Gone Stampin'!

Love and laughter forever after...

I have a friend at work who needed a bridal shower card for a shower this weekend. I wouldn't want to plan too far ahead so I started working on this at...oh...about 9 pm tonight! Luckily I really didn't have to start from scratch. I had some ready to put together pieces cut from projects we did months ago at my stamp clubs. So all I really had to do was assemble and choose different greetings to stamp. I put together two cards so that she can pick her favorite tomorrow.

Both cards use the Love You Much stamp set found in your Idea Book & Catalog on page 27. This is a great versatile set that I've really enjoyed using. 

            

These two cards are very different but show the versatility you have just by changing your colors and choice of stamps. Plus there is the use of our Designer Series Papers. Our Designer Paper has been one of my favorite things for some time now. It just makes putting your cards together a snap! You don't need to worry about your background being too plain or what more you should stamp to add additional interest. Even small pieces of patterned paper go a long way. And make sure to watch for my post Friday with all the details about some great specials happening in May including one on the Designer Series Papers!

To order the products used in these projects click here and then click on "shop now". If you have any questions please contact me! Have a great weekend. ~Valerie

Products used in the pink card: Love You Much stamp set (#113756); Curvy Verses stamp set (#114948); Pink Pirouette Textured card stock (#111345); Close to Cocoa card stock (#101341); Very Vanilla card stock (#101650); Candy Lane Designer Series Paper (#113980); Close to Cocoa Classic Stampin' Pad (#103139); Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin' Pad (#111838); Kraft Taffeta Ribbon (#109068); Scallop Circle Punch (#109043); Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430); Blender Pens (#102845).

 

Products used in the blue scallop card: Love You Much stamp set (#113746); Oval All stamp set (#113790); Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (#113439); Scallop Circle Bigz Die (#113468); Baja Breeze card stock (#111352); Whisper White card stock (#100730); Baja Breeze Patterns Designer Series Paper (#112157); Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad (#111833); Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (#111375); Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430).

 

Free Stampin' Mist!

Hi everyone! I hope you had a good Wednesday! I am very much looking forward to the weekend. I plan to work on the projects for my upcoming watercoloring class (watch for more info in my May newsletter coming out next week) along with the masculine themed projects for my May Stamp Clubs.

Here's somewhat of a product spotlight plus a special offer for you. If you've never used the Stampin' Mist to clean your stamps - you should be! I know that when I started stamping 9 or so years ago (I can't believe it's been that long already!) I used wet paper towels laid on a paper plate to clean my stamps. It worked all right but I found that the ink was staining the rubber on my stamps because water alone just wouldn't completely clean them. I was stubborn and decided that system worked fine for me.

But...then I signed up to be a demonstrator and my starter kit arrived filled with all kinds of new stamping goodies including the Stampin' Mist and Stampin' Scrub.

                                      

Let me tell you - I wish I had purchased them right away! I can't believe how easy they make my cleanup after stamping. It was one of those 'aha' moments for sure! And not only does the Stampin' Mist clean your stamps, it's a specially formulated spray that also conditions your rubber stamps. You simply spray it on one side of your Stampin' Scrub, clean your stamp, and then dry your stamp on the other side of the Stampin' Scrub. I do want to note that some of your really dark colored inks may still stain the rubber of your stamp slightly even when you clean them with the Stampin' Mist - but it sure is less than if you just use water to clean off your stamp (and even for the stained stamps I have a little trick using the VersaMark pad that you can e-mail me about if you want to know more!).

I know - the Stampin' Mist and Stampin' Scrub aren't "fun" items to purchase like stamps and new accessories. But believe me when I tell you they are great additions to your craft area (because if you're like me you tend to not be able to find any paper towels when you need them anyway!). And to help you with half of the equation I'm offering you a really cute decorated bottle of our Stampin' Mist when you book a party now for May or June (I just love the owl - he's definitely my favorite of all the bottles). Plus - to sweeten the deal - if your party total reaches at least $400, I'll add the Stampin' Scrub (a $16.95 value!) to your hostess benefits!

    

Now this can be a catalog/on-line party also - rather than a traditional party at your house. Of course the fun in having a party at your house is that you and your guests will make the projects and get to use new stamps and accessories - but I understand that time just isn't always on our side to allow for that. This is a limited time offer so contact me now to book your party, whichever type you may choose, for May or June! Have a great Thursday and I'll talk to you soon. ~Valerie

Products used in this project: Stampin' Mist (#102394); Basic Black card stock (#102851); Textured White card stock (#108693); Whisper White card stock (#100730); Trendy Trees stamp set (#113258); Basic Black Stampin' Pad (#101179); Linen Thread (#104199); Flower Fusion (#110720); Flower Fusion Too (#112006); Crafter's Tool Kit (#104310); 1" Circle Punch (#109046); 1 1/4" Circle Punch (#104403); Bright Delights Rub-Ons (#113887); A Perfect Day Rub-Ons (#111277); Summer Love Rub-Ons (#114620); Vintage Brads (#109109).

 

a little note of thanks

Here's a quick card using the Clearly Thanks Printed Window Sheets again! I love how easy these make putting a card together - I did this one in just minutes.

 

The only adhesive I have holding the printed window sheet onto the patterned paper is behind the thank you greeting. I put a little adhesive there to hold it down while I attached the greeting and silver frame. The rhinestone brads not only hold the frame over the greeting, but also are what really holds the window sheet onto the card.

The rhinestone brads are the same color as the patterned paper which is just a fun little accent rather than using the plain silver brads that come in the hodgepodge hardware kit. The larger picture of the full card is definitely more true to color - this is what I get for being a late night creative person and never getting to take my pictures with daylight as a background! One of these days I'll be ahead of the game...

The thank you stamp I used on this card is one you can get FREE this month with our Get Connected special. When you purchase $40 of products in the Occasions mini catalog you will choose an item from our under $10 page FREE (page 210 of your Idea Book & Catalog)! You only have until Thursday to place your order and take advantage of this special offer. You can place your order on-line here or you can contact me directly. ~Valerie

 

Products used to create this project: Note of Thanks mini note kit (#116209); Whisper White card stock (#100730); Pacific Point card stock (#111350); Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad (#111837); Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper (#113966); Clearly Thanks Printed Window Sheets (#115122); Designer Label Punch (#107590); Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (#111325); Rhinestone Brads - Circle Fire (#109110).

Let the Cute Begin

I'm busy tonight cutting designer series paper for my paper sampler. If you haven't ran across that post on my blog check it out here. You can get samples from 20 different packages of designer series papers - for a total of 120 6" x 6" double-sided sheets! It's a great deal and an awesome way to sample all of those different papers!

So...since I'm not stamping today I thought I'd show you the card I made for Melissa's baby shower last Wednesday (how I celebrated part of Earth Day!).

           

Even though this stamp set is now retired I wanted to show you this card since it's made using a couple fun new accessories! You can always substitue another stamp set for the image. First I stamped the "Let the Cute Begin" on both the textured white and bashful blue card stock. Out of the bashful blue I cut out the smaller words and also the cute onesie (here's something you'll laugh at - sadly I had to get help from my husband on the proper name for this outfit - I was thinking sleeper or jumper - it pays to have children of your own sometimes!). I attached the onesie with dimensionals to make it pop up off the card.

Once that piece was ready to go I slid it into the riding hood red card stock that I punched with the slit punch. This is when I did the faux stitching around that red piece. If you've never done this before it's very easy to do. You'll need your paper piercing tool, pad and template (all found in the crafter's tool kit) along with a white gel pen. Line up your piercing template onto the card stock and pierce holes all the way around the outside of the white card stock. Then use your gel pen to connect the dots. It looks like real stitching but without the actual sewing - a very cool technique!

Then while you have your piercing tool out, pierce holes for the new jumbo brads that hold the white card stock in place. The brads I used here are the smaller size of the two and come in an assorted package of 4 different colors (chocolate chip, very vanilla, whisper white and silver). They are really fun to use by themselves or you can easily decorate them using the rub-ons (see this post for an example of that). Once that piece is together I attached it to a piece of bashful blue card stock with stampin' dimensionals for additional height.

Now on to the background of the card. The card itself is whisper white card stock (and not the normal dimensions - this card is square and measures 5" x 5"). Layered onto that is Pacific Point card stock with the printed vellum polka dot sheet from the Taste of Textiles specialty papers layered on that. (If you haven't yet noticed this group of papers take a look at page 156 of your Idea Book & Catalog. There are 5 different specialty papers in this package including the Bronze Metallic that I used on this card). Since this piece is vellum, I only used adhesive behind where the "let the cute begin" piece was attached. Then to finish off the card I tied the bashful blue taffeta ribbon around the card front in a knot.

I hope you enjoyed this baby card and that it inspires you in your own projects. To purchase any of these products on-line click here (with the exception of this retired stamp set-although I have one for sale if you'd like to contact me for details!). If you have any questions please e-mail me. ~Valerie

                                    

Products used in this project: Big on Spring stamp set (retired); Whisper White card stock (#100730); Pacific Point card stock (#111350); Bashful Blue card stock (#105120); Riding Hood Red card stock (#111348); Textured Whisper White card stock (#108693); Taste of Textiles specialty papers (#113991); StazOn Ink - Jet Black (#101406); Crafter's Tool Kit (#104310); White Signo Gel Pen (#105021); Slit Punch (#104388); Jumbo Brads - 5/16" neutrals assortment (#112534); Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon (#109066); Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430).

Paper Flowers

The paper flower tutorial is here! These were fun to make although I can't see making bunches of them due to their finicky nature (you'll see what I mean when you make one!). But in just making a couple they were well worth the time to do! Here are the two I made last night:

 

So...let's get started! First you'll need to choose your patterned papers. I used the Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper for both flowers since I wanted them both to coordinate. Then you'll need to print the mini flowers pattern that Stampin' Up! has provided. This provides you with the template for the flower petals for these two flowers and a guide for the flower centers. The flower that I'm showing you how to create is flower #2, but both flowers #1 and #2 are put together the same way. Once you have your patterned paper and template printed, you're ready to go!

Step #1: Cut out your pieces. For the center of your flower you'll cut a strip of patterned paper 1 7/8" x 12" long. Then you'll make approximately 1 1/4" long cuts every 1/8" - 3/16" or so. This piece is the top one in the picture above.

Then you'll cut out your flower petals. Flower #1 has 6 petals for each layer while Flower #2 has 5 petals for each layer. To cut the petals I first attached the petal template with Dotto adhesive to the patterned paper. Then I attached two additional pieces of patterned paper with the Dotto behind that first piece. This way I can cut out 3 petals at a time without the papers moving while cutting them. (Tip: The Dotto is an awesome adhesive for a project like this as it is removable. Once you have your pieces cut you simply pull them apart and wipe away the dots of adhesive.)

Your final piece to cut is the piece that goes around the outside bottom of your flower once the petals are all put together. This piece is in the bottom right corner of the picture above and measures 7/8" x 2 7/8".

Here are the pieces you'll end up with once everything is cut:

Step #2: Now we'll start assembling your flower. First take the long piece that is the center of your flower (the top piece in the picture above) and start rolling it up. I didn't use a tool to help in doing this, but you could use the tip of your paper piercing tool to get it started. Also - it doesn't look like it in the picture because the center has moved up while rolling it, but you do want to roll it tightly.

When it is almost completely rolled up, you'll want to put a piece of sticky strip in the corner which you'll use to hold it together.

 

Here is what the finished piece, the center of your flower, will look like:

 

Step #3: Attach your first layer of petals around the base of the flower center you just made (these will be the smaller of the petals). I put a little of the Snail adhesive at the bottom of my petals and then attached them around the outside. The petals will overlap each other. If you find that you're not attaching them closely enough you should still be able to easily move them at this point and reposition them closer together. Here's what your flower will look like after the first layer of petals have been attached:

     

Step #4: Attach the next layer of petals in the same way you attached the first layer of petals. Again, these will overlap each other in order to fit them all around the outside of your flower.

Step #5: When all of your petals have been attached, you'll then attach the outside bottom piece using sticky strip to hold everything together. This will cover up the base where all of your petal are attached. You'll simply wrap this piece around the base of the flower. (The picture is deceiving - it looks like only my first layer of petals is attached when you look at the patterned paper, but I forgot to take a picture of this when doing flower #2 so this picture is flower #1 at this point in the process.)

 

Step #6: Now your flower is together & you just need to fold back the petals. Be careful when you do this since the paper will tear. Here is your finished product:

I hope you enjoyed my very first tutorial on the Gone Stampin'! blog. Now have fun creating these paper flowers on your own! Click here to purchase your designer series papers and adhesives to make this project. E-mail me if you have any questions. ~Valerie

             

Products used in this project: Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper (#113975); Dotto Adhesive (#103305); Snail Adhesive (#104332).

I haven't forgotten!

Really. I haven't. What I am referring to is the tutorial on how to make the flowers on page 9 of your Occasions Mini Catalog. I'll be getting that tutorial ready for you this weekend and posted by Monday morning (at least that's my plan). So definitely check my blog over the next few days for that.

And in the meantime I'll leave you with some lesser known facts about Stampin' Up!'s eco-conscious practices in light of Earth Day recently.

• Rubber: Rather than dump their excess rubber from stamp production in a landfill, Stampin' Up! donates it to Courage Reins, a nonprofit organization that provides help for physically or mentally challenged children. Courage Reins takes the rubber and sells it to groups & individuals for use in playgrounds and horse stables. The money they receive goes to fund their programs. (and it's really cool when you see a playground made with rubber stamp scraps!).
• Wood Blocks: In order to make the wood blocks for our stamps, Stampin' Up! works with a tree farm in which the maple trees are grown specifically for the purpose of harvesting wood!
• Card Stock & Paper: The paper Stampin' Up! uses in shipping is 100 percent recycled. Their card stock also includes recycled material including recycled paper that's left over from other paper runs which would otherwise end up in a landfill. The darker the color of card stock, the more recycled material is in the card stock (it is strange to think that basic black is the "greenest" color of them all!). In addition, Stampin' Up! works with a paper broker who ensures that the mills we use for our Designer Series paper and card stock engage in environmentally friendly practices. One of our mills even generates its own power!
• Carbon Footprint: Stampin' Up! strives to reduce its carbon footprint as much as possible. They try to engage in shipping practices that will require fewer greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, to be released into the atmosphere. To that end, UPS picks up shipments each day during nonpeak traffic hours. This cuts down on the gasoline UPS needs to get our orders out the door. Next, for stamp shipments between Stampin' Up!'s Riverton and Kanab, Utah buildings, they "carpool" with companies who are sending shipments from the Salt Lake City area to Kanab. For example, Sysco delivers food to Kanab and surrounding towns and, normally, their trucks would return empty to Salt Lake City. Instead of driving back without cargo, Sysco trucks bring stamps from Kanab to Riverton!
• Stampin' Up!'s buildings: Stampin' Up! also has many energy saving features at both their Riverton and Kanab buildings, such as sensors and timers for their lights; and native, water-wise plants instead of grass used in their landscaping to watch their water use.

I thought this information was pretty interesting and hope you learned some new things about what Stampin' Up! is doing in their effort to make a difference in the environment.

Have a great weekend! ~Valerie

Monday is the last day...

...to register for my upcoming Fifth Avenue Floral class! Contact me soon - there are only a couple seats available.

Fifth Avenue Floral Class

6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Friday, May 8th

Two Harbors 

 

Add a touch of elegance and class to your Mother's Day gift this year with this gorgeous Fifth Avenue Floral card set!

The card set includes four trendy card designs packaged in a unique window box. Everyone loves Stampin' Up!'s Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set and Urban Oasis designer paper! They give a classy and elegant yet trendy look to all your projects. You're sure to fall in love with them. Price is $22 -or- $20 for current stamp club members. Space is limited!

Choose the option that fits you:

Regular Price $22.00Club Member Price $20.00

Sign up here by April 27th.

Trendy Trees for Earth Day

How did you celebrate Earth Day? I went to a baby shower after work (congrats Melissa!) but then came home to make this great card with the Trendy Trees stamp set. I figured being Earth Day and all my project should reflect nature in some way!

 

Now before I talk about how I made this card I have a little tangent to go off on! I've offically come to the conclusion that daylight makes all the difference in picture taking - so I'm sorry for the sad pictures you've been seeing! I hope to get some better ones taken this weekend for the blog.

Now back to your regularly scheduled program! This is such a cute stamp set that has just been calling to me since it was introduced in this catalog. It's a Two-Step Stampin' Set meaning that it's a two step process to use some of the stamps. For example - the trees themselves are one stamp and are stamped in chocolate chip ink and then I stamped the leaves (a separate stamp) in the old olive onto the upper portion of the tree. I really enjoy this type of stamp set - it's really easy to use different colors this way and be a little more creative.

Once the trees were stamped, I stamped the 'thinking of you' in baja breeze ink and layered that piece onto the chocolate chip card stock. I used the Parisian Breeze Designer Series Papers and attached the ribbon around the back of it with a little piece of sticky strip. I like to make sure that ribbon stays put and sticky strip does the trick! Then before I attached that piece to the front of the chocolate chip card base, I attached the jumbo brads. (Here's a tip - if you attach the brads before your card front is put together, you can hide the prongs from the brads between your card base and the designer paper. Otherwise you'll see the prongs inside your card when it is opened up).

Once the brads were added, I attached the designer paper to the front of the card and then attached the Trees piece with stampin' dimensionals to give it some height.

 

Products used in this project: Trendy Trees Stamp Set (#113258); Chocolate Chip Card Stock (#102128); Chocolate Chip Classic Stamp Pad (#100908); Textured Whisper White Card Stock (#108693); Old Olive Classic Stamp Pad (#102277); Baja Breeze Classic Stamp Pad (#111833); Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series Paper (#113993); 5/16" Jumbo Brads (#112534); Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon (#109069); Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430).

To purchase the products used in this project please place your order on-line or contact me  directly. Thank you! ~Valerie

Summer Sun

No - the summer sun isn't here in Minnesota yet - but we're getting closer! In the meantime though we can use this bright sunny color in our stamping projects!

I used the new stamp set 'Great Friend' from the Occasions Mini Catalog on this card. It's a really cute set (and it coordinates wonderfully with the new Summer Love Rub-Ons and the Matchbox Bigz XL Die which are both also new and in the mini catalog).

I kept a monochromatic theme with the Summer Sun color in this project which I find lends itself to an elegant look. The Designer Paper is from the Pink Flamingo group which right now is my absolute favorite set of designer papers. (Tip - You can get samples of 20 different sets of designer papers in my paper sampler - check out the details in this post). And I couldn't resist adding the half pearls from the Pretties Kit as an accent on our butterfly. Then to add a bit more dimension I folded up the left side of the butterfly. (This is a great technique you can use on flowers also to pop up different petals).

 

Products used in this project: Great Friend stamp set (#113792); Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper (#113976); Whisper White card stock (#100730); Summer Sun card stock (#103124); Summer Sun Classic Stamp Pad (#100537); Pretties Kit (#109114); 1 3/4" Circle Punch (#112004); 1 3/8" Circle Punch (#104401); 7/8" Poly-Twill Ribbon - So Saffron (#111364).

There's still time to get FREE stamps! The Get Connected special goes through April 30th. Place your order on-line today!

Thanks! ~Valerie

FREE Class Instructions With a Purchase

 

A GREAT OFFER

If you love the Fifth Avenue Floral Class I'm offering you can get the class instructions for FREE with your $50 (or more) Stampin' Up! on-line order!

Simply go to my Stampin' Up! website here and place your order. Once you're done, e-mail me to let me know you've placed your order and I will send you the instructions for the class. It's that easy.

Contact me if you have any questions or need help placing your order.