Stampin Up Circle Monogram Stamp

Not a card maker or crafter, but want to find an easy way to step up your cards and gifts?  Stampin Up is now offering a monogram stamp to add creativity to all that you do!  The new photopolymer personalized stamp can be used as address label or anything else you want to personalize.  It also gives a wonderful personal touch to gifts and goodies. Here are just a few customization ideas (for you or for the perfect gift):

• Address stamp
• Thank you
• From the classroom of (for a teacher gift)
• From the kitchen of
• Made with love
• This book belongs to (great gift for new college students)
• From the desk of
• Just married
• Save the date
• Birthday Party
• Promote your business

You will need to order Clear Block B (item #117147 $5.95) to adhere your stamp to.  Want to place an order? Go to www.stampinup.com and create a login in account.  You will be able to customize your stamp.  Also, click on "Find Demonstrator" and enter my last name and zip code "Pollard 19802" and I will receive credit for your order! Please contact me with any questions.

Have a great weekend!!

A Little DIY

So happy Spring is finally here, although for me, it brings my dreaded allergies.  I haven't been in the card making mood lately.  I've had some pain in both my wrist and elbow, which has pretty much stopped me in my card making tracks.  I still love crafting, but I've had to scale way back and look at other outlets.

I recently went shopping for a spring wreath. I was shocked at the prices.  I decided a wreath would be my next project. After some looking online, I decided to make this paper wreath.

 

This wreath is made from brown paper bags.  I used a roll of tape as my pattern to cut a circle. I bought a 14" styrofoam wreath and had to cut out about 200 circles.  No kidding.  I could have used a circle punch but it's heavy and hurts my arm.  I then folded the circles over a pencil eraser, added a dab of glue from my hot glue gun, and placed the circles on the wreath.  I added the red flower, since this one is for a friend of mine and her front door is red.

 

This next wreath is made from Stampin Up's! Burlap and Blossoms wreath kit.  The kit comes with a cardboard circle to use to make the actual wreath.  I decided to punch my kit up a bit, by adding the flowers to a grapevine wreath (purchased online from Hobby Lobby for $3.99).



The flowers come in the kit and are made from pre-cut circles.  I thought "kit" would mean this is a quick and easy project.  So not the case, because there is a lot of flower assembly required.  I like the finished product and my co-worker (who I made this for) really loves it, so mission accomplished!

Project Life by Stampin Up!

 

Stampin Up announced yesterday that they have teamed up with Becky Higgins to bring a new way of scrapbooking.  Project Life is here!  Read more:

 

We are so so so excited to let you know we’ve partnered with the amazing Becky Higgins to bring you the real deal—authentic Project Life products, now in exclusive Stampin’ Up! colors and designs.

If you’ve somehow missed the Project Life craze and are wondering what it’s all about, we’ll fill you in: it’s a super simple, totally affordable way to get your photos into albums: you just slip your photos into Photo Pocket Pages and add designed cards. It’s a back-to-basics approach to documenting your life. In a nutshell, it’s all about spending more time making memories and less time scrapbooking them.

You’ll be able to order a selection of Project Life products starting May 1! And with the launch of our new annual catalog on June 2, you’ll be able to buy from our complete line of Project Life products

 

 

 

 

The bottom line is that Project Life will make scrapbooking easier and less time consuming to do.  Imagine having a kit that will allow you to scrap all of your precious memories quickly and easily!  I think simplicity is one of the main reasons people don't complete scrapbooks.  Project Life is here to take care of all of that. 

 

You will be able to order products on May 1st.  As a demonstrator, I will be able to order products this coming Monday, April 21st.  Don't want to wait? Become a demonstator now and start your Project Life scrapbooks early!  The full line Project Life products will be availble in Stampin Up's new catalog, which comes out in June.

Pop Up Box Card

Hi Guys! It's been awhile since I've posted.  I think the winter and snow took away some of my creative mojo.  We had a welcome break this weekend on the East Coast, so I did a bit of stamping yesterday.  The latest trend seems to be pop up cards.  I played around with a pop-up box card yesterday.  Check it out:

My favorite part of this card is that it lies flat and fits into a regular sized envelope.

I think these are adorable for kids birthdays or any occasion.  Mother's or Father's Day, Easter.  Love it!

Modge Podge and Coffee....

So, I broke down and bought the "Perfect Blend" stamp set.  I have been looking at it since it first came into the 2013-2014 catalog.  As a coffee lover, I probably should have bought the set sooner, but I didn't.

 

Once I added the set to my wish list, I googled ideas for it.  Imagine my surprise when I found Brandy Cox's idea to use actual coffee on the card (see here) !!  I placed my order and WAITED for the stamp set to come.   Here is my version of the card.

You may be wondering, how the devil do you put coffee on a card?  Has anyone ever heard of "Modge Podge"? It sounds like something from my past as an arts and crafts camp counselor, but I can't recall with certainty.  But modge podge is the answer to how do you get the coffee to stick to the paper.  Modge podge really makes the paper curl, so it was a bit of a challenge.  Right now, I have coffee grounds all over my craft space, but it smells so good.  I can't wait to send a few of these cards to my friends and fellow "caufee" lovers.

You may also notice the hexagon "texture" on the white overlay.  How did I do that? Well, I bought this:

This is Stampin Up's "Texture Boutique", which allows you to dry emboss patterns on card stock.  I only have one pattern, so I plan to use it a lot. 

Valentine's Cards

I was finally able to find some time to play with my ink and stamps!!  I focused on Valentine's Day and all of the new items I ordered and a special birthday card for my cousin, whose birthday is on Valentine's Day.  First the 2 Valentine's Cards.

This card uses the Banner Blast greetings set from Sale-A-Bration.  It is free with a $50 purchase and also comes with a punch for the banners (also free with a $50 purchase).  Let me say, this set and punch were both a little smaller than I envisioned.  Also, the idea of hanging a string banner to put the tags on was easier in my mind than in actuality.  Since it's a pretty simple card, I wanted to punch up the white background. Using my Diagonal Score Board (for the first time), I did a 'stripe' pattern on the white background.  

 I wish I could say that this card was my original idea, but it isn't. I saw a version of this on Dawn Griffith's web site and she got the idea from someone in her down line.  I'm not sure why I love this card so much.  Maybe its the simplicity of the Crumb Cake and Red card stock.  Or the actual inking the blocks and using them as stamps themselves.  Or maybe it's the Eiffel Tower stamp and Key from the "Follow My Heart" stamp set.  Or the little heart from the Owl Builder Punch.  Not sure, but this card is for my hubby.  I love it and will be using this same design for birthday cards for 2 of my friends who love all things about Paris.

 

I posted this card before, but used some of the new items in my last order to take it up a notch and make it into a birthday card.  I added a strip of Red Glimmer paper and the greeting is from the "Really Good Greetings " set and says, "finally a day that really is all about you".  I punched a little heart from the Owl Builder Punch and added it.  And I have to admit (again) I only bought the Owl Builder punch for this little heart, so I'm happy I use it so frequently.

Okay, so there are my Valentine's card shares.  I have ONE more to share with you.  Part of is is drying and I am waiting for one last thing to finish my card (and I'll share that "last thing" with you as well).  Once it's all assembled and properly completed, I will be sharing. 

Batting 1000

At least I think that's the correct term.  I titled my post this way because I hit 1,000 blog hits.  Actually, it's 1,008!! I'm very excited!

I had an order from Stampin Up that was supposed to come last Friday and my plan was to create all weekend.  Unfortunately, my order didn't show up until Monday.  So while I did create, it wasn't with all the new "stuff" that I ordered.  Here are the cards I made with what I had on hand:

The first is a sympathy card.  I decided to make this one kind of bright and happy. 

I also played around with the Happy Watercolor stamp set from the Occasions Catalog.  The first card was featured in the Stampin' Success magazine.  I think this will make an adorable set of Thank you cards.

This card is a take off on the black and white card I made a few weeks ago.

I'll be back with some Valentine's cards.  I'm sooo excited to share them with you!