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I promised I'd be back to share the "Rock 'n' Roll" technique with you. So, go get out a round-ish stamp and come right back. I'm going to use the medium flower from the Greenhouse Garden 2-step stamp set (p. 94, 113824, $25.95).
You'll need two stamp pads, one a lighter color, the second, a darker color. Ink up your stamp with the lighter color. Then take it over to the darker stamp pad and just roll around gently on the outside edges of the image. You're done. Now stamp it on a piece of cardstock and you'll see that darker rim. Isn't that cool? And easy!?
You can also 'stamp off' your inked up image to get a light shade of your color: ink up your stamp and then stamp it two or three times on scrap paper. It will be several shades lighter than stamping directly from the stamp pad. Now, roll your stamp on the stamp pad, just inking up the outer edges. Finally, stamp it where you want on your finished (or practice) piece. In the case of this stamp from the Greenhouse Garden 2-Step stamp set, I also stamped the detail image in the Mambo Melon ink and then stamped it on top of the rock-n-rolled image. You can use your Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement if you want. I just 'wing' it so my placement is not perfect.
It's not perfect placement as I said, but.....it doesn't usually matter. When it matters I definitely use my Stamp-a-ma-jig. You can click here for a tutorial I did on this tool.
Let me know if you have any questions about rock-n-roll or the stamp-a-ma-jig. I'll do my best to answer them.
I thought you'd like to see the Magazine/Card File I made for Katie as her Blog Candy prize:
It'll be going into the mail today, along with 8 hand made cards from my previous classes or events. Katie can choose what she wants to call her file and then write it on the label. I used the 2009-2010 In Color Soft Suede 12" x 12" Textured Cardstock to make the file. The decorative band is from the Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper. The file took around 10-15 minutes to make. And yes, the first one did take considerably longer!
Enjoy your file Katie.
While I was at it I also made this one which I'm going to use in the 3-D swap for the Sudsol group at SU! Convention in Salt Lake City next week. Sudsol is a Stampin' Up! demonstrator-only online 'support group' where you can get tons of tips, guidance, and support. If you'd like to check it out, and you're a demo, click on the blinkie on the left sidebar.
I also used the an In Color for this file: Mambo Melon 12" x 12" Textured cardstock. The decorative band, again, is made from the Thoroughly Modern Designer Series paper. Isn't it amazing the totally different looks you can get with that one assortment of Designer Series Paper and the In Colors?
Can I help you with your magazine file? Just let me know. I can help you with ordering your 'ingredients' or you can order directly for yourself in my OnLine store on my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Website.
First of all I must say THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR 'ROYAL BLOG TOUR' COMMENTS! I can't tell you how wonderful -- and talented -- they all made me feel. I'm glad so many of you loved the stamp set, Greenhouse Garden, that I used. I was serious when I told you it was my 4th choice. It seemed like it would be so much work with all of those individual flowers. But it turned out, instead, to be so much fun. It was fun seeing how each card evolved and then which card some liked best, as opposed to which card/s others liked best. Many of your comments will be getting comments back from me because of questions asked or because of something in your comment that required a response. It might be a day or two though.
Those of you who are demos and requested the Magazine File template and instructions: I will send them hopefully today.* With guests arriving 'sometime' in the afternoon, I'm not sure when I'll get interrupted in all my to-do tasks. Someone who's not a demo requested these instructions as well. You'll be getting them too. :)
Now, who will be receiving my freshly made Magazine File plus 8 handmade cards w/envelopes???? Well, it's
KATIE JOHNSON
Congratulations Katie. I will email you privately for your mailing address or go ahead and email it to me.I used www.Random.org to randomly select Katie's number.
For those of you who didn't win, you're all still winners if you're willing to put out a little effort. I'm going to link you to the instructions for the Magazine File so you can make as many as you want! I really love making and sharing this card holder and I want you to be able to WOW your friends with a lovely gift or desk accessory. So, please click on this link and it'll take you back a few months to my first experience making these files. There is a photo tutorial that will walk you through the process. I also have a Word Doc that has a diagram which I just could not figure out how to create and post back in March. Actually I still can't figure out how to post a pdf. (True confessions!) If you email me (button above in left sidebar) I will send it as an attachment.
*The link above is exactly the one I would be sending the Stampin' Up! Demonstrators who left comments on my blog and requested the instructions. So, click on the link above and you'll be good to go. And ask and I'll send the Word Doc diagram.
Thank you all for visiting My Country Loft Blog during the last three days. (My Country Loft, by the way, is the room over our garage---used to be a bedroom for boy and friends who played guitar too loud for Mom and Dad. Boy went to college, graduated and eventually got married--Mom got a stamp room!!!) I'll be back tomorrow to show you some ROCK 'n' ROLL.
Welcome to the Crushed CurryTour. If thou art just beginning the tour, thee will be better served by beginning thy travels at the home Castle. Thee may reach it from here simply by clicking on my CROWN!
Welcome to the Crushed Curry Path of the Royal Blog Tour. Ye are currently at Castle Number 20.
I'm so happy to be back on the ROYAL BLOG TOUR! This time 'round we're featuring the new sets in Stampin' Up!'s 2009-2010 (Full Year) Idea Book & Catalog. I selected to use the Greenhouse Garden stamp set (p. 94, 113824, $25.95, 10 pieces). My first, second and third choices were gone but I'm really glad to have used this set. It challenged me and forced me to really think and create. That's why I love participating in this tour.
Why not start out with a Christmas card!? I really wanted to use one of the new dies for the Big Shot Die-Cut Machine---the lovely Stampin' Up! exclusive Lattice Die (p. 198, 115958).
Ingredients for the card above:
Stamp Sets: Greenhouse Garden, Christmas Classics
Cardstock: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Merry Moments Designer Series Paper
Ink: Old Olive, Real Red, Ruby Red
Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Movers & Shapers Curly Label die & SU! Magnetic Movers & Shapers die, Modern Label punch, SNAIL adhesive, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dimensionals, Stampin' Sponge
I had to do something different with these Two-Step Stampin' flowers so decided to try the "One Sheet Wonder" Technique. Rather than covering an entire sheet of cardstock with random stamping I just covered a smaller piece and used it as 'background' paper.
Ingredients for the card above:
Stamp Sets: Greenhouse Garden, Lovely as a Tree, Sincere Salutations
Cardstock: Old Olive, Summer Sun, Whisper White
Ink: Apricot Appeal, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun
For this next item, I decided it was time to use the Bigz XL Die, Box with Scallops, that's been gathering dust on my shelf. Are you ever afraid to use your dies for the first time? Well, I am. This one is really a piece of cake! Just follow the folds, apply some sticky tape and you're done. For fun, I did a little Rock 'n' Roll technique. I'll show you how after the Royal Blog Tour is over.
Ingredients for the box above:
Stamp Sets: Greenhouse Garden, All Holidays
Cardstock: Dusty Durango Textured 12 x 12, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Ink: Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango
Accessories: Punches: 1-3/8" Circle, Scallop Circle, Modern Label; Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Bigz XL Die: Bag with Scallops (114519), Linen thread, Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka-Dot Ribbon, Dimensionals
My final card is just plain fun and was inspired by Jackie Bolhuis from Michigan. I pulled out another previously unused die for this card: the Oval Scallop Frame.
Ingredients for the card above:
Stamp Sets: Greenhouse Garden, FYI
Cardstock: Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Bigz XL Die: Frame Oval Scallop Die (114521), SU! Little Leaves (114511), Punches: Scallop Edge & Modern Label; Paper Piercing Tool, Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka-Dot Ribbon, Gold Brads, Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive
How about some BLOG CANDY? Leave a comment below and you'll be in the random drawing for a regular-card-sized Magazine File, complete with 8 cards/envelopes, all hand crafted and stamped by m-o-i. Here's a peak at an older one I made. The Blog Candy file will be freshly made using a new Designer Series Paper and In-Color cardstock. Non-SU! Demonstrators only please. Demos: I will send you a template and instructions for making your own if you're interested. :) Winner will be selected on July 29th and will be notified by email.(I had said the 27th originally but --- the tour isn't even over by then! Sorry for any confusion I might have caused you earlier tourists! ) Please leave your email address in your comment or send it to me privately by using the 'email me' button on the upper left side bar of my blog.
I hope you've enjoyed your time here in My Country Loft. And be sure to bookmark this page, or subscribe to my blog feed, if you'd like to find me easily after the tour. This is fun and I look forward to seeing you again. ;)
Thou journey on this path has ended. We princesses hope Melon Mambo Castles were to thou liking. When thee clicks the Next Glass Slipper, thy coach will return thee to the Royal Blog Tour Home Castle. There thee will find three paths that lead to additional castles. More clues can be found at these castles, so look carefully. Recall all thee hath learned, and remember thee hath been given three days in which to return the clues to the Royal Blog Tour High Queen. Only when thee hath returned all 20 clues to her will she command the Castle Scribe to record thy name. Thou name must be inscribed in the record in order for thee to receive a chance at the Big Shot Die Cut Machine. We wish thee a fair wind!
Here's the deal for week 4: VANILLA HODGEPODGE HARDWARE. I'll be placing an order on Sunday evening, so if you want, I can add your order to it to save on shipping costs--provided of course you're in my area! :) Otherwise, I'd be very happy to help you place your order or you can place your order yourself via my Stampin' Up! website's OnLine Store.
This is item # 112454, page 178 of the current Idea Book & Catalog. Regular price is $29.95 but you can purchase this Hardware Kit for $18.95 until Monday, July 27th, at 8.50 a.m. (Pacific Time).
There is one more Deal of the Week which I will be sending to you next Monday, July 27th.
Have a great end of the week and weekend. We'll be hosting a family campout in our own backyard!
Last weekend my daughter hosted a 'calendar shower' for her college roommate who is expecting her second child in August. Sex unknown. Some participants had never stamped, some were old pros. I took a Paper Holder full of retired Simply Scrappin' Kits plus the new Moments & Memories Simply Scrappin' Kit. I also took a Paper Holder full of retired Designer Series Paper and a pile of Stampin Up!'s12 x 12 cardstock in all colors. I also gathered up my Rub-On collection that I had pretty much been hoarding. As guests arrived they signed their name next to the month they wanted to create (so 2 people weren't working on the same month) and then they explored the options. I also brought my Big Shot and a bunch of dies including the Go Go Boots Alphabet, the stamp pads in their Color Caddy, markers......... You get the idea: my entire stamp room practically. :)
Before the guests arrived, I made the 12 x 12 sample shown on the front of the Moments & Memories SS Kit (and called it April's page) to show them that the samples in the Kits were there for their convenience if they didn't have a clue where to begin. Our calendar will begin with August since that's the baby's "due month". Simply scrap your page, attach it to the calendar, and then make a title for your month. It was great fun. And here are the pages:
This photo of these good looking women will be printed to a 5 x 7 and placed on the cover as a memento of the creators. They also all wrote a short note to Linda and Zach.
Top to bottom, left to right: Blythe, Leslie, Lauryn, Sarah, Andrea, Landen, Jennifer, Tanja, Linda and Sari.
Linda's August page. She's the mom-to-be.
Sari's September page---Sari has never scrapbooked or stamped before! Not bad huh?
Andrea's October page. She's a veteran scrapper.
Tanja's November page. She loved the Big Shot! She's also a stampin' newbie.
Jennifer's December page. I don't think she'd stamped before.
Sarah's January page. We made Sarah's wedding invitations in 2000.
Lauren's February page. She's 9 years old.
Blythe's April page---straight off of the sample page as I mentioned above.
9 year old Lauryn's May page--her second page!
Sari, the newbie's, second page: June
Leslie's July page.
I wish Stampin' Up! still carried this 12 x12 calendar because it's so convenient and the paper quality is top notch. Luckily I was able to find one when I searched for one in my Sudsol group of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators. Sudsol is a marvelous source for tips and most anything else you need that's stampin' related.
Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with a few more ideas. We're going camping, as a large family on Thursday--Sunday, and I have my 2-1/2 year old granddaughter with me for the rest of the week. She requires a lot of attention. :) But she's sooooo much fun! We're enjoying our time together.
Be sure to check back on Sunday, the 26th, when I'm a part of the Royal Blog Tour. I'll have four samples from the Greenhouse Garden stamp set to share with you.
Woohoo! We're able to have our regualr monthly Stampin' for Adults in the (former) Mi Wuk Library. Today we're calling the building the Mi Wuk Community Center and Lending Library, now affectionately nicknamed Library in the Woods. Due to California and Tuolumne county budgeting our library was axed from existence--but due to our community it was pretty much functioning as always in just over a month of knowing it would close. It's still opened 9 HOURS per week! What a community we have to even pull these few hours off. Thanks to everyone who JUMPED to keep it alive.
Off of my soap box now and on to the cards we made at our July gathering. One of my favorite new stamps from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog is the Medallion Background stamp. I just love it!
Here our first card, based on one in near the front of the new catalog:
This card (above) features a technique called Poppin' Pastels. Stamp the image in VersaMark, here on Sahara Sand cardstock. Then, with a cotton ball and Stampin' Pastels (Old Olive), rub over the image and watch the color and image pop out. The center was rubbed using the Whisper White pastel. Add a bit of bling with the Square Rhinestone Brads (Ice) and you're good to go. The greeting here was stamped with Rich Razzleberry Class Ink and is from the Sincere Salutations stamp set.
Card #2 was suggested, by Stampin' Up! as a workshop card in April. I loved the simplicity and charm of it (another favorite set) so it was chosen as our second card. Sometimes, when I'm short on time or energy, I'll go Stampin' Up!'s Demonstrator website and check out the samples that they've prepared for use in workshops. Saves me a lot of headache and stress.
I just love the Cheep Talk stamp set. Those birds just have to make you smile. The flowers on the lower half of the card front were stamped in VersaMark. The heart was also stamped with VersaMark, on Real Red cardstock. Then it was sprinkled with Clear Embossing Powder and heated till it popped up nice and shiny. The heart then had to be cut out and placed above the stem/leaves with a Dimensional.
Ingredients:
Stamp Set: Cheep Talk
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Retired Designer Series Paper (Rock-a-Billy I think---I'm away from home and don't have access to the Spring Summer 2009 Catalog)
Ink: Pacific Point*, Kiwi Kiss*, VersaMark, Pumpkin Pie marker*both retired In-Colors from 2008-09, sorry
TIP: I inked up the bird with Pacific Point Classic Ink, then removed the ink from the legs and beak with a cotton tipped applicator dampened with a bit of Stampin' Mist. Then I applied Pumpkin Pie, with the marker, to the legs and beak.
If you'd like to order any of the ingredients for these two cards, OR, if you have any how-to questions about them, just send me an email or make a comment at the end of this post and I'll be glad to help you.
See you tomorrow with some 12 x 12 Calendar layouts we made on Sunday for a dear friend's baby shower.
As I was creating my cards for the Royal Blog Tour * I'm participating in next week, I was having a tough time getting a 'too small' piece of cardstock into my punch. An AHA moment! I can share one of my favorite tips.
Sometimes it's appropriate to stamp a word on your cardstock and then punch it out. And sometimes that little scrap of paper you've used is just too small to manipulate in the punch. So........take a scrap, something like the size of a popsicle stick, and adhere the tip of the scrap the one of the edges of the paper you want to punch out.
Then, using the 'popsicle stick' as a quide, slide it into the punch and position it where you want. By the way, that punched piece of Old Olive cardstock is not a part of the project. It was just on the table when I took the photo.
Anyway, that's the trick. Remember to use it when you're in the predicament I was in. It really gives you a feeling of power! :) I learned that trick at Stampin' Up!'s Annual Convention last year.
* If you scroll down a bit on the Royal Blog Tour blog, you'll come across my bio---as a Princess! Or you can just click here to go directly to it.
Yes, that's exactly what I mean......quilting with Designer Series Paper! It's fun and the results are amazing. I am participating in a swap that requires what I'm sharing today. When I get the swap "cards" back I'll have one of each of the Designer Series Papers and one of each color of the Patterns DSP.
You have to be a bit methodical when creating your quilt. In my case, I prepped for 19 'quilts'. I used the Thoroughly Modern DSP and I punched out 19 of each of the patterns using Stampin' Up!'s 1-1/4 inch square punch. First I planned a color pattern, trying not to group like colors or patterns close together. Ultimately I was going to cut this quilt out using the Bigz Top Note Die and the Big Shot Die Cut Machine. So, I layered the little squares on a 5-1/2" x 4-1/2" piece of Whisper White cardstock.
I found it best to use Stampin' Up!'s Anywhere Glue Stick (104045) to adhere the pieces to the cardstock.
Here's the Big Shot Die Cut Machine, this one made by Sizzix exclusively for Stampin' Up!, and the Bigz Top Note Die.
Lay your prepared cardstock VERY CAREFULLY on the die, ensuring that both the top point and bottom point are covered with the printed paper.
Roll the die through the Big Shot and here's what you have:
And here are all nineteen of them!
My little pile has been mailed to our 'swap master' in Ohio and I'll be getting the whole shebang back around the 1st of August. If I weren't going to use them as samples of our Designer Series Paper, I would use these Top Note pieces as a card embellishment. Do you think I have an extra to create a sample right now? Of course not. When I catch up with myself I'll make one and show you what a fun embellishment it would be on a card......or on a scrapbook page.
Blythe Blythe where have you been? I've been to London to visit the Queen.
No, not true. I've been to Columbus Ohio to visit family and to enjoy the wedding of my cousin. And of course I got zero stamping done while gone. I even took 3 projects to work on , carried them on board planes and..........you're right, didn't touch them.
However I did take, by request, the medium size Thoughts & Prayers Décor Elements tree for my cousin to place in their fairly newly redecorated bedroom. And it looks just perfect. Ta da......
We squeezed the installation of the tree between the Girls Night Out Thursday evening just after we (my sister and I) arrived from California and the Friday night Rehearsal dinner. The Bride gave each of her 'worker bees' an itinerary for the days/hours preceding the wedding so we popped the tree time in an open space.
Is there a place in your home needing just that elegant pop? I can help you get your own. I'll be sending pictures in the coming days of 2 more installations, one a medium sized tree placed in an office/stamping area and the second, a small tree, placed in my friend's kitchen area. Send me an email or go to my online shopping place on my Stampin' Up! website for yours.
I'm glad to be home. I 'visited' 5 airports trying to get home yesterday, one of the perks of flying stand-by. I left my cousin's home at 4.15 a.m. and arrived in San Francisco at 4.30 p.m., including a 3-hour time change. Did I get near you???? Columbus. Chicago. Des Moines. Denver. San Francisco.
Now here's a weekly deal I can really get into........Rhinestone Brads! Add a little bling to your cards and pages with Square Fire Rhinestone Brads.
These fiesty, firey brads will be available for $6.99 (rather the the normal $10.95) from July 13, 2009 at 10 a.m. until July 20th at 9.50 a.m. (Mountain Time). You can find them on page 179 of the 2009-10 Idea Book & Catalog, #109112. It's a great time to stock up on a few extra packages.
I'm at a family wedding in Columbus Ohio today and this is the card I made for the bride and groom:
It's a very soft card. INGREDIENTS:
STAMP SET: Baroque Motifs (113490), Baroque Border Wheel (109675), Warm Words (115108), Art by Design (114920) INK: Encore stamp pad (sorry, retired from SU!) CARDSTOCK: Shimmery White (101910), Copper (sorry again--retired) ACCESSORIES:Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Extended Cutting Pads (113478), SU! Matchbox Die (114890), SU! Top Note Die (113463), Large Oval Punch (107305), Stampin' Sponge (101610), Jumbo Brads: 5/8" (112533), Organza Ribbon (114319), Dimensionals (104430), Stampin' Around Handle (102971), Very Vanilla Medium Envelopes (107300)
My next task (written before I leave for Columbus) is to make some Thank You cards. Then they're on their own.
Please let me know if I can help you order ingredients to make your own card. My second favorite thing to do is helping others with their stamping creativity. First is stamping in the first place! :)
I have finally accomplished making this particular fun-fold card successfully! It's only taken me nearly two years. Sad thing is----it's not at all difficult. I'm thinking that sometimes it's my brain that's the difficult one. I'm so excited that I can now make this card. And so can YOU! :)
This will be the card that holds the gift card for my cousin's wedding tomorrow.
And here's the inside--->
It's kind of hard to tell in this particular photo (above) that a gift card will slip behind the black line. There is a fold there and the black grosgrain ribbon is differentiating it from all of the polka dots. I chose the retired Riding Hood Red Print Patterns Designer Series Paper for this gift card because the wedding colors are red, white and black. I certainly didn't adhere to the wedding color guidelines for the wedding card itself!
So here's a step by step photo tutorial:
You'll need an 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" piece of Designer Series Paper and some In Color scraps. Both sides of this paper will show in your finished product so be sure you like both sides. You'll also need SNAIL adhesive and the Scallop Circle Punch.
FYI, when you click on a picture it will open, enlarged, in a separate window.
STEP 1: Fold paper in half both horizontally and vertically.
STEP 2: Cut left horizontal fold from left outside to center fold.
STEP 3: a- Fold top left corner down to 1" from both fold lines (the one to the right and the one below). Secure this flap with SNAIL adhesive. b- Fold bottom right corner slightly short of both center lines (the one to the top and the one to the left).
STEP 4: a- Place SNAIL adhesive in the 1" area between the folded over piece and the fold lines to the right and below. b- Fold over onto right square. Top and bottom 1" pieces should now be secured to printed square.
STEP 5: Run a strip of SNAIL adhesive along left side of folded-up DSP.
STEP 6: Fold both bottom squares UP securing bottom right piece along the left side where you placed the adhesive in the last step. Think about this slowly---it does make sense. The square on the left is totally flying free right now.
STEP 7: Take a 1/4" (or so) piece of contrasting DSP or grosgrain ribbon and place it along the diagonal edge of the piece you just folded up and secured, i.e. the bottom pocket you just created. You'll have to trim it at an angle where it meets the fold.
STEP 8: Fold that flapping, lonely square over the pockets, creating a "cover" or card front. Decorate as desired.
I made tags for each pocket.
You could substitute one of the tags with a gift card. Let's go to the
next step so you can see what I did.
STEP 9: Using DSP and Scallop Circle Punch, punch out 2 images. Cut them in half.
STEP 10: Lay over corner of card front and secure in back with SNAIL adhesive. Add a coordinating piece of ribbon (in this case Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain), wrapping it clear around the card front and then tying it in a knot. I used the unprinted side of the ribbon for wrapping around the card, letting the polka-dots show when the knot was tied.
STEP 10: I also put half scalloped circle on each of the tags.
That's it. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me. I'm here to help you. Have fun!!!
I've had several questions about My Country Loft this past week. One today (Hi Katie!) asked if I had any pictures on my blog. Well, I really thought I did. And those pictures were when the room was as it should be all the time: neat and tidy. That said, I took some fresh photos just now. If your stamping area is never messy please don't read any further than this. But if your work area gets as messy and cluttered as I read so often on line--and as I know mine does--then you're welcome to have a look inside my playpen.
Let me begin by saying that this room is over our garage and was once "the boys' bedroom". When we decided to move to this house full time (it had been our 'cabin' for 15 years prior) and my son was married, it was a no-brainer to take over the room and make it MINE! It is filled with mish-mash from many phases of my life.
Ready????? Now trust me....it has not been tidied up for company this morning. And I'm leaving town for a few days this afternoon so it's just going to have to stay the way it is till next week. :)
This is where you walk in, across the deck from the house. I wanted to get the view all the way through the room to the window and then outside. Didn't really work. My blog banner is a better photo. If long-time demos look around they'll see some really 'old' SU! goodies in the room. Like the tote, on the floor in the entryway to the room, that many of us purchased around 1996-7 when the DD Fruits and Flowers were so popular. It now holds stampin' supplies for my 5 and 2-1/2 year old grandkidlets.
Just before the door. Obviously.
Now a look across the room to the right. There are 2 dormer windows in the room where dismantled bunk beds used to live. The one under the SU! banner holds my cardstock now. The one on the right, that you can't see right now, holds a small desk, my laptop, and my printer. Yes, that's an in progress mess on the table! :) I'm going to use the Big Shot doctor's bag as my carry on tomorrow. Think it'll start up any conversations? That tall white cabinet with the mirror, to the left of the SU! banner, originally held my children's CLOTH diapers. They're now 36 and 38!
And now here's a look toward the left. In that little bookcase on the far left I have ALL of my old Stampin' Successes and Catalogs. Second shelf holds a few Forget Me Not Keepers full of card fronts. (I just sent over 300 card fronts to Cards for Heroes and still have more to sort through and send.) The stove is propane and is really necessary in winter when it snows.
When the door is closed you can see where I hang my larger punches. I also hang new cards on the criss-cross thing hanging on the wall on the right. Again, I have to find a way to utilize that slanted wall. Customers and class attendees go right to it to see fresh cards. I just pulled everything off from the old catalog. It's usually quite full. See my ribbons on the rain gutter below?
Oh my gosh, this is a sight!!! This is taken from the far end of the room toward the door end. You can see the other dormer window and my printer to the middle left. The cabinet under the TV came from Folsom Prison in California (via an old neighbor) and was used at the prison for sorting mail. I keep my Craft pads, VersaMark, StazOn pads, reinkers, Art from the Heart CDs, and more 'stuff' there. The closed cabinet to the right was from another neighbor's garage sale. Perpetual birthday calendars (one old, one new) are on the doors. Inside is 'stuff'. :)
Here's my paper storage, the retired SU! holders for brads, eyelets, buttons, etc. Does anyone have ONE to sell me? I need one more to fill out the pattern. These walls are slanted so the only way I can make use of them for storage is either magnet sheets (Ikea) or these retired SU! holders.
Opposite wall: these are the cabinets my husband and I built the summer before moving up here. The interior of each one is painted a different color of left-over paint inside! :) The wall used to be solid but when we moved in we had 3 skylight windows installed---reason one: for light. Reason two: for a view of the beautiful forest outside.
Back around again to the other wall with the magnet board. Above is the "Creativity" Décor Element in its stretched out mode. I have no other wall space to accommodate it!
UGH! See all the stuff? My stamp-a-ma-jig, tubs of embossing powder, extra Stampin' Mist, Crystal Effects, envelopes, and SU! bags for packaging up orders are the most important things in this cabinet.
Looks better with the doors closed.
And now you know!!! I really shouldn't have shown you my mess, but........it's a reality. Any volunteers to help me tidy it up?
I do love this bookmark (June 25th's post) and here's the promised how-to for you all. It's really really easy. I've used Stampin' Up!'s Razzleberry LemonadeDesigner Series Paper this time mainly because it's current and it highlights the new In Colors. If you click on any of the photos they will open, enlarged, in a separate window.
Start with a 4" x 4" piece of DSP (Designer Series Paper). Fold it in half, horizontally. Turn 90 degrees, and fold in half again. You will now have 4 equal sized squares. Remove (cut out) the bottom left square. Make a diagonal cut on the top right square. What you have left will look like the right hand example below.
Flip the piece over (backside).
Lay the top flap over the diagonally cut piece.
Apply SNAIL adhesive to all four edges of the remaining square (pumpkin pie in our sample) and fold it to the right, over the striped square.
It will all look like a pile of squares.........until..........
......you turn it over. I hope you can see that the area under the trianglular piece is open. That will slip over the page of your book. You could quit right here but I think some decoration is a bit more exciting.
Using the SU! Birds & Blooms Sizzlit 4-Pack DiesandDusty Durango, Crushed Curry and Rich Razzleberry scraps, cut out some flower pieces. Using Old Olive and the SU! Little Leaves Medium Sizzlit Die, punch out a branch of leaves. I also used the Boho Blossoms punch for the little center flower (Rich Razzleberry).
Now.....go find your book and enjoy your new bookmark. Maybe make some more for friends.
It's time for WEEK 2 of Stampin' Up!'s Summer Fun Deals. This deal will be valid from 10 a.m. this morning until roughly 9.50 a.m. on July 13th.
You can purchase the Sizzix Big Shot Doctor's Bag, normally priced at $69.95, will be available for $49.99 for this week only.
What a deal! It's so convenient to carry your Big Shot, some platforms and dies, all in one convenient, stylish bag.
Be sure to check back next Monday, July 13th, for WEEK 3's Deal.
I might get my posting up a bit later in the day since the Deal of the Week is not announced, even to demonstrators, until Monday morning---and I'll be at the Columbus airport around 4.30 a.m. So I'll have to wait for posting until I get back to San Francisco.
Remember, you can call or email me if you're ready to order your Doctor's Bag (or any other SU! item/s) or you can order for yourself right on my Stampin' Up! website.
Heads up: I'll be offering a dazzler of a deal on Saturday, July 4th: Free Shipping on all orders over $40.
Just send me an email, or call (and probably leave a message). All orders received on July 4th will receive FREE SHIPPING.
Be sure to check July 4th's blog entry for a card idea as well as reinforcement of this offer.
I finally got to exchange some Swap Cards with my stampin' friends in Fresno, California. As Stampin' Up! demonstrators we were all able to pre-order select stamp sets and accessories prior to the release of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog. So here are a few samples:
This is was made by Cheri, using the new Hostess Level 2 stamp set: Wings of Friendship.
Bernice made this card using some old and some new. Old: Baroque Motifs, stamped with Encore Gold and embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder; Birds & Blooms Sizzlet. New: Rich Razzleberry cardstock and ribbon.
Cindy's card used the new set Circle Circus, Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo cardstocks and Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper.
Lori's card uses a Level 3 Hostess set, Kind & Caring Thoughts and the Frame Oval Scallop Bigz Die; Melon Mambo cardstock and stamp pad as well as VersaMark and Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.
Kathy's card highlights another Hostess Set: Asian Artistry, Level 2. Sparkly technique: dryer sheet applied to stamped image with a spray adhesive. Smoosh (technical word) the dryer sheet to the Whisper White cardstock below, then sprinkle with Dazzling Diamonds glitter.
Another "Kathy" swap card using Asian Artistry, Level 2 Hostess Set:
Finally, Mary's card which used the new Razzle Dazzle stamp set and ribbon and Modern Label punch. I love the monochromatic style of this card.
Heads up: I'll be offering a SPARKLERof a deal on Saturday, July 4th: Free Shipping on all orders over $40.
What a great opportunity for your first order from the new SU! Idea Book & Catalog!
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I just love this card made with two of the new Stampin' Up! In Colors for 2009-2010: Crushed Curry and Mambo Melon plus the Razzle Dazzle stamp set.
What I love about this card is the little peek-a-boo that you can't see above. See below........
INGREDIENTS:
STAMP SET: Razzle Dazzle CARDSTOCK: Crushed Curry: 4-1/4" x 2-1/4" Mambo Melon: 4-1/4" x 4" and 2-3/8" x 2-7/8" Whisper White: 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" and 2-1/2" x 3" and 2-3/4" x 2-1/4" INK: Stampin' Write Markers: Crushed Curry, Mambo Melon, Old Olive AACCESSORIES: Repositionable Dotto adhesive, Scallop Edge Punch, Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Stampin' Up! Texturz Plates: SU! Backgrounds I, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Filigree Designer Brads, Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive
Punch scallops along top edge of larger piece of Mambo Melon CS
Dry emboss with Texturz Plate and Big Shot
With markers, color in floral design on stamp, huff (blow warm moist air from your mouth onto the inked up stamp with a h-h-huff), and stamp image on smallest piece of Whisper White CS. Layer onto Mambo Melon and then onto next size piece of Whisper White CS. Set aside.
Place a small bit (about 1") of Dotto on top back of Crushed Curry and top of back embossed piece of Mambo Melon, and lay on top of folded 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" WWhite CS, placing MMelon piece on top of Crushed Curry piece. Adjust to fit card front. Gently remove, keeping positioning intact. (Use more Dotto if necessary)
Position Filigree Brad on left being sure to punch through both pieces of cardstock and punch through with Paper Piercing Tool. Insert brad and secure both pieces of cardstock.
Remove Dotto
Turn over and run lines of SNAIL Adhesive around perimeter of Mambo Melon CS. Be sure to place the upper line of SNAIL adhesive below the brad. This will allow the Crushed Curry piece to lift up from the cardfront and yet not slip below the Mambo Melon piece when 'closed'.
Attach 5 Dimensionals to the back of the flower piece, 3 along the top and two just below them. No Dimensionals on the lower part of the piece. Attach to TOP of card on the Crushed Curry CS.
Lift Crushed Curry piece and stamp "It's Good to Dream" inside, using Mambo Melon ink. Then you still have the inside of the card for further messaging.
Tomorrow I'll be sharing more cards using some new stamp sets from, you guessed it, the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog.
True confession time......I've been a Stampin' Up! demonstrator since April 1996, so this is my 13th year as a demonstrator. Stampin' Up! offers an incentive trip every year and every year I just sit back and say "Oh, I'll never be able to earn that trip."
The next trip has just been announced and it's a cruise to ALASKA. I've never been on a cruise or to Alaska.
"Well, why can't I? If I put it out there into the great wide world, aka Universe, I CAN earn this trip", she says to herself. But I really can't do it without you. So....how can you help?
#1 Host a FREE workshop. Gather up 5-10 friends who have stamped, haven't stamped, are or are not crafty, and we'll have a fabulous time. Let me know your preference: daytime, weeknight or weekend and we'll come up with a date. The workshop can concentrate on a technique, a stamp set, a holiday or other event, cards, scrapbooking......the sky is the limit. The workshop will always include at least one 'make-and-take' where you have hands-on time to create something you will be proud of and can take away with you. As a hostess you can earn FREE hostess-only stamp sets as well as FREE merchandise. Plus receive a FREE catalog.
If you're in my area--and
that means within 50 miles of Sonora OR in the greater Dublin area,
then we can have a workshop at your home. Or mine if that suits you better--but mind you, I live in Mi Wuk Village. :)
If you're not in my area, then you can host a 'catalog' workshop. Share the catalog with your friends, take some orders, earn hostess benefits and everyone will be happy. We can even plan it so that I will send you a packet of items, with instructions, for you to create.
#2 Join my Team of demonstrators, known as the Country Loft Stampers. Because of my location, my downline members are quite spread out and we do most of our communicating via email. Starting this year, we're going to have at least one retreat at my home where we'll spend 2 days getting acquainted with each other, swapping cards and stamping our brains out I'll be sharing new ideas fresh from SU!'s Annual Convention (in August). The 2009 Retreat will be September 26-27, before the snow flies.
#3 Simply place an order with me--via email or phone or via my Stampin' Up! website where you'll click the SHOP NOW button.
Qualifying time for the trip is July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 so there is time. I have a monthly goal and I'll keep you up to date on my progress. I am so excited for having the courage to step outside of my box, verbalize what I need and just GO FOR IT! I look forward to doing a workshop, of one sort or another with you, or to having you join my team, or to helping you place an order for some fun and new high quality Stampin' Up! products.
