$30-for-30 Birthday Cards

In January, I'm conducting a birthday card class that is $30-for-30 (same set up as my Christmas card class). Even though it is SOOOOOOO far away, I decided to make my samples this weekend, rather than stamping for my craft show, which is coming up soon & I have nothing made yet. Eep!

Anyway, here are the cards! All use Party Hearty stamp set.

Card #1 Celebrate You
I used:
Party Hearty stamp set
Regal Rose Classic Stampin' Pad
Regal Rose & Whisper White card stock
Sweet Always DSP
White ribbon (which is, admittedly, from Michaels, as that was all I had on hand)
Scallop Circle Punch
Diamond Stickles

Card #2 ...And Many More
I used:
Party Hearty stamp set
Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green & Apricot Appeal Classic Stampin' Pads
Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green & Whisper White card stock
White ribbon (which is, admittedly, from Michaels, as that was all I had on hand)
(**Note: I cut my tag by hand, and I think it looks pretty good! If budget allows, I'll get a punch; if not, freehand is what we'll do.)


Card #3 Party Hearty
I used:
Party Hearty stamp set
Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pads
Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive & Whisper White card stock
*I would like to get a paper crimper & crimp the Chocolate Chip cardstock on this one & it needs a bit of Bashful Blue ribbon at the top, I think, but I don't have any right now.


Card #4 B is for Birthday
I used:
Party Hearty stamp set
Real Red & Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pads
So Saffron, Real Red, Baha Breeze & Whisper White card stock
Baja Breeze 5/8" striped ribbon
Ticket corner & 1/2" punches
*It's kinda plain, which I like, but I also want to "busy up." Maybe a background stamp is in order?





Card #5 You Take The cake
I used:
Party Hearty stamp set
Riding Hood Red, Old Olive & Blue Bayou Classic Stampin' Pads
Riding Hood Red, Old Olive & Whisper White card stock
Sponging on white cardstock
Pewter brads
*My ideal color palate would be Rose Red, Taken With Teal, & Old Olive. But I don't have Rose Red or Taken with Teal so I improvised. It looks OK. But I may borrow or buy the colors I want.




So, those are the cards for the Birthday class. Guests will make 6 of each design. It is imperitive for me that guests feel they are getting good value from my classes. So, the $30 fee includes Party Hearty set, all the cardstock & accessories (like brads & ribbon), and use of my ink pads. Unfortunately, this time I won't be providing envelopes (that put me waaaaay over budget for my last class). But I will offer a free pack of envelopes with an add'l $30 order at the class. So, avid stampers will get their envelopes either way.

I truly believe my classes very good deal for my guests, and feedback from my last $30-for-30 class was very positive about that fact. It's a lot of prep for me, and a lot of overhead, but my theory is if it gets people stamping & enjoying what they do, then my job is done and done well.

Registration for this class isn't due until Dec. 29, but like I said, I want to get the word out! I am expecting a large crowd for this one again. :)

I'm so thankful!

Thanksgiving is coming, and there are many things I am thankful for. But stamping related, I am especially thankful to the people who came to my Christmas card class last weekend. So, to show my appreciation to them, I am making Thank You cards. Here are a few:

Season of Friendship Thanks

I used:
- Sage Shadow, More Mustard, and Close to Cocoa cardstock
- Season of Friendship & Flight of Butterfly sets
- Autumn Vine DSP
- Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, More Mustard, and Really Rust stamp pads

I love this set. This is the first time I've used it. I think the card turned out great!!! But I cannot foresee myself making a lot of them, as cutting out that tree is a bear!

I think next time I make a card similar to this one, I will add some brads or some other element to dress it up a bit. It's pretty, but kind of lacking a bit.





Flight of the Butterfly Thanks

I used:
- Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron & Whisper White cardstock
- Flight of Butterfly set
- Pink Pirouette & Riding Hood Red stamp pads

Talk about simple! I guess I was in a very non-embellishment mood the other day. I like it; it's pretty. And not at all something I would have picked out to make. (I got this set free from the Sampler when I placed my big first demo order.... It wasn't my first choice of a WOW set.... but my mama didn't raise no dummy. I picked out the most expensive set in the Sampler for free! Why waste a free set on one that costs $12.95?)

I have a few more, but I guess I didn't take pictures of them yet. So, you'll have to wait. Besides, I need to get packing for my workshop tomorrow! Yipppppeeeeee!

Molly's Workshop/Party

The countdown for my first workshop is on! Friday I go to my friend Molly's for a workshop/party at her house. She is the person who introduced me to stamping 6 years ago.... so I am highly grateful that she's allowing me to come be the demonstrator! Since we are friends & this is my first workshop & she's quite experienced at stamping, I let her choose the stamp sets she wanted to see & a few techniques. I designed the cards around that. We both agreed that make and takes are way better than demos, so I'm doing 3 make and takes. I'll have the paper & ribbon cut for all the guests. They will just put together. Much more fun than watching me! (and will hopefully increase sales, right???)

Card #1 Pocket Silhouettes

I used:
Pocket Silhouettes & Sincere Salutations stamp sets
Pink Pirouette & Whisper White cardstock
Sweet Always DSP
Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, & Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin' Pads
Chocolate Chip ribbon
Large Oval punch & Scallop Edge punch (note: I know this isn't an SU punch on my sample.... my SU punch is arriving via UPS today!)

Anyone recognize my favorite layout again??

I wanted to highlight the punches with this card. I hope they are a good upsell. I love them, so I should be able to show my enthusiasm for them. :)

Card #2 Pun Fun
I used:
Pun Fun stamp set
Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Riding Hood Red & Whisper White cardstock
Washington Apple DSP
Stazon pad,
So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Riding Hood Red, & Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pads (for Blender Pen coloring)
Pewter brads

At my class this weekend, everyone LOVED the Blender Pens, so I wanted to make sure I included a demo/use of those. This card is kinda plain for me, but it is an easy make-and-take since it will be just gluing the paper down & inserting the brads. I would think most of the work will be put into using the Blender Pens ---- and I hope they all fall in love with the BP and have to buy a set. :)

Gift Card Holder
I used:
Season of Friendship, Deer Friend & Best Yet stamp sets
Baja Breeze, Real Red & Whisper White cardstock
SkiSlope DSP
Baja Breeze & Real Red Classic Stampin' Pads
Scallop Circle punch
1 1/2" Circle Punch (eep! Not SU!)
will use: rub-ons

I got this design from Dawn's blog. It's fun to watch her tutorials as the background music (especially in this one) make me smile! So funny.

Anyway, this is my "in case" demo. I am only going to do it "in case" she has 9 or more people at her party. The count is teetering at 8-9 right now. I figure with 9, 3 at each of 3 stations will be nice & easy to manage... but 4-5 at each of 2 stations would be harder. However, if only 6 show up, I will not demo this one. Though I love it! I am getting my rubons delivered via UPS today, so I am going to put some of those babies on here, too. You know, since they are on sale and all. :)

I also hope to borrow a roller wheel from my upline to highlight on this... think it would go nicely to do the background. However, my only Christmas roller wheel is retired. So I need to borrow one.

Top photo is the outside, bottom is the inside. Obviously. I didn't realize until I was done that Best Yet has a Christmas stamp... so I think I'll encourage the use of that one instead. :)

Thanks for looking!

My 2nd post of the day = cute cards made while DH is away!

Oh my gosh, I totally didn't mean for my blog title to rhyme. Sometimes I'm such a dork.

Anyway, as promised, I'm posting again with some of the cute cards I yesterday while watching my favorite movie, "Inventing the Abbotts" (a movie I can only watch while DH is gone because he thinks is "so boring." I don't think he understand the allure of Joaquin Phoenix!)

This first card is one I made for a swap I'm hosting (that is mailing out this week... nothing like the hostess waiting till the last minute!) The design is a CASE from a birthday card I got from my upline, but I love this layout (which you will see in future posts, I'm sure.... I made quite a few similar to this yesterday. Does anyone else fall in love with a layout and then beat it to death??)

I used:
Upsy Daisy & Best Yet stamp sets
Riding Hood Red & Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pads
Washington Apple DSP
Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, & Not Quite Navy cardstock
and some white ribbon I had from Michael's (shhhh, don't tell!)

I love it. I hope the gals in my swap like it.






My other card is for my good friend Betsy who had a little girl last Monday. I was so busy with my classes this weekend that I didn't have time until yesterday to make her a card. I love this card because it suits Betsy to a tee! But I also love it because it's not traditional "baby" images or colors. In a workshop or class, this would be a good set (Always) to demo its versatility! --- side note: I made Christmas cards with this set, too! Anyway, The it's a top-open card, another trend I'm stuck on right now, maybe because it's so easy to cut the cardstock in 1/2 that way... :) The only thing I wish I had done differently in this card is stamp the sentiment on a sheet of cardstock & glue it to the DSP. It gets kinda lost (and is kinda crooked, like all my sentiments... I should change the name of my blog to "crooked stamper.")

I used:
Always& Best Yet stamp sets
Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, & Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pads
Sweet Always DSP
Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, & Chocolate Chip cardstock
and, again,some white ribbon I had from Michael's

I mailed it off today, so the picture is all I have left. Sometimes I have that empty nest feeling with my cards! I hope Betsy invites me over to see the baby (Brynn) soon. Of course, that will just feed my baby fever that is burning out of control right now! If only DH was ready for kids like I am. Sigh.......

I made some really cute cards that I'm going to demo & make-and-take at Molly's workshop on Friday. But the light in my house is bad for nighttime photos, so I'll have to post them up tomorrow morning. I'll just give a tease that my favorite layout makes an appearance!

Christmas card class = success!

My first class turned out to be a tremendous success! I had 2 sessions... one Friday night with 4 people and one Saturday morning with 10 people. I found it much easier to manage the group of 4 than the group of 10.... which is true when I'm teaching, too. It's easier to manage 20 kids than 30 kids. :) But I think both groups were extremely productive (some people even finished all 30 cards in 2 1/2 hours or so!) and the creative juices were just flowing in my house! I love how many of the ladies took my sample designs and created something of their own. The best part of the class was showing off my new blender pens, letting guests use them, and seeing how excited they were about them! I sold one set immediately that night, and I'd be betting many of the ladies buy a set in the next month or so (some are thinking about orders to place soon, probably including blender pens!)

I got 2 bookings from the class, which I'm so excited about. They aren't until the new year, but that's expected this time of year. One wants to do a class/workshop at her house... where it's set up like I did my class in my home. People order the set ahead of time, the hostess gets the paper needed, then I come over and teach them how to make cards. Sounds way fun to me! They want to use Pun Fun, which is one of my favorite sets. So, I will post about that workshop/class when I know more.

I was so excited to get to meet new people, too! Two of the ladies on Friday night were brand-new friends to me! I had never met them before! I placed a classified ad in the neighborhood newspaper & they found me there. Great future customers, too. One placed an online order the very next day! And the other bought a catalog that night.

Anyway, I made the cutest doorprize for the Saturday event. It's a little spice jar from Ikea (4 for $2.99). I cut out a circle of Holiday Treasures DSP and affixed it on the lid, then stamped in Ruby Red one of the cute stamps in Deer Friends & punched out with 1 1/2" circle. Since I don't have a bigger cirlce punch, I had to improvise and do two 1 1/2" cirlces with the back of the Holiday Treasures paper to make a mat. Along the edge of the lid I put Holiday Treasures paper & Chocolate Chip 1/4" ribbon. Filled it with Kisses & cute!! The picture is so dark, sorry. I was ready to give it away when I realized I needed a picture! So, I didn't think about how to get the BEST picture. :)




I have more to post about the weekend, but I think I'll do a separate post, as to keep posts from becoming novels. :)

An Award!

The other day I was nominated by The Scrapmaster for a Kreativ Blogger award. And this is how dumb I am.... I was sitting around waiting for someone to email me and say "YOU WON!" It wasn't until tonight I realized being NOMINATED is the same as winning. And thus, I get to display my beautiful new award:

So, to keep the creativity flowing, I am to follow these rules ...
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

Here are my 5 nominees (don't wait for an award ceremony! You are already a winner!!)
1. Not Just Another Stampin' Blog
2. Scissors Cut Paper
3. Blogging Jenn
4. 123 Stamp With Me
5. Stamp a Little Longer


I have a lot to post from this weekend... first class (how it went), cute cards I've made, and other projects. But it's late & I'm tired. No job tomorrow for me, so I'll do my major posting then.

Tracy

Samples for Christmas Card class

When I got home last night, I had a suprise! A 32-lb. box from SU! Yahoo!!! I couldn't wait to bust it open and play with all the new goodies. And since it was all stuff for my class this weekend (and I promised my gals photos of samples of the cards), I made fun Christmas Cards, all made with Big On Christmas set. Here they are:

1. Let it Snow
Supplies:
- Bashful Blue cardstock
- Kiwi Kiss cardstock
- Chocolate Chip cardstock
- Tangerine Tango cardstock
- Whisper Whit cardstock
- Frosty Day DSP
- Tangerine Tango ribbon
- Stampin Pastels

I am not fond of how I colored this in. Next time I'll use better colors (since these are In-Colors and not in Stampin' Pastels) or do something different.




2. Happy Holidays
Supplies:
- Old Olive cardstock
- Ruby Red cardstock
- Whisper White cardstock
- Holiday Treasures DSP
- Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain
- Jumbo wheel Christmas chatter
- Old Olive wheel ink

If I have enough Chocolate Chip, I am going to add a mat underneath the DSP to make it pop a bit more. But I LOVE this card. I colored in with blender pens, which I love. And the Christmas tree is stamped on DSP & cut out.



3. Noel
Supplies:
- Chocolate Chip cardstock
- Real Red cardstock
- Whisper White cardstock
- Ski Slope DSP
- Baja Breeze ribbon
- Crayloa colored pencils

So pretty! I love these colors together for Christmas, and I never would have thought of it, if not for Ski Slope. :)











So, those are the cards. I pretty much CASED them from cards I saw on SCS. I hope they are not to hard for beginners (Noel & Holidays are pretty easy... Snow takes more effort to layer all that paper). I tried to show a few ways to color, too, with pastels, blender pens & Classic Stampin' pads, and just regular colored pencils. Because, I mean, if in doubt, use colored pencils until you can afford the other stuff. :) I did for years & no one knew the difference.

My goal is to have all the paper cut, ribbon trimmed, and in bags for my guests. But that means cutting over 100 cards and their pieces. Yipes! I better get to work. :)

I can't wait for Friday & Saturday! Fun fun!!

Weekend projects

Sunday evenings are so depressing to me... weekend over. Back to workday routines. (I do have a job tomorrow, too, so back to work. Blah!)

I got 2 big projects done this weekend though!
1. Book to Look Board
With my first class coming up and my first workshop shortly after, I took some inspiration from SCS and made a Book to Look Board. I think it turned out pretty! Sure, not all the materials are SU! materials.... but you know what? I don't have enough money right now to buy ALL my stamp supplies again. I will use what I have. And if the Book to Look board works.... then I'll have some money to buy new stuff!

So the idea is the person books a show with me, then she can choose a card from one of the envelopes. Once that person's show is held & closed, I will add her prize to her order, on me. I would totally go for something like that if I was on the fence! I love a good free gift. My gifts are:
Classic Stampin' Pad, pack of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock, pack of envelopes, designer brads, 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, or Stampin' Write marker.


Supplies used:
Pretty in Pink 12x12 cardstock
Soft Sky 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock
Always Artichoke 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock
chipboad letters from Archivers
Envelopes from Michaels
Scrapbook frame from Michaels


2. Christmas card swap
Pretty self-explanatory. I love this set! I can't believe there aren't more users of it. Of course, I may love it because "Holly Jolly Christmas" is my favorite holiday song! :) I had to make 9 of these cards. I love them. I may use these as my personal Christmas cards, too.



Supplies used:
Season of Joy stamp set
Holly Jolly Christmas stamp set
Bashful Blue cardstock
Whisper White cardstock
Real Red cardstock
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pad
White grosgrain ribbon

That's all for me tonight! My husband FINALLY made me a birthday cake, so I'm off to eat it. Yummmmm.

Stampin' UPdate Nov. 9

Good morning friends,

I write this UPdate a year older.... It was my birthday on Friday and I'm but one more step closer to the big 3-0. Oh dear... Luckily, I took the day off work, relaxed, had a fun dinner and dessert with friends, and got to do some stamping. I guess getting older isn't such a bad thing.

Holidays are coming! There's no better way to de-stress from all that shopping, decorating, baking, socializing... than to be creative and get together with the girls. Keep these events in mind as you're navigating your way through the next 6 weeks or so:

• NEW! December class: Create-a-Calendar. Dec. 5 or 6. I am SOOOO excited about this class. I can see stampers and scrapbookers alike loving this opportunity. For just $20 you get a bound calendar to decorate & create a beautiful gift for yourself or someone you love.
  
• Stampin' Basic Training. Join me for one, or all, of the scheduled days for "trying out" stamping. I'm opening my Stampin' Up! room to you! Use any of my sets, all my ink pads, most of my accessories.... go crazy! The low $10 fee is just to replenish cardstock & decorative paper. Come play! The dates are set for: Nov. 17, Dec. 10, Dec. 19, and Dec. 20.
  
• For those really planning ahead.... January's class will be $30-for-30 Birthday Cards.Jan. 9 or 10. Imagine, you could have all your birthday cards DONE, ready to go by the first part of January. Sweet! Preregistration is required & cost includes a set of stamps to take home. See flyer for details.

And I have to share two GREAT deals Stampin' Up! is offering from now until Nov. 30. Don't miss out!
--> Hostess incentive (extra FREE stuff!) October 1-November 30, 2008. Host a $350 workshop and choose one stamp set from the Fall-Winter Sampler for free. They are all SO cute! Contact me immediately if you want to host a party! I would love to come to your home & show you about stamping.

--> Rub-ons Promo. Starting Monday, Nov. 10, if you spend $20 in other merchandise from the catalog (like, one stamp set), you can order as many rub-ons as you want for 20% off. What a fantastic deal! That makes the price just $8.76!! These rub-ons are so versatile, you can use them in cards, scrapbooks, on glass (like candles or mirrors), or anywhere! Super cute & super affordable: What more could you want?! You can order online at my web site or contact me to pay by check.

There is lots of info in this post. If you want to learn more quickly click here.


Tracy :)

Birthday mania!

Today is my birthday. And it's snowing here. (BOOOOOOOO!) So I decided to take the day off, which I can do, for if you recall, I am a substitute teacher. I just say "no" if someone calls, and I get the day off! Yippee!! I plan to spend the day in my sweatpants, stamping and making myself a birthday cake (which only slightly depresses me, but my hubby is too busy working to do so). I may even take a nap. And later I have an appointment to get my eyebrows waxed. Later tonight my friends and I are going out for Thai food and desserts. Yummmmm. To get me in the mood, I've decided to post my favorite birthday cards that I've made. They are my surrogate birthday cards until the mail comes today. November is a busy birthday month in my family, so I made these for other people, but they are still cute, and in the mood for today!!

Party Hearty card
Party Hearty set
Whisper White cardstock
DP from Archivers
Brads from Archivers
Chocolate chip Classic pad
Pumpkin Pie Classic pad
Ruby Red Classic pad
Old Olive Classic pad





Birdday card #1
Pun Fun set
Whisper White cardstock
Real Red cardstock
Tempting Turquoise cardstock
DP from Archivers
Basic Black Classic pad
Real Red Classic pad (for watercoloring)
So Saffron Classic pad (for watercoloring)
Pumpkin Pie Classic pad (for watercoloring)




Celebrate card
Just Celebrate set
Brilliant Blue cardstock
Old Olive Cardstock
Pumpkin Pie cardstock
Whisper White cardstock
DP from Archivers
Ribbon from Archivers
Basic Black Classic pad
Brilliant Blue classic pad (for watercoloring)
So Saffron classic pad (for watercoloring)
Soft Sky classic pad (for watercoloring)
Pumpkin Pie classic pad (for watercoloring)


Birdday card #2
Pun Fun stamp set
Whisper White Cardstock
Basic Black Cardstock
Bashful Blue Cardstock
DP from Archivers
Ribbon from Archivers
Basic Black Classic Pad
YoYo Yellow Classic Pad (for watercoloring)
So Saffron Classic Pad (for watercoloring)
Real Red classic Pad (for watercoloring)
Pumpkin Pie Classic Pad (for watercoloring)






Manly birthday card
Pocket Silhouettes set
Sincere Salutations set
Not Quite Navy cardstock
Old Olive cardstock
Close to Cocoa cardstock
Bashful Blue cardstock
Not Quite Navy classic pad
Silver brads









So, those are my cards. As you can tell, I've been in a watercoloring mood lately. :)

Thanks for looking!

New blog

I was blogging over at wordpress, but cripes! That site is far inferior to blogspot. So, now I'm over here. If I can find a way to easily bring my posts from there to here, I will. Or I may start over again. :)

Who knew blogging would have so many options??