The Stamper

Stampin' Up! Animal Stories

Since tomorrow is the start of the new catalog I thought I would share a card made from a new stamp set called Animal Stories.  I made this card and sent it to my daughter Shanae, who is on a church mission. She loved it.  

This card is made using 2 new in-colors.  Soft Suede and Dusty Durango.  As I have been playing with the new colors I decided that the color I liked the least when I first saw them (Soft Suede) has turned out to be the color I use the most.  It goes with everything and look great.  I used the texture plates and the Big Shot to create the background on this card and punched out the windows.  The owl from Animal Stories was inked using the diaper wipe technique. (fold a diaper wipe, ink with reinkers: Soft Suede, Dusty Durango & Crushed Curry and stamp ink on diaper wipe then onto card)  I used the words from the Owl together now stamp set and the inside of the card says; owl of us with a stamped owl.

Check in tomorrow and see the new catalog or join me for my open house on July 10 at 10am-12noon and 5pm-7pm.

Last Chance!

I can't believe our spring-summer 2009 catalog period is coming to an end but it is.  We have today and tomorrow before 10pm to place orders for the products on the last chance lists and the mini catalog and the decor elements catalog.  Don't miss out and order today.  There is always a little sadness with the ending of a catalog but joy because the new catalog is coming.  On July 1st we will have a new catalog for you to view and order from.  There is also a great new Home Decor catalog coming out with fun wall art so check back on July 1st and see the great new things as well. 

Come see the catalog in person as well as samples and ideas and even do a little stamping at my Open House, Friday July 10, 10am-12noon and 5pm-7pm.  It's FREE!

Year in Review Class

Tomorrow, Saturday, June 27th, is the 2nd of four Year in Review classes for my album clubs.  This class is turning out so well.  I love hearing how those of you who are attending this class are developing photos and making notes on your calendars so you are prepared to finish the pages during this albums class time. 

I love my year in review album I did last year and can't wait to finish this one. In the month of June we are doing the inside front cover, shown below and March, April and May's monthly 2-page spreads. 

 It is just fun having a review of the year that tells what your family has been doing.  Some of the items you will put in this review album will never be scrap-booked except here and others you will create full pages for.  It is nice having a spot to place those activities you might not have pictures or just one photo for.  Whatever events you put in this album I know it will be one your family treasures. 

Stampin' Up!'s Doodle This

I was looking over the retired list and thought about some of the stamp sets I will miss and this is one I know I will miss.  Doodle This was a whimsical stamp set that worked great for cards as well as scrapbook pages.  I loved coloring it in or just stamping it on colored card stock.  Here we created a great background called polished stone. 

To create this background, take a cotton ball and put on it rubbing alcohol this drop one to two drops of Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana reinkers on alcohol and dab onto glossy card-stock blending the colors together.  I cut a border strip from the card-stock and stamped the swirl stamp and then stamped the flower of a scrap and cut it out and added it to the card.  I finished off with tag punch with for you stamped on it and tucked under the border. 

Stampin' Up! Tart and Tangy

This little stamp set Tart and Tangy is a great summer or anytime stamp set.  I love the strawberry stamp and created this simple card with a couple of markers, a punch and a couple of brads.  This card layout would be great for any small stamp you can punch with a small circle punch. 

Colors are:  card 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 pumpkin pie, 2 3/4 x 5 1/2 Rose red scored at 4 1/4 " and rough edge.  1/4" old olive strip.  I inked the strawberries in Rose Red and Old Olive and punched them with 1 1/4" circle punch. 

I hope you all are enjoying your summer and will take the time to join me for the new catalog open house in the middle of the summer, Friday July 10th.

Scrapbooking is Friday

Just a reminder that my monthly wow scrapbook class is this Friday, June 26th at 10am.  We will be making three 2-page spreads that you can take home and drop your photos onto. 

The page shown here is just an example of the type of pages we do in this class.  I created this page to highlight the fun things you can do with the new circle scissor.  It is fun to create open circles that make great accents of scrap pages.  The flowers are cut using the Big Shot Daisy die Stampin Up! sells and the center are the great corduroy buttons by Stampin' Up!. 

Tell a story with Photos

This past weekend I taught at a youth convention about photography and one of the topics I shared was taking photos to tell a story.  If you want to hear my whole presentation on photography you can contact me and we can get some of your freinds and family together and I can share my whole presentation with you. 

You can take photos that will tell a story.  To do this follow these rules:  answer the :who where, what when why question and decide before an event what shots you want to take. Who! take a group photo.  Group photos help you remember who was there. It is a great way to know who was at an event without having to take lots of individual photos and forgetting someone.  People will complain but taking a group shot anyway will be worth all the effort it takes to get everyone together and these shots are the most treasured.

Where! Take a photo that shows where you are. Sometimes it is fun to get the where from photos of signs. A city sign or restaurant sign. You can get the where from scenic backdrops like posing in front of Niagara Falls or Times Square. Sometimes the where is a beach like this photo or just Grandma's house.  Don't foget to take the where even if it is a place like home where you think you will never forget.

What! What is the event? Take a photo that shows what you are doing. Is it a birthday party or a family get together or a youth party? Think about how you can show the difference.   Sometimes you can answer more than one question with each photo.  Sometimes is takes more than one photo to show what the event is.  This was a youth get-together with swimming, dancing, tug of war boat making and fun.

 

When! Take a photo that shows what time of day this event is taking place or what season of the year. Sometimes when you only take indoor photos you loose the time of day. So think about taking a photo in front of a dark window or outside in the dark when leaving if your event takes place late at night.

 

Why! Why are you there? Why is this event important to you? Try and get a photo that expresses your story. I teach this class to moms and I tell them to Think about birthday parties, if your child is the birthday child then pictures of her is most important why but if your child is attending someone else birthday then a picture of your child with the birthday child will be more important than a picture of the birthday child alone.  For my daughter the why at this event was friendships.  It was important to her because of the friends she made and the friendships she strenghten.

 

It might seem like a lot of work to take pictures that tell a story but in reality when you learn to think this way you plan the pictures in your head on your way to any event and it makes is easier to get these types of photos. Thinking about the details will make the experience even more fun and create better memories.  Contact me today and schedule a photography workshop and learn more about taking better photos.  678-494-4599

Whoo Loves You

This cute little Whoo Loves you mini scrapbook was one of the projects Stampin' Up! created for us on our incentive trip a year ago.  I love this stamp set Owl Together Now and have create many cute cards and scrapbook pages using it and this little book is just one example.  The papers are no longer in the catalog the the layout still will be perfect using any of our designer series papers you have on hand.

Stampin' Up! Just Basketball

Summer is in full swing and I almost never drive by the basketball courts here in my neighborhood that I don't see a bunch of kids playing.  I know growing up my brothers spent almost all summer outdoors and many of those hours playing basketball in our drive way.  My parents still have the hoop mounted for a quick game whenever any of us are home. 

This card is perfect for anyone who loves to play.  I thought I would share this card since the #2 is in the Big Deal numbers stamp set and it is retiring.  I will really miss the Big Deal ABC set, and I know many of you have it as well, so if the number set was always on your list to get make sure you order it today before it is gone.   And when you order from me by the end of June you will get 15% off as my way of celebrating the end of the catalog year!

Stampin' Up!'s Together Forever

With June being the month of weddings I thought I would share this beautiful card made by Sharon, one of my downline.  She stamped using the stamp set Together Forever which will be in the new catalog.  She used Whisper White CS and Basic Gray CS, ink and Taffetta ribbon.  To create the background score on an angle across the whisper white cardstock with scoring blade both directions and using 2-way glue and dazzling diamonds glitter add glitter and glue where lines cross.  Stamp frame on rectangle card and stamp flower image of scrap of cardstock and puinch with 1 3/8 circle punch and glue inside frame. Add glitter for final touches. 

Enjoy recreating this beauiful card.

Take better photos

I am teaching a class for a large youth group on how to take better photos and thought I would add some thought here.  Here are some tips I found helpful:

#1 Take more photos, the more you take the better chance of you lucking into a good one.

#2 Get closer, we often want to take a picture of our beautiful baby and but instead take one of the whole living room.  Moving closer to your subject will create a better picture and you will get what you really wanted to get.

#3 Create a focal point:  Simply said it is noticing and framing what is most important so it stands out in the picture.  Everyone see the world differently and what your focal point will be is usually what you see as the main event in your picture.

#4 Rule of 3rds: hopefully you know what you want your focal point to be, so think of your picture with a tic tack toe board over it and move your camera to your focal point in where the tic tack toe board crosses.  This will give you picture a better look. 

#5 Turn off the flash.  When at all possible turn your flash off so you get the shadows and lines on someones face or depth of field when taking scenery pictures.

#6 Be award of your light source, if you subject is lit from behind they will appear dark and if they are standing in direct sun she might look washed out. 

#7 Be award of distracting objects.  Look at the background of your photo and make sure you don't have a pole sticking out from someone's head or a loud background that will over power your focal point. 

I hope these will help you create beautiful pictures of your loved ones and help you to have better photos to scrapbook.

Hands On Class is Friday morning

Just a reminder that my hands on class is this Friday, at 10:00 a.m.  We are making these two 3-d projects and 2 cards.  This clipboard photo holder is a perfect father's day gift.  It can hold either 4x6 horizontal or vertical pictures and will look great in any father's office. 

This will be the last hands on class before the new catalog arrives.  I will have the last chance lists available so don't miss out of ordering those stamps and accessories you want before they are gone. 

Flight of the Butterfly

I was organizing stamps and stuff today getting ready for the new catalog premiere and I ran across this cute "you" page of my daughter Chaylee. I created this page at a Stampin' Up! event and came home and put this fun picture of Chaylee with her hair blowing around her face on it because the page was so whimsical.  The stamp set is Flight of the Butterfly. We used one of the saying from the stamp set as the stem and it is the journaling on this page. It reads, "one person can make such a difference and that person it you." 

The colors are Rose Red, Old Olive and More Mustard.  The title is chipboard letters colored with white craft ink.  The flower is a felt flower with a button center and I loved the scalloped edge along the left side of the page.  This adds a touch of class.  The page size is 81/2x81/2 but could be done 12x12 and have room for a few more photos.

New In-colors sneak peek

I found out that I could put a sneak peek of the new in-colors on my blog.  These colors will be coming out in our idea book and catalog July 1st.  These colors are bright and beautiful and different from the shades we have had in the past.  They are in-colors you will be seeing in the clothing and other accessories out on the market for this year.  Stampin' Up! did not disappoint those of you who can't wait to hear what unusual names our new in-colors are called. 

Soft Suede - light green/brown color

Dusty Durango - rust color

Crushed Curry - this is a lighter shade of More MJustard.

Melon Mambo - a hot pink color

Bermuda Bay - think blue/teal color

Rich Razzleberry - this is a bright eggplant color. 

These colors are rich colors that will bring life to your stamping, scrapbooking projects this next year.  To see these colors and samples in person put my open house on your calendar.  It will be held the 2nd Friday in July.  July 10th.  10am-12:00 and 5pm-7pm.  

I will have stamping project to make, plenty of stamps and samples to view and look forward to sharing the new catalog with you. Hope to see all of you at my open house in July.

Stampin' Up!'s Zoofari Stamp set

I wanted to highlight another stamp set that is on the Last Chance list.  Zoofari is a great set for kids.  I have used it for birthday cards and for some great scrapbook pages.  The stamp set is an outline set that looks great colored in.  I have done this set on a scrapbook page and left it black and white and that is a great look too.   To order this set use item # 115116 for $22.95.  You can order it on-line or by email. To check out the full "Last Chance" list select this link.  

Stampin' Up! Seaside

The stamp set Seaside is on the Last Chance list and I love the large shell in this set.  I like that you can color it in and the stamp itself has the shadow lines so you know where to put more color for a perfectly shaded shell.  The Mother's Day card is a unique card.  It was 8 1/2 x 11 cut at 4 1/4" and fold in half and trim 1" off the front panel of the card.  I took a 6x3" piece of CS and fold it in half and wrap it around the front of the card.  Put adhesive on the back of the 3x3 card and stick it to the inside of the back panel of large card and the little card flips open and the front of the card opens.  I did used watercolor paper for a more perfect watercolor look. 

Stampin' Up!'s Big Birthday Candle

Monday, June 1st was my birthday so I thought I would highlightStampin' Up!'s stamp set Big Birthday Candle this week.  This set has been in the catalog and then on the dormant list and then back in the catalog and now it is on the last chance list so I don't think we will see it again.  This set is simply a large birthday candle.  You can add stripes or dots to your candle or you can stamp the candle image on printed paper and let the paper be the decorations.  I used this stamp set for a birthday wow scrapbook page that was designed this month.  You can purchase the wow kit at my blog site http://wowscrapbookkits.wordpress.com  if you are interested in scrapbook kits that have the pages designed for you and you just use your stamps and inks to create them. 

Stampin' Up! Heartfelt Thanks

The last chance list came out this week and it is time to say good-bye to some stamp sets that I really loved.   This is the hardest part about getting a new catalog is letting go of some favorites.   I thought I would share some card samples this week from a few of my favorite stamps that are going away.

The first stamp set I wanted to highlight is Heartfelt Thanks.  This stamp set has been a favorite of my for several years.  It has great pieces that can be made to look so different with ink colors and papers or the way you put the images together.  It has both outline images and bold images that can be used together for a 2-step stamping look or alone.  I also love the saying heartfelt thanks.  These two stamps look great layered over the top of each or used alone.  To order from the last chance list you can order on-line or send me an email or attend one of my events this month.  Hope to hear from you soon.

Last chance list is out!

Blooming with love is one of the stamp sets you will find on the Last chance list.  These stamps are the one that will no longer be available after June 30th, 2009.  So this month is your last chance to purchase them.  the wheel that matches this stamp set is also going away. 

 The supplies list is also out but 2 weeks earlier than usual so these items are limited and are only available until supplies last.  Check out the full Last Chance list here. 

And the accessories are listed below:

Item #	Product Description	Price	Discount	Sale Price	Availability
112735	RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN BLOSSOMS	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
112970	LO MEJOR DE TODO	19.95	0.5	9.98	Available
105143	DAYS TO REMEMBER 6X6 FR	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
113888	RUB ONS MANY OCCASIONS	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
109044	PUNCH SNOW BLOSSOM	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
111364	RIBBON POLY TWILL SO SAFFRON 7/8"	8.95	0.5	4.48	Available
106961	STAZON REFILL WHITE	4.95	0.5	2.48	Available
114341	COURDUROY BUTTONS PACIFIC POINT	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114316	RIBBON ORIGINALS PIG TAILS	13.95	0.5	6.98	Available
111414	RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
114351	DESIGNER HARDWARE HOORAY	4.95	0.5	2.48	Available
114338	COURDUROY BUTTONS KIWI KISS	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114019	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLEURETTES	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114317	RIBBON ORIGINALS DRESS UP	12.95	0.5	6.48	Available
102875	HEMP TWINE RED	2.95	0.5	1.48	Available
101259	HEMP TWINE BLACK	2.95	0.5	1.48	Available
113979	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS CANVAS CUTS	7.95	0.5	3.98	Available
114350	DESIGNER HARDWARE SOHO	4.95	0.5	2.48	Available
111363	RIBBON GROSGRAIN PINK PIROUETTE 1 1/4"	7.95	0.25	5.96	Available
111365	RIBBON TAFFETA RIDING HOOD RED	6.95	0.25	5.21	Available
111847	RIBBON DOUBLE STITICHED BAJA BREEZE 1"	8.95	0.25	6.71	Available
111371	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED TANGERINE TANGO 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111373	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PINK PIROUETTE 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111372	RIBBON GROSGRIAN STRIPED KIWI KISS 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
113884	RUB ONS FASHION DISTRICT	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
114318	RIBBON ORIGINALS VALET	12.95	0.25	9.71	Available
111374	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED RIDING HOOD RED 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111370	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PACIFIC POINT 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111415	RUB ONS GREATEST MOMENTS	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
113887	RUB ONS BRIGHT DELIGHTS	11.95	0.25	8.96	Available
111416	RUB ONS CHATEAU BELLA	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
111338	NOTES TEXTURED LOVE ASSORTMENT II	12.95	0.25	9.71	Available
111879	RIBBON SATIN KIWI KISS VERY VANILLA	7.95	0.25	5.96	Available
111277	RUB ONS A PERFECT DAY	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
110730	DIE CUTS POCKETS & PIECES	8.95	0.25	6.71	Available
107272	PUNCH KEY TAG	15.95	0.25	11.96	Available
113980	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER CANDY LANE	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111375	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED BAJA BREEZE 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
112010	DIE CUTS BLOOMS AGAIN	8.95	0.25	6.71	Available
113991	TASTE OF TEXTILES	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
101399	STIPPLE BRUSHES	6.95	0.25	5.21	Available
112092	BUTTON BOUQUET	7.95	0.25	5.96	Available
112139	NOTES CAROUSEL II	11.95	0.25	8.96	Available
111336	NOTES SCALLOP II	11.95	0.25	8.96	Available
111840	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PACIFIC POINT	2.95			Available
111841	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL TANGEIRNE TANGO	2.95			Available
111843	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PINK PIROUETTE	2.95			Available
111839	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL RIDING HOOD RED	2.95			Available
111842	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL KIWI KISS	2.95			Available
112161	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS KIWI KISS	9.95			Available
112042	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN GARDEN	9.95			Available
112156	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PINK PIROUETTE	9.95			Available
112150	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PACIFIC POINT	9.95			Available
112153	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS TANGERINE TANGO	9.95			Available
111844	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL BAJA BREEZE	2.95			Available
111836	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD RIDINGHOOD RED	5.95			Available
111838	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PINK PIROUETTE	5.95			Available
113966	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE	9.95			Available
109123	STAMPIN WRITE JOURNALER BASIC BROWN	3.25			Available
113981	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA BIRDS	9.95			Available
112157	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS BAJA BREEZE	9.95			Out of Stock
113975	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RASPBERRY TART	9.95			Available
114037	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY SWEET SLUMBER	11.95			Available
113978	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN OASIS	9.95			Available
112041	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA ROSE	9.95			Available
112468	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SWEET ALWAYS	9.95			Available
111834	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD TANGERINE TANGO	5.95			Available
114039	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY ROCKABILLY	11.95			Available
108590	CARD STOCK NATURALS ASST 12X12	8.95			Available
111337	NOTES GIFT ASSORTMENT II	9.95			Available
112471	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RAINBOW SHERBET	9.95			Out of Stock
112464	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MANCHESTER	9.95			Available
112006	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLOWER FUSION II	14.95			Available
111837	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PACIFIC POINT	5.95			Available
112461	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER WASHINGTON APPLE	9.95			Out of stoc
113993	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY PARISIAN BREEZE	11.95			Available
112155	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS RIDING HOOD RED	9.95			Available
111353	CARD STOCK KIWI KISS 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
111348	CARD STOCK RIDING HOOD RED 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
112172	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE BOY	19.95			Out of stock
100900	GIFT SACKS WHITE	2.95			Available
114605	SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT MORE THOUGHTS	42.95			Out of stock
102264	COLUZZLE STARTER KIT	19.95			Available
111346	CARD STOCK IN COLOR 12 X 12	8.95			Available
111835	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD KIWI KISS	5.95			Available
111350	CARD STOCK PACIFIC POINT 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
105668	TATTOO KIT I	13.95			Out of stock
111349	CARD STOCK TANGERINE TANGO 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
109231	SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT SENDING HAPPY THOUGHTS	54.95			Available
111351	CARD STOCK PINK PIROUETTE 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
112165	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE GIRL	19.95			Out of stock
113950	DIE CUTS BUILD-A-FAIRYTALE	8.95			Available
111345	CARD STOCK TEXTURED IN COLOR 12 X 12	11.95			Available
105669	TATTOO KIT II	13.95			Out of stock
111833	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD BAJA BREEZE	5.95			Available
113936	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN HOPPY MEMORIES	19.95			Available
111347	CARD STOCK IN COLOR 8-1/2 X 11	7.95			Available
107288	ENVELOPE WHISPER WHITE EXTRA LARGE	5.5			Available
104310	CRAFTERS TOOL KIT	39.95			Available
111352	CARD STOCK BAJA BREEZE 8-12 X 11	5.5			Available
113943	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN 2 SWEET	19.95			Available
113925	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SWEET NOTHINGS	19.95			Available
112179	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN LOVE STORIES	19.95			Available
113911	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SUNSHINE GARDEN	19.95			Out of stock
112054	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN BEST EVER	19.95			Out of stock
111253	Blooms & Bulbs	6.5			Available
109684	Doodle	8.5			Available
111257	Happy, Happy Birthday	8.5			Available
109692	Love	6.5			Available
109568	My ABCs	6.5			Available
109682	Perfectly Pretty	6.5			Available
109687	See You Around	8.5			Available
109683	So Swirly	8.5			Available
111260	Something Fishy	8.5			Available
111262	Stems & Silhouettes	8.5			Available
105516	Watercolor Joy	6.5			Available
114528	Embosslit Flower	11.95			Available
116209	Note of Thanks	9.95			Available
116210	Birthdays Count	9.95			Available