The Stamper

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. 

Big Shot Scallop Square die box

What a fun weekend I had, I received a box in the mail from my up-line Sandy and she had sent me some fun stamping projects.  It was perfect timing because it came right before my Starz meeting and I was able to share all these fun ideas with my group.  She sent me this die cut box that was created using the Big Shot Scallop die and the snowflakes die layered onto a square box and she added a handle.   

She also had included in the box these little gift tags that would be a great on any package.  She punched this out of whisper white card-stock on a fold so the ornamentis a mini card so you can write on the inside.  This ornament punch and Stampin' Up! Delightful Decoration stamp set are some of my favorite things from the Holiday mini catalog.  The items in this catalog are available until January 4th and after that it is anyone guess if they will be included in the next Stampin' Up! catalog that comes out in July.  If you love this item as much as I do make sure you order it before it goes away.   You can order on line at my Stampin' web site or email or call me to order.

Stampin' Up! Snow Buddies and Sweet Treat cups

I have the most talented women in my Starz group and we always have such a fun time sharing ideas with each other.  At our meeting a couple of months ago Monika shared with us how to create a sweet treat card that you can open to fill.  We all loved it and yet found that it only worked if the design was close to the edge of your card.  Michelle took the idea home and worked at it until she figured out a way to create a card so the sweet treat cup could be in the middle of the card and yet still fillable from the inside of the card, and she brought the idea back to our meeting the share with all of us. 

The trick is to not use the adhesive on the back of the sweet treat cup.  She cut a couple inches of the card front and cut another piece of card-stock the same size as the front of the card.  She punched a 1 3/4" circle punch hole in the same place on both pieces.  Decorate the extra piece as the front of the card.   She then glued the cup to the back opening of the extra piece and layered this onto the front of the card creating a pocket.  Now slip in the pull out card with the accent image on it and you have a sweet treat card with the opening in the center of your card.   

Ornaments in Gift Box

 At my STARZ meeting this past weekend, LaRee brought me this wonderful ornament in a gift box.  Each year for Christmas LaRee has made me a Stampin' Up! ornament for my tree and I love them each year. 

This year she made me three and packaged them in this die cut box.  She used Stampin' Up! Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper to create these ornaments. 

The first one is created by punching out several ornament punches from the flocked papers and gluing them together to create a 3-d form.  She added a bow accent. 

The second one is created like the pumpkins we did several years ago.  You feed strips of paper onto one of the hat pins from the Pretties Kit forming a ball shape and then add smaller strips for the 2nd ball shape.  She finished the ornament off with pearls and beads from the pretties kit. 

The third ornament is created with the scallop die and then create a medallion using a couple scallop circles and attaching that to the die cut outs. 

I love this little gift.  My Christmas tree is filled with handmade ornaments.  When Ted and I first got married we did not have extra money for tree ornaments.  I spent many hours stitching ornaments and Ted and I created all handmade ornaments from scraps of fabric that first Christmas and a tradition was born.  We have added at least one handmade ornament design to our tree each year.

Stampin' Up! Dasher stamp set

This weekend at my Gift Making Extravaganza weekend Monika shared with me this great gift idea.  She made a set of Christmas coasters using Stampin' Up! Dasher stamp set.   These are stamped with Craft inks and then sprinkled with clear embossing powder and either baked in the oven or heated with a heat tool.  She boxed them in a handmade box with the large 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain ribbon (I love how soft this ribbon is) and added a Big Shot tag that was stamped the same as the coaster set. Add a few felt feet to the back on the tile and you have a coaster that is perfect for holding drinks during this holiday season. 

Stampin' Up! Impressions Folder

The more I work with Stampin' Up!'s imressions folder and the Big Shot the more impressed I become. This past week I had a workshop for my KSU group and they asked for an ornament and I decided to make one a part of the card.  I used the new impressions folder Petals-A-Plenty found on page 21 of the Holiday mini catalog.  This folder can be made to look like Holiday flowers or Daisies depending on the cardstock color you use. 

The Ornament is chipboard cut with the Scallop circle die.  I used a marker to color the edges and then add 2 Scallop circle dies that were impressed with the folder.  It is best to color the edges before attaching the cardstock so if you slip you don't draw a marker line down the front of the ornament. 

The pocket is created by folding a corner of DSP paper down and adding Tombow white glue to the 3 edges and with the ornament in place hold the edges until the glue sticks, remove ornament and let the paper set good.    I added a knot and silver cording to finish the ornament.  Enjoy

Stampin' Up! Deal of the week!

I am excited to share the second week of Stampin' Up! Deals of the week and this week it features the Big Shot dies.  I love my Big Shot and all the great custom dies Stampin' Up! has to offer.  I sometimes wonder how I ever did a class or scrapbooking event without using a Big Shot.  The second deals of the week are from October 12, 10 AM (MT) through October 19, 9:50 AM (MT). So don't miss out, you can order on line by going to my SU! web site www.wendythestamper.stampinup.net  or call me at 678-494-4599 and I would love to help you with all your stamping and scrapbooking needs.

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
115961	200	Perfect Setting Bigz XL die	$42.95	$25.99
114515	195	Flower Burst Embosslits die	$11.95	$5.99
116760	201	Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL die	$39.95	$25.49

     

Udderly Awesome Meeting

 

On Saturday I taught my How to Take Better Photos class at one of my up lines' Udderly Awesome Meeting.  She meets at the Spaghetti Factory in the LA area which was not ideal for a power point presentation but it went over really well.  It was fun, because Ted traveled with me so he got to see me present, that never happens because he is usually home with the kids.  There are a few advantages to having older children who can watch the younger one especially when they are not that young anymore. 

It was fun to visit with old friends and make new ones and seeing great ideas and projects is a plus too.  Here are a few of my favorite ideas I saw.

The crow card is made by punching out different punched images and clipping and gluing them together.  He is just so cute I want to create a bunch of them for my entry way for fall.

Sweet treat cups are a big deal and several ladies had great projects made with them.  I thought this stop light box was a unique way to use them and made a fun gift box that anyone would enjoy getting. 

I also loved these great pencil holder boxes and can't wait to figure them out so I can use them in a hands on class in the future.  They are a great idea that can be adapted for any holiday or occasion and I know how much I like decorative pencils so I know my girls friends will love getting a gift like this. 

Medallion Coaster set

This is another project we will be making at the Gift Making Weekend November 6th and 7th.  This coaster set is created using chipboard and the circle die.  The Medallion stamp is embossed on colored circles with white embossing ink and powder. 

I think this is a great project and one that both Shelli and another demo showed at convention.  I wanted it to be a little bit more of a gift so I created a box from coasters to hold these on your table when they are not in use. 

Each set includes 6 coasters and you get to choose the color you want your box and coasters to be at the class, color choices are: Night of Navy, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Ruby Red, Old Olive and Elegant Eggplant.

Build a Bear Sleeping Bag

At our Starz meeting this month, Monika shared this Build a Bear sleepingbag card she created for her exchange card.  It was created using Stampin' Up!'s Top Note die and the new Build a Bear dies and accessories dies.

She had made them in all different colors and both boy and girl and she let us choose our favorite one, I had a hard time choosing which one I liked best because I liked them all. In the end I waited until others had their choice and decided on a little girl bear.  I guess having 4 girls just makes me lean more towards those colors. 

Bear Magnetic Paper Doll Tin

This was my final project for my gift making extravaganza class.  I wanted to use these cute Build a Bear stamps and die cuts and this little tin was a very cute way to use them.  Having had all girls paper dolls and bears were both very popular at our home but my daughter that loved them the most is my oldest Shanae. 

Shanae is serving a church mission but I know she will love this little tin and I plan to send her one for Christmas. 

I love how the clothes are magnetic and stick to the tin as well as to the bear.  My bear can be either a girl or boy and you will be able to make it either way the day of the class.  It does not have to be a girl gift, I know little boys will enjoy it as well. Who would not love to play in the car with this little tin.

Gift Making Extravaganza Event

Wow, it has been a lot of work but I finally have my projects finalized and the newsletter with all the information is sent.  I started it this morning and here it is late at night and I have finally finish. 

It would have gone much quicker if I could have written it without all the distractions.  You know how it is, the phone rings and it is your parents so you talk a while, then a lunch break, then you find out you don't have enough pictures so you hope the sun will come out but after checking the weather report you know that is not going to happen at all this week so you take dark photos and hope for the best, back to the computer and more distractions, your daughter's doing her homework and thinks you can help her write a paper while you are writing an newsletter, another daughter does not want to do her practicing so she comes down to visit with you instead, another daughter keeps checking her email to see if she made the youth orchestra she tried out for on Sunday, then dinner and off to bed so you think you will have a few minutes to finish the newsletter because your husband is at a meeting and the girls are in bed or gone to meetings but alas more distractions, your husband is driving and has nothing to do but call you and talk and ask how your newsletter is coming which you inform him it would be coming along better if you were not trying to write it and talk on the phone at the same time.  And that is how the first item on my to do list did not get done until 10:PM.  I am guessing all of you have had days like this. 

Join me for this class Friday, November 6th, and Saturday November 7th from AM to PM.  The class fee is $15.00 plus project supply fees. 
Send me an email at wendy@thestamper.comto receive a newsletter with all the paypal links if you have not received it already. 

Photo Letter decor project

I made photo letters of each of my girls for my wall and have received so many comments on how great they are and how you, my customers, would like to make some of your own, so this is one of my gift making extravaganza projects.  You can choose whatever letter you desire and it can be for a boy or a girl.  This one is for my niece Allie and I decorated in with chipboard flowers, the ones I am doing for my nephews will be decorated with chipboard stars and stamped images. 

This letter is a little different than the ones I hung on my wall, they are a little smaller and come with a stand so they can sit on a child's dresser or shelf.

You will need to bring mini photos to decorate your letter the weekend we make them, I develop these at a major photo developing store and ask for them to print 2 up on a 4x6 for the largest photo and the rest are printed on their charms layout which will give you several mini sizes to choose from. 

Note: this project is a part of my gift making extravaganza class that will be held November 6th and 7th.  I hope you will come and make a few of these great gift items.

Halloween Hands On Class projects

What fun I had making this next month's Hands On projects.  I decided to do a Halloween Hands On since Halloween is a fun holiday to decorate for.  I adapted a swag from Shelli Gardner's presentation at convention.  (Shelli is the founders/owner of Stampin' Up!) My swag says Spooky and will look great hanging in a window or along a table at any Halloween party.  We will also be making a Jiffy Pop gift with the new pumpkin faces in the Home Decor catalog.  It is a cute gift but also looks create hanging from a hook if you find you don't want to give it away.  I will be showing you the new sweet cups that are coming out in the new mini catalog that is available September 1st and we will be making a Halloween card from a great layout that works with so many stamp sets. 

Remember to RSVP and join me Friday, September 11 at 10am or 7:30pm.  Cost for the class is just $15.00 and all the supplies will be cut and ready for you to create these great projects.

Hodgepodge Hardware Jewelry

One of the things I love about the supplies we use for card making and scrap booking is they are so versatile and can be used to create a variety of gifts. 

This necklace was made for me by my up line in Stampin' Up! Kathy, and she gave it to me as a gift at convention.  It is created using the hardware in a different way. 

She used two Raised Dot Designer holders with stamped images and glued them together so it is double sided.  She attached a flower charm at the bottom and rhinestone into the layers of crystal effects that she filled in the holder with.

I saw these done with all the different Designer Holders that come in the hardware kits.  What a perfect gift to make someone you love.

Of course the packaging was as great as the gift and she used the matchbox die and cut the bottom from Basic Black CS and the top from the new Bride specialty papers found on page 158. 

Wood sheets Wows!

How many of you noticed the new Wood Sheets item# 16309 Texture Cuts found on page 158 of the new idea book and catalog?  I know when I went through the catalog I was so excited to purchase these and see how they work.  I was even more impressed when I received the sheets and started playing with them.  They are thin sheets of wood that have a paper backing to support the wood sheet and prevent them from breaking or chipping.  Here are a few ideas you can do with the new wood sheets. 

Big Shot die boxes:  you can die cut these sheets and make your own wood boxes and cards.

Stamp directly on the wood sheets with either classic inks or craft inks. 

You can watercolor stamped images on the wood sheets with watercolor pencils or classic inks.  Just be careful to use minimal amounts of water. 

You can punch out shapes with either our regular punches or any dies from the Big Shot line and attach them to a card.  Or even punch easily through the sheet to add accents like eyelets or brads.

But my favorite thing I tried and loved was using the Big Shot and the impression folders I created an impressed image into the wood and then added a little chalk for color.  

I would love to see what you create with these new wood sheets. 

To order this item you can go to my web site or email me with an order. 

Convention Fancy Favor box

This is the final project we made at my STARZ meeting at convention.  Tammy Wilson, designed this little box and notes cards using the new Fancy Favor box and the new in-color cardstock and Designer Series paper. 

It was a fast project that would make a great gift for anyone. I love the new Razzleberry color and how cheerful the bright color makes this project.  She added a matching ribbon by setting jumbo brads into the box and tying a knot in each end of the ribbon. 

 The note cards could be stamped with different sayings to meet anyone's needs. 

 Here is a pictures of all of those who attended my STARZ meeting, it was a great group of creative women.  Thanks to all of those who helped make the night a success!

Big Shot Butterfly Bag

I am back home from convention and so excited about all the fun new things coming out in the mini catalog next month.  We have not only a great large catalog we are working with this month but we have a even better mini catalog.  If you want to get in on all the excitement consider calling me and scheduling a workshop where I can show you and your friends some of the new items.

At convention we often exchange gifts and this butterfly bag was made my Sue Patterson, one of my down line and I just loved it.  I carried it around convention and people kept stopping me to see my bag.  It was made with by adhering die cut butterflies to a jean bag.  Sue, punched holes and added jumbo eyelets to thread a ribbon though for the final touches. 

Stampin' Up! Big Shot and Circle Circus

I guess you could have said the theme for the projects at my convention meeting was the stamp set Circle Circus.  Everyone must love it as much as I do. 

This beautiful card was created by Michele, she was not able to come to the meeting but she was kind enough to create a card for us all to make.  The card base in the new Rich Razzleberry CS stamped with the bubble image over and over again.  We then cut a Big Shot Top Note out of Old Olive CS and did a direct to paper technique and cut a third of it off and glued it to the card and then tied the top note piece together and hung a tag from it.  The flowers are Die Cut using the Big Shot and the center of the flower is one of the circle circus stamps stamped in black and water colored.  There is a final accent image that was stamped and cut in half and glued to the top note. 

This card takes a little more effort but I think the effort was worth it.

Embossing Folder Elegant Bouquet

Each year I try to make my down line a little gift for attending convention and this year I decided to do this little purse that I made a few months ago for a meeting.  This time I used a roller to create texture on the purse flap and the top note bottom piece was embossed with the new Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Elegant Bouquet.  I sponged over the texture to make it stand out.  The flower is from Stampin' Up! Enjoy Every Moment stamp set and the center of the flower is a silver jumbo brad that has a 1/2 inch circle punched designer paper glued to the top of it.  I added the crushed curry ribbon for handles. 

I hope they like these little gifts, I filled them with different accessories so each one is a surprise.