The Stamper

Fabric Pins from the Big Shot

I have been working on the projects for Hands On Class next month and was so excited to using the Big Shot dies to create pins like these pins in this picture from leadership.  We saw this idea first at convention when Shelli Gardner the owner of Stampin' Up! shared some that she did and the ones shown here were created by her aunt. I always have more ideas running around in my head than I have classes to do them all in and these fabric pins were one of the ideas that I just had not put on the schedule before Christmas but flowers and spring seem to go together so I am putting them on the schedule now. 

We will be making one using the scallop die and I will have a picture of it coming up later this week with the other hands on projects we will be doing, so check back then and see what is coming up in March.

My Digital Studio Christmas Eve!

  Over the weekend I did a little more scrapbooking with My Digital Studio and created this 2-page spread.  It was fun to start with the Jingle kit pages and tweak them by adding more photo boxes and images and to make the pages my own. 

I have had to learn to finish a page and stop tweaking it.  I have found that I can move this a little and then that a little and then start the process all over again. My husband told me a quote that goes something like: "at some point in every project you have to shoot the designer and ship the product." and that is just what I have to do with my pages, that way I feel like I finally finished something. 

My Digital Studio hint:  when you are trying to make a text box fit image lines like in my page one keep your lines to 4 and use the line spacer to add space or take away space between your text lines.  If you want more than 4 lines just add another text box.  Sometimes when you get too many lines the spacing is too hard to make just perfect. 

Mock Stitching

I don't know about you but I love the look of stitching but I don't often pull out my sewing machine to stitch on a card or scrapbook page.  But if you love stitching there is another way.  Some of you may have done this technique before at one of my classes but if so It is always good to have reminders and that is what Monika did for me when she shared with card with me was remind me to use mock stitching again.  To achieve this look you run the perforating tool that is a part of the cutter kit #106958 and on page 191 of the main SU! catalog in a dark ink like Chocolate chip or black and then gently run it onto your card stock and you get a mock stitched look without having to pull out the sewing machine.  This card was created with the 3 heart punch, a couple of buttons and Stampin' Up! 's Define your life stamped set and the scallop edge punch.

My Digital Studio Merry pages

I decided to download some new digital kits today and make a few pages.  These "Merry" pages were fun to create especially since the page was mostly done in the Christmas Cocoa II digital kit.  I just flipped the page to create a two page spread and added my photo's and journaling and tweaked the images and I was done.  I liked the ornament stamp set and punch to make cards at Christmas and I like it even better on a scrapbook page.

Stampin' Up! has added several new downloads that can be purchased.  You can view downloads in the last 30 days on my Stampin' web site at: www.wendythestamper.stampinup.net  under my store, my digital images or contact me for a list of the downloads that are available since My Digital Studio came out.  

I know if you are like me you have "a few" Christmas photos to scrapbook and with My Digital Studio you will be creating great pages like me.  

Stampin' Up! Baskets and Blooms Big Shot Die

I have wanted Stampin' Up! Baskets and Blooms die (#113484) for a while but not bad enough to purchase it until I saw these cute felt baskets that Michele Scileppi, one of my downline, brought to our last meeting to share.  I just could not wait to make one of my own and use it for a Hands On class.  Can you just see a little gift for mom tucked into one of these adorable little bags.  I already have the earrings for my mom now I just have to make a bag to put it in. 

Michele cut the baskets from black felt using the Big Shot and Baskets and blooms die, she only used the flat basket pieces and she stitched them together.  On one she whipped stitched the edge and the other she did a running stitch, both of these are easy stitches most any one can learn to do.  She then finished them with a few brads and a Sweet Pea Stitched felt piece.  

I love that you can create fabric pieces using the Big Shot and Stampin' Up! dies and can't wait to see more ideas using fabric.  Thanks to all those who share great ideas with me. 

Stampin' Up! Starz Exchange cards

I love my downline and I think they are very talented ladies.  At our meeting this past week we exchanged cards and here are a few of those exchanges and other cards my girls brought to share. 

This first one is created by Monika, she copied the layout from Stampin' Success magazine (this is an information magazine Stampin' Up! sends to demonstrators, one of the perks for being a demonstrator) She used the sale-a-bration stamp set Happy Moments (you can choose this for free with a $50.00 order),different designer Series papers and colors.  I have used this layout a couple of times and find it fun to use.

Stampin' Up! has room for all types of business women.  Joyce created this cute card.  Joyce works full time at a bank and has one hands on class with friends each month but the bulk of her business is in creating and selling invites and thank you notes for baby showers and weddings.  This card is copied from a baby thank you card she created she just changed the words from thank you to Happy Birthday.  She used the Pun Fun #115054.

The  last card I wanted to share is created using the hostess level 2 stamp set Asian Artistry (you can get this for free with a $300 workshop total) The card was done is So Saffron and Sage Shadow.  I liked the the ribbon accent with it's knots. 

I always enjoy my downline meetings.  We get together every other month to share ideas, learn new techniques, make projects, exchange cards and just have a good time.  If you have ever wanted to be able of a group like this think about joining Stampin' Up! family and my Starz group.  The starter kits are 15% off and you get a bonus stamp set during Sale-a-bration.  contact me at wendy@thestamper.com for more information.

Stampin' Up! On Board books

The new Occasions mini catalog has a new product called On Board Books.  These are shaped chipboard books that are larger than they appear in the catalog and they are only $4.95 for 8 chipboard pages.  When you think about these board books you think about mini scrapbooks which you know I love to create those but these chipboard books can be made into other items as well.  At leadership one of the staff member showed this heart box that was created using the On Board Heart Book #117236 as the top and the bottom and she added sides to create a perfect treat box.  I loved how she decorated it with the new Extra Large Fancy Flower punch #118073 and the Sweet Pea Stitched Felt #117266 that I mention last week as a new product.  Who would not enjoy getting a box like this anytime of the year. 

Shelli also shared with us how to use these books as table decorations for a mother's tea.  She used the bird and decorated it and then used a jumbo glue dot to hold them upright on the table and add a little crimped paper as a nest around them. Birds are popular and these books can be covered with designer papers  or made fancy with different designer papers. 

However you decide to use these On Board Books I know you will find them good quality and economical to use. Call me today and order come for you to play with.

Stampin' Up! Sweet Pea Stitched Felt whimsy

  One of the new items in Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Mini Catalog is the Sweet Pea Stitched Felt (Item # 117266 for $7.95 for 52 pieces).  These custom-colored felt pieces add a whimsical touch to any project.  At leadership Shelli Gardner, owner of Stampin' Up! shared this wrist band that was made using the different felt pieces.  She also showed how great it would be on a head band for a little girl. (It makes me wish my girls were younger or that they were older and I had grandchildren!)

These felt pieces are great for any card or scrap page or 3-d projects.  These little 3x3 notes cards are so cute with just a little felt whimsy added to create the main focus.   

My downline Michelle created this little basket with felt and the Big Shot and the Sweet Pea felt was the perfect accent. 

You will also note that the Chalkboard we are going to make in my Hands On Class, February 12 has a sweet pea flower accent so plan to join me for that class and get your hands on the Sweet Pea felts or contact me today and order some for your next project.  Watch for upcoming posts with more samples using the sweet pea felts.

Free Stamps!

Sale-a-bration is my favorite time of Stampin' Up!'s year and this year it is even better.  Stampin' Up! has designed 4 stamp sets just to give away during Sale-a-bration.  They also have a 6x6 paper pad and a wonderful border punch that can be chosen as your free items.  But in addition to that they have a list of catalog stamp sets as options for us to choose for free as well (Note for these catalog stamps to count as SAB sets you much use the merchandise number from the back of the Sale-a-bration brochure). 

How can you take advantage of this free offer?  In three ways:

1. Spend:  Spend $50.00 in catalog merchandise and you earn one FREE Sale-a-bration product of your choice.

2. Host: Host a workshop of at least $300 and earn one FREE Sale-a-bration product in addition to the generous hostess benefits.

3. Join: Join Stampin' Up! during Sale-a-bration and choose a FREE stamp set from the idea book and catalog value upto $47.95 plus the Starter kits are 15% off.  Whoo Hoo!

I would love to come and show you how to use these wonderful products so contact me today and lets party together.

The sample shown here is using the Sale-a-bration stamp set Happy Moments.  I know everyone asks me when they see this card how did you make the pole.  All I did was punch 3/4 of the 1 3/8" punch along the edge of black card stock, then I punch over that circle using the 1 3/4" circle punch.  I cut a 3/8" inch strip of card stock and glued it to the circle punched image and tied the knot where I glued it so you can't see that they are pieced together.  The bird is kraft card stock glued to black card stock and cut out, then punched and I used wire to connect it to the card so it will swing. 

Enjoy.

Chalkboard Hands On Class

February's Hands On should be lots of fun.  I hope you will grab and friend or two and join me for my monthly Hands On Class.  We will be making: the chalkboard using the chalkboard Home Decor and the sweet pea felt flowers, a card using the Big Shot and the new heart die as well as a box of mini cards that is decorated with the new bird punch that I have had so much fun playing with. 

This class is held on the 2nd Friday of each month.  February's class is Friday, February 12, at 10:00 am and repeated at 7:30pm.  The cost of the class is $15.00 and you create these projects to take home with you. 

RSVP by emailing me at wendy@thestamper.com and I will cut and prep the supplies for you.  Join me for a some "you" time and make a few wonderful gifts as a bonus. 

Stampin' Up! Sweet treat heart cups

I have enjoyed Stampin' Up!'s sweet treat cups over these past few months.  They are a fun treat holder and easy to use.  But I was wow-ed when I saw the Heart Shape Sweet treat cups and matching stamp set that is available for a limited time only from Stampin' Up!.  Hearts are always in but at Valentines it seems they are all that matters and this little set creates the cutest things. 

I created this standing Valentine using the sweet treat heart, a little cardstock, 2 ink pads; Real Red and Certainly Celery.  I used the Sale-a-bration border punch Scallop Trim.  You can choose this punch for free when you place a $50.00 order during Stampin' Up!'s sale-a-bration period. 

If you want to order my Sweetheart kit email me today at wendy@thestamper.com and for $60.00 you will receive the Sweetheart Stamp set wood mounted #120415 $21.95, The Full heart punch #113693 $15.05, 2 packages of heart shape cups #120435 $2.95 each and a spool of red gingham ribbon #104827 $7.50 plus shipping and handling and the free Scallop Trim Border punch #118402.  

Contact me today and order this fun set and you will be creating fun treats for your kids class and those you love.

Leadership Manager's Meeting

Leadership Manager's meeting is always the highlight of Stampin' Up! leadership event.  It is a night when they provide a fun atmosphere for visiting and socializing with each other.  To attend this event you have to had a title of Manager or above and it is an event worth working for.  This year it was a Rodeo and Mexican fiesta.  I always enjoy the little details like our SU! logo light that was reflected on a fireplace and all the table decorations and of course the free stamps we always receive. 

We had fun watching a rodeo, I especially enjoyed sitting with friends who had never been before and seeing their reaction.  We enjoy the meal the the entertainment was magical.  It was a fun night with friends.   

This is just one of the reasons I love being apart of Stampin' Up!.  They treat us special and give us opportunities to see and do things we might not do on our own.  If you have ever considered being apart of an organization like this now is the time to look into joining Stampin' Up! and my STARZ family.  SU! is offering their kits at a 15%off plus you get a free stamp set valued $47.95 or less.  Contact me today and join the stamping fun!

Stampin' Up!'s Simply Adorned Charms

Well the wait is finally over the Simply Adorned Chains and charms are now available and to add to the excitement Stampin' Up! has also added a circle and square charm as well as the rectangle charm to the custom jewelry that is available. 

These charms can be created with any stamp images and they are so small that they are easy to make.  These charms were created by Shelli Gardner for her sister. The images can be changed whenever you want and you can add charms as well. 

Don't delay order your charms from me today. 

Big Shot & Stampin' Up! quilt square

Leadership was so much fun and one of the fun new markets we can provide products for is the quilting market.  With the Big Shot, fabric and some dies you can create beautiful quilts.  I loved the classes they taught at Leadership and the beautiful quilts they had on display.  It was amazing how creative you can be with the Big Shot and fabric.  I learned you can cut 7 layers of fabric at one time and because the Big Shot gives you a perfect cut each time your quilt patterns are more likely to stay true. 

The best part was when Stampin' Up! presented each demonstrator who attended leadership a handmade quilt block.  Shelli, the owner/founder of Stampin' Up! hand picked the fabrics and then the production people in Kanab, Utah's production facility  brought in their personal sewing machines and sewed these blocks for each of us.  What a way to make us feel special.  I loved the fabrics I got and will enjoy sharing this with each of you when we attend my classes.  If you love to quilt contact me and let me share a fun new way to create beautiful quilts using the Big Shot. 

Happy Moments, Stampin' Up! Sale-a-bration card

I love this little stamp set Stampin' Up! created for Sale-a-bration this year.  I used Happy Moments for my Hands On Class this past Friday and I also create this card for my Leadership and Georgia downline meetings I held this month.  I love the line drawing look of this stamp set and how easy it is to watercolor it. 

This card has a pull out greeting like the Valentine one I shared a couple of weeks ago. The card base is Whisper White and I layer Tempting Turquoise card stock on top of the white.  Don't glue it down until you create the window and greeting slip.  I used Melon Mambo card stock to frame the images and for the tab punch.  The hidden greeting slip has a modern label punch glued to the end so it won't pull out when you pull it out.  Put the greeting strip through the word window you punched on the front of your card then glue the Turquoise card stock to the white card base.  I added a Melon Mambo ribbon to the tab and watercolored the images with the ink pads and a Aqua Painter. 

This stamp set is one of the free items you can select when you place a $50.00 order during Sale-a-bration.  Contact me today and order. 

Stampin' Up! two-step bird scrapbook

Leadership was wonderful, I just need to know how to have so much fun and come home not tired.  It was great to see my downline at our Leadership meeting.  I have the most talented girls in the company and they are a lot of fun too.  This two-step birk scrapbook is one of the projects we made at our meeting.  I was a little unsure about the new style of punches Stampin' Up! introduced in the Occasions Mini catalog until I started to play and now I am in love.  The new design is easy to punch.  Because of the design SU! is able to create larger punched images and even this two-step bird image, it is like getting 3 punches in one.  (the wing of the bird could also be a leaf for a flower)  If you want to try out the new punch style SU! has made it easy and free.  When you purchase $50.00 during Sale-a-bration you can choose the Scallop trim border as your free item and you can try out the new design and see what you think. 

This scrapbook is a piece of card stock 6x12 inches scored at 2, 2 ¼, 7 & 7 ¼ inches, score the band the same dimensions.  I also attached a piece of card stock I trimmed using the scallop boarder punch to the card stock base.

I then attached two envelopes to each other with a 2x 4 3/8" piece of card stock that was folded in half and attached them to the card stock base the same way.  To finish the look I attached a 1x 4 3/8" piece to the top envelope.  Then add designer papers.  These papers come from the Designer Series Paper Stack "Sweet Pea" found in the new Occasions Mini catalog.  I added paper to both the front and backs of the envelopes.  I trim the top envelope down smaller than the back envelope.  Make sure you trim the edge of the back envelope so you can insert the card stock page.

I used the Two-step bird punch as accents.  I hope you enjoy this cute project.  I invited anyone who is interested in in making great projects like this and networking with talented women to join our STARZ group and Stampin' Up!.  SU! has a great special during Sale-a-bration.  The starter kits is 15% off and you get to choose a $47.95 stamp set for free. For more information contact me and learn how you can join on line at my SU! web site: http://wendythestamper.stampinup.net.

B is for Birthday

For my Kennesaw class we also made this birthday card.  It turned out really great and the colors could be used for either a male or female birthday person.

I used Stampin' Up!'s Party Hearty stamp set.  I laid a piece of paper over the card and stamped the celebrate you round stamp images with Tempting Turquoise ink that was stamped off a couple of times before stamping on the card stock.  I then added a stitched line using a black writer.  The B is for birthday image was inked with tempting turquoise, taken with teal and old olive markers.

I stamped the party hat on Kraft brown card stock using a Close to Cocoa ink and layered the cut out image with a dimensional.  This stamped piece was layered on turquoise and old olive card stock and I added the celebrate greeting from Stampin' Up!'s A little Birthday Cheer greeting stamp set. 

Enjoy!

Stampin' Up! Always pull card

Valentines will be here before you know it and I created this card for my Kennesaw class this month.  We used Stampin' Up!'s stamp set Always and stamped it with Rose Red ink.  I stamped one of the accent flowers and punched it using 1/2" circle punch and layered it with a dimensional.  I layered that on Rose Red and Pretty in Pink card stocks and then onto Rose Red Designer paper.  Before gluing it to the white card base punch a word window punch to the side of the images and punch a modern label punch and glue it to the end of your pull out strip so the paper won't pull out of the word window opening.  Now insert the pull out strip and glue Designer Paper to white base.  I added a Round Tab punch to pull on and a saying on the pull out strip. 

This is a fun layout to put secret sayings on.  

This card can be used for Valentine or just anytime you want to tell someone that they mean "Everything" to you. 

My Hands On Class

It's the New Year and time to get back into my stamping routine.  One of the things I do each month is my monthly Hands On Class where we create cards, gift and gift packaging projects.  The class fee is just $15.00 and I have all the supplies cut and ready for you to create 4 projects to take home with you.  I usually hold this class on the 2nd Friday of each month but due to leadership and 5 Fridays in January, this class will be held Friday, January 15th at 10am - 12:30 and repeated at 7:30-10:00pm. 

This month we will be making these projects pictured to the right.  It is a 3x6 card using Stampin' Up!'s Sale-a-bration stamp set Happy Moments.  You can choose this stamp set for free with a $50.00 purchase during January, February and March.   We will also be making the box with 3x3 mini cards inside and the CD Princess Frame.  Please RSVP at wendy@thestamper.com so I can have the supplies cut and ready for you. 

More Holiday card shares

Here are a few more of the wonderful cards I received this Holiday season. 

This card was created by Elizabeth Martinez.  It is a very elegant card.  I loved that she created a Holiday card in purple.  I love this ornament punch and she added just a right accent by adding a wire hook above the punched image to make it look like it is really hanging from that soft ribbon.  She emboss the swirl from Stampin' Up! stamp set Baroque Motifs with silver embossing powder.  And I loved the final accent the rhinestone brad in the center of the ornament.

I guess if I am going to highlight Elizabeth's card I can highlight the one I got from Elizabeth's mother Dottie Foulk.  I love this business and the people I would never have gotten to know if I was not a demonstrator and recruiter.  Dottie's card had a wonderful texture to it that she created using the Big Shot and the embossing folders.  I love how she just layered that great texture with the trio of trees stamp from Stampin' Up! Patterned Pines hostess set and added just the right touch by placing red brads on the tips of her trees. 

The last card I want to share today was sent to me by Tanya Brown.  She told me she was not going to make cards this year until she visited my home and saw a card that was sent to me by Katie Simecka.  She went right home and created this version.  The card is very simple but elegant and easy for Tanya to make enough for all the friends and family she wanted to send cards too. 

Thanks to all of you who shared beautiful cards with me this year.  I love receiving handmade cards in the mail and appreciate all of them I received.  Maybe I will share a few more I received later this week.