So, for my first blog post this month I would like to share with you  a make-n-take from my “New Catalog Open House” on the 1st, which was supposed to be posted here before I went on vacation. This card was inspired by a card created by Dorothy Cates.

The card base is Basic Black, layered with Rich Razzleberry, and black again. Each layer is ¼” shorter than the one below. The main whisper white layer is stamped randomly using Staz On Ink (Staz On prevents bleeding when coloring with markers). The small circles are colored in using the NEW Rich Razzleberry Marker.

Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon was tied around the Whisper White layer. The greeting was stamped with Rich Razzlebery ink on whisper White Card stock and punched out with the Small Oval Punch, and layered over a Basic Black Large Oval. This was adhered to the finished card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

That’s it! This is a very quick and easy card and a very versatile stamp set…I can’t wait to show you the other make-n-take!

If you would like to recreate these projects…here is the recipe:

Stamps: Circle Circus, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry
Ink: Staz On, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Small Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Dimensional, SNAIL Adhesive, Rich Razzleberry Stamp n Write Marker

Click Here to Order your Stampin’ Up! Products Online 24/7

Happy Stamping!

I have really held back this year with showing new product before the launch, but I can’t wait for you to see the new In Colors!! The new Designer Series Papers are FABULOUS!!! There is so much more, so check back tomorrow….

If you are in the Massachusetts area….I would like to remind you of my New catalog Open House. Contact me for directions if you will be in the Brimfield area 413-245-3030 or 774-232-4282. The first 8 guests receive a new catalog at the door. Check out the new products and get to play with some of them while you are here. The fun begins at 5PM!

Happy Stamping!

Check out these cute projects! I made them recently at a Demonstrator Extravaganza in Framingham, MA. These projects were all created by Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator and Artisan Award winner, Robin Desko. I love everything about this set for a summer party. The invitation is so easy to put together and it is so bright and cheery that everyone will HAVE to come to the party!

Here is a close up of the pinwheel. Let me just tell you that this was a lot easier to make than I originally thought. This is just a decorative pinwheel and doesn’t actually spin, but so cute to use in a centerpiece at your party… I’ll have to make up a tutorial for that one real soon!

Last but certainly not least…the cute little party favor made with the Big Shot. The bucket was created using the Baskets and Blooms die.

Here you will see a close up of the decorative strip that runs through the center of the basket/pail. I used Crystal Effects to accent the sunglasses that were stamped across the Pumpkin Pie strips.

Check out this cute little shovel which was created entirely with Stampin’ Up! punches…

The handle of the shovel is created with the Word Window punch and the Horizontal Slot punch. That piece is glued to a strip of paper, which is then glued to a piece punched using the Tag Punch. The shovel is tied onto the basket/pail with a cute bow. Finally the sun is accented with Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.

All of these projects were very quick and a lot of fun to make. Thanks Robin for my new summer party set up!!

If you would like to recreate these projects…here is the recipe:

Stamps: Life’s A Breeze, Hugs and Wishes
Paper:Barely Banana, Ballet Blue, Whisper White,
Ink: Barely Banana, Ballet Blue, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: 1/4″ Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Lazy Days Jumbo Wheel, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals, Paper Piercing Tool, Paper Trimmer, Silver Brad, 3/4″ Punch, Wooden Skewer/dowel, Big Shot, Baskets and Blooms Die, Small Tag Punch, Word Window Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch

Click Here to Order your Stampin’ Up! Products Online 24/7

Happy Stamping!

Here it is, my new website….This site is a work in progress right now, so you will see many changes to this site over the next few weeks, but I am so happy with the way it looks so far

Right now I am anxiously awaiting for the UPS truck to come down the street with my most recent order which includes ALL NEW PRODUCT FROM THE 2009-2010 CATALOG AND A COPY OF THE NEW CATALOG!! I am dying right now to see what is in the new catalog! Demonstrators have never been able to see the catalog this early before!

I am sorry I don’t have a new project to post right now, but I am hoping to post later today or tomorrow with at least one project with new products! I am rellay writing this post to test out feed subscriptions. So, if you are receiving this update through a feed reader please comment to this post so I know the subscriptions are working. I transferred all subscriptions from the previous typapd site to this site and I need to make sure everything is working correctly.

And…if you aren’t subscribed to this blog’s feed, feel free to click on the subscribe button in the sidebar so you don’t miss what’s next!!

Happy Stamping!

Our Designer Series papers are absolutely beautiful and use our palette of colors and original images. Designer Series paper makes it easy to create a card or scrapbook page with coordinating background paper, card stock, and stamped images. It also covers On Board chipboard beautifully.

If you love Stampin’ Up!s exclusive Designer Series Papers as much as I do, you know how important it is to HAVE IT ALL! (LOL) But seriously, if you are like me and love to have tons of different designs around for all your favorite projects but just can’t afford full packs of every paper….this Sampler Pack IS FOR YOU!

For only $32 (includes priority shipping) you’ll receive one 6″ x 6″ piece of each pattern from our 16 Designer Series Paper packages (pictured below). That’s a total of 96 sheets – WOW! To buy all the Designer Paper packs separately, it would cost you around $200! Cut them to the size you need for embellishing your cards & scrapbook pages, OR use them with your punches and/or Big Shot!

Designer Series Sampler Pack:$32 includes shipping

U.S. orders only

Choose to pick up or ship…

Includes Shipping $32.00Local Pick Up $27.20

Bonus Offer!

If you would also like samples of our new Specialty Designer Series Papers (pictured below) you can add them onto the above sampler pack for only $6…

The Parisian Breeze, Sweet Slumber, and To The Nines Specialty Papers are printed on textured, cover-weight card stock. Rockabilly has a printed gloss design.

Designer Series Sampler Pack plus Specialty Paper

U.S. Orders Only

Choose to pick up or ship…

Includes Shipping $38.00Local Pick Up $33.20

*This Designer Paper Sampler Pack is part of a product share. Each product share will consist of 8 members. One member of each group will receive a FREE sell-a-bration set of their choice. I will place the order as soon as I have 8 who want to share and have submitted their orders. All orders will be shipped to you within 2 1/2 weeks from order date. You will be notified when the sample is shipped. The paper will be shipped priority mail.

I can’t wait to share all of these wonderful new papers with you! Happy Stamping!

These ornaments are a great way to use up all those Designer Series Paper scraps this year.

Supplies Used:

• Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper (#112469)
• Paper Cutter (#104152)
• Crop-A-Dile (#108362)
• Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon (#109070)

To Order Products for this Project Click Here

Step 1:

For this ornament we will use 1/4 sheet of 12 x 12 Designer Series Paper (DSP).

Cut 6 strips (1″x6″) from your DSP. In the picture every other piece is turned over to show you both sides.

Step 2:

Stack your 1″x6″ paper strips on top of one another as seen in the picture. Using the 1/8″ punch on the Crop-A-Dile, punch a hole in each end of the papers. ( Using the Crop-A-Dile to punch through all layers at the same time ensures that they will line up nicely when putting the ornament together)

Step 3:

Cut off a 16″ piece of Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon. Fold the ribbon in half, and thread the two ends through one end of the paper strips. Tie a knot in the ribbons, leaving a decorative tail as seen in the picture to the right.

Make sure to trim the ends of your ribbon to clean up any frayed edges.

Step 4:

Thread the other end of your ribbon through the other side of the paper strips as shown.

Step 5:

Pull ribbon through until the desired shape is achieved, then tie a knot in the ribbon to hold the paper in place.

Step 6:

Carefully fan out one strip of paper at a time to create this quick and beautiful ornament!

If you want a fuller looking ornament use 12 strips instead of 6.

Bonus project:

Using the same tutorial above, and the same pack of DSP I created this really cute gift basket!

I used nine strips of paper instead of 6. Instead of ribbon I used flowers and rhinestone brads from the Pretties Kit. The top strip of paper is turned over to show another pattern for the handle. I am sure you can figure out how to fan out the paper strips by looking at the picture above.

This project can be used for small gifts this year. Just add a little tissue paper or paper strips to the inside of the basket. If you are concerned about your gift falling through the paper strips, you can add a little adhesive to the areas where they overlap to reinforce the basket.

I hope you have fun with these projects this year! Feel free to send me some pictures of what you did, I would like to add them to my gallery.

Click Here to Order Materials for this Project

Although Christmas is just around the corner, this project can be used for all occasions throughout the year. So, pick out your DSP and take advantage of some of the great specials Stampin’ Up! has to offer you. Scroll down the right sidebar to view current promotions.

Happy Stamping!

I ordered the “Crazy For Cupcakes” stamp set special for her birthday this year after I learned this really cool technique from Donna Centamore a while back to make puffy frosting or snow. I thought this technique would be perfect for Emma because she loves to eat the frosting off cupcakes! She really got a kick out of the puffy frosting!

How about a tutorial?

Supplies:

• Crazy for Cupcakes Stamp Set (#111618)
• Hugs and Wishes Stamp Set (#109383)
• Chocolate Chip Card Stock (#102128)
• Pink Pirouette Card Stock (#111351)
• Whisper White Card Stock (#100730)
• StazOn Ink Pad Jet Black (#101406)
• Pink Pirouette Classic Stamp Pad (#111838)
• Close to Cocoa Classic Stamp Pad(#10139), re-inker(#102444), or Marker (#100072)
• Creamy Caramel Classic Stamp Pad(#103220), re-inker(#101478), or Marker (#100078)
• Going Gray Classic Stamp Pad (#103274), re-inker(#102521), or Marker (only in neutral pack #109126)
• Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker (#100052)
• Aqapainter (#103954)
• Pink Pirouette re-inker (#111843)
• Heat Tool (#100005)
• Salt and All-Purpose Flour

Gather your supplies and Pre cut your card stock pieces as follows:

• Pink Pirouette (5.5″x8.5″)
• Whisper White (5″x3.75″) and (2.75″ x 4″)
• Chocolate Chip (3″ x 4.25″)

Step 1: Random stamp balloons all over card front using Pink Pirouette Classic Ink.

Step 2: Using StazOn, stamp images on Whisper White Card Stock (2.75″ x 4″). I used Timber Brown StazOn, which has been retired from our catalog. the StazOn resists bleeding when you watercolor the cupcake bottoms. You can also use Basic Brown Classic Ink or Jet Black StazOn for the cupcakes and Chocolate Chip Classic for greeting.

Step 3: Stamp invitation information onto whisper white insert (5″ x 3.75″) using Chocolate Chip Classic Ink.

You can barely see it in the picture, but I also stamped a large cupcake in the center with Pink Pirouette Classic Ink. This will look like a watermark behind your writing.

I used my Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write marker to write in the rest of the information.

Step 4: Now for the fun part! Take a small container and add equal parts of All Purpose Flour and Salt. I used a Sponge Dauber to measure. Mix well.

Add a few drops of water and mix to the consistency a little thicker than school glue. Add 3 drops of Pink Pirouette Classic Ink to this mixture.

Step 5: Color each cherry with a Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker. Color the stand with Going Grey, and the bottoms of each cupcake were watercolored using an aqua painter, Creamy Caramel, and Close to Cocoa Classic Ink.

When watercoloring, I very quickly and lightly colored each bottom with creamy caramel starting at the top left hand corner and working to the right. You want white spots here and there so don’ worry about that. Then do the same with Close to Cocoa Classic Ink to add a shadow. You can see the detail in the next picture.

Step 6: Using a small spatula or screwdriver, carefully place the salt and flour mixture on each cupcake. You only need a little frosting on each cupcake, just make sure you push it from the center out to the stamped outline.

Using a heat tool dry the backside of the card stock until the mixture turns from shiny to matte finish. Then use the heat tool on the front of the card stock and heat each cupcake until the frosting puffs up.

Step 7: Assemble your card, and don’t forget to use your personalized name stamp on the back of your card so the receiver knows it was handmade by you!

I hope you have fun playing around with this technique. I suggest using some of those card stock scraps that you have lying around to play with this. If you add too much mixture It might not dry in the middle. If you add too much water the puffy accents might crush because they are too delicate.

Come back for more tutorials soon!

Happy Stamping!