Favourite Trick - Rings and Ribbons!

I hope I didn't mention this earlier this year but its worth it if I did, because this has to be one of my fav ways to dress up a card - using " rings and ribbons " !!!

It's simplicity is great but the fascination I get is from all the combinations I can make by using this technique!

All you do is punch out a ' ring '  - I use a die-cut that has concentric circles in one die, and choose the size I want. Then you 'embed' the ring half-way behind a layer of paper or tag, etc. This 'anchors' the ring by gluing down the hidden part of the ring, allowing you to loop some ribbon through the exposed portion of the ring. See close-up pictures.

It works great for just one ring & ribbon - and it looks scrumptious when you use a whole lotta rings and ribbons!

Give it a try!      

[Note - if you do not have ring die-cut to do this, try using a length of narrow ribbon to make a loop, or even create a circle and cut away or punch out the middle - I am sure there are even more ways to do this if you think on it!]

CLICK on pictures for larger views.                                                                                                  

Look at our 'contest' results - how many cards from half a kit?

I had a lotta fun Sat. at our local demonstrator's holiday get-together....and while I will post later about the fun things, here's one thing - a game where we divided into 2 teams, and each team had 1/2 a scrapbook kit and only 1 scissors, 1 glue and 1  paper scorer between us - talk about limited resources! Then within a time limit, we had to brainstorm about how to turn out the most 'cards'.

Well, on our team - which included a guy - yes, Paul is an avid crafter too!....and Christine who can calculate area's and figures like there is no tomorrow; puttered along before we found our stride and you can see our results!
 The other team objected out loud about their 'differences' and why they should win - but apparently, they divided the cards among themselves afterwards with better panache or something....because they won!

Well - anyways - point was, to brainstorm about coming up with something when you haven't a lot to start with in terms of tools, and only half of a kit.

I think you can see we all did pretty good - that is 36 + 52 cards from one kit!  So a total of 88 cards! 3 x 3 'cards' do count - because we have small envelopes, but I am going to use my share as tags.

Tips to keep Organized during busy times....

I don't know about you, but I dress up the strangest things in an effort to bring on the holiday mood - and this year is no different.

I was thinking of posting some notes as my brain is on overload with 'things to remember'...and I have this little note holder, so using some stamps and recipe cards, I made some simple blank notes which I can post reminders - and it looks kinda festive! And its working.....but I also have last year's idea out again ....

....my handy organizer for all my 'lists'  - this is the my sure-fire way to keep it together, or otherwise I would forget someone - somewhere - and that wouldn't do!

It's a simple red folder ( see picture) I made from one sheet of paper, a chipboard initial, and inside it stores my separate 'LISTS' which are labeled  using my Tab Punch and plain, co-ordinating papers..  I find it easy to locate and my lists are all together! No more frantic searches through drawers, fridge doors and scrap piles! :)

More Ornament Brocade and SnowGlobe Christmas Cards!

Here is another version using the lovely Brocade stamp (scrolls) and pairing it with the Ornament punch and Delightful Decorations stamps from our Mini-Holiday Catalogue.  Its just a nice combination and I am seeing it around the internet...as well as here is another snowglobe version which I showed earlier .......both of .these nice cards are from mu upline, Caroline's blog.

My earlier posts: Brocade and Ornament

PolarBear Snowglobe

Demonstrators Swap '09

Here are the cards I received for taking part in the Demonstrators swap that is part of our INKS team.  Great looking cards I must say!  Everything is Stampin' Up! natch! My card was the Polar Bear Snowglobe which you can see in an earlier post - scroll down.

See SHOP NOW or HERE to find the online catalogue and look up any of these great items used for the cards!

4-Panel Christmas Card with Designer Papers + Birds with Blooms DieCut

Look at what my daughter surprised me with - she made a card like this, and it was soooo pretty, I had to know how.....so she show'd me!  Fancy that - she's been paying attention all this time, lol! 

Not really - I always say that she is very creative when she wants to be....ever since she was very young and she'd come up with some really artful poetry, while she may have made some funny-looking rabbits for easter bunnies or elves (none of them had arms, and very over-sized heads, ) in the beginning...she always was amazing me with the naturalness of her creative streak! 

But I digress....here are the basic instructions....go ahead, make one - they're fun!!!

Card Dimensions

   cardstock = 5.5 x 10-3/4 inches

   score at 3-3/4 and 5-1/2 and 7-1/4 and 9 inches.   Fold into valleys and hills (accordian style)

    turn 90 degrees and fold so that you can cut between (no further, no less) the 5-1/2 and 9 inch scored

   lines, at 1 inch from the bottom.  Unfold back to original, and still working between the area you've just

   cut - push in the center panel so that is folds opposite than the direction of the 1 inch top & bottom of the

   same panel.  See picture.   Pretty easy....decorate as you wish, have fun!

    

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Big Shot and Birds and Blooms Bigz Die/  Scallop Oval and Large Oval Punches/ Soft Suede, Very Vanilla  and Real Red Cardstock, Real Red Classic Ink, Close to Cocoa Designer Paper.

If you'd like to attend class to learn this and more techniques - contact me!

Mini-Album using Die-Cuts

 Here is a little project I did this morning - early - really early, lol!  Mysterious how the mind works when you need it to! :)

I got this idea because another company Quickutz released its SugarPlum series of die-cuts, which are essentially components for making a mini-album.  However, I thought we have the 'TOPNOTE' die-cut - a very versatile die-cut used in many a project; and one can merely use chipboard to make square or rectangular pages!  Use a Crop-A-Dile or similiar tool to make holes to add a method of attaching page after page - and voila!

So I began by making rectangular chipboard cover and pages, and proceeded to ink the edge with red ink, and then choose from my co-ordinating holiday papers to decorate the Covers and each page.  To make the spine, I used the TOPNOTE die with my BIG-SHOT die-cutting machine.

I created my holes and used some beautiful grommets on the front of the spine, and saved some money by using plain white eyelets on the back cover. Without any nice rings in the house at the moment, I chose to use ribbon to tie the piece together. 

I decorated the cover by adding embossed design, and a smaller piece of clear sheet to which I affixed a small bird and flower.

I don't know yet what I will put inside - but I really liked how this came out!  Hope you try it too!

Add as many pages as you want to this mini-album - by using grommets or brads with center holes, or rings..you can take it apart to add or even remove a page.

Polar Bear Stargazing Snowglobe Card

I love the Cold & Cuddly Stamp set - its one of those unusual sets and is packed with little goodies!

I also fell in love with the idea of making a snowglobe card shape - and this set presented me with the perfect opportunity! 

Making a Set of Cards
Needing 11 cards for a swap, I chose this stamp set and went to work!  It's not hard to make a set of cards once you design the first one. After the designing stage, I merely set up an assembly line so-to-speak. I stamped all the polar bears, and all the ice floats onto cardstock.  Then here's the fun part - I put the stamped sheets in a plastic folder and took them with me in my tote. I stop off every morning for a coffee at Tim Ho's usually, and there I whip them out and cut them apart whilst I sip on a cup of java....you need to find a way to make things go smoothly I always say! 

OK - next stage, I made a template of the snow globe out of thin cardboard and traced it twice. Once the entire piece on to Bashful Blue cardstock; and then again partially onto pre-cut squares of Brilliant Blue cardstock. I took my sweet time cutting them - one or two at a time when I had a chance. If you're in a hurry - don't do shapes such as these mind you...stick to rectangles, etc. Or be like me, and start making these 1 week in advance - I'm just sayin'! LOL!

Before assembling the cards, I needed to do the backdrop to create a sense of his environment....I used our white gel pen, and made a line to separate sea from sky. Then switching to a rag, I dragged some white ink (cover the card above with paper) to imitate ici-ness of the North Sea.  I also did the same with a little darker blue ink so there was all the tones from light to dark.  Now I'm ready to add the ice flo and the bear.  I knew he was going to be staring up at the stars, so I set him on the ice flo as such. Glued everything in place.

To add sparkle, I used a VersaMark Pen and traced some lines where I thought it should sparkle and quickly sprinkled on glittery embossing powder, heated it till set.  I stamped the large star (really a snowflake stamp) and did the same.

Now almost done, I added the 'stars' and for these you make like small blots - mix it up between small blots and larger ones, group some, etc. Just like a clear blue evening full of stars!  I even threw in some streaking meteors by dragging the gel pen - just a little. Perhaps that is what has the bear's rapt attention!

I decided to stamp my greeting on the base of the 'snowglobe'.....and this swirly greeting does the trick, although any would do. If I had any of the fake snow, I might of added that too!

Oh - here's a serendipitous tidbit - last spring, while experimenting around, I "speckled" a 12x12 sheet of paper by flicking Bashful Blue refill ink from a toothbrush randomly over it. But then I didn't know what to do with it - so I just stashed it.  All of sudden, it occured to me that it would make a perfect background for an ice flo...pretty neat, huh!

Well - they are done and are in the hands of their new owners via our swap - I hope they are enjoyed, I kinda think they will be! :)

Last Pic of Mystery Stamp Set - #4 Guess What Stampin' Up! Stamp This Is?

Update - sad to say, no one entered for the prize - therefore, no one to give to! 


Here is the last one of the game!

If you see the previous 3 entries (can look under Prize under Labels)....and guess what holiday stamp or stamp set the bitty picture is hinting at, then the first person to correctly guess and notify me with their answer is the winner!  You will win a free class on Dec 6 or 8th (same class)....so you must be able to attend the class in order to play. Them's the rules!

In this pic slice, I am only interested in knowing which of the stamps did the design in the background, not the greeting itself...unless you want to tell me both!

Gooooooooo-d Luck!

Winner announced Nov 29th!

HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA IS ON - SHOP FOR DISCOUNTS - HURRY!

HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANA IS ON!   SHOP  UNTILL NOV 30!  RECEIVE GREAT DISCOUNTS UP TO 50% OFF  

Go to my ONLINE STORE - click HERE (or the SHOP NOW link to the side) .....and browse through all the terrific things .....there is 30,40 and 50%  off and bundles put together!

For instance, see the ULTIMATE STAMPERS STARTER KIT ABOVE  - purchase this great kit for yourself or some lucky person for the holidays for only $102.57...(reg 170.95)....you save 40%!

Looking for some HOLIDAY DECOR items?  Then see the beautiful CHRISTMAS DECOR ELEMENTS BUNDLE ....this beautiful bundle is another 40% off purchase!    They are easily applied to your walls, windows, etc. and then take them down and store them till next year!

There are some great items like PUNCHES on sale!  Take the FOUR SQUARE PUNCH BUNDLE....not only do you get the punch for 50% off but you get a matching stamp set!  Even I can't pass this one up (I really don't have this stamp set and I can always give the punch away as a gift - its a savings!)

The sale is on till NOV 30th!   But SHOP NOW so you get what you want - things have a way of running out during sales - there are a lot of dedicated crafters out there - plus its HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIME!!!

Your credit card will thank you for it - LOL!

NOTE - you may contact me by regular email if you wish to order in person!  Thank You!

Have a great day!

JOIN STAMPIN' UP! DIGITAL STARTER KIT SPECIAL!!!

Now is a good time to join Stampin' Up!   Why?   Because you now have our MY DIGITAL STUDIO - our latest addition to Stampin' Up product line INCLUDED in your Starter Kit!

That's fabulous!  

For a mere $234, you receive this new product which alone retails at just over $100, and your whole Starter Kit is a great deal because its actually worth over $385.  Not so shabby! 
This kit allows you to do "hybrid" projects {conventional paper and digital designs together} and of course, all the 'stand-alone projects' you can dream up!  Its really a great start!

Starter Kit includes:

My Digital Starter software;

Party Hearty and Petal Pizzazz stamp sets

Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pads
Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Real Red Stampin' Write markers
Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Real Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
Button Latte Designer buttons
Stampin' Dimensionals
Mini Glue Dots
SNAIL Adhesive
Business supplies (product catalogues, order forms, training DVD, and other supplies)

[you may substitute stamp sets, inks and papers]

10 GREAT REASONS TO JOIN STAMPIN' UP!

- want to run your own home-based business
- set your time, be your own boss
- have a flexible schedule to accommodate your busy home-life,
- set your own financial goals,
- have access to discounts,
- be the first to receive pre-orders, catalogues, other items not available to the public,
- be part of a larger community of demonstrators,
- be part of my team with my support,
- earn beautiful trips, incentives, bonuses,
- be a creative coach to others - share what you love doing!!!!

ALSO - CONTACT ME TO GET STARTED!   I will be awarding a special bonus to new recruits - more fun stuff!  You will also receive monthly support from me, Team Newsletter, Demonstrator Get-Togethers, Webinars, Technical Training....and so much more!  We swap projects, tips, - and share the glory and the hard times with one another to be a real team, no one is left out on my team! 

CANADIAN DEMONSTRATORS - STAMPIN' UP! IS EVERYWHERE!
YOU CAN LIVE ANYWHERE IN CANADA TO SIGN UP NOW WITH STAMPIN' UP!      ONLINE ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE, OR BY MAIL.

LET'S JOIN FORCES!

BE PART OF A GREAT TEAM & FAMILY

#3 Entry for Mystery Stamp Set Prize - Guess Which Stampin' Up! Stamp Set This Is!

It's getting close to my Holiday Open House on November 29th, 1:30 pm. And on Nov. 28th - I will award a prize of a free class Dec. 6th to one lucky winner. (you must be able to attend this class to win, thank you).


How to win - I posted a slice of a picture featuring a stamp set that can be found in either our Mini-Holiday or regular Idea Catalogue ......See 'SHOP NOW' to take you to catalogues if you do not have one of these catty's.

The person who correctly names all 4 Mystery Stamp Pictures by leaving a comment or emailing me will win. First person!

 Look under Prize in Labels to see the first 2 pictures previously posted. Or scroll downwards.

It's not that hard, so give it a go....AND SO FAR - NOT RECEIVING MANY GUESSES, SO THIS COULD BE AN EASY PRIZE FOR SOMEONE - COME'ON....'FREE' CLASS - SO EASY! LOL
hUGs!

Using Ribbons on your Projects

Another approach to making your projects, is to add embellishments such as ribbon.

Here again, when starting out, buy 1 roll at a time. More of course, if you can, but at least with one - it brings on another 'dimension' to your project - texture.

Here are some examples:

Cards Made Using One Dominant Colour

You don't need to have a whole assortment of ink or paper to get started making cards.  I always advise people starting out not to worry, but to collect ink and paper a step at a time. Starting out myself,I typically bought 2 colours at a time. Then on my next purchase, I added another 2 - that would go nicely with my first two.  All of a sudden, my options went from two combinations to eleven!  By the time I added 2 more colours - well, you see!

Here are a couple of cards which demonstrate the monochromatic look of a single dominant colour.  I happen to like this approach and here we see the colours of green and blue.

First set shown is the popular and recurring stamp set,  Winter Post , (skaters ) shown with the Medallion XL stamp in the background. I really love this green and white ribbon too - I am definitley going to buy some!

 Then the lovely Serene Snowflakes   stamp set accented with half-back pearls (Pretties Kit) and Whisper White ribbon.

Holiday Party! Sun Nov 29 Come On Over!

NOVEMBER 29th - 1:30 PM, My HOLIDAY PARTY for my customers and friends!  

I am posting today about my H O L I D A Y Par-teeeee!  (OK, my daughter will cringe when she sees that, ha ha)

Every year, I am one of those countless Hostesses myself - but I absolutely love it, so I hope to see as many friendly faces as I can !

Not that I don't love a challenge, but do you cringe just a little when deciding how to decorate for the holidays?  I think we all do!  I am happy that this year I invested in some of our Stampin' Up! holiday line's fabulous items......such as the Christmas Pop-Up Tree!  I just received it yesterday, so I must get cracking and do the learning thing - yes, I have to too!  So when you see me demo it, you'll know I stayed up late one night (with cocoa!)....figuring out the do's & don'ts (there are always don'ts...)....the sound of slicing paper, a few @!zx8u!! when I drop my paper piercer on my toe or get ink smudges - but luckily its more silence than noise as my rapt attention, task at hand  draws me into the 'crafting zone' !  

{shown above in an 'undressed' way - wait till you see it "really" decorated!}

Then - I purchased a Decor Elements piece, Holiday Mix. This is a 8-1/2 x 11 sheet filled with removable and repositionable plastic images and letters which I can use to decorate - how easy!  Just line them up and smooch them on!   Easy-smeeshy!   But not only that - you can use them to etch glass or smooth ceramic or mirrored objects!   As ususal the craft community comes up with these ideas! 

I am working on an ADVENT CALENDAR!   I do one every year - last year I believe we hung little tied up pouches of candy from a birch branch.  I love branches but I'll see if I can think of something else this year....well, with stamps sets and all the lovely bits.....I am enjoying myself immensely crafting.

Now if you can not make it to my party to have some cocoa, chat, do a quick project and just visit...don't fret!  Online - I will make a special day of it too with a project to share .....just wait to see!  I want you to share the fun! :)

TODAY's CRAFT IDEA.....brought to you by "Tree Trimmings" Stamp Set # 116722, see Holidays in our catalogue or online store.

We're all seeing how popular the ornament motif is this year - it's everywhere!  I like them myself so I have no complaints....this set is wonderful, its in our regular catalog.

IF YOU WANT TO PURCHASE ANY PRODUCTS SEEN HERE - CLICK HERE

Here are some of the lovely projects I have found for Tree Trimmings - enjoy!

Here is a close-up of the nice 1/2 in. Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon  {Rich Razzleberry, # 115613 from our IN COLORs this year} used on the project above - and the wider 1-1/4 in Striped Grosgrain Ribbon {Old Olive, #115618 } is sooooo gorgeous to have!  It's one of those yummy type products!  I have used it in one of my home decor projects which I will show online after my party!  Still plenty of time to order for yourself if you wish!

Speaking of ribbon, must get back to crafting.....and my lovely daughter is home on this damp day, so must make some soup!

Cheers all!

Images courtesy:Valerie Shreyer; Mary Fish;