Rubber Room Stampin'

MY DIGITAL STUDIO 'PLUS FUN' CLASS

Thinking that I wouldn't have enough to do at Stampin' Up!'s Convention (this is a joke!!!) to keep myself running in full circles, I signed up for an optional, fee based class that took place on Friday evening.  It was a My Digital Studio specialty hybrid class.  I am soooooo glad I made the time for it. 

We created a hybrid desk top calendar.  Actually, the calendar had already been made and bound.  AND it was presented to attendees on a DVD as a Convention Class Attendee Exclusive.  Wowsers!  We added the hybrid parts:  some bling and punch layers as will be shown in the photos.  Then our fearless leader, Holly Linford, from Stampin' Up! showed us lots of MDS tricks.  If I EVER learn how to load videos I will show you some of them.  In the meantime, here are July, August and September's pages.  This particular template is an attendee exclusive but there are definitely other templates available in the My Digital Studio and there are new design releases nearly every week.

COVER AND STAND

There is an self-contained easel stand and coordinating flip over page for each month.  We added the 1/8" Early Espresso Ribbon bow to the cover as well as some pieces punched using the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch 122464.  This was topped with a So Saffron Designer Button (Subtles) 119745,  laced with a piece of Linen Thread 104199 which was tied in a know or a bow.

JULY 2011

Nothing added to the design on this page.

Be sure to click on each photo to see a larger image.

AUGUST 2011

August hybrid 'bling': Rich Razzleberry Butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die 118138

You can see the teeny added butterflies better when you click on the photo.  They are on the Rich Razzleberry Butterflies in the top row and the second from the left butterfuly on the bottom row.

SEPTEMBER 2011

No additional bling or images were added to this month's page.

Each of these pages was created using My Digital Studio.  Be sure to click on the photos for a more full view of each page.

If you haven't tried My Digital Studio yet, perhaps you will after seeing these fun calendar pages.  I've made 12" x 12" calendars for my family the last two years.  This year I'm thinking about an 8-1/2" x 11" calendar for a change.  There are totally pre-designed templates for you to just fill with your own photos or you can create your own from scratch.  There are also Photo Layouts to make your job easier.

Tomorrow:  October, November and December. 

QUICK AND EASY LAST MINUTE EASTER CARD

To say that I've been over-tasked this past week would be an understatement.  Busy busy busy.  Yesterday morning, in about an hour, I made these 5 cute cute cute Easter cards for my grandkidlets, ages 6 to 2, and one for me!  The green (Certainly Celery) one is for 6-11/12 year old Austin whose favorite color is green.  The pink (Pretty in Pink) is for 4 year old Nora.  And the two blue ones (Marina Mist) are for the 2 year olds, Landen and Zion.

My tools were the Big Shot Die Cut Machine (113439), the Top Note (Stampin' Up! exclusive) die (113463), and some punches: 1/2" circle, 3/4" circle, 1-1/4" square, 5 petal flower, and 1-3/4" scallop circle.

Missing from the photo above are the 1/2" basic black 'eyes'.

The feet are trimmed from the Scallop Circle punch, 3 scallops for each 'foot'.  Sponge the edges with Tangerine Tango or Pumpkin Pie classic ink.

The wings are trimmed from the Scallop Circle punch also.  Cut the circle in half and then follow the diagram above.  Sponge the edges with the same color ink as the cardstock or with a slightly darker color.

This little guy (or gal) stays with me.

I put an unadorned, matching Top Note on the back side of each chick to cover up the adhesive and placement of the pieces.  You could also attach another Top Note, adhering it only at the top, with a candy filled cello bag 'sandwiched' between the layers.  Then the chick would stand up.....sort of.

I forgot to add the 'personality lines' to the black eyes before taking photos.  In fact I still have to do that!!!  Use the uni-ball Signo Gel Pen (white) (105021) for the eyes.

I'l be posting part 2 of their Easter silliness in about an hour.  Be sure to check back.

MEMENTO MALL = CRAZY SHOPPERS (mostly women!)

One of the most anticipated features at either a Stampin' Up! Convention or Leadership Training Seminar is the

Memento Mall.

Even if you don't need IT, you want IT.  And most of us, it seems, want it all, sometimes in multiple quantities.  Yes, Stampin' Up! demonstrators are NUTS!

The line shown here is actually very short.  Right up under the Memento Mall sign is a 3 loop serpentine queue area.  Although there are men at SU! events I don't recall ever seeing one in a Memento Mall line!  As we approached the entrance door, this year's mall was really fun:  big store front windows decorated with Décor Elements.  Great eye candy!

 

 

Can you guess (below) what is used to create the lei?  I'll give you a hint:  someone has too much time on their hands!  :)

Tomorrow:  samples from some of the terrific swaps I received.  And the answer about the lei.  :)

YOU REALLY AREN'T FORGOTTEN!

No, I haven't forgotten you at all.  I've just been overwhelmed with "busy" and therefore became sort of frozen in my tracks.

Yes, I went to Stampin' Up!'s fabulous Leadership Training in Phoenix last week.  I arrived two days early so I could spend a day with my cousin and check into my hotel ahead of the throng and have a good night's sleep!

Above: a beautiful Arizona winter sunset viewed from near my cousin's home in the Awatukee area of Phoenix the night before Leadership.

Then it was off to my hotel.  Walking from the hotel to the Convention Center this banner could not be missed.

And there's no doubt that I love what I do!

My roommate, Kathy Chono-Herring, and me in front of the Main Stage.

It was nice to be in Phoenix before the first day without a full complement of demonstrators.  I was able to get up close (and personal) to some of the displays (you'll see them in a few days) and have a moment with one of my favorite people, Pam Morgan.  Five or six years ago she mistook me for someone she hadn't seen in a long time and we've been pals ever since.  She always has a ready smile for me.

In addition to being an SU! demonstrator herself, she's V.P. of Demonstrator Relations and does an awesome job.  She always does some sort of on-stage demonstration at Stampin' Up! events like Leadership Training and our annual Convention and can always be counted on for a laugh or two or ten.

Among other things, Pam demonstrated the many uses of the Eggcellent Eggs Kit.  Here's an invitation to a baby shower:

She also used, from the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog, the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Certainly Celery 5/8" Satin Ribbon, the Introducing stamp set (p. 146, 114443, $15.95), and the Scallop Edge Punch (p. 186).  From the Eggcellent Eggs Kit Pam used some of the die cut flowers and leaves.

Pam also added the Eggcoutrements stamp set on the invitation.  If you click on the photo for a larger image, and look at the scallops, you'll see the  delicate floral scallop edged stamp.  Pull out the insert and you have the invitation (below). 

And just in case you're wondering what a girl's invitation would look like, here you are:

For another demonstration, Pam took a plain white washcloth, folded it in half diagonally, and rolled it up.

 

Then she folded the rolled washcloth in half and pulled the ends up.  Wiggle the ends around and place a rubber band around the rounded fold, creating a 'bunny face'.  The picture isn't great but hopefully you'll get the idea.

 

Finally tie a piece of Pink 5/8" Satin Ribbon (p. 27 in the Occasions Mini) over the rubber band and attach a cute little stamped and punched out bunny.

 

For the table settings at your baby shower, wrap rolled up napkins with the die-cut egg stands.  Embellish with some of the die-cut flowers and top them with a bit of bling from the sheet of Adhesive-backed Rhinestones.  How cute and simple is that!?

Tomorrow I'll have a few more of Pam's creations.  Unless you already have seen her 'something pink', you'll never guess what it is.  Come back tomorrow to see if you're anywhere near right!

And if you're interested in purchasing any of the items used in Pam's creations, just click on the button at the top right of this blog and go to my On-Line store.  Or send me an email and I'll be happy to place an order for you.

I promise to be back tomorrow.  :)

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH BROCADE BLUE INK?

So, what else CAN you do with Stampin' Up!'s Brocade Blue ink besides stamp a great card or scrapbook page?  Capture a newborn boy's feet of course!  These are little Landen's feet at 4 days old.  He might be the third child but he will have his own baby's first year journal.  And the Brocade Blue really does perfectly coordinate with his mommy's journal that she's keeping for him.

I'll have a few more baby treasures to share with you and then it's back to regular 'big-people' stamping.  See you soon..........