February Stamp Club

Yesterday was my stamp club meeting.  I have decided to try something new this year.  Instead of the gals having to order $20 from Stampin' Up, they can either do that or just pay $20 for the class.  I have heard from several people who dropped out of Club that they just didn't need anymore stuff and found when they purchased stamps, etc. they just weren't using them at home.  But they were willing to pay for the class instead.  Works for me!

I also switched up how I did the class.  I couldn't decide which cards to offer for club, so I just put 8 cards out (in their basket with pieces precut) and told them they could make 4 cards - any ones they wanted.  It was funny - only 4 cards were picked.  One gal made 2 each of two birthday cards.  So I will be saving the other cards for next month.  I've got a couple move gals coming next week since they couldn't make it today.  We'll see if they pick anything different.

These are the four my friends picked to make today.

 

Amazing Life stamp set from Occasions Catalog (pg 28)  The happy, flowers and cake were colored with SU Blends.  I used the Rectangle Stitched Dies - my favorite thing in the catalog!!

So Hoppy Together - from Sale-a-Bration - is such a fun set.  Nancy had fun coloring Mr. Frog!

This humming bird is a big hit! This set is another one from Occasions Catalog - Humming Along.  I didn't purchase the framelits so the girls had some cutting to do but it wasn't difficult.  The bird was water colored with ink from the stamp pads.  The lesson I learned - don't color him with the Blends because they soak through the card stock and you can see it on the back. He was colored with Mint Macaron, So Saffron and Calypso Coral.

Another variation of the Amazing Life birthday cake.  A ink wash was put down first before stamping the cake.  Everything else was colored with the Blends.

This was the favorite!  I embossed the flower and humming bird in gold and it looks amazing!

Stamp Club Cards part 2

I can't believe I will be celebrating 14 years with Stampin' Up in a couple of weeks (Feb. 16).  Seems so long ago that I attended a workshop in Gig Harbor, Washington and signed up a few weeks later.  It was the first time I'd ever heard about Stampin' Up.  What a journey this has been.

Below is another card that we made at Stamp Club last week.  I gave them their choice between this one and the next one.)  I used the Stitched Rectangle Dies on the Lemon Lime rectangle and the white stamped rectangle.  I love these colors together - Lemon Lime Twist, Highland Heather and just a bit of Daffodil Delight.  The stamp set is Incredible Like You, another set we received at convention in November.  There is also a coordinating Project Kit you can purchase (pg 21, Occasions).

For this card, I pulled out a piece of the Gingham Gala 6"x6" DSP.  I love this paper!!  The flower stamped on this card uses the Two-Step Stampin' technique which is my favorite.

This card was a fun one to do and introduced a new technique to my gals.  Using a clear "D" block, I scribbled color from SU Markers (not Blends) on the block, spritzed it with water and stamped my paper with it.  You need to hold it down for a short time to get the inks into the paper.  Every card that you make will be a little bit different.  Next I used the Stampin' Blends to color the cake and adhered a few enamel dots.  I used a spritzer (retired) to spritz Melon Mambo on the card.  Do you notice the stitching around the white card?  Well, this is my favorite thing in the Occasions catalog!  Check out page 28 - the Rectangle Stitched Framelits!  There are 13 in the pack and all different sizes.  Love them!!  The stamp set is on page 28 of the Occasions Catalog, Amazing Life.  You can purchase the stamp set AND the Rectangle Stitched Framelits as a bundle, saving 10% if you bought them separately.

Watercolor Stamp Set is a Keeper!!

I've had a great time today playing with the Waterfront stamp from the Occasions Catalog.  Wow!!  This stamp set can make anyone a watercoloring artist!  The soft, buildable images create scenes from the north woods to a beach front.  It's impossible to mess them up.  Well, I guess you COULD, if you really tried super hard.  The best part about this set is how it made me feel like an artist creating a tiny little scene on a small canvas.  I loved it!  Any time you can come out of your craft room feeling great about what you just made, I'll take it!

The colors I used on these cards are - mountains - Fresh Fig, Trees - Tranquil Tide, Water - Pool Party and Bermuda Bay, Sand - Crumb Cake

I added water marks using the High Tide stamp set

I used watercolor paper on this card and used my Aqua Pen with clear water to blend the colors.

I used Marina Mist for the water on this card.  The little houses are stamped with Lemon Lime Twist, Berry Burst and Tempting Turquoise.

The Waterfront Stamp set was inspired by Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and Million Dollar Sales Achiever, Connie Heisey.

Waterfront is only $17 (what a deal!) but if you need other supplies, now is the ideal time to add to your order.  With every $50 spent, you can choose anything out of the Sale-a-Bration Catalog.

Surprise Pop Up Balloons

I have a special card to share with you today!

This is called a Surprise Slider Card.  Here is what the card looks like closed.

Pull the little tab at the top and surprise!  Up pops the balloons!

I found the instructions for this card on Splitcoast HERE

I used the stamp set, Balloon Celebration (pg 12) from the Occasions Catalog  I won't tell you how long it took me to get all those gold bows and strings on the card!  That was the hardest part!  I just love the color combo of Soft Sky and Blackberry Bliss!  Add a Touch of Stella and they really sparkle.  I am not a big champagne drinker but I have two friends who live in Texas that love it!!  (yes you, Margaret and Sharon!)

I hope this card will hold you for a few days.  We are driving to DC for several days to meet Ashley at a conference she will be attending.  We are trying to take advantage of seeing her as often as possible while she is still on the "mainland."  She received her orders yesterday for Hawaii so it is official.  Her report day in mid June.  Now she can get started figuring everything out.  Her car needs to be shipped to Hawaii and that will take anywhere from a month to two months.  She has gotten the blood work and immunizations for the cat, Bogart, so he won't have to stay in quarintine when she arrives.  She needs to figure out what to take with her (she is allowed 4 suitcases); what to send to Hawaii and what to put in long term storage!  Glad it's her and not me!  It boggles my mind!

Sale-a-bration & Occasions Swaps

Well, the Super Bowl has come and gone and the team I was rooting for did not win.  In fact, not even sure they showed up for the game!  What a disappointment.  But I am happy for Peyton Manning (Denver QB) that he is going to retire (we think) with a Super Bowl win.  Always good to go out a winner!  I am really sick of hearing about all the hype about Cam Newton.  It is time to go on to other topics!!

A bit of news from Stampin' Up:  The Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 139673) has been so popular that we are going to do something that we don't normally do: we've decided to bring it back in the 2016 annual catalog! It will be available in the new Upcoming catalog this June. 

This is the final week for a few items from Sale-a-Bration - like this one - Sky Is The Limit.  This has been a very popular set.  If you want it, it will only be available until Feb. 15!  With a $50 order, you can get this set for FREE!

The SAB sets will be replaced with some great items.  Check them out HERE.


This next set (Flowering Fields) has also been a popular item and one of my fav's.  I like to put all the stamps on a large clear block and stamp them all at the same time.  Sure makes things easier!

These next swap cards are from (top) Botanicals For You and (bottom) Hello.  The Hello set will also be retiring Feb. 15.

This set is from the Occasions catalog and perfect for your special Valentine!  You can find these items on pages 16-17.

Here are more swap samples that come from the Occasions Swap at Quarterly.

I hope these cards have inspired you today!

Occasion Samples from Quarterly

I've got more samples to show you from Quarterly.  These are still some pictures I took of the Display Board.  I still have lots of swap card to share with you too!

GOING GLOBAL (pg 39)

GOING GLOBAL w/World Traveler Embossing Folder

GOING GLOBAL

GRATEFUL BUNCH (pg 22)  Love this color combo!

HAPPY HOME (pg 21) coordinates w/Hearth and Home Thinlets

HAPPY HOME

HELPING ME GROW (pg 20)  Love the way they stamped the flower on DSP and "fussy cut" it.

January Stamp Club cards

Luckily, the sun is still shining here this morning so my friends can make it to Stamp Club today!  I'm ready and feeling better today.  Think my cold is on it's way to bother someone else - just hopefully not Sonny!!

I wanted to do cards from the Occasions Catalog as well as throw in a little bit of Sale-a-Bration stamps this month.

More Occasion samples for you!

I am fighting a cold so a short post today.  These are a few more cards that I snapped a picture of from the display board at Quarterly.  Hope these are giving you some ideas for using the stamps in the Occasions catalog.

I have stamp club this week and will be sharing our cards from it using the Occasions catalog also.

Birthday Blooms (pg 9)  If you like to color or watercolor, this is a great set!

Isn't this paper gorgeous?  It is the Birthday Bouquet DSP on pg. 9

Birthday Blooms again - this time in a color resist technique.

Time to start on your Valentines! This beautiful Bloomin' Heart Thinlit Die makes it easy!!  (pg 16-17_

This valentine uses the stamp set, Bloomin' Love (pg 17)

Love this use of the Botanical Gardens DSP (pg 27)  You can get the DSP, framelits AND stamp set as a bundle and save 15%!!  What a deal!

This beautiful card was made by JoAnne Hewlins.  She won the WOW card contest with this beauty!  I can just guess at how long it took her to put this all together.  It will have to go to someone really special!  She used the Botanical Blooms stamp set and framelits.  Also, check out the pretty ribbon - you can find it in the Annual Catalog on pg 159.

Another beauty using Botanical Blooms.  I just love that leaf framelit!!

Countdown to Occasions 2016 Catalog and Sale-a-Bration!

The countdown is on .... and we are almost to the launch of the Stampin' Up! 2016 Occasions catalog and Sale-a-Bration promotion!!  I love this time of year when it's so easy to get FREE products!

Here is the scoop -

• Occasions 2016 Catalog:  first day for customer orders, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016
• Sale-a-Bration Promotion:  first day to receive FREE PRODUCTS with each $50 you order:  Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016.

To clarify things, you do NOT need to purchase the suggested items shown in the Sale-a-Bration brochure to receive those free Sale-a-Bration products.  You will earn one (1) free Sale-a-Bration item with EACH $50 purchase from ANY Stampin' Up! Catalog OR any online store product OR Clearance Rack product purchase!

Another way to earn free Sale-a-Bration products is with a Paper Pumpkin 3-month Prepaid Subscription for $55.  Watch the video below to learn more.

Final Shoebox Swap Cards

A few more cards to share from the Occasions & Sale-a-Bration catalogs.

Balloons are from Balloon Bash (pg 13 - Occ.) and saying is a Sale-a-Bration stamp

DSP  from Sale-a-Bration

Stacked With Love DSP Stack and stamp from You Plus Me (both on pg 5 -  Occ.)

Hey Valentine decorated bag

Best Day Ever stamp and Best Year Ever DSP - both Sale-a-Bration

Shoebox Cards

Brrr - it was cold here today.  Not that it bothered me since I didn't go outside all day!!  I felt a little industrious this morning and found a recipe for pork chops for the crock pot and got that going before making an apple pie.  I usually make a pie at Christmas but didn't do it this year so thought I'd surprise Sonny with one today.  Not to mention, I needed to use up some of the pie crusts I have in my freezer.  I cleaned out my fridge/freezer earlier this week and found 13 frozen pie crusts!  Every time I want to make a pie, I can't remember if I have any crusts at home so I buy more.  Don't think I will need one any time soon!

Thought I'd share a few more shoebox cards with you.

Painted Petals (pg 19 - Occasions)

Painted Petals with Work of Art.  The strip of DSP at the back is from the Sale-a-bration catalog - Irresistibly Yours (pg 15).  It s a white paper with glossy white patterns that you can sponge, spritz, brayer, etc. any color.

Sheltering Tree - again using the Irresistibly Yours DSP

Sheltering Tree - the grass is made with Work of Art

Your Perfect Day (pg 44 - Occasions catalog)

Basic Butterfly Bundle

It's time to share some of the cards that I made at Joanne's shoebox swap last weekend.  There was a pretty good mix of different stamp sets which I enjoyed.  The most popular stamp used was the Butterfly Basics.  It comes in a bundle and is on page 26 of the Occasions catalog.  There are several videos on YouTube demonstrating easy ways to cut out the butterfly using the framelits and the Big Shot.  Patty Bennett demonstrates one method using a dryer sheet!!  I am waiting on my Butterfly Bundle to arrive so I can't attest to any of the methods yet.  It is a beautiful and intricate butterfly and comes with 3 dies.

This card uses the smallest die with one of the butterflies in the stamp set.  

This is a sparkly butterfly - using the glitter paper.

Marianne's card

Monochromatic card

I had a real experience today at our Newcomers Coffee!  Our speakers were the owners of the Laughing Yoga and Meditation Studio in Charlotte.  I had never heard of Laughing Yoga and don't think many of the ladies in the group had either.  It was quite entertaining!  Lauging Yoga is a global movement for health, happiness and world peace.  It blends yoga practices with the science of laughter to teach people ways and means of joyful living.  They did several group exercises to make us all laugh.  And we also did some breathing techniques followed by an 8 minute meditation.  I felt pretty relaxed at the end of our meeting that's for sure!