One last 6X6 layout

I just love these photos from the Ingalls homestead! There was a teacher in the schoolhouse who talked about what the one-room schoolhouse was like. Daniel also made rope, which was really cool!
If you're an SU demo, we're announcing the July WICKED stamper on Wednesday. Since I am lucky enough to see the projects in advance, I've already made a card for one of the projects, and I'll post it on Wednesday. Also, on Wednesday, this week's Workshop Wow is a good one if I do say so myself, and I'll post that project here on Friday.
Happy stamping!

Combining the old and the new

Here's a quick card combining an old set (Wanted) with the new In Colors. One of my blogging sisters did this first, and I think it's a great idea!
This card literally took about 15 minutes. I used some of the smaller stamps to create a background on Naturals Ivory cardstock. That is matted on Dusty Durango. The card base is Soft Suede. Add a few punches and the plain side of some new ribbon, and the card is done!
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Wanted, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper: Naturals Ivory, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Soft Suede; Ink: Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Soft Suede; Accessories: Crushed Curry polka dot grosgrain ribbon, small star punch, scallop circle punch, ticket corner punch, word window punch, modern label punch, gold brad
Happy stamping!

Double Aperture Card

Patty and I take turns hosting the Workshop Wow challenge on SCS. This week, it's Patty's turn, but she's out in the woods. So I'm posting her challenge for her. It's a double aperture card. Directions and much better photos can be found here. Their measurements are metric, so I made a very simple version just so I could get some measurements for you.
My card base is 5 1/2" X 12", scored at 3", 6" and 9". The insert is 3" X 12", scored at 3", 6" and 9". Each piece is folded to form a W. With the cardbase folded closed, I marked the opening and cut it with scissors (I'm not good with a craft knife.) I started 1 1/2" down. The opening I cut is 2" in and 2 1/2" top to bottom. Then in the center of the top and bottom of the opening, I cut slits to hold the insert. With the insert folded closed, I cut slits centered on the top and bottom.
It took a little fiddling to get the pieces to fit together, so I'd recommend doing all of the decorating first.

Here's a different view to get more of the 3-D effect. Sorry my photos aren't better!
Happy stamping!

Grandma's Marathon

This year, my friend Alyssa and I volunteered at Grandma's Marathon. Grandma's Marathon is one of the top marathons in the country and takes place right here in Duluth where I live. Alyssa and I are trainers at United Healthcare, and 130 UHC employees manned a series of water stations at mile marker 17. As you can see from the above picture, we had a Hawaiian theme. I'm on the left.

I took this photo during the half marathon. It really was a sea of runners! I felt sorry for them because it was so hot, which is very unusual for Duluth. There were 5600 finishers in the half marathon and 5800 finishers in the marathon.

I'm sorry I don't have a card to post. Life has been busy lately, and I haven't been able to do much stamping.

Shaving cream

For this week's Workshop Wow challenge, I asked my fellow SCSers to make a wow card using glossy cardstock. Even though it's been around forever, I've never done the shaving cream technique. If you haven't done it either, check out the tutorial. It was a lot of fun!
I used retiring In Colors on my card as well as a retiring stamp set and retiring ribbon.
Supplies (all SU except shaving cream): Stamps: Doodle This; Paper: glossy white, kiwi kiss textured; Ink: Black Stazon, kiwi kiss, baja breeze, pacific point; Accessories: shaving cream, ice rhinestone brad, pacific point striped grosgrain ribbon
Happy stamping!

Another 6X6 layout

In this set of pages, I really wanted the photos to be the focus, so I didn't trim them much. I used the ticket corner punch to give them a little something extra. This is a farm where the Ingalls family lived when Laura Ingalls Wilder was a girl.
Happy stamping!

Picture frame

I have several picture frames I got at the dollar spot at Target a couple of years ago. They hold a 4X6 photo. I used Mod Podge (matte finish) to adhere this Urban Oasis DSP to the frame. I cut out the center section in one piece, so I decided to use it as the photo mat. I love the way it carries the design in to the photo area. This is very easy to do and makes a great gift!
Happy stamping!

Stampin' Up featured on Cards blog

Stampin' Up was featured on Cards Magazine's blog here. You can get another look at some of the new In Colors!
Happy stamping!

New stuff!!!!

I got my new stuff today as well as my new catalog! I got all of the new In Colors (ink and cardstock--both regular and textured), polka dot grosgrain ribbon in Rich Razzleberry and Crushed Curry, the new modern label punch, and 2 stamp sets (Circle Circus and Teeny Tiny Phrases). I got Teeny Tiny Phrases for free based on my SAB sales; it has 24 phrases for virtually every occasion sized to fit the word window and modern label punches. Circle Circus has 10 patterned stamps made to fit in the various circle punches. Even though the sets are die-cut, it still took a while to get them all mounted. I just had to make something, so I decided to keep it simple. I chose my favorite In Color, Rich Razzleberry (no surprise there) and the one I think Mama will like the best: Bermuda Bay. I have to say that it makes me think of Miami Vice though, LOL.
Supplies (all NEW SU): Stamps: Circle Circus, Teeny Tiny Phrases; Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay; Ink: Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry; Accessories: Rich Razzleberry dotted grosgrain ribbon, modern label punch, sponge
Happy stamping!

Another spread of 6X6

These pages make better use of the stickers from the Tailor Made Simply Scrappin' Kit.
Happy stamping!

Scrapbooking with a Simply Scrappin' Kit

If you follow my blog, you know that I'm not much of a scrapbooker. I've done a few pages here and there, and I did do a couple of scrapbooks several years ago, but it's not really on my radar at all.
I've been wanting to scrap a trip we took to South Dakota back in 2004. I'd even bought a 6X6 album right after we went, but that was as far as I got. When the last catalog came out, I saw the Tailor Made Simply Scrappin' Kit, and I knew it would be perfect for our trip. I love the colors (Not Quite Navy, Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand and Chocolate Chip), and the images are from Le Jardin Botanique and are perfect for all of the outdoor photos from our trip.
On Friday, we had craft night, and I finally got started. I spent about 3 hours total. After organizing my photos and notes, I completed the title page and 3 2-page spreads. The only extra supplies I used were adhesive, paper cutter, circle and oval cutters, Chocolate Chip marker, ticket corner punch and photo corner punch.

P.S. My catalog preorder is due to arrive on Thursday, which is the first night I have free to stamp this week anyway! I'll do my best to have something new and exciting to post for you on Friday.

Happy stamping!

Gorgeous color combo

For this week's workshop wow challenge, I issued a triple challenge. The first part of the challenge is this awesome color combo: Elegant Eggplant, Baja Breeze, Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss. The second part of the challenge was to use retiring items. Then there was a bonus challenge: use shimmery white cardstock and an aquapainter. Why the bonus challenge? One of my faithful participants just ordered them because of the reinker splash challenge and wants to use them! I told her I'd use my influence to work them in, LOL!
I don't think this card is really a wow, but I did manage to work in several retiring items. And the color combo is just fab! (I can say that because I didn't come up with it!) It would also be easy to do at at workshop, and it's a great way to use up those retiring accessories but still convince your customers how useful they are.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Simply Said, Watercolor Joy; Paper: Shimmery White, Elegant Eggplant, Baja Breeze; Ink: Basic Gray, Elegant Eggplant, Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss; Accessories: Flower Fusion Too, Pacific Point corduroy button, 5/16" brads, Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon, aquapainter
Happy stamping!

Wanna see the new In Colors?

The fabulous and talented Dawn Olchefske already has the In Colors in her hot little hands and has posted a comparison chart on her blog. I am dying to get my hands on Rich Razzleberry! My order better ship tomorrow, or you may have to visit me in the hospital!
Happy stamping!

3-D Book Gift Card Holder

Last week's 3-D demo challenge was this adorable gift card holder that looks like a book. You can find the directions here.
I used my To the Nines specialty DSP to cover the chipboard for the book cover. I know Rhonda and Pauline will be so proud of me because I even used Sage Shadow to make the box on the inside. I don't know why, but I can't stand Sage Shadow! So I got this DSP to force myself to use it more.
The "title" on the book spine is a piece of Canvas Cuts with a Fashion District rub-on.

To go with the heart theme, I added some hearts punched from a coordinating piece of DSP with the Heart to Heart punch.

Happy stamping!

Last Chance Lists!

Stampin' Up released its Last Chance stamp set list today. There's a link over on the left beneath the catalog link. I only had 5 sets and 1 wheel retire; I think that's a record!
They also released the Last Chance Accessories list, and some of them are on sale! (They're listed at the top.) Remember that accessories are for sale only while supplies last, so get your In Color supplies while you can!
Speaking of In Colors, we got to see a sneak peek preorder list today. The In Colors are so bright and cheery, just perfect for these tough times. According to the SU website, we can show sneak peek items once we get them, but no other new catalog stuff (including a photo of the catalog) before July 1. SU is sending us our free catalog along with our first order this month. Whoohoo!!!

Quick and easy Carousel Note cards

I'm still trying to use up a lot of my accessories that I think are going to retire. I still have a few Carousel Notes left, so I decided to use one to make some cards. I started with a Ruby Red note. Next, I used the Circle Scissor Plus to cut a round piece. First I cut the inside at 3 1/4 and then I cut at 4". I used the 2 way glue pen to adhere it to the Carousel Note (see photo below).
Then I cut the Carousel Note into 4 equal pieces and adhered them to 4 Kraft card bases. I added a Chocolate Chip corduroy button to the corner and some Baja Breeze satin ribbon from the Valet Ribbon Originals. Now I have 4 cards ready to go; all I have to do is add a rub-on sentiment!

Happy stamping!