Unfrogettable Stamping!

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

  My friend and downline Sarah Eller's birthday was yesterday and I'm hoping that she received her card in the mail before she sees it in this post.. wouldn't want to ruin the surprise!  It had to travel from  Virginia to Seattle so I decided not to post it on her birthday in case it arrived yesterday.  I have loved making these fabric flower pins using my Big Shot and the Fun Flowers Bigz L and Flower Folds Bigz XL dies.  Attaching them to a center step card is a great way to present them!!

  Here is a side view of the flower - lots of fluffy layers, right?!  I had this black and white fabric and matched the card to the pin.  The center of the flower is a retired corduroy brad - I so miss these!  This fabric flower is actually one of the projects that I'll be teaching in my fabric flowers class later this month.  Want to come?  Contact me so I can reserve your spot!

   On the inside of the card I just stamped a very simple sentiment from the retiring On Your Birthday stamp set... since the sentiment is only on the inside of the card, Sarah can use the card base as a photo frame once she removes her pin.  So, two gifts in one!

Hope you had a wonderful birthday, Sarah!

   Don't forget that if you are loving all the fun projects that can be created usig the Big Shot and you don't have one yet, I have a fabulous Birthday Big Shot Bundle promotion going on now through my birthday, May 30th!  Check out the details here.

Happy Birthday, Gerin!

   What birthday gift do you give to a friend who has it all?  You make her something unique and pretty!!  I made this fun fabric flower pin for my friend and downline Gerin using my Big Shot and the Flower Folds Bigz XL die with a matching center step card.  It is very similar to my Fabulous Friday project from last week (see that here).  The "happy birthday" sentiment is the 1-line large text stamp that I had custom-made by Stampin' Up! and I use it a lot!

   Here is another view of the card... rather than attaching the flower pin like I did with my card last week I decided to use baker's twine to hold it onto the card so that after removing the pin  she could add a photo to the card front (thanks, Melody, for that idea!).

   This card is sized oddly so doesn't fit in a regular A2 envelope... luckily, I still had a few of the chocolate chip envelopes that came with the carousel notecards (remember those?) from a couple of years ago so it worked out great to hold the card and flower pin.  I just wrapped it with some pretty in pink striped grosgrain and added a tag.

   Believe it or not, when I took the gift to Gerin yesterday she was wearing a pink shirt with brown accents and a white cardigan... the flower had the perfect fabric to match her outfit!!  Who knew?!?  So the next time you have a gift to give, think about what you have in your craft room and try making it!  The recipient will love that you put so much thought and love into your gift!!

Mothers are Fabulous!

 

Happy Friday the 13th!  I apologize for being MIA this week but it is Spring Break for my kids and I have been working hard to get my taxes done!  However, it's Friday and I wanted to share my Fabulous Friday project with you - this week on the Sisters in Stamping blog Jacque chose Mother's Day cards as our theme.  I created this fun Center Step card using the awesome Summer Smooches sneak peek product line with a great tutorial I found on Splitcoast because I wanted to have a base for my fabric flower pin and I thought this type of card would showcase it nicely.  This is a project I designed that will be part of my Gifts Class on April 20th along with a fun dry erase board.  Contact me for more details or to register!!

Here is a side view of this card - the Summer Smooches DSP and fabric coordinate beautifully and these colors just scream summer.

Here is the flower pin all by itself and the card minus the pin... not only do you get a card, but the gift is attached!

For those of you unable to attend my class next week, I will be offering it as a tutorial for purchase so stay tuned!  In the meantime, for even more Mother's Day card inspiration, don't forget to hop on over to the Sisters in Stamping blog after Noon EST today to check out what my fellow design team members created for you.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Fun way to use the Jelly Bean brads from the Sweet Shop product suite

I love scrapbooking, papercrafting and beading and when I can combine them I am so happy!  I created these earrings using brads - both the Jelly Bean brads from the Occasions Mini catalog and the Designer Filigree brads from the big catalog.  Aren't they fun?!  Sharon Skelton was my roommate a few years ago at the Orlando Regional and she showed me how to make them.  I made these Jelly Bean brad earrings and gave them to my roommates Rachel Yurkanin and Barb Gornick when I went to Leadership back in January.  They were so easy to make with just a couple of jump rings and some ear wires.  You may recall that I made some with the rhinestone brads a few years ago (see that post here) and gave them away as door prizes at my Open House.

Don't forget to check out your Stampin' Up! goodies when doing other crafts - you never know what you'll be able  to create!!  Thanks for stopping by... if you'd like to purchase either of the brads, just click on the photo below to visit my online store:

Simply Scored Tool is absolutely fabulous!!!

This week on the Sisters in Stamping blog we are featuring projects created using the Simply Scored Tool (#122334, $29.95) that Stampin' Up! introduced recently. I designed and created this gift box using my Simply Scored Tool along with 4 matching cards that were embossed using the Simply Scored Tool.  Please read on for more photos and details.

Did you know that there is a brand new Diagonal plate (item #125586, $11.95) that is designed to work with this fabulous tool that you can purchase now?  And at that price it is a bargain!  Anyone purchasing BOTH products from me this month will receive a free class to make this project.  If you are not local and purchase them online from me I will send you a tutorial via email with step-by-step instructions and color photos so you can recreate this project.  Want to purchase just the tutorial?  Contact me for details!

ETA:  click here to purchase the tutorial

Here is a photo of the whole set... the box is held closed with a belly band and the four matching cards have decorative score lines on the fronts.  I *LOVE* this Simply Scored Tool and know you will, too.

For more inspiration and to see the projects created by my Sisters, please be sure and visit the Sisters in Stamping blog today after Noon EST.  Thanks for visiting and have a fabulous weekend!!

December 2011 Team Shoe Box Swap cards, part 2

Here is my card - I expedited my preorder so that everyone could get a chance to use the new Sale-a-Bration DSP (Everyday Enchantment), stamp sets (Fresh Vintage and Elementary Elegance) and new Big Shot Labels framelits, edgelits and embossing folders.

Are you ready for the rest of the cards from my team's meeting last month?  Here you go...

Kathy Kennedy

Kris Sennett

Heather Palm

Carolyn North

Sherri Gough

Kris Burdeaux

Jaime Penney (mailed in - she is a long-distance team member)

In addition to the card swap, we also had an optional gift exchange.  The only criteria I set was that it couldn't cost more than $10 - some people bought items and others created theirs.  I think next time I will make that a criteria since these were so great...

Angie Kinzie created this fun dry erase board using an inexpensive frame which she added a piece of DSP to and embellished with the same paper.  Love it!

Kathy Kennedy created this fun holiday collage using her Stampin' Up! stash.  What a fun way to alter a photo frame.

Delores Wilson packaged her gift in this gift bag that she stamped and altered... I love the jingle bells hanging down from the handle!

Gwen Goulder showed how easily you can alter a set of decorative notecards with a few stamps and punches.

So what do you think?  Pretty great, right?!  If you'd like to join us for our next shoe box swap meeting in July all you have to do is join my team!  Sale-a-Bration is a fabulous time to become a demonstrator with the Starter Kit on sale for $125.  If you want to find out more great reasons to join my team, give me a call or send me an email and I'd love to discuss the opportunity with you!!

Week 11 of the "12 Weeks of Christmas" project tutorials from Get Creative with Rachel and Debbie

We're nearing the home stretch in our 12 week tutorial series!  Here is the tutorial for Week 11, an altered organizer - the perfect size to slip in your purse or leave in your car.

I designed this organizer with the gorgeous Paisley Petals DSP so that it would be great to use any time of year... making it a great gift-giving idea!  When you open it up, you have a pen, notepad and pocket (handy for receipts and other slips of paper that you need to keep).

You can purchase each week's tutorial individually for $2.95 or buy all 12 of them for only $24.95 (a savings of over $10!!). If you choose to purchase the complete set now, I will email you the tutorials as they are released.

To purchase the tutorial for our Week 11 Altered Organizer for $2.95 click the "buy now" button below.

 

If you want to purchase all "12 Weeks of Christmas" tutorials at a discounted price of $24.95, a savings of over $10, click the "buy now" button below.  Each week as we release the projects, you will be emailed a complete tutorial with pictures and instructions.

 

Week 9 of the "12 Weeks of Christmas" project tutorials from Get Creative with Rachel and Debbie

Are you looking for some quick and easy gifts to add to a gift basket or have on hand for teachers, colleagues and neighbors?  Then you'll love the tutorial for this week!  Pick up some fun Christmas earrings, lip balm and giant candy bars and we'll show you how to wrap and present them in a fun way with this step-by-step tutorial, complete with tons of pictures to show you exactly how to recreate them!!

You can purchase each week's tutorial individually for $2.95 or buy all 12 of them for only $24.95 (a savings of over $10!!). If you choose to purchase the complete set now, I will email you the tutorials each week as they are released.

To purchase the tutorial for our Week 9 Quick & Easy Gifts for $2.95 click the "buy now" button below.

 

If you want to purchase all "12 Weeks of Christmas" tutorials at a discounted price of $24.95, a savings of over $10, click the "buy now" button below.  Each week as we release the projects, you will be emailed a complete tutorial with pictures and instructions.

 

 

Who needs Black Friday when you have stamps!

Why fight the crowds on Black Friday when you have all the items you need to create wonderful hand-stamped and altered gifts for your friends and family?!  That is the theme of our Fabulous Friday projects over on the Sisters in Stamping blog this week and my contribution is this Christmas banner.  I love making these banners - they come together so quickly with the help of my trusty Big Shot and the Scallop Circles #2 and Scallop Square bigz dies.  I used the Frostwood Lodge DSP papers along with the Christmas Lodge stamp set - I really love these products from the Holiday Mini, don't you?!  Make sure you order them before the Mini ends!!

Here are some close-ups of the squares - the scallop squares are cut out using early espresso card stock and the scallop square bigz die.  I attached 4" coasters to the backs to add some sturdiness.  The DSP squares are cut to 4" x 4" and then the scallop circles are cut from the scallop circles #2 bigz die.  I added texture to these by running them through the Big Shot with the Snowburst textured impression folder and then sprayed them with shimmer mist that I made using the champagne shimmer paint and some rubbing alcohol.  The whole thing is held together with 1/4" whisper white grosgrain ribbon.  Fun, right?!  I think I will make up a few of these to give away this holiday.

Don't forget to stop by the Sisters in Stamping blog today after Noon EST to check out some other great gift ideas that you can create in the comfort of your home with Stampin' Up! products you probably already own.  Have a wonderful weekend!!

It's a fabulous day to be thankful!

Happy Veteran's Day!  Thank you to all the men and women serving in the United States Military, both past and present, for your sacrifice and commitment to protect our freedom!  I will never take it for granted!

 

Along that theme, our Fabulous Friday projects this week on the Sisters in Stamping blog are projects celebrating Thanksgiving.  This is a great time of year to reflect on what we are truly thankful for and I know I count being an American as one of my many blessings.  I am thankful, too, for the wonderful stamping inspiration I receive each week from my "Sisters" - Karla, Jacque and Rachel.  I am truly blessed to call them my friends and without Stampin' Up! I never would have met them.  I also am thankful to my ever-supportive family, without whom I would not be able to work my Stampin' Up! business - a "job" I love!  These last few weeks have been super busy with classes and events (I cut 408 Christmas cards for 3 stamp-a-stack classes last week alone!), swim team and school obligations and I have been quite a wreck emotionally with all the stress... I've had to give up something to keep my sanity and it was my blog that was sadly neglected.  I'm back now and hope to begin posting again more regularly!  So thank you to all who come and visit me here!!

The project shown above is a chocolate nugget candy holder that I saw demonstrated at the Charlotte Regional by Jackie Ross and I loved it so much I decided to make one myself.   It features the gorgeous Spice Cake Designer Series Paper along with a strip of fabric from the matching Designer Fabric series.  The project was created using the Top Note bigz die with my Big Shot.  Did you know that if you sign up as a demonstrator by midnight tonight you can get one for FREE?!  Ask me how... but time is running out so act quickly!  I also used the It's a Wrap Holidays stamp set for my tags.  This set isn't just for wrapping candy... and the sentiment is one I love from the Always Thankful stamp set, also found in the Holiday Mini catalog.

To go along with my candy favor I wanted to create a matching card.  I pulled my colors from the DSP - more mustard, very vanilla, soft suede and pool party.  Love it!!  The ruffled ribbon adds such a nice texture, doesn't it?!  Well, we're off to a swim meet... hug the ones you love and be thankful for all the blessings in your life.  I know I am grateful!  Be sure and visit the Sisters in Stamping blog after Noon EST today to check out even more Thanksgiving inspiration.