Stamps and Whiskers

Quick Update before Vacation!

Quick question before I get to my news - do you like the header to this post?  Cool, huh?  I created this header in Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio.  You'll probably see a lot more of my creations with this product now that I am certified with My Digital Studio.  Certified means I get demo freebies from SU! as a demo that has been through their MDS training program.

I haven't posted in a while since my world was turned upside down on August 31.  Yes, I was laid off from my job of 15 years.  I've been thinking a lot and researching the market some, but have been in no real hurry yet to get a new job.  Severance pay helps a lot.

Anyhoo, long before I was laid off, a friend and I decided to go on vacation this December.  Yes, friends, I leave for a 14-day cruise from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand on December 3 - this Thursday!  I think this trip explains a lot about why I really am not in the mood to look for a job right now!  I'll be back home on December 23 for Christmas and just in time to plan my January events.

I'm mostly ready to go, believe it or not.  I have not waited to pack at the last minute as per usual!

I've been doing a lot of things to keep busy at home.  For instance, I've been busy over at Stampin' Addicts being the temporary Color Combo Challenge Master.  Last week's challenge was my last challenge to post and I selected So Saffron, Always Artichoke and Rich Razzleberry as the combo.  Here's my sample.  Be sure to check out the rest of the color combo challenges over on Stampin' Addicts.

I've also been busy updating the blog.  I've moved a lot of things to their own pages!  See the new navigation bar at the top?  Cool, huh?  Yeah, it took me a while to figure out how to do that, but I persevered!  I want to add a few other widgets to the site once I get back from lands down under.

Notice the new page for CATALOGS!  Since the demo pre-order period for the upcoming Occasions mini and Sale-a-Bration begin today, I can post links to those for you to go to.  Enjoy!

Be sure to check out the class schedule.  Additional details will be posted when I get back from vacation, so be on the look out for those.

Well, I'm outta here for now.  "See" you around Christmas.

Happy Holidays Blog Tour - Gifts of the Earth

Welcome to Stampin' Addicts Happy Holidays Blog Tour which will feature sneak peaks of several stamp sets and accessories in the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog. There are 40 pages in this Holiday Mini with a variety of goodies that will fit any of your holiday needs - gifts, handmade cards, home decor and more!

If you have been following the blog tour in order, you've just hopped over from Song of My Heart Stampers where Lyssa showcased of one of my favorite products in the mini, this year's Calendar Kit. 

But now it's my turn to showcase a set I just had to have the moment I saw it in the catalog:  Gifts of the Earth.  I was drawn to this set mostly because I have FINALLY figured out a way I like to water color and this set is perfect for this technique.  My trick is to use Black Stazon to stamp the image I want to water color onto Shimmery White cardstock.  I use Shimmery White since it stands up to the water so much better than Whisper White and even Confetti White.  I'm sure this is not new to you, but it is a recent discovery for me - one that makes water coloring so much more enjoyable for me.  Give it a go and see if you discover a new love of water coloring, too.

Gifts of the Earth (116501, $20.95 US) contains 4 images - a turkey, a bowl of apples, a harvest vignette, and a sentiment - all of which will be featured in these projects.

Happy Thanksgiving (Turkey)

Stamps:  Gifts of the Earth, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Sanded

Ink:  Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Black Stazon, Really Rust, Creamy Caramel, Basic Gray, Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red

Paper:  Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Crushed Curry textured, Shimmery White

Extras:  Vintage Brads, Orchard Ribbon Originals, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Modern Label Punch, Windows Movers and Shapers, Dimensionals, Paper Piercing Tool, Aqua Painter

Happy Thanksgiving (Trifold Shutter)

Stamps:  Gifts of the Earth, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Sanded

Ink:  Black Stazon, Really Rust, Crushed Curry, More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Sahara Sand, Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Egplant, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip

Paper:  Chocolate Chip textured, Shimmery White, Really Rust, Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper (also in the mini)

Extras:  Vintage Brads, 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, Aqua Painter

And last, just to show this set off in a non-Thanksgiving theme, a Country Cookin' Mini Recipe Book made with rectangular coasters.

Stamps:  Gifts of the Earth, Jumble Alphabet

Ink:  Black Stazon, Creamy Caramel, Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip

Paper:  So Saffron, Shimmery White,  Jackpot Designer Series Paper

Extras:  5/8" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Aqua Painter, Book Rings

I hope you've enjoyed these projects as much as I've enjoyed making them.  Let me know if you've been inspired to give water coloring with aqua painters a try!

Your next stop on the tour is Stitchin' n Stampin' on Paper, where my good friend Kim will be showing off a really unique stamp set called Wandering Words.

For your convenience, we have added directional arrows to help you find the previous or next blog spots.  Enjoy!

 

Needless to say, Salt Lake City took it out of me.  Here's what I wanted to post for check in day.

Sweet Season, Tree Trimmings, Hello Again, Retro Mix Stampin' Around Wheel, and Things I Love.  These sets don't include sets we get for awards or prize patrol.  So, I could be coming home with an even bigger haul!  

The other wonderful thing about Check-In Day is that Memento Mall is OPEN!  We've had a few sneak peeks, but SU! always keeps the really good stuff under wraps!

But the one thing I've been looking forward to the most today is stamping time with some of my friends!  Yes, we set up and impromptu Stamp Camp at the Gathering Place and have been stamping with sets out of the upcoming Holiday Mini!  More of that later, right now, I want to share a card I will be swapping today.  This card is for a Single Layer swap hosted by my good friend and fellow demo, Jan Hoyt!

I used Shimmery White as the base for the card, but gave it a little color by braying Blush Blossom over the entire sheet before cutting the cardstock to 4.25"x11".  I then ran the cut cardstock through the Big Shot with the Scallop Oval die that comes with the Punch Windows Movers and Shapers.  I then used the Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Folder to create the embossed image.

Inks:  Blush Blossom (Classic), Chocolate Chip (Craft)

Paper:  Simmery White, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip

Stamps:  Oval All

Extras:  Clear Embossing Powder, Vintage Brads, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch

Convention Bound!

Well, by this time tomorrow, I will be in Salt Lake City with just a "few" good friends getting ready for Convention 2009 to get started.  I'm planning to post daily with news that I can share along with some of my swaps.  Without further ado (cause I still have a lot of packing to do!), here's one of my designs for an organized private swap:

This Halloween card uses a few of my favorite NEW stamps sets in the current Idea Book and Catalog - French Filigree as the background stamp, From the Crypt for the brocade image and Holiday Best for the greeting.  Holiday Best is one of the Level 1 hostess sets available with a qualifying workshop.

Inks:  Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie

Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black, Whisper White and Vellum cardstock.

Extras:  Fire Circle Rhineshone brads, Top Note Bigz die, Matchbox Bigz XL die

Be sure to check in daily for news from convention and more swap samples!

It's a Prize Winner!

Some of the best things about being a Stampin' Up! demo are the opportunities to win free stuff!  How can you win?  Let me count the ways...

1.  Annual Recruiting

2.  Annual Sales

3.  Freebies on the Incentive Trip

4.  Prize Patrol - you'll have to ask me what these are!!!!

5.  Hostess Benefits - yep, we get the same hostess bennies our customers do!

6.  Artisan Award

7.  Great Rewards

8.  Incentive Promotions

9.  Title Promotions

10.  So Shelli's Creative Challenges

11.  Stampin' Up! Seasonal Class Contests

12.  Monthly Demo Contests!

So, considering which one I highlighted and the name of this post, you can deduce that I won one of Stampin' Up!'s monthly demo contests!  Yes, I entered the June Scrappin' Sensations contest and won the US spot.  My project will be published in the monthly demo newsletter in August 2009.

The theme of the contest was to create a scrapbook page or project using one of Stampin' Up!'s Simply Scrappin' Kits.  I selected Tailor Made to showcase some photos from a road trip around Lake Michigan I took a few years ago.  The colors and patterns in this kit worked well with the photos of the natural beauty of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the Upper Peninsula, Lake Superior and the Mackinac area.

I chose to adapt a homeschooling project for use as my scrapbook, a lapbook.  Homeschoolers use lapbooks to collect information about a specific topic such as medieval art or the ancient Romans.  I just adapted it to scrapbooking this particular trip I had taken.  Other topics that would be great for a lapbook scrapbook are wedding or baby showers, birthday parties, trips to the zoo - the possibilities are endless.

 

 

So without further to do, here are the photos of my project.  The first photo is of the front of the closed scrapbook.  In addition to the Tailor Made Simply Scrappin' Kit, I used Kraft Corduroy Buttons, Linen Thread, the Le Jardin Botanique stamp set and the Not Quite Navy Stampin' Write marker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This photo shows the lapbook scrapbook with the outer flaps open.  I used the Scallop Envelope Bigz die to create the little pockets on the inside of the flaps.  I also used the Photo Corner punch to accent the photo of the 100+ year old lighthouse at Pictured Rocks.

 

This photo shows the inner flaps open.  I used the Round Tab Punch to create the tab at the bottom of the center page, which lifts up to reveal more scrapbook pages!

Check out the tutorials for more instructions on how to create this project on your own.

So what free stuff did I get?  I won THREE free stamps sets and I chose.....

1.  All Holidays - a nice, sensible all around good greetings set.

2.  Monogram Sweet - a new, elegant alphabet set - great for, well, monograms!

and

3.  Beware Pirates - just 'cause Capt'n Jack Sparrow is in one of the images!

 

Hey, I got your Big Shot dies, right here!

OK, Stampin' Addicts has a Big Shot Die Pack and will be giving it away at the end of the month as part of the Stampin’ Up! summer celebration.  The gift package includes five, count 'em, FIVE brand spankin' new Big Shot dies - all exclusive to Stampin' Up!  There are only two ways to get 'em - win this contest or get 'em from your Stampin' Up! demonstrator - ME! 

Stampin Addicts has tons of ideas using the Stampin’ Up! Big Shot.  So cruise around the gallery and dream about all the wonderful things you can make with your winnings.  To enter Stampin Addicts contest, all you have to do is write about it. This is my entry. Now give me my dies!

Sneak Peek or Convention Swap?

 Well, it's both!  Yes, this design features some of the new products in the SOON TO BE RELEASED

2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog!

I signed up for a swap in Glenda Travelstead's downline group, SISers, and this is what I came up with although I must say, I was inspired by Ronda Camire's card on SplitCoast.  The overall design is Ronda's, I just changed up the colors and embellishments.  I made a few extras for swapping at convention, too, so if  you like it, be on the lookout.

Sets:  Circle Circus, Oval All

Cardstock: Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Inks: Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry

Acc.:  Scallop Oval, Lg Oval & Flower Trio punches, silver brads, dimensionals

Bon Voyage Blog Hop

 

Welcome to Port of Call #2 on Stampin' Addicts 2009 Bon Voyage Blog Hop!

I hope you enjoyed Yapha's presentation of In Everything Give Thanks at the Bon Voyage Party.  Relax and settle in for your first cruise adventure as we continue to celebrate the holidays in high style with a favorite set of mine,

To You and Yours.

This set contains two holiday images and four greetings, all of which will be featured in the projects below.  While this set is not featured in the current Stampin' Up! catalog, it is available for purchase until June 30 (Item No. 111706, $18.95).  This set is also available in Spanish (Para ti y tu familia, Item No. 112951, $18.95). 

One announcement before disembarking: the tour links are only active through 11:59 pm Tuesday June 16; after that, many hostesses will post more details on projects you see today. Bookmark your favorite stops now--on return visits, you'll bypass customs & immigration and go straight to the fun!

Season's Greetings Card:

Stamps: To You and Yours, Cute and Curly (also retiring)

Inks:  Riding Hood Red (retiring), Kiwi Kiss (retiring) and Chocolate Chip.

Paper:  Riding Hood Red (retiring), Kiwi Kiss (retiring), Confetti White and Chocolate Chip Cardstock

Extras:  Curly Label Punch, Riding Hood Red Tafetta Ribbon (retiring), Latte Buttons

 

 

Sending You Holiday Peace Card: 

Stamps: To You and Yours

Inks:  Bashful Blue, Real Red, Old Olive Classic Ink Pads and Markers

Paper:  Bashful Blue, Whisper White, and Old Olive Cardstock

Extras:  Wide Oval Punch, Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Clips Assortment, Circle Scallops #2 Bigz Die, Little Leaves Sizzlets Die, Lots of Tags Sizzlets Die Set, Texturez Backgrounds.

 

 

 

Merry and Bright Card: 

Stamps: To You and Yours

Inks:  Bashful Blue, Real Red, Old Olive Classic Ink Pads and Markers

Paper:  Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Real Red, Garden Green and Kraft Cardstock

Extras:  Scallop Border Punch, Bashful Blue Tafetta Ribbon, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware,  Paper Piercing Tool

From Our House to Yours Treat Bag: 

Stamps: To You and Yours

Inks:  Chocolate Chip and Old Olive

Paper:  Riding Hood Red (retiring) and Confetti White Cardstock

Extras:  Top Note Bigz Die, Lots of Tags Sizzlets Die Set, Earth Elements Brads

Techniques:  The edges of the top note die cut and the tag were sponged with ink.

I hope you've enjoyed your visit here at Port of Call #2. Please come back after the tour is over for more information on these projects. Your next port of call is #3 with Sharon who will share projects featuring the Happiness is a Journey stamp set. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

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Click here for Port of Call #3
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Click here for Port of Call #1
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My Take on the Double Pocket Card

A few years ago, a couple of friends of mine, who happen to be married to each other, were worried about the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  Their dilemma, you see, was which of them was going to get to read it first.  Can you imagine?  Well, they came up with a very clever solution - His and Hers bookmarks.  Oh, the bookmarks didn't match and they weren't labelled "His" and "Hers".  My friends had just grabbed a couple of different bookmarks so they could tell where each had left off.  So, whoever nabbed the book first at any given moment got to read it.  And if it got put down, it was up for grabs again as to who would get to read next.

So on it went, until they were done.  A book with two bookmarks.

I've always thought this would be a fun first anniversary gift since the traditional first anniversary gift is paper.  Well, it's been a long time coming, but I finally have a happy couple that will soon be celebrating their first anniversary - and they both like to read.  So, they are getting handmade His and Hers bookmarks.

I know, you're asking what has this got to do with the Double Pocket card.  Well, that's the packaging for the giftie!    

The double pocket card has been around for a while now and we all know how easy it is to create these little beauties.  (Ok, well, if you don't, let me know and I'll post a tutorial!)  Ever since I've learned how to make these, I've been wanting to "make it my own" somehow.  So, I've modifed the traditional design so that it opens up in the back like a regular card in addition to having a pocket for HIS bookmark and a pocket for HER bookmark.  Take a look...

Closed and open with all the goodies.

 

Stamp sets:  Sanded, Autumn Days and Teeny Tiny Wishes (both new in the 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog - available July 1), Lovely Letters, Congrats (retired) and Best Yet (retired)

Inks:  More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Really Rust and Chocolate Chip

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Really Rust, and Always Artichoke cardstock, Juntos Designer Series Paper

Accessories:  Autumn Harvest Rub-ons and Modern Label Punch (both new in the 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog - available July 1), metallic eyelets, Natural Hemp Twine

2009-2010 In Colors

Demonstrators all over North America went crazy yesterday morning at 2 am Mountain Time.  Why, you ask?  Becasuse we were able to preorder from a selection of new products that will be in the New Idea Book and Catalog!  Naturally, I had to get in on that action.  Not only that, but I expedited my order.  Overnighted it, too.  To get not only my preordered goodies, but the NEW CATALOG!  Yes, Stampin' Up! has included the new catalog in our first business order we demos have been placing since yesteday.

It's good to be a demo.

We were also able to preorder some of the new ink pads, stamp sets and Designer Series Paper, too.  But you came here for colors, I'm sure.  So, without further ado:

Soft Suede with a couple of past In Colors (True Thyme and River Rock).  Soft Suede is the darkest of the three:

Rich Razzleberry with Elegant Eggplant and Bravo Burgundy and Rich Razzleberry with Rose Red:

Crushed Curry with YoYo Yellow and Summer Sun and Crushed Curry with More Mustard (that last one sounds like an interesting Indian dish):

Melon Mambo with Pixie Pink and Pink Passion and Melon Mambo with Rose Red:

Bermuda Bay with Taken with Teal and Tempting Turquoise and Burmuda Bay with Soft Sky, Cool Caribbean, and Baja Breeze (Bermuda Bay is the darkest):

And finally, Dusty Durango with Only Orange, Really Rust and Pumpkin Pie and Dusty Durango with Tangrine Tango:

 

Need a Coaster?

A dear friend of mine from college is here this weekend and we needed to kill some time, so we created these little beauties:

We used tile from Home Depot.

Stamps:  Polka Dot, Pun Fun, Like it a Latte (retired)

Inks:  Ruby Red, Timber Brown Stazon

Extras:  Blender Pens

These tiles will be one of my Classes on Demand and they make great gifts for any reason including housewarmings, showers, thank you...