Obviously! :) The time spent together is just soooooo much fun! And yes, I have gained many friends and stampin' customers in the process. This would never have been possible without the invitation of our super librarian, Joan Henderson, who does so much for our small mountain community. Thanks Joan!!!
So these are this week's projects, again highlighting my current favorite sets from the new catalog. This is a deceptively easy card! Three stamps: the grass, the flower, the words.
Stamp Set: Inspired by Nature
Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
I took this card as a contrast to the one above: no sponging, no scalloped edge. But still very striking!
Here's the second card, using what else but my second favorite set in the new catalog. Upsy Daisy! It's a little hard to see in the photo, but I brushed the tips of the flowers with a More Mustard Marker.
Stamp Set: Upsy Daisy, On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Kraft, Whisper White
Ink: Riding Hood Red, More Mustard pads; More Mustard & Always Artichoke Markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Bigz Top Note die, Cutter Kit, Paper & Craft Scissors
I made this card first and decided it was missing something. Just that little touch of the new Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon (above) made all the difference.
Oh, and by the way, there were 4 new stampers in attendance today! We were a chatty group of 14 stampers, patiently sharing one stamp set and all accessories. This allows for plenty of time to visit, get acquainted and catch up with each other.
Can you believe it!? I finally got to stamp---for the first time since Stampin' Up!'s convention that ended August 2nd. After our four week trip across America and back, and then having to clean up my stamp room so I could find my table tops, I was able to stamp for fun. These are the Make-n-Take projects that I offered for my New Catalog Open House yesterday. I had to highlight my two favorite sets from the 2008-09 Fall/Winter SU! Catalog.
I think the Inspired by Nature stamp set is just so gentle and graceful. This card was inspired by the card convention attendees made as a Make-n-Take.
Stamp Set: Inspired by Nature
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
And this is the second card we made, using the Upsy Daisy stamp set. This set is a part of the current special from Stampin' Up!: Never Before Seen. Rather than the catalog list price of $18.95, it's available until September 30th for $16.11. Email me to order yours or click on the Online Order link to the left which will take you to my Stampin' Up! website where you can take advantage of the new Online Ordering Option.
Stamp Set: Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla, Bella Rose Designer Series Paper
Ink: Versamark, Kiwi Kiss Pads; Riding Hood Red Marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Bigz Top Note die, Horizontal Slot Punch, Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Sponge
I wanted to show some diversity with the Upsy Daisy stamp set and I came upon this card in the Sudsol (Demonstrator-only email list and website) Gallery, created by Mary Davidson from Florida. What a totally different look! My ingredients are listed below the sample.
Stamp Set: Upsy Daisy, On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Ink: Regal Rose, Versamark; Craft White
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch (NEW!), Embossing Powders: Clear and White, Heat Tool, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Snail adhesive
Tomorrow's my day to stamp at my local library. I'm really looking forward to it since I haven't been there since June! I've really missed the fun we have.
Have you noticed the new 'blinkie' on the left column of my blog, just above the SU! 2008 Fall-Winter Catalog link? It's for ON LINE ORDERING from the Stampin' Up! catalog and it came to life early yesterday afternoon! So now you can place your own order, if you want, at any time of the day or night. Remember, I am always available to discuss your order and place it for you. I'm anxious to hear what you think of this new opportunity. Here's the picture to look for:
When you click on the icon it will take you to my Stampin' Up! Website home page. Then click on the SHOP NOW tab at the top right of the page. It will take you to an ordering screen. If you check the top left it will say: Your Demonstrator: Blythe Klipple. That's the name you want to see there!* :) Click on the catagory of your choice, e.g. stamps---holidays. Pictures of all of the holiday stamp sets will show up. Click on your selection and a new screen will show a close up of the set, the item number and, sometimes, a coordinating item--something "you might also like"-- It is really cool! There is a tab for adding to your bag. Now isn't that just the best! You can just have a look at sets or accessories and leave the entire page after looking. You don't have to make a purchase just to look around.
When you go to finalize your purchase you'll see two notes:
To select a demonstrator, log in or create an account near the top of the screen
and
Qualify for Stampin' Rewards by selecting a demonstrator and shopping through their Demonstrator Business Web Site!
Click on the red CHECK OUT tab and you'll be taken to the Customer Login screen. Here you can create an account or login (having already created an account).
It is not at all difficult. I just walked through the steps and am sharing them with you as I encountered them. At the bottom of the 'create your account' page is a question asking if you already have a demonstrator. And your answer will be??????? But of course. YES! :) FYI: If you order directly via the Stampin' Up! home page, without a demonstrator, you will be charged 10% more for your order.
It's really just a normal 'follow the prompts' situation. Please don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions!
I'm as close as an email if you have any questions. Have fun with this great new perk for our Stampin' Up! customers.
I'll be allowed to stamp my own items next week and will finally get my own post-convention creations and ideas up here for you all to see. Can't WAIT to play with my new BIG SHOT! I finally got all of my travel things washed and put away, and my convention swaps are accounted for and organized, bits and pieces put where they belong so now I can stamp. But---after I return from another 6 day out of town mini trip. I'll be going to the Ohio State/USC game in Los Angeles on Saturday night. GO BUCKS! My cousin is a coach for OSU so of course I'll be rooting for them!
As promised in my title, here are some more convention goodies:
It's time I show "my version" of Frank. This swap card was received by one of my 2 convention roommates. That said, I have no clue who made it since I photographed it in our room, but he sure is cute. Have you noticed that there are no stamps used? Only punches, scissors, and a black marker. Cute cute cute. We'll be making this one!
This birthday book was made by my first downline, Dannie Graves. I think it's pretty darned cute. She used the beautiful Bella Rose Designer Series Paper, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive cardstocks, as well as an element from the Pretties Kit (flower center).
And here's the inside:
This box is a very nice hostess gift, whether she be at a workshop or when you go to her home for a nice dinner. It's 4" x 4" and was made by Sonia Poliquin from Quebec, Canada.
Inside are four 3 x 3 gift cards. Pretty darned cute!
That's it for samples right
now. I have lots more but I'm anxious to put some of my own work up
here real soon. Tomorrow I'll have some very exciting news from
Stampin' Up! that they've asked us not to announce until it comes live.
I know you've probably heard hints but it won't be from my lips. I'm a
rule follower and I want SU! to keep sharing announcements with us
before they come to reality. I will say you'll be able to be much more
active in getting your SU! goodies ordered on your own time schedule.
I'll be back tomorrow afternoon with details.
Remember those cards I mentioned the other day? The ones my husband mailed home the end of our first week of our cross country 4 week trip? Well, since I couldn't pick them up at the post office yesterday because of the Labor Day Holiday, I finally got them today. It's very frustrating to return home on a Saturday afternoon and not be able to get your mail until Tuesday. We did manage to unpack the suitcases and do laundry in that time period though. I wouldn't have been much help if I'd been able to have that box in my little hands any earlier so---it was a good thing! Anyway, I thought I'd share some of the great cards I received. These are from a private swap I joined, each item being a class worthy project. Between us we can try to figure out what the ingredients are since I won't be posting all of them here. I'm willing to try to figure them out though it you let me know that you're stumped. I'll be adding the names of the creators of these projects later tonight as I'm already away from home for an overnight visit.
I love this little desk set-----you can use any Designer Series Paper you want! This was created by Karie Beglau. Karie was kind enough to give each recipient an instruction sheet so if making this set yourself interests you, please send me an email and we can 'talk'.
Bella Rose was a DSP (Designer Series Paper) demonstrators were able to pre-order before Convention so I have lots of projects using this sweet paper. I used it myself for a project. Just add photos to the wall hanger below and you have a lovely attention getter. Sadly, I don't have the name of the demonstrator who created this wall hanger. If it's "you", please let me know so I can give you credit. I love what you did!!!
I used this tin earlier this year to fill with DSP wrapped Hershey's "Nuggets". Here's another use for it. It was made by Diane Workman from Colfax, IA. Nice job and I love the "B" for Blythe!
Inside, a tablet and four 3 x 3 note cards. A charming 'belly band' to secure it. Clever and cute!
I know who did this one: my friend Kathy Chono-Herring. Kathy blogs here. This teasing little cube takes a strange path exposing 8 different displays of papers and words.
Here it is, "exposed" a bit more.
This clever box is made from a 12" x 12" piece of textured Kiwi Kiss card stock. It opens into ......
......a clever little photo album using 4" x 4" coasters. I wish the name of the creator was attached to the album because I don't know who it is! If it's "you", please let me know so I can give you the appropriate kudos and credit.
This is just the cutest little bulletin board! Joan Cristo, from somewhere in Canada made it. It's now hanging right next to my computer corner in my stamp room. All important notes go right there!
Again, if the artists of the 2 uncredited pieces let me know who they are, I'll gladly put their names with the projects. Thanks all of you stampers. Great work!
Part of the fun of making the Make 'n Take samples at Stampin' Up!'s conventions or regionals is the camaraderie that exists with your table mates. This year I was so busy I didn't take any table photos. But, that being said, we do have a lot of chat: where are you from, are you having a great time, do you need this supply or that?
Here are some more of this year's make 'n take projects.
This cute little thank you gift bag shows some other uses for ribbon and the great new Scallop Edge Punch. Ingredients:
Stamp Set: Eastern Blooms Thank You Kindly
Cardstock: Naturals White: 1" x 3" Pink Pirouette (In Color): 2-1/4" x 4" and 9-1/2" x 6" Bella Rose Designer Series Paper: 12" x 2" Whisper White Note cards and envelopes
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Pad Pink Pirouette Classic Pad
Accessories: Chunky Stampin' Glitter: Silver Pink Pirouette 1-1/4" grosgrain ribbon: 11" Linen thread: 12" Fire Circle Rhinestone brads: 1-pink Hidden Garden Rub-Ons Crystal Effects Mini Glue-Dots Pop-Up Glue Dots Sticky Strip Crafter's Tool Kit (or 1/16" hand held punch) Scallop Edge punch 1" Circle punch Paper Snips Paper Cutter with scoring blade
Please email me if you'd like exact directions or if you'd like to order any (or all) of these ingredients.
Here's another cutie that we made. It's a tidy bookmark that's just been unpacked and placed in the book I'm currently reading.
Ingredients:
Stamp Set: Eastern Blooms
Cardstock: Pacific Point (In Color): 2 pcs. 1-7/8" x 1-7/8" Whisper White: 2-1/4" x 4" Old Olive Patterns Designer Series Paper: 1-5/8" x 1-5/8"
Ink: Old Olive Craft Pad Tangerine Tango (In Color) Classic Pad
Accessories: On Board Essentials Scallop Square Pacific Point (In Color) 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon: 20" Filigree Designer brads: 1 small and one large Stampin' Dimensionals Mini Glue Dots Sticky Strip 1/2" circle punch Sponge Daubers
This Thank You card introduces several new accessories: 1" double stitched ribbon, Vanilla hodgepodge hardware, the scalloped edge punch, and on-board loads of letters, plus a tip on getting a longer punched out space by punching overlapping holes and then sliding the crop-a-dile between the holes, smoothing them out.
Ingredients:
Stamp Set: Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: Baja Breeze (In Color): 4-1/4" x 11" and 1" x 5/8" Certainly Celery: 4-1/2" x 5-1/2" Riding Hood Red (In Color): 2-1/4" x 4"
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Pad Versamark Pad
Accessories: On Board Loads of Letters Chocolate Chip 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon: 10" Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon: 10"
Stampin' Dimensionals SNAIL Adhesive
Mini Glue Dots
Coluzzle Cutting System
Crafters' Tool Kit
Crop-a-Dile
Boho Blossoms punch
Scallop Edge punch
Pencil, Rule, Staples Sticky Strip 1/2" circle punch Sponge Daubers
As for the other cards, please just email me if you'd like specific directions or if you'd like to order any of the ingredients.
The 8" x 8" scrapbook page below is my second favorite Make 'n Take (the gift bag from yesterday, using Inpired by Nature is my favorite). No, we don't now carry 8" x 8" scrapbooks but we do carry 8" x 8" On Board Albums which you can decorate with DSP (Designer Series Paper) and other accessories to your heart's content. The group in the photo are all near and dear to my heart: my son and daughter (left and right) and 3 best friends from the neighborhood they group up in. Plus 2 additional members: spouses. They'd do pretty much anything for each other.
Ingredients:
Stamp Set: Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: More Mustard: 2" x 3-3/8" Old Olive: 2" x 8-1/2" Rose Red: 8-3/4" x 8-1/2"
Whisper White: 2-1/4" x 4"
Baja Breeze (In Color) textured CS: 6" x 4-1/4"
Ink: Old Olive Craft Pad Tangerine Tango (In Color) Classic Pad
Accessories: On Board Loads of Letters Rose Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon: 10" Flower fusion Too Accents & Elements: Extra Large Baja Breeze 5-petal flower
SNAIL adhesive Scallop Edge punch Paper Snips Sponge Daubers
Stamp-a-ma-jig
Once more, if you would like specific directions or would like to purchase any of the items used to make these projects, simply send me an email at blythe@stampinwithblythe.com .
About those funny spacings in between ingredient lines above........I have no idea why they occurred or how to get rid of them. If you have a clue, please let me know. I tried a bunch of 'tricks' but non worked! See you tomorrow........
