Monday, February 28, 2011

It’s A Sale-A-Bration! Part 1

    I finally took a couple of minutes to play around with some of my new Sale-A-Bration items.  For those of you who are not familiar with Sale-A-Bration, it’s only Stampin’ Up!’s biggest sale of the year!   With every $50 of merchandise you order, you can choose one SAB item of your choice.  There’s no limit to how many you can receive.  There are additional benefits to hosting a workshop during Sale-A-Bration as well and becoming a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator during SAB has tons of perks.  For starters, you can get your starter kit at a 15% discount.  Plus, you’ll receive a special bonus bundle of over $50 of product for FREE!!  I signed my demonstrator agreement during Sale-A-Bration four years ago.  Mostly to feed my creative habit at a discount.  Little did I know then that I’d love sharing it with everyone.  The friendships I’ve made along this journey are truly a blessing.  And if that isn’t a perk…I don’t know what is :)  So, if you are sitting on the fence about signing your agreement…don’t wait any longer.  There is no better time than NOW!  Call me and I’ll be happy to help you begin your own fantastic journey!

100_2583     Now, onto the card.  I held a workshop for a friend who, along with her friends, is brand new to stamping.  I wanted to show just how far $50 during Sale-A-Bration can take you when you are just getting started.  This is on the assumption that you are starting with no supplies at all.  With my first $50, I purchased a Paper Cutter, Cutting & Scoring Blade Refill, pkg. of Whisper White 8.5 x 11 card stock, Clear Mount Block C and three Stampin’ Write Markers.  For this project, I choose Melon Mambo, Basic Black and Pacific Point simply because they will coordinate with some of the other SAB items (which I will end up getting before it’s all over).  I chose the FREE Sale-A-Bration set, So Happy For You100_2581I am now able to cut and score my card stock.  Adding score lines to the bottom of this simple card shows additional ways to use your tools.  Thinking outside the box for different uses gives added benefits to your purchases.  Just like the butterfly on the card.  Yes, there is a butterfly stamp in this set but it was too small for the sentiment and it threw the balance of the card all off.  So, I used the heart stamp from the set to create a larger butterfly and then drew on the body with the fine tip of the Basic Black marker.  It’s a very clean and simple card.  Pretty cool, huh?

     I will show you on Wednesday what the next $50 can do.  I have posted my supply sheet on its own page.  You can view it by clicking here.

     Click on the SAB catalog on the right side bar and it will open the catalog for you.    Sale-A-Bration runs through March 31st.  As always, let me know what you think.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  I hope you’ve been inspired to always think outside the box when selecting stamps and tools.  Many have more than one use if we just look at it from a different angle.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

A Look Back

     I’ve been super busy with workshops and preparations for my niece’s baby shower the past couple of days.  I’m making 30 invitations and coordinating thank you’s to go with it.  I can’t show you those just yet so I took a look back in the archives.  It’s fun to give a look back and see just how your stamping/crafting style has evolved over the course of a year, two years…in this case, three years.  This set, Fresh Cuts, is still available for purchase through Stampin' Up!.  Card stock colors were Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard and Certainly Celery (all still available).  I heat embossed the image in Basic Black and then colored in with Stampin’ Write Markers.  I cut the image panel into 3 equal parts, layered and adhered to the card base.  The Elegant Eggplant layer was repetitively stamped with the floral sprig stamp.  It’s a good card to mass produce.  The heat embossing takes a few extra minutes but the final look is so worth it!

     Thanks for stopping by today.  I’ll have something new on Friday.  Hope you’ll take a minute to look back at your own creative growth.  It’s fun and, who knows, you may just find something you really like…or perhaps something you’d really like to do over…hmm.  I have a few of those myself :)  Have a great day!

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin' Up! and can be purchased HERE!

Monday, February 21, 2011

A Flourish of Bling

100_2527     I had a few leftover elements cluttering my desk and decided it was high time to use them.  The Very Vanilla base had been run through the Big Shot with the Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (Occasions Mini Catalog).  I had ink distressed the raised frame with Always Artichoke ink and the flat rubber stamp found in the Distressing Essentials Kit.  It didn’t look right for the project I was working on at the time so I had tossed it aside.  The same can be said for the Springtime Vintage DSP (OMC) that I had layered onto Always Artichoke card stock.  Together…well, they work absolutely perfect!  The image, from the Thanks For Caring set (OMC), was a leftover from a previous swap project (see it at this link, ).  I’ve been hoarding these Black Flourish Designer Jewels that I had purchased from the latest Holiday Mini Catalog.  It fills the area quite nicely. 

     I love when I can use up bits and pieces that I have leftover on my desk.  I love it even better when they go together effortlessly.  I hope you’ve been inspired to give your leftovers a second look.  Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and all but the Jewels can be purchased HERE!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Heart & Flowers

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      Isn’t this just darling?  This is the make-n-take project that each of my February workshops have been making.  It’s a simple project with lots of WOW factor!  It shows the new Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (found in the Occasions Mini Catalog) and gives customers hands on experience with the Big Shot.  I demonstrated how to make these lovely paper roses and buds.  You can check it out at this link, Elegant Paper Flowers.  Then everyone got to make their own.  The heart is stamped on Pink Pirouette in Early Espresso ink using the large heart from the Love You Much set.  It is cut out and adhered to the card using Dimensionals.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, punched out using the Word Window punch and layered onto a Modern Label punch of Early Espresso.  The card base is Very Vanilla

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Here’s a creative tip…using leftover scraps of green card stock, crank out bunches of Little Leaves die cuts while you have your Big Shot out.  That way, you’ll have them available for when you need them without stopping to cut one or two out each time.  I store mine in a plastic sandwich bag.  I hope this helps save you some creative time.

    Thanks for looking.  I hope you’ve been inspired.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

“The Coolest Valentine!”

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     Let me start by apologizing for the bad photography.  It was late, the lighting was very off and I was really tired.

     This is the valentine’s card that my youngest did for his classroom Valentine’s exchange.  I’ve been on the matchbook cover kick lately and this follows along the same basis.  A simple tri-fold that’s large enough to 100_2553hold the candy package.  I pre-cut and scored the Basic Gray base, Real Red layer and Whisper White image panel.    Jesse and I had stamped the image earlier in the day.  He stamped the “splat” from Extreme Elements in Real Red Classic ink.  I then stamped the Extreme Guitar image and sentiment, from Teeny Tiny Wishes, in Basic Black Craft ink.  We set these aside and went to dinner.  Upon return, the entire family was involved in the mass production, assembly line style, of these Valentine’s.  While Adam addressed and signed the image panel, Don was distressing the Real Red layer with the Distressing Tool on the Cutter Kit.  He, also, punched out the little heart in Red Glimmer Paper using the Heart To Heart punch (that was a hoot to watch).  Jesse adhered the candy package to the inside and fold up the holder.  I adhered the image panel to the red layer and then to the holder front and then tied a length of Real Red Grosgrain ribbon around the holder to keep them closed.  It took us about an hour to get them all done. 

     Adam said that his was the “coolest Valentine’s in the class!”  I agree…they are “cool”!  The coolest part of all is that the entire family sat together to get these done.  It was SO cool!  We laughed and had a blast!  What can be cooler than that?

     Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to enjoy some time with your family.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

For My Valentine

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     This is the quick and simple card that I gave to my sweet hubby for Valentine’s Day.  It had to be quick because he was due home any minute.  I started with the Very Vanilla card base.  Then a layer of Crumb Cake that I had spritzed with both 100_2568Vanilla Shimmer and Silver Foil Smooch Spritz.  Just the name “Smooch” Spritz sounds appropriate for a Valentine’s card.  I stamped the flourish from Baroque Motifs in Crumb Cake classic ink so that it would just peek out from behind the Real Red heart (which I traced from a box of chocolates).  There are a couple of elements from the Extreme Elements set that I added to give the card a more masculine feel (love that set!).  The heart was textured with a quick run through the Big Shot using the Perfect Details Texturz Plate.  I then ink distressed the raised embossing and the all edges of the card with the Tea Stain ink from the Distressing Essentials Kit.  The cute little key is one of the new Trinket Keys found in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  I simply secured it to the Victoria Crochet ribbon with a small piece of Linen Thread.  The sentiment if from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.

     Don loved it!  He really is so sweet and he knows me so well.  As always, his is the last card I make.  Everyone else’s cards/goodies/gifts seem to get completed first.  I’m always finishing his up as he is pulling in the drive.  He said to me, “I always get the freshest card.”  I was a bit confused because I didn’t think this card was “fresh” at all.  Just straight forward…“Happy Valentine’s Day”, “Love You Much”.  He smiled and said, “Mine is always hot off the presses.”  See…he knows me. (smile)  Or maybe it was just that the envelope was still moist from sealing it…hmmm.

     Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you’ve been inspired.  Stop by again soon and feel free to let me know what you think.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE.  

Friday, February 11, 2011

Elegant Paper Flowers

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     I was recently given the honor of demonstrating a paper project for a local Girl Scout troop.  The young ladies are working for their Paper Badge and I wanted to show how card stock can be altered.  I’m loving the vintage look that seems to be so popular right now and Mother’s Day isn’t too far off, so I went with it. 

100_2481     The card shows ink distressing, which I added using the Distressing Essentials kit and the Tea Stain ink.  I, also, distressed the paper’s edges using the distressing tool in the Cutter Kit.  The Rose Red flower on the card is created using the Faux Suede technique (click here to see how) and the Scallop Circle punch.  The Victoria Crochet ribbon is so vintage and elegant.  DSP u100_2490sed is from the Springtime Vintage pack (I’m loving this DSP).  Again, I used the Framed Tulips Textured Embossing Folder…I can’t seem to stop using it :)  The sentiment is found in the All Holidays set.

     The  Matchbook Cover (see how-to here) coordinates with the card.  I embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing folder and Eyelet Border punched the top flap edge.  The sentiment on the Word Window tag is from Teeny Tiny Wishes

100_2488     The flowers on the treat holder are very easy to make…and I’ve been making lots lately :)  They are such fun to do.  I’ll give you a quick how-to…

  • Punch a 1” circle in card stock and a Scallop Circle around that.  This will give you a scallop circle with a hole in it.
  • Cut between a scallop and roll up tightly.
  • Push back the scallops to create a look of the rose opening up.
  • Adhere to a large pop up glue dot (which Stampin’ Up! no long carries and I’m bummed). 
  • Center flower on a 5-petal flower punched in Always Artichoke to create leaves.
  • For the ‘buds’: fold a 1” circle in half and roll up tightly.
  • Glue bud onto leaf, cut from a 5-petal flower and adhere alongside of flower using Tombow Multi-purpose Glue.

     The young ladies seemed to enjoy the project.  I think they are well on their way to receiving their100_2492 paper badge.  Of course, it could have been just the chocolate square that they were working for???  Never-the-less, I had a great time!  They are a great group of young ladies and I’d be glad to help them out again anytime!  Thanks for having me ladies!

     And thank you for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to try a paper rose or matchbook cover of your own.  Okay…so maybe you’re just after the chocolate too?  That’s perfectly fine…chocolate and stamping go hand in hand :)  Enjoy!

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here unless noted as being retired.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Pink Rosettes 6x6 Page

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     At a hostess’ request, I made this lovely 6x6 scrapbook page for a workshop.  I wanted to use the lovely Springtime Vintage Designer Series paper and the vintage looking Very Vanilla Rosettes, both found in the Occasions Mini catalog.  So where are the vanilla rosettes you ask?  I dyed them to this lovely shade of 100_2457Pink Pirouette by diluting a few drops of the re-inker with a few spritz of water.  I did the same with the Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon.  I then scrunched the ribbon by pulling one thread in the middle of the ribbon.  Actually, it’s more like working the ribbon down the thread.  The rosettes were layered over the Little Leaves die cuts.  The flourish in the upper corner is found in Elements of Style, stamped in Baja Breeze.  All edges of the card stock and/or DSP have been distressed with the distressing tool in the Cutter Kit.  See how beautifully the Eyelet Border punch blends with the vintage look of the project?  I’m really loving this vintage look!  (You can’t tell right?)

     Scrapbooking is something that I really should do more of.  I do love putting together 6x6 pages and I’m always pleased with the final outcome.  So why don’t I do more?  I really can’t answer that.  Perhaps it’s the thought of the mountain of photos I have yet to get into a scrapbook…hmmm!

     I hope you’ve been inspired.  I’m dyeing to color some more rosettes ;)  I hope you give it a try too.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE!

Monday, February 7, 2011

SAB FREE Birthday Wishes

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     I needed to change modes briefly and allow myself to “play” with some of my other new goodies.  This card went together very quickly, although, it’s not exactly what I had in mind.  I really wanted to use more of the Daffodil Delight paper but it just wasn’t working for me.  Oh well, I’m pleased with the way it turned out. 

     The vibrant jewel-toned colors of these Sale-A-Bration Ice Cream Parlor buttons are absolutely beautiful!  What’s makes them even more beautiful is the fact that they are F100_2474REE through Sale-A-Bration.  As a matter of fact, most everything I used on this card was FREE.  You just can’t beat ‘FREE’!  The cute Ice Cream Parlor ribbon comes FREE with the buttons in the Ice Cream Parlor pack.  The sentiment is in the So Happy For You Sale-A-Bration set.  The colors I used matches the button colors: Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point and Melon Mambo.  For the flowers, I used the 5-Petal Flower punch and then punched them again with the 1-1/4” Circle punch.  You can see this technique in this previous post,  Double The Fun.

     Thanks for stopping by today.  Feel FREE to browse for as long as you’d like.  Oh, and if you’d like to know how to get some of those FREE Sale-A-Bration items, feel FREE to contact me or check it out on my promotions page

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here or received for FREE!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Presto Glimmer!

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Presto Patterns Specialty DSP is such fun to play with. The beauty of it is that you can apply whatever color you need to coordinate with your project. For this card, I simply sponged on Real Red Classic ink using a craft sponge. I wiped off any excess with a paper towel (just so it didn’t get all over my hands and project). The DSP is then layered onto the lower half of a piece of Whisper White that was layered on a mat of Basic Black. I scrunch-folded the 5/8” Basic Black Satin ribbon to cover the ‘seam’ between the DSP and Whisper White card stock. The card base is Sahara Sand. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes. The hearts are punched using the Heart-To-Heart punch on Glimmer Paper. What a great way to add some glamour to your card without the mess of glitter! Super simple card for mass producing.

Thanks for looking. I hope you’ve been inspired.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE!