The content of this blog is my sole responsibility as an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator and the use of, and content of, the classes, services, or products offered on this blog is not endorsed by Stampin' Up!
......and it's exclusively for subscribers of My Country Loft Newsletter. You can become a subscriber by clicking on the sign up box at the top of the left sidebar. This will be a fun 12 week countdown to that special day for young and old, Christmas Day. Or Hannukah, whichever you observe.
Here's another little sneak peak---and you'll be surprised when you see the rest of it:
I can't give away all the secrets now can I??? I look forward to sharing my first gift in Week 1's newsletter called The Twelve Weeks of Christmas which will be sent on October 1st.
Stampin' Up! Demonstrators have had a month now to get acquainted with My Digital Studio and now, I'm excited to let you know that it will be available to you, John & Jane Q. Public, tomorrow, October 1, 2009.
What is My Digital Studio you ask? It's a digital craftingsolution. What can you do with it you ask?
Make scrapbooks in 5 sizes, softbound or hardbound
Make cards (yes really)
Make calendars
and more..........
And the fun part of this is that everything that is in the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog is included in My Digital Studio in actual size. And that means that when you print a page, a card or a calendar, you can embellish it even further with actual punches, ribbon, brads, designer series papers, cardstock, etc. that you have in your stampin' supplies. All of the Stampin' Up! colors, plus a few retired In Colors, are included. You can make the MDS embellishments larger or smaller, but if you leave them true size you can layer right on top of them with your punches and ribbons, etc.
Stampin' Up!'s authorized printer is calibrated to print everything exactly as you know it from your ink pad. Totally true colors that again will match any further ribbon you add to your printed project.However you can also print product yourself if you desire. I'll be reporting more on printing as time goes on.
You're going to have so much fun with My Digital Studio!
And finally, here is Janet's project, #5 from our stampin' retreat weekend. I carry this in my purse for making notes throughout the day. Check out this 'altered Thoroughly Modern File Folder (115692, p. 169, $10.95 / 12 folders).
I added the butterflies and ribbon to my folder after the weekend for a little extra burst of color.
Instructions:
Open folder so you're looking at the inside. The label tab will be on the right side.
Score 1/2" to the left of the existing center fold.
Cut 2-1/4" off the left side---measuring from the tab. Save the remnant.
Cut off excess 1/4" along the bottom edge of the right side.
Cut tab off right side.
Open folder and place left edge of folder in your personal paper cutter and score at 12-1/2"; then score again at 13". You now have 4 vertical score lines.
Score horizontally 3-1/8" up from bottom edge.
Remove the bottom right-hand-corner piece created by the horizontal and vertical score lines. This piece is roughly 3-1/4" x 2-3/4".
Fold bottom edge up along the horizontal score line. Use a bone folder to give it a sharp crease.
Fold all vertical score lines, also using the bone folder for sharp creases.
Open bottom flap and place Sticky Strip at the far left and far right creating a pocket. Fold up and rub over sticky strip with bone folder to secure.
Insert notepad (roughly 5" x 8" purchased from an office supply store)
Remember that scrap you set aside in the 3rd step? Trim it (to probably 5" x 3/4") to the proper size to cover the top (cardboard) part of the pad. Attach with either Snail Adhesive or Sticky Strip.
Adhere Velcro dot to flap. Keep both pieces of the dot on the flap. Remove protective covering from top Velcro piece, and carefully lay flap over notebook cover, ensuring that the upper and lower edges are straight. Press firmly to secure.
Use 3/16" corner rounder punch (109047, p. 186, $6.95) on top of flap so that it matches the bottom corner.
I embellished the front cover of my folder with a piece of Bermuda Bay 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon.
Use the large punch from the Deluxe Tool Kit (ouch! it's retired) to punch holes on the front cover. Mine are at 3/4" and 4". You can or can NOT use Jumbo Eyelets in these holes. There's really no stress on this ribbon so it's just up to you. Secure with a knot.
I also used the Big Shot (113439, p. 194, $99.95) and the Stampin' Up! Beautiful Butterflies (an SU! exclusive die and one of Shelli's favorites) die (114507, p. 198, $21.95) and Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper (115673, p. 163, $9.95) scraps for the butterflies. They're attached with Snail adhesive (104332, p. 192, $6.95).
Now you're ready to go off and create your own altered file folder. They'd make great office or teacher gifts. Or just a gift for a friend. She'll smile every time she uses it.
Be sure to check the following post for the announcement of Stampin' Up!'s new Clearance Rack. You won't want to miss out of some of those bargains.
And tomorrow......a special announcement about My Digital Studio. It's finally ready for release to the public!!! Woohoo! Be sure to stop by.
Just as department stores have their clearance area, Stampin' Up! now has theirs. Simply go to my Demonstrator Website and click on Shop Now (upper right). The Clearance Rack is the second item of the left sidebar.
All items in the Clearance Rack are definitely available while supplies last! This will be an on-going offer so be sure to check back often. Purchases from the Clearance Rack must be made on-line via my Stampin' Up! website's on-line store. If you have any questions about how to do that, please ask me. It's pretty much "follow-the-bouncing-ball" instructions. But please, if you're confused or something doesn't make sense, just ask! :)
I love this crisp card that is Christy's shoebox swap. If you look back a few entries, you'll see that her swap card was made with the same Cottage Wall designer series paper and For all You Do stamp set in a totally different layout.
This card features the kissing technique. For the dotted butterfly: ink the butterfly with Pale Plum. Set aside momentarily. Ink up the dotted square image with Rich Razzleberry. Now, using the dotted square as an ink pad, press the butterfly onto the square. Then stamp on a scrap of Whisper White cardstock. Viola! A designer butterfly. :)
For the saying, stamp it, using Basic Black ink, onto Whisper White cardstock. Punch out with the Curly Label Punch. Layer onto a piece of Pale Plum Cardstock and trim to the shape of the punch. Alternative 1: you can punch two pale plum pieces with the Curly Label punch, cut one in half vertically, and the other in half horizontally. Now 'stretch these pieces behind the 'words piece' to fit as a background trim layer. You will have to cut off the 'pokey out-y' pieces on the side edges of one piece. Your corners will have an attractive overlap. Alternative 2: Using the Movers & Shapers Die (114506, p. 201) and the Big Shot, punch out the moveable piece which will fit perfectly behind the word piece that was punched out with the Curly Label punch earlier.
FYI TIP:All of the accessory pieces for the Movers & Shapers fit perfectly as background layers for the coordinating Stampin' Up! punches.
I'll be back tomorrow with the last Shoebox swap item. I hope to see you then.
Linda used the Just Buzzin' By stamp set to make this very cute gift card holder. The decorated mint patty was a welcome bonus.
Added Monday, Sept. 28, 2009: Measurements for Linda's card:
Chocolate Chip Cardstock: 4-3/4" x 7-1/2"; score at 1-3/8" and 4-1/2" along long edge (these will be 4-3/4" scores), and 3-1/4" x 1-3/4"
Designer Series Paper: 4-1/2" x 1/1/8"
More Mustard: 3-1/2" x 2"
Very Vanilla: 3" x 1-1/2"
Inside, for the pockets, she used one Very Vanilla envelope. Seal. Cut in half. Place 3 short Snail adhesive lines, horizontally, half way down the envelopes on the 'inside' sides of the envelopes. Not inside the envelopes---just on the 'inside, outsides' so the two envelopes will be attached to one another. I hope that's clear. Obvously directional words are not coming easily to me this morning! Then place 2 horizontal Snail lines on the 'outside' of each envelope, set them between the cardstock folder in-sides and secure. Decorate with designer series paper as desired. Attach the decorated front piece with 4 dimensionals, along the bottom. This will allow the flap to easily tuck in behind.
This gift card can easily be adapted to whatever event you choose.
See you tomorrow, hopefully with better word instructions. :)
Dannie brought this cute little pumpkin basket to share with us. I'm going to have to post the pattern (very easy) for the box on Monday or Tuesday, when I return home.* I'm out of town for a golf and stampin' weekend. That said, while you're waiting to make the box, punch out 10 ovals using the Wide Oval Punch (112082) and Pumpkin Pie cardstock (105117). Sponge the edges with Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink (105216). We stamped and cut out, two leaves from the Autumn Days stamp set (115452, p. 92, IBC), one for each side of the basket. Use Whisper White cardstock (100730) and Garden Green ink (102272). The ovals get attached to each other from behind. Lay the center one on your work space, layer and adhere one oval to the left and one to the right. Repeat with the final two ovals, creating the cute little pumpkin effect. Repeat with the remaining 5 ovals. Attach to the box (when you get the pattern !) with 3 little rows Sticky tape, making sure the ovals do not extend below the bottom of the box. Attach the leaf with a dimensional. The handle, 1/2" x 7", will be attached to the sides of the box with gold brads. Apply a bit of Snail adhesive first to hold them in place. Then punch a small hole and secure a brad on each side.
TIP: Break some of the fibers in the handle by gently pulling it along the edge of your table, somewhat like you'd pull scissors along ribbon to make it curl. That way it will curve gently over the basket.
*SUNDAY'S AMENDMENT: HOW TO MAKE THE LITTLE BOX: Pumpkin Pie Card stock: 2-1/4" x 5-3/4" Score along the bottom (long side) at 1" Score the length at 1-3/4", 2-3/4", 4-1/2" and 5-1/2". Cut on these score lines up to the 1" horizontal score line. Make little wedges on these cut lines so your box will fold up neater. At the end of of these cuts to the one inch long score line is a little rectangle. Cut it off but only up to that 1" horizontal score line. Fold box and secure with Sticky Tape. Have fun...... I'll be back tomorrow with the 3rd shoebox goodie.
This is my shoebox swap from last weekend's downline retreat. What's a 'shoebox swap' you say? You bring a sample and all of the ingredients for creating a card or 3-D item for each person who is participating in your particular swap and hypothetically everything fits in a shoebox. :)
I received a swap card from Betty Kincannon at Stampin' Up!'s convention in August. It was instantly one of my favorites. When I got home I sat down with my stampin' buddy and friend Kathy Chono-Herring to figure out how she omitted that center oval section!
This was what we came up with for recreating Betty's card:
We used saved pieces of backing from packages of Designer Series Papers
and other SU! products. Using the retired Coluzzle, we cut out ovals
from 4 pieces of light weight chip board. Then we used Tombow Anywhere Glue to stick each layer together, ensuring that the ovals are placed carefully atop each other.
In getting ready for the stampin' weekend, and from reading on Patty Bennett's blog, I went down to our local pharmacy/'got-it-all' store and found these thin wood frames. So I purchased five! It's much easier than cutting each piece of chip board for 5 people times 4 for each person---but the chip board certainly works!
Next, just make your 'sandwich' for the Big Shot: Multi-purpose platform with both tabs open/extended, oval chipboard or wood frame, Stampin' Up! Textured Impressions Folder Petals-a-Plenty with a 4" x 5-1/4" piece of Whisper White or Very Vanilla card stock placed inside, one standard cutting pad. For my particular Big Shot I also have to add an extra shim---I use a trimmed-to-fit piece of card stock and placed it on the multi-purpose platform, below the frame.
See my piece of old faded Orchid Opulence at the bottom of my 'sandwich' below? Without it, the multipurpose platform and the sandwich just slip under the center of the Big Shot.
Once the cardstock was texturized, I used Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and a Sponge Dauber and very lightly skimmed over the petals. It's better to go over the petals several times than deposit a big heavy glob by pressing too hard.
TIP: Shake the Shimmer Paint, open jar, and insert the dauber in the lid for just the right amount of paint and not wasting any paint. Repeat as many times as necessary.
Below is my card for the shoebox swap:
I'll be sharing rest of the shoebox swaps over the next 4 days. They were amazing! Only 2 of us had done shoebox swaps before and the 2 'newbies' did a fabulous job.
If you'd like to purchase any of the ingredients for this card either send me an email (or call me) or go directly to my Demonstrator Website Online Store and order directly for yourself.
I hope you enjoy this card---I know I do. See you tomorrow.
Our second project was a welcome, easy card using the new Sweet Treat Cups (116911, p. 7, $2.95/12 cups) found in the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog. I've seen many Halloween samples and didn't want to do that. When my sister and downline, Janet, was cutting some letters from her Stampin' Up! Billboard alphabet die with her Big Shot---using a retired piece of card stock---I had an AHA moment: Cut more letters in different colors and we'll use those to fill a Sweet Treat Cup in a nursery themed card. True, you can't eat them, but they're very cute in the card.
So here's our card:
Ingredients:
Stamp Set: Sweet Centers, Teeny Tiny Wishes Cardstock: Gable Green 8-1/2" x 5-1/2", Brocade Blue 5" x 3-1/2" , Whisper White 2-3/4" x 4-3/4" Ink: Gable Green, Brocade Blue Accessories: Punches: Scallop Edge, Word Window, Modern Label, 1-3/4" and 1/16" circle; sponge dauber, 5/8" Brocade Blue grosgrain ribbon, linen thread, Dimensional, SNAIL adhesive
To attach the Sweet Treat Cup where you want it, we did the following:
With Whisper White card stock, insert 1-3/4" circle punch until it stops on the top edge, balancing the placement left to right. Punch. Insert cup into piece. Drop in alphabet letters or M & Ms or confetti or whatever you like.
Remove the backing (this is just like red Sticky Strip) from the rim of the cup. Lay a scrap of bordering blue across the opening and press firmly to secure. Make sure the edges of the scrap don't hang out from the bottom or sides of the Whisper White card stock.
Layer Whisper White card stock onto the already Scallop Edge punched Brocade Blue card stock.
Wrap grosgrain around these layers and secure with a knot.
Attach this layer to your card front.
Punch a Brocade Blue label with the Modern Label punch. Set aside.
Stamp words of choice on Whisper White CS with Brocade Blue ink. Turn Word Window punch upside down, line up words in the window to balance, and punch them out. Attach to Brocade Blue punched piece.
Punch hole (maybe 2 holes side by side (overlapping slightly) in Modern Label label. Pass a piece of Linen Thread (4") through hole. Loop around grosgrain ribbon and tie in a knot. Trim ends. Secure to card with a dimensional so it'll stay put.
I mentioned that we could also make a card using the Sweet Treat Cups where you could pull a 'magic or sliding door' and have the candy fall out without ripping the card to bits. Of course they all wanted to make it!
We made this card with a Halloween theme.
The instructions are similar to the card above.
Stamp the Eek image and cut out with paper cutter. Punch out the Eek with the 1-3/8" circle punch and set aside. Cut a square of contrasting card stock about 1/8" larger on all sides. Now, layer the these two pieces (do not glue) and carefully punch to remove the center of the stamped image and the mat.
Take the 1-3/4" circle punch and position it as high up from the bottom of the card front as possible, centering it left and right, and punch. Decorate the card front and left inside before attaching the Sweet Treat Cup. It's much easier to stamp at this point.
Place Sticky Strip on the bottom and both side edges of the mat being sure to NOT put any adhesive across the top, and align the hole in the mat
with the hole in the front of the card.Adhere.
Remove the protective tape from the edge of the Sweet Treats cup and attach it to the mat aligning it with the hole.
Apply Snail adhesive to all four edges of the square, cut out
stamped image and fit over treat cup being careful to align the edges
with the mat to allow for the 1/8” border.
Cut a 2” x 4 ¼” piece of Basic Black card stock.Use the Ticket Corner punch on the top two corners.
Mount the “Eek you’re sweet” circle in the center of a contrasting color card stock punched with the Scallop Circle punch and attach it with a dimensional to the upper end of the Basic Black piece.
Slide the strip of black card stock between the matted image and the card body to complete the closure of the Sweet Treats cup.
Turn the card over and lightly trace a circle on the black card stock showing through the hole. Remove and stamp an appropriate image in the center of the circle with Whisper White Craft Ink.
Since I didn't have any small candy on hand, I used some Earth Elements buttons. They don't taste great but they also don't make the card fall over because it's 'front heavy'.
I'll be back tomorrow with another of our fun projects. And if you need anything to make either or both of these two cards, just send me an email or shop online at my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Website.
I know it seems early, but, before you know it Christmas will be upon us. I have an offer for you for a head start on some of your Christmas crafting. Beginning October 1, 2009, just a long week from today I'll begin sending out a fantastic Stampin' Up! Christmas crafting idea each week.This is my holiday gift to you. I've been compiling my ideas for awhile and you won't want to miss any of them. They'll be sent exclusively to members of my email newsletter mailing list.
Here's a teeny tiny tease from one of the weeks:
If you haven't already done so, why don't you hop on over to the left side of my blog and sign up for my email newsletter mailing list so you won't be left out.
I look forward to sharing my 12 Weeks of Christmas with you!
