A Beautiful Thing in Pink Pirouette!

I wanted something different from the same cards I've been doing, so here it is!

Stamps: A Beautiful Thing
Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch

It's very simple, but I like it! I hope you do too.

HAPPY STAMPING!

Something Just for My Hostesses!

So I got to thinking.... I have my 50X50 board just for people who purchase $50 (every $50 you purchase in product, you get a square on the board; when the board's full, I'll draw a name and the winner will receive $50 in free Stampin' Up! merchandise from me). But what can I do for my hostesses?

So I took the same basic concept and everyone that hosts a party will get a square on my Hostess Prize Drawing Board. When the board is full (mind you, this one is smaller than the 50X50 board - it only has 24 available squares), I will draw a name and the winning hostess will receive $25 in free Stampin' Up! merchandise from me! See the pictures below (taken before tonight's party). At this point, there are five squares filled on the Hostess Board.




Some notes about the Hostess Board. I am including anyone that hosted a "qualifying" party. According to Stampin' Up! a qualifying party is $150. If you place an order for $150 or more, you are eligible for Hostess Benefits - you get a square. If you host a workshop in your home with sales of at least $150, you are eligible for Hostess Benefits - you get a square. If you host a Book Party and have your friends place orders with sales of at least $150, you are eligible for Hostess Benefits - you get a square. If you are hostess for a club one month - you get a square.

I have included anyone that has had a qualifying party since the new Fall-Winter Idea Book & Catalog came out on August 11th.

HAPPY STAMPING!

Bookmark Clip

I love these things! I have made so many of these - for everything! I have actually done a lot of these for craft fairs, teacher gifts, you name it. They are so simple!

I got the giant paper clips at Staples.

Stamps: Merry & Bright
Paper: Real Red, Garden Green, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Black
Accessories: Dimensionals, Crystal Effects, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

So EASY to make!

HAPPY STAMPING!

Tag Card

I actually made this tag card quite a while ago, but I just came across it and thought that I would share it. I think I saw them originally on SCS.

Stamps: Simply Said
Paper: Certainly Celery, Blush Blossom, Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery, Blush Blossom
Accessories: Word Window Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, 1/8" Circle Punch, Vintage Brads, Circle Rhinestone Brads, Rich Regal Brads, Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

The card is 11" X 5 1/2"; it is scored at 2 3/4", 5 1/2", 8 1/4".

I had to snip the corners myself and that's always tricky, but otherwise - it's actually a very simple card!

The ribbon is adhered under the top matted design.







HAPPY STAMPING!

Christmas in August - Card Details - Part II

Here's the other half of the cards from the Christmas in August camp on Monday night. These four cards were made with actual Christmas sets.



This card I cased from "mendiolat" on SCS.

Punch Pals JOY
Stamps: Punch Pals, Big Deal Alphabet
Paper: Glorious Green, Handsome Hunter, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Handsome Hunter
Accessories: Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots


I didn't case this one!

SNOW Card
Stamps: Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel SNOW, Wonderful Words
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Bashful Blue
Accessories: Bashful Blue 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, 2-Way Glue, sponge


Another one I didn't case!

Merry & Bright Window
Stamps: Merry & Bright
Paper: Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Stazon Jet Black
Accessories: 1 3/8" Circle Punch


I cased this card from "ckreege" on SCS.

Santa Gatefold
Stamps: Jolliest Time of the Year
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Stazon Jet Black
Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, Ticket Corner Punch, Cuttlebug with Snowflakes embossing folder

HAPPY STAMPING!

Christmas in August - Card Details - Part I

So, I thought I would break it down some and give you the details for half of the cards we made at the Christmas in August camp on Monday night. We had a great crowd! I wanted to keep at least most of the cards simple so that if people choose to copy any of them for their Christmas card, it won't be an overwhelming task.

I am going to start with the cards that are not made with actual Christmas stamp sets. One of them, Crab & Company has a couple of Christmas stamps that come as part of the set, but the overall set is not a Christmas set.


This card is done based on a technique on Amy Celona's blog. She is an amazingly talented Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I'm hoping to one day get to meet her! Every person that did this card at Camp came out with a card that looked different, but equally GORGEOUS!

Lovely as a Snowy Tree (titled as Amy Celona titled hers - I couldn't resist!)
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Sanded
Paper: Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Craft Very Vanilla
Accessories: sponge, sponge dauber, hemp twine


This card I CASE'd (Copy And Share with Everyone - in case you were wondering) from "abcde" on SCS.

Jingle Shells
Stamps: Crab & Company
Paper: Certainly Celery, Basic Black, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla
Ink: Always Artichoke
Accessories: Spiral Tab Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, Real Red Marker


This card I cased from "Jova29" on SCS.

Happy Holidays Mistletoe
Stamps: Fresh Cuts, Happy Everything
Paper: Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy
Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Bravo Burgundy 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon


I LOVE THIS CARD (it's one of my favorite stamp sets)! I cased this one too - I got this one from "samswindle" on SCS.

Baroque Motifs Christmas
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Holidays & Wishes
Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla
Ink: Mellow Moss, Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: NONE

HAPPY STAMPING!

Christmas in August Camp Monday, August 25th - Sneak Peek!

I have all my cards ready for Monday's Christmas in August Stamp Camp! I thought you'd all like a sneak peek! There are still a few spaces left if anyone is interested! It's being held here in my classroom. The cost is $20 for 8 cards. If you bring a friend (new to me), get $5 off your camp fee. If you place an order, receive $5 off your camp fee (minimum $25 order to receive discount). If you're interested in attending, just send me an e-mail and I'll get right back to you!

I wish I could take credit for coming up with all these beautiful cards, but I really only came up with two of them! I cased the other six!


The Merry & Bright card (snowman) and the Snow jumbo wheel cards (ultra simple cards) are mine. The Baroque Motifs card I cased from "samswindle" on SCS and the Freshcuts card I cased from "Jova29" on SCS. I particularly like both of these cards because they are NOT actually Christmas stamp sets!



The Lovely as a Tree card I totally and completely cased from Amy Celona. I think my card looks beautiful and it totally does NOT do justice to Amy's card - she is simply AMAZING (you really should check out her blog)! The JOY card using Punch Pals, I cased from "mendiolat" on SCS. The Santa card using Jolliest Time of the Year I cased from "ckreege" on SCS. And the Jingle Shells card, I cased from "abcde" on SCS.

On most of the cards I did something to alter it in some way, shape or form, but the original ideas are not mine and I want to give credit where credit is due.

I'm excited about the Christmas in August stamp camp on Monday night - I just wish my order from Stampin' Up! had arrived in time to use new sets! Oh well, there's always next time!

Happy Stamping!

Sketch Challenge #3

Join us for Sketch Challenge #3! I found a great sketch to use on SUDSOL. It's on the simple side, so we're going to kick up this challenge with a COLOR CHALLENGE as well!

There are four possible combinations you can use:



#1 - Main color: Gable Green; Coordinating Colors: Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral, Bashful Blue; Complementary Color: Pixie Pink

#2 - Main Color: Ballet Blue; Coordinating Colors: Real Red, Creamy Caramel, Always Artichoke; Complementary Color: Pumpkin Pie

#3 - Main Color: Perfect Plum; Coordinating Colors: Ruby Red, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa; Complementary Color: Barely Banana

#4 - Main Color: Pumpkin Pie; Regal Rose, Rose Red, Ballet Blue; Complementary Color: Ballet Blue

HAPPY STAMPING

Check out this Project!

I just love Paula Goff's website! She's the one that had the directions for the Bag in a Box, well she also had this awesome "Teabag" Holder on that same page. I think it works just as well as a Chocolate Holder, though!

We made them using Lovely Lilac and the retired Almost Amethyst Designer Series Paper.







HAPPY STAMPING!

Check Out My 50X50 Board!

Check out my 50X50 Board! This was the idea of another demonstrator on SUDSOL, but I loved it so much that i had to try it! Here's what it says:

For every $50 you spend, write your name in a square and get an entry in the prize drawing to win $50 in FREE Stampin' Up! product from Robin! Prize will be drawn when all squares are full - 50 chances!

I already have 13 squares filled! What great odds! I'll keep you all posted! I'm letting everyone pick their color too! There's all 48 colors plus Sahara Sand and Basic Gray.



Happy Stamping!

Robin's Photo Folio

I've seen similar things to this Photo Folio - there's tons of them out there, so I can't claim that this is my original idea (I wish I could!) but I needed one and I didn't want to spend all my time searching for it. I knew that I didn't want to make one using envelopes and I knew what size paper I wanted to use to make it, so I came up with this one and I used Fresh Cuts - one of Stampin' Up!'s new sets to decorate it. I'm going to attempt to show you how to make it here, now.

Photo Folio

Materials
Cardstock for base (I used Mellow Moss)
Cardstock for background of pictures (I used Basic Black): 9" x 3 1/4", scored at 4 1/2"
Cardstock for picture mats (I used Whisper White): 9 pieces, 4 1/4" X 3"
Cardstock for belly band (I used Elegant Eggplant): 1" X 8 1/2"
Cardstock scraps for decorating
Round Tab Punch
Photo Corners Punch
Large Oval Punch
Small Oval Punch
Dimensionals
Sticky Tape
Rich Regal Brads



Cut base cardstock to 12" X 5".


Score base cardstock at 3 3/8", 7", and 10 3/4".


Arrange black pieces on base piece as shown, and adhere with sticky tape. Use scrap cardstock and the Round Tab Punch and attach as shown (also with sticky tape).



When they are all attached, they should open as shown.

The pictures below show how I decorated mine:








If you make one of these, please send me a picture or a link to yours!

Can You Say "WOW!"?

So, we had our club yesterday - we only had one person who couldn't be there - so there were 13 people there! That's a WOW too! The big thing that I want to share with everyone is the results of the latest Sketch Challenge that I gave to the group. Their creativity is flowing and the "challenge" part of it has really kicked in. You just have to see what they came up with. Here is a slide show (first you'll see the sketch and then my three samples):



Aren't they amazing!? So, "WOW!"

PS - If you click on the slide show, it will take you to the actual album where the pictures are and you can see who made which card!

Getting Ready for August Parties & Clubs!

I am having so much fun getting ready for my parties and clubs for August!! I can't resist giving a sneak peek of what we're going to be doing! No directions or details yet - maybe on Sunday (after a party and my club)!! I know I have just too much planned, but I can't resist! I am just so excited about this new book and so ready to be stamping again!

This giftcard holder is inspired by a fellow demonstrator - thank you Patty! There is actually a tutorial on her blog. We're making this tonight and on Saturday - and I'll be giving out a one-page direction sheet. I used the colors out of the new Idea Book & Catalog for this stamp set!



Giftcard Holder Card
Stamps: Simply Said
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Paper: Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Sticky Strip, Word Window Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, 1/4" Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon


Love that Sock Monkey - I couldn't resist. I saw two similar cards to this on Splitcoast (momof2lilboyz & Tracy Altemose). This is my take on their idea! And I used the new Kiwi Kiss paper!

Evil Sock Monkey Card!
Stamps: Sock Monkey, All Holidays
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Kiwi Kiss
Paper: Kraft, Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Accessories: Word Window Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, Write Me a Memory Volume II Journaling Font CD


And of course - my new favorite Baroque Motifs! I used the Baby Wipe Technique with Baja Breeze and Pacific Point.

Baroque Motifs - Baby Wipe Card
Stamps: Baroque Motifs
Ink: Pacific Point reinker & stamp pad, Baja Blue reinker
Paper: Baja Blue, Pacific Point, Whisper White
Accessories: Baby Wipes, Dimensionals, Silver Brads
Technique: Baby Wipe Technique


HAPPY STAMPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank You for My Cards!

So my birthday was this past weekend and I got some beautiful cards! (I also got a Scor-Pal from my husband!) I wanted to share with you some of the awesome cards I received! Forgive the poor scanning - they are much better live and in person!


This first card was from Jan, one of my club members. She never forgets my birthday! And I *always* get an amazing card from her!



This card is from another club member (also a friend & neighbor), Sandy. She also never forgets my birthday - she always brings me a birthday cake too! Notice the use of the Cuttlebug in this one - and it's a Gatefold too!


This last card is from my niece Kelsey. She's seven. She's a child prodigy. Knowing how talented and artistic she is, I really am not sure that her mother helped her at all. Her mother, Julie is one of my club members as well (and also my sister-in-law).

I also received many e-mails wishing me a Happy Birthday - so to everyone - THANK YOU!!! I had a wonderful birthday. A friend of ours even took all three kids overnight and my husband and I got to go out and stay out LATE (and sleep in)!! WOW!

The Catalogs are Here!

I've got the catalogs!! This catalog is absolutely awesome! Want one?

If you’d like a *free* catalog – it’s really easy: there’s a few easy ways you can do that:

Check out my Stampin’ Up! website and check my calendar to see when I’m available and then e-mail me or give a call to let me know when you’d like to book your party! You can hold the party at your house or in my classroom. All hostesses receive a free catalog.

Get some friends together and form a Club, we’ll set all the club dates ahead of time(again check the calendar on my website) – everyone will get a chance to be hostess. The minimum party is $150, so the minimum order will be $150 divided by the number of people in the club! You can hold it at your house or in my classroom. All hostesses in the club receive a free catalog.

If you don’t want to have an actual party, there’s always a book party! Receive a free catalog for hosting a book party.

Or, you can buy a catalog for $10. I’ll give you a coupon for $5.00 off your first $35 order with the purchase of a catalog.

Let me know if you’re interested! I am so very excited about this new catalog and the new products Stampin’ is introducing!

Happy Stamping! I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Still Waiting for My New Catalogs... How About a Stampin' Up! Update?

So, I'm waiting for my new catties to arrive and I don't really want to do anything. All I want is my new catty!! I did not get to go to convention this year - maybe next year! I did get to see a lot of what goes on - and all the awesome announcements that were made, so I thought I'd give a little update here for all of you:

On Day 1 - July 31st, they announced that Shelli Gardner, our co-founder is starting her own personal blog. This is very exciting news as she is truly the driving force behind Stampin' Up! The address is SoShelli.com. It will be filled with all kinds of great stuff - gift and project ideas and a personal look at her life at home and at the Stampin' Up! office.

They also announced that they are launching "Shelli's Signature Collection". It will include stamp sets, home decor, and accessories. The first official glimpse at Shelli's Signature Collection will come in the Holiday Mini which will begin October 1st.

Stampin' Up! is going to partner with Country Living Magazine again (for the second time) to offer an exclusive holiday kit which will include exclusive stamps, a combination of designer series paper, and coordinating accessories that will only be available by purchasing this kit! The kit and project ideas from the kit will be will be featured among 20 pages in the magazine's December holiday issue. The last time it was beautiful - I can't wait to see what they come up with this time!

There will also be a Phase 2 to the already awesome Decor Elements that will include colors and, I believe, two-step Decor Elements. These will be available for purchase on October 1st. Check out these picture that some of the demonstrators at convention took.


Ginormous Flowers?


Not sure. Hmmmm.


Always?


Nursery Necesseties anyone???


So, all this is very cool, right??? There's more, though!


On Day 2 - August 1st, they made an absolutely GINORMOUS announcement - and I think a picture is worth a THOUSAND words!!

Stampin' Up! and Sizzix have partnered to offer the Big Shot! Check out that adorable doctor's bag you can get to keep it in! You can use all your Sizzix dies and embossing templates in this. You can use your Cuttlebug embossing templates and dies in this. It seems to be quite versatile! I can't wait to get it! And no, I'm not going to go to Michael's or AC Moore for this - I'd rather get the hostess benefits from it!! Besides, I want mine to say Stampin' Up! on it! The SU! version will be all black as well. We will carry many of the standard dies and embossing templates as well as some exclusive Stampin' Up! ones. My wishlist is VERY LENGTHY right now!! My birthday's coming though - maybe that will help!! This will be available for sale as of September 2nd, I believe. I will post the brochure for you. There are some awesome dies and so many awesome projects that we can make with this - both cards and projects!

Well, my catalog still hasn't arrived! :( I suppose I should do some laundry or something useful (maybe stamp?)

I'll let you know the moment I receive my catalog!! I've heard there is a lot of fantastic new stuff inside!! New punches, paper, stamps - you name it!!

Happy Stamping!