Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Valentine full of love

I simply cannot get enough of the Heart to Heart Punch, and just love how the stamp coordinates with the punch and there is no cutting involved! If you haven't purchased the Love You Much Bundle yet, please contact me so you can take advantage of the 20% off price! You get the stamp set, the fantastic punch and a package of the Candy Lane Designer Paper.

This I saw somewhere online, but cannot remember where anymore. They used the scallop envelope using the Big Shot. Well, since I don't have the Big Shot, I improvised

The base of this card is Kraft, which has a layer of Chocolate Chip over the top of it. The envelope is actually a small 3x3 envelope since I don't have the Big Shot! So, I traced the envelope and covered it in Candy Lane Designer Paper. Then I punched a whole bunch of the hearts out using the Heart to heart Punch on Riding Hood Red and Chocolate Chip. Then the sentiment is across the bottom. Super easy, but I think it is super cute with all the hearts!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Love You Much
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Candy Lane Designer Paper

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for more Valentines!

Monday, January 19, 2009

New Catalog!

I am SOOOO excited! The new catalog is here, and there are some really great new items! From fantastic stamp sets to new designer paper, to cordouroy buttons - oh my! The list was very long! You can order from my website by going here and browsing the new catalog online. You can also order product directly from there.

Would you like your own catalog? Contact me today for your copy! All my club members get a FREE catalog, so if you are interested in joining my club, let me know!

I promise to have more ideas tomorrow and throughout the week! Some more Valentine's Day cards, and then hopefully some great new creations from the the catalog!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Love you Much Candle

When I saw this technique, I thought it was the coolest EVER, and ran right out to Target to get a candle so I could come home and try it!


So - this is what you do. Take a small piece of tissue paper -- I used some from my gift wrap box -- make sure it is white. Stamp your image onto the tissue paper, either by using your stamp pad or with your markers. Then use your scissors and cut around the stamped image as close to the image as you possibly can. Next you are going to rip off a piece of wax paper, enough so that it wraps around the entire candle, and also leaves you a little room on the back for a 'handle'.

Line up your inked piece of tissue paper onto the candle, making sure that your inked image is facing UP! Then, wrap it in your piece of wax paper. Next you will take your heat gun and heat the image, just like you are embossing. You will notice that the image will take on the same 'glazed' effect that it does when you use the embossing powder. The tissue paper and inked image will essentially melt into the candle. Remove the wax paper, and now you have a beautiful stamped image on your candle!

I think I am going to try this with some different images, or possibly this image with alternate colors. Stay tuned! This one went as my gift to my hostess for Stamp Club!

Recipe:

Ink: Riding Hood Red

Technique: Embossing

Thanks for stopping by!

January Stamp Club

Well, the first club of the new year is tonight. That also means that it is the last club of the Fall/Winter Catalog! Kinda sad to see some of those items going, but oh so exciting to be introduced to all the new and wonderful items in the new one! I received my catalog last night and I just can't wait to place my first order! There really are some amazing things in there, and I can't wait to share some of them with you!

Onto club. We are making three Valentine's related items, and all of them are made using the Love you Much Bundle, of course!

The first card you have already seen, as it was on one of my earlier posts earlier in the week here. I just loved all the punched out hearts!

The second card is more of a candy holder, but the candy could be omitted and be used just as a card as well. Inside this card is a Ghirardelli chocolate square and it is pink for Valentine's!

The base of this card is Pink Pirouette and I used the Scallop Edge Punch on the front flap. The little love birds are just so adorable! I first stamped them on Very Vanilla and then stamped them on the Candy Lane Designer Paper and cut them out so they were fancy love birds! A little (non-SU!) heart brad is above their head, and are wrapped up with Riding Hood Red Ribbon.

The last card isn't really a card at all, but also a candy holder. Sorry, I couldn't resist with Valentine's coming up to not do more than one candy holder! This one is made using the diaper fold, which is super easy and makes a cute little pocket.

To do the diaper fold, take your designer double sided paper and cut into a square. In this case, I did a 6x6 square. Fold er in half so it is a triangle, and with the point facing up, fold the sides of the triangle across to the other side. Fold down the top flap, and there ya have it!

I used the Candy Lane Designer Paper, and secured it with Sticky Strip. The heart on the front is cut out with scissors and is from the Love you Much stamp set. It is colored in using Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette and Close to Cocoa. Now, I know we don't have markers for the In-Colors, but if you take a little ink from your re-inker and drop it into the lid of the stamp pad, you can use your Blender Pen to act like a marker! Neat trick, huh? The Sentiment is also from Love you Much and is stamped in Chocolate Chip, punched out with the Word Window and secured with a Silver Brad. The M&M's are in the Small Cello Bag and tied up with the Pink Pirouette Ribbon!

Here is a picture of all three club projects! I hope you like them as much as I do - are you falling in love with the Love you Much set yet?

Card Recipes:
Stamp Set: Love You Much
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Dimensionals, Silver Brad, Word Windo Punch, Small Cello Bag, Pink Pirouette Ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch, Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Riding Hood Red Ribbon, Glue Dot, Sticky Strip

Thanks for stopping by!
T

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Valentine Pizza Box

I saw the pattern for this little pizza box with mini-valentines inside it, I just knew I had to do it! The picture seems decevingly large, but it is small and really easy to make. What a great little Valentine gift it would be for someone. And who doesn't love pizza?

This is a picture of the oustide of the box. Let me know if you need dimensions, and I would be happy to e-mail them to you! I just know you want to try out the pizza box!

The box is made from Riding Hood Red Cardstock and I used Sticky Strip to keep it together. The regular Snail adhesive doesn't seem to stil as well for these 3-d projects, and you want to make sure that your box doesnt' come apart! The patterned paper is the new Candy Lane Designer Paper that can be purchased in the upcoming catalog being released on January 19th! It can also be purchased in the Love you Much Bundle, and details on this bundle can be found on my post here. The Hugs and Kisses is from the Love You Much stamp set and punched out with the 1 1/4" punch. It has a 1 3/8" punch in Close to Cocoa behind it, and then a Riding Hood Red Scallop Circle Punch. The scallop is pierced with my Paper Piercer. This is all up on blocks, of course (dimensionals). A piece of Choclate Chip Ribbon runs across the top of the box. The hearts that run across the bottom are stamped, and then punched out using the 3 heart punch from the Love You Much Bundle.

Here is a shot of the box opened:



And now onto the cards. I put 4 3x3 mini cards inside which make the perfect little love note! You could probably put envelopes in there as well, although I didn't think about that until just now....

There are 4 cards in the box, 2 of each design. The card measures 3x3. The patterned paper is again the Candy Lane Designer Paper. The bases are Pink Pirouette and Close to Cocoa. The little love birds (don't you just love them ♥) are from the Love you Much set and stamped on Very Vanilla and punched out using the 1 3/8" Circle Punch. The Scallop Circle Punch was used on Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red and then pierced and up on blocks. The bottom of the designer paper was punched with the Scallop Edge Punch (if you don't have this punch yet - it is a must have! Makes things so easy and elegant). Some Chocolate Chip Ribbon runs underneath the medallion. The heart above
the love birds is stamped using the Love you Much set and then punched out using the heart punch from the same set. I think the 4 of these cards in this little box just are so darling! And I just LOVE the Candy Lane Designer Paper!! Who doesn't love pink and brown together??!!

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Love you Much
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Dimensionals, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Paper Piercer, Candy Lane DSP



Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are loving this new bundle as much as I am! More to come!

T

Monday, January 12, 2009

Love You Much Promotion

Good morning! Today I want to tell you about the Love You Much Promotion. This is a great promotion at a great price!

Click here to see the flier for this great sale!

The awesome thing about this bundle is that it is 20% off through the end of the month! That's right - 20% off! You get the Love you Much Stamp set, a package of Candy Cane Designer paper (who doesn't love pink and brown together?), and a coordinating punch. That's right - the punch coordinates with one of the stamps so you don't have to hand cut out the hearts. Celebrate HERE!

This is the first card that I made using this set, and I just love the colors! The base of the card is Riding Hood Red Cardstock, and then a layer of Close to Cocoa underneath a layer of Candy Lane Designer Paper. The hearts are all stamped, then punched and then propped up on blocks (dimensionals). A tiny bit of Chocolate Chip Ribbon and it's done! So cute!

I have many more samples of cards made with this great new set, so stay tuned on these days leading up until Valentine's Day. Can you believe we are already to the next holiday? I bought some Valentine candy yesterday at Target, and it seemed weird....especially since I still had my Christmas wreath on the door. That was the first thing to come down when I got home!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Love You Much
CardStock: Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Candy Lane Designer Paper

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Tile Coasters

So every year for Christmas I make my family and Duane's family something "home-made". Some years this list has grown to include friends and co-workers, depending on the scope of the project. This year I decided I wanted to do something with stamping, and since I waited until the last minute (like the night of the 23rd - eek), it ended up only being family.

Since I have an 'in' in the tile business, I had Duane cut some larger pieces of limestone into 4x4 square which work out nicely to be a coaster. You can also purchase the tiles from Lowe's or Home Depot, just make sure you use the unglazed version, otherwise the ink won't stay.

I used Craft Ink which doesn't dry as fast, and works better on surfaces other than paper. Once I stamped the image, I coated them with a layer of clear embossing powder. Tap off the excess powder and then pop in the oven. Yep - you read right, the oven. Bake them at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes, or until all of the inked images appear shiny and embosseed.

Take them out of the oven, and allow to cool. Then I put a layer of cork on the back so that the coaster doesn't scratch the surface of whatever it happens to be sitting on. This cork I found at Hobby Lobby, and came in a large roll. I cut it to 3.5x3.5 so that they fit nicely on the back of the coaster.
Tie them all together with a pretty ribbon and you have a great home-made gift that is already packaged! I was really happy with the way they turned out, and was able to use my Stampin' Up! stuff in a 3-d practical way!
Let me know if you would be interested in doing a tile coaster class. Even without the monogram, they would make a great gift, and something that you could just have on hand if you needed a 'quick' gift for something!
Tile Recipe:
Stamp Set: Friendship Blooms (Retired)
Ink: CRAFT: Old Olive, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Carmel
Other: Limestone Tiles

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Christmas Thank-yous!

Hello again! I'm going to get up on my soapbox for a paragraph, and then will show you my great thank-yous that I made the other night watching The Biggest Loser (one of my favorite shows). One of my all time pet peeves is not sending thank-you notes. I realize that during this time of electronics, e-mail, text messaging and instant messaging that the handwritten card is a thing of the past. I also think that with all those other 'easy' forms of communication, it should be easy to get a "Hey, thanks for the ________", even if it is electronic. I still like to send a handwritten card. My mom always made us sit down and write out our thank you cards before the holiday break was over. Even though I don't get holiday breaks anymore (what's up with that anyway), and it has been over for at least a week, I did get my thank-you's finished, and will be sent out tomorrow. Here they are:



They are super simple to make, and easy to reproduce many of - depending on how much thanks you need to send out! Although I used a retired stamp set, I think the sentiments are just great and seemed fitting for the occasion. I mixed it up a little using the same template, used different papers make them a little different.
Hope you enjoy! Thanks for stopping by!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Lots of Thoughts (retired)
Cardstock: Real Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Alpine Felt Ribbon, Dimensionals, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Paper Piercer, Ski Slope Designer paper

T

Blowout Sale and Retiring Accessories

Who doesn't love a sale?! Well, Stampin' Up! is putting on a great sale, with items up to 50% off! Now is the time and take a look to see if there is anything that is a must-have!!

Here is the think to check out the Blow-out Sale here. Some of the items on this list aren't in the current catalog - they are still trying to sell some retired items. A reminder of what those items are can be found here.

Retiring stamp sets can be found here in alphabetical order, and here in numerical order.

And now, onto the retired accessories. These items are going quickly, so if you are interested in purchasing anything, please let me know!!!

111377 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS ROOF GARDEN
112012 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS SEASON TO SHARE
112088 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS TRUE ELEGANCE
102782ALBUM LEATHER BLACK 12X12
104188ALBUM LEATHER BLACK 6X6
105384 ALBUM LINEN POST MELLOW MOSS 6X6*
104516 ALBUM LINEN POST NAVY 6X6
105381 ALBUM LINEN POST REAL RED 6X6*
103977 BUTTONS BOLD BRIGHTS*
103978 BUTTONS EARTH ELEMENTS
103981 BUTTONS EARTH ELEMENTS & NEUTRALS
105446 BUTTONS RICH REGALS
105445 BUTTONS SOFT SUBTLES
103604 DAYS-TO-REMEMBER CALENDAR 12X12
102174 DAYS-TO-REMEMBER CALENDAR 8 1/2X11
112465 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BANBURY
112462 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GEORGIA PEACH
112463 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GHOSTLY GREETINGS
112040 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GREEN TEA
112470 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HAIKU
112460 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HAWAII PAPAYA
112469 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HOLIDAY TREASURES
112458 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER JUNIOR VARSITY
112459 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MAINE BLUEBERRY
112466 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MUIRFIELD
112149 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PARISIAN SUMMER
112467 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PRESTWICK
111355 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SUMMER PICNIC
112039 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER WINDSOR KNOT
112963 ELEMENTOS PARA TARJETAS DIAS FESTIVOS HECHOS A MANO SIMPLY SENT
106523 ENVELOPE TEMPLATE FIVE-IN-ONE CARD COVER
104104 ENVELOPE TEMPLATE MINI
107298 ENVELOPES CONFETTI WHITE MEDIUM
110695 ENVELOPES OPEN END KRAFT SMALL
109115 ENVELOPES OPEN END VERY VANILLA SMALL
103372 METAL EDGE TAGS ALUMINUM WHITE SQUARE
107925 ON BOARD BITTY BOOK*
109190 ON BOARD CLIPBOARD 9X9*
109180 ON BOARD SIMON UPPER
112086 ON BOARD SOMETHING SEASONAL
107923 PAGE PROTECTORS RING 3.25 X 3.25
104942 PUNCH 1/4 INCH CIRCLE
104943 PUNCH 1/4 INCH SQUARE
107273 PUNCH 3/4 INCH SQUARE
104389 PUNCH DOUBLE CIRCLE*
100391PUNCH HANDHELD 1/8 INCH CIRCLE
104830 RIBBON GINGHAM CARAMEL
104829 RIBBON GINGHAM LIGHT BLUE
104828 RIBBON GINGHAM LIGHT PINK
104831 RIBBON GINGHAM MOSS
109037 RIBBON GROSGRAIN MORE MUSTARD 1/4 INCH
110282 RUB ON ANCHORED
111806 RUB ON CHILLS & THRILLS
111805 RUB ON SCHOOL DAYS
111417 RUB ON WORD FLURRIES
110283 RUB ONS TAKE NOTE
112193 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN I WISH
112186 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN PINA COLADA
112068 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SUMMER HOME
112043 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN U R SWEET
112061 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN WINTER RETREAT
112016 SIMPLY SENT CARD ELEMENTS HANDMADE HOLIDAY
109868 SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT LIFELONG NOTES
103647 STAMPIN STORE MINI
105813 WRITE ME A MEMORY FONT CD VOL II
Retiring Wheels
107212 MATEYS MAP
106749 BRIGHT BULBS
109672 BRONCO
104100 MAKING TRACKS
108978 SANDY SHELLS
110332 SNOW
101233 SNOWFLAKE
109694 SWEET STARS
111249 TAKE A NUMBER

Items in red are no longer available
*Items in blue are discounted and included on the Inventory Blowout.

Let me know if you want to order anything before they are gone!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Christmas (a little late)

Okay, I know, I know, Christmas is over, but I never got my Christmas cards posted, so I wanted to do that real fast before we moved onto Valentine's! I decided to do 4 different styles of cards this year, for a couple of reasons. One, I didn't want to run out of supplies for any one project; Two, I couldn't decide on a single stamp set or design to go with, and Three, I love a little variety. So, real quick....

This is my old school card using the fabulous set in the Holiday Mini, Winter Post. I found myself using this set a lot, and just loved the classic-ness of it!
Pretty straightforward card, with a few layers. Sponged (of course) around the edge of the Baja Breeze layer and around the layer with the skaters on it. The torn Chocolate Chip gives the bottom of the card a little interest underneath the Ski Slope Designer Paper (that I just LOVE). Add some Chocolate Chip Grossgrain Ribbon and pop the sentiment up on dimensionals, and done!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Winter Post
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Grossgrain ribbon, Dimensionals, Ski Slope DSP
Techniques: Sponging, Tearing

The next three cards I used the Big on Christmas set. When I saw it in the last catalog, I just knew I would have to use it for my Christmas cards!
The first card's base is Kraft with a layer of Chocolate Chip that has been stamped with a snowflake (from Winter Post) with Versamark to give it a little dimension, and a little sponging. I scalloped the bottom of this layer with the Scallop Edge Punch. If you have not yet bought this punch - it is a must have! Makes scalloping SO SO much easier. I colored in the message with the Stamp and Write Markers, added a little Blue Bayou ribbon (retired) and using the Photo Corner Punch and dimensionals made the center section pop!

I just love the little snowman face, and with all the snow we have had around here, this card defintely says it right!

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Winter Post, Big on Christmas
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Blue Bayou, Only Orange, Basic Black, Real Red, Glorious Green, Versamark
Cardstock: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou
Accessories: Blue Bayou Ribbon, Dimensionals, Photo Corner Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Paper Piercer
Techniques: Sponging

The next card uses the Big on Christmas set with one of the other sentiments. This one has a much brighter color scheme, and I think turned out real modern. The Designer Paper is Winter Brights and is now retired, but makes wonderful winter colors!

The edge of the sentiment is again sponged (I think I must have been on a kick!). Not sure if you can tell in the photo, but I stamped the sentiment in Versamark and then used Silver Emobossing Powder to edge the words, and then colored them in with my Stamp and Write Markers to match the Designer Paper which is layered behind. The sentiment is also propped up on dimensionals, which I like to call "up on blocks". Makes me laugh everytime! :) Can you believe I didn't use ribbon? Me neither.....

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Big on Christmas
Ink: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink
Cardstock: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Dimensionals
Techniques: Embossing



The last one turned out a little fuzzy in the picture (my bad), but overall turned out pretty cute.

This is the last sentiment in the Big on Christmas set, and also happens to be the name of one of my good friend's son! And, come to think of it, I don't even think I sent her this one.....You can check out here blog here if you want!

Back to the card. The sentiment is again colored with the Stamp and Write Markers and "up on blocks" in addition to sponging (did I sponge on EVERY card...geesh!) the bottom layer is on Real Rust and I used the big background stamp Sanded to give it a little texture. On the piece of Ruby Red on the side, the ornaments are Versamarked on there, with some (non-SU) eyelets. There is also some Very Vanilla Ribbon that runs behind the sentiment.

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Big on Christmas, Sanded
Ink: Really Rust, Versamark, Old Olive, Ruby Red, More Mustard
Cardstock: Ruby Red, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive
Accessories: Very Vanilla Ribbon, Dimensionals, (non-SU) eyelets
Techniques: Sponging

And lastly, here is a photo of all 40 that I made: