Cupcake With Bling!

Another card we made at a group meeting! This one uses the Create A Cupcake stamp set and matching Build A Cupcake Punch from the Occasions Mini Catalog, as well as Red Glimmer Paper and In Color Glimmer Brads. Also the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border and Modern Label Punches, Stitched Poly Ribbon, and Patterns Designer Series Paper.

Colors: Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz & Early Espresso

With Love & Caring

We made this card at a group meeting not too long ago, but I forgot to share it until now. It used the Thanks For Caring set from the Occasions Mini Catalog, as well as the Springtime Vintage DSP, Vintage Flower Adornments and Framed Tulips Embossing Folder. The cardstock is Rose Red.

Fabric Flowers

These were experiments, just to see if you can punch fabric. You can! I put it on the Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets first, then punched. There is some fraying on the edges, but I like the look. 

Springtime Vintage Fabric, Sweet Stitches Button, Seam Binding Ribbon, Fancy Flower Punch, Framed Tulips EF

Colors: Melon Mambo, Always Artichoke

Candy Cane Christmas Fabric, Candy Cane Button, Seam Binding Ribbon, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Framed Tulips EF

Colors: Real Red, Garden Green, Always Artichoke

Happy Easter!

Here's another Punch Bunny card that I made.

This one is a free standing card.

I followed a tutorial from another demonstrator, Jackie T. Isn't he cute? I was going to have everyone make him at a Stamp-A-Stack, but he's a little time consuming and I didn't want anyone to get frustrated. So I adapted him and made my Chubby Bunny card instead.

Happy Easter!

Earth Day - the Stampin' Up! Way

Just thought I would share some information about how Stampin' Up! celebrates Earth Day every day. This is from my up, up, up, up, upline Denise Waddell.

Happy Earth day stampers . . . so, did you know how awesome Stampin' Up! is about being green? I'm so proud of them for trying hard to be kind to our world and conserve energy too!


Rubber . . . they donate excess rubber from manufacturing to "Courage Reins"! A non profit group that provides horseback riding therapy to physically and mentally challenged children. This awesome group is able to fund their programs from sales of the rubber used in playgrounds and horse stables.

Wood blocks . . . these are created from renewable sources using sustainable practices. This maple wood tree farms grows them specifically for the purpose of harvesting wood.

Card stock and paper . . . paper used for shipping is 100% recycled and our card stock contains recycled paper too! In fact, Basic Black is our greenest color! Darker shades use the most recycled paper in them . . . and, our paper brokers are certified to help ensure that our paper uses paper from sustainably managed forests. These mills take steps to lessen their carbon footprint. One of the mills even generates their own power!

Building . . . Stampin' Up! facilities use geothermal wells to reduce the consumption of heating oil or natural gas. Lights are on sensors and timers to reduce the use of electricity, filters are in place to reduce any air pollution that stamp production may creative. And native water wise plants are using in the landscaping and sprinklers minimize evaporation.

Carbon footprint . . . shipping practices are designed to reduce the carbon footprint. including using non-peak traffic hours with UPS and carpooling stamp facility transfers with otherwise empty Sysco food delivery trucks! Now, don't you love that!!

Simple, Elegant Emboss Resist

I haven't done much embossing lately, but when I saw the cards that Gretchen B. made like this, I knew I had to get my heat gun out!

I did use a different border punch (Eyelet) but otherwise this was Gretchen's design. The stamp is from Thoughts & Prayers. I stamped it in Versamark and then used clear embossign powder. I used a piece of sponge to add color around the embossed image. The greeting is from Sincere Salutations. This card is done in Marina Mist, but for the Stamp-A-Stack we also did Certainly Celery and Pretty In Pink. So easy to make and they look so elegant!

Nature Walk Butterfly

Nature Walk is in the Occasions Mini Catalog and the Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper coordinates with it. We used them both for the projects we made at the Stampin' Up! Regional in Minneapolis in February. I didn't finish my projects, so I set them and the stamp set aside to work on later, and of course forgot about them! As I was looking through the mini catalog to see what else I wanted to use for the Stamp-A-Stack, I looked at the set and remembered I had it somewhere! I found it and the projects (which I've almost finished!) and came up with this card:

I used markers to color the flowers and butterfly stamps, then stamped them on a 3 x 3" piece of Whisper White cardstock. It's cut into 1" wide strips, then layered on a 3 x 3 1/2" piece of Rose Red cardstock. The strip is Certainly Celery and the card base is So Saffron. I added 3 brads to finish the card.  

Finial Press Scalloped Circle

I saw a card similar to this somewhere quite awhile ago,thinking I would make a card like it "someday". It ended up being a card at both Stamp-A-Stacks this month! I had saved some long strips of cardstock that were an inch wide or more, and I built the card around them. I did several color combinations, but this is my favorite- Basic Black and Very Vanilla.

It uses the Finial Press Embossing Folder, 1 3/4" Scalloped Circle punch, and 1 3/8" Circle Punch. To save cardstock, the scalloped circle is punched out of the matching layer. You don't even notice it since it's in between the other layers! We used a variety of greetings- this "thank you" is from All Holidays.

Button Flowers

I'm not into sewing but I like the fabric and buttons that Stampin' Up! has now. Here's a card we did at both Stamp-A-Stacks this month that uses the big buttons as the center of a punched flower:

After I took this picture, I decided to color in the "Thanks" in Tangerine Tango to match the button and ribbon. That was how the card was done at the Stamp-A-Stacks. There was lots of color variation with different buttons and matching ribbons, most of which were current colors but discontinued ribbons. The saying and flower stem, from Thanks For Everything, were stamped in Chocolate Chip and Old Olive. The chocolate chip flower is the Fancy Flower punch.

SNEAK PEEK! Four Frames & Paisley Petals DSP

 Would you like a sneak peek of a stamp set and Designer Series Paper that will be in the new 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog? I showed them to you on April 1st, but I'll show you again...

You can order both of these when you place an order of $20 or more! The stamp set is available in wood mount ($20.95) or clear mount ($15.95). The DSP is $9.95.

I loved the samples that Stampin' Up! made with the set and paper, so I CASE'd it for the Stamp-A-Stacks:

I decided to do 3 variations, using different blues for the cardstock (Marina Mist, Baja Breeze, and Not Quite Navy) and different patterns from the Paisley Petals DSP.

The Four Frames set goes with the Decorative Label Punch. These cards also use the Scallop Trim Border,  Boho Blossoms, and Jewelry Tag punches, Soft Suede ink, River Rock, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, and Old Olive cardstock.

Happy 50th Anniversary To My Parents!

Today is my parents 50th Anniversary! We're going out to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate.

Here's the card I made for them:

I used the Bliss stamp set from Sale-A-Bration and embossed it. The Happy Anniversary is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and is also embossed. Tulip Frame Embossing Folder and Brushed Gold card stock.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad! Here's to many more!

Fundraiser For Zack

THANK YOU to everyone who attended the Stamp-A-Stack on April 9th, placed an order and made a donation for Zack! We raised $107.30 to help Team Zack raise money for the 2011 Great Strides Walk to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. GO TEAM ZACK!

If you would like to make a donation, contact me for the link to make a secure donation online.

Organizing Your Punches

I love my punches! But they are kind of big and bulky, so finding a way to store them all can be tricky. I was so excited when I saw the new Punch Caddy in the Idea Book & Catalog, but unfortunately, they had some major issues with the manufacturer and they aren’t available. I think they ended up scrapping the idea. So I’ll stick with my tried and true way of storing my punches.

These are the top drawers of the containers I keep my stamps in. They are only about half as tall, so the punches fit perfectly.

I love how the new style punches are flat and can be stacked.

If you don’t have room to store them like this, you could use an over-the-door shoe organizer. The punches fit in the pockets that are designed for shoes. They are usually clear so you can see what’s in them. Or you can hang towel bars on the wall- the punches sit on them. If you do a search for them you should be able to find lots of ideas, but I’ve heard the flat ones from Ikea are ideal. I haven’t seen them in person, though. I’m trying to stay out of Ikea until we get a new house, then watch out! I’ve already been planning my next stamp room!

Some tips for your punches:

• If your punch isn’t punching well, punch a piece of tin foil to sharpen it.

• If your punch is sticking a little, punch a piece of wax paper.

• Most punches are only designed to punch through one layer of cardstock. If you need to do more layers, punch one, then line it up with the next layer and punch again.

• Always stamp first and then turn your punch over to line it up and punch. Much easier than punching and then trying to line up the stamp!

• If the piece you want to punch is too small to hold on to while it’s in the punch, take a scrap of cardstock, put a little adhesive on a corner and attach the piece you want to punch. The scrap acts like a handle.

Next month: Big Shot Dies

Spring Is Blossoming!

Spring is Blossoming with Sneak Peek products from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog.

You can get these brand-new products in one of two ways:

•  Spend $20* on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.

Four Frames Stamp Set- coordinates perfectly with the Decorative Label Punch

• Wood: item 123440 $20.95
• Clear: item 123442 $15.95

Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper: item 122367 $9.95

• Host a $350* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!
  

  *Net sales before tax and shipping

This set and the Designer Series Paper will only be available April 1-30th, then will be in the new Idea Book & Catalog that starts on July 1st.

Grab a Bag of Stampin' Up! Products!

Beginning today, April 1, and continuing while supplies last, you will be able to purchase special "grab bags" in the Online Store. These grab bags will come in three sizes: the $5, the $10, and the $15 grab bag. Each bag will contain a variety of discontinued products that could include a combination of any of the following: ribbons, Accents & Elements, chipboard, Designer Series Papers, and Simply Sent kit components. Grab bags will not contain stamp sets or tools.

Please keep the following in mind:

• There is no minimum purchase required to participate in the grab bag special offer.  

• There is no limit to the number of grab bags may purchase; however, grab bag items are only available while supplies last.

• All grab bag sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges.

• Not all grab bags will be unique.  

• You should use the following item numbers when ordering grab bags:

I'll be back on Monday with the next installment of Organizing Your Stamping Supplies!

This month we'll talk about Punches.