Bits of Stampin’ News

Blog Color Renovation:

By now, I'm sure you've checked out the fabulous job that Stampin' Up! has done with our color renovation.  So it was time to do my own color renovation!  I hope you've noticed that my blog has gotten a face lift thanks to Michelle Laycock of Laycock Designs.  I've kept the same great design that Michelle used back in October, but I've asked her to change the color palette to Pear Pizzaz, Peach Parfait, Crumb Cake and Rich Razzleberry.  Please take a moment and leave me a message to let me know what you think of the changes!

Protecting your Beautiful Wings Die:

Here's a tip for your Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die.  Be sure to run the die through the Big Shot so that the hinge is opposite the Big Shot handle. This will help protect the hinge. Also, make sure that you're using Tab 1 when you use the Multipurpose Platform. Follow these important steps to prevent your die from breaking.

New Downloads for My Digital Studio:

The latest group of digital downloads for My Digital Studio are now available!

Place your order for these items and more at my Online Store!

Don't Forget!

• To check out all of the great deals on retired stamp sets and accessories.  Click HERE for the list or go to "For Sale" in the navigation bar.

Welcome, Julia

I've been so fortunate to add several terrific women to my From the Heart Stampers team over the past couple of months, and Julia Hill is no exception!  I got to spend some time with Julia at our weekend retreat in April; she had so much fun that she decided to join with Ruth Petrovich in June!  I've made this card to welcome Julia to our team.

This card is an example of accidents being a great part of designing!  I cut the butterflies from the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine and the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die using a piece of Whisper White card stock that was stamped with the Extreme Elements stamp set and Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise and Daffodil Delight Classic Ink.  This piece of paper was a "reject"  lying on my crafting table from another project.  I was going to use it as a background piece but had changed my mind and couldn't bring myself to toss it.  It was the perfect touch for this card!  Next, I wanted to stamp the base of the card stock with a stamp set and found out that I had loaned it to another stamper!  Not to worry!  I hadn't used my brand new Decor Stencils Elegant Trio Set or my Frost White Shimmer Paint!  Just dab on the shimmer paint over the stencil using a Sponge Dauber and in a few seconds, you have a fabulous background!  So when you don't think you have what you want for creating your cards, look around you–you might be really surprised what you come up with!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 118262 Elegant Trio Stencil Set $9.95
Item No. 102982 Sponge Daubers (12) $10.95
Item No. 116854 Frost White Shimmer Paint $5.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95
Item No. 114507 Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die $21.95
Item No. 115181 Extreme Elements stamp set $26.95
Item No. 119254 Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon $5.95

Don't Forget!

• To spend a minimum of $50 with me and be entered into a drawing to win!  Cick HERE for details!

Welcome, Gladys

And here's the card I made for Gladys Garcia, the newest member of the From The Heart Stampers Team!  I kind of liked how the "recruit-er and the recruit-ee" cards coordinate (see blog post HERE)!  Too corny?  Maybe!  The card starts off with Daffodil Delight, then a piece of Pear Pizzazz card stock, then a piece of Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper.  The stamp is the Stampin' Up! Statement of the Heart, which I love to send to each new person joining because it really embodies why we are so attracted to this business.  This is bordered by Pumpkin Pie card stock, punched on the bottom edge with the Scallop Trim Border Punch and mounted to the card front with Dimensionals.  The flower corner motif is created using the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine with the Simple Flower Embosslits Die and Little Leaves Sizzlits Die.  The center of the flower is Daffodil Delight card stock punched out with 3/4" Circle Punch.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95
Item No. 114511 Little Leaves Sizzlits Die $5.50
Item No. 114514 Simple Flower Embosslits Die $11.95
Item No. 118402 Scallop Trim Border Punch $15.95
Item No. 119873 3/4" Circle Medium Punch $10.95
Item No. 117167 Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper $9.95

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for the Ribbon Share!  Click HERE for more info!

A Fresh, Fun Look

I've been congratulating Ruth Petrovich a lot lately, and rightly so!  Ruth joined my Stampin' Up! team of demonstrators, the From the Heart Stampers, at the end of February and is going strong!  Ruth just recruited her second person, and I made this card for her.  It's fun, summery look with Daffodil Delight (new Brights Core Color), Pumpkin Pie and Pear Pizzazz (new In Color) and some designer paper from Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper.  I used the Eyelet Border Punch to create the sweet white edging and some Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon for a little accent.  The main image is from Charming stamp set stamped in Early Espresso Classic Ink with pieces cut from the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine using Little Leaves Sizzlits Die and Birds &  Blooms Sizzlits 4-Pack Dies for the flower.  A small Clear Rhinestone Brad decorates the center.  Once completed, this card needed a little something in the bottom right corner.   I had planned to stamp a "congrats" greeting but it just didn't fit.  So I accordion folded the corner and added a piece of Whisper White card stock to the back to peek through.  Love this touch!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 116519 Charming $19.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95
Item No. 114511 Little Leaves Sizzlits Die $5.50
Item No. 113485 Birds & Blooms Sizzlits 4-Pack Dies $21.95
Item No. 119254 Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon $5.95
Item No. 117167 Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper $9.95
Item No. 113144 Clear Rhinestone Brads $10.95
Item No. 119853 Eyelet Border Punch $15.95

Don't Forget!. 

• To sign up for the Stampin' Summer Bash!  Just one more day left to register!  Click HERE for more info!

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

Monthly Scrapooking Classes

Last night was the June addition of our Monthly Scrapbooking Class! You can jump on board with attending these classes at any time. It doesn't matter if you scrapbook at home or not– it's a great way to get pages done, ready for your pictures to be added later! Come once a month for a year and have 48 completed pages at the end of the year!!!

Here is a peak at just one of the layouts we completed:

JUST RELEASED! NEW MY DIGITAL STUDIO DOWNLOADS!

Here's a look at the July Fourth stamp brush set:

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 117156 Travel Journal Designer Series Paper
Item No. 118513 Sentimental Journey stamp set wood mount
Item No. 120075 Sentimental Journey stamp set clear mount
Item No. 117237 Cog On Board
Item No 112004 1-3/4" Circle Punch
Item No. 109046 1" Circle Punch
Item No. 109047 Corner Rounder
Item No. 109042 Photo Corners Punch
Item No. 111325 Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
Item No. 113429 Big Shot Die Cut Machine
Item No. 113464 Serif Essentials Alphabet Dies
Item No. 114950 Define Your Life stamp set

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for the Stampin' Summer Bash in either of two locations!  Click HERE fore more info and for a registration form.
• To check out the Last Chance Stamp Set List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Decor Elements List! Click Here to View!
  
• To purchase the Mini Starter Kit for just $99! CLICK HERE for kit contents. Click HERE to learn more about the From the Heart Stampers Team and The Heartfelt Stampers Team.
• To click for the Updated Last Chance Accessories List.  Items are selling out quickly!

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

Congrats, Lanette!

Lanette Swarthout joined my From the Heart Stampers team at the end of March and has already received her first promotion!  I made this card to congratulate her on this terrific accomplishment.

If you're ever stumped for a color combination, grab a package of Stampin' Up! designer paper!  It's the perfect place to start!  While the new Island Oasis Designer Series Paper in the Summer MIni Catalog has lots of bright, bold designs, I chose to use the quieter tones in that packet that include Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise and a touch of So Saffron.  The designer paper did all the work for me — I just added a strip of Tempting Turquoise card stock punched with the Border Scallop Trim Punch and three Tempting Turquoise Brads that I lined up easily using the Mat Pack and Grid and Paper Piercing Tool.  The main image is an oval cut with the Big Shot using the Ovals Originals Die and stamped using Watercolor Trio from the Summer Mini Catalog inked direct to rubber with Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers.  A tiny butterfly is a snap to add using the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die with the Big Shot.  Honestly, I don't think it's possible for me to create a card without the Big Shot anymore!  It's become my No. 1 crafting tool!  Don't forget to add "envelope art"!  In this case, I replicated the same flower image on the envelope to tie it together.

But wait!  That's not all!  I had a little extra time which is a rarity lately and decided to take it a step further.

Decorating the inside of the card can be so much fun!  Here I just kept the theme going with more designer paper and butterflies and even dressed up the envelope by lining it as well.  It's this extra care that can really make your hand-stamped project beautifully coordinated.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 117050 Watercolor Trio wood mount $22.95 OR
Item No. 120084 Watercolor Trio clear mount $16.95
Item No. 111634 Fresh Cuts $21.95
Item No. 117173 Island Oasis Designer Series Paper $9.95
Item No. 118138 Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die $11.95
Item No. 114525 Ovals Originals Die $15.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cut Machine $99.95
Item No. 118402 Border Scallop Trim Punch $15.95
Item No. 106957 Bolds Brights Brads $8.95
Item No. 105825 Mat Pack $9.95
Item No. 116631 Paper Piercing Tool $3.50

Don't Forget!. 

• To check out the Last Chance Stamp Set List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Accessories List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Decor Elements List! Click Here to View!
  
• To purchase the Mini Starter Kit for just $99! CLICK HERE for kit contents. Click HERE to learn more about the From the Heart Stampers Team and The Heartfelt Stampers Team.

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

Welcome, Heather!

We have a new team member, and I made this card to welcome her.  We're so glad you're a part of our team, Heather!

This card was really hard to photograph because the Pink Pirouette and Basic Gray are such a contrast, and I used Very Vanilla card stock instead of Whisper White for the main image and accents.  I started with the Basic Gray card stock base, then cut a piece of Pink Pirouette card stock (back for sale on July 1st!) to 5-12"x4-1/4" and freehanded cutting the wave at the bottom.  I stamped it with Bella Toile background stamp with the same color ink.  The Border Scallop Trim Punch is also back from the Sale-A-Bration offering and will appear in the new Idea Book & Catalog as well!  To use the border strip on a curved edge, simple punch out a thin piece of card stock then make small slits into the edge that won't show.  Put adhesive on the larger card piece, in this case the Pink Pirouette.  As you carefully bend the paper around the curve, adhering it into place, the border piece will then lay flat.  Here's a picture of what I mean:

The main image is the Statement From The Heart from Stampin' Up!  I love what this mission statement embodies — "To love what we do and share what we love, as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments . . . in this we make a difference!"  It certainly expresses well how I feel about my Stampin' Up! business!  It's stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed using Silver Embossing Powder and the Heat Tool and adhered with Dimensionals.  For the heart image, I ran a piece of Basic Gray card stock through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, then used the Full Heart Punch to punch it out.  I adhered it to a piece of Very Vanilla card stock and carefully cut around it to create the border since I didn't have a larger heart that would layer.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 111598 Bella Toile $17.95
Item No. 113693 Full Heart Punch $15.95
Item No. 109131 Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder $4.75
Item No. 100005 Heat Tool $29.95
Item No. 102283 VersaMark Pad $7.50
Item No. 117335 Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder $7.95
Item No. 118402 Border Scallop Trim Punch $15.95

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for the June Scrapbooking class!  This is the LAST day to register!  Click HERE for details. 
  
• To purchase all of the retiring color products you need!  They're going fast!  Click HERE to order.
• To check out the Last Chance Stamp Set List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Accessories List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Decor Elements List! Click Here to View!
  
• To purchase the Mini Starter Kit for just $99! CLICK HERE for kit contents. Click HERE to learn more about the From the Heart Stampers Team and The Heartfelt Stampers Team.

Congratulations to my Team Members

I've begun sending a hand-stamped card to each of the top three sales people for the month.  A sincere "From the Heart Stampers" congratulations goes out to:

Ruth Petrovich
Lanette Swarthout and
Pam Kane

for their May sales.  Great job, ladies!

Here's the card I designed especially for them:

A beautiful color combination of Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, So Saffron and Old Olive make this simple card a hit!  I used Pretty Petals background stamp and my Stampin' Write Markers to achieve the multi-colored background.  A 3-D butterfly comes from Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die and the Big Shot.  Notice the cute little button accent?  That comes from a trio of wonderfully coordinating products–Itty Bitty Bits stamp set, Bitty Buttons and Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack.  Stamp one of 9 images, punch it out with one of three different punches and adhere it behind one of four different clear little buttons!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:

Item No. 111008 Pretty Petals $17.95
Item No. 118138 Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die $11.95
Item No. 117056 Itty Bitty Bits wood mount $11.95 OR
Item No. 120060 Itty Bitty Bits clear mount $8.95
Item No. 118761 Bitty Buttons $4.95
Item No. 118309 Itty Bitty Shapes $16.95

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for the June Scrapbooking class!  Deadline is June 8th! Click HERE for details. 
  
• To purchase all of the retiring color products you need!  They're going fast!  Click HERE to order.
• To check out the Last Chance Stamp Set List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Accessories List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Decor Elements List! Click Here to View!
  
• To purchase the Mini Starter Kit for just $99! CLICK HERE for kit contents. Click HERE to learn more about the From the Heart Stampers Team and The Heartfelt Stampers Team.

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

June Team Time

Our From The Heart Stampers/The Heartfelt Stampers group meets on the first Thursday evening of each month.  It's truly an evening I look forward to for weeks and wouldn't  miss for the world!  We have so much fun catching up on what's going on in each other's lives and sharing our love for stamping.  One of the highlights is a card swap, and here's the one I made.

I'm just lovin' the new Level 2 hostess-exclusive stamp set called Punched Posies found in the Summer Mini Catalog.  The four main images line up with Stampin' Up! punches for quick, easy stamping!  My color combo is Real Red, Old Olive, and Pacific Point!  Yes, this fabulous blue is making a comeback in the Color Renovation and will be available for purchase again on July 1st!  I stamped the flower image three times in all three colors then used the 1" Circle Punch and the 3/4" Circle Punch to layer the center, adding a Real Red Brad and adhering with Dimensionals.  The background piece of Pacific Point card stock is jazzed up a bit by running it through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dot Textured Impressions Folder.  The Border Scallop Trim Punch that was such a hit during Sale-A-Bration is now back and will be included in the new Idea Book & Catalog.  If you didn't have a chance to earn it for free, you'll be able to purchase it.  Before I layered on the Old Olive card stock strip, I punched it with the Modern Label Punch to create a window in which to place my sentiment which is from Short & Sweet.

We'd love to have you join our next Team Time!  And with the $99 Mini Starter Kit, you'll be able to get started making your own card swaps!  Our long-distance team members simply mail in their swaps and we mail their selection back to them!  I'd love to chat with you — read more HERE and contact me!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 120030 Punched Posies Level 2 Hostess
Item No. 115060 Short & Sweet $17.95
Item No. 118402 Border Scallop Trim Punch $15.95
Item No. 107217 3/4" Circle Punch $10.95
Item No. 109046 1" Circle Punch $10.95
Item No. 117335 Perfect Polka Dot Textured Impressions Folder $7.95
Item No. 116630 Modern Label Punch $15.95
 

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for the June Scrapbooking class!  Click HERE for details. 
  
• To purchase all of the retiring color products you need!  They're going fast!  Click HERE to order.
• To check out the Last Chance Stamp Set List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Accessories List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Decor Elements List! Click Here to View!
  
• To purchase the Mini Starter Kit for just $99! CLICK HERE for kit contents. Click HERE to learn more about the From the Heart Stampers Team and The Heartfelt Stampers Team.

Team Time Project and Ribbon Roses

I shared a couple of my projects using ribbon roses HERE and HERE and was asked to teach my team mates how to make them.  Because we have a short amount of time and the rose itself takes a bit of time, I wanted to keep the stamping to a minimum.  I grabbed the chance to use Watercolor Trio again to coordinate with the flower theme.  The background–again–is the new Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (I'll try to stop–really I will!) and on Pink Pirouette card stock!  Yes, Pink Pirouette is making its return (round of applause, please!) on July 1st to join the new Color Collection called the Subtles Collection.  I love it paired with Real Red and Old Olive here.  The main image is stamped on Whisper White card stock cut with the Top Note Die and Big Shot, but I trimmed away about 1" off one side.  I stamped each image once then moved the stamp slightly to one side without reinking it and stamped again.  This creates depth for the flower scene.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 117050 Watercolor Trio wood mount  $22.95 OR
Item No. 120084 Watercolor Trio clear mount $16.95
Item No. 117285 Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon $8.95
Item No. 117292 Old Olive 5/8" Satin Ribbon $8.95
Item No. 119976 Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
Item No. 113463 Top Note Bigz Die $21.95

Don't Forget!

–To sign up for the Dots & Designs Card Kit Class!  Click HERE for details.
–To purchase your May Card Kit of the Month!  Click HERE for details. 

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!