THINK ABOUT COLOR THURSDAY - Pretty In Pink, Old Olive, Baja Breeze

Happy Thursday! We have some gloomy weather out there for the next few days, so today & tomorrow I will post some bright & cheery cards!

Today's color combination looks terrific!

Pretty in Pink

Old Olive

Baja Breeze

I pierced around the Baja Breeze square with a mat pack. The little pink glittery heart is a left-over piece from a Valentine's Day card. Some of you may remember it from a camp or my blog. So, today you also get a tip of the day - keep extra parts & you'll use them over time! I adhered the heart circle with dimensionals, as well as the Old Olive corner that I punched with the Photo Corner punch.

"With love" is a stamp from the Yummy stamp set. I added two pink eyelets with a Crop-o-Dile before adhering the white strip to the card.

Try this card!

Linda :)

WHATEVER WEDNESDAY - ovals are in

My card post today uses 3 layered ovals. I have used the large oval punch, wide oval punch, and the scalloped oval punch (this is a fairly new Stampin' Up punch!).

Try it! I stamped some flowers from the Sweet Stems stamp set & colored them in with Stampin' Up markers. The "Happy" was made with a happy birthday stamp that I inked up & masked before stamping. I will try to remember to post maybe next Tuesday for my Tuesday Tip about an easy way to mask.

Have a great day!

Linda :)

TUESDAY TIPS - whimsical ribbon

My tip for the day: add some ribbon in a whimsical way to your card!

Here I have looped & stapled down some matching double-stitched Stampin' Up ribbon. It is stapled to a piece of white cs. That cs strip is then adhered to my card front. No staples show through into the inside of the card. Genius!

Cute!

Linda :)

MAP IT MONDAY - TAB FLOWER

computer trouble :(
sorry I haven't posted in a few days - my laptop is giving me trouble. I have a few posts to do today to catch up :)

This post has a flower that I made using the small tag punch. Simply fold the punched out little tabs as shown below, form them into a circle on the card front, then add a center to the flower. A circle can be punched from the 1 3/8" circle punch for the center. I also layered a smaller circle on my card.

Add a strip of the same designer paper along the left side of the card & stamp a message!

Linda :)

SCRAPBOOK SATURDAY - Big Sister

I made this layout a few weeks ago & almost forgot to post it. I really like the straight lines & interesting color combination of it.

Tempting Turquoise, Close to Cocoa & Pomegranate make a nice combo.

Try stamping on your scrapbook layouts! Don't these babies look cute colored with the matching Stampin' Up markers of Tempting Turquoise & Close to Cocoa?

I added the bright pink (Pomegranate) to give the layout a little "pop" - it worked!

Linda :)

FAST FRIDAY - Star Quality

Today's Fast Friday card is made with just 2 punches - a star punch & the word window punch. I think it is a great card for a man - especially when you use Kraft brown cs for the card itself.

I added 2 coordinating strips of dsp, folded a word window in half & inserted a brad. The stars are punched & simply adhered to the card front.

Fast enough?

Have a great day!

Linda :)

THINK ABOUT COLOR THURSDAY - Chocolate Chip, Yoyo Yellow, Bashful Blue

Here's that donut stamp again! It's toooo cute!

CS: yoyo Yellow, Chocolate Chip Whisper White, Bashful Blue
Dsp: Close to Cocoa designer series patterns
Stamp Set: Comfort Food
Inks: Close to Cocoa Classic Stampin’ Pad
Punches: Large Oval, Wide Oval, Scalloped Oval, 1 3/8” circle, Eyelet border
Other: Crop-O-Dile, Ribbon – Bashful Blue Grosgrain

Just punching & layering on this one. Easy peasy.

The donut stamp is in a hostess stamp set in the current Big Idea Book & Catalog. Take a look at it on pg.17. I don't know how this set got past me for so long!

Linda :)

WHATEVER WEDNESDAY - coloring like when you were a child

Cs: So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Green Galore, Whisper White, Cameo Coral
Stamp sets: Older & Wiser, flowers (not sure which set)
Inks: Classic Stampin’ Pad – Basic Black, Stampin’ Write Markers – Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Green Galore
Punches: Scallop Square
Other: mat pack paper piercing kit

Here’s a fun one if you feel like coloring. Once in awhile coloring something can send you back into your second childhood. I pierced the blue cs before adhering it to the card.

Linda :)

STAMPIN' UP NEWS

MAY IS NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING MONTH and it's almost MAY!
Scrapbooking may play an important role in your life. It may have started with something simple: the first time you attended one of my stamp camps or saw a pretty scrapbook page. Maybe it was when you saw a new product like rubons or when you learned how our pretty papers can coordinate with our ribbons, embellishments & stamps to give you a put-together look on your scrapbook pages. But all scrapbookers have something in common with Stampin' Up! demonstrators like me: they love to create. To help you create, Stampin' Up has two National Scrapbooking Month specials.....

BUY 3/GET 1 FREE!
Purchase ANY 3 packs Designer Series paper or 12" x 12" textured card stock & CHOOSE ANOTHER PACK OF ANY dsp or cs FREE! This is a terrific opportunity to stock up on both of these scrapbooking staples!

JUMBLE ALPHABET SET!
Get a 20 percent discount off a sneak peek stamp set from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog -- Jumble Alphabet set (52 stamps,double-mounted)! HERE IT IS - ISN'T IT CUTE! I think I have to have a set!

Have a great day!

Linda

TUESDAY TIPS - Darling Diagonals

Well, I had a nice week off & I'm back in action again.

TRY THIS SIMPLE TIP ON A CARD....

Cut some dsp or cs slightly smaller than your card front. Slice it diagonally from corner to corner & adhere both pieces to the card front with a slight separation between them. Here I made 2 quick cards like this:

Notice the diagonal piecing on the front?

Decorate your card & you're done.

Linda :)

MAP IT MONDAY - Pinwheel Baby Card

Remember the pinwheel I made a few weeks ago? Well, here's another one - this time done as a new baby card.

This layout is so versatile that it could be used for making just about any card.

Use 3 coordinating patterned papers & 2 solid colors pulled from the patterned paper.

Linda :)

happy easter !

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU :)

I'm taking a week off for Easter break. Check back around April 20th! Email or call if you need anything - even though I won't be blogging for a week, my personal life & my Stampin' Up! business is still in full swing . Why not email me while you are thinking about me & sign up for May 5 stamp camp? We'll make cards for graduation, Mother's Day, birthday & new baby, plus a photo wallet brag book (a mini photo flip book that'll fit in a purse & would make a great gift)!

Linda :)

FAST FRIDAY - Another Golden Oldie

ANOTHER OLD MAN CARD! These old people cards are definitely a breath of fresh air & different than the floral and feminine cards that take up most of my creation time.

RECIPE:
cs: kraft brown, Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, Whisper White
inks: Black Stazon inkpad, Stampin' Write Markers - Mellow Moss & Bravo Burgundy
stamp sets: Golden Oldies, Define Your Life
other: brad, dimensionals

I cut the card width by about a half inch to let the "quality" tag hang over the edge. I distressed the edge of the tag. This guy didn't take very long. I just stamped everything in black & colored his clothes. The entire front matted piece is adhered with dimensionals for a lift.

Linda :)

THINK ABOUT COLOR THURSDAY - Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip

RECIPE:

cs: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Old Olive, Whisper White
inks: Black Stazon Inkpad, Classic Stampin' Pads - Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Stampin' Write Markers - Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Old Olive

stamp set: Golden Oldies, Stamp of Authenticity, Warmest Regards

punches: photo corner, 1 3/8" circle

other: blender pen, grosgrain ribbon - Old Olive, paper clip, dimensionals

The new Occasions Mini Catty has this funny stamp set that's perfect for humorous cards. Here's my first card using this set. It's the perfect card for a man in his golden years - shuffling slower but full of quality!

I love, love, love this color combination! LOOK FOR THIS CARD AT MY JUNE STAMP CAMP!

Linda :)

Stampin' Up! APRIL NEWS

THERE ARE TWO POSTS TODAY :)

There's lots of news from Stampin' Up! this month to pass on......

Check out the new Occasions Mini Catalog on this blog's sidebar - & check out the spend $40 & get a free product offer. It's a sweet deal!

During the month of April, Stampin’ Up is making it easier for us to budget starting a business in this tough economy! You can sign up to get your kit for only 3 payments of $66 - that is a great value on a demonstrator kit valued at $335. It contains everything you need to get started with your own business (stamping supplies & business supplies), at any pace you want. I’d love to discuss the possibility with you. If you are on the fence, read on:

Reasons to become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!
1. NEVER pay full Price for S U merchandise!
2. Earn FREE Products! Sales, recruiting, and contests often offer free products. Every quarter, you earn "Great Rewards Points" based on your sales (to yourself or to others). You can redeem these points at the end of every quarter, or accumulate them during the year for something really Big!
3. Make money doing what you enjoy! Whether you decide to do workshops in other people's homes, have “catalog workshops”, offer clubs, host stamp camps, classes, or just sell to friends & family, or any combination of these...you will make 20% of your total sales!
4. Receive a “Stamping Success” magazine monthly filled with resources including project ideas, techniques, how to grow your business, & news.
5. Get immediate access to our demonstrator website when you are a demonstrator. S U provides excellent training, tips, and advice with ideas, workshop planners, daily updates, promotion details, a stamper’s gallery of projects, & MUCH MORE! The demonstrator website has information to help make your business a success!
6. Be recognized for your stamping talent! S U holds lots of contests. You can be published in Stampin’ Success magazine or have your work displayed at stamping conventions and conferences. Sometimes there are prizes!
7. Get tax benefits when starting your own business.
8. Start slow & easy OR dig in! The nice thing about S U is that your business is your own to run the way you want & according to your personal schedule, whether you run your business as a hobbyist stamper or a dedicated business woman!
9. Network with other demonstrators that support each other with ideas, advice, successful business tips, & friendship. I will be your first line of support. You can take advantage of monthly meetings full of lots of stamping fun. You leave these meetings with great projects, new ideas. We have card swaps, which is a terrific way to get beautiful card ideas into your hands. “Demonstrator Support” is only a phone call away. There is an entire network of people like you & me who like to share stamping ideas & help each other out!

Stampin’ Up! needs all types of Demonstrators!
What kind of demonstrator would you be?
DISCOUNT DEMONSTRATOR: Likes the idea of buying stamps for personal use at a discount and will occasionally get orders from friends and family and share her discount or make a little bit of money she can turn around and buy more supplies with.

HOBBYIST DEMONSTRATOR: Loves to stamp and create. Enjoys being around other people that are crafty. Enjoys doing workshops, or holding classes, or clubs, and likes meeting new people, earning money while doing it, but only when it’s convenient for you, helps you, or fits into your schedule. You really like Stampin’ Up’s merchandise and would like to start collecting a lot of items for your own personal use!

SHORT-TERM DEMONSTRATOR: Sells for a short period of time to earn a specified amount of money needed or supplement the family’s income for a while until a goal is reached, or circumstances are better.

SEASONAL DEMONSTRATOR: Works hard at the business during September, October, and November doing workshops, classes or clubs for seasonal money and maintains minimum sales during the rest of the year. Or holds classes once a month for Seasonal/Holiday Ideas for her customers, family, and friends so she can get supplies at discounts and have the opportunity for Pre-Order and bulk specialty items.

STAY AT HOME MOM (or Dad) DEMONSTRATOR: Wants to be a business owner who can work from home and still take care of a family, set flexible business hours, and enjoy benefits of owning a business and make extra money. If you can think of (5) friends that you can form a group with (think other stay at home moms who may need an outlet for their creative endeavors) and they can commit to spending $30.00 a month on S U merchandise, and they would enjoy seeing a demonstration and making items, then this is for you!

CAREER DEMONSTRATOR: Views Stampin’ Up! as a viable business with long term career potential; pursues management and wants to move up the career ladder; regularly attends Stampin’ Up! events, and has developed close relationships with other demonstrators; works at her business in a consistent manner; achieves monetary awards and FREE merchandise for her efforts; is recognized at convention; loves meeting new people and is not afraid to approach someone about her business.

NEW PROJECT IDEAS NOW ON THE STAMPIN' UP WEBSITE!!!

Have a great day!

Linda :)

Whatever Wednesday - Cutie Pie Flowers For You

What a great camp we had last night! The cards were beautiful. Be sure to jot May 5 at 7pm on your calendar for the next stamp camp.

Here's today's card:

RECIPE:
Cs: Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Dsp: Cutie Pie
Stamp Set: Vases in Vogue
Punches: 5-petal, Curly Label, 1 3/8” circle, ½” circle, small oval
Other: diecutting machine, Top Note die, brads, dimensionals

Add the negative cs from a Top Note diecut to a Certainly Celery card. Adhere some Pomegranate polka dot Cutie Pie dsp to the bottom half of the card. Adhere the Certainly Celery curly label with dimensionals. Stamp a message in Purely Pomegranate & layer the message piece.

Punch 5-petal flowers into the Cutie Pie dsp, add small white circles to 2 of them & add brads. The center flower is adhered with dimensionals.


Linda :)

TUESDAY TIPS - CIRCLE CUTTER

Have you realized that I use a lot of circles in my cards? Circle punches, circle tags, little circles, big circles. Cutting big circles & layering them can make a good card look even better. I not only layered my main image circle with a bigger circle on this card, but I also cut it in half. Get creative with your circle cutter - whether it be a Coluzzle, the new Stampin' Up circle cutter, or whatever you have at home.

My Tuesday Tip:

Get a big circle cutter. And, if you don't have one or just can't afford one this month, get really creative ----- trace round things & cut them out. It take a little longer & isn't as cool to use, but drinking glasses, pencil holders, even plates & bowls work just fine! Even so, I'd still love to sell you the Circle Scissor Plus. :)

Cs: Only Orange Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Stamp set: Older & Wiser
Inks: Black Classic Stampin’ Pad, Stampin’ Write Markers – Only Orange, Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink
Other: crop-o-dile, pink polka dot ribbon, circle cutter, dry embossing machine & embossing folder

First, I dry embossed some Tempting Turquoise cs with a birthday party patterned embossing folder. I stamped the “childhood dream” stamp onto Whisper White cs & cut a circle around it. I also cut a Certainly Celery circle slightly larger than the white circle, then split the circle in half. Punch a hole in the celery cs & add ribbon. Adhere all pieces to the card.

Linda :)

MAP IT MONDAY - Green Donut

Here's a stamp from a hostess set in the current Big Idea Book & Catalog! It's just sooooo cute.

Cs: Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Dsp Non S U green plaid
Stamp Sets: Current Catalog Hostess Set – Comfort Food, Vases in Vogue
Ink: Certainly Celery Classic Stampin’ Pad, White craft inkpad
Punches: 1 ¼” square
Other: non S U tag, ribbon, dimensionals, Crop-o-Dile, Clear EP, heat tool

I cut out a 1 ½” square from the dsp with a craft knife. After stamping “donut be sad”, I punched it out with a 1 ¼” square punch, then rubbed the square over an inkpad to color the edges. I heat embossed the tag with white craft ink & clear ep.


Linda :)

SCRAPBOOK SATURDAY and STAMP CAMP SNEAK PEEK!!!!

Here's a layout I just made this weekend. I began the scrapping using a bright blue that I pulled from the photos, but once I had it arranged on my paper, I realized that something just didn't look right about it. It struck me at that time that the Barney comforter (remember that TV show & character?) had such strong green and pinky-purple colors & was much too prominent to try to disregard or minimize. So, I decided to go with the flow & replace the blue with this Glorious Green. I also felt the brown in the wooden furniture was too prominent, so I used brown as my neutral color for embellishment & journaling.

One more thing......another sneak peek at a card we're making on Tuesday at Stamp Camp!

Linda

WHATEVER WEDNESDAY on a Friday? NEW MINI CATALOG IS HERE!!!!!!

I've finally gotten around to posting this week's Whatever Wednesday post.....

STAMPIN' UP'S NEW MINI CATALOG IS HERE!!!!!

It's called the "OCCASIONS MINI" & it is loaded with great stamp sets, many beautiful ideas, and even a new "window sheets" product line! I know several of my customers have loved the beauty of the acetate cards we have made over the past year, so now's your chance to kick it up a notch!

Stampin' Up's new catalog policy is to publish a Big Idea Book Catalog once a year & publish three mini catalogs each year. Products in this Occasions Mini are available for purchase during the months of April, May & June.

Now for a sneak peak at just a few of the awesome products in this mini catty. To see the entire catty, simply click on the image above or the one on the sidebar.

CONNECT WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS PROMOTION IN APRIL!!!!

Connect with family and friends when you make them beautiful cards and gifts using products from the Occasions Mini Catalog. From April 1-30, you get one item from the “Under $10” page (pg. 208) in our Spring-Summer Big Idea Book & Catalog when you buy $40 in products from the Occasions Mini or host a workshop totaling $150 or more.

Have a great day!

Linda :)

FAST FRIDAY - Sympathy Circle

Here’s a fast one with one-color stamping and only two parts to cut.

Cut a big circle with a circle cutter, stamp with a single color, & adhere a strip of designer paper. Punch a hole in the circle, add ribbon & adhere circle to the card front.

Tada. Have a great weekend!

Linda :)

THINK ABOUT COLOR THURSDAY - Ruby Red, Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery

cs: Ruby Red, Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery
inks: Ruby Red (or Riding Hood Red), Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery
stamps: Polka Dot Punches,Older & Wiser
punch: heart
other: Circle cutter, paper piercing mat pack, dimensionals

Cut a large circle with a circle cutter, cut it in half, & paper pierce along the curved edge.

Stamp 3 hearts onto all three colors of cardstock with their respective color inkpads.

Adhere Certainly Celery & Ruby Red hearts, then adhere Brocade Blue heart with dimensionals.

Stamp the “happy birthday”.

Linda :)