Monthly Archives: May 2011

Last Day of May Stampin’ Up! Reminders

What happened to May? It went by way too fast for me and maybe it did for you, too, so here are some reminders since this is the last day of May!!

Last day of National Scrapbooking Month! Stampin' Up! has a list of specials related to scrapbooking, but if you're not into scrapbooking, it still is beneficial to you…regular stamp sets discounted, digital bundles discounted, MDS printing discounted, Stampin' Up! Digital+ Starter Kit discounted! Beome a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in minutes (and there is still time to sign up for Convention if you want to go!). Click HERE to go to the page of specials!
If you want to find out more about being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, there is a chance to call in to Stampin' Up! TODAY and listen to someone from the home office talk about the business opportunity and answer questions. The call is free and takes place at 11:00 AM (MT) and 4:00 PM (MT) today, Tuesday, May 31. To attend this call, dial 1-866-640-4044 and, when prompted, enter the access code 500284#. After you state your name, you will be added to the call.
New My Digital Studio downloads come out this afternoon! I spent a lot of my weekend working in My Digital Studio! The more you work with it, the more you learn! Click HERE to see the downloads! Click HERE to learn about My Digital Studio…..it's not just for scrapbooking!
Last but not least…..tomorrow, June 1st the Stampin' Up! Last Chance Retirement List comes out! See what stamp sets will be leaving us to make room for new and start making your list of must-haves! Check back tomorrow and sign up for my monthly newsletter in the upper left corner of this page! Thanks!

Memorial Day

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Memorial Day is a national holiday celebrated on the last Monday of May. It was originally a day to honor the dead of the Civil War by decorating their graves and was known as Decoration Day. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson designated Waterloo, NY as the birthplace of Memorial Day because starting back in 1866 the town had made the day an annual event where businesses closed and soldiers' graves were decorated with flags and flowers. Memorial Day is a day to honor all veterans who have given their lives in America's wars. At Arlington National Cemetary, a certain unit called The Old Guard place American flags one foot and centered, in front of the gravestones and columbarium niches of every service member. This tradition is called "Flags-In".

Each one of us can participate in a "National Moment of Remembrance" at 3:00 PM local time wherever you are to reflect on the true meaning of the day, a congressional resolution passed in 2000. We might also think about our ancestry and family history as we perhaps gather with relatives for a family picnic or a Memorial Day parade. And be sure to fly your American flag, although it should be at half-staff until noon.

More Baby Scrapbook Pages 6×6

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Here are some more pages from the baby scrapbook I made. Some materials and stamps may be retired but you can easily substitute something similar. You can copy the layout ideas or just get your creative juices flowing! These smaller albums are so much fun to make! Just slip the pages you make into the clear page protectors in the album.

Use the Pinking Hearts Corner Punch #118072 to make a decorative corner.

Make your own designer paper by stamping…and this stamp even comes from what could be considered a Valentine stamp set! (I think it is a retired stamp set)

Designer paper from Nursery Suite Specialty #117165. I don't remember where I got the punch art giraffe idea, but you can google it and probably find one to your liking.

These are die-cuts from an old Simply Scrappin' Kit but you can find something similar in the current catalog. Love the Simply Scrappin' Kits!

Might be retired stamp sets but you can use the idea! The hearts are cut with the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die #117332 and the Full Heart Punch #119883.

I usually like to make the last page in a baby album something about sleeping!

Even though this is a 6×6 album, to make a larger page, just take the same layout ideas and make them larger! There's probably always a little something extra you can add, too! Have fun with it!

Contact me if you have any questions!

Stampin’ Up! Baby Scrapbook Album

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Baby scrapbook albums are so much fun to make! I've made them for gifts and as special orders for other people. Whether you start with just a generic baby theme or choose something special, such as nursery colors, you just need to start, and as you play around with your pages and layouts, creativity will come! You can get many Stampin' Up! ideas for layouts just by looking at the Idea Book & Catalog. This scrapbook is made with the 6×6 Natural Linen Post Album #104515 (it also comes in a Ring album if you prefer). Some stamp sets and materials I used are retired, but you can easily substitute something similar.

For the album cover decoration I usually like to just tie some ribbon around the cover and attach a tag of some kind. This one is the 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon laid over 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon.

I used the Scallop Trim Corner and Scallop Trim Border Punches to this photo mat….best to just start with a piece of paper and punch, not expecting a certain size. I added tiny Pearls in between the scallops. The flower is made with the Daisies #2 Die and the Big Shot.

I think these pieces are from a retired Simply Scrappin' Kit (which are fabulous for making scrapbooks!).

Stamps from Animal Stories #116716 and designer paper from Nursery Suite Specialty #117165.

I made my own designer paper by stamping randomly on Whisper White card stock with Fox & Friends.

The baby's name is stamped with the Broadsheet Alphabet set.

More pages tomorrow! Click on the photos to enlarge.

Stampin’ Up! Gift Box With Bling!

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Do you need a gift box with bling? You can make one yourself! I saw some little boxes at a nice store covered with pearls and rhinestones and I thought, "I could make something like that!" (Isn't that what always gets us crafters in trouble??!) I envisioned using a small paper mache box I was sure I had multiples of but of course I could not find one in my stash….so an extra box that held a Simply Adorned charm worked just fine! I cut the center out in order to put a little window in the lid (with a piece of window sheet or transparency) and to save on rhinestones! I planned to use pearls to cover the box with a few rhinestones mixed in, but since I didn't have enough pearls, I had to use mostly rhinestones.

It is so easy to use the Stampin' Up! Basic Rhinestones #119246 and Basic Pearls #119247 on any project. I used my Paper-Piercing Tool #116631 to pick up each jewel and with the adhesive on the back they were easy to apply where I wanted them. Some even come attached in a close string so it made it easy to do the edges of the box. And if I wanted just a few rhinestones out of that string, I just cut in between two rhinestones with my Paper-Piercer and got what I wanted. The pearls and rhinestones are so pretty!

If need a couple packages of Stampin' Up! rhinestones or pearls, just go to my Online Store and place your order! Try making your own trinket box or jewelry box by covering a plain box with bling and your own decoration! Let me know if you make one!

Call Stampin’ Up! Find Out About Being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator!

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Click image to enlarge.

If you even MIGHT be interested in becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and starting your own business, if you are like me you probably want more information and want to think about it before you make your decision. (Not that there is anything at risk by becoming a demonstrator if you want to just jump in and do it!) This Tuesday, May 24th and next Tuesday, May 31 Stampin' Up! is offering FREE opportunity calls to talk about the history and philosophy of Stampin' Up! and tell you about the opportunity to be a demonstrator and run your own stamping business! The call is usually about ten minutes of information and then ten minutes of questions.

The calls will take place every Tuesday, February 22-May 31, at 11:00 AM (MT) and 4:00 PM (MT).

To attend this call, dial 1-866-640-4044 and, when prompted, enter the access code 500284#. State your name, and you will be added to the call.

Space on these calls is limited and availability is first-come-first-served. You might want to call in a few minutes ahead of time to be sure to get in.

After May 31, Stampin' Up! will decide whether or not to continue these calls, so be sure you call in today or next week for sure to take advantage of this easy way to get more information on the Stampin' Up! opportunity! Besides, you may want to take advantage of the National Scrapbooking Month Promotion of getting a discount on the Digital+ Starter Kit.

After you listen to the call, please contact me and let me help you with any additional questions you may have.

My Digital Studio Downloads for Digital Papercrafting

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New My Digital Studio downloads will be released this afternoon! If you don't already own My Digital Studio you need to consider it and start having fun and making projects! It's not just for scrapbooking by any means! And if you might be interested in being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, then take advantage of the Digital+ Starter Kit available at a discount for one more week only!! There is plenty of training and help available at www.mydigitalstudio.net, a website for customers and demonstrators alike. Some of the Stampin' Up! staff post and talk about their own personal projects as well and how they are learning about the program. Check it out HERE.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Are You On My Mailing List Yet??

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Next week my June stamping newsletter will come out! Are you on my mailing list? Each monthly newsletter has the latest Stampin' Up! news and promotions, stamping techniques, card ideas, scrapbooking ideas, tool tips, other papercrafting ideas….you never know what you might find! If you enjoy stamping, scrapbooking, and papercrafting I invite you to subscribe!

To sign up for my newsletter:

Find the "Sign Up" box in the upper left hand corner of my blog.
Fill in your email address and click "Go".
Fill in the requested registration information.

I send a newsletter out at the beginning of the month and usually another short one mid-month to update you on any new stamping specials or happenings.

We're getting real, real close to Retirement Time and then the new Stampin' Up! catalog so you won't want to miss a moment of the excitement!

Please join us! We'll have lots of stamping fun!

Stampin’ Up! Digital Scrapbooking: My Digital Studio Graduation Scrapbook Page

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You'll need a scrapbook page for that graduation photo so of course one easy way to make one is to use the Stampin' Up! program, My Digital Studio. I began with a designer template for this page but changed the background paper color and added several graduation stamps….the cap, the sentiment, and the feet. Imagine the photo going right above the graduation feet! With My Digital Studio you can easily make an entire album or just a few pages with minimal thinking and designing….or you can start and work completely from scratch. You could even use this idea as your design and then make it out of paper and stamps.

To find out more about My Digital Studio, click HERE.

Graduation Gift Box Idea and Tag

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You’re probably going to need a graduation gift box idea and a tag. This is an easy one to make if you have the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine #113439 and the Bitty Box & Envelope Die #115967. You can use any card stock or paper, of course, but if you need a college graduation gift, maybe you would have access to the scrapbook packet at the campus bookstore and you can make a box in the school’s colors! Just cut out the box with the die, assemble and decorate! There are other Big Shot dies that make nice gift packaging as well.

For the graduation gift tag, I’ve found that the stamp set Word Play on page 147 of the Stampin’ Up! Idea Book & Catalog (available in wood- or clear-mount) has great expressions to use for graduation. Use your markers to color the stamp different colors if you like to get a multi-colored image. I sponged the edges, tore the end, added a folded over torn piece and Antique Brad, plus stamped a small butterfly from the SAB set “Bliss”. If you need a larger gift bag or box, make a nice tag that will become a graduation keepsake.

If you don’t already own the Big Shot, go to my store now and look it over! You need one! Let me know if you have any questions!

Fun & Fast Notes Graduation Card

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Use the Stampin' Up! Fun & Fast Notes stamp set #113500 to make a fun and fast graduation card! You don't have to have a graduation stamp in order to make a graduation card. Stars are great to convey congratulations as well as a greeting of "Congratulations", "Thinking of You", "Just for You", "Best Wishes", "Good Luck" or any of a number of other sentiments. This "Congratulations" is actually attached to the star stamp, but since I cut out the stars with my marvelous Paper Snips #103579, I just punched out the word with the Word Window Punch #119857 and adhered it to the Modern Label Punch #119849.

The stars were colored with Stampin' Write Markers in Real Red, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive, which are the coordinating colors of the Play Date Designer Series Paper #117168 I used. (I always write the name of the coordinating colors on the back cardboard of the designer series pack to have it handy!) This paper always makes me happy because I received a free pack at the Stampin' Up! Convention last summer…and Convention is always a happy memory!!

For a little bling, I added Glimmer Brads #121006 to the stars. I think this would be a fun card for anyone, but would be cute for a preschool or kindergarten "graduate"! For more Stampin' Up! ideas for graduation, click on the Graduation Category over in the right side bar.

My Digital Studio Tuesday Downloads!

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More downloads will be available this afternoon for My Digital Studio! Sure keeps Tuesdays exciting!! Be sure you know about My Digital Studio because you just might get interested! Sign up at www.mydigitalstudio.net, a website for Stampin' Up! demonstrators and customers alike. You can see samples, watch training videos, ask questions.

Click to Enlarge

After 1:00 pm today, go HERE and click on Digital Designing and then Newest Downloads.

Don't forget….It's National Scrapbooking Month and there are bundles of Digital Downloads available at a discount. Or become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator by purchasing the Digital+ Starter Kit at a discount!

Stampin’ Up! Pocket Card for Graduation

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High school graduation, college graduation, even preschool graduation! You can use this same pocket card for any kind of graduation! A pocket card will also work for any graduation invitation or graduation announcement. Change the color combinations to suit the school or age.

The insert in the pocket card can be any style. It can contain just a stamped or written greeting or you can attach a gift card, cash, or check. Stampin' Up! has so many great stamps that work on a graduation card so check those out! Just look through the catalog and you'll find something appropriate for your card!

Supplies:

Stamps: Happy Greetings (Summer Mini, p. 26), Teeny Tiny Wishes #115370, Word Play (IB&C p. 147)

Ink: Stazon Black, Concord Crush

Paper: Concord Crush, Brushed Gold, Whisper White

Accessories: Star Punch #119875, Small Star Punch (retired), Modern Label Punch #119849, Gold Brad #104337, Corner Rounder Punch #119871, Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate #114512, Gold Cord (retired), Square Lattice Embossing Folder #119976, Sticky Strip #

Directions:

Cut Concord Crush 5 1/2" x 7 3/4". Score at 4 1/4" and 6 3/4" (this makes a flap that folds down over the front pocket). Emboss just the front portion with the Square Lattice folder (if you fold down the flap, it will be the underside of the embossing, but it's okay.) Emboss the gold cardstock (5 1/4" x 3 or longer) in the Texturz Folder. Round the corners if you want. Adhere gold to back of Concord Crush. Use Sticky Strip #104294 to adhere front flap when folded up. Decorate the front however you like. The insert is Concord Crush cut at 4 3/4" x 4" and of course each successive layer is 1/4" smaller. The tab is the Modern Label Punch folded in half and secured with a brad. You could also use a tab of ribbon.

Have fun making this card or your variation of it! To see a graduation pocket card announcement I made several years ago, see THIS post.

If you need any stamping supplies, please check out Stampin' Up! HERE.

Graduation Cap Box Gift or Favor

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Graduation is upon us and this little graduation cap favor or gift box might come in handy. Underneath the top of the cap is a box with a lid that could be used to hold a small graduation gift or be used as a graduation party favor! The tassel is made with DMC floss, poked through the center of the top piece and covered with a small punched circle….just like a real graduation cap! You could make this any size you need, from tiny to large or a matching color for a particular school.

Use any box template you like. This particular sample is made with a 4" square of card stock, scored at 1" on all sides. Cut one of the score lines on each side from the edge into the intersecting score line to form little tabs to help you fold into the square box. This makes the lid. To make the box bottom, start with a slightly smaller square of card stock…I used 3 7/8" square and score again at 1" on all four sides. This will insure that the bottom will fit inside the lid. For the top of the cap, I cut a 3 1/4" square of card stock and attached the tassel. If indeed you wanted something larger or sturdier, you could use some thin cardboard (such as what comes with designer paper) as the cap top and wrap it in card stock.

It's fun to add your personal touch to a graduation party or event! And Stampin' Up! supplies are the best for any project! Order yours at my Online Store or contact me.

Doily Triple Layer Punch Pattern Card

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There are two new extraordinary Stampin' Up! punches in the Summer Mini Catalog. This card uses the Doily Triple Layer Punch #122465 to make this pattern on my card. I actually started with a completely different idea on using the punched images, but when that didn't seem to work out, I played around until I came up with something like this! Then it was a matter of deciding which colors would go where and what would overlap what. I used the Stampin' Up! Color Coach to choose my colors in the beginning after deciding on Wild Wasabi for the base layer. The center doily is layered on a solid punch out of Rose Red (the first image the punch will make) and then the center is punched from the third image of the punch with a 1/2" circle punch. Of course, I could not resist sticking on some Basic Rhinestones in the center.

Order your punch and then punch out a bunch of doilies and just play! See what patterns or designs you can come up with!

Stamping With Karen

Having Fun With Paper, Ink, and Stamps

Monthly Archives: May 2011

Last Day of May Stampin’ Up! Reminders

Memorial Day

More Baby Scrapbook Pages 6×6

Stampin’ Up! Baby Scrapbook Album

Stampin’ Up! Gift Box With Bling!

Call Stampin’ Up! Find Out About Being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator!

My Digital Studio Downloads for Digital Papercrafting

Are You On My Mailing List Yet??

Stampin’ Up! Digital Scrapbooking: My Digital Studio Graduation Scrapbook Page

Graduation Gift Box Idea and Tag

Fun & Fast Notes Graduation Card

My Digital Studio Tuesday Downloads!

Stampin’ Up! Pocket Card for Graduation

Graduation Cap Box Gift or Favor

Doily Triple Layer Punch Pattern Card