Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Class Sample

I am preparing for a class I have coming up and I took some time yesterday to sit down and come up with some prototypes. This is one that won out. I loved how it turned out. Simple lines, SO easy to duplicate but it has the right amount of elements to make it adorable. (Of course that is just my opinion.)
This one was made with the two new sets Pick a Petal and Fundamental Phrases. I haven't pulled this set out as much as I would have thought but whenever I do I am really pleased with the results. This also uses the new Photo Corner punch. How do I feel about the punch?? How did I live without it??? I have loved the look of photo corners for years but have never been able to make them myself. Now that this punch is here, life is so easy and it is such a cute element! Adding the eyelet just adds to it don't you think?
Other supplies used: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Pale Plum, Certainly Celery, Whisper White card stocks. Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery inks. Soft Subtles Eyelets, Canvas background stamp, 1/4" circle punch, Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon, Oval Punch, Stamp a ma jig.

Monday, July 23, 2007

2007-2008 Ronald McDonald House Set

Every year Stampin' Up! produces a new stamp set that will contribute to the Ronald McDonald House. Whenever someone purchases the Ronald McDonald House set $2 from the sale will go directly to RMH. So far Stampin' Up! has donated over $600,000 and with the launch of this new set I have a feeling that number is going to go up quickly!
Just Like You was on my first order which is not typical for me of the RMH sets. I only own one of them because I haven't really felt the set was very versatile and they haven't been of my style, but when I saw this one I knew it was going to be making its way to my house!
This one took awhile to do because there were a couple places I needed to mask. I even pulled out my Stamp a ma jig which doesn't happen often, but I really needed to get the flowers placed "just so". When it was done I sat back and looked at it and thought, "hmmm, I don't know if this is doing it for me." But, I walked away, came back later and decided I really liked it. Funny how things happen like that!
I used the following supplies: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Groovy Guava, So Saffron inks. Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Groovy Guava, Whisper White card stock. So Saffron and Bashful Blue brads. Photo Corner punch. White Gel Pen. Groovy Guava Double Stitched Ribbon. Stamp sets: Polka Dot background, Just Like You, Canvas.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Lovin This New Catty~

WOW, I am lovin all the fresh new color combinations in the new catalog. I made this one for a swap I am in. We have to use some of the new patterned paper. As soon as I saw Fall Flowers I knew I had to have it. It is very similar to a pack of paper we had over a year ago. It made me so sad it never made it into the catalog. Anyway, this sample uses a color combo from that paper - Soft Sky, Really Rust, Always Artichoke and white. I used my new Scallop Circle Punch. LOVE THIS!!!! It is so cute and so many of our images work well with it. And, the large circle punch fits perfectly inside it. The focal image and the swirls in the background were made using Priceless. Love this set too! I paper pierced the edges of the artichoke card stock as well as the scallops. I used a bit of moss gingham ribbon and white grosgrain as well as an artichoke brad for the center of the flower. I am quite happy with how this one turned out.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Fun Hostess Set

Here is another sample for you...This one was made using one of the new Hostess sets from the new catalog. It is called In The Spotlight. Anyone who knows me knows that I own virtually all of the circle image stamp sets we have. Of course with the new catalog came 2 new sets that are circles; circle flowers. They are really cute but I think I can have restraint since there are so many other sets I love and several of the circle sets have flowers in them as well. I used Certainly Celery, Real Red and Bashful Blue card stock (I LOVE that color combo), of course I had to use the slit punch to make a scalloped border. I love scallops! I also used our soft subtles brads. The best thing about our colors is that Stampin' Up! makes it so easy to match accessories to card stock/ink! Of course I had to add ribbon too and doesn't it look so cute to mix grosgrain and gingham? I really like how this turned out and hope you do too!

Monday, July 16, 2007

My First New Catty Order

My order should be here tomorrow! I can hardly stand it! What did I order you say? Well, here it is! Mind you that sales from my Open House were sooo good that I was able to roll all my earnings into the order and still get over $100 in free goodies!
The stamp sets I ordered are:
Punch Pals
Just Like You Priceless
Think Happy Thoughts
Fundamental Phrases
Polka Dot Background Stamp
Event Full (Hostess set)
In the Spotlight (Hostess set)
Vases in Vogue (Hostess set)
Punches I ordered are:
Photo Corners
Scallop Circle
1" Circle
Other Accessories:
Taffeta Chocolate Ribbon
Fall Flowers paper
Stack and Store Caddy
Double Stitched Groovy Guava Ribbon
Groovy Guava Prints Paper
Of course that is not all that is on my list either! There are still MANY things on my list!!! I'll share as I start crossing stuff off!

Double Line Doodles, Not So Dumb

OK, I will freely admit that this set has had me cursing several times over the last few weeks. This set, Double Line Doodles, is one that demonstrators received FREE at our regional events last year and we have had nearly a whole year to play with it. As my Open House dawned I was needing to create a make and take with it and I could not create anything that was amazing. I was so angry...I blamed the set itself, of course it couldn't be user error could it? (he, he, he) So anyway, my pal Lorien (she's great!) was making yet another swap for a different one I am hostessing and I LOVED how it turned out. I was lucky enough to get into a swap on Splitcoast that is hostessed by Jami and has some amazing swappers in it and I said I would use this set. I only said this one because it was one of the only new sets I knew I would own in time to participate. SO....after being so frustrated creating for my open house, I freaked out thinking---"I have to create something amazing to swap with amazing swappers and I can't! I just can't!" But then Lorien gave me her swaps with this set (click on her blog to the right and see her original card). I was inspired to use Doodle This with Double Line Doodles, to use white craft ink and to cut out the smaller flower and attach with a brad. I used Purely Pomegranate card stock and ink on this as well as Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Black, the Word Window Punch, black gingham ribbon and Everyday Flexible Phrases. I am quite happy with how this turned out. My card is definitely different, but very much inspired by Lorien! Thanks pal!

New Catalog Open House

My New Catalog Open House was a success! I always enjoy having my best customers together stamping. There were over 14 people there and I think they had a good time. Here is a sample of one of the three make and takes they did. My plan at the New Catalog Open House is always to do simple cards that demonstrate a new set. New In Colors are always a plus too! I love this one done with Baroque Motifs. It uses Blue Bayou, Black and Soft Sky. The sentiment is from God's Blessings (a set from last year that is still currently available). I wish I could take credit for the layout but it was completely CASED! My pal Lorien came over and was making swaps for a swap I am hostessing. Her original was much more fancy, it had a silver brad in the center of each flower and also used white grosgrain ribbon. Our up-line, Tara, was visiting from Texas (she moved and left us just over 2 years ago). Tara was adapting Lorien's great sample and making it more simple. This is what she came up with and I loved it so we did it at my Open House. It is very simple yet very elegant don't you think?