Ready for Back-to-School

Whoo hoo! School starts this week. I love having the kids home for the summer but to be honest, by the end of August I look forward to getting back to a regular schedule, having a little peace and quiet, and actually have the house stay clean longer than 10 minutes.

This weekend, after I finished up some back-to-shopping, I thought I would try making some "backpacks" for my son's teacher and principal based on a tutorial I saw over on splitcoaststampers.com. I think they turned out pretty cute.


The template for the tutorial seemed a little small to me, so I enlarged it about 30% before I cut it out. Since the template was larger, I did need to use a 12" x 12" piece of card stock. For paper I used Brilliant Blue card stock from Stampin'Up!. The patterned paper was some I have had in my stockpile forever (I think it is from Paper Pizazz) and I back it with white card stock to make it sturdier.



Here's a view of the back.


The front.


And a little card I made for the front pocket.

To secure the flaps I used some Velcro closures. And finally, I filled the packs with some Jolly Rancher candies. Now to get them over to school before I am tempted to eat a few pieces.

Bye, for now.

Convention '09 - Part 2

Some of the biggest buzz at convention this year was for Stampin'Up!'s exclusive new Build-a-Bear Workshop® collection and the launch of My Digital Studio®, Stampin'Up!'s new software program for scrapbooking and card making.



Just imagine all the creative ways to use this new Build-a-Bear Workshop® line; invitations, party favors, paper dolls, gift items,.... Here is a sample of a few projects displayed during convention.


Isn't this magnet board cute? The bears and their little outfits are removable, with extra wardrobe choices stored on the back of the board.



Here's a look at a coloring book and tote bag, and a personalized book bag.



The Build-a-Bear Workshop® collection premieres September 1st in Stampin'Up!'s Holiday Mini Catalog.



And Stampin'Up! goes digital this fall with the launch of My Digital Studio®, a software program for scrapbooking and cardmaking. These are some projects demonstrated for us at convention.

Besides being incrediably easy-to-use, the colors, graphic images, and embellishments in the software program all match the products in the Stampin'Up! catalog. So if you want to incorporate your digital pages with your traditionally scrapbooked pages, or any other SU! products, everything matches. How cool is that? You will even have the option of having SU! print your pages for you and bind them in a hard cover book.



This digital project was really WOW and only took minutes. The original color photo was converted into a sepia print. The edges were given a digital treatment to look ragged. Then a texture effect was laid over the top of the photo, a couple of "ghosted" snowflakes were also added. It was printed out and framed. And finally a couple of paper snowflakes were punched from cardstock and added as an embellishment to the frame.


And finally, I had to share a photo of Beverly. They had these limited edition Build-a-Bears available for "adoption" in the Memento Mall for all of us convention attendees. Isn't she adorable in her Stampin'Up! apron? The stamp she's holding in her paw reads "Life without stamps...unbearable." That's so true!

Convention '09 - Part 1

Hello Everyone. Well, I'm back from Stampin'Up!'s annual convention. What fun! There was so much to see, so much to do, and so much to share. In fact, this year's theme was Inspire, Create, Share; the perfect summary of what Stampin'Up! is all about. Attending convention really is one of the best bonuses of being a Stampin'Up! demonstrator. I am so excited about all the new products and promotions we have coming up in the next few months. And, of course, I took a TON of photos. So naturally I thought I'd share some of them with you.


This is a photo of my dear friend and fellow demonstrator Joanne and me. This is the 5th year we have attended convention together and we're already talking about our plans for next year.

Home Decor Tour
One of my favorite display areas at convention is the home decor displays. I love seeing all the different decorating ideas, and there are SO many. It is kind of like an "I Spy" game when you view them; standing there trying to spot all the different ways Stampin'Up! products are used. (Click on any of the photos for a larger view.)

Let's start in the bedroom, shall we? And what little girl wouldn't love this room? Check out the pretty border along the top of the wall. It was created with one of SU!'s newest lines Decor Stencils. Specifically the Brocade Flourish stencil (catalog #117971) and All Scallops (#117584).



Here is a closer view of the wall hanger. It was made by covering a piece of wood with Razzleberry Lemonade designer series paper (#115675) and then attaching some reproduction crystal door knobs.


Here is a view of the damsel cap displayed on the headboard. So pretty! I believe the base was made using Bridesmaid specialty paper (#116479). I also 'spy' Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon (#109067), pearls and a stick pin from the Pretties Kit (#109114), Chunky Sprinkles stampin' glitter (#111343), butterflies cut with the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die (#114507), and the Once Upon a Time stamp set (#113746) was also used.


And here's a look at the banner pinned to the foot of the bed. I spy more ribbon, pearls, butterflies, and glitter. The letters are from the On Board Timeless Type chipboard set, covered with glitter. I think the flowers were made using the Flower Layers #3 original die (#114527).


Moving on to the dining room. More stenciling on the walls. Here the Baroque Medallion stencil (/#117973) was used.


A closer look reveals lots of clever ideas. The Cheep Talk stencil (#116570) was used on the pillow, Kind Thoughts Brocade (#116573) on the tray, and a modified version of the Baroque Medallion stencil was used on the rug. The window and the magazine file/box were stenciled using stencils created with Sizzix dies; Serif Essentials (#113464) on the box and Decorative Accents (#114523) on the window.


A frame stamped with craft ink using the popular Baroque Motifs stamp set (#113490).


Oh my! There are so many things stamped and stenciled here, the hatbox, the back of the hutch, the cover of the photo album, the vintage suitcase, the picture frame, the book on the top shelf.... did I miss anything? I just love how so many of the stencils and the Sizzix dies compliment each other.


This "room" wasn't finished when I was photographing the display. They were still stenciling the wall. They (the SU! staff) actually install some of these displays during the convention so you can see how they are created and ask the "installers" questions. Check out the witches chant on the wall. It is from the Decor Elements line, Toil & Trouble (#117945).


Isn't this Halloween tree cool? Again, lots of details here I'm not going to try and list them, but lots of cute things created with Stampin'Up! halloween-themed designer series paper, stamp sets, and Decor Elements.


Does anyone remember Elvira, Mistress of the Dark? This floor lamp reminds me of something she might have in her boudoir. The shade was stenciled with the same stencil as the tray in the dining room display (Kind Thoughts Brocade).


And finally a look at the home office. Well, actually there are lots of ideas here that could be used in a number of rooms in the house. More stenciling on the walls, here the Adornment stencil (#117585) was used on the soft pink walls.


Do you recognize all the shapes cut out for this quilt using the Big Shot die-cut machine? The longer I stood there admiring it, the more I noticed; Beautiful Butterflies die (114507), Build a Flower Set #2 (113446), Hearts Set (#113448), and Scallop Circle #2 (#113469), just to name a few.


Who needs a lamp shade when you have a Big Shot and a Stampin'Up! Flower Folds die (#115970)?


Scrap book paper isn't just for scrap booking. These pretty file folders are covered with Kaleidoscope designer series paper (#115680).


And a bulletin board covered with the same paper.


And, of course, the clock has to match. More designer series paper and numbers cut using the Stampin'Up! Alphabet Simple Numbers die (#115968).

That's the end of our tour folks....
I guess this post got a little long winded. But this is only a small sample of the ideas on display at convention. I hope you were inspired to create something beautiful for your home. I know I was.

If you'd like to order any of the products listed, please go to my Stampin'Up! website by clicking on the icon in the column to the right. Once there, you'll notice a 'shop now' button which will take you directly to the catalog where you can enter in the name of the item or the catalog number.

Stay tuned for more inspiration. As I sort through my photos from convention I'll be posting lots more ideas.

Pop-up Gift Card Holder Tutorial

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been busy working on swaps for the Stampin'Up! convention. Here is a photo of the card I did for an organized swap I'm participating in at convention. It's a pop-up card that holds a gift card inside. I have made a video tutorial if you'd like to try making one.


Supplies: party hearty stamp set; kraft, whisper white, bermuda bay, melon mambo, crushed curry, and rich razzleberry card stock; rich razzleberry, melon mambo, crushed curry, bermuda bay, soft suede classic ink and markers; 1/2" crushed curry polka-dot grosgrain ribbon; scallop edge, 3/4" circle and 3/16" corner rounder craft punches; SU backgrounds 1 Texturz plate.

Again, I just have to confess, I'm a little disappointed in the quality of this photo. I didn't have very good light to shoot this morning. Because of that you may not be able to tell that the blue background on the front of this card has been dry embossed. I also forgot to take a photograph of the inside, but you can see it if you watch the video tutorial that follows.



To make the foundation for this card you will need two pieces of cardstock; measuring 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" and the other 5-1/2" x 6".

Score the larger 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" piece at 4-1/4" (from the longer edge) and fold to 5-1/2" x 4-1/4"

On the 5 1/2" x 6" piece make six score marks (parallel to the 5 1/2" edge) at:
1-1/2", 3", 3-3/4", 4-1/4", 4-3/4" and 5-1/2". Follow the instructions on the video for folding.

Convention '09 Swaps

Hello Everyone. Well, you may have noticed I haven't made any posts recently. I have been busy making swaps for the Stampin'Up! convention. I will be leaving for it in a couple of days. All together I have made 50 "Wow" cards for an organized swap and 175 card fronts for general swapping. So I thought I'd give you a peek at the card fronts I have finished.(I will be posting a video tutorial and a photo of my "Wow" card soon.)


You're On My Mind
I made two versions of this card using supplies I had on hand. All of the supplies are from Stampin'Up! of course, and most are new In-colors from the new catalog. The ingredients are as follows.

Card #1 (left): Upsy Daisy and Baroque Motif stamp sets; whisper white, melon mambo, rich razzleberry, bermuda bay, crushed curry card stock; melon mambo and crushed curry classic ink; whisper white craft ink; 1/2" melon mambo polka-dot and 1/4" whisper white grosgrain ribbons; Scallop Circle and Beautiful Butterflies Bigz dies; and SU backgrounds 1 Texturz plate.

Card #2 (right):Upsy Daisy and Baroque Motif stamp sets; very vanilla, rich razzleberry, dusty durango, soft suede, and taken with teal card stock; rich razzleberry and crushed curry classic ink; whisper white craft ink; 1/2" crushed curry polka-dot and 1/4" very vanilla grosgrain ribbons; Scallop Circle and Beautiful Butterflies Bigz dies; and SU background 1 Texturz plate.


Just Thinking of You
Fifth avenue floral and on your birthday stamp sets; very vanilla, soft suede, crushed curry, and dusty durango card stock; dusty durango and soft suede classic ink; versamark; white embossing powder; 1/2" old olive striped grosgrain ribbon; 3/4" corner rounder craft punch.


Peace & Joy
Dasher stamp set; real red, whisper white, always artichoke and brushed gold card stock; merry moments designer series paper; read red classic ink; Sizzlits Join in the Cheer decorative strip die; Sizzix Scallop Circle #2 Bigz die; SU backgrounds 1 Texturx plate.

P.S.: I'm a little disappointed in the quality of these photos. I didn't have very good light to shoot these this morning. Because of the poor light you may not be able to tell that the background on the "butterfly" cards and the holiday card are dry embossed. The colors are also much brighter in person. Normally, I would re-shoot these, but I have a very long "to-do" list before I leave on Tuesday.