Total CASE from Stampin' Success

As a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, I get a free subscription to Stampin' Success, a magazine full of business ideas, card ideas, and other good Stampin' Up! information. Usually I admire the cards in the magazine, then put it in my magazine rack and forget about it. Well, this month I saw a card I just HAD to make. In the magazine, this layout was used to feature a mosaic design tutorial. I don't care so much about doing a mosaic on my card, but I thought the large flower was so cute! I just had to CASE (Copy And Share Everything) it!

Big Flower Thank You

Stamp Set: Trendy Trees

Cardstock: Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive
DSP: Thoroughly Modern
Stamp Pads (Classic): Crushed Curry, Soft Suede
Accessories/Tools: Circle Scissors Plus, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Crushed Curry ribbon

I love how it turned out! Maybe this is a technique I can teach in my new Hostess Club - circles or punches or something like that. At any rate, it made a super cute thank you card, one I desperately needed to send to a customer for an order. :)

More Mojo fun

I just must post more of my Mojo creations. I'm finding that I just love their layouts (for the most part... I skip any that require me to cut a big circle, as I've not any tools to do so!) and create awesome cards when I don't have to think about where to put stuff! I have nothing but a run at the gym planned for this lazy Sunday, so I hope to work through a few more.

Mojo 73
Stamp Sets: Cheep Talk, Trendy Trees
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Whisper White, So Saffron
DSP: Good Morning Sunshine
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Kiwi Kiss Corduroy Button, Blender Pen

My first time using my new fave set! (Cheep Talk). I know the many discussions out out there about "all the birds" in the new catalog, but I LOVE them. Birds are very hip and in now, and I think nothing says SPRING like a cute bird.

Mojo 72
Stamp Sets: Three Little Words, Best Yet (hostess fall 2008)
Cardstock: Cameo Coral, Rose Red, Whisper White
DSP: Raspberry Tart
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pink Pirouette, Rose Red
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Kiwi Kiss Button Bouquet

How can you NOT love this Raspberry Tart paper? There isn't a design in it that I don't like, and I'm on my 2nd package of it already!! So bright and cheery... just what a Minnesotan needs in February (after a snow storm, yuck!)

Thanks for looking! I will post more Mojo creations (and upcoming classes/workshops) soon!

Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas!

Oh boy, it's been a while again. I can't seem to do more than one thing at a time.... Either I'm working a lot (which I did last week & the week before), or I'm sick (last week), or I'm stamping. I can't do all things at once. Today I was happily given a day off (no sub calls), so I can get caught up on some stuff. I have been making my Christmas cards like crazy for the past 2 weeks.... finally almost done! (Now to write on them all............)

I decided to make 8 each of 7 different designs. That way I don't get too bored doing one same design. AND, I get to use lots of my stamps, which makes it the most fun! Anyway, thought I'd share my creations with you! I know which one is my favorite (I'll tell ya later). Which one is yours???

#1Frosty Day Merry Christmas
I love the color combo of orange and green for Christmas - so nontraditional! The Frosty Day paper is just too cute to pass up. And of course, I used scallops: my new favorite tool. I used this card from Amy's blog as design inspiration.

Stamp Sets: Deer Friends, Season of Joy
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Close to Cocoa
Stamp Pads (Classic): Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa
DSP: Frosty Day
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge, scallop circle, dimensionals



#2 Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

Holly Jolly Christmas (by Burl Ives) is my FAVORITE Christmas song! I love the part "Kiss 'er once for me!" So, when I saw this set, I had to have it. This santa is so cute and cheery! I think this is an underappreciated set in the catalog this year.

Stamp Set: Holly Jolly Christmas
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Real Red
Stamp Pads (Classic): Real Red, Stazon Black
DSP: Real Red DSP (hostess set)
Accessories/Tools: Baja Breeze Ribbon, Stickles Diamonds

#3 Celebrate the Season
This set is leftover from last year's cards... and I always seem to have trouble figuring out what to do with it. But, when I saw this card on SCS, I knew I could use it as inspiration to make it my own. These colors are so cute together!

Stamp Set: Season of Joy
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red
Stamp Pads (Classic):Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze
DSP: Ski Slope
Accessories/Tools: 3/4" circle punch, dimensionals, silver brads

#4 Season of Christmas
A new favorite set of mine! I could stamp these little trees all day long. I knew I wanted to do something with this set for Christmas, then I found this card on SCS, and its "mother" card on Michelle's blog. I took those two ideas and came up with this card. I love it. I hope this set sticks around a long time.

Stamp Set: Season of Friendship
Cardstock: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Craft
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze
Accessories/Tools: 1/8" circle punch, wide oval punch, dimensionals, Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon


#5 Merry & Bright
This card makes me smile. The little snowman from Merry & Bright is the cutest one around. I can't believe he's retiring! I borrowed this set from my upline, so I better order mine - and at 10% off. Yay! This design is totally cased from Jenn D. at Stamp Your Heart Out. While she used my favorite set (Season of Joy) I thought the layout was perfect for Merry & Bright.

Stamp Sets: Merry & Bright, Best Yet (hostess)
Cardstock: Old Olive, Whisper White, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip
DSP: Holiday Traditions
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, circle scallop punch, 1/16" (or is it 1/8"? I can't remember...) circle punch, corner rounder, white ribbon, blender pens

#6 Big on Holidays
I didn't want to totally case one of my own cards from my card class, but I had some materials from said class left over. So I made a new creation. I like it... scallops, ribbon, DSP, blender pens. What more could a girl want?

Stamp Set: Big on Christmas
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Whisper White
DSP: Holiday Traditions
Stamp Pads (Classic): Stazon Black, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Old Olive, So Saffron
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, blender pens



Last, but not least, #7 Always Christmas
I made this card for a swap at SCS, but I liked it so much I decided to use it for my own Christmas cards! I love it when you can use a non-Christmas set and make it Christmasy. Versatility is good!

Stamp Sets: Always, Season of Joy
Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Old Olive
Stamp Pads (Classic): Real Red, Old Olive, Basic Gray
Accessories/Tools: Sponge, antique brads


Whew! This post took an hour (I have a verrrrrrry slow computer). I hope you enjoy these cards. Please leave a comment of which one you like best! I will let you know my favorite soon. :)

$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. :)

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!