Fun Flowers Bookmark

This was my swap for Tuesday's team meeting. I made everyone attending a Fun Flowers bookmark in the new Stampin' Up! color Calypso Coral to match the cover of their catalog. I am in love with this color it so fun and summery.

A few months ago when the Fun Flowers die first came out I was seeing these bookmarks all over the place so I thought it was time to make some. A half of sheet of 8.5" x 11" cardstock is perfect for this project as it covers the Fun Flowers die completely. Run this through your Big Shot and it cuts out three nesting flowers, a small circle and a tiny flower shape. I used all these pieces plus a few additional punches.

Then comes the fun part I ran each flower through the Crimper about 20 times as this breaks down the fibers in the cardstock and then I crumpled each one up in a ball then flattened out again. I then sponged the same color ink around the edges and got to work adhering. Stampin' Dimensionals are perfect for this project. I punched two additional circles 1 1/4" and 1 3/4" out of the scrap. When layering together use the tiny circle from the die for the back of the smallest flower and the larger circles for the other flowers. The circles in between the flowers gives stability and a great 3D look to the bookmark. 

I stamped my sentiment handcrafted from the Tiny Tags stamp set. I then punched that out with the coordinating jewelry tag punch. You can adhere that with glue dots then finished off the front with a large pearl rhinestone. For ribbon I used Very Vanilla seam binding and that piece measures 15" long.

All the supplies for this card can be purchased in my Online Store.

Supplies:

Stamps: Tiny Tags

Ink: Calypso Coral

Paper: Calypso Coral & Very Vanilla cardstock

Other: Big Shot, Fun Flowers die, Very Vanilla seam binding ribbon, Basic Pearls Jewel accents, Jewelry tag punch, 1 1/4 circle punch, 1 3/4 circle punch

Happy Stampin,

Christine

My Digital Studio: BBQ Invitation

I'll admit I am a My Digital Studio newbie, but for my first project I am really happy with the way this came out! I saw a barbecue invitation on etsy.com that I fell in love with so I got to work looking for a similar font online for free then creating my invitation in Stampin' Up!'s digital software program My Digital Studio. If you are interested in the name of the BBQ font, the one I used is Carnivalee Freakshow (who comes up with these names?)

I find the software to be very user friendly, but I think I am also pretty computer savvy. For this invite I kept it all very simple using a custom gingham background Designer Series Paper, text and punches! I found the tutorial for the custom gingham paper from another Stampin' Up! demonstrator Trina here.

Stampin' Up! has an entire website dedicated to My Digital Studio where you can see samples of projects, video tutorials, blogs and training resources. I also love that the software is now available in DVD format or just a download format for those of us on mini laptops with no DVD drive. On Tuesdays Stampin' Up! releases new digital downloads updates to the full software version and you can see the most current downloads in my Online Store.

I look forward to sharing more My Digital Studio projects with you. Let me know if you have any questions. 

Supplies:

My Digital Studio 

Convention 2011 Highlights

I am saving my pennies so I can be there next year! Stampin' Up! just posted a video highlights of the convention that just ended yesterday. This looks like so much fun. I can't wait to hear all about it on Tuesday night at my upline's meeting. Lots of exciting announcements including an incentive trip to Fiji and amazing new products coming in the Holiday Mini catalog.

Would you like to attend Convention 2012 along with me? 

During July, you can join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator for only $99! This limited time Starter Kit—valued at $185—comes with the following high-quality products:

• Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*
• Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*
• Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
• Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
• Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
• Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
• Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
• Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
• Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*
• Note Cards (20)
• Clear-Mount Block C
• Blender Pen (1)
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Business supplies

*Brand new to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

Plus, join in July and get a FREE Christmas Keepsake project kit—a $40 value! Imagine an afternoon spent chatting with friends while creating something beautiful—isn't that what Stampin' Up! is all about? But act now because this special kit is only available as part of this limited-time offer.

Girly Baby Shower Favors

I put together 50 of these mini purse favors for a baby shower last month. I got the idea from my sideline demo Gina and the original idea came from Angie Juda another Stampin' Up! demo. The picture above shows the front side on the left and the back side on the right. 

It is a little hard to see in the photo, but where the brad is you just lift the top open and the inside holds two Hershey Nuggets. The mom-to-be knew she was having a girl and wanted pink-pink-pink. So I used a lot of Pretty in Pink and Pink Pirouette in these favors. I worked with her sister-in-law to pick everything out. She fell in love with the baby face from the Baby Bundle stamp set so we decided to put that on the back with the thank you sentiment on the front.

You can find all the materials used for these favors in my Online Store.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Supplies:

Stamps: Baby Bundle, Short & Sweet

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Subtles Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack

Other: Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, rhinestone brads, Sticky strip, Word window punch, Owl builder punch, 1 3/4 scallop circle punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, 1 1/4 circle punch

Pretty Postage Swap Card

Here is my swap card for our Rubbahstampahs team meeting last month. I had a lot of fun creating this card. The theme was celebrations in my honor of eloping a few months ago. I had it in my head that I really wanted to use the 24/7 heart stamp from Pretty Postage. I remember seeing a few blogs that inspired me for the card.

This card at Connie Babbert's blog is how I ended up with the overall sketch or design of my card. I did change all the colors, stamp, etc. Also, Kerin Sylvester shared this technique on the Stamping411 blog and I was hooked right away. The technique is stamping with black stazon on watercolor paper then coloring in using a marker & blender pen. I know I will be using this a lot!

This card was a little over the top for a swap since it was a lot of steps. 4 punches & lots of Big Shot cutting & embossing. But I am thrilled with the outcome so it was worth it for my teammates! Since I made the card into an Anniversary card I went with a nice traditional black and white combination. For me the little details really stand out like the dots embossing which follow the dotted background in the stamp.

Supplies:
Stamps: Pretty Postage, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Black stazon, Melon Mambo marker
Paper: Whisper White & Basic Black cardstock, Watercolor paper
Other: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Scallop Squares duo die, 5/8" Basic Black satin ribbon, White baker's twine, Postage stamp punch, 1 3/8" square punch, word window punch, modern label punch, Basic Rhinestone Jewels, blender pen

Happy Stampin',
Christine

New 2011-2013 In-colors!

With the announcement of the new Idea Book & Catalog comes five, fresh in-colors for 2011-2013. The in-colors are now active for two years.

Exciting New Hostess Program!

With the new Idea Book & Catalog effective July 1st also came a great new Hostess Program. A simpler program, with hostess dollars that can be applied either to exclusive hostess items or to other catalog merchandise-and the opportunity to purchase any item out of the catalog at 50 percent off (starting at a $400 workshop)!


Also, please make note that since this program is effective July 1st it is good for the current Summer Mini catalog and the new full Idea Book & catalog.

Let me know if you have any questions about the new program.

Happy Stampin' Up! New Year!!!

 

So it's July 1st which means it is the start of a brand new year for Stampin' Up! It also means that it launches the first day of our brand new 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog. I have had my book for a few weeks and I love it!

Some more exciting news today that there is a special sign-up this month from 7/1 - 7/31 you can become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for only $99! This is an amazing deal since you receive over $180 in product & business supplies plus a special bonus Christmas Keepsake Box Project kit (a $40 value). The products in the Starter kit are customizable so let me know if you have any questions about joining the Stampin' Up! family. 

You can visit my website for more information on the new catalog and starter kit promotion. I will be posting some projects after the holiday weekend. I will also be updating my calendar for summer Stampin' events soon. Wishing you a safe and Happy 4th of July with your loved ones!