10 Minute Card Wednesday - #4!!

10 minute card #4. Easy, easy, easy. I saw something similar on a blog last week but darned if I can find it right now. I loved the simplicity of it but still draws your eye. I used four 1" squares punched from the 6x6 "Welcome Neighbour" DSP paper pack in the SAB catalogue (I LOVE free stuff!!) and used the other side of the paper to finally use my newest Big Shot die - "Beautiful Wings" emblosslit folder. They are cut and dry embossed. So beautiful (and there is a larger butterfly too that cuts at the same time. Saving that for another card). I also took a quick snap of the supplies I used. I forgot the 1" square punch :) I used Melon Mambo to ink the edges of the squares and also to stamp the sentiment from the Well Scripted set. This set I have in Clear Mount - it is a new one from the Occasions Mini. LOVE it! I have a girlfriend who has been trying for a while to get pregnant (early fall but waiting for much longer than that for a vasectomy reversal first) and I just have this feeling that I might get to send her this soon. I so hope I am right. She would be so happy to have one to call her own.

Take the time to do something scrappy and make a card for a friend you are thinking about!

Jen

Just had to make it...

It is my bedtime and I was going up to bed when my eye landed on my new SAB set "Vintage Labels". All of the sudden a card was born in my head and I thought "I better do a quick sketch of this so I can do it tomorrow". Then I was impatient with the sketch and raced downstairs to just DO the card. No idea why, and a colour combo I am fairly sure I've never done before! I used the circle stamp in Crushed Curry (first time I even used that ink pad, I like it!) and punched it out with the scallop circle punch. Then I used a 1" punch on the middle. The stamped image was raised up on the card with dimensionals and the sentiment is actually inside the card. (as you can see just down below). I also used the "Tiny Tags" set for that pretty vine about and below the sentiment.

The paper is from the SAB 6x6 paper pad and that is the new Satin ribbon in Chocolate Chip, isn't it almost edible??

So, take some time (that you were going to be sleeping) and do something scrappy tonight :) haha

Jen

Unmounting Your Wood Mount Sets

Okay, who else would LOVE more room in their scrap room?? Who else loves how crisp rubber stamps are but hate the bulk of the wood mount... raise your hands? Anyone other than me got their hands up out there?



Well, I am in the process of unmounting and boy, did I find the BEST TIP EVER yesterday online. If the set is unmounted or mounted this still works....



Unmounted: Take the sticker that is meant for the back of the wood block and place it on the foam side of your stamp (remove backing first so it's sticky!). Trim off excess. Put a VERY small amount of Tombow liquid adhesive (SU sells) and using a foam brush, spread a thin coat over entire back surface. Leave to dry. The Tombow remains tacky and VOILA, the stamp is now a clear mount cling...



Mounted: Gently peel your stamp off the block, leaving the foam in place. If you are having trouble, put in the microwave for like 10 seconds and this softens it up and allows you to remove. Gently peel label off wood block and just as with the unmounted instructions, put on sticky side of foam. If it needs some help, use a bit of snail to keep it down. Trim off excess, do the fabulous Tombow trick and VOILA!!



I will post some pictures of the "process" tomorrow. I got so excited tonight, I just went for it and didn't take pictures along the way.



**Remember** Stampin' Up sells the Clear Mount Stamp Cases in bulk at 4 cases for $6.95. I will be posting a template for those cases so you can see the set along the spine and on the front, just like in the sets you buy as Clear Mount, fabulous!



Bulk Clear Mount Stamp Cases
119105
$6.95
4 cases per package

Cases are approximately the same size as a DVD case.



Take some time to do something scrappy today!

Jen

Friday - Surprise!!

Here's a surprise layout for Friday! I did this after being inspired by a layout in CK magazine that I just got in my mailbox. I sat down and hammered it out. These pictures are from 2004 when my youngest was only a month old. I had that piece of pp I wanted to use so just scanned through my digital picture library until I found some that I liked with it.

I did some close ups of the star to show you I used a jumbo grommet between to large and small stars (SU punches).

I did a close up of the title to show you how I outlined the alpha stickers. I felt they didn't contrast quite enough so use a white gel pen. Also, I stamped some circle accents in Very Vanilla craft ink on my cardstock to just add a slight bit of interest up there and to match the circle pattern in the pp!
Take some time and do something scrappy today! Jen

Wednesday - 10 Minute Cards!

Wow, I did it. And I already have my Friday all lined up. Who's impressed? Feel free to leave me a comment if you like my new idea of 10 minute cards! I am going to try for every Wednesday so stay tuned!!

I was shamefully inspired from Linda over at http://www.lindastamps.com/! I subscribe to her Stamping School videos and they are the best. I changed up her card a bit (for reasons like I didn't have that DSP and I wanted to try to add in a colour). SIMPLE, SIMPLE, SIMPLE!! I did both of these cards in 10 minutes. Small strip of Old Olive right at the top and a 2" strip of DSP. The dangly is from the Scallop Circle punch, the trio flower punch, a jumbo grommet (that white between the circle and the flowers) and a cordoruy button brad. I used Kiwi Kiss (In Color from last year) and Tangerine Tango (again IC last year) for some contrast and stamped a quick sentiment. 10 minutes, both cards, I kid you not!!

Take some time to do something scrappy today! Jen

January Card Group - The Cards!!

I had posted sneak peeks of these cards 2 weeks ago and now that my ladies have had their chance to make them, here is the real deal. The first card allowed me to use one of my fav stamps in the 2009/2010 Idea Book - DASHER!! I am going to miss him alot and hope they bring him back next year (but I own him so I can keep using him no matter what!). This card is completely inspired by Linda at Stamping School: here's her blog. I subscribe to her Stamping School videos and this was one of her projects. As I was mass producing it, we used Dazzling Diamonds instead of the Chunky Glitter which I suspect would work a lot better. But... with 15 cards to prep and not being able to buy white Chunky Glitter on it's own... we did the Dazzling Diamonds :) Here is my Surprise Pop-up card. It uses the new Sweet Pea DSP in a colour combo I can't say I've rocked too much but love. Teal and orange! The image on the front is from the new Happy Moments set in the SAB catalogue. Four great line images to colour in. We'll be using again!!

And lastly my "Make a Wish" pop-up card, this time we used the Sizzlets Cupcake dies that were on sale in December. Super, super cute!! I used So Saffron with my Taken with Teal this time and the same DSP... I like to be efficient with my scraps but this paper pad is HUGE... I've barely used any of it! A VERY, VERY good deal on paper! I hope the new idea book has more paper pads in it. LOVE it! And it isn't a girlie, girlie or flowery, flowery patterned paper either so AWESOME for scrapbooking... watch for a layout with it very soon.

This card also makes use of the Big Bold Birthday's set for the balloons and sentiment!

Hope you enjoyed and take some time to do something scrappy today! Coming super soon, the sneak peeks for my February class!

PS I am excited to say I am planning my first ever scrapbook class series and hope to expand to two card groups a month!!

Inspired Layout #2

So here's my layout inspired by Janna Wilson's 52 week Challenge over at her blog (her layout is below). I went with a different orientation for my 4x6 but otherwise mine is very, very close. I used stars rather than circles at the bottom to mimic the stars in the one paper and used a punched out piece of DSP (that star in a circle in the top left) rather than a stamp. This is an old Stampin' Up DSP from years ago called Outlaw that I never used. (And sorry for the nasty flashback on one of the pictures, I did this layout in 20 minute and wanted to picture and post right away!! So I think it took me longer to pick my pictures and resize/print than it did to make it!)

Vintage Vogue card

A pretty card I put together quickly today as I just really wanted to play with the flowers from the Vintage Vogue stamp set. I used an oval cut-out to sponge Creamy Caramel onto the card front and then stamps the flowers in Elegant Eggplant and Creamy Caramel. Some Old Olive leaves and the vine from the same set were used underneath the cut out flowers. The Happy Birthday is from the Well-Scripted set which is one of my favourites of all time. I love the scripty font. A VERY similar card is up on the new Stampin' Connection site that is available for demonstrators. I can't link you up to that but a shout out to that demo (Christyne Richardson). If I can find a blog for her, I'll update this.

AND... not so good...

You know how some nights you do good and some nights... not so good... last night was a not so good but I decided to post a picture for you anyways. I am going to do a "re-try" on this project tonight as I am very unhappy with the results. The box itself is just fine - it is a 3x3 box covered with DSP and I used the new scallop edge and corner punches. I just really mismatched my stamps and papers and I just feel it is YUCK. Chalk this one up to experience and hopefully I can post another version for you!

I think, I was just too tired after my workout and should have just said "not a creative night" and gone to bed :)

Take some time today to do something scrappy! Jen

*NEW* Heart Treat Cups

Just in time for Valentine's Day! Stampin' Up!'s introduces the new Heart Treat Cups and Sweetheart stamp set. They coordinate with each other and also with the Full Heart Punch (113693 - in 2009/2010 catalogue).
Download your insert today HERE

Take a little time to be creative and get scrappin'. Jen

Sneak Peeks

Sneak peeks of my cards for my January card group on the 13th. I'll post the full pictures after my girls have had their chance to make them :)

LOTS to share... let's start with Xmas...

So I truly did do lots of stuff in December but didn't get around to pictures and posting. So I am sharing some now. I have two mini albums I gave that I don't have pictures for as I finished them in a hurry but am working on that (nothing like giving a gift and then saying, can I have it back so I take take pictures of it??)

Haha... I'll start with my Xmas tags. I used the Christmas Punch Hostess Set (level 2) and did colouring, embossing, punching and some creative cutting to make them all.

The holders below used a 9" x 3" piece of paper scored at about 3" and just slight more than 6". I stapled the inside fold for a spot to put a yummy Ghiardelli chocolate square and then used the slot punch to attach the tags in a mini cello bag with ribbon. I then used the scallop oval and oval punches for the tag on the outside. For my husband's bosses and managers, we used these with extra ribbon in the neck of a wine bottle as Xmas gifts. It looks really, really nice if I do say so myself.


This card organizer I made for my mom and aunt (and just finished two days ago!!) I couldn't decide on a front cover until I got the Kind and Caring Thoughts set (Hostess Level 3).... scroll down....

Isn't that flower just gorgeous!!

Next are my ornaments. My tradition has been to do one a year with the boys picture on it. So we can see each year how they've grown and changed. I do three - one for me, one for my mom and one for my dh's mom. This snowflake is my design for this year (two pieces of pp with thin cardstock sandwiched inside - I used Tombow to glue together - thru the Big Shot with the Snowflake die and I Versamarked the entire thing and used the Iridencent Ice powder to sparkle it up without the mess of glitter) The boys picture is covered with a piece of medium window sheet punched to the same size and held together with Crystal Effects. I was really happy with it.

This next one is my 2008 design. The frames were "LOST" in my scrap room but I found them during the redesign and finished them up. I love that picture of the boys... so cute.

Sneak Peeks - Two simple cards for you!!

(Supplies: Card Base - Unknown, Stampin Up: PP - Sweet Pea DSP Stack, CS - So Saffron, Confetti White, Ink - Old Olive, Taken with Teal, Button - Kiwi Kiss Cordoroy Button, Ribbon - Old Olive 1/4" grosgrain, Punch - Scallop Trim Border, Stamp Sets - Vintage Vogue, Tiny Tags)

This card was made using the new Occasions Mini set "Vintage Vogue" (vine and flower) and the Tiny Tags set (4 you). Both these sets I purchased during the demonstrator preorder and are both the new Clear Mount style. I am very happy to tell you that the images from these new style of stamps are just as clear and crisp as the wood mount sets - because they are still rubber stamps and the same rubber as the wood mount!!

(Supplies: Card base -unknown, Stampin' Up: CS - So Saffron, Confetti White, PP - Sweet Pea DSP Stack,Ink - Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Stamp Set - Well-Scripted, Punch - XL Two-Step Bird, Scallop Trim Border, Brad - Filagree Flower)

This card I used two of the new punches - XL Two Step Bird and the Scallop Trim Border which will be available FREE in the Saleabration promotion January 5th! The stamp set was again the new Clear Mount style from the Occasions Mini called "Well-Scripted". A very pretty set. There is another similar style set available in the Saleabration promotion that I am really hoping.

New Holiday Mini Catalogue!!

The catalogue is now here!!

Click to see it: NEW HOLIDAY MINI CATALOGUE

There are TONS of fabulous new products in here and as with all SU publications, lots of great project/card/scrapbook page ideas. Email me to get yours today.

The promotion for this month is to host a $330 workshop and you receive any item in the Holiday Mini for only $14!!

My most favouritest (that's my professional scrapbooker word, LOL) new stamp set in the book is the new Serene Snowflakes and new product is the Shimmer Paint that you can stamp these snowflakes with!! Expect lots of cards inspired by the new products in this catalogue up on my blog soon. (I'm so behind... I go on vacation for 2 weeks and it takes me 4 weeks to get back into my routines, geesh!!)

Happy Scrappin',

Jen

Sorry, it's been a while!!

I was away on vacation and now trying to get my head back in the game for work.

But way more fun than that, I am prepping for my Stampers 10 group that is starting September 16th. I have 3 fun cards and/or projects a month and plan on planning/buying/prepping for the first 4 months in the next two weeks. Ambious but necessary as I need (okay, want) the new hostess stamp sets from the Holiday mini and more importantly, I have one out-of-towner (Hey Amy!!) to send stuff too and I am heading her place in early October. Might as well bring it all along.

I am really hoping to work on building my business this year as down the road... it would be great to earn a free trip or cruise!!

Current promotion: FREE buttons (worth $10.95) for purchasing $45 worth of stamp sets from the Growing up section of the Idea Book is on now until August 31st!!

September 1st: The new Holiday Mini comes into effect.

Layout of "The Gap"

Here is the layout I did last night of my son's "gap" after he lost his top teeth. The smile was so cute for several months but the teeth are coming in now. Great BIG middle teeth!! Sigh, poor kid is apparently taking after his mom. We'll be in braces together.