Occasions Alphabet Pocket

Today's pocket was made with the new Occasions Alphabet stampset. Can you believe mine hadn't seen ink yet?!!

I paired it with wisteria wonder, melon mabo & pretty in pink cardstock and some flirtateous dsp. I used the large oval and designer label and 3/4" circle punches too and the new ruffled ribbon in wisteria...so pretty!:) Today's pocket took some inspiration from Jenny, but I still haven't decided if I need the new petite pockets die, but I am liking my new simply scored tool!

Established Elegance Pocket Envelope

I'm trying to decide whether to order the new petite pocket die for the Big Shot and in the meantime I received my preorder of the new simply scored tool that debuts in the Holiday Mini on September 1. So I thought I'd try making my own pocket envelopes for giftcards, notes, etc.

At the same time I had my new Established Elegance stampset out as I'm preparing the projects for Sept. 1st's technique club, so I couldn't resist playing. I got some inspiration for this one from Kim. The cardstocks I used are: island indigo and ridinghood red, and I used some of the first edition dsp and the curly label punch.

Strength & Hope Treatholder

I wanted to post a recent project with the Strength & Hope stampset as it is only available for a few more days (until August 31st). This is a very special stampset where a portion of the proceeds on every set sold go to the Breast Cancer Research Fund, so if you haven't gotten your stampset yet, contact me to order one...you'll be supporting a great cause and the stampset is really beautiful.

This project was inspired by Shawna, my upline. Shawna has a tutorial here. The cone is made out of a 6 x 6 piece of first edition dsp. The butterfly is stamped in marina mist on naturals ivory and inked with soft suede. The tiny tag is punched with the tiny tag punch and is stamped with the Strength & Hope stampset which includes the beautiful butterfly image. It's tied together with a piece of white bakers twine and a button from the neutral pack. The lace is chantily.

A Rose by Any Other Name...

The rose on this little box is made out of the medium flower from the fun flowers die...actually 3 of them;) Cardstock used was wild wisteria and crumb cake and the edges were inked with soft suede.

Ghirardelli Treat Holder

This is another one of our stamp camp projects. I used the scallop envelope die for the big shot with some of the new flirtateous specialty dsp to creat the base. The tag is stamped on naturals ivory with stamps from the Clearly for You stampset and the flower is from the new blossoms bouquet triple layer punch and the lace trim border punch. I used a large pearl jewel in the centre and the ribbon is whisper white taffeta. Oh and the chocolate is 'dark chocolate with raspberry' by ghiradelli:)

Stamp Camp Bookmark

This was the fun flowers bookmark we made in wisteria wonder at Stamp Camp this weekend. Once you cut the flowers with the fun flowers big shot die you crumple them up then sponge the edges with the same colour of ink, then you layer them with dimensionals and circle punches (that you don't see) and attach a ribbon at the back. To finish them off we added a tiny tag made with the tiny tag punch and stampset (image 'love') and with the angel from the charmed stampset stamped lightly in the background. This is then tied onto a button along with a crown charm with linen thread and then attached to the centre of the layered flower with a glue dot:) We used the new ruffled ribbon for the tale of the bookmark too:)

I'm made 2 similar bookmarks recently...here (mocha morning) and here (vintage wallpaper embossed)

Cheerful Tote with coordinating cards

Another one of the projects we made at yesterday's stamp camp. Although I've seen these totes in several places on the web, Amy has the best directions for how to make them so here is a link.

We used the Cheerful delight dsp (a hostess only selection:) and built a doily from the flirtateous specialty paper into the flower. Cardstock used: melon mambo, lucky limeade, concorde crush, naturals ivory. We also used the designer frames embossing flower on one of the cards and the images stamped on the cards are all from the Creative Elements stampset. The sentiment is from the swirls & curls verses hostess stampset.

You have enough dsp for the tote, it's handles and the 2 cards from one sheet of 12 x 12 with a wee bit left over. I almost made a 3rd card with the left over, but we already had 5 projects including this one for stamp camp and I was bit concerned for time:)

Stamp Camp is Here!

It feels like I've prepared all summer for today, my first ever stamp camp, and with it 5 projects for my participants. I might have been too ambitious!;) But I'm sure we'll have fun.

This little birdhouse is one of today's projects. It was inspired by one in my demonstrator magazine and I can email a template; however, I'll caution that the template isn't quite perfect.

I used a couple of new products on this project...island indigo card stock, lucky limeade ruffled ribbon and paisley petals dsp! The flowers were made with the boho blossoms punch and the centres are pearls from the jewels pack. The welcome stamp comes from the fabulous phrases stampset.

24-7 Decor Project Class

I made this framed decor piece for a friend and the feedback has been such that I decided to do a class to make this project.

When: Thursday September 15^th 7-8:30 pm

Where: My Home

Cost: $17

RSVP by September 8^th, or sooner if the spots fill up (as there are a limited number)

What to bring:

• *scissors

• **adhesive: 2 way tape/glue runner; liquid glue/tomobo mono multi OR glue stick

• brown/black inks and a sponge for edges & distressing

• paper piercing tool (if you have one)

"Treat Yourself Like Your Own Best Company"

Again, some more mocha morning dsp, and some first edition. Add to that some crumbcake and very vanilla cardstock, my new favourite frames impressions folder, my new favourite colour, wisteria wonder, and the brand new Creative Elements stampset and voila!:))

Mocha Morning Bookmark

Today I have another bookmark to show; this one made out of some of my new favourite mocha morning DSP with flocking! I made this one for a friend that I was supposed to meet for lunch and visit tomorrow, but it has been postponed for another time:)

Fun Flowers Bookmark

Over the last year, I've seen a few of these posted, so I had to try my hand at one, and I made this bookmark for my daughter:) Several of the SAMs for some of the demonstrators made these for their demonstrators a few months back and so that is where I think the idea came from.

I used the new wisteria wonder cardstock on mine, plus the tiny tags stampset and punch:)

Pennant Parade

Last week at my new catalog open house, we played with the pennant parade new stampset and coordinating builder punch along with some of the new in colours (wisteria wonder, island indigo & lucky limeade).

The pennant parade stampset is so versatile, you can make playful projects, romantic projects, birthday cards, Christmas cards, thank you card, love cards. I really like products that you can do more than one thing with, you know?!

On this card we also used the boho blossoms punch, the polka dot embossing folder, some rhinestone jewels and some first edition dsp.

New! New! New! ...and so grateful:)

Today I thought I'd combine several *new* things in my post:

- new products I've received from the new Stampin' Up Idea Book & Catalog;

- Shelli's new creative challenge for July...which was to make a project with new product;

- a new colour combination idea (I was looking for what colours would work well with the new in colour, wisteria wonder...I love this combo of cherry cobbler & soft suede!); AND

- the open house I'm hosting tonight for the new Idea Book & Catalog:)

This project is the make & take that we'll be making tonight at the new catalog open house. It is a gratitude journal, and I first got the idea for it here...although mine looks completely different:)

The gratitude journal is made with the following new products that I just had to try out from the new Idea Book & Catalog:

- wisteria wonder cardstock...this is my new favourite colour!!!

- flirtatious DSP...also new and so delicate & girly!

- designer frames textured impressions embossing folders...the set comes with two frames, I used the oval one here and oh I love them!! This is one of my very favourite things in the new catalog!:)

- creative elements stampset...also new in the new catalog...it is so versatile...and don't you jsut love how the pattern on the butterfly ties in with the flirtatious dsp?!

- lace ribbon border punch...the possibilities are endless with this...I used it to create the red border for my dsp piece AND to create the centre piece in wisteria wonder inside my frame...love it!

I rounded out the project with some favourtes supplies like:

- the linen thread I sewed the journal together with...just thread a needle!

- the mini library clip

- the fabulous phrases stampset

- soft sued cardstock and ink...that's a new/old favourite of mine:)

- cherry cobbler and naturals ivory cardstock

- boho flowers punch

- pearl jewels

I'm looking forward to getting together with the girls to fawn over the new catalog tonight and make our journals!:)

This is the 2nd ribbon share that is currently open. See yesterday's post for the other one (ruffled ribbon share link).

SCALLOP DOTS RIBBON
- for this ribbon share you will receive 2.5 yards of the brand new scallop dots ribbon in each of the 4 colours: cherry cobbler, chocolate chip, elegant eggplant and marina mist (pictured above). That's a total of 10 yards of ribbon. Cost will be $13.50 which is roughly what one spool of a single colour of this ribbon would be once you factor in s&h and taxes.

If you want to get in on this scallop dots ribbon share, please contact me (by phone or email; my email address is in the right sidebar) before Thursday July 21st 8pm as this ribbon share will close at my New Catalog Open House on that date. As I mentioned yesterday, if you haven't signed up for the open house but would like to come, please let me know by noon on Saturday July 16th so I can prepared enough supplies:)

**note: if you don't live in Saskatoon but would like to participate in the ribbon share, just email me and I will put your name down and mail you your ribbon when it arrives. I will add the actual cost of postage to your order. This offer is only valid in Canada.

Ribbon Share #1 - Ruffled Ribbon

There are some FABULOUS new ribbons in the new catalog so I will be hosting several ribbon shares which will be based on demand (more shares to follow if customers show interest). This is the first of two ribbon shares that are now open with a deadline of July 21st 8pm for sign up.

RUFFLED RIBBON SHARE

- for this share each person will receive 2.5 yards of the brand new ruffled ribbon in each of the following 4 NEW colours: wisteria wonder, pool party, lucky limeade & island indigo (as pictured above). That's a total of 10 yards of ribbon. Cost will be $16.50 which is roughly what one spool of a single colour of this ribbon would be once you factor in s&h and taxes.

I'm totally *in love* with this new ribbon and I can't even begin to tell you how hard it is to find ribbons of this quality and in the range of colours!

If you want to get in on this ruffled ribbon share, please contact me (by phone or email; my email address is in the right sidebar) before Thursday July 21st 8pm as this ribbon share will close at my New Catalog Open House on that date. If you haven't signed up for the open house but would like to come, please let me know by noon on Saturday July 16th so I can prepared enough supplies:)

**note: if you don't live in Saskatoon but would like to participate in the ribbon share, just email me and I will put your name down and mail you your ribbon when it arrives. I will add the actual cost of postage to your order. This offer is only valid in Canada.

Amour - Wedding Card

I made this card for a recent wedding of a cousin of mine. It's vanilla on vanilla using impressions folders, adornments from the spring mini, pretties from the retired pretties kit and pearls. The stamped images come from the clearly for you stamp set.

The one thing I didn't really think of when I was making this was how I was going to mail it. An envelope just wasn't cutting it, so in the end I used a make shift box. If I were to do it again I'd make a proper box to coordinate with the card, but the sentiment would still be the same:)

I saw a tone on tone card using flowers once before somewhere and that is where the inspiration for this card started, but I cannot think of where or I'd post a link.

Have you ever thought about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? Now is a great time to become a demonstrator!

During July, you can join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator for only $119! This limited time paired down Starter Kit—valued at $205—comes with the following high-quality products:

• Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*
• Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*
• Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
• Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
• Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
• Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
• Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
• Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
• Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*
• Note Cards (20)
• Clear-Mount Block C
• Blender Pen (1)
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Business supplies

*Brand new to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue!

Demonstrators must meet quarterly minimum sales levels to remain active and receive demonstrator benefits which include:

- a discount on demonstrator purchases

- access to the demonstrator website

- monthly Stampin' Success magazine

- invitation to events like annual convention

If you are interested, please contact me and I'll provide you with the password to sign up!

Matchbook Mini album - Pennant Parade

Don't you just love getting new crafting goodies to play with?! I received the new Pennant Parade stampset and coordinating punch just before the new catalog came out but never had time to play with it until today. I *love* it! At first I wasn't so sure and I went back and forth about whether to order it because all of the samples I saw weren't 'my' style, BUT that doesn't mean this set can't be? I think it works darling with vintage!:)

This little matchbook album was such a fun project to make...now I've just got to put the pictures in! The colour inspiration came from the elements title page in the new catalog...I had never thought about putting soft suede and rich razzleberry together...love it! The dsp used in the project comes from the neutral pad which is really just so versatile...so glad they carried this over. The ribbon is the razzleberry taffeta...I love working with taffeta and I have a bit of victoria lace under it:) I also used the boho flowers punch and the pearl jewels along with the mini library clips. AND I pulled out my bigshot of course...I just loving using impressions folders...this time the polka dot and the vintage wallpaper:)

Happy Canada Day!!

Just a little banner I made for our window to celebrate Canada Day using the Canadian Pride al a carte stamp from the summer mini and the scallop square die for the big shot (paper & ink is whisper white and riding hood red).

I feel truly blessed to have been born in and get to live in this great country.

God keep our land

Glorious & free

O Canada we stand on guard for thee

O Canada we stand on guard for thee

New Catalog!!

The new catalog starts today!! Here's a link:)

If you don't know where to begin in looking at the new catalog, here are a few of my favourite new pages:

Letters to Santa Product Suite Pages 30 & 31

Timeless Portrait Product Suite Pages 78 & 79

Beau Chateau Product Suite Pages 132 & 133

New Fabrics Page 196

New Ribbon Lace Punch Page 211

New Impressions Folders for the Bigshot Page 218

Also, there is new hostess benefit program, so be sure to check out page 9!!

If you would like to receive your own copy of the catalog, let me know...cost is $11.95 or free when hostessing a workshop. If you commit to host a workshop or do a book workshop between now and Christmas I will get you your free catalog this month:)

Cheerful Treat Digital Page

I made this MDS page using the Cheerful Treat kit that is a current hostess reward in the Summer Mini, and the good news I have for you is.... there is a Cheerful Treat designer series paper pack choice for hostesses in the new catalog which will be released tomorrow!!

I'm so excited about the new catalog coming out tomorrow, and I will be emailing a link to all of those who are on my mailing list as soon as it goes live tomorrow plus I will be having a new catalog open house/workshop on Thursday July 21st for those of you who can't wait to get your hands on one:) ...be sure to register fast because space is limited!;)

That being said, I'm so sad to see so many products I love retire as of tonight... like the Define Your Life stampset I used on this 12 x 12 scrapbook page. That's the wonderful thing about digital though...many products that retire from papercrafts, remain on in the digital world.... Define Your Life comes with the MDS full software pack:) You've ever thought about My Digital Studio there are more options than ever in the new catalog!:)

If there is something you still want from the old catty, best go online right now and place an order because in just a few short hours it is done.

I'll be posting soon lots of fun new things in the new catalog and be sure to watch for the upcoming ribbon shares from the new catalog. Oh the new ribbon is so adorable...I can hardly wait!:)

What To Do with Empty Brad & Bauble Containers...

I saw this cute video from Tami a couple of weeks ago and thought 'how clever'. This little hat is made out of a couple of circles run through the big shot and some ribbons, embossing, etc. and voila...super cute!;)

Supplies (all SU):

- baja breeze cardstock

- vintage wallpaper embossing folder

- large scallop circle bigz die

- large circle punch

- so saffron grosgrain ribbon

- fun flowers bigz die

- boho flowers punch

- filigree flower & brad

For My Rockstar Husband

I made this easel card for my rockstar husband for father's day (which is today). I've been teasing him that I hope he likes his card...that it has a sail boat on it even! (not something he's fond of;) He is fond of this image which is from the Extreme Guitar stampset which, sadly, is retiring. You, my dear friends, though will still be seeing it around here as it is one of my husband's favourite...he even requests it. It actually does bear a striking resemblance to him back in his rockband days!:) ...so I gladly oblige:) He is the best father to our girl...and the best husband I could ever ask for!!

This card was made using basic black, cherry cobbler and naturals ivory cardstock. The DSP is Love Letter which is also retiring. The ribbon is black striped grosgrain. The lettering was cutout with my bigshot. The heart behind the 'U' was punched with the Heart to Heart punch. And everything was inked for a vintage feel (with soft suede ink, whatelse?)! Also, as I do on most projects I finished it off with the spritzer tool...just adds that little something that makes them go 'hmmm'!;) Hope he likes it...he left for work at 6 this morning and so will get his stuff when he gets home around lunch time:)

Vintage Journal

This journal goes with yesterday's card. I picked the sentiment 'remember when' because she recently talked about loving that stamp from the Word Play set:)

I used the same border punches as on yesterday's card and the same cardstock and dsp - along with all of my favourite ribbons: black satin, black taffeta, victoria lace, crumb cake taffeta and cherry cobbler seam binding.

I vintaged up the edges of the central piece the same way as on yesterday's card with the soft suede ink (my new favourite!:) But my absolute favourite part of this project is the flower and the swirls...all created with my bigshot and the fun flowers die and swirls sizzlet:) The technique for the flower is the same as I used on this card. I love the effect it gives to the cardstock:) ...and it was finished off with a vintage brad:)) What would I do without vintage brads?! How did I live before them?!!;)

The charms that finish off the bookmark ribbon inside the journal are all from ACP which is selling off stock right now on ebay as I mentioned yesterday (very sad!) All other supplies are SU:)

Vintage Birthday

I made this birthday card for a sweet friend who recently had a special birthday. I used something old and something new:) The birthday greeting comes from the engraved greetings stampset which is retiring at the end of this month. I love the vintage feel of the greetings in that set. The new is the butterfly which comes from the Strength & Hope set in the current mini (the set where part of the proceeds go to BCRF:) For the butterfly to take flight I gently coaxed the wings up and then I sealed the butterfly with crystal effects...love the way that works:) I used black, crumb cake and cherry cobbler cardstock and also some black taffeta ribbon. I also used all 3 of my border punches from eyelet to scallop:) And I used the first edition dsp which I'm happy to announce is IN the new Idea Book & Catalog coming out on July 1st!

Speaking of vintage, I used my soft suede ink pad with a sponge to distress/vintage up some of the edges. Soft suede is my favourite ink right now for vintage! I also used the vintage wallpaper embossing folder for the black strip behind the greeting and the greeting was black embossed. The card was finished off with charms from ACP (which is unfortunately going out of business...see ebay for great deals on remaining charms:( ) and a rhinestone jewel. All supplies SU except for the charms.

More Love & Care

You can tell I was losing the daylight when I photographed this card...oh well;) Today's card was also made with the Love & Care stampset I spoke about yesterday. This set is so versatile. As I finished yesterday's card I was thinking about the watercolouring feel of the images and so I stamped my 'impression' of a field of flowers and then I cut it into 3 panels and matted it onto some rich razzelberry cardstock. The flowers were stamped using the rocking & rolling technique to get the two tone effect. I used the same naturals white cardstock today as yesterday. I'm really liking this paper...it's more me than whisper white...just has the bit more of a vintage feel...less shiny! I finished the card off with a double bow in baja breeze seam binding with a cordoroy button (last I looked there were still some of these in the online store on clearance for cheap!)

Love & Care

I made this card with the hostess level 2 set from the Summer Mini called Love & Care. For me, this stampset gives the feel of watercoloring with just stamping:) Also I used the naturals white card stock for the base of this card, for the stamped focal point and for the matt for the image. I like the effect of using the same color for the matt although I'm not sure if the camera picks up the impact? I also used a piece of baja breeze cardstock, some dsp from the neutrals pack and some baja breeze seam binding ribbon (which will be carrying over to the new catty...yeah!) Inks used were: marina mist, always artichoke (stamped off once first) and basic black.

Just Because

I love this card. I was trying out a new technique, double embossing...the bottom piece is first edition dsp embossed with an embossing plate inked with versamark and then heat embossed with black embossing powder. The flower is made with a new technique as well. It's two of the flowers from the Fun Flowers die, but I have done a technique to separate the paper layers and turned them inside out creating a softer brushed texture which I'm in love with!:) Stamps are from the beautiful Notably Ornate stampset, one of my favourites of all time!

Happy I Do Day

This was the first card I made for my cousin's recent wedding, but I wasn't sure about it when I was done, so I made another. Now, the card is growing on me. The background was done by stamping the Always Elegant flourish in versa mark and then clear embossing and then sponging in rose red. The greeting comes from the Word Play stampset and is finished off with rhinestone jewels:)

Pretty Postage

One of my favourite things in the Summer Mini is the new postage stamp punch and the stampset I used on these little thank you notes, Pretty Postage, coordinates perfectly with it. The cards were finished off with the swirls from the Priceless stampset stamped in the background - this stampset is retiring by June 30th. The bow on the button to finish it off is the new bakers twine in the Summer Mini:)

Strength & Hope Campaign & Class

Over the last 2 weeks I have held two classes to make the mini album pictured here. Both the album and the card are made with the Strength & Hope set which as noted in this post benefits the BCRF. If you haven't gotten your set, it will be available until August if you would like to support this very worthy cause. You can order by clicking on my website or contacting me.

I am sending my album to a lovely aunt who unfortunate lost her mum and am hoping that the classes and contributions from all the sets sold will benefit BCRF so that others will never have to experience what she did. (I'm sending it, that is, as soon as this silly postal strike is over!)

You Mean the World to Me

This was the 2nd make & take at this weekend's workshop. I combined the Open Sea stamp images with this greeting from the Word Play stampset. The card base is soft suede and the layers are cherry cobbler, crumb cake, not quite navy and naturals ivory cardstock. It's finished off with a button and some linen thread and voila a card for anyone special in your life. (I provided an option which turns this card into a Father's Day card for participants too:)

Retirement Workshop - Make & Take #1

We made this card and little gift bag as our first make & take at today's retirement party/workshop. We used both old and new things. As for the old, we used the in color DSP from the 6 x 6 pack in the current catalog that retires on June 30th (it's a level 1 hostess). As for new, we used the new blossom bouquet triple layer punch for the bows on the presents! (Thanks Becky for the idea!) The presents themselves were made with the 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 square punches. The greeting comes from the Word Play set and we finished it off with rhinestones from the jewel pack:)

I'm Still Loving MDS

My first MDS book was delivered this week from printing and I sent 2 more books in in time to get the 30% off printing deal that ended May 31st. This morning I was just playing around with a scrapbook page because I think I'm becoming addicted!:)

Also, I printed the page above and saw the value in Stampin' Up's printing service because the quality is so much better than what I can do and the colours...just amazing:) If you saw it in person you would understand.

Last Chance Stamps & Accessories

Well yesterday was a sad day, Stampin' Up announced the products that are retiring on June 30th, and among them were some of my very favourites like the following stampsets:
- Sense of Time
- Priceless

- Favourite Things

- Define Your Life.....just to mention a few.

The retiring accessories list includes some favourite punches like the spiral punch, the designer label punch and the small oval among others. However, the good news is that some of the retiring accessories have a discount applied (some have no discount, some 25% off and some 40% off). Retiring accessories are available only while quantities last so it's first come, first serve. Some good deals I noticed are: the presto patterns designer specialty paper is on 25% off, the wicked fun patterned paper (for halloween) is on 40% off and the hodgepodge hardware is 40% off. Also, there are quite a few dies for the Big Shot on the retiring accessories list, so if you have a Big Shot you will want to check that out.

There is also a long retiring list for Decor Elements. Stampin Up will be combining the decor elements flyer into the main catalog when the new Idea Book & Catalog is released on July 1st, so as a result they are streamlining their offering. This means a significant number of current decor elements will only be available until June 30th, so if you had your eye on one, you'll want to check out that list.

If there is anything you want from the retirement lists you can either place an online order (use this link) or you can contact me to place an order. I will likely have an order going in this Saturday at the retirement workshop. It's also possible that I might have another order going in around June 23rd when the Travel/Journal class takes place. Also, there are just a few spots left in this class, so let me know if you still want to register (cost is $20).

Retiring Lists:
Stamps
Accessories
Decor Elements