Really? I get all that??

Posted on by
Reply

In case you haven’t noticed (or perhaps have just awakened from a Rip-Van-Winkle-esque 20 year nap) Stampin’ Up! has outstanding enticements for our workshop hostesses.  It seems no matter how carefully I explain our benefits to a new hostess, when it comes time to place her workshop order and I show her what she’s earned her eyes open wide and she says “REALLY???”

YES!!

REALLY!!

I recently was a hostess myself and enjoyed the same benefits as any other Stampin’ Up! hostess, and earned a level two hostess set.  (Read all about benefits on page 9 of the Idea Book and Catalog, and if you don’t have a catalog, call me).

Bright Apple Blossoms

  • Apple Blossom Level II Hostess Exclusive Stamp set
  • Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise and Pear Pizazz Classic ink pads
  • Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry and Tempting Turquoise card stock
  • Play Date Designer series paper
  • 1 1/4 inch and scallop circle punches; scallop border punch
  • Brights Designer button collection; white crochet thread (non-SU)

I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately, but I have had a thing for really bright and bold color combinations.  Our Color Renovation has really shaken up the way I look at our colors….in the past I seldom considered Tempting Turquoise, but lately it’s practically a neutral for me!    To tell the truth, if you look into my closet you’ll see that color quite a bit, so the surprise should be that it’s taken me this long to embrace it in paper.

Perkin’ up

Posted on by
3

Do they even make percolators anymore?  I remember one sitting on my grandmother’s kitchen counter, and I think every church I’ve ever been to has at least one of the ginormous 30 or 60 cup monsters, but there isn’t one in my house.  We have lots of coffee-making devices:  two regular drip brew coffee makers, one 6 cup and one travel french press, and an espresso machine (two if you count the little silver stove-top one like they use in Europe).   This one is so charming that I’m willing to overlook the fact that it’s obsolete:

A little note to perk you up

  • Morning Cup stamp set
  • Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Rich Razzleberry and Early Espresso (ha!) card stock
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Blender pen and Stampin’ Pastels

I started out just fiddling around with the Stampin’ Pastels….it’s been a very long time since I’ve had them out of the drawer.  I liked the slightly uneven nature of the color even though I suspect it’s really Operator Error.  Don’t laugh, but this actually looks much better in person…from about 3 feet away.    I had such fun I tried it again:

Perk Up full card

  • Morning Cup stamp set
  • Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Rich Razzleberry and Early Espresso (ha!) card stock
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Blender pen and Stampin’ Pastels
  • Big Shot and Elegant Lines Textured Embossing Folder
  • Victoria 5/8 inch crochet trim

I’m not ready to go back to percolator coffee, but I’m pretty fond of this little pot.

Starting the day out right

Posted on by
Reply

While the Morning Cup set was on my desk I put together a quick 3×3 notecard:

My Coffee Means Everything to Me

  • Morning Cup and Always stamp sets
  • Whisper White and Early Espresso card stock
  • Play Date Designer Series Paper
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Blender Pen and Stampin’ Pastels
  • Real Red 1/8 inch ribbon
  • 1 1/4, 1 3/8 inch and scallop circle punches

This sentiment from the Always stamp set struck me as the perfect complement to this image.  That first cup in the morning is what makes my day come to life.  We have an espresso machine and my dear husband makes me a cappucino every morning.  It’s one of the many ways he spoils me, and so in a way this card is all about him, too.

My morning cuppa

Posted on by
Reply

If you know me, you know I love coffee.  I’m a teeny tiny bit of a coffee snob – can’t drink just anything.  If the coffee is weak I’ll pass.  I brew what I refer to as “Manly Coffee”, and if it’s too strong for you, there’s the hot water!

I need that first cup to make any sense in the morning, especially if I have to be up early.  I love the smell, I love the taste, and I admit it, I love the oomph from my morning cuppa.  My daughters used to give me a bad time about my coffee addiciton, but college life silenced that.  The oldest tried to deny she was addicted – I think her exact words were “I’m not addicted, I’m just dependent” – but I’m under no such illusions.  I need my coffee.

Give me my caffeine

  • Morning Cup stamp set
  • Pear Pizazz, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, and (OF COURSE) Early Espresso card stock
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Blender pens and Stampin’ Pastels
  • Pretty in Pink 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon
  • Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dot Impressions folder

I made a serendipitous discovery:  Many of our retired Stampin’ Pastel colors can pass for some of our new Color Renovation colors.  The pastel chalk colors are soft and you can layer them to the depth of color that you want.

The Clearance Rack

Posted on by
Reply

You know, I’m in the same boat as all of you when it comes to the Clearance Rack.  Stampin’ Up! doesn’t let the demonstrators know when they put new goodies up in the Rack for sale, and over the weekend it occurred to me that I hadn’t shopped there for a while.  Oh boy, was that ever a mistake!  Some of my favorite retired items were there…including the tiny square and rectangular glassine envelopes.  Naturally, I had to find a project for them:

ABC Bitty Note with Square Glassine Envelope

  • Cute by the Inch Stamp set
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad; Melon Mambo Stampin’ Write marker
  • Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso, Melon Mambo and Whisper White card stock
  • Vellum card stock; scrap retired Designer Series Paper
  • Scallop Square, XL Two Step Owl and Bitty Punch
  • Square glassine envelopes $1.99 for 20

I used the Bitty Circle to make a little Peek-a-boo window through the vellum for “hi”.

And another…

Batty Note with Rectangle Glassine Envelope

  • Teeny Tiny Wishes and Elements of Style stamp sets
  • Basic Black Classic ink pad
  • Whisper White, Basic Black and Pumpkin Pie card stock
  • White Gel pen; Champagne Mist Shimmer paint
  • Bat punch; rectangle glassine envelopes $2.49 for 20

Get these envelopes while they last at my Online Store!

Just little tags…

Posted on by
Reply

The convention Make-and-Takes always include some sort of 3-D project… Stampin’ Up! likes to keep us well-rounded.  This year was no exception.  We made a charming pouch style package that was quick and easy:

Just Believe pouch with tags

  • Just Believe stamp set
  • Pear Pizazz, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White card stock
  • Pear Pizazz, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight and Early Espresso Classic ink pads
  • Versamark ink pad
  • Word Window and 1 1/4 inch circle punches
  • Crop-a-dile and Early Espresso striped grosgrain
  • Small flat cello bag and Sticky Strip adhesive

This is a simple project that would make a great gift and can be easily re-interpreted to suit any color scheme or season.  When you open the pouch you can see the bag inside all ready for the little tags:

Just Believe pouch open

Look how cute those tags look in the cello bag – and they just jumped right in there!  The bag is attached to the pouch with some Sticky Strip so you can take the tags out one at a time – the top stays open.

That ribbon is cracking me up.  You can’t begin to imagine how many times I positioned and re-positioned it while I was taking the photos, and every time it made me think of a handlebar moustache.  Maybe the ribbon is just too long, but more likely my brain is just too weird.

Whoo’s watching?

Posted on by
1

Look at these eyes:

An Owl in a Cage

  • Aviary and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • So Saffron, Whisper White, Pear Pizazz and Night of Navy card stock
  • Greenhouse Gala Designer Series paper
  • Basic Grey and Night of Navy Classic ink pads; Basic Gray Stampin’ Write marker
  • 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 inch circle, Scallop Trim, Word Window and Modern Label punches
  • Night of Navy 1/4 inch grosgrain (retired) and Rhinestone Jewels

I finally put a bird inside the cage…the owl, to be exact.  There’s something about leaving him inside that makes me sort of sad.   After all, shouldn’t an owl be flying around outside?  I’m imagining that he’s been hurt and someone is lovingly caring for him until he can be released.  He’s really quite happy there – he feels secure.

A Paisley Pumpkin, Just for You

Posted on by
Reply

One last convention sample for you…I told you I’d overlooked a few!  Actually, I felt badly about posting too many sneak peaks from the Holiday Mini before the products were available so I’ve saved them for this first week.  Wasn’t that thoughtful of me??

Convention Paisley Pumpkin

  • Paisley Prints and Just Believe stamp sets; Paisley Party wheel
  • Old Olive and Whisper White card stock
  • Old Olive Classic ink pad; Pumpkin Pie and Cajun Craze Stampin’ Write markers
  • Pumpkin Pie 5/8 inch grosgrain and Linen thread
  • Brights Designer buttons
  • Sticky Strip and Glue dots

Look at that gorgeous ribbon and that button!  The perfect color coordination of all the Stampin’ Up! products was the thing that sealed the deal for me when I saw my first catalog.  It’s so hard to find things that really match, especially on a small island 2500 miles out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.   I love our stamps, but it’s the details that make the project and our coordinating accessories really make my day.  Go ahead, Stampin’ Up!

I hadn’t tried the pleating technique with the ribbon and was happy to find it to be very simple.  There’s a line of Sticky Strip underneath the ribbon, and there are Glue Dots under the folds.  I’m a visual person (I know, and you thought I was the Queen of Words) so you may just have to play with it to get it.  Trust me:  it’s really easy.

Versamark goodness

Posted on by
Reply

I was going back through some old posts and discovered to my great chagrin that I had repeated a post.  Auwe!  And no, I’m not going to tell you which one it was.  As we used to taunt each other when I was a kid (back in the day before there was dirt) “That’s for me to know and for you to find out!”

On the flip side, I discovered that I hadn’t posted everything I’d intended.  This should give you a little insight into the moderately organized chaos that is my life.  I really work hard at being organized, but I’m far from perfect.

Pasley Prints Heart from convention 2010

  • Paisley Prints and So Many Thanks stamp sets
  • Soft Suede,  Whisper White, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizazz and Pretty in Pink card stock
  • Versamark ink pad; Soft Suede classic in pad
  • Heart, Jewelry tag and Bitty punches
  • Piercing tool, template and mat
  • Linen Thread; Pearl jewels

Sometimes I forget how easy it is to work with the Versamark pad.  When I first started stamping, it was my best friend in the world – any color, any time.  Now I take it for granted unless I want to emboss something and need that sticky Versa-Goodness.

Don’t miss that little sticky pearl on the Bitty Bit.  Those sheets of pearls and rhinestones last so long I think they’re doing the “socks in the laundry” trick.  Every time I go to get another one it looks like they’ve invited friends over.  Maybe I need to put up a video camera in the craft room….oooh, there’s a scary thought!

My Desk-top Make-over

Posted on by
2

I’m an office supplies dork.  I love nice pens and Post-it® notes and crisp pads of paper and colored push pins and highlighters and Sharpies®.  You can imagine my reaction when I saw the matching file folders and envelopes in the Family Organization Suite.  Those big bold flowers and that goofy owl are a great starting place for a desk-top make-over:

Play Date Class projects

I’m offering a class this month to get the make-over started.  We’ll make the jumbo paper clip book mark, the Post-It® note holder and the clipboard plus a coordinating card (that missed the photo) for $15.  Class will be Thursday morning September 16 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am and Tuesday evening September 21 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.  Take a 10% discount on any of the Family Organization suite products on pages 92 and 93 of the Idea Book and Catalog with your paid class attendance – a few of those items are pictured below.  I hope you can join us!

Play Date Family Organization Suite