Northwest Stamper

Tag: jennifer blomquist

  • A Quick Thank You With Oh Hello

    A Quick Thank You With Oh Hello

    I know yesterday I promised a post today with more variations of the Rainbow Happy Watercolor card I shared yesterday… but then I remembered this afternoon that I was supposed to be sharing a card using the soon-to-be retired Oh Hello stamp set as part of the Stylin Stampin’ Inkspiration blog team!  Oops!

    So, I gave the stamp set some love this afternoon and here is my card to share with you:

    You see, I also have a TON of designer paper to get through, so why not enjoy it by using it as the big background of my card?  This is from the Etcetera designer paper pack.

    And because I thought the polka dots needed a little extra something, I used my Dazzling Details for some extra bling….

    Can you see it?  I always have the hardest time taking pictures that really show off the sparkle. Smile 

    And finally, did you notice my FAVORITE part of the card?  I’ve had these Wood embellishments for a while but its only recently that I’ve really started reaching for them and man they are a fun way to do something different with your project!

    You see, I love dimension and I love texture… so something that gives me both is always fab.

    I stamped my flower from the Oh Hello set on the wood chip using Stazon so it wouldn’t feather and bleed in the woodgrain.  Then I stamped again on the front of the card – BEFORE – I glued down the wood piece so I could use if for a new take on the old Spotlight technique.

    And in case you are curious, the chevron oval is actually the stamp from the Oh Hello stamp set and I cut it out with an Oval Framelit because, well, I had them and so why not?

    Don’t Forget – Check out the NEW weekly deals that were released today!

    Enjoy and I’ll be back tomorrow with those extra Happy Watercolor Rainbow card variations. Smile 

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

    Stampin’ Up! Supplies Used
    Stamps – Oh Hello
    Ink – Pool Party, Soft Suede, Stazon Black
    Paper –Etcetera designer paper, Primrose Petals, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
    Accessories – Big Shot, Oval Framelits, Retro Fresh wood accents, Dazzling Details, 1-1/4” Scallop Circle punch

  • Rainbow Fun Card with Happy Watercolor

    Rainbow Fun Card with Happy Watercolor

    Alright, I spent most of yesterday editing photos and so I’m excited to have some new projects to share with you!  Today the skies are a little gray here in Seattle, so how about something bright and cheery?

    Whabam!

    I have been having a mini love affair lately with the Happy Watercolor stamp set.  I always liked it, but once I knew it was going away at the end of the month, I’ve been having a last fling.

    This card was for my stamp club this month (and virtual club if you order $40 or more with the hostess code).  I wanted to share an idea for using this stamp set without using the flowers.  So I started with the large “splotch” from the set and stamped in rainbow colors.

    Tip:  If you line up the bottom of your stamp block with the bottom of your white paper, each time you stamp, your image will be the same distance from the bottom of the paper giving you a straight line!  Oh, and start with your yellow first to give yourself a midpoint and then stamp the other colors on each side of the yellow.

    We used the polka dot stamp from the set to stamp the edge of the Daffodil Delight cardbase to keep it interesting and keep it from being so bright yellow on the edges.

    And then there is the heart…. isn’t he cute?

    We punched out 5 hearts in the same colors as our ink using the small heart punch and glued them in a stack so that you could just see the edges of each color.  Add some glitter to the top heart and a little sparkle goes a long way!

    And, can you believe this heart punch is retiring??  There will be new heart punches in the new catalog, but I like the simple, traditional shape and size of this one.

    So, I hope you enjoyed this idea.  I’ll be back tomorrow to share all the fun ideas that everyone in club did to mix and match this idea with their own styles. 🙂

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6

  • Birthday Cake decorations by Paper Pumpkin

    Birthday Cake decorations by Paper Pumpkin

    I’ve been meaning to share this photo for a while.  And really, I just want to share because I’m so happy.. (tickled pink? hee hee)  to have finally used on of my Paper Pumpkin kits that I never knew what to do with when I got it.  And it is all thanks to my mom and the fact that she had a birthday!

    So, I wasn’t able to celebrate with my mom on her actual birthday this year, so when she came to visit a few days later, I wanted to put together some kind of mini celebration.  Unfortunately, I completely spaced on that plan until the morning she was headed to visit and so I only had a couple hours to pull something together.  I have a problem with being a complete last minute nelly on everything!  Thankfully I had cake mix and pink frosting in my cupboard so that when into the oven ASAP, but I thought it was too plain when it was done – even with candles in it.

    Then suddenly I remembered last July’s Paper Pumpkin kit and I knew what to do! 

    If you didn’t get July’s paper pumpkin kit, this is what it looked like:

    Basically it made these banners on long toothpicks… and aside from a scrapbook page, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with them.  But it was super fast to make because I just had to stamp the background patterns onto each pennant and then adhere the letters I wanted.  And, ta-da!  I was done.

    So, now I’m glad I had it in my stash for a perfect, no-thinking, last minute decoration.  And I love the patterned stamps that were in this kit.  That is what I used for some of the layers (those little pieces under the “Wahoo”) in my Craft Wars: Paper Pumpkin edition at Leadership:

    See, love versatile stamps!  If you are curious about the Craft Wars challenge at Leadership, check out the details of how it worked and what we had to play with!

    Did you know?

    Stampin’ Up has some of the past Paper Pumpkin kits available to purchase as a full kit or as refills?  See all available past kits here.

    And there are also changes coming to the Paper Pumpkin program as well!

    1. New subscribers no longer will get the “Welcome Kit” but instead will get a thin clear block and the same kit that is going out to everyone the month you sign up!  So you don’t miss a thing when you start!
    2. Now you can purchase gift subscriptions to give to family and friends for Paper Pumpkin. 
    3. Want a prepaid subscription for yourself to save some money?  Prepay for up to 12 months at a time and get a discount on your monthly rate!  PLUS, prepaid subscriptions count towards hostess benefits on personal or workshop orders!

    image

    Now to impatiently wait to see what this month’s box has in store for me. Smile  Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6

  • A Quick Thank You Card with a Beautiful Butterfly

    A Quick Thank You Card with a Beautiful Butterfly

    I’ve been making a concerted effort to actually use up my scraps.  You know, instead of having bags and boxes stuffed full of scraps…. because I’m a hoarder, I’ll admit it.  I have a good system for managing my scraps but even that can only take so much and so when I have extra punch out or die cuts, I have a new “Use it or Lose it” policy.   And thus, this card was born –

    Yup!  Totally a scrap card!  Smile

    I started with the extra lattice that I had created when I was trying to figure out the technique for a recent class card.  All it takes is the Chevron border punch and some weaving and you are done!  (I have a full tutorial here if you want to try it at home.)

    So, I stamped the Hardwood image on the back of my card and layered on the white cardstock lattice.  Then I needed something to go over my lattice, and that is when my eye caught the butterfly scraps!  The butterflies were left over for a different ombre butterfly card I created (see that card here) and I ended up having an extra of each of the colors, so I stacked them up only this time making sure to stagger them a bit so you could easily see each color.

    Then I added my sentiment for the fabulous So Very Grateful (I’m shedding a tear that this stamp isn’t carrying over into the new catalog!) and it needed something else to ground it, so I added the scrap strip of Crumb Cake cardstock. 

    Psst- if you look closely, you can see that I put it on as an afterthought because I had to tuck it into each side of the lattice… see the empty space in the middle. Smile 

    Quick Reminder:  The butterfly I used here is from the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, which is retiring at the end of the month.  I loved it because for my classes, I was cutting up to 6 pieces of cardstock at a time!  Which makes cards like this much easier because you can do one run through the Big Shot to cut out all of your butterflies!  Gotta love things that make your life easier.  See the remaining retiring stamps and accessories online here.

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

    Stampin’ Up! Supplies Used
    Stamps – So Very Grateful, Hardwood
    Ink – Soft Suede, Early Espresso
    Paper – Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride, Crisp Canteloupe, Calypso Coral
    Accessories – Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, Chevron Border Punch, Pearls

  • Weekly Deals and In Color Cardstock is Back for a Limited Time!

    Weekly Deals and In Color Cardstock is Back for a Limited Time!

    If you were watching when the Retirement List came out, you may have seen that the In Color cardstock that is retiring sold out within the first few hours of being up.  But I learned yesterday that Stampin’ Up was able to get a few more packages of each color and they have put them back up as available for purchase.  They told us that once these are gone, they are gone!  So, if you missed a favorite or just want to stock up a little bit more, now is your chance!

    2012-2014 In Color Cardstock – Limited Quantities Available while supplies last!

    And while you are there, don’t forget to check out the weekly deals!  I’ll be posting a card tomorrow using those Retro Fresh Designer Tags.  Smile 

    Weekly Deals 5/13 – 5/19/2014

    image

    Ok, now I’m off to finish editing some pictures… I have some great projects to share over the next couple weeks along with my reorganized and rearranged craft room and more!  So, I hope you stop back by soon!

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

  • A Card Sketch Thank You Card for SSInkspiration

    A Card Sketch Thank You Card for SSInkspiration

    Today I’m getting back in the saddle with the girls over at Stylin Stampin’ Inkspiration and made a card for today’s card sketch. I actually got some time to do a little crafting yesterday and I thought It would be fun to show some of the retiring 2012-2014 In Colors some love.  So, with a Primrose Petals card base and some Summer Starfruit cardstock, I ended up with this:

    Who knew starbursts could be so pretty!  This is the sketch we are all using, so you can see what I started from….

    I started out knowing I was going to use my framelits for the two bigger pieces, but when it came to the smallest shape, I really wanted to use the wood chip accent from the Occasion Catalog.  I didn’t want it to be plain but I couldn’t figure out what to put on it… then suddenly I realized some punched flowers were the perfect size!  (In this case the Petite Petals punch and the Itty Bitty Punch Pack flower that is retiring at the end of the month!)

    But got to love those starbursts!  And of course, using punches to fill in the centers with some Watercolor Wonder designer paper.  (If you are curious, that is the 2-1/2″ circle punch and the 1-3/4″ circle punch)

    I hope you enjoyed this idea!  It was quick and fun to make. Smile  And lets hear it for those hard working 2012-2014 In Colors as they get ready to ride off into the sunset in a few weeks!

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

    Stampin’ Up! Supplies Used
    Stamps – Hip Notes
    Ink – Island Indigo
    Paper –Watercolor Wonder designer paper, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Crumb Cake
    Accessories – Big Shot, Starburst Framelits, Retro Fresh wood accents, Summer Starfruit stitched satin ribbon, Petite Petals punch, Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Pearls

  • More Watercolor Wonder Fun!

    More Watercolor Wonder Fun!

    Last night was my Watercolor Wonder Fun class… and aside from the major OOPS of forgetting my Stazon Ink at home (thank goodness I lived really close to where I held the class and could get it fast), it was another great night with lots of good conversation and creating!

    Yesterday I shared a few of the cards we made and I thought today I’d share a few more ideas with you.

    Because these notecards come pre-printed and are made with watercolor paper, it makes it really easy to focus on adding a few little touches to make a great card!

    Oh, and if I had been smart, I would have taken a picture of the cards the ladies made yesterday, because one of them had the BRILLIANT IDEA to use the Watercolor Wonder washi tape on the card above instead of stamping the dots and it looked fabulous.  So, instead look at that card and then imagine this washi tape instead. Smile

    image

    Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape

    Seriously, one of the best things for me about going to class is seeing the fabulous ways people change up the cards into different and often better designs!

    Or just keep it simple and let the design of the notecards do most of the work and do a little stamping and coloring and you are done!

    Did I mention it is 20 notecards and envelopes for only $12.95?  Um, talk about a deal!!

    Watercolor Wonder Note Cards

    Just make sure you grab them before they retire at the end of the month!

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

  • Watercoloring fun with Happy Watercolor and the Wondercolor Notecards

    Watercoloring fun with Happy Watercolor and the Wondercolor Notecards

    Tonight I’m holding a class that I call Watercolor Wonder Fun.  I wanted to challenge myself to have fun creating with some of the items in the Watercolor Wonder suite…. I love challenges like this where I have limited supplies and have to come up with something different and fun. 

    So I started out with the Watercolor Wonder Notecards… did you know they are made out of watercolor paper so you can do your watercoloring directly on them?

    Then I added some glitz like the Gold Baker’s twine…. I can’t believe I’ve almost used up a complete spool already!

    Then I thought I’d try out the Gold washi tape (called Watercolor Wonder washi tape) and some of the Gold Sequins…. not too back when you make them a subtle trim under your sentiment huh?

    But most of all, they all use the Happy Watercolor stamp set.  I’m so terribly sad that it WILL NOT be in the new catalog in June.  So if you love it like I do, make sure to get it before the end of May. 

    image

    And yes, these Watercolor Wonder notecards come with a lot of the color and flower images pre-printed on them.  So they can be super fast and easy cards to start with and create with!

    Check out the entire Watercolor Wonder Suite online here.

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

    Stampin’ Up! Supplies Used (all cards pictures)
    Stamps – Happy Watercolor
    Ink – Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey, Coastal Cabana, Real Red, Crushed Curry, Stazon
    Paper –Watercolor Wonder notecards, watercolor paper, Whisper White, Calypso Coral
    Accessories – Aqua Pen, Gold Sequins, Gold Baker’s Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Watercolor Wonder washi tape

  • New 2014 Stampin’ Up! Catalog

    New 2014 Stampin’ Up! Catalog

    You know I’m excited about the new catalog, especially after getting a chance to see it in person at the New Catalog Premiere for demonstrators last week!  Yes!  This is the catalog that launches June 2nd:

    2014 Stampin' Up catalog cover

    I’ve shared a few details and photos on my Facebook page recently and now that I’ve gotten some preorder items, I’ll be sharing some new samples as well.  In the meantime, though, I’ve started having folks ask – when can I get a catalog?

    I have my catalogs ordered and so, I thought I’d take a minute to share how YOU can get a copy of the catalog.  You can get yours in one of 3 different ways!

    1.  Be a Current Customer

    If you have ordered $50 in Stampin’ Up product from me in the last 6 months, your catalog will be in the first batch I mail out this month!  I will be sending them out free of charge as a thank you for working with me.

    2.  Place an Order with Me in my Online Store 

    Haven’t ordered with me before?  Purchase $50 or more from me in May (or anytime after that really Smile) and I will mail you a catalog right away.  If your order is placed before May 15th, your catalog will be included in the first batch I mail out!  Shop now and don’t forget to check out the new Project Life products, Weekly Deals, the Retiring items, and the Clearance Rack!  Plus you’ll start earning punches on my Northwest Stamper Rewards punch card towards a free stamp set of your choice once you collect 10 punches!  (details here)

    3.  Fill Out My Catalog Request Form

    Fill out the following form and I will send you a copy on a first come first serve basis  (so if I’m down to my last couple catalogs before I order a new box, they will go out to customers, then first come first serve to folks who have filled out this form).  I will start mailing out these catalogs the last week of May so you should get yours for when the new catalog goes live on June 2nd!

    Fill out the Catalog Request Form Here

    Sure, you can shop online and click through pages of product pictures – but isn’t it more fun to look at a physical catalog?  Curl up with your favorite blanket or comfy clothes and get inspired by some great products and project ideas!

    2014-04-28 17.27.23

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

  • Last Hurrah for Wheel Stamps

    Last Hurrah for Wheel Stamps

    Wheel stamps are one of those things that have been around for YEARS!  Like, as long as I’ve been stamping, there have been wheel stamps.  In fact, when I signed up as a demonstrator with Stampin’ Up, you got a wheel handle and wheel stamp by default in your kit!  Over time, I’ve collected a few but like many people, didn’t use them very often for one reason or another.  But they are handy and definitely have their unique purposes. 

    For example, when my mom was decorating for a winter event, she bought white paper tablecloths and when walked up and down the table running a snowflake wheel with blue ink in the handle to create a customized and inexpensive festive spread!  Isn’t she clever?

    But now all things wheel are on the retirement list and going away at the end of the month, so I had to share a couple recent cards I made with my birthday Builder Wheels.

    I loved the idea of builder wheels because you could mix and match designs, or in the case above, leave the center part blank and have exactly enough room to tie a ribbon!  One run of the wheel and my stamping is done and perfectly spaced. Smile 

    It was also handy for mixing and matching designs for diagonal stamping.  In this case, the Happy Birthday, the candles, and the blue stripes were all in the wheel handle at the same time.  Then I just added a little washi tape to the top and bottom for some extra lines but I didn’t have to worry about stamping again and keeping things lined up. 

    You know I love the easy way out!

    I enjoy my wheel stamps, even though I forget to pull them out because they aren’t on the shelf next to my stamps.  The new catalog has new background builder stamps which will be photopolymer stamps that are like if you took a wheel stamp and unmounted them.  (So a long, skinny clear stamp).  I’m excited for these new styles of stamps, but I think I will miss wheels as well.  It is MUCH easier to stamp as 12×12 scrapbook page or photo mat for a picture frame when you don’t have to worry about lining up your stamped ends.  But for cards, I think these new stamps will be easy and fun.

    What do you think?  Will you miss the wheels?

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

  • Have I mentioned I Love Happy Watercolor?

    Have I mentioned I Love Happy Watercolor?

    Last September when I was at Stampin’ Up’s Founder’s Circle retreat (seriously, I was so blessed with amazing downline and customers to help get me there!), they gave us the Happy Watercolor stamp set.  When I saw it, I wasn’t quite convinced, but after looking at samples and then playing with it, I was hooked!

    The thing that is awesome is that you can use each little piece in different ways to suit your style and then mix it up for a new-to-you look. 

    In this case, I was playing around with a few ideas including sponging the flower head using a sponge dauber!

    I also busted out my surprise favorite from the catalog, the Gold Baker’s twine to hold down my folded lace doily.

    I’ll be honest, this gold baker’s twine seems to be something people either love or don’t…. mainly because the gold foil bits like to unwind from your cut end of the twine.  But since I usually tack down my ends or only have a little bit of tail for my knots, it doesn’t bother me and it adds just the right amount of glitz.

    Either way, I am so sad this stamp set doesn’t seem to be carrying over into the new catalog.  Guess I need to give it lots of love in the next few weeks! Smile 

     

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  • Happy National Scrapbooking Day! Ideas for Using Your Scraps

    Happy National Scrapbooking Day! Ideas for Using Your Scraps

    Once again, I had a totally different post to share with you today when I realized that it was National Scrapbooking Day today!  It is a day to take an extra excuse to sit down with your crafting supplies and create! Especially when you can do it with friends.

    Join me with in celebrating National Scrapbooking Day by creating something new today and posting it on my Facebook page by tomorrow night.  I’ll even have some giveaways for folks participating!  More details below.

    chevron punch scrapbooking page

    I lately have been getting back to the idea of scrapbooking as a great way to USE UP SCRAPS!  You know… emphasizing the scrap in scrapbooking. Smile  Like in the page above, I had been playing with the idea of using the Chevron Punch to create a lattice.  So I had A TON of extra chevron punch outs and thought I ought to try to use them.  Thus a custom border for my scrapbook layout. 

    Yes, I’m still in the middle of this page, so title and journaling still to come; but you get the idea!

    Or like I had this pile on my desk recently after getting ready for a card class. 

    scrap pile for scrapbooking

    I was getting ready to recycle a lot of the paper pieces and thought, there has to be a way to use them in a scrapbook layout.  So, using only what was on my table and two 12×12 pieces of designer paper, I set to pulling something together.

    No photo in mind, but this is what I came up with:

    scrap scrapbook page

    It was a lot of fun and a great way to use up what I had left from other projects.

    So, break out the paper and have a great time!  And if you do have a chance to create today, take the time to share it. 

    Create & Share for Fun & Prizes

    I’m so excited to see what you come up with, so I’d love to see what you create!  Share a picture on my Facebook page and I’ll pick at least one person at random to get some scrappy prize from me. Smile 

    Visit me on Facebook here

     

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