Festive Flurry Joy

This is another card from the Christmas Stamp-A-Stack.  If you want to join us on Tuesday (10/1), contact me today to register.  Full details can be seen on the Classes/Events page.  Hope you can join us!

The snowflakes on this card are from the Stampin' Up! set Festive Flurry.  The sentiment is from Joyful Christmas.  Colors are Marina Mist and Whisper White.  I think the Basic Rhinestones really make the snowflakes pop.  What do you think?

TSSC 281 Open Sea and Banner Greetings

This week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge sample is my husband's birthday card.  I wanted something masculine for him, but also special.

I love the new World Map background stamp and am excited to have finally put ink to it.   I also used Open Sea and Banner Greetings.  Colors are Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso, and Whisper White.  A few layers of Early Espresso Baker's Twine with a bow finish it off.

Inside I used the stamp from Word Play that says, "You mean the world to me."  It seemed appropriate - for the card and definitely for my husband.   The stamp from Chalk Talk that says, "I'm so grateful there's you in the world" would also be good inside.

Here's the sketch I used for inspiration:

Now that you've seen my sample, head on over to the Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge site to see the rest of the design team samples.  Then, create your own project and link it so we all can see what you've made.  Hope you'll play along this week!

Happy Stampin', Sue

Joyful Christmas

Here's one of the cards we made at the Stamp-A-Stack this morning.  We had a great crowd and lots of fun.  If you missed it, I'm planning to repeat the class on Monday, Sept., 30 at 10:00am.   So that you don't miss out, let me know ASAP if you want to attend.

This card uses the set Joyful Christmas from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog.  Card stock colors are Whisper White and Always Artichoke.  The poinsettia was colored with Cherry Cobbler and Daffodil Delight Stampin' Pastels.

Although the Stampin' Pastels are retired, they are available on the Clearance Rack, while supplies last, for only $9.99 (originally $24.95).

Calm Christmas CASE

I love the stampers motto of CASE - Copy and Share Everything.  As soon as I saw this simple, yet elegant looking, card on Rachel Brumley's blog, I knew I wanted to CASE it.

You only need 5 items to make this card (6 if you count adhesive):

Calm Christmas stamp set

Naturals White and Midnight Muse Cardstock

Midnight Muse Ink

Basic Rhinestones

I also did a couple of variations.  Gumball Green (which we will do in the upcoming Stamp-a-Stack):

and Always Artichoke:

There's still time to sign up for the Stamp-a-Stack.  See details here, then contact me to reserve your spot.  Note:  you can do this card in a different color.  Just be sure to let me know when you register for the Stamp-a-Stack.  The default color is Gumball Green.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Happy Stampin'!

TSSC 280 - Festive Flurry

For this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge sample, I used the set Festive Flurry from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog.  Once I started stamping with that set, I didn't want to stop.  You know what that means - there will be more blog posts featuring these great snowflakes.

Colors are Midnight Muse, Marina Mist, and Whisper White.  I like the rhinestones in the middle of each snowflake for a little extra pizzazz.

Here's the sketch for this week's TSSC challenge: 
 
 As you can see, I used ribbon in place of the stars.  That's what's fun about doing sketch challenges.  They are meant for inspiration.  You don't have to follow them exactly, but hopefully when you're done you have a project you really like that you might not have created without the sketch.  If you do make something, please link it to the challenge site so we all can enjoy.  While you're there, be sure to check out the rest of the design team samples.

Exciting New Product! Envelope Punch Board

I'm so excited!  I just got my new Envelope Punch Board.  Talk about a great tool!!  I can't wait to try it, and yet, I'll have to.  This is the weekend for our annual Mother-Daughter trip with my mom and sister.  We always have such an awesome time that it's well worth putting the stamping on hold.

I'll be back Monday with the TSSC challenge card and later in the week with something made with the Envelope Punch Board.  In the meantime, here's a video to show you more about the product:

After watching the video I'll bet you can see why I'm so excited!

Here's some info that Stampin' Up! has provided:

• It creates totally customizable envelopes in up to 66 different sizes (not to mention a million different color and pattern options depending on the paper you want to use). Even tried and true envelope sizes will only take you moments to create! 
• It's super easy to use.  It looks intimidating at first glance, but when you see that all you have to do is measure for the first punch and from there you just turn and score you'll go crazy (in a good way). 
• It's small and lightweight. It's also super portable and easy to store. It's small and light enough that you could use it while watching a soccer match, at a park, at a friend's for craft night-anywhere.
• It even has a slick scoring tool as well as a punch that lets you create rounded corners on your envelopes.
• It's easy to keep it all together; the stylus storage compartment and two punches are designed into the tool so you don't have a bunch of little pieces to keep track of (even the instructions are printed right on the tool so you won't lose them!).
• The price is terrific-especially for a tool that does so much!
• It will be in next year's annual catalog, so it's here to stay.

You can order your Envelope Punch Board online, at one of my events, or by contacting me directly.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Happy Stampin', Sue

TSSC 279 - Ornament Keepsakes

For this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge, I rotated the sketch so it's landscape instead of portrait.  I used ornaments from the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and cut them out with my Big Shot and Holiday Ornaments Framelits.  The stamps and the framelits are still available on the carryover list (which means they aren't in a catalog, but you can see them online* at the Stampin' Up! website).  The front message and inside sentiment are both from Christmas Messages in the Holiday Catalog.

 Here's how I did the inside:

And here's this week's sketch:

You can see the rest of the design team samples and play along here.  There are some great cards this week, so be sure to check them out, then create your own project and add it by clicking on the link that says "Click here to enter".

*Remember, if you order these products online through me, use hostess code VAAX4KKY to be entered in this month's prize drawing.  Any size order qualifies, but the bigger your order is, the more entries you get.  All orders will be combined to earn hostess dollars, so the bigger the combined total is, the more prizes there are.  Thank you for your business!

Don't Miss This: Butterfly Bundle - Save 15%!!

Buy Papillon Potpourri and the Bitty Butterfly punch and save 15%!

Butterflies are a must-have staple since they're always in style and can be used on projects for any occasion! The coordination of these products makes them fun and easy to use, too. 

 

Order today!!  Ends September 30, 2013!
(Use Hostess Code VAAX4KKY for your chance to win!)

Bundle available in clear mount (only $26.27, which saves $4.63)  or wood mount (only $29.67, which saves $5.23).

See these items on pages 90 and 183 in the Annual Catalog.

TSSC 278 - Make A Cake Birthday Card

The banner on today's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge reminded my of a birthday card, so that's what I made.  I used Make a Cake and the hostess set, Banner Greetings.  The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is Birthday Basics.

Here's this week's sketch:

As always, you can see the rest of the design team samples and link your entry here.   Check it out.  I think you'll enjoy the variety of ideas that the design team came up with, all of which were inspired by the above sketch.

Simply Sketched Sympathy

I wanted a sympathy card that was simple and not as flowery as the ones I usually make.  This is what I came up with.  The sentiment is from the Hostess Set, Simply Sketched, and the Designer Series Paper (DSP) is Venetian Romance.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

TSSC 277 - Serene Silhouettes

Here's my entry for this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge.  It uses the stamp set, Serene Silhouettes.

Here's the TSSC sketch for this week:

You can see the rest of the design team samples and link your entry here.  Go ahead.  Challenge yourself.  You never know what you might come up with.

Six Sided Sampler (LNS 229)

I decided to play along with the Late Night Stampers Challenge this week.  The challenge is to use any type of specialty paper.  I used Epic Day Designer Series Paper.

The stamp is from Petite Pairs and punched out with the Hexagon Punch.  I have the set Six-Sided Sampler, which I got in a bundle with the Hexagon Punch (saved 15% by buying the bundle!), but decided not to use it with this card.  The smaller DSP hexagon is punched and the larger one was cut out from a sheet of Epic Day (it had hexagons on it, so I just had to cut on the lines).  I used my Big Shot and the Honeycomb Embossing Folder for the background.  I lightly sponged it to bring out the pattern and also to tie it in with the DSP.

The Stampin' Up catalog has many wonderful Designer Series Papers this year.  You can see them all here.  When you decide which ones you'd like, you can order online or you can contact me and I'll place the order for you.

You can enter the LNS challenge and see other entries here. 

TSSC 276 Oh, Hello

Here's my sample for this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge:

 

Designer Series Paper (DSP) is from the Brights Patterns Paper Stack.  The Daffodil Delight card stock was embossed with the Big Shot and the Alphabet Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  The stamp is from Oh, Hello.

Here's this week's TSSC sketch:

 

Head on over to the TSSC blog to see the samples from the rest of the design team.  Then, create your own project based on the sketch and link it to the site.

Product Shares

At the most recent Stamp Club I was asked to offer some product shares.  So, here is what I'm offering - 5 ribbon shares and 1 embellishment share.  Let me know by Saturday at noon to be included in the first batch ordered.  Be sure to be specific about which share(s) you want.

Blogger and I were not communicating well, so I've included a few pictures as samples, but to see all of the items, either go here and choose Ribbon and Trim and Embellishments or else look in your catalogs.

  It's a way to get more variety for less cost.  It takes 5 people per share, so the sooner you reply, the sooner you can get your share (and the more likely there will be enough people to have a share).  After the first five, I'll start taking names for another round (which would be stampers 6 through 10).  You can order more than one share (i.e. pay for two rolls of ribbon and get 4 yards of each color).  I will be placing the first order on Saturday. Here's what I'm offering.  If you'd like to do a product share with something else (or if you really, really want a different color option in one of the offered shares), let me know and I'll see if there is interest.   Prices include shipping and tax.  You can see ribbon on page 173.

3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim Ribbon: $10.51 All new In Colors

3/4" Chevron Ribbon:  $10.51  Calypso Coral, Cherry Cobler, Crushed Curry, Island Indigo, Wisteria Wonder

1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon:  $8.17  Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Very Vanilla

1/8" Taffeta Ribbon:  $6.99  Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red (You may substitute Silver - p. 28 of Holiday Catalog - for one of the colors, but there will be no price adjustment.  If you wish to do this, let me know when you place your order.)

MIXED STYLES (note, this share is a little different - yardages will vary based on yards on the spool):  $10.50   7/8" Cotton Ribbon (2 yds), 5/8" Organza Ribbon (3 yds.), 5/8" Crochet Trim (1 yd.), 7/16" Trim (1 yd.), 1 1/4" Burlap Ribbon (1 yd.) - p. 18 of Holiday Catalog.

EMBELLISHMENT SHARE:  Same idea as the ribbon shares, but we only need 4 people per share.  Pages 169-70.  $7.58   In Color Boutique Details (1 ea. of 5 colors), Very Vintage Designer Buttons (2 ea. of 3 designs), Hardware Clips (2 ea. of 3 designs), Hung Up Cute Clips (2 ea. of 3 designs).  (NOTE:  I was trying to pick embellishments that we haven't done a share with before.  If you'd like others, please let me know)
RIBBON SHARES:  Here's how they work:  Pay for one roll of ribbon and get two yards in each of 5 colors (basically you and four other stampers are sharing 5 rolls of ribbon).

Simply Sketched Gingham Garden

Here's another card we made in last month's Stamp Club.

The flower is from the Hostess Set, Simply Sketched.  It was stamped with StazOn ink and then colored with ink and Aqua Painters.  The butterfly is from Papillon Potpourri.  We used the direct to rubber technique, which is done by coloring directly on the stamp with Stampin' Write markers.  Then we punched it out with the Bitty Butterfly punch.

Some of the corners were rounded with the Corner Rounder Punch.  Sometimes I like to only do some corners and leave others squared to add to the visual interest.  The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is Gingham Garden.

Baby Prints Hand Prints

Here are a couple of cards using the Baby Prints stamp set.  Today's cards use the hand prints from the set.  The Designer Series Paper is Gingham Garden DSP. 

 Colors:  Melon Mambo, Whisper White

Sentiment is from Baby Prints

We made this card in stamp club last month.  Since the card wasn't being made for a specific baby, we used yellow and green so the card could be used for a boy or a girl.

 

Colors:  So Saffron, Certainly Celery

Sentiment is from One in a Million

P.S.  If you're looking for the TSSC challenge, remember that it's going for two weeks this time.  This is a great one to participate in because Mary Jo is giving out blog candy!

Paper Pumpkin for $10!!! -- What a deal!!

Shown above is a completed card from the Welcome Kit (as shown on front of kit)

 

MY PAPER PUMPKIN WELCOME KIT: 

 

Just a reminder about the current My Paper Pumpkin promotion from Stampin' Up!  You can try this fun craft program that is delivered straight to your door for only $10 per month (includes shipping!) for the first two months!

 

Join by August 10th to receive a kit in August.

To put this deal in perspective - the welcome kit includes a size D clear mount block, which sells for $8.50 ($9.35 with shipping).  So, for less than a dollar more than the block alone would cost, you can get the entire My Paper Pumpkin Welcome Kit.  Also includes stamps, ink spot, and card supplies as shown above.

Then, for the same low price of $10, you can try one more month so you can see what the regular monthly kits are like.  You can skip a month or cancel at any time (even after the first month, but if you start up again, the next kit will be the regular price of $19.95).

Follow the link to sign up today!  Enter the Promo Code PUMPKINDEAL under where you enter the quantity (click the red "Add Promo Code" line and a box will appear).  The promo price will then show.  If you are given a chance to select a demonstrator, please choose me, Sue Root, Raleigh, NC.  (I think this link does it automatically, but just in case...)

Deadline to sign up for promo is August 31 (if you sign up after 8/10, you won't get a kit until September).  Limit 1 promo per person. New subscriptions only.

Perfect for long distance customers who can't make it to classes.

Also great for those who like everything prepared for them so they can just sit down and craft!
 

Give it a try!  See what all the excitement is about!

Thanks for choosing me as your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!

TSSC 275 Oh, Hello

The Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge that starts today will last for two weeks.  Not only that, Mary Jo has announced that there will be blog candy for one lucky participant.  So, put that thinking cap on and get designing!

Here's my design team sample for this challenge:

 The stamp is from Oh, Hello.  I used my Island Indigo Stampin' Write marker and just inked the word Hello.  The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is Gingham Garden.  Cardstock colors are Island Indigo and Whisper White.

Here is the challenge sketch:

 

You can see the rest of the design team samples and link your entry here.  If you have any questions about participating in the challenge (or anything stamping related), please feel free to contact me.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Have a great day!!

NC Tax Free Holiday and Holiday Catalog

Today is the start of the North Carolina tax free holiday for school supplies.  Here are the details:

The state of North Carolina is having a sales tax holiday for school supplies up to $100 per item from August 2-4, 2013.  Please note that you must place your order with Stampin’ Up!^® during the tax holiday period in order to receive these items tax-free. Also, keep in mind that this is a state sales tax holiday and may not apply to additional city, jurisdiction, or county taxes.

The following items are tax-exempt during the North Carolina sales tax holiday:  

• 2-Way Glue Pen (item 100425) $4.50
• Snail Adhesive (item 104332) $6.95
• Snail Adhesive Refill (item 104331) $4.50
• Sticky Strip (item 104294) $6.95
• Stampin’ Dimensionals (item 104430) $3.95
• Mini Glue Dots (item 103683) $4.95
• Paper Snips (item 103579) $9.95
• Craft & Paper Scissors (item 108360) $29.95
• Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen (item 105021) $3.95
• Blender Pens (item 102845) $9.95
• Stampin’ Write Markers (various item numbers) $3.50
• Subtles Stampin’ Write Markers (item 131263) $28.95
• Regals Stampin’ Write Markers (item 131262) $28.95
• Brights Stampin’ Write Markers (item 131259) $28.95
• Neutrals Stampin’ Write Markers (item 131261) $22.95
• Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive (item 110755) $3.95
• Anywhere Glue Sticks (item 104045) $3.95
• 2012-2014 In Color Stampin’ Write Markers (item 126856) $14.95
• 2013-2015 In Color Stampin’ Write Markers (item 131260) $14.95
• Stampin’ Write Marker New Color Kit (item 130034) $28.95

Also, remember that you can now order from the new Holiday Catalog.  You can shop online or download a pdf of the catalog here.

If you have any questions about the Tax Holiday or Stampin' Up!, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you!

Footprints in the Sand

Stamp club met yesterday and the evening before.  We had such a great time!  We always do!  Here's one of the cards we made:

I used the Stampin' Up! stamp set, Baby Prints, for this card.  The bottom of the card is Crumb Cake that has been lightly sponged (with a stampin' sponge) with Soft Suede ink (so it will look like sand).  The base of the card is Pool Party.  I used sponge daubers and Pacific Point ink to sponge in the ocean.  Then I sponged over it with Illuminate ink.  That's what makes it look sparkly.

I got the idea for this card here.   I mostly changed how I did the ocean and sky.

I like this card because it's a non-traditional use for this set (I also love it, 'cause I think it's a great card).  I love to use this set for baby cards, and it would be great for scrapbook pages, too.  But it's good to be able to use it for other things.  I feel like I get more bang for my buck that way.