A new Idea Book and a sweet deal!

JenniferSpecials & DealsLeave a Comment

The Fall/Winter Idea Book and Catalog is here!  It is full of some fantasic new products.  I filled out my wishlist earlier this week and was amazed at how long it was!  Of course there are some great new stamp sets but it was the accessories section that really caught my eye.  I’m loving the new designer paper (the prints in the color family designer series papers are so much better than in the last catalog!), plus there are tons of new ribbons in many sizes and colors up to 1 1/4″ thick! 

I have to say though, I think my favorite new items in the catalog are the TWO pages worth of rub-on designs and the filigree brads.  I had to get some of each and will post pictures once they get here. 

Oh and I almost forgot the best part!  At the beginning of each section in the Idea Book, there are instructions for a different stamping technique!  So with an Idea Book, you will not only have examples of cool projects but you will also have an instruction booklet to use when creating your own projects.

Now for the GOOD STUFF!  Have I got a deal for you!  From now until Aug 31st, you can order an Idea Book from me for 50% off the retail price of $9.95!  But wait there is more…. if you purchase an Idea Book during this time, I’ll include a $5 off coupon for use on your next order of $35 or more!  As always, my hostesses get their Idea Book and Catalog free.  Contact me for more info or to schedule your workshop.

A couple card ideas

JenniferCardsLeave a Comment

Last night I was super excited to receive my new Simply Sent elements package from the new catalog.  I was all ready to show you how much you get in these packages and how quick and easy the cards were when I realized that I had left my camera at work! 🙁  So, until I can get those cards posted, I thought I would put up a few cards I created at a workshop last month.   Hope you like them!  Both designs were by my Mom Kathy Thisted, another Stampin’ Up! demonstrator.

 This is a pretty straightforward card but lots of fun because you color in the stamp image (I used markers and the aqua pen with ink pads).  I had a friend who wanted to make two just for the coloring!  The main technique with this was masking off the bottom of the window and the lip of the pickup bed with a post-it note so I could stamp the person and furniture right to the edge without overlapping the truck image.

Recipe:
Stamps: Loads of Love, Loads of Love accessories 
Paper: Taken with Teal CS, Real Red CS, Whisper White CS, East Coast Prep designer paper (retired)
Ink: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon, Stampin’ Write markers, Aqua Pen, Round Tab punch, Coluzzle

Again, another fairly simple card.  I’m still trying to figure out how to photograph cards so you can see the details, but I’ll just describe them for now. 🙂  This card uses lots of dimensionals, the flowers and the sentiment are both popped up and the flowers are not only two step stamped but also the flowers are only inked once and then stamped multiple times for different color effects (there are actually 4 flower images but I think you can only see 3).  Economical and artistic!

Recipe:
Stamps: Wonderful You
Paper:  Pretty in Pink CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Whisper White CS, Berry Bliss designer paper (retired)
Inks: Rose Red, Pixie Pink, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Ticket Corner punch, Stampin’ dimensionals

Images copyright 1990–2008 Stampin’ Up!

Here comes the Big Shot

JenniferToolsLeave a Comment

I think one of the biggest announcements at this years convention was the partnering of Stampin’ Up! with Sizzix for not only the offering of the Big Shot die-cut system but also exclusive Stampin’ Up! dies. 

Yes, everything here is made with the Big Shot!

If you haven’t used a die-cutting machine before, let me tell you how easy and how useful they are to use.  All it takes is putting the metal die with the image you want on the platform, place your paper over the die, turn the crank, and you now have a perfectly cut out flower/envelope/letter/etc.  They are perfect for scrapbooking, projects (like the templates for envelopes and paper baskets), gifts, and adding a little more flair to your cards. 

Check out all of the designs here

Fun fact: Not only can the Big Shot cut through paper, but it can also cut through fabric, light wood, and even thin metal!

Decorate with Decor Elements

JenniferDecorLeave a Comment

  And you thought Stampin’ Up! just did stamping.  Have you been introduced to Decor Elements yet? 

These are gorgeous self-adhesive vinyl images that take only a few minutes to put up and look great in any room of the house.  The best part is that they are removable so if you move or decide you want to put up something different, you can take them down without damaging the wall!

They come in a variety of styles including letters, phrases, florals, frames, and more.  Right now the offerings come in neutral colors but I’ve seen previews for the next wave of elements this fall and there will be lots of new colors coming soon!

Check out the full line up here

Mounting your stamps

JenniferTechniques1 Comment

I recently discovered that while I had been scrapbooking and stamping a lot, I had a lot of stamp sets that I had never mounted. For those of you who have never bought stamps from Stampin’ Up! before, let me share with you what to expect. You will recieve a plastic storage box with lots of wood blocks, a page of stamp image stickers, and a sheet of foam mounted rubber. The idea being that you can put the image sticker where you want on one side of the wood block, and the rubber where you want on the other side of the block. The nice thing about this is that you get full control of your stamps, the downside is you probably have some apprehension about how to actually get the suckers on the block just right. I know I did!

I read the paperwork provided by SU and did some research on the internet and boy was I confused. But after some advice from some fellow demonstrators and a lot of practice, I now have many mounted stamps and a lot more confidence. Though I don’t know how much longer I will need it as Stampin’ Up! has started die cutting all of their new designs so you no longer have to do the cutting…. just pop out the image from the rubber sheet, stick it on the wood, and you are off stamping!

But just in case there are those of you staring at your unmounted stamps and feeling a little overwhelmed like I was, I wanted to post the tips I learned.  Leave me a note if you have other tips to share or questions about these steps! 

How to mount your stamps

A new card for a new catalog

JenniferCardsLeave a Comment

I just finished my first card with the new treats I got on preorder from the Fall/Winter idea book & catalog.  With so many great images and colors, I didn’t know where to begin.  But then I started sifting through the new Bella Rose Designer Paper and saw the red background and it just built from there.  This was a design as you go layout and of course when I was done I thought of a ton of other things I could add but I had already glued things down.  Oh well, I’ll save those ideas for another card.

What you probably can’t tell very well from the picture is that the flower heads have been cut out and the petals curled slightly.  They were popped up with Stampin Dimensionals.  Then, I added a bit of Crystal Effects to the center of the flowers.

Recipe: 
Stamps: Happiness Always (Hostess set), A Little Birthday Cheer
 Inks: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
 Paper: Pink Pirouette CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Whisper White CS, Bella Rose DSP
 Accessories: Stampin Dimensionals, Crystal Effects, gold brads

  Images copyright 1990–2008 Stampin’ Up!
 
 
 

 

Trying out a new blog

JenniferUncategorizedLeave a Comment

After years of attending Stampin’ Up! workshops, I’ve finally taken the pluge as a SU demonstrator! They gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse – meet new people, share your love of stamping, get discounts, and even earn money while doing it. I have to say, I loved scrapbooking and card making before, but after looking at all of the examples and experiencing the support and enthusiasm of the SU family, I’m even more excited.

My plan is to use this blog as a place to post my samples, experiments, and let you know all of the great promotions as I hear about them from SU. I’d love to hear your thoughts about how I can make this blog better or anything else that is on your mind. For the next couple weeks, I’ll be here in Tulsa but then starting in September I’ll be moving to Portland, OR. I’m excited for the change and to start meeting the crafty folks in the Pacific Northwest.