Saturday, September 25, 2010

Happy Birthday CASE


Hi Everyone!
  Today I have a CASE for you.  I got this idea from Andrea Walford (www.andreawalford.com) and I loved her picture of the cards made from this Write Stuff Simply Scrappin package so much, I copied it down to the last detail.  This paper was such a great deal because it came with heavyweight cardstock and all these cute die cut elements, like the notebook paper and stars.  I bought an extra package before it retired, and I think I will make a set of cards for Alex's teacher with it.  If you love this, too, keep an eye out at Stampin' Up's clearance rack--you never know when it may show up.  You can get to the clearance rack by clicking on my Stampin' Up website link on the right hand side of my blog.  There are some great deals there right now!  
  I hope to post some original creations for you soon.  I have had quite the week.  My little guy is getting his molars which has caused a horrible diaper rash.  He had to be out of daycare for a few days.  Thankfully he got to be with Grandpa Alan (my husband's Dad) on one day, and my Mom came up to be with him on Friday (She lives in the Twin Cities), and we have a great new thing starting on Monday.  My sister is going to come up (she also lives in the Cities) and is going to be our Nanny for him during the week and then go home on weekends.  She recently was laid off from her job, and we have been thinking for some time if we could hire a nanny we'd like to, so it's win-win.  We can't wait for her to start and are thrilled that we have family that's so willing to help us out.  
  Speaking of family--I had promised last week that I would show you some pictures of my nephew who was here last week.  Check out this cute one of him with my Jack.  (The happy grown up faces on the sidelines are my mother and father in law :) )  They are 360 days apart-- :)  Alex, my oldest, thought they were a lot of fun, but sure was glad he could escape to go play on the computer. We'll have more pictures that have the 3 of them after we are all together again at Thanksgiving.
  Thank you all for stopping in!!  Hope you are having a great weekend.

Happy Stampin!
Amy

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Stampin Up Only Challenge #2--Big Shot

Hi Everyone!!!    
Glad you are stopping in today.  If you are one of my followers--HI!!  If you are new popping over to my blog from the challenge blog (www.suochallenges.com), thanks for checking us (and me) out--I hope you'll stay awhile and play along with us.
  Today's challenge was to get out your Big Shot and create something.  Last week I gave a sneak peek of what was to come here.  I have a 3rd grader.  Any of you out there with kids, big or small, remember that with Back-to-School comes ALL kinds of invitations.  Alex has some great friends, and the birthday party invitations have already started rolling in.  Today I created a gift bag with the Big Shot.  I used the Fancy Favor die cut.  I love this one.  It can be an elegant wedding favor die cut, it can be a basic bag for a sweet thank you, or, as you'll see in this picture, it will be great for a boy's birthday gift.
  I used the Celebrations Designer Series paper, the Lots of Tags die for the matte for the birthday sentiment (which comes from Occasional Quotes and is stamped in Pacific Point), and for inside, one of our cute little cellophane bags tied with a Real Red grosgrain ribbon.
  What do you think?  Stop by all the other's blogs and see what they have in store for you.  Hope you'll play along.  Please leave a comment here--I love comments!  Thanks for stopping in!

Happy Stampin!
Amy

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Progressive Scrapbooking


Hi Everyone--
  Ok, I admit it.  I love the look of a scrapbook, and I love the ideas behind a scrapbook, but I would never call myself a scrapbooker.  I find it a challenge to make good layouts that capture what I'm trying to portray and are consistent.   I am a card maker through and through-it's a smaller canvas and far less intimidating.  However, with the start of my stamp club this year, I have some avid scrapbookers, some pure card makers, some who like to dabble in both, and some who are entirely new to paper crafting and don't know what camp they may be in.  Knowing this, I have forced myself out of my comfort zone and created a few scrapbooking projects for my club.  Today, I'll be sharing the first one with you, gentle comments are welcomed {and hoped for}!
  With Halloween just around the corner, I wanted to do a simple page.  Most of my group either has small kids, has grandkids, or nieces and nephews who will be dressing up this Halloween.  (Some may even dress up themselves, you never know!)  Everyone made the 6x6 page, and then I showed them the 8 1/2x11 and 12x12.  (The finished 12x12 I have patiently waiting to put a picture in of my Star Wars character and Clifford the Big Red Dog)
  Here is the finished 6x6.  We used Basic Black as the background, a layer of Pumpkin Pie, and the picture frame layer of Concord Crush.  I used the Owl punch flipped upside down to make the ghosts, the bitty bat punch, and the rounded label punch.  Sets featured were Dark and Dreary, Perfect Punches, Wicked Cool, and Tiny Tags.
Here are the 8 1/2x11 and then the finished 12x12 as well.  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you all have a great day!
Happy Stampin!
Amy



8 1/2x11 I used Pumpkin Pie as the base and a wheel
The finished 12x12 is on Basic Black with spots for journaling



Saturday, September 18, 2010

Decor Elements


Hi Everyone--
  Today I am featuring another line of products that Stampin' Up offers.  It's the black Dark and Dreary Decor Elements currently for sale in our Holiday Mini.  They are so easy to use, and they have a stunning effect.  
  For today's project I found this vintage tray at a thrift store for $3.  I loved the mirrored scalloped background and the weathered finish.  I knew it would work perfect for this project.  When I got it home I washed the tray off so there was a clean and dry area to work on.  Then, I unrolled my sheet of Decor Elements and chose the ones I wanted to work with.  I cut them out leaving about an inch around each shape.  Then, you take the scraper Decor Elements tool, turn the sheet over, and rub the scraper along the back of each of the shapes.  You peel apart the two sheets so the image is on the contact paper type sheet (if it doesn't peel right away, put them back together and run the scraper along it some more until it catches) line up the image on whatever surface you are working with, smooth it out, and use the scraper tool over the top.  Now you are ready for the big reveal.  Peel the contact paper off and your image is there.  
  If you haven't ever tried this product line, I'd highly suggest giving it a try.  I have used them on picture frames, mirrors, and dishes.  All of them have turned out great.  In fact, I plan to be featuring some Christmas ones on my blog soon.  
 Thanks for stopping in!!  Hope you'll stop again soon.

Happy Stampin!
Amy

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Winners Coming Soon....and a Sneak Peek...




Hi Everyone!!!
  I'm really looking forward to this weekend!!  My brother-in-law and sister-in-law are coming with my nephew!!  He will turn 7 months old on Saturday and we haven't seen him since he was about a month old.  He is just shy of a year younger than my Jack.  So, Jack and Alex are looking forward to seeing their cousin this weekend.  Should be a busy and fun time!!
  I am giving you a sneak peek at my challenge post for next week on the Stampin' Up Only challenges blog.  (www.suochallenges.com)  We will be picking the top 3 winners on Monday, so if you have wanted to upload a Fall card to play along and haven't had a chance yet, you STILL HAVE TIME!! :)  Our new challenge will go live on Tuesday morning, and what I am sharing with you today will go along with my submission.  We have a great design team and I can't wait to see what they have to share with all of you.
  On to the card! With my oldest back in school, it's the season for birthday parties!  Alex and his friends will be turning 9 this year, so they are at that in-between stage.  I like the bright colors and graphic prints the Celebration Designer Series Paper uses, it's perfect for these boys!!  For this card I used a Real Red base, two of the designs used in the Celebrations paper pack, the Decorative Label punch and the Modern Label punch.  The sentiment comes from Occasional Quotes and is stamped in Pacific Point.  Hope you enjoy--and tune in Tuesday to see what goes with this card!  I'll try and pop in with some pictures of the boys this weekend.  :)  Thanks for stopping in!!

Happy Stampin,
Amy

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Coming Soon....

Hi Everyone--
  A newsy post tonight, and I promise some new pictures of craftiness to come this week.  I had my 2nd stamp camp tonight--it was a great success.  We did the progressive scrapbook page.  Each of the girls made a cute Halloween 6x6 page on which I featured the Owl Punch and the Bitty Bat Punch.  I will take pictures of the 6x6, the 8 1/2 x 11 and the 12x12 page and feature them this week.  We had a blast--ladies, if any of you are reading this--thanks again!!
  I also am working on my 2nd Design Team Challenge for the Stampin' Up Only Challenges site.  If you haven't checked us out yet, please do!  We have a card call open until 9/20 and the theme is Fall.  Current or retired merchandise as long as it's all Stampin' Up product.  We have a fabulous design team--come check us out and play along, I'd love to see what you create.  The site is www.suochallenges.com   We'll have a new challenge up on 9/21 and I can't wait for you to see what I've cooked up!!  If you do hop over and don't want to submit a card for this challenge, leave us a comment and let us know what you think of the site.
  Thanks for checking in!!  More to share with you soon.

Happy Stampin-
Amy

PS....I am participating in a vendor fair at the end of the month.  Any of you done these? If so, what do you find sells the most?

Friday, September 10, 2010

Back to School





Hi Everyone!
  It was back to school week here, so it's been busy!!  The weather has definitely turned to Fall and the breeze blowing off Lake Superior has a bit of a bite to it now as the trees are starting to change in to their vibrant Fall colors.  This is my favorite time of year!!  My Alex started 3rd grade this week, and his biggest revelation so far--there's no more snack in 3rd grade Mom!!
  So, with back to school comes birthday party invitations and teacher appreciation gifts.  Which leads me to this teacher thank you that I created at the end of the year last year for Alex's 2nd grade teacher.  I Googled "pop up gift card holder" and found the directions.
  I used the set "First Day" that just retired in the Summer Mini (I'm keeping it around though until Stampin' Up comes up wit something like it or brings it in to next year's catalog :) ).  Although, this idea could work with all kinds of current sets.



  If you wanted to do a teacher thing, you could use a letter set to make a patterned background and the Tart and Tangy apple for your image--or you could use some of Fox and Friends.  Anyways--on to the pictures.  Enjoy!!  If your kiddos headed back to school this week, I hope they had a good week, and if you are a teacher, thanks for all you do!!

Happy Stampin'

Amy

PS...If you haven't checked it out yet--come check out SUO Challenges (www.suochallenges.com) I am on the design team of a brand new Stampin' Up Only product challenge site.  I am amongst good company with Cindy, Michelle, Deb, Jen, Karen and Melina.  Come check us out, there's something for everyone, we'd love to have you play along!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

SUO Challenges 1st Challenge

Good Morning Everyone!!
  I hope you all had a great holiday weekend.  We spent some time with my parents at their cabin and even snuck in a boat ride on the pontoon.  It definitely felt like a Fall boat ride though.  The wind out on the lake was cold, instead of a soft summer breeze, and the light coming through the trees and in the sky looked like a crisp Fall day, not a hazy summer one.  
  Fall was the theme of our first challenge over at www.suochallenges.com  If you haven't already, come check us out and play along.   Currently we will be doing a new challenge every other week, changing it over to weekly if this really takes off.  I had a great time creating what's in store for you this week, as well as for the next challenge.  :)  I hope you all like it, too.  Let's take a look at my card.


I LOVE fall colors.  For this card I used the new Autumn Spice designer series paper from the Holiday Mini.  If you don't have this already, or it isn't on your wish list, it needs a spot.  I didn't think I really needed another DSP right now, but I ordered it for this challenge and for something we are going to be doing in my stamp club, and I'm SO glad I did.  It is really pretty and all of the papers are a thicker weight and textured.  I layered up five of the different patterns in a line to create my background.  The piece over that is Pear Pizazz card stock stamped with Pear Pizazz ink.  I used the cute set in the big Idea Book and Catalog called Falling Leaves for the leaves and the sentiment.  This is a set I hadn't really looked at too much, and we used it for a project that we created in one of the classes at Convention and I decided it was a must have.  Lastly, I used the new Designer Label Punch from the Holiday Mini, touched the edges with my ink and used the new antique brads (LOVE) for the finishing touch.  :)  

Well--I have to head off to work.  Leave me a comment.  I'd love to know what you think of this card, and our design team.  I'd also love to see you play along with us at the challenge site.  We'll be picking the top 3 submissions and they get a cool blog banner!!  Have a great day everyone.  Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Stampin!
Amy

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Fox and Friends Thank You


Hi Everyone~
  Today is a quick post because soon we will be heading out to watch my 8 year old play soccer.  :)  It's a beautiful day here today, so it will be nice to be out and about a bit.
  This is a set of thank-you cards I made for my cousin's baby shower basket.  I used the sentiment from Thank You Kindly, the 3 1/2x5 pre-scored white note cards (LOVE these---they are such a time saver) that come with envelopes, the Good Neighbor DSP that was available during Sale-a-Bration, the scallop trim border punch, and the little animals from Fox and Friends.  I was really happy with how they turned out, and I liked the coordinating animal on the envelope for a little extra something.  My cousin really liked them, too--and I know she used them because I got the turtle in the mail as my thank you.  I love being able to customize gifts for an occasion and knowing the recipient really likes them.  These took me almost no time to make, I think the whole set of 10 took me about a half hour to make.  
  Thanks for checking in everyone!!  Have a great evening.  :)

Happy Stampin!!
Amy

PS--TODAY IS THE START OF THE HOLIDAY MINI!!  Oh my  GOSH it's their best one yet.  Click on the link to my Stampin' Up site on the right hand side of my blog and you can download a copy--or, send me a message and I can mail one to you.  Even better--book a workshop, you'll love to see some of these new crafty goodies in person, and so will your friends.  I still have a few dates on my calendar.  :)