Soda Pop Cap Necklace

I am so in love with this necklace!  When I taught the MDS class a couple of weeks ago, Nancy Carr gave me this great necklace that she made.  I have been wanting to make some of these but I keep forgetting to order the Soda Caps (mini catalog).  I have then on order now but I couldn't wait and bought some this weekend with a gift certificate that I got for my birthday (in October).  I'll be playing with them today since it is pouring down rain here and COLD!!

close up - see all the little pearls around the circle.

Nancy used our Silver Glimmer Paper and the Polka Dots DSP.  Her packaging is so cute too!  I just love it.  She used Crystal Effects over the "MDS Rocks"

I'm getting Everynote Organized!

I was perusing through one of the Forums on the Stampin' Up! website on Friday and noticed a lot of people talking about Evernote. I had NO clue what it was but the gals were talking about organizing their stamp sets with it.  My ears perked up .... could I actually find some organization with my ever growing stamps???  The more I read about it, the greater it sounded.  And it is FREE!!  So, I downloaded Evernote to my computer and started playing.  I opened one screen on my computer with Evernote and another one with Google Image and grabbed a stack of my stamp sets.  I did a search on Google for my stamp set and started grabbing stamp set images and pasting them into my new Stamp Set Notebook on Evernote.  Once I pasted it, I labeled it with the name of the Stamp Set, price and a short description.  (All of these things I got from Stampin' Up's online store - just copy and paste!)  Then I added "tags".   I tagged the stamp sets depending on holiday or theme so when I did a search for Birthday, any stamp set I had with birthday anything will pop on up on my screen.  I did a search for "Christmas".  It pulled up all of the stamp sets that have something to do with Christmas AND I can easily see the complete stamp set in the thumbnail view.   I also typed all the sentiments that were in my various stamp sets so I can find them with just a click of my mouse.  I could also add a location for my stamps if I wanted - like 2nd shelf, yellow star, or something like that.  Right now, I don't need to do that but someday I may.

It didn't take me long to put all my current stamps in Evernote.  I catalogued about 100 stamp sets this weekend!  So excited.  Evernote is free but you only get a certain amount of storage a month.  I used up 75% already.  It might be worth it to pay for the upgrade until I get all my stamps catalogued.  We'll see.

I am also thinking of other nifty ways to use Evernote! I think I am going to try doing a bit of "out of sight out of mind" inventory and see how that works!  How would you like to know that if you forgot where you put your crystal effects you could simply type it into Evernote and voila!  It pops you back with a picture of your revered product and WHERE it is! Oh the time it could save!!!


I know a good friend who could certainly use this product!  I'll have to teach it to her next time we are together.  You know who you are, friend!!

I am also going to use Evermore for my My Digital Studio downloads.  Maybe that way, I won't order duplicates!!

Here is a video about it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMnpaQOxcrc

MDS Challenge - Text on a Path

As you know, I taught a class last week to some of my fellow NC demonstrators and users of My Digital Studio2.  As a result of that I have decided to offer a weekly challenge for using different features of MDS2.  It may be a way to use different things with MDS2 or a scrapbook sketch or color challenge.  I am going to start with a weekly challenge and see how it goes.  It could end up being every other week .... we'll see. 

So my first challenge to you is to use the Freeform Tool and make some text on a path.  On the sample I have made below, I put my text (the words from a Zac Brown song that is also my cell phone ring tone!) in a circle.  The steps I took to do this are:

• Create a text box and type my text.  Try different fonts and sizes for fun.  I used KG The Fighter font (free download) and size 20.
• Go to the Freeform tool on the Designer Center (right side) and click on Add Line.
• I used the Starter Lines and clicked on the Circle.  Apply it to your project and size it how you want it.
• Click on both your text box and Freeform tool line (hold down Control key)
• Right click and "Attach to Shape"
• You may have to play around with the size of font, etc. to get it all to work.

Here are a few videos that I found that might help with this technique from other demonstrators:

http://mydigitalstudio.net/video/my-digital-studio-freeform-feature-text-on-a-path-cori-kozak

http://mydigitalstudio.net/video/my-digital-studio-2-freeform-line-dotted-circle

http://mydigitalstudio.net/video/text-on-a-path

http://mydigitalstudio.net/video/my-digital-studio-creating-curved-text

And here is my sample (click on it to enlarge it):

Text in a Circle - Freeform Tool

So won't you join in the challenge and share a page?  I'd love to see it!

Stamp Club

These are the cards we made this week in Stamp Club.

Oh Whale

I just love this little guy!  I used the DSP from Sale-a-bration (Sycamore Street) to make the waves.  I die cut them using the Tasteful Trim Die and the Big Shot.  The white square was embossed with the Cloudy Day folder.  Stamp the whale with Midnight Muse ink and cut him out with the Embosslit and the Big Shot.  We added a little bit of Dazzling Details glitter to the wave on the main card.

Swallowtail Butterfly

The butterfly is stamped in Crumb Cake lightly (stamp off once).  Use Early Espresso and Primrose Petals markers to color the sentiment from Feels Good.  The small vanilla strip on the side of the card is stamped with the Papillion Potpourri stamp set using Primrose and Garden Green ink.  The small Primrose Petals card stock is embossed with the Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder from the mini catalog.


SAB - Feeling Sentimental

This card was embossed (Crumb Cake) with the Fancy Fan embossing folder and then sponged with Espresso ink.   Stamp the images from Feeling Sentimental onto vanilla card stock and punch out with the 1 1/2" Square Punch.  Mat the images with 1 3/8" squares of Early Espresso.  I cut the "Celebrate" piece by hand and put Neutrals brads on the ends.


Oh Hello

This was a great technique that I taught the girls on this card.  Use the Delicate Details Lace Tape on the card and sponge it with Marina Mist ink.  Remove the Lace Tape and you have "faux lace tape."  It just looks like there is a piece of lace tape there! 

Paper Craft Crew

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for the Paper Craft Crew Challenge .... #30!!  This week I decided to go with a stamp set from the Sale-a-bration catalog, Bloomin' Marvelous.  I don't have this set BUT I have MDS and the free CD with ALL the sets in the Sale-a-bration catalog so I can create the card on my computer.  Love it!!

Great sketch this week too!



Bloomin' Marvelous MDS2 style

Go HERE and check out what the rest of the crew has posted.

Oh Hello! It's Download Tuesday!!

What a fun name for a stamp set.  This one makes me smile - Oh Hello!!  I mainly ordered this set because I like the chevrons.  Chevrons are so "in" right now and I thought this was a very useful set.  But then I fell in love with the little flower in the set!!  So pretty and delicate.  See what you think:

For this one, I cut away the oval in the middle and stamped the chevrons with my markers - Daffodil, Red, Turquoise and Olive on the top and bottom of the oval.  I stamped the large oval on the inside  and stamped the flower in the center.  I made a flower using the new crepe paper and the Scallop Punch.  I sponged the flower with Red lightly.

This card is very simple.  The card base is Elegant Eggplant and the DSP is from the FREE Sale-a-bration pack.  I again made a crepe paper flower, sponged with Saffron and edged with Eggplant. 

And let's not forget that today is Tuesday ..... Digital Download Tuesday to be exact!  Here are the new downloads announced today:

LABEL THIS FOR THE PLAYROOM - label your kids toy area and make clean up a learning game.

LABEL THIS GARAGE - Get your garage tidy with these labels!

HELLO THERE KIT - Download includes:
* 17-piece SVG stamp brush set*
* 13 Designer Series Papers
* 26 embellishments

SERENE SILHOUETTES 4 piece stamp set

THINK BACK PHOTOBOOK TEMPLATE -  Get to know your grandma, mom, and dad with these interactive photobooks full of fun questions Download includes:
* 4, 24-page designer photobook templates (8" x 8")
* 39-piece SVG stamp brush set*
* 12 Designer Series Papers
* 2 embellishments
* 3 punches

 

Swap Cards from Spring Mini

Here are the swap cards that I came home with.  I also came home with a bunch of my own swaps back since several ladies canceled that were participating in the swaps.    Enjoy!!

by Marianne using Hearts A Flutter

by Debbie M using Feels Good

from Kathy (I think) using Feels Good stamped on canvas

from Nancy Carr using Everything Eleanor, Hearts a Flutter, Lovely Little Labels & Teeny Tiny
Wishes

from Marcia using Cross My Heart

from Karen using Oh Hello & Needlepoint Border embossing folder

Great Weekend

What a great weekend!  Debbie, my downline, and myself drove to Kernersville Friday afternoon.  We stopped along the way at Enchanted Cottage, a huge stamp/scrapbook store in Lewisville.  I did pretty good .... only spending about $10!!  Friday night we had dinner at Macaroni Grill with a few of the gals who were taking my MDS class the next day.   We discovered a delicious wine that I hope to be able to find around here called Seven Sisters Moscato wine.  Delish!

We woke up this morning to a beautiful snow falling fast and furious.  It snowed all morning, not stopping until around 2 pm.  But luckily, none of it stuck.  The place where we held our class was a beautiful old house on several acres with a pond in front.  The room we were in upstairs had windows on all three sides so it was really nice to watch the snow falling.  I really enjoyed sharing my knowlede of MDS with the gals who were there.  It was most fulfilling to hear the ahh's and ohhh's going around the room when I showed them different things they could do with the program.  I really think everyone who was there left with the knowledge that they could open the program at home and play with it, trying different things, with not blowing up the program.  My favorite tool in the program is the "undo" and delete button and I use them regularly.

At the end of the day, Debbie and I started the ride back home. I was at ease since the snow had stopped and the roads were only wet and not icy. But the closer we got to home - driving mostly south - the more snow we saw. We both felt like we were in the Twilight Zone! Starting about in Statesville, with is about 30 miles from Mooresville, it was like a winter wonderland! The snow was in the trees and looked beautiful. After I dropped Debbie off at her house, I pulled over several times to take pictures. I even took pictures as I was driving from the front windshield. Enjoy the pictures!




Pagoda at our local library



Valentine / Anniversary Swap Card

Hope you had a happy Valentine's Day.  When I was little, I think Valentine's Day was one of my favorite holidays.  I loved to make the Valentine boxes for school and then hope whom ever I had a secret crush on would put a special Valentine in the box on my desk.  But today Valentine's Day makes me a little sad because my son and daughter are not close enough for me to give them a big fat Valentine hug.  Sonny bought me a really sweet card and I made him one.  We decided not to go out to dinner and fight the crowds.  Instead, we used a Groupon that we had for a meat store in Mooresville and bought a Porterhouse steak.  Sonny grilled it outside and I made scalloped potatoes, salad, and mushrooms to go with the steak.  It was yummy!! 

I made Valentine sucker holders last weekend to send to my grandchildren.  Since I had to buy a whole bag of heart suckers, I decided to make enough for my bridge group.  I used the Scallop Envelope die to make them.  I just love that die - it is so versatile!

I am finally going to be teaching the MDS class this weekend in Kernersville to my NC demo friends.  I was scheduled to do it a few weeks ago when the weather did not cooperate.  Friday is supposed to be ok but the cold weather is moving in on Saturday.  It is supposed to be a high of 60 Friday and 42 on Saturday and Sunday!!  Crazy but it is February!!  We are doing a card swap in the afternoon after my class.  The card I made for the swap was a Valentine's card but now I have changed it to an anniversary card! 

I stamped Happy Anniversary and punched it out with the Label Punch and just glued it over the Happy Valentine's Day tag!  I love this two tone ribbon from the Spring Mini - it is great for making bows!  I like the mix of Pink Pirouette and Raspberry Ripple.

Feeling Sentimental!

When I first saw this set in the Sale-a-bration catalog, I wasn't sold on it.  But as time as gone on, I have seen so many great cards using it.  So, since it was free ..... I decided to give it a try.  Most of these cards are CASE'd and I've added my own little touches.

This first one with the bicycle is made with the Naturals Ivory and Early Espresso card stock.  I used the retired Weathered background stamp for the background and stamped it in Soft Suede - stamping it off first.  The stamped tickets are from the set, That's the Ticket held in place with a Glimmer Brad and Baker's Twine. 

The next image is of the English postal box.  I remember seeing those on our trip across the ocean.   I tried to make this card real vintage'y.  I stamped all the images in Early Espresso and sponged all the edges.  The bottom of the card stock is torn with a piece of Espresso card stock torn and sandwiched in.  I stamped some images from French Foilage (the script and the droplets)  all over the card stock.  The twill tape is frayed on one end and sponged with brown ink and anchored with a Designer Brad.

The final card uses all the stamps in the set!  I stamped them on panels of Naturals card stock and adhered the panels to Early Espresso card stock and then to the Crumb Cake card.  Easy!!

Yesterday was Download Digital Tuesday!!  And SU gave us another FREEBIE!!  So make sure you hurry over and download your free Label This template.
There is also a Planner Template for sale also that looks pretty neat.  Check out all the downloads for this week.