Stampin' At Midnight

Greeting Card Kids Valentine Share

Just three more days until Valentine's Day. If you tend to procrastinate, you're still looking for ideas for quick cards or gifts.  Greeting Card Kids  has the perfect image for creating a vintage valentine suitable for any age group. This adorable little girl turned out to be a big hit as a make and take for our February Scrap-N-Fever Event. I'll be showing her twice. First, the way I did her, then an improved version.

I've included the Color Coach in this picture to show you how many colors I could have incorporated in my valentine. In this instance, I chose the Color Family portion of the coach. This particular family is the Subtles Collection.  I had Chocolate Raspberry Truffle in mind when I started, so my "chocolate" is Early Espresso, my "raspberry" is Rose Red, and the creamy filling is Pink Pirouette.  Yum!! BRB..Gotta go find some  CHOCOLATE!! 

You'll notice on the first sample, the sentiment is stamped in Early Espresso. Nice but... What a change the addition of the little red heart makes!  Wish I could take credit for the upgrade, but I can't..one fo my S-N-F ladies added it to her card..I didn't think of it! Probably too much chocolate! 

The heart is not the only thing different in the picture. I've included another tab from the color coach. This time it's the Pink Pirouette  tab, and is showing yet another color combo called Creative Combination. Pink Pirouete, Baja Breeze and Early Espresso.  On the bottom half of this tab there is  a third option, or  Sweet Set of Pink Pirouette, Sahara Sand, and Always Artichoke. Flip this tab over and it's a large sample of Pink Pirouette. The new Color Coach is such an improvement over the color wheel of the past. Not only is it a great tool for selecting your color scheme, but with the addition of the 2-3/4 by 4 inch samples of all of the colors, you know with a glance whether a particular color or color family has to be part of your stamping supplies. You'll find it on page 165 of your Idea Book and Catalog with an explanation of how to use it. I highly recommend you make it a part of your basic stamping tools.

To make this card you will need:

Greeting Card Kids, (119887 W/120633 C)
With All My Heart, (118134 W/118623 C)
Early Espresso Card Stock (119696)
Pink Pirouette Card Stock (111351)
Rose Red Card Stock (102544)
Watercolor Paper (105019)
Black Stazon  (101406)
Early Espresso Classic Ink Pad (119670)
Glimmer Paper (121790) from the Occasions Mini
Heart to Heart Punch (119881)
1-¾ Scallop Circle Punch (118874)
Scallop Circle #2 Bigz Die (113469)
Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder (117335)
Framed Tulips Embossing Folder (121809) from the Occasions Mini
Big Shot (113439)
Crochet Trim Chantilly (118480)
Stampin’Write Markers Subtles (119700)
 or individual markers found on pages 165-160
Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink Gold Lame (119968)
Stampin Dimensionals (104430)
Aqua Painter (103954)
Snail Adhesive (104332)
Fine point liner brush

I know you have most of these tools in your basic stampin' supplies. If you have questions about any of the other products I'd be happy to help answer them. Leave me comment. When you identify the "Must Have!" products, you'll find them 24/7 through my online store.

You still have time to create valentines for those special persons in your life..Go get your fingers inky!

Until Next Time...Happy Stampin'!

Digital Content CD Free During Sale-A-Bration

I've been talking to you about Sale-A-Bration and the free products you can get from now through March 31,2001. One of those products is the Digital Content CD.  You'll find it on page 7 in your Sale-A-Bration Catalog.  Yesterday, if you watched the video posted,  you saw two projects using the Bliss Stamp Set.  Today I've attempted to re-create one using the Digital Content CD and MDS. 

This one was a bit more difficult to reproduce since it had so much going on and I need to add some additional stamps and embellishment downloads to my MDS. I'm going to try this again, but since I don't have the Bliss Stamp Set,  next time I will print my background paper, then print the butterfly, bird, the scallop border and  BLISS on white cardstock and cut them out. To add dimension, I would "antique" the card using my aqua painter or Smooch Spritz, real buttons and add some twine. I already have all of those in my basic supplies. MDS is a great program, and with very little effort you can produce some gorgeous cards, calendars, scrapbook pages and more. MDS downloads are compatible with any software that supports jpeg or png files.  Get out your wish list, make your choices, and order them during Sale-A-Bration and get this Digital Content CD free!

It's been a very busy day, so I'm outta here, but I will be posting the hybrid created by using MDS and basic supplies. Look for it next week.  Until then.. Happy Stampin'!

Sale-A-Bration Bliss

Sale-A-Bration is in full swing! From now until March 31, 2011 you can take advantage of Three Easy Ways to Earn FREE Products!

...{ spend }...

Spend $50 and earn one free Sale-A-Bration product of your choice.

... { host } ...

  Host a workshop of at least $300 and earn one free Sale-A-Bration product in addition to the generous hostess benefits.

... { join }...

Join Stampin'Up! by becoming a demonstrator during Sale-A-Bration and get 15% off your  Starter Kit. Plus get a bonus bundle filled with over $50 in free products!

... { Start your own Business } ...

What ever the option you choose, take advantage of Sale-A-Bration and then use your free products to make the two projects shown in this video.

 

Until next time...Happy Stampin'

I Have an Entry!! And a New Category!! Color Challenge!

I am so excited!!  Yesterday I threw out a kinda, sorta Color Challenge and today I have an entry!  I suggested the colors of Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Always Artichoke and Cajun Craze. I receved this beautiful design from Zig Zag with the following description: 

I always check out your blog and saw your challenge. I decided to make a card for you.  Everything I used is Stampin’ Up.  I didn’t go with your exact colors because I don’t have them.  I did use Chocolate Chip in place of Espresso and Baja Breeze in place of Marina Mist.  I also used a retired SU set called “Always on my Mind” but I like the mailbox in snow and Teeny Tiny Wishes (a great set).

I stamped the mailbox in Expresso (I did have that), then sponged Baja Breeze around the mailbox and on the scalloped border and sentiment down below.  I used SU’s scallop border and corner punch and did some piercing on the corner because I don’t have any brown brads.  I used Kraft ribbon and there you have it.  I hope you like it.  A little different colors for a Christmas card but I still like it.

I love it too!! I think it fits right in with the theme of the challenge.  Some things are retired in both places!  Each time I look, I see something different! I especially like the oval created around the mail box.  I didn't ask, but I imagine that was done with masking and look at that perfect bow!! Thank you Zig Zag for accepting the challenge! You made my day!!

One of the most common comments I hear from first time and long time stampers is that Stampin'Up! has coordinating colors, papers and ribbons, so stampers and croppers  don't have to search to find them. Whether it's buttons, bows, ribbons, trinkets, or ink and paper, brights, subtles, neutrals or regals,they fit together like hand and glove.  Some of the colors used here were different than those I listed, and some were the same,  but they still  coordinate  and work together to  create this  beautiful finished project.

Unleash your creativity, and try new color combinations. That's what a color challenge is all about. It's not too late to send your entry for this challenge, and I hope you'll take part in the next one.

Until next time..Happy Stampin'!

Snow, Snow, Beautiful Snow!

I doubt that there is anyone who hasn't heard about or seen pictures of the "Blizzard of 2011". I've seen some gorgeous photos, and some show the real magnitude of the storm, some don't.  I took several through the windows, and at first glance the snow doesn't look that deep.

We live in the country, surrounded on two sides with open fields, and on the other two we have timber.  Well,  we call it timber, some of our grandchildren  call it forrest, and some call it woods.  Whatever! The snow settles and piles up in the open fields as it blows across, but doesn't drift. In the areas of uneven terrain, or those surrounded by timber or obstructed with buildings, the blizzard of 2011 left drifts anywhere from 3 feet to 8 feet around here.

Aren't you glad you don't have to use one of these anymore?  This is one of two outhouses that are part of the "old" homestead. I should have made a treck out there, then took the picture!  The middle of this drift is probably 3 feet.  Let's see..Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Always Artichoke, a bit of Cajun Craze and even some Early Espresso! Color Challenge anyone?

This one was taken through the screened porch, and is where our small water garden is. The pump actually sits about 18" above ground level, and it is a full sized iron pump. You can see where the deer have been pruning our tree. We have two of these. Both are beginning to look like very tall mushrooms! Love the deer, but wish they'd find a different restaurant!

This area was sheltered by the deck, but still managed to pile up about four feet by the window.  I'm thinking it would make a great Color Challenge as well.  Whisper white, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, and a bit of Chantilly Lace Trim?

It's been a week, and there are still areas that have yet to be "dug out". We are fortunate to have a fabulous Road Commissioner, and Pat was able to get one lane of our long driveway cleared with the four wheeler and blade,  but even if we had wanted to venture out, the main highways were impassible in many areas. I really enjoyed being snowed in for a few days, but enough is enough!  We went out to run some errands today, then to lunch and on the way home we noticed the roads starting to drift out again. Winter in the midwest -  but hopefully no more blizzards in 2011!

If you'd like to submit a sample for my impromptu  color challenge, send me a photo and a brief description. Attach it to an  email addressed to judyelting@stampinatmidnight.com   If it's 100 % Stampin Up, I'll post it here for everyone to see. Hope you will play along!  Need supplies to make your entry? I can help with that too! Just go to my store for the latest products.

While you're there be sure to checkout the Clearance Rack. Great selections with unbeatable prices!

Until next time..Happy Stampin!

Chocolate Covered Cherry

How was your week end? Busy I'm sure! We've been staying at home due to the snow, but we did get out yesterday to shop and refill the pantry. Even though Punxsutawney Phil and our local Gertie  Groundhog didn't see their shadows, it's not spring yet!  We're set for the next round of Old Man Winter's fits! He's not done yet.. it was snowing when we left for church yesterday morning!  Even though we've been at home,I find  the hurrier I go, the behinder I get!  I did take some time on Friday to play, and since we are approaching Valentine's Day, the card  I am going to share is a Valentine.

Valentine's day makes me think of luscious dark  chocolate, so with that thought in mind I started with the rich dark brown of Early Espresso, then went to my Color Coach to select richest of the rest!  I used the Lots of Love Letterpress Plates, the Framed Tulip Embossing Folder, Early Espresso 5/8 inch Satin Ribbon and card stock, Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink and card stock, Watercolor Paper for the letter press,andVery Vanilla card stock embossed with the Framed Tulip Embossing Folder for the inside, the Full Heart Punch and Perfect  Polka Dots Embossing Folder.

The  Color Coach,  pictured here with the Valentine, has replaced the color wheel we used for so many years.  I think it's a great improvement! The color swatches are larger and showcase  every color of card stock available in the new Color Family. On the flip side, there are two different series of color combinations for you to pick from. If you don't find one to your liking, you can expand your choices by choosing one of the colors in the combo, going to it's solid color swatch, and you'll find a whole new group of color combos to choose from.  You'll find the Color Coach (121620) and a great explanation of how to use it on page 165 of the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog, or in my Online Store for only $14.95. It's a great addition to your basic stampin' supplies. I highly recommend it!

I'm still working on the tutorial for the Tips On Using  Letter Press Plates. I'll be adding a Facebook Page and some additional pages to my blog over the next few weeks, so stay tuned, and until next time...

Happy Stampin!

Lots Of Love Letterpress Plates

I shared yesterday that I have lots of projects started, but not finished.  Today's post is the start of a new, yet to be named category featuring one of those. The Lots of Love Letterpress Plates were introduced in the Holiday Mini. I didn't order them then, but when they came out in the Occasions Mini, I ordered them as part of my Pre-Order for the  Mini, thinking I would use them for the SUDSOL Blog Tour.  I did experiment with a variety of combinations of ink and paper and sandwiches for the Big Shot to get the depth of impression and contrast I wanted. I do have to say that they are one of the more challenging "accessories" to use with the Big Shot. Patience and practice...

You know me! I wanted to be able to come up with an out of the box, easier to get the same result way than the directions show. I'm working on that - just have to incorporate  the result into a project!

If you follow Stampin' At Midnight, you know that I didn't use the Letter Press Plates for the tour.  Once I figured out how to produce a clear crisp design, I couldn't come up with a design to accentuate the finished image. As usual, my photography doesn't do the Stampin'UP! Color Families justice, but I really like the look of this one.

The picture here is a bit deceiving. I used Early Espresso as a background for my photo box. The card base is Crumb Cake. I used Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink on Watercolor Paper, the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, the Full Heart Extra Large Punch, Satin Seam Binding and Chantilly Lace Crochet Trim, and Dimensionals.  I love the way it turned out! What do you think?

I challenge you to get out those unfinished projects and finish them. Good way to get rid of all of those stacks of stuff, which then gives you a great excuse to buy more!!

Sale-A-Bration is in full swing. Don't forget that for every $50.00 you order before tax and shipping, you get one Sale-A-Bration item FREE!! You're gonna love the choices. Shop now!

Until next time...Happy Stampin!

Blast From The Past

A very dear friend of mine just posted an album on Face Book called "Blast From The Past". Looking at the photos I  reminisced about the good times in my life in that era! That thought brought about another..Isn't it sad that we frequently get so involved in the everyday things of this world  we tend to forget those most memorable experiences with family, friends, places and things. Since I was sitting here in front of my PC, concentrating on business, that thought  got translated to a blog category and Stampin'Up! TaDa!! The next regular category will be Blast From The Past ! My original thought was to reveal some of the old cards  and projects I've kept. Some are pretty laughable! Guess I could have stopped there, but I had a comment on my blog during the SUDSOL Tour about a project I had posted previously, and whether I had ever finished it!  I did change it, but after the comment, I decided to edit it again and it has become by first Blast From The Past!  Teresa Hafso, a Stampin'Up! Demonstrator from Canada suggested I add some Victoria  5/8" Crochet Trim with the brad. Wonderful idea!

Here's Life Is A Matter Of Moments  revisited for the third time! I didn't change the inside, but it still coordinates! Now all I need to do is put it in my purse!  I have a quite a collection of projects I've made that I haven't finished because the needed something else. I'll work some of those in too., but I think this one is done now.  Thanks for all of  your suggestions and comments! If you'd like the directions to this project, leave a comment with your name and email address. I'll get them to you. Thanks for looking!!

Until next time..Happy Stampin'!

Happiness Held - Happiness Shared

I am working toward finalizing the categories for regurlar posts here on Stampin' At Midnight. I have quite a list, and it will be subject to more editing. I can guarantee that!

A feature called Tools and Techniques has made the list. Stampin'Up has almost everything you would ever need to cut, paste, crimp, snip, punch, fold, sand, emboss or die cut paper for your cards, pages, or three dimensional items. My very favorite tool of them all is the Big Shot  of course, so I chose it for the first post in this category.

The Big Shot enables you to turn any project into a "WOW" using die cuts, sizzlits, sizzlits decorative strip dies, embosslits, clearlits, texture plates, letterpress plates, and textured embossing folders, all with the flip of the handle.  Choose your favorites from pages 206 thru 217 in the Idea Book and Catalog, and start creating cards, scrapbook pages, boxes, bags, jewelry, and anything else you can dream of. You can cut metal, cork, wood sheets, paper, vinyl, leather, cloth, chipboard and more.

To create this card, you will need a Big Shot (113439) which comes with all of the plates you  need to use the dies mentioned, Top Note Die (113463), Square Lattice Embossing Folder (119976), Early Espresso (119686), So Saffron (105118), Very Vanilla (101650) card stock, Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper (121783), Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad (119670), Early Espresso 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (120931), clear Stampin' Emboss Powder (109130), Flower Brads (119730), Jewels (119246), Champagne Shimmer Paint (116806), Dimensionals (104430), Snail Adhesive (104332) a fine point liner paint brush, a 1/16" Hand held Punch (101227) or Paper Piercing Tool (116631) and Happiness Shared (117038 W/120534C).

Instructions/Preparations:

Layer 1: Card base of Early Espresso (11 x 4-1/4 scored at 5-1/2 to create a side fold card)

Layer 2: Botanical Gazette DSP Honeycomb pattern  (4 x 5-1/4)

Layer 3: Botanical Gazette DSP Reverse side of Honeycomb pattern cut with Big Shot and Top Note Die

Layer 4: Early Espresso (1-1/2 x 3-5/8)

Layer 5: So Saffron (1-3/8 x 3-1/2)

Stamp the sentiment from Happiness Shared in Early Espresso on So Saffron, then clear emboss. Using Snail adhesive, attach 1/4" ribbon to the left side of layer 5. Using the paper piercer or the hand held punch, make a hole for the flower brad in the right corner of that layer and insert the brad. Attach the jewel to the  center of the brad. Attach the completed layer 5 to layer 4  and set aside.

Shake Shimmer Paint well, then with paint brush, apply a light coat to the wings of the bees.   Let dry. Place Top Note (layer 3) over layer 2, and adhere with snail, then place that completed layer on the card base. Position the completed sandwich of layers 4 and 5 on the top note die cut with upper left corner and lower right corner even with the side points on the top note die cut to finish the outside of the card.

 I used a Very Vanilla 4 x 5-1/4 mat on the inside. To accent it,  I cut a strip of 
Honeycomb paper to 1-3/8 x 4, ran it through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Folder, then tied 1/4" Early Espresso Ribbon around the piece about 3/8" above the bottom edge, and attached it to the right side of the very vanilla mat.

Order your Big Shot or any of the supplies you need to make this card 24/7. Better yet, contact me today to find out how you can get a Big Shot Free! In addition check out how to take advantage of more huge savings on all of your stamping, scrapbooking and paper crafting supplies, with even more savings during Sale-A-Bration.

Thanks for stopping by today! Feel free to leave your comments! Critiques and suggestions are always welcome! 

Until next time...Happy stampin'!

Hello! Welcome to Stampin' At Midnight! I'm pleased to be taking part in another SUDSOL Blog Tour. I've discussed SUDSOL  here  before, but just in case you're new to this tour, SUDSOL is a group/forum of  Stampin' Up! Demonstrators dedicated to sharing and supporting one another 24/7. You'll find business ideas, samples, forms, tutorials and more.. For the Stampin' Up! Demo it's your upline, and your upline's upline. If you are a Stampin' Up! Demo, and you haven't joined, sign up for a trial membership to check it out. You'll be glad you did!

You arrived here from  Carol Taggert's Blog,  Stampin My Art Out.  She's a fabulous designer and SUDSOL Member as well.  Hard act for me to follow!!  She's a SUDSOL member too. Her unique designs are perfect examples of the quality you'll see when you join this fantastic group. Be sure to take a good look at all of the blogs featured here today. They provide just a  hint of  the resources available to you when you become a SUDSOL Member.

One of the resources available to you as a SUDSOL member is the availability of hundreds of patterns, videos, tutorials, scrap-booking tips and layouts,  business ideas and a vast gallery of samples, just to name a few. My goal on this tour is to show you projects like those that you would find on SUDSOL  that you can make quickly and easily with just a few supplies. I used a technique from the Sudsol Video Gallery called Ribbon Ruche on the first project I'm showing here today.

You'll find most of the supplies needed to create this card in the Occasions Mini. The card base is Pink Pirouette Card Stock, embossed with the Framed Tulips folder and spritzed with "Shimmer Mist" made by using Shimmer Paint and a medium to produce an opaque glittered surface.  I used one of the designs from Love Impressions Designer Series Paper layered with dimensionals  over Pink Pirouette and Basic Gray, then added 1/2"  Rose Red Seam Binding and a Springtime Big Designer Button as the final touch.

In the Patterns and Templates Gallery you'll find hundreds of "how-to-make-it" files, from bags and boxes to items like this Mini Album made with Stampin'UP! Clear Envelopes.

The dimensions of this album are 5-1/2 x 7-1/2. The instructions for the basic album are also found in the patterns and templates section of SUDSOL.  I chose an embossed design from the Love Impressions Designer Series Paper for the cover. There are two each of two different single-sided embossed designs in the pack of 12 sheets. To accent the paper, I added Beveled Windowpanes, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Shimmery White Card Stock and Glimmer Paper from the new mini.

I carried the hearts over to the inside flap of the cover, and inserted Whisper White pages embossed with the Framed Tulips Folder into each of the envelopes, then attached a velcro closure.  Wouldn't this make a great gift for an engagement, wedding shower or anniversary?

If you're like me, you look forward with great anticipation to the latest catalog or promotion from Stampin'Up!, and can't wait to see the new stamp sets as well as the  examples and ideas featured. Membership in SUDSOL is like getting a new catalog every time you check the gallery! I tend to use certain color combinations,  standard folds and basic layers.  In a rut? Need inspiration? You bet!  I can find one of a kind cards  at the click of a mouse! The last card featured here today is based on a technique I learned from a fellow demo's post in the Samples Gallery.

This technique is called Inlaid Embossing. I used two of my favorite colors, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive along with Botanical Gazette DSP,  and the new Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Seam Binding.

Stamps from Thanks For Caring  and Easter Blooms round out the inside.

I hope you've enjoyed our tour. I've got more samples to share with you  in my SUDSOL Gallery. If you are a Stampin'UP! Demonstrator, but not a member of SUDSOL, I hope you'll take this opportunity to register for your free trial membership  through my blog. If you are not a demo, I'm glad you are taking the tour as well! I can tell you how you can take advantage of this great resource as well!  Please be sure to leave your comments  before you go to the next stop! If you need information about any of the samples I've presented, I'll be sharing the how-to in the days to come. You can find all of the products you need to create these projects, as well as a clearance rack, and more designs and videos through my Demonstrator Web Site. Check it out!

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time...Happy Stampin'!