Stampin' At Midnight

Thanks For Caring

March 1! Wow!! Hard to believe that the Occasions Mini has been in full swing for two months, and that Sale-A-Bration is a month old. Time to start thinking about your cards for Easter and Mother's Day. The Occasions Mini features a nice selection of stamps and accessories for both. Two of my favorites are Blessed Mother  and Easter Blossoms which I've shown here several times as all occasion cards, but the mini also features sets that are perfect for Father's Day, birthday, graduation, sympathy, and congratulations for weddings, babies or just plain job well done! Today I'm featuring Thanks For Caring, a set of six  that contains  four sentiments you can use  to say thanks, or to encourage, or to express your sympathies as well as a floral image and a gorgeous butterfly. I've combined it with Happiness Shared and believe it or not, the little purple posie from my last post. 

You could call this card an extreme make-over, because I "made-over" or re-worked the little purple posie.  I've never tried to rearrange ink that had been on paper for several days, but I discovered it is possible. I wish I could provide a better picture, but  I'm not able to use my own PC. The one I'm using doesn't have photo editing software, which results in the photos you see here, downloaded straight from my camera. 
This card is a gate fold, made by scoring your 4 1/4 by 11 cardstock at 2 3/4 and at 7 1/4. The colors are Bravo Burgundy, River Rock, Very Vanilla, and watercolor paper. I used shimmer mist to add glitz and Gold Lame' Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink for the center of the flower. Crochet Trim, Rose Red Satin Seam Binding and Basic Pearls complete the card front. The inside sentiment is from Thanks for Caring, and is accented with the butterfly in the upper right corner. Once again, a very simple card.

If you haven't had a chance to sit down for a leisurely look at both the Occasions Mini and the Sale-A-Bration Brochure, now's the time. Every item in the Sale-A-Bration Brochure is FREE, but only until March 31, 2011. You can find all of the details by selecting the link on the column to the left. Don't miss out on your chance for FREE products! Shop my Stampin'Up! Store 24/7.

Until Next Time..Happy Stampin'!

Glitz Makes Everything Look Better..

Well maybe..You be the judge..

I promised another example of a simple card using watercolor and the largest floral image from Happiness Shared. Initially I was going to take the flower off of yesterday's card and use it again with a different layout because all of those other attempts were pretty awful. After further consideration, I decided against that - why ruin the card?  That left me with half a package of two-sided flowers that look as though they're suffering from  frost bite!    I picked a pink one, sprayed it with shimmer mist, then added the sentiment from Thoughts and Prayers (113252), some Victoria Crochet Trim ( 118481) tied together with Cherry Cobbler Satin Seam Binding (120992) and mounted the whole thing on Cherry Cobbler card stock embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder (120175). I think the glitz might have helped some.    I'm not sure anything can help the little perfect plum posie on the right.  Two things come to mind here.  One, no matter who or how experienced, we all have our moments! The other thing is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This little card was simple to make,  but speaks volumes to  whomever receives it. If I hold this one at arms length, it 's a keeper.  

Until next time..Happy Stampin'!

Happiness Shared In a Variety of Ways

There's been a lot of discussion on the lists about simple designs and techniques that we could case and incorporate into our workshops and classes. One of the most requested techniques is water color and water color float. I chose Fifth Avenue Floral for the water color float technique, and decided to use the  beautiful floral image from Happiness Shared that has been called everything from a rose to a magnolia as well.  I inked it for the first time to use as an example for watercoloring with markers, blender pens, aqua painters and watercolor crayons. Now I've taught watercolor before with all of the items mentioned, and if I do say so myself, the class was very successful. Yesterday, no matter what I attempted, it turned out really awful!  I was not about to let that go by without a fight so I started again today. I used both sides of half a package of watercolor paper before I got one flower that I would even consider putting on a card.

Once I got my water color mojo going again, I moved on to simple design. This card has four layers. I stamped the floral image on the designer stripe in Cherry Cobbler and layered it over Cherry Cobbler card stock, mounted the water color paper over Cherry Cobbler card stock with dimensionals, then added Always Artichoke Satin Seam Binding and pearls to complete the design. So easy, but so versatile, and looks like you spent lots of time creating it.  There are a variety of looks you can acheive with this same image. Starting tomorrow, I'll be sharing additional looks. 

Until Next time..Happy Stampin'!

Easter Blossoms In Yellow

In my last post, I promised another version of a project using the set Easter Blossoms which is featured in the Occasions Mini.  I knew what I wanted to create, and it came together quickly, but I couldn't quite decide how to  embellish it. One of the tips I've learned over the years is to just walk away..which is what I did in the wee small hours of this morning.  When I came back to work on it again, I was still blank.  I subscribe to several lists for demonstrators only, so decided to check them, and when I did, I found a very similar card done by one of my all time favorite stampers, Mary Brown. Her project got my mojo going! I used her ribbon treatment, then applied my own idea for the sentiment.  I'm not sure I am totally satisfied with the overall look of this card, but it does show you another option for the two main images in the Easter Blossoms set of 6. Let me know what you think.

I love the silhouette image, but decided that I'd try it in color. It took several attempts before I actually got this image.  I thought that possibly if I stamped the image in VersaMark, I could use my pastels to color it.  Problem with that was that the VersaMark didn't show up very well on my Whisper White, so it was difficult to "see" the details like the hair and ribbon.  Next try was using markers, but instead of laying out the colors I thought I'd like, I waited to do that until I was ready to use a color.  Even with huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf, the color dried enough that the image was faded. For the one you see here, I had my color palette ready, worked a bit faster, then huffed the dickens out of it and me, and this is what evolved.  I think that somewhere inbetween experiment two and this one would be the best.  Whatever..it is a different look. I really wanted to make it a bit more vintage. I tried several things using the first two experiments that definitely didn't work, so I quit!  I didn't want to ruin this sample! Next time..

The background of the card base is So Saffron cut 5X5. The blossom image is stamped in Old Olive, and then colored with my Signo pen. I used the Framed  Tulips Embossing Folder on the Whisper White layer, then mounted that over So Saffron stamped with the floral branch, then mounted that over Always Artichoke. The ribbon is Always Artichoke Satin Seam Binding and the brad is from the Regals Collection. I learned to make the bow from Mary Brown as well.  I stamped the sentiment in Perfect Plum, punched it with the Modern Label Punch and layered that over the Movers and Shapers Punch Windows Modern Label Die.

I'm open to all suggestions about making this a bit more vintage.  Leave me a comment..

Have some fun! Experiment with your markers, and solid or silhouette stamps.  Until next time..

Happy Stampin'!

 

Springtime Smiles

My wish list for every catalog is a long one, and the Occasions Mini is no exception.  I'm always looking for new ideas, and stamp sets that can be used in a variety of ways, but also for those that are different than the ones I already have.  Easter Blossoms (122057) fills the bill on all of those criteria.

I'm ready for spring and Easter will be here before you know it. With that in mind,  this is the first in a series of designs using Easter Blossoms. I used this card for the Make and Take at Saturday's Workshop. You'll find the dimensions and instructions to cutting in my post on  February 16, Just switch out the colors.

Start by stamping the floral branch in Marina Mist Classic Ink on Marina Mist card stock to create the background of the card base.  The sillouette image is Marina Mist on Whisper White, and edged with the Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402). Add a Marina Mist or So Saffron strip under the scallop trim to accent it.  The Springtime Sentiment is Early Espresso on whisper white, punched with the Oval Large Punch (119855) and layered over Marina Mist, punched with the Scallop Oval Extra-Large Punch (119856) then mounted with dimensionals. I used Daffodil Delight 1/8" Ribbon (119254) to complete the greeting portion of the card. Layer it over So Saffron, textured with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder  (117335) and attach to the card base.  I added  Happy Easter to the inside, and embellished it with the Easter egg image.

You'll find everything you need to recreate this card when you shop online with me. Check it out,and while you're there, don't forget to take advantage of the clearance items and download the latest digital images available  for MDS and your photo editing software.

Until next time..Happy Stampin'!

Celebrations DSP + Poppy Parade + Pear Pizzazz + Not Quite Navy = Priceless Combination

Designer Series Paper is one of the best ways to get more bang for you buck when it comes to paper crafting. The design gives you an idea to build your project around and a color scheme to build it with. You can use the colors that are listed as coordinates or choose your own.  There are twelve two sided sheets in most packages, some are embossed and some textured. You can use them for card bases, scrapbook pages, embellishments for cards, and even home decor! 

The paper I've chosen today is Celebrations DSP (117164). The coordinating colors are Real Red, Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, and Pear Pizzazz.  I chose to use Poppy Parade and Not Quite Navy with the Pear Pizzazz. When I looked at Celebrations initially, I was thinking children's paper and kid's cards. When I started working on this card I was looking for things that would "work" with Poppy Parade to make a bright Thank You card. One thing led to another and here's what happened.

I wish the picture would reflect the bright bold color of the card.  It's basically a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 side fold card, with the front folded back upon itself. I used one of the Poppy Parade papers from the Incolors Designer Series Collection which is a  Level 1 Hostess Selection. Additional embellishments are  Pear Pizzazz Satin Seam Binding,  Modern Label Punch, Mini Vintage Tags, Vintage Trinkets,  and the stampset is Priceless!

Now's the perfect time to add all of the products you need to make this card and take  advantage of Sale-A-Bration at the same time! Why wait?

Until Next time...Happy Stampin'!

Explore Your Creativity With Shelli Gardner

Sale-A-Bration means savings, savings, savings in a variety of ways. In addition to earning free merchandise from the Sale-A-Bration Brochure  during this special promotion, Shelli Gardner, Co-Founder and CEO of Stampin'Up! has prepared this video to tell you about Stampin'Up! and to share how you can explore your creativity and how you can take advantage of additional savings as well. Once you've finished the video, be sure to check out the information below, then follow the links to learn more.

You'll find everything you need to start your own business at tremendous savings in the Stampin'Up! Starter Kit. The contents are listed here. Or you can choose the Digital Starter Kit as well. Just look at what you'll receive!

The regular starter kit:

5 Stamp Sets (value of $33.95, $28.95, $25.95, $18.95 & $7.95 or lower)

Clear Block C (or one of your choice $6.95 or lower)

Stampin’ Around® standard wheel of your choice $6.50

Stampin’ Around handle (standard size only) $3.95

Stampin’ Around un-inked cartridge (standard size only) $5.25

Assorted card stock 8-1/2” x 11” (Getting Started or assortment of your choice) $6.95 each

Card stock (1 pkg. 8-1/2" x 11" Whisper White OR color of your choice) $8.50

Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (color of your choice) $19.95

2 Stampin’ Write markers (2 colors of your choice) $3.50 each

Classic Ink Refill (color of your choice) $2.95

Whisper White 5/8” Satin Ribbon (or ribbon of your choice $8.95 or lower)

Stampin’ Dimensionals $3.95

Blender pen (single) $3.31

SNAIL Adhesive® (or any adhesive $6.95 or lower)

Stamping Sponge (single) $1.16

Décor Elements™ (decorative vinyl image) item $7.95 or lower

Décor Elements Applicator Tool $1.95

Stampin' Mist® 2 oz. bottle (or StazOn cleaner) $4.50

4 Classic Stampin’ Pads® (colors of your choice) $5.95 each

VersaMark® pad (or ink pad of your choice $7.50 or lower)

Retail Price over $310 Regular Deal Price $175 

During Sale-A-Bration 15% off Making it only $148.75

Plus during Sale-A-Bration there is an addition Bundle of:

Color Coach $14.95

Any Simply Sent Kit $11.95

Any Simply Sent Stamp Set $9.95

Any Punch $16.95 or Lower

But the Price is STILL $148.75

PLUS there is NO Shipping only your own tax, you get 20% off of all ongoing orders (30% off your first order if done within 45 days & over $150)

PLUS you can add the Stampin' Memories Kit valued over  $80  for $50

And/Or Add the Definitely Decorative Kit valued over  $50 value for $40. 

Get all the details, then contact me to join my team!

Until next time...Happy Stampin'!

 

Because I Care Fancy Fold

This Fancy Fold Card was designed several months ago as homework for a class that I'm taking. As part of the class, each participant has an assignment that is submitted to the group for their use during the month of the class. During the month of the assignment, anyone in the class can use anyone else's submission for their business. Copyrights are protected, and after the class the ownership reverts to the person who designed the project or wrote the article. I had forgotten about having this particular sample.

Like most, and probably all of you, life here in Stampin' At Midnight Land gets pretty hectic, and there are only 24  hours in a day! I was brought up on the premise that you are never too old to learn. In addition, I can still hear my daddy say, "Do the best that you can, in all that you do. It may not be good enough for some, but if you've done your best, that's all you can do."  With that thought in mind, I continue to seek new, useful articles and classes, tips and tricks that are beneficial to me so that I can  "be the best I can be" at whatever I am doing, because I care. 

During a weekly Business Chat with other Stampin'Up! Demonstrators, I heard about the concept of  Power Hours.  When life gets hectic, we tend to get frazzled, and accomplish little when there are monumental tasks at hand.  The premise of the Power Hour is to focus on one project for 60 minutes. Set a timer, get to work and let nothing interfere. No phone calls, no leaving this room to take something to another room, no breaks, just focus for an hour in one spot, on one project. You would be amazed at what you can get done if you put this PH into practice. It does really work, but some days I find there are not enough hours in the day for the things that interject themselves into your routine, and the scheduled Power Hours. Yesterday was one of those days! Exhausating! At midnight, when I'm usually composing or creating, I made the executive decision to GO TO BED, get up and give it an early start today. Early turned out to be 9:00 am! I'm working on my third cup of coffee, and I'm getting ready to set the timer for my first PH of the day. If your Power Hour is to be spent working on preparing cards to have on hand when you need them, this fancy fold is quick and easy. Yes, I said easy to make using any of your favorite stamp sets or sentiments. Look closely...it isn't what it appears to be..

You could create this card as a regular greeting card with either a top fold or a side fold. I call it a Fancy Fold because the actual portion of the card that opens to reveal the sentiment is the Whisper White Portion layered over Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler. It uses two  simple techniques. Paper Piecing and  Heat Embossing. Told you it was easy.

Because I Care  is a level one Hostess Set of 5  found on page eleven of the current Idea Book and Catalog. On page ten you will find information on how you can get this set for FREE! It will be available for a few more months, but when the next IB&C comes out, it will be gone! Want to add it to your favorite stamps? I can help with that! 

Want the Recipe?

Products Used:
Cardstock:
Cherry Cobbler (119685)
Early Expresso (119686)
Shimmery White (101910)
Old Olive (100702)
Inks:
Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin’ Pad (119669)
Early Expresso Classic Stampin’ (119670)
VersaMark Pad (102283)
Stamps:
Because I Care Level 1 Hostess Set (120118) CM
Accessories:
Clear Stampin’  Emboss  (109130)
Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402)
Early Expresso 1/8” Taffeta Ribbon (119959)
Stampin Dimensionals (104430)
Heat Tool ((100005)
Instructions:
1. Cut the following: Cherry Cobbler Cardstock - 4¼” x 5½” & 1” x 3”,
    Shimmery White Card Stock -  3” x 8½ “, Early Expresso
    3¼” x   4½”, 12”  piece of Early Expresso 1/8” Taffeta Ribbon.
2. Score Shimmery White Card Stock at 4¼”. Use Scallop Trim Border   
    Punch on one 3” edge. Fold at score to make mini card with
    punched edge as front. Adhere  1” x 3” Cherry Cobbler Card Stock
    to back of punched edge to cover the opening in the scallops.
3. Stamp the large flower in a random pattern on 4¼” x 5½” Cherry
    Cobbler Card Stock with Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink, to create
    background.
4. Stamp the large flower in VersaMark on a scrap of Cherry Cobbler
    Card Stock. Apply Clear Stampin’ Emboss, tapping off excess, heat
    with Heat Tool for embossed finish. Cut out.
5. Stamp leaves in VersaMark on a scrap of Old Olive Card Stock. Do 
    not heat  emboss. Cut out.
6. Using Dimensionals, place flower and leaves on Shimmery White  
    mini card making sure to allow room for the sentiment. Tie ribbon
    around the card just below the leaves. Trim excess. Stamp Thank
    You  in Early Expresso Classic Ink, between ribbon and scallop edge
    then emboss with Clear Stampin’ Embossing Powder.
7. Adhere the mini card to the 3¼” x 4½” Early Expresso Card Stock.
8. Adhere those two layers to the 4¼” x 5½” Cherry Cobbler
   Cardstock to complete the card.

Until next time...Happy Stampin!

Switch It Out

I found  all kinds of ideas for using the products in the new Occasions Mini, and it would be every stamper's dream to have all of the items needed to recreate your favorites. Since I am a Stampin'Up! Demonstrator, you might think that I have one of everything and could just go to a drawer or a shelf and get what it takes, but that is not the case for me, and I'm sure it's not the case for you either.  You'll find the design I decided to make today on page 18 of the Occasions Mini. I have a resource available to me listing the materials used, but I came up short on several: Textured Always Artichoke Card Stock, Pear Pizzazz Patterns Designer Series Paper,  and Neutrals Designer Buttons.  I improvised and this is the result.

I think it turned out pretty well, don't you? My Always Artichoke card base is textured with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. The Designer Series Paper is Newsprint, sponged with Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink. It's a bit stronger image than the original, but it works. The button is from the Bitty Buttons Collection. The remainder of the recipe calls for the Blessed Mother Stamp Set, Pear Pizzazz, Rose Red and Very Vanilla Card Stock,  Pretty in Pink, Rose Red and Always Artichoke Stampin'Write Markers, Early Espresso Classic Ink, Vintage Trinkets, Linen Thread, Paper-Piercing Tool and Pear Pizzazz Satin Seam Binding.

For an entirely different look, create texture with either Always Artichoke Classic Ink or Versa Mark and the Very Vintage Wheel, or the Texture Plates Kit #4. Change out the Designer Series Paper with  the A-Z background stamp on Very Vanilla or Confetti Cream stamped off in  Pear Pizzaz, then tea stained with the Destressing Essentials Kit, replace the button with a Vintage Brad, then spritz the card with Early Espresso. Add a tea stained Very Vanilla mat to the inside with your favorite sentiment for a vintage card you can use for any occasion!  Have fun with it..and Until next time..Happy Stampin'!

Can't Wait for Sweet Summer ?

We've had a taste of spring here today. Our temperature was in the mid 40s!  After several weeks of snow up to our whatevers, and sub-zero wind chills, it was quite a pleasant change.  Now I'm not naive enough to think it will last, but it is taking some of the snow away, and the weatherman is saying  the temperature could be in the 60s by the end of the week! Then instead of snow up to our whatevers, it will be mud and yuck, and water everywhere. I'm hoping that it will cool off again, and that February will go out like winter, because I want March to come in like a lion..well maybe with a little bit of a growl, but no major roar, so it can go out like a lamb transitioning to a beautifully green spring and sweet summer with birds singing and flowers in bloom everywhere! You're thinking "I can't wait"! Well hold that thought! Picture those beautiful lazy days of summer, then transfer those images to paper using the Sweet Summer stamp set of eight that's one of the free products offered during Sale-A-Bration.

Take a look at this video featuring Carrie Cudney from the Stampin'Up! Home office, and discover how to use Sweet Summer as well as numerous other free Sale-A-Bration products  to create one of the cards shown on page eight of your Sale-A-Bration Brochure. You'll also find information on watercoloring and  paper piecing and much more. Listen carefully, as she describes the products so you will know  at a glance which ones you will want for free.

 

If you aren't familiar with some of the tools and other items Carrie discussed, follow this link to the Product Guide where you'll find information describing them, additional videos that demonstrate how to use them, and also links to project ideas.Then you can choose Shop Now and have them delivered to your door.

Sale-A-Bration will end on March 31. Like sweet summer, March 31 will be here before you know it!  I hope you don't miss your opportunity to take advantage of the freebies.

Until next time..Happy Stampin'!