Just Believe

I tried a new technique with this card, featuring the set Just Believe.  The design is one that was actually demonstrated at a workshop I attended prior to becoming a demonstrator.

Colours: Pool Party, Basic Black, Whisper White

Now, you may be looking at the card thinking "what new technique did you use?".  It's hard to tell; but the flowers are both heat embossed on this card.  But how did I get them in pool party when we don't have that colour embossing powder?  

I simply inked my stamp with a VersaMark pad first, then immediately inked again with Pool Party ink.  I stamped the image and covered with CLEAR embossing powder and used my heat tool to set it.  Voila!

Elegant Baroque Motifs

Here is a beautiful, girlie card, featuring Baroque Motifs.  I just love the feel of this card, so elegant.  I cased the design from my upline, Jennifer Tinline.

Colours: Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Techniques: Heat embossing (silver)

Mini Chocolate Purses

I recently made favours for my good friend's baby shower.  I decided to make these super cute, and über cute, chocolate purses.

Colours: RETIRED: Purely Pomegranite, Buckaroo Blue
Embellishments:  Stickers by Jolees Boutique

They are SO easy to make even though I know they look like they would be complicated.  The wrapper around the mini Hershey bar is made from a strip of 1" wide cardstock and stamped with It's a Wrap Occasions.

Demo Playdate!

This past weekend, I attended a Demonstrator Playdate.  This was an small event put on by my upline, Jennifer Tinline, for demonstrators directly under her.  An 11 hour day of stamping, chatting and fun.  We arrived at 9 am and set up the room in a more "stamping friendly" arrangement.  Those of us that didn't know one another, remedied that and then we got to work.

Of course, there is always good food to snack on at these events.  The morning offered chocolate croissants, fruit and cranberry/orange scones.  Lunch was delicious platters of sandwiches, wraps, veggies, chips and of course all the left-overs from the morning.  Dinner was pizza, wings and salad and any leftovers from the morning and afternoon.  We also had beverages throughout the day, so everything a busy stamper could want and need in order to be productive!

I set out for the day with three tasks that HAD TO be completed.  I did bring a fourth one though, just in case I needed it.  I'm happy to report I was successful.  I got everything I set out to do done.  I didn't get to my fourth project; but, that's okay since I don't need it until November!

One of the tasks for the day was coming up with a swap idea to do at the playdate.  You might wonder what a swap is or how it works.  It's really simple actually.  Demonstrators commit to participating in the swap and once the numbers are finalized, each participant sets out to make a card for each of them.  The same card design is given to each participant as a way to inspire ideas among one another.  As a demonstrator and stamping enthusiast, I'm always looking for new design ideas, and swaps are a fun way to get them.  For the day's event, we had 6 sign up for the swap.

Here are the swaps I received from other demonstrators:

Design by Rosalina using a variety of
Dies for the Big Shot

Touch of Kindness from the Summer Mini
by Kathy

Jennifer Tinline's Fabulous Florets, Petite Pairs

Designed by Shirley, using Snow Much Fun

Christmas card using Bells & Boughs by Wendy

Aren't they beautiful?  The card I made for the swap is a slight variation of the following.  The difference on the swapped cards is the flower.  Instead of using the scallop circle punch from the photo, I made 3D paper flowers, similar to those in the second photo.

Stamp Set: Baroque Motifs, Colours: Crumb Cake,
Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Melon Mambo
Technique: Heat Emboss, Paper Tearing

We even surprised Jennifer with a birthday cupcake!

Overall we had a great day!  I can't wait to do it again.

If you'd like more information on becoming a demonstrator so you too can join our playdate, please email me, stampnsteph@gmail.com or call!

Whoo Loves Owls?

I do, I do!  Well, at least I love the Owl punch from Stampin' Up!®

For those of you that follow my personal blog, you'll know that I am planning a Harry Potter themed birthday party for my twins' 7th birthday...in November!

Since I want this party to be over the top; I've already started planning.  One of my plans is that each guest, will get a pad of "parchment" as part of their "supplies list" (aka: loot bag).  I purchased some pocket-sized notebooks from the local Dollar Store and have created a Harry Potter worthy cover using none other than the Owl punch.

Here are some before and after's.  

2011-12 Idea Book & Catalog Recipes

Do you like the card on page 122 or the pail on page 89?  Do you want to recreate these ideas; but, don't have a clue what to use?

Look no further!  You can find all the "recipes" for the 2011-12 Idea Book & Catalog samples here.  Simply look up the page number and away you go.






Recipes for the Summer Mini, which ends August 31, can be found here

Cherish

Whenever I hear the word I automatically think of Madonna.  Can't you just hear her raspy voice singing "Cherish, cherish..."

And that's the name of my next card.  I was playing around with ideas for a wedding card and came up with this using Baroque Motifs.

Colours: Wysteria Wonder, Basic Black, Whisper White,
White Velum (paper weight)

More My Friend

Have you noticed that I just LOVE the new My Friend set from the 2011-12 catalog?  Here are a couple more cards I made during a power outage the other night.  The first, you've seen before.  I just changed up the colours and distressed the image edges a little.  The second I cased from a card on Splitcoast Stampers.

Enjoy!

Colours:  Chocolate Chip, Calypso Coral, Whisper White
Technique:  Emboss Resist, Distressing

Colours:  Basic Black, Pool Party, Newsprint DSP

Buy 3 Get 1 FREE on Designer Series Paper!

During the month of August, you can get a FREE package of Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series paper, a $13.50 value, when you buy three others.  


You can choose from a variety of colours and designs from the 2011-12 Idea Book & Catalog and Summer Mini Catalog.

We're sure you will find Designer Series paper for every occasion, crafting project and creative whim.


Contact me to order at stampnsteph@gmail.com or you can order ONLINE