Sparkle Card

Had some fun with my new Big Shot last night and made a quick retro-inspired card ...

First, cut a few images with the Sprarkle sizzlits die (this image reminds me of a '60s wall clock). I used some scrap pieces of Basic Black and a piece of Orchid Opulence. This is a great way to use up scrap pieces of cardstock!


Next, assemble the card (told you it was quick)...



I used Kiwi Kiss for the main card body, rounding the corners with the Corner Rounder punch. Along the left, I attached a small strip of Baja Blue cardstock. The Sparkles were glued down using a few dots of Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive. For the center dots, I punched smaller circles using the 1/4" Circle punch and popped them up with small bits of Stampin' Dimensionals (I cut one dimensional into 4 pieces). The final touch ... add the 'way to go!' rub-on from the School Days set.

I'm thinking a set of these cards in different color combinations would be fun to make ...

Big Shot Arrives!

At work today one thought kept entering my mind, "The UPS guy is delivering my packages today." Sure enough, when I got home, here's what was waiting for me in the Stamp Garage ...


And, inside, my Big Shot!



Of course, I had to play ... no particular project in mind, I just wanted to learn how to use the Big Shot and my new cutting and embossing dies. It was so easy; within minutes I was hooked. Here are just a few of the test items I popped out using Big Shot.

First, testing out an embosslit embossing die ... this one is a special edition for Stampin' Up!'s 20th Anniversary year.


It embossed and cut out the scallop image in one pass!



Next up, I tried out one of the extended dies. I used a scrap from a piece of 12x12 cardstock for this one. In one side ...


Out the other ...


The result ... a set of scripted words perfectly cut. I would never attempt this with scissors or an exacto knife.


And, of course, I had to test out the ability to die-cut materials other than cardstock. Enter -- a scrap of leather. The result -- a leather monogram K!



I want to play some more with the Big Shot ... but have to get some sleep before work tomorrow. *sigh*

Stampin' Up! has partnered with Sizzix to offer a Big Shot specially designed for Stampin' Up! plus exclusive dies that coordinate with Stampin' Up! stamp sets in addition to other Sizzix dies (Sizzlits, Embosslits, Extended dies, Bigz dies, and Bigz XL dies). Stampin' Up! dies will work with your Sizzix Big Shot ... and Sizzix dies will work with your SU! Big Shot. Time to play!

Stampin' Up! Convention Photos

Whew! Finally had a full weekend at home - my first since early July - so was able to get caught up on a few things while waiting for my new stamps, punches and Big Shot to arrive. I mounted some stamps from convention (while doing laundry) and sorted thru some designer paper. And ... ta-da! ... created photo galleries from my Stampin' Up! Convention pictures. The galleries include lots of photos from the main stage presenations featuring lots of cute project ideas. Be sure to check out the great home decor items made with the Big Shot (Day 3).

Day 1 Photo Gallery

Just one photo from the Day 1 gallery ...


Awards Night Photo Gallery

Just one photo from the Awards Night gallery ...


Day 2 Photo Gallery

Just one photo from the Day 2 gallery ...


Day 3 Photo Gallery

Just one photo from the Day 3 gallery ...



Hope you enjoy the photos and get some stamping ideas!

Home Office Decor Ideas ...

There were so many great ideas at the Stampin' Up! convention this year -- I wish I could have taken a couple extra weeks off from work so I could just play in the Stamp Garage. Here are just a few Home Decor ideas featured -- wish my computer spaced looked like this!


This desk and chair are decorated using the 'Organic Outlines' Decor Elements vinyl wall decals in white ...




The file folders are decorated using 'Urban Garden' designer series paper ...


Small pieces of designer series paper were also used to add a backdrop to the photographs and the walls were stamped using the 'Organic Outlines' stamp set ...



Looking forward to some Stamp Garage playtime this weekend!

Bunch o' Thanks ...

A quick note before the weekend ... the stamp set 'One Smart Cookie' has returned in the 2008 Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog. So happy to see it! This set was in the Spring Occassions mini catalog and I had a lot of fun creating with it so glad others will get a chance to play now, too.

Here's a quick card I created using the grapes and 'thanks a bunch' stamps from the set. Nice thing is - the images and text are on different stamps so it's easy to mix and match the lil' pictures and sayings.


Punches: I used the new Stampin' Up! Scallop Edge punch and the Corner Rounder punch.

Color: The color is Orchid Opulence ... cardstock, classic ink (for the text) and a marker to fill in the grapes. The grapes on the background are actually stamped in Versamark because I wanted them to be slightly lighter than stamping with the Orchid Opulence ink -- but still match the color (Versamark ink is perfect for this!)

Techniques: Before coloring the grapes, I stamped them in Versamark and embossed with black embossing powder. To add a bit of texture, I sponged some Orchid Opulence on the cardstock.

Accessories: Keeping the card simple, I added a small piece of black gingham ribbon and a silver brad.

This card is now on its journey through the US Post ...

Convention Make and Takes ...

Home! (well, for one night at least. I fly out for a biz trip tomorrow)I'll be sure to start putting together my convention photo galleries when I get back - but first, I wanted to share the two last make and takes from the Stampin' Up! 2008 Convention.

Both of these projects use the new 'Eastern Blooms' stamp set. The box is made from a 9 1/2" x 6" piece of Pink Pirouette card stock. To decorative top is a 12" x 2" piece of the new Bella Rose designer series paper edged with the new Scallop Edge punch.


This box holds 5" x 3 1/2" note cards and envelopes.


My favorite part of this project was making the rosette. It's an 11" piece of 1 1/4" gorsgrain ribbon in Pink Pirouette gathered with a running stitch along one side. The edges are covered in a thin layer of Crystal Effects and Chunky Stampin' Glitter in silver.


The next project is a bookmark made from a scalloped square from On Board Essentials, a 20" piece of 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon in Pacific Point and a couple new Filigree Designer brads.



A fun gift idea!


And, now that I'm home, I was able to take some better pics of the other make-n-take projects. Here they are again ...

Inspired by Nature ...



Flight of the Butterfly ..



Eastern Blooms ...



I'm thinking bookmark stocking stuffers might be a good idea this year ...

I'll post a rosette tutorial when I'm back from the biz trip ... Cheers!

2008 Convention - Final Day

Started today by first checking out the display of the new Stampin' Up! Big Shot adn carrying bag (the demos hadn't started yet, so I just peered longingly thru the plexiglass cube). I can't wait to get a Big Shot. Sure, it will cut through cardstock and chipboard but I can't wait to try it out on fabric, leather and other materials!


Eventually, convention had to come to a close - but it went out with a bang ... the bang of confetti canons. The minute the UPS guy walked on stage, we all knew something was up because usually when one of sees the UPS guy at home, that means new stamping stuff being delivered. Sure enough, the UPS guy was there deliver all of us the "Say It with Scallops" set from the new catalog!



UPS donated these sets and Stampin' Up! will be giving $2 from every set we received (plus all future sets sold) to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. A friend of mine stayed at a Ronald McDonald house for 3 months after her daughter was born 3 months early (happy to report, the daughter is now in grade school and doing great) so it makes me smile to know dollars are going to this cause.

It's been fun hanging out with some friends. Susan and I both celebrated 5 years as demonstrators so I decided to capture the moment ...


And, ended the day by having dinner & drinks with Teresa & Cheryl, demonstrator friends I met at convention last year in Denver ...


Here are a couple of the projects we made today. I had fun not only playing with some of the new Stampin' Up! products but also learning new techniques. All the projects today featured the new 'Eastern Blooms' stamp set - love it! Here are a couple of the projects - will post the others when I get home (just wait until you see the ribbon rosette)

This card uses several new In Colors: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss and Tangerine Tango (ink). The main focal point of the card was made by dry embossing using the Floral Frenzy Brass Classy Brass template and then lightly brayering Tangerine Tango (new In Color) over the de-bossed side and using the template again as a guide to create the stems by making little dots with a white gel pen. I used the Color Spritzer Tool for the first time (yep, that's on my wish list now, too)


The next project is a mini-book made using two 3 x 3 inch Love Notes in Tangerine Tango and the coordinating envelopes in Very Vanilla. Of course, I didn't have pictures with me to finish off the inside so will have to do that at home. I was also thinking this could be a creative new form of invitation ... a little booklet highlight weekend events for a girls getaway to the spa ...



I'll post the other project pics when I get home. In fact, I have tons (only a slight exageration) of pictures from convention so I'll be creating some photo galleries to share.

2008 Convention - Day 3

Wrapping up the third day of Stampin' Up!'s demonstrator convention ... but first, a bit more about yesterday. As I mentioned, it was "Awards Night" which means stampers were recognized for all sorts of achievements they accomplished during the past year. Stampin' Up! also announced their new demonstrator advisory board (they pick 8 new members each year) and my upline, Patty Bennett, was chosen to be a member.

I managed to snap a couple pics. Here's Patty standing out in the crowd just after her name was called ...


And, of course, getting a congratulatory hug from Stampin' Up! co-founder, Shelli Gardner ...


After all the awards were handed out, it was time for the entertainment. As I mentioned in day 2's post, the band was Tonic Sol-fa, an acappella group from Minneapolis, and they were great. Here are a couple snaps of the band ...



Congratulations, Patty.


The big announcement today, Stampin' Up! has partnered with Sizzix to deliver an SU! Big Shot and exclusive Stampin' Up! die-cuts and embossing templates. The convention center practically shook from the cheers in the room. The projects were adorable (stay tuned for more pictures) I'm excited to get mine and share it with all the visitors to the Stamp Garage.

Of course, there are the new stamp sets, too. Here are a couple more make-n-take projects from yesterday. These both feature Stampin' Up!'s "Flight of the Butterfly" set.

The scrapbook page uses cardstock in: More Mustard, Old Olive, Rose Red, Whisper White (to stamp the little butterfly) and the new In Color Baja Breeze. It also features On Board chipboard 'Loads of Letters', a flower from the 'Flower Fusion Too accents & Elements' kit and a button in Baja Breeze from the new Button Bouquet.


The card use cardstock in: More Mustard, Certainly Celery and the new In Colors Baja Breeze and Riding Hood Red. It also features a 'U' from On Board chipboard 'Loads of Letters' and a brad from the new Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware kit (shabby chic anyone? these new Vanilla hardware pieces are great!). The circle was cut using teh Coluzzle (5th circle from the center) and the scalloped edge was punched using Stampin' Up!'s new Scallop Edge punch (mmm, punches!)


Long day, but a good day. Thoroughly enjoying my stay at The Peery Hotel ..


So, closing out with a snap of some stampers happily swapping cards at The Peery ...


One more day of convention festivities tomorrow ...