Lisa Houston is having a workshop

My friend, Lisa Houston, is having a Stampin Up Workshop on Saturday, February 25th.  She asked for 2 cards and a cello bag topper as her Make and Takes.

The first photo shows our cello bag topper. I went to Target and found some Easter candy this morning for the bag. I used a bunch of punches to create the bunny. I told Lisa that the small oval punch was retired, but she wants this bunny. I inked the edges of all the white with Pretty in Pink. Decided to use wiggle eyes instead of drawing eyes - my fine motor skills aren't that great after a chemo session. Of course I used a Top Note Diecut folded in half and stapled it to the cello bag. You don't see the staples because the bunny is on one side and the sentiment is on the other. The sentiment comes from the stamp set Everybunny on page 48 of the catalog.

The second photo has 2 cards - we decided to go ahead with the Melon Mambo background instead of the Pink Pirouette background. The dotted paper comes from the Hostess set Cheerful Treat on page 11 of the catalog. I used Old Olive grosgrain ribbon. The sentiment came from Sincere Saluations, which is one of my go to sets. I used the 2 oval punches for the sentiment.

The neatest thing about this card is something I read on Splitcoaststampers. I stamped the Melon Mambo flower on  a 3" x 3" piece of Whisper White. The flower is from the stamp set, Mixed Bunch in the Occasions Mini. Then I cut out a 3" x 3 " piece of Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets (look on page 216 of the catalog). I peeled off the side with the words Sizzix and covered my flower adhesive side down. Then I punched out the flower using the new punch Blossom (page 17 of the Occasions Mini). After I punch both layers out (the Whisper White cardstock with the flower image in Melon Mambo and covered with the Adhesive Sheet, I peeled off the top of the Adhesive Sheet. I turned the adhesive side down into my tub of Dazzling Diamonds and then shook off the excess. Added some dimensionals to the rear and placed it on my card. The Dazzling Diamonds stayed on the flower this way. How cool was that!

Oh, when I mention my tub of Dazzling Diamonds, let me describe it to you. I take all my embossing powders and my Dazzling Diamonds and my Heat and Stick and place each in a sandwich size plastic tub (like from Gladware). I label all 4 sides of the tub with the name of the contents (that way I can always read what is in the tub). I keep a plastic spoon in the tub too. When I want to emboss or add the powders, now I simply open a tub and shake the excess back into the tub. I never could do a good job with shaking back into those little bottles. I find I am wasting much less of my product this way.

Okay the final card is the St. Paddy's card.I stamped the Shamrock from my stamp set Got Treats in Garden Green on Whisper White. < I did cut off all the sentiments in this set. I do have them all in the box, but don't always use the sentiments -- I was more interested in the images.> Then I ran the card thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Folder. This gave me my quilted look. I cut a mat out of Silver Glimmer to mat my quilted look. Added some Garden Green grosgrain. Stamped the sentiment from the stamp Happy St. Patrick's (found on page 43 of the Occasions mini) in Garden Green. Punched it out with the Decorative Label Punch. I also cut out a piece of Silver Glimmer with the same punch and cut it in half to add to the back of my sentiment. Used a few dimensionas and viola! 

In every card I make, I always add an insert. In these 2 cards, I choose Whisper White cardstock, cut 4" x 5 1/4" inches as my inserts -- gives you a smooth place to write on a neutral color. Hate trying to find a pen that writes over some of my colored cardstocks.

I have Lisa's workshop all prepped and ready to go for next Saturday. Whew! Off to prep for another workshop for the following Saturday.

Have a great weekend!
Arlene

A fabulous opportunity awaits you

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Our starter kits are created exclusively for new demonstrators, contain Stampin' Up! essentials you'll need to get started in your new business. You can choose between the standard Starter Kit and the Digital+ Starter Kit. Both Starter Kits are customizable allowing you to choose products that you want to run your business your way.

The standard Starter Kit includes

•Four complete stamp sets (including a clear-mount set and clear-mount block)

•A Stampin' Around wheel, handle, and ink cartridge

•Assortment of Designer Series Paper and card stock

•White envelopes (40)

•Four Classic Stampin' Pads

•Two Stampin' Write markers

•VersaMark Pad

•Whisper White 5/8" satin ribbon

•Always Bird Décor Elements and applicator

•Adhesives

•Blender pen

•Color Coach

•Cupcake Punch

•Stamping sponge

•Stampin' Scrub and Mist

•Box of Idea Book & Catalogs

•Business forms and tools



The Digital+ Starter Kit includes

•My Digital Studio digital designing software

•His & Hers Digital Content Collection DVD

•One clear-mount stamp set (including a clear-mount block)

•Assortment of card stock

•Note cards and envelopes (20)

•Four Classic Stampin' Pads

•Real Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon

•Brights Designer Buttons

•Always Bird Décor Elements and applicator

•Adhesives

•Blender Pen

•Stampin' Scrub and Mist

•Box of Idea Book & Catalogs

•Business forms and tools


Plus, if you'd like to add scrapbooking, home décor, or digital designing to your business, we also offer three optional add-ons: the Stampin' Memories add-on, the Definitely Decorative add-on, and the My Digital Studio add-on. These add-ons give you a great sampling of products you can use to showcase Stampin' Up!'s Stampin' Memories, Definitely Decorative, and digital designing lines. I would love to talk to you about joining my team!

Arlene

Our February Class Project

We made this notepad/case project at the February Stamp Class on Saturday. It is a very simple project to do and leaves your with a product you can easily use. I hate when my notepad paper has curled up on the edges or tears while in my purse. And I am one of those who needs paper often for notes. By making myself one of these, I no longer have problems with my paper curling. It is safe inside my case.

Photo # 1 gives you a close up of the entire insert. If you are like me, I like to see a visual, as well as have written directions. Photo # 2 shows the inside of the clear stamp case. I placed a calendar on the left side of the case. I order my calendars from http://www.vippies.com/  On the right side is a notepad. I simply went over to Office Depot and grabbed 2 packages of 5" x 8" notebooks. My local store sells 12 pads in a package for about $ 6.50. Then I went to their customer service department and had them cut the pads into 7" lengths to fit inside the clear stamp cases. That was another $ 1.50 for the 24 pads I purchased. Finally, Photo # 3 shows the two different color choices that were given for the class. I cut out 12 of each color choice (Soft Suede or Lucky Limeade). I had 6 of each color choice for the morning class and then 6 of each color choice for the afternoon class. Let me share the recipe with you! They make wonderful gifts -- remember that secretaries day will be here later this spring. Or maybe a special thank you for a friend?

EVERYDAY ENCHANTMENT NOTEPAD CASE  RECIPE

• # 101650    Very Vanilla Cardstock
• # 126154    Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (SAB item!)
• # 122384    Lucky Limeade striped paper from the 2011-2013 Paper Stacks
• # 117157    Soft Suede striped paper from the Neutrals Collection Paper Stacks
• # 122713    Lucky Limeade (SAB item! this is an assorted pack) cardstock using the Label Framelits
• # 115318    Soft Suede cardstock using the Label Framelits
• # 125117    Fresh Vintage Stamp Set  (SAB item!)
• # 122935    Lucky Limeade Classic Ink
• # 115657    Soft Suede Classic Ink
•  Sponges
• # 123002    2011-2013 Stampin Write Markers (I used Pool Party, Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade from this set)
• # 123002    2010-2012 Stampin Write Markers (I used Poppy Parade from this set)
• # 101610    Stampin Sponges
• # 119105    Clear-Mount Stamp Cases
• # 125598    Label Collection Framelits
• # 113439    Bog Shot Die-Cutting Machine
• # 104294   Sticky Strip (In my part of the USA, we call it Red Line tape)

Directions:

• Very Vanilla Cardstock  - cut one (1) piece at 7" x 10 5/8". This is the base material for your insert.
• Very Vanilla Cardstock  - cut one (1) piece for the size Label Framelits you decide to use.
• Everyday Enchantment DSP - decide on the pattern you want to use. I found that one print lended itself to using Soft Suede accents, and the other print focused more on Lucky Limeade as the accent color. Cut the Everyday Enchantment DSP paper of your choice at 6" x 10 3/8". I chose to cut at 6 inches for the width so I could get 2 inserts from one page of DSP. Since the striped paper would cover the rest of the Very Vanilla cardstock, I did not worry about having a gap.
• Striped DSP from either the Neutrals DSP Paper Stack (Soft Suede) or the 2011-2013 DSP Paper Stack (Lucky Limeade) cut at 1 1/2" x 10 3/8".  <Just a note -> I find it easier to put the 12 x 12 paper on my cutter and simply move the left edge of the paper to the 10 3/8" mark -- that way I cut 1 1/2" without trying to balance all the paper on my right side of the cutter>.
• You will adhere the Everyday Enchantment DSP paper to your Very Vanilla base, leaving a 1/4" space around the top and sides. There will be 1" of space on the bottom to be covered by the striped paper.
• Then adhere the striped paper from whatever accent color you chose (Soft Suede or Lucky Limeade) to the Very Vanilla base. Match the sides of this paper to the sides of your Everyday Enchantment Paper. This stripe will leave a 1/4" space around the bottom and sides of the Very Vanilla base. The stripe will cover 1/4" of your Everyday Enchantment Paper.
• Now cut out the Label Framelits using the Big Shot Die Cut Machine. You will need a smaller Label Framelit from Very Vanilla cardstock and the next size Label Framelits from whichever accent color you chose (Soft Suede or Lucky Limeade).
• Mount the design stamp from the Fresh Vintage stamp set onto a clear block. Color in the image using Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade and Poppy Parade markers.
• Huff on the image and stamp onto your Very Vanilla Label Framelit. Don't know what it means to huff? It simply means to breathe over your stamp, exhaling across it. The moisture from your breath will keep the ink wet.
• Sponge the Very Vanilla Framelit and the Accent Mat Framelit with a sponge and the color Classic Ink you chose as the accent.
• Adhere the labels together. Then adhere them to the right side of your cover insert.
• Slide it in carefully between the cover film and the actual clear stamp case (look at your other stamp case inserts -- works the same way). One word of warning -- DO NOT make the length longer than 10 5/8" on your base cardstock. Otherwise you will rip the film off. I am speaking from experience! I tore two off my cases. Ugh....
• Now onto the inside of the case. Attach a calendar to the left interior.
• Take a strip of the Everyday Enchantment DSP paper and cut it to fit the top of your notepad. I wrapped my paper around the top of the notebook.
• Finally, the last step. Add a strip of red line tape to the back of the notepad. Peel off that red waxy film and adhere your pad to the right interior of your case.
• DONE!

Optional Ideas:

• Ribbon along the overlap area of paper.
• Create a pocket to place below the calendar for notes.
• Use MDS to design a mat instead of the Label Framelits.

Today was a wierd day. It rarely snows around here. And we had a weather forecast for 100% snow. Too bad it started as I was heading to work. I seriously thought I would have a snow day today. Shucks. We got snow, then freezing drizzle and then rain as the temps climbed. Right now, if it freezes tonight, we will get have a sheet of ice. Depends on how low the temps go tonight, whether I have school tomorrow or not.
Remember this part of the South does not have snow ploughs. They salt the roads but that is about it. Tomorrow afternoon the winter weather will be a thing of the past, since our highs tomorrow will be in the mid-50's.

I was so ready for a snow day too! Yes, even teachers need one occasionally. I had laid out my work clothes and stuff to carry to school today. But I also laid out some comfy clothes and some scrapbooking to do if I got to stay home. Will do the same tomorrow. Best to be prepared both ways. Thought I would get to write on my blog this morning, instead I was teaching. So at the end of my work day, I came home to post this tutorial.

Enjoy it. If you happen to make it, please leave me a comment about the directions. Want to make sure that they are clear and concise (and I did not skip a step).

Have a great night!
Arlene

February Stamp Class - Razorback Country

I have a dear friend, Lisa Houston, who pinned the top card to her Pinterest site. She really loved the card and I saw sooo many possibilities with it. I am sorry but I am not sure who made the original. Lisa's Pinterest shows the words "Uploaded by User" and not a website so I cannot acknowledge the card artist.

While I loved the original card, I really wanted a brighter card. So I played with it. The Arkansas Razorbacks colors are red and gray. I decided on a white design mat and a gray mat behind it on a red card base.

Another reason I made this card for class is that I needed a birthday card for my big brother, Bruno, on March 3rd. Bruno has 3 major things in his life that loves: his dog, Roxie; the Arkansas Razorbacks; and golf. I never even call Bruno after the Hogs lose a game. That is asking for problems. I always call after a win -- he is such a good mood! LOL...

Razorback Card Recipe -

• # 122737 Button Buddies


• # 121958 Bring on the Cake (sentiment set used inside the card)


• # 102482 Real Red Cardstock


• # 121044 Basic Gray Cardstock


• # 100730 Whisper White Cardstock


• # 100712 Brushed Silver


• # 119251 1/8 inch Real Red Taffeta Ribbon


• # 119747 Brights Designer Buttons


• # 122361 Petite Pennants Builder Punch


• # 120906 2 1/2" Circle Punch


• # 123126 Perfect Pennants BigzL Sizzix Die


• # 123128 Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder


• # 113439 Big Shot Die Cutting Machine


• # 104430 Dimensionals


• # 103683 Mini Glue Dots


• Toothpicks


• Wiggly Eyes

Directions:

• Whisper White Cardstock - I ran Whisper White cardstock thru my printer to print the words Woo Pig Sooie! I printed 4 per page and then cut the page into 4 pieces at 3 3/4 " x 5 ". Use the Stripes folder to emboss all of the card EXCEPT the printed words. Cover the area between the end of the embossed design and the words with a piece of red taffeta ribbon. I wrap the ends to the back side of the white cardstock.


• Whisper White Cardstock - Stamp up the cute pig from the Button Buddies stamp set with Real Red onto a 3 x 3 " square of Whisper White Cardstock. Use the 2 1/2" circle punch to punch out the pig. I attached the button nose and wiggly eyes with glue dots.


• Whisper White Cardstock - Cut a piece at 4" x 5 1/4" inch for the inside side of your card. I stamped a birthday greeting from the Bring on the Cake stamp set in Black Stazon on my insert.


• Whisper White Cardstock - I also printed off a page of Go Hogs! on my printer to use for the pennants. Take the Petite Pennant Punch and punch out the sentiment using the plain edged pennant.


• Real Red Cardstock - Punch out a scalloped edge pennant using the Petite Pennant Punch. Add your plain edged sentiment punchie to this and attach to a toothpick (you need glue dots!).


• Real Red Cardstock - cut out a cardbase 5 1/2' x 8 1/2" . Score at 4 1/4" on the long side to create the cardbase. Add the whisper white insert inside the card.


• Basic Gray Cardstock - Cut a mat at 4" x 5 1/4". Adhere it to the front of the Real Red Cardbase. Then add your Whisper White design mat (with the Wooo Pig Sooie! and Stripes Embossing on it) to the top of the gray. Because I use 1/4" changes in measurement, you will have that much showing around the edges of each layer.


• Brushed Silver Cardstock - can easily be done with Basic Gray too. I chose the Brushed Silver to give it a slight pop of shimmerness on the central point of the card. Cut a piece of Brushed Silver (or Basic Gray if you prefer) at 3" x 3". Place the cardstock on the Perfect Pennants BigzL die (I chose the larger of the decorative circles) and run it thru your Big Shot. Now place the Pig design onto the Brushed Silver Decorative Circle. Use dimensionals to the back of the silver base and place it on your card. Placement depends on if you do the small GO HOGS! pennant. If you do use the pennant, place the pig just above the red ribbon. Then place your pennant to the left of the circle. If you chose not to use the pennant, then place the pig in the center of the Stripes Embossing.

OPTIONAL IDEAS - If you are not an Arkie or a Razorback fan, simply skip printing Wooo Pig Sooie! on your card (also skip the Go Hogs Pennant) . Instead stamp a greeting you like -- my suggestions are:

• # 122892 Perfectly Penned


• # 120651 Word Play


• # 115070 Smarty Pants

Yesterday was my February Stamp Class. I held 2 sessions - one from 9 a.m. to noon, and another from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. There were many new faces in the class (Alysha, Alex, Kaila, Frankie, Lise, Sandy, Abigail, Kay and Enda) and many of my friends/regulars (Kalen, Michelle, Nana Jenny, Laura, Amber, Micki, Charlie, Nita, Lisa and Melissa). We had a wonderful time!

I will be posting all the cards and our project from class this week. Stayed tuned! If we get the snow as expected tonight, then tomorrow I can easily post in the morning, otherwise it will be in the evening after work.

Sorry for being away so long, but last weekend was a nightmare. I hate it when I get the premeds, the nuclear medicine, the contrast dye and then all the 3 chemo drugs. It makes me so sick all weekend. In fact, I even stayed home on Monday because I was still super nauseous. You know it is bad when you pray that you can throw up! That rarely happens -- in fact, only once in 4 years of chemo has it happened. But oh goodness! I get so nauseous after all the extra drugs - it is like your tummy took a ride on the EXPRESS roller coaster. Normally I get only a mild rollercoaster. So I spent alot of time on the antinausea + sleep aide meds and slept and slept. Being awake was not fun. By Tuesday, I was back again. Don't have to take that ride again until May for my next scans.

Have a great day !

Arlene

Leaving a retired scrap page for you

Sorry about not posting early today. Been running like crazy and was at the oncologist in the wee hours this morning. All is great but I am pooped.

Just drug up a layout I did at Christmas with retired paper. I love to scrapbook and my friends know it. My good friend, Stacy does not do any crafts at all. She asked me to make a page for her hubby's boss so she could put it in a 12 x 12 frame. Her only request was Western.

This is the page I designed. I know the patterned paper is retired and right now I am not sure of the name. There are 2 stamp sets used, 1 current and 1 retired. The current one is OUT WEST. The retired one was perhaps WANTED? Can't decide right now. You know the punches are the small and large tag punch and the rope was made with SU linen thread. I am sure that the alphabet is retired but don't know the name tonight. There are 2 mats to hold 4 x 6 photos (mats are 4 1/4' x 6 1/4") so it is just a matter of selecting and adhering 2 photos. The boss' wife loved her layout!

Am in a chemo fog and the names of those retired sets are difficult to think of right now. Will let you know at a later time.

Was more concerned that I give you a post tonight and knew I was not up to typing alot of details on the Leadership card swap. Will get back to that this weekend.

A few of my Leadership Swap favorites

I have 80 cards that I got in my organized Leadership swaps, and then about 80 more cards from the general floor swaps. What is the difference in these types of swaps? Well an organized swap is one you sign up for in advance with a swap hostess. You are committed to make "X" number of card fronts or full cards for this swap for each group you have joined. For example, in Lyssa's Convention Quality Swap, I joined 3 groups. So I had to do 20 cards for each group and each group was a different stamp set. On the other hand a general floor swap is what it sounds like -- a free for all. You walk around asking people if they are swapping and you swap cards as you wish. You get better quality in organized swaps as a rule, but there are a few exceptions!

Today I am starting a series of 3 or 4 days of some of my favorite Leadership swaps to share with you. After that I plan on showing you the 6 x 6 double page scrapbook swap.

The photo shows 2 cards. The one on the left was made by my roommate, Deb Mueller of New Hampshire. Isn't it lovely? She used Pear Pizzazz as the cardbase and cut the top edge of the card with the Adorning Accents Edgelits. The ribbon is Blushing Bride pleated ribbon. The stamp set is Bordering on Romance. Note she used the long row of flower stamps from this set to do the bottom inside of the card, as well as added tiny pearls. For the design itself, she cut out 2 Label Framelits - one in Daffodil Delight and the other in Whisper White with the image stamped on it. She watercolored her design and added 3 pearls to the hearts of the flowers. This was placed on dimensionals and then attached to her card.

The card on the right was made by Patti Gress. I am so sorry that my photo does not do this card justice - it is simply stunning in its simplicity. Patti used a neutral (and I am not sure it is Crumb Cake or Sahara Sand) as her base and as the punch accent made with the Pinking Hearts border. She ran some Blushing Bride pleated ribbon over the punched out area. Her mat and her strips are made out of Pretty in Pink cardstock. Her strips are embossed with Vintage Wallpaper and then cut and notched at the bottoms (remember a square punch is an easy way to do this banner design). Her heart is stamped on Pretty in Pink cardstock and then shimmers with Dazzling Diamonds. The heart stamp is from the stamp set, P.S. I Love You. Then her image is punched out with a Heart punch and adhered to a Silver Glimmer heart. They are mounted with dimensionals onto the card.

That is all I have time for today. I need to scoot, take a shower, dress and get onto to work. It is already 6:40 and I have to be in my classroom in 1 hour. Thankfully I only live 10 minutes away and traffic is going the other direction! LOL... Have a wonderful Thursday!

Swap - Lyssa's Convention Quality Swap

I joined 3 groups for Lyssa's Convention Quality Swap for Leadership this year. This swap was posted at SCS (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/) on the demo side of the site. I happen to follow Lyssa alot on her blog (http://www.songofmyheartstampers.com/) . I chose to use 3 stamp sets that are in the Idea Book and Catalog instead of the Occasions mini. Many people had signed up with stamp sets from the mini - but we are still selling sets out of the Idea Book.

The first card photo was made with Greenhouse Garden and En Francis background. I stamped the EnFrancis in Soft Suede onto Very Vanilla Cardstock. Then I sponged it with Crumb Cake ink. Over that I stamped the flowers with Calypso Coral and the interior of the flowers with Poppy Parade. Notice I did stamp off some of the flowers. The ribbon is Calypso Coral. The cardbase is Soft Suede with a Poppy Parade mat. Sentiment comes from Blessings from Heaven. I used my Early Expresso and Poppy Parade markers to ink the sentiment on Very Vanilla cardstock. Then I used an Oval punch to punch it out. The mat is Poppy Parade cut from the Scalloped Oval punch.

Card 2 is one stamp set that I don't think gets enough ink. That stamp set is Courage. I stamped the image with Black stazon onto Whisper White cardstock. Then I cut it out with our new Label Framelits. I also cut a Night of Navy mat with the Label framelits. The red mat was ran thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing folder to give the card some texture and depth. Then I used a white mat to make it more eye-appealing (and not overly a dark card) and put it all on a Night of Navy base. Coloring was done by markers. Sahara Sand for the uniform, Real Red for the stripes and Night of Navy for the background of the stars. Believe it or not, this is the only card of the bunch I forgot to color the shoulder of the soldier. When I saw the photo I went back and remedied this problem. Because we had to add an embellishment, I colored 4 rhinestones with a red Sharpie permanent marker and added them to the card. I love that Sharpie marker trick on the clear rhinestones (and my pearls) to achieve the color I want for my card. The sentiment was stamped with Night of Navy on Whisper White cardstock. Then cut with the Word Window punch. It was matted with Night of Navy cardstock and cut out with a Modern Label punch.

Card 3 uses the stamp set Everybunny. The background paper comes from the Hostess section of the catalog. It's on page 11 and it is called Cheerful Treat DSP. I stamped that cute bunny in the balloon using Stazon black ink onto Whisper White cardstock. Then colored it in using Pink Pirouette, Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade and Bashful Blue markers. The mat and the card base are Wisteria Wonder. Then I got creative and used the Word Window punch to cut out 3 white strips. Matted them onto 3 Wisteria Wonder punches made with the Modern Label punch. Attached them to my image base and then started adding embellishments. As you see, I chose 3 flower buttons and placed rhinestones in the center of each button. The sentiment was stamped in Concord Crush and cut out with an Oval Punch. It was then matted in Wisteria Wonder using a Scallop Oval Punch.

I made 20 of each card for my 3 groups. So I came home with 19 new cards (or new to me in trade!). My 20th card in each group I used for open trading when it was returned to me.

I will be back to show you some of the cards I got in this swap.