May Workshop Promotion

Here are the details on my May Workshop Promotions: If you purchase either the Summer Love Rub Ons 114620 ($11.95 for two sheets) or the Great Friend Stamp Set 113792 ($17.95 set of 5) you will get to attend the classes for $5 each. If you purchase both, you will get to attend one of the classes for free and the other for $5. The great thing about purchasing the rub ons is that at the workshops you won't have to worry that someone will use the image you want because you will have two sheets of your own! 

In order to guarantee delivery prior to the May 8th workshop, the order will need to be placed by April 27. You can either purchase

them yourself by visiting my demonstrator site (they will ship directly to you, so don't forget to bring them) or submit your order andpayment (cash, check, debit/credit card) to me before then -- these would come to me, so I would have them for you the night of the workshop.

Crazy for Cupcakes Workshop

Here is a preview of the projects we will be making this weekend at the Crazy for Cupcakes Workshop! There are two 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 cards, one gate fold card, and one treat bag. Enjoy!

Close up of the 3D icing (it looks way better in real life)

Close up of the treat bag

New Workshops Added for May

Mark your calendars! 

May 8 - Accordion Coaster Album Workshop ($15; $12 if you bring a friend)

May 15 - Walk in the Park Technique Workshop ($12; $10 if you bring a friend)

We will be using the Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper along with coordinating stamps and rub ons in both workshops. For more information visit my Stampin' Up Demonstrator Website and email me to sign up!

Also, don't forget that until April 30 for every $40 you spend from the Occasions Mini you get a free item from the Under $10 section of the Idea Book and Catalog!

Friend to Friend

This card was made for one of my employees who is having trouble with her third pregnancy. I am going to take it in tomorrow for all of the Health & Fitness Staff to sign. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Stamps: Fun and Fast Notes, Pocket Silhouettes

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White Cardstock and Sale-A-Bration Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Stampin' Pastels, Blender Pen, Ribbon, Brads, Hole Punch, Dimensionals

1. Score 5 1/2 x 8 piece of Not Quite Navy cardstock at 4 1/4 and fold along score line.

2. Stamp bird from Fun and Fast Notes onto a 3 x 3 piece of Whisper White. Stamp it again onto a scratch piece of paper. Cut out image from scrap paper.

3. Use a piece of tape to temporarily adhere your "scrap" bird over the "good" bird to create a mask. Then stamp the vase of flower image from the same set slightly to the right but allowing some of it to stamp on top of your masked bird. Peel off mask.

4. Stamp sentiment from Pocket Silhouettes in lower right corner.

5. Color images using blender pens and Stampin' Pastels. Use sponge dauber to rub Not Quite Navy pastels around the outer edges of the Whisper White.

6. Mat Whisper White to a 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 piece of Not Quite Navy and then mat that onto a 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 pice of Apricot Appeal.

7. Wrap a piece of Apricot Appeal ribbon around a 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 piece of Designer Series Paper. Use a small piece of the same color ribbon to tie a knot around ribbon strip. Adhere DSP to top left corner of card base.

8. Using dimensionals, adhere matted image to lower right of card base.

9. Punch three holes above image and attach Apricot Appeal brads.

10. The inside was covered with two 4 x 5 1/4 pieces of Apricot Appeal

25th Wedding Anniversary

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you enjoyed time with your friends and family! Today was the first time since I joined Stampin' Up that I used non SU cardstock and ink, but since I needed silver accessories for a "silver anniversary" card and I had some left over paper and ink from Michael's laying around. The cool part about this card is that the ribbon that I used was actually white. Read below to find out how to dye your ribbon!

Stamps: Close as a Memory, Congrats

Paper: Silver, Basic Black, Whisper White Cardstock 

Ink: Silver Craft, Basic Black

Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Embossing Gun, Liquid Applique, Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Sponge Dauber

1. Score 4 1/4 x 11 piece of Silver cardstock at 5 1/2. Fold on score line. 

2. Stamp flower from Close as a Memory set using the Silver Craft Ink onto a 3 x 3 1/2 piece of Whisper White cardstock.

3. Emboss with clear embossing powder.

3. Stamp sentiment from Congrats set in Basic Black Ink in bottom right corner of Whisper White. 

4. Cut a 4 inch piece of white ribbon. Dip your sponge dauber in the Basic Black ink and pull ink over white ribbon using long strokes. Do both sides and set aside to dry.

5. Apply liquid applique around the edges of the flowers (it's hard to see in the picture, but it looks really nice in real life). Use heat tool to dry applique and it will puff up.

6. Take dried black ribbon and tie a small knot. Adhere around Whisper White.

7. Mat to a 3 1/4 x 3 3/4 piece of Basic Black cardstock and adhere to silver card base.

8. Stamp sentiment from Congrats set in lower right corner of the card base.

9. For the inside adhere a 4 x 5 1/4 piece of Basic Black to card base. Use corner rounder to round corners of 3 3/4 x 5 piece of Whisper White and adhere to black.

Easter Treats

With this being Easter weekend, I wanted to make a few more projects using the Egg-cellent Easter set before it has to be put away. Since I love to make treat boxes/bags that's what I decided to make. I plan to use them as door prizes at Kim's party tomorrow afternoon.

Nugget Box:

Stamps: An Egg-cellent Easter

Paper: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Whisper White Cardstock and Sale-A-Bration Designer Series Paper

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Certainly Celery Ribbon, Stampin' Pastels, 1 3/8 Circle, 1 1/2 Circle, and Scalloped Circle Punches; Blender Pen, Dimensionals

1. For the bottom of the box, score 5 1/4 x 3 3/4 piece of Bashful Blue cardstock at 1/2 and 1 1/8 on all sides.

2. Cut off the three small boxes that make an "L" shape in each corner. On the long side snip along the score line up to the 1 1/8 score line to create little flaps.

3. Apply adhesive to the outer side of the flaps and the inside of the other edges and fold the box together.

4. For the top of the box score 5 1/8 x 3 1/16 piece of Bashful Blue cardstock at 11/16, 2 1/4, 2 15/16, and 4 7/16.

5. Fold on the score lines around the box and adhere ends together. (If you don't fold it around the box before adhering, you might make it too tight for the box to fit inside.

6. For the nuggets, wrap 1 x 3 piece of Designer Series Paper around each candy piece.

7. Decorate box as desired.

Top Note Treat:

Stamps: An Egg-cellent Easter

Paper: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White Cardstock and Sale-A-Bration Designer Series Paper

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Apricot Appeal Ribbon; Stampin' Pastels; 1 3/8 Circle, 1 1/2 Circle, and Scalloped Circle Punches; Big Shot; Top Note Die; Blender Pen; Dimensionals; Medium Cellophane Bags

1. Send scrap piece of Certainly Celery cardstock and Designer Series paper through the Big Shot machine using the Top Note Die.

2. Fold both Top Note pieces in half. Cut DSP Top Note in half. Stamp sentiment in top right corner.

3. Wrap Apricot Appeal ribbon around DSP and adhere.

4. Fill medium cello bag with wrapped nuggets. Fold bag to close and place inside the folded Certainly Celery Top Note.

5. Staple bag to Top Note making sure that the front of the staple is in the back and that the prongy side comes out the front.

6. Adhere DSP Top Note with ribbon to the bottom half of the Certainly Celery Top Note covering the staples.

7. Decorate as desired.

Pop Up Birthday Card

Wow! That's all I can say about the new pop up dies from Stampin' Up! I told you that Kathy had given us a Take-N-Make of the new pop up birthday cake on Wednesday and I had so much fun putting it together! I kept the front pretty simple since the inside really takes the cake (haha). The only thing I wish I would have done differently was paid some attention to where the seams on the cake were because I tied my ribbon and glued my candles on the seam side. I didn't realize until after everything was glued in place and didn't want to mess around with trying to switch it. The die also comes with little bride and groom cut outs, so this could be made into a wedding cake also.

This pop up die, along with the other amazing dies exclusive to Stampin' Up, require the use of the Big Shot die cutting machine. For more information, or to purchase the Big Shot and/or the dies, visit my Stampin' Up store link on the right hand side.

Wedding Invitations

As I mentioned before, I have recently finished a set of wedding invitations for some friends from college. Well they are back in town for Easter and are meeting to pick them up tomorrow. I'm really excited for them to see the invites in person! Here are some pictures of the finished product! Included in their set is a book fold invitation, response card with envelope, directions card, and outer mailing envelope. (Supplies are non-SU)

The front:

The inside:

All boxed and ready to go:

Click here for more wedding invitation samples!

Meeting Swaps

Tonight was Kathy's (my up-upline) monthly downline meeting and I wanted to share with you some of the swaps I received tonight. We have such a talented group and I couldn't wait to participate in this swap! The names of the creators are included on those who put their information with their cards (I can see the rest of your faces when I look at your cards, but just don't know everyone's name yet...I'm sorry!). Kathy also gave us a Take-N-Make of the new Big Shot Pop Up Birthday Cake Die, so I will be posting that once I sit down and put it together.

I also got to meet my downline, Jolene, tonight and she is awesome! I couldn't ask for a more fun and easy going person and I'm really looking forward to helping her with her first workshop! For receiving a recruit, I was awarded a honey bee pin with a pearl (you get a new pearl with each of your recruits) as well as a $10 Stampin' Up gift certificate! I can't believe how much I love being a demo! :)

Creator: Roberta Nahas (She made these specially for Jolene and I...there was candy in it, but it didn't last very long! Sooooo cute!)

Creator: Sue Millenbaugh (I lucked out and got one of Sue's notebooks that she had leftover from last month's swap...isn't this awesome?!)

Creator: Sue Bell

Creator: Cindy Mawhinney

Creator: Sue Millenbaugh

Creator: Kathy Stone

Creator: JoAnn Stone

Creator: Paula Phillips

Hostess Gift

I'm getting very excited about Kim's party this weekend! I decided to make her a stamped candle and matching gift box using the stamp set that we will be using on Saturday, Flower Fancy (hopefully she doesn't see this first! lol). The candle fits perfectly inside this little box and was very easy to make! I'm not sure if I'm totally happy with the candle yet or not. I might go back and add some leaves or branches to fill in some of the empty spots.

Stamps: Flower Fancy

Paper: Always Artichoke, Apricot Appeal, Very Vanilla Cardstock and Sale-A-Bration Designer Series Paper

Ink: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Certainly Celery

Accessories: Apricot Appeal Ribbon, Stampin' Pastels, Blender Pens, Embossing Gun, Wax Paper, Tissue Paper

For the stamped candle:

1. Stamp images from Flower Fancy (both parts of the 2-step stamp) onto tissue paper. Cut image out--it's okay to leave a little tissue paper around the image.

2. Position tissue paper on candle. Wrap a strip of wax paper the height of your candle around the candle sandwiching the tissue paper in between.

3. Heat up your embossing gun for 30 seconds and then heat over the image. You will notice it melt to the candle.

4. Carefully peel off the wax paper to reveal your image. Repeat until you have desired design.

The tutorial for the box can be found here. I altered the dimensions to fit my candle.

Hoppy Easter Shaker Card

This was definitely one of the most fun cards to make...and play with when it was done! It's almost like a snow globe card! They are made using the excess rubber from your stamps. And since you can only make one per stamp (unless you have multiples of the same set), you'll want to make sure to give it to someone extra special! 

(Close up after being shaken)

Stamps: An Eggcellent Easter

Paper: Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White Cardstock and Sweet Always Designer Series Paper

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Stampin' Pastels, Blender Pens, Scalloped Circle, 1 1/2 Circle, and 1 3/8 Circle Punches; Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Acetate

The tutorial to make a shaker card can be found here. This is from Meg Loven, who is a few uplines up from me (if that makes sense lol). I have read her blog daily for many months and couldn't believe I was part of her downline when I signed up as a demonstrator!

 

Baby Wipe Technique

This card was made using the baby wipe technique. It's very easy and gives a unique look. (You'll have to excuse my fuzzy photo. Our camera battery was really low, but I didn't want to wait for it to charge to post this! haha)

Stamps: Close as a Memory

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Whisper White, Apricot Appeal Cardstock

Ink: Tempting Turquoise and Kiwi Kiss Re-inkers, Versamark

Accessories: Apricot Appeal Ribbon, Baby Wipe

1. Score 5 1/2 x 8 Not Quite Navy Cardstock at 4 1/4 and fold on line.

2. Fold a baby wipe in half and drop ink from re-inkers in random pattern big enough to use as a stamp pad for the stamp.

3. Stamp image from Close as a Memory onto 2 1/2 x 3 piece of Whisper White cardstock, using ink from baby wipe.

4. Adhere only the top part of the image to 2 3/4 x 3 1/4 piece of Old Olive. Tear both pieces along the bottom.

5. Slide a 4 inch piece of Apricot Appeal ribbon between the layers and adhere to back on one side. Cut the other side at an angle. Adhere the bottom portion of the Whisper White to the Old Olive.

6. Stamp the image and sentiment from Close as a Memory onto card base using Versamark ink. 

7. Adhere image to top left corner.

8. For the inside, adhere a 4 x 5 1/4 piece of Apricot Appeal cardstock to card base.

 

Acrylic Frame Post-It Holder

This is a Post-It holder I made for my desk at work. I also plan to make something similar for our Administrative Assistant at work for Administrative Professional's Day on April 22. They are a super easy (and cheap--the frame was $1 at Family Dollar) way to spice up your office!

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Heard From the Heart

Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery Cardstock and Sale-A-Bration Designer Series Paper

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery

Accessories: Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Post-It, Binder Clip, Acrylic Frame

*These are the dimensions for a 5x7 frame, but can be altered to fit any size frame

1. Stamp Pocket Silhouettes with Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery ink onto the bottom of a 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 piece of Whisper White Cardstock. Stamp sentiment from Heard From the Heart with Chocolate Chip ink on top.

2. Use corner rounder to create scalloped border on 4 1/2 x 1 piece of Bashful Blue. Adhere to white cardstock. 

3. Wrap Certainly Celery ribbon where the white and blue meet and adhere to back. 

4. Adhere stamped piece to 5 x 7 piece of Sale-A-Bration DSP.

5. Adhere 3 1/4 square piece of Certainly Celery to 3 1/2 square piece of Apricot Appeal and adhere to bottom of DSP.

6. Slide DSP into frame so that the stand is at the top. 

7. Tie a small piece of Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue ribbon into a knot and adhere directly onto frame overtop of the Certainly Celery ribbon. Adhere Post-Its in the center of the Certainly Celery square.

8. Adhere 3/4 square of Certainly Celery cardstock to top of binder clip and clip onto frame.

 

3D Icing Technique

I am very excited to announce that last night I started to put together the materials for the Crazy for Cupcakes class and the 3D icing technique was a success!! I can't wait to show you all how to do it! You will definitely be WOW-ed! There is only one spot left for the Friday, April 17 6:00pm class, so sign up today! (There are still spots in the Saturday class).

Poppin' Pastels Card

This is another card that I will be demo-ing at Kim's party next Saturday. It was made using the Poppin' Pastels technique and my favorite stamp set, Flower Fancy. This set is considered "2-Step Stampin' because you stamp one image and then stamp the detail on top of it. I love that even if you don't match them up perfectly, they still look great!

Stamps: Flower Fancy, Congrats

Paper: Perfect Plum, Whisper White, Bashful Blue Cardstock 

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versamark Ink

Accessories: Stampin' Pastels, Dimensionals

1. Score 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 piece of Perfect Plum cardstock at 4 1/4 and fold along score line.

2. On 4 1/4 x 3 piece of Whisper White, stamp base image from Flower Fancy several times using Versamark ink.

3. While the ink is still wet, use the Stampin' Pastels to color on top of the ink (I used Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery). This is the Poppin' Pastels technique

4. Stamp detail image on top of the base using Chocolate Chip ink.

5. Layer onto a 4 1/4 x 3 1/4 piece of Bashful Blue. Adhere to Perfect Plum card.

6. Stamp additional flower on scratch piece of Whisper White using the same technique. Cut out the flower and adhere on top of image using Stampin' Dimensionals.

7. Stamp sentiment from Congrats stamp set underneath image