Something Old, Something New (but NOT something for a wedding)

Confession time:  I have much more crafting stuff than I will EVER use!

Can anyone relate?

Somehow, in my 10+ years as a Stampin' UP! demonstrator, I have managed to accumulate more than I (ahem) "need".  When I first started stamping, I didn't have a huge stash; when I went to a craft store (my absolute fav was a scrapbook store on Cape Cod, Colorful Creations, which, sadly, is no longer there) I couldn't help myself when I saw a cute stamp or some fabulous paper.  I would take classes and buy whatever materials we were using.

But since I was also trying to start my business, I wasn't able to use these things because I couldn't sell them...and I needed to make lots of samples so I only used my Stampin' UP! goodies.

Over the years, these "contraband" stamps and accessories started to get pushed further and further back in my drawers.  And took up valuable space for my Stampin' UP! stuff! 

Enough!  I've decided to start pulling out all my stash and either use it or get rid of it (is that a New Year's Resolution?).  I started the other night with one shelf.  And what did I find?  Some wonderful Stampin' UP! card bases that were part of a Sale-a-Bration offering two years ago.  So I decided to use it:

 Do you recognize that dotted background?  I don't even remember the name of the item, but I really liked those card bases.  There are gold dots along with the colored ones.
And I need a "golden birthday" card for my niece, who is turning 23 on January 23rd.  So how perfect is this?

I started by cutting the original (dotted) card base apart, using just one side.  Then I took the wonderful new dies, Large Numbers Framelits Dies, (**sneak peek**) and cut out my numbers, using Gold Foil Sheets.  So shiny!

Ok, more confessions...the Spellbinder labels are NOT Stampin' UP! dies.  I had purchased those long ago, before we even had a Big Shot to sell, and they've been languishing ever since--but they were perfect for THIS card!  And, oh yeah, one more thing...those gold beads?  Yeah, not SU either; but if I had a gold sharpie, I could have done the same with our Pearls Basic Jewels!  There--that makes me feel a little less guilty!

Anyway, back to the card:

The numbers were mounted on Basic Black, which was mounted to Bermuda Bay; I then scrunched up some Gold Cord Trim and then stuck it all to that marvelous dotted base with Dimensionals.

It's all added to a sheet of Gold Foil, and then a Basic Black card base.  The final touch is some gold stars.

The motto of this very long story?  USE YOUR STUFF!  You bought it because you loved it--so use it!  And go create something pretty!  Then tell me what you did; can't wait to hear!

Happy New Year!  May you all have a 2016 of JOY, HEALTH, HAPPINESS and SUCCESS!   And thanks for stopping by today!

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Weekly Deals

Well the Christmas holiday is now Christmas past and we're looking forward to a new year.  While you're waiting, check out these Weekly Deals:

	Amazing Birthday Wood-Mount Stamp Set Item # 134225 Regular Price: $29.00 US/$36.00 CAN Discounted Price: $21.75 US/$27.00 CAN
	Fun Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folders Item # 133727 Regular Price: $8.50 US/$10.50 CAN Discounted Price: $6.38 US/$7.88 CAN
	Bermuda Bay Baker's Twine Item # 134575 Regular Price: $3.00 US/$3.75 CAN Discounted Price: $2.25 US/$2.81 CAN
	Ornate Tag Topper Punch Item # 137416 Regular Price: $23.00 US/$28.00 CAN Discounted Price: $17.25 US/$21.00 CAN

All products can be purchased here.

A Christmas Wish

One last holiday card to wish all my friends and blog readers a Merry Christmas:

We made this at a special, "Christmas Cards Only" class earlier this month.  It was a favorite, due to the peaceful, calm colors and lots of silver.

The branches and sentiment from the Embellished Ornaments set were stamped in Versamark ink and heat-embossed with Silver Embossing Powder.

Using a mask (I cut the outline of the ornament using the Delicate Ornament Thinlits Dies on a piece of Whisper White Thick Cardstock, which we laid over our card front), we sponged Soft Sky and Lost Lagoon inks through the mask.  When the mask was removed it left a beautiful background for the silver cut-out ornament.

 

The ornament was cut out using Silver Foil paper, and adhered carefully using tiny drops of glue from the Fine Tip Glue Pen.

Then we mounted the white layer on a thin layer of Lost Lagoon, and to our card base of Soft Sky.  Soft and serene...

 Wishing you all a very happy holiday!

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How to Give a Gift Card

Here's a gift card holder that doesn't quite look like a gift card holder:

My husband bought a larger-than-usual gift card and it wouldn't fit in my normal packaging.  So I used the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits dies as inspiration to create my own bag (without using a die!  What?  Really?)

Using the Merry Moments Paper Pack, I took two sheets of the 6" x 6" paper.  I needed a bag that was 4" wide, so I scored 1" from either edge on one of the sheets, and then cut the other piece to 4".  I also trimmed an inch off the bottom of the 4" sheet.  Then I ran both of them through my paper trimmer with the Small Scallop Rotary Cutting Blade to make the little scalloped top.

I simply folded in the two scored sides of the larger piece of paper, and then adhered the smaller piece to the back.  After folding up the flap it became a bag!  Then I just had to decorate.

Using the Delicate Ornament Thinlits Die, I cut a Silver Foil Ornament and then a Cherry Cobbler embellished one, and layered them on the front.  The "merry" is from the Christmas Greetings die, also cut in Silver Foil. 

A few banners (I used the Triple Banner Punch) and some Silver Sequins were added, and the gift bag was done.

But I told my husband to please buy normal-sized gift cards from now on--so much easier to use the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies!

So what do you think--cute?

Products can be ordered here.

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Pretty Wrapping

I held my team meeting two weeks ago and got to award two of my downline members for some recent achievements. 

Judy reached a new level, Senior Associate, and I made her a little bag to hold some Glitter ribbon:

I used the Season of Cheer and the Gift Bag Punch Board, then topped it off with a Tea Lace Paper Doily and a Metallic Foil Doily.

I punched a gold bow using the Gold Foil Sheets and Bow Builder Punch, and added a sentiment cut out with the Tags and Labels Framelits.

Congrats to Judy!

Michelle was not able to come, but she had her highest sales ever; her gift was wrapped in a Tag a Bag Gift Box:

Adding a piece of Season of Cheer DSP over the top (and inside the plastic sleeve) really dresses this up.  It's tied with some Organza Ribbon and embellished with Silver 1/8" ribbon and Silver Sequins.  The tag is a sneak peek at a sentiment from Suite Sayings, coming in January.  It was stamped in Soft Sky and Pear Pizzazz and added to a tag of Silver Foil.  Sparkly!

Fun and easy ideas to dress up your holiday gifts!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

A New Paper Pumpkin for a New Year

December's Paper Pumpkin is arriving in mail boxes now, and will be perfect for filling those hours after the busy holidays.  See what you could be making:



C'mon!  Get your crafty on!  Join Paper Pumpkin today--click on the link to the right!

Sneak Peek and a TGIF Challenge (#TGIFC33)

I was playing with some of my new toys and a sketch that I had seen popped into my head.  So I 

decided to play along...

Here is the challenge: 

And here is my card:

These items are from the Occasions Catalog, to be released January 5 (want to get your things early?  Join Stampin' UP! now and you'll get to receive new goodies before anyone else!).  

Party Wishes is a stamp set that is part of a wonderful bundle--It's My Party.  The balloons, candle and cupcake have matching punches (yea!) and there is a fabulous Designer Series Paper Stack to match!

My card base is Whisper White Thick Cardstock.  I first adhered a piece of the DSP to Mint Macaron and then punched my three holes using a 1-3/8" circle punch.  I positioned the layer over my card base and lightly traced the circles with a pencil.  This allowed me to position my balloon strings in the proper place.

The balloons, cupcake, candle and "make a wish" were stamped, punched and positioned on my card base, and my Mint Macaron layer was adhered over the top with Dimensionals.

But there was just something missing...too much space between my circles and the bottom of the card...I know!

"Hooray" from a Sale-a-Bration (FREE) set called Perfect Pairings was the perfect filler, along with the cute Melon Mambo It's My Party Enamel Dots. 

So there you have it--a Sneak Peek of new items from both the Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalogs AND a sketch challenge--what do you think?  

Need a new Occasions Catalog?  If you are a regular customer of mine, I have one for you; if you do not have a Stampin' UP! demonstrator, I'd love to help! 

Botanicals for You - Another Sneak Peek!

Sale-a-Bration, Stampin' UP!'s annual give-away, is going to be starting in a few short weeks (we just need to get through those pesky holidays...).  Today I have a card showcasing a wonderful set, Botanicals for You, which coordinates with the upcoming Botanical Blooms.  Take a peek:

I love this one!  The giant sentiment easily creates a focal point; all you need to do is dress it up a little.

My color scheme of Mossy Meadow and Cajun Craze were dictated by the colors in the coordinating designer series paper, Botanical Gardens; instead of Hello Honey, I chose to use some Crushed Curry to make my flowers pop.

My card base is Mossy Meadow, with a narrow layer of Cajun Craze.  Very Vanilla is my top layer, with a strip of the Botanical Gardens DSP along one side.

 The Crushed Curry flowers were stamped and cut with the matching Botanical Builder Framelits Dies - so easy!  And those tropical leaves?  Just cut with the dies - no stamping needed.

Check out the Botanical Gardens suite in the new Occasions Catalog, coming January 5.  Purchasing the bundle (stamps, DSP and Framelits) will enable you to get the Botanicals for You FREE!  And who doesn't love FREE?

If you are a customer of mine, your new catalog is ready for you.  Don't have a demonstrator?  Contact me and I'll get one to you.  You don't want to miss this! 

Something New

We're about 3 weeks away from the new Occasions Catalog release and Sale-a-Bration.  This weekend I'll be showing you a few ideas using new stamps from both.

Here's an easy card with a masculine feel:

This set, Sky is the Limit, is a FREE offering through Sale-a-Bration, starting January 5, 2016.  But if you like it, you'll need to snap it up quickly, as this year a few of the Sale-a-Bration items will only be available for a limited time.

The cute little biplane was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Very Vanilla card stock, then hand-snipped and popped up on Dimensionals.  I also stamped and snipped the clouds.

The sentiment, from Teeny Tiny Wishes, was cut using the Bitty Banners dies; I punched a small hole and threaded some of the lovely Gold Metallic Thread through the hole and to the back of the plane.

And did you notice that fabby mountain range?  That is a new designer series paper, Going Places--the artist used actual topographical maps and drew the mountains!  I just snipped along the top and adhered it to my paper.

Fun, simple and so effective!

Are you getting excited yet? 

It's a Year End Sale!

Shop now!  Great prices!  While supplies last you can save up to 60% on many items, including those from the Holiday Catalog.

Click here to see what's on sale now!

Weekly Deals

So funny that just last night I pulled out one of the items on this week's Weekly Deals!  I've had the Bitty Banners Framelits Dies since they were first released, and I go back to them again and again!  (Come back this weekend to see how I used them on a card).  So worth the price...and now they're on sale one week only!  And while you're getting these, you may want to check out some of these other deals:

	Bitty Banners Framelits Dies Item # 129267 Regular Price: $15.00 US/$18.50 CAN Discounted Price: $11.25 US/$13.88 CAN
	Precision Base Plate Item # 139684 Regular Price: $25.00 US/$31.00 CAN Discounted Price: $18.75 US/$23.25 CAN
	Iced Rhinestone Embellishments Item # 139637 Regular Price: $5.00 US/$6.25 CAN Discounted Price: $3.75 US/$4.69 CAN
	Hearts & Stars Decorative Masks Item # 133777 Regular Price: $3.00 US/$3.75 CAN Discounted Price: $2.25 US/$2.81 CAN

All items can be purchased here.

Wanna See Something New?

When I attended the Stampin' UP! local mini-convention in San Diego a few weeks ago I got to play with a fun new birthday stamp set.  And who doesn't need birthday cards?

So when I had the chance to order some of the goodies I played with, this set was near the top of my list.  Introducing Party Wishes:

Such a great set with lots of little accents.  And do you know what the best part is?  THE LITTLE ACCENTS HAVE MATCHING PUNCHES!  No fussy-cutting!

I am also highlighting some of the fabulous new Designer Series Paper Stack - It's My Party.  I love this stack of 12" x 12" paper--and  you get 4 (FOUR) sheets of each of 12 double-sided designs!  Wow!  That'll be enough to create tons of birthday cards!

Do you see something else that is new?  Check out that middle cupcake--yup, that's the new Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper (punched with the little cupcake punch).  LOVE!

Not new is the wonderful (and SO easy to tie) Melon Mambo 1/4" Cotton Ribbon.  It pulls the entire look together.

Coordinating envelope please...easy peasy with the cute stamps.

So looking forward to being able to share these new goodies with you!  Contact me for your Occasions Catalog, coming January 5, 2016.

Weekly Deals

Can you believe it?   After all the great deals offered during the OnLine Extravaganze, Stampin' UP! is offering another round of Weekly Deals! 

Check out these bargains:

Go Wild Designer Series Paper Stack Price: $8.00 $6.00	Gold Glimmer Paper Price: $5.00 $3.75	Happy Heart Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Price: $7.50 $5.63
Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad Price: $6.50 $4.88

 I just featured two of these products on my blog last weekend.  See the Mint Macaron ink here, and the Gold Glimmer Paper here.  I don't recommend things I don't use, but these items are definitely worth making your own!  And at these prices, you don't want to miss out!

All products can be ordered here.

Another Sneak Peek! Going Global

Now that Thanksgiving is over and you've spent all your money on our OnLine Extravaganza, I have another sneak peek at an upcoming stamp set.  Going Global will be released in January, and it has an entire suite of products:  stamps, Designer Series Paper and a wonderful embossing folder.  Today I'll show you a sample using ALL of it!

Now the texture on this card is hard to photograph, but trust me, it is really interesting!

I started with a piece of 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" Lost Lagoon, scored in half for my card base.  I then adhered a piece of the Going Places Designer Series Paper Stack to the entire front of the card.

Then I embossed a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" piece of Cardstock Vellum with the new World Traveler Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and adhered it over the DSP on the entire front of the card.  This gave it the feeling of a map, with land and water.

Two strips of the DSP are under a stamped globe image (Lost Lagoon on Lost Lagoon), and then the sentiment is layered over the top.

I colored a few Pearl Basic Jewels with a Copic marker to add just a touch of bling.

And of course:  a matching envelope.

I hope you are getting excited about the new things to come!  This suite is fabulous (probably one of my favorites!).  Can't wait to play some more!!