Monthly Archives: February 2014

Making a Card With My Own Carved Crown Stamp

During the Stampin’ Up! Leadership Conference, one of the popular activities we could choose to do was to carve our own stamp using the Undefined Stamp Carving Kit. I waited until the very end and took the easy way of creating, by just tracing the crown emblem on our Leadership program, as a lot of other demonstrators were doing. It was the first time I tried the stamp carving so my skill was not perfect, but it wasn’t too hard for a beginner either! And judging by how many people are coming up with creative ideas for carving their own stamps, it can’t be difficult!

My beloved carved stamp has been sitting on my baker’s rack as a decoration, a home decor item, but today I decided to make a card with it! I stamped the crown with Versamark ink and embossed it with gold embossing powder and the Stampin’ Up! Heat Tool. I was actually able to “clean up” my image a little bit by taking a small paintbrush and smoothing some of the edges of the embossing powder better than I did on the stamp!

After embossing my crown, I had to add some bling! I added lots of different sizes of Basic Rhinestone Jewel Accents and Basic Pearls Jewel Accents. They’re self-adhesive so easy to put on your project. I added a little bit of Watercolor Wonder Designer Washi Tape at the top and bottom of the top card layer. Then this was layered on a piece of the Gold Foil Sheet. The greeting is from the stamp set Really Good Greetings.

I’m not sure carving my own stamps is going to be my “thing”, but it might be for you! Or it might be for just one occasion when Stampin’ Up! doesn’t have the exact right stamp you need for a certain purpose. How handy is it that now you could make up your own stamp without any special ordering? Just get the Undefined Stamp Carving Kit and carve your stamp! You can even get refills! Just go to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store for all your stamping supplies – and don’t forget with a $50 order you can earn a FREE Sale-A-Bration product!

Make Some Gift Bags with Stampin’ Up! Paper Pumpkin!

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This is my February Paper Pumpkin kit from Stampin’ Up! that came in the mail this month! Paper Pumpkin is a papercrafting monthly subscription kit that is easy to do and just takes a few minutes. Don’t you need a few minutes of escape and papercrafting bliss?? Even for experienced stampers and papercrafters, it is fun to open the box, find the surprise project, and just make it according to the included directions….or not. Maybe make one following directions and then make the next one a little different.

Here are the new photopolymer stamps and ink spot I got in this kit. Photopolymer stamps are clear so you can see through them and through the clear block you will have received in your Welcome Kit. I LOVED using these photopolymer stamps! They STICK on the block, no question! Stampin’ Up! plans to use photopolymer stamps in all their future kits. One stamp has polka dots and one stripes.

Here’s the pack of supplies and instructions! All you need is adhesive!

Here are the bags, ribbon handles, mini clothespins, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Baker’s Twine, and all the paper pieces.

Here’s the bag, about 5 1/2″ high and 8 1/2″ wide, complete with rivets for the handles!

Here’s the first bag I made following the Stampin’ Up! sample. I put in the ribbon handles on the bag. The white starburst shapes are stamped with the stripe stamp and layered on the blue circle with a letter popped up on a dimensional. The letters were already printed on the circles. Then I clipped each circle onto the Baker’s Twine attached to the bag. Pretty cute and simple as could be!

I wanted to make another bag (although I might save the other 3 for when I need to use one so I’ll know what theme to decorate it in!). I decided “Happy” would work for lots of occasions, either as is or I could add another sentiment or word on the bag, like “Birthday” or “Day” or whatever. These starbursts I stamped with the polka dot stamp. I could have turned the blue circles around and used the white background, but I liked the blue.

Sometimes once you get started creating something, you’ll find your mojo just appears and you get more ideas! That’s what is good about Paper Pumpkin! Whether you are already a crafter or just brand new at making things, Paper Pumpkin gives you “the whole package” (except adhesive!) so all you have to do it sit down, open it all up, and follow the directions (if you want to!). You’ll have an easy, completed project in just a few relaxing minutes. No worries about amassing a storehouse of craft supplies because you’ll just have the stamps, the ink spot and probably a few leftover extra pieces of materials.

Try Paper Pumpkin before the end of March and get a free pack of In Color Markers! Those are worth the cost of the subscription in themselves. No obligation, no risk. Cancel your subscription if you need to or just “pause” it for a month or two. The magic date is the 10th of any month to make any changes for that month’s kit (or order an extra kit for your friend or granddaughter). Subscribe by March 10th and get the Welcome Kit in the mail with your free clear block that month. In April, you will receive the same kit that goes out to everyone. Subscribe later, get the Welcome Kit in April and the same kit as everyone gets in May. Each month is only $19.95, which includes the kit and shipping!

Just go to the Paper Pumpkin Subscription page and get signed up today! Then you can sit back and look forward to your Welcome Kit and free markers!

Paper Pumpkin Free Markers Special Extended!

Save Money on Stampin’ Up! Products

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Save a little money on some Stampin’ Up! products this week in the new Weekly Deal! Every Tuesday Stampin’ Up! has been offering several products at a discount. This special is good until the following Monday night. Add these items to your order and when you reach $50 you can ALSO take advantage of Stampin’ Up! Sale-A-Bration and choose a FREE product from the Sale-A-Bration Brochure!

Here are some tips for these products!

The Backyard Basics Framelits Dies coordinate, of course, with the Backyard Basics Stamp Set, available in wood- or clear-mount. There is also a Bundle, too, if you prefer which includes the stamp set and framelits.
You might like to use Clear Embossing Powder with the Gold Metallic Encore Pad. You can use the ink without being embossed but if you touch the stamped image you might get a dab of ink on your finger, although the image itself doesn’t smear.
The Paper Doily Sizzlits Die is beautiful but a little more labor intensive, sometimes. Sometimes it depends on the amount of pressure exerted in your own Big Shot. It may help to place a piece of wax paper on the die and then the card stock which helps the pieces come out. Or just use your Paper Piercing Tool or something sharp to poke out the little pieces. But sometimes they don’t even all have to be poked out because sometimes/usually you are covering part of the doily with some other element. But it is a beautiful die and can add a lot to your project!

Also, today: New My Digital Studio Downloads for February 25, 2014

I’m excited to see the Word Bubbles Punches and the Just Sayin’ Digital Stamp Brush Set included! Click the link above to see all the downloads for this week.

Check out all these products and more at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

Gift Wrap Idea: Gold Kraft Gift Box with Gold Frizzle

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Do you need a fancy gift wrap idea? Use the Stampin’ Up! Kraft Gift Box and gold, gold, gold! Gold is IN these days so you might as well use it! I love these little Kraft Gift Boxes. They are 3 1/2″ wide on each side so perfect for a small gift or treat. I decorated this one first with a layer of Gold Foil on each side, cut just 1/8″ smaller on each side than the box. Then I layered a piece of Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum on each side (choose whichever pattern you like the best). I put a different pattern on the top.

Then to really jazz it up a bit, I put a little “frizzle” on the top! I didn’t know where I came up with that term or description, but it turns out “frizzle” does mean curl or kink or ringlets so I guess I was correct! Do you know where I got it? From the Gold Baker’s Twine! The Gold Baker’s Twine is really just White Baker’s Twine with the metallic gold thread twisted around in it. Some people have even complained that when using the Gold Baker’s Twine, it came untwisted and frayed at the ends. But you can embrace that idea and untwist the gold thread from the white twine! Cut the Baker’s Twine into pieces several inches long each to make it easier. Then gather your pile of gold threads and tie onto a bow or knot. Very easy! I could have also added a piece of Gold Sequin Trim for some extra bling!

If you are looking for more gift-wrap ideas and haven’t signed up for my Mailing List yet, do it today and get your FREE GIFT, “A Dozen Creative Gift Wrap Ideas”. You’ll see the sign up box in the upper right corner of my blog!

Happy National Margarita Day!

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I guess there is a day for everything and today is National Margarita Day! Move over George Washington! (It’s actually his birthday today, February 22.) I thought it would be fun to try making a margarita card using our Stampin’ Up! Vellum Card Stock. Just cut a circle for the glass, a thin stem from the scrap and punch a small Oval. Cut off a portion of the top of the circle to make the shape of glass you want. There’s no good way to hide your adhesive under vellum so do the best you can. I used Sticky Strip.

To make the margarita glass, sponge on some green ink (I used Gumball Green) on the underside of the vellum. Make it as light or dark as you like. I left a border to look like the glass. For the “salt” on the margarita, I spread a line of Crystal Effects and sprinkled on some retired Stampin’ Up! Chunky Essentials Glitter that I had. You could also use Sticky Strip.

The border at the top is stamped with the Mosaic Madness Stamp Set. The word “Enjoy” is from the carryover stamp set Oh, Goodie! To jazz things up a bit I stuck on a cute little bow from the Silver 1/8″ Ribbon.

Now if you are not into margaritas, you can use the same technique to make a regular shaped glass of lemonade or punch or anything you want. Just color the backside of the glass with whatever color drink you want to portray – or even layers of different colors for a fancy drink!

You can shop at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store for any supplies you need!

Enjoy National Margarita Day by making a Margarita card and perhaps visiting your favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner tonight! I know my mouth is watering for some fajitas and enchiladas!

Use the buttons below if you’d like to share this Margarita with your friends!

Happy Watercolor Wonder Card with Silver

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Sometimes when you make a card, you don’t really know what design you are going to come up with! All I knew was I wanted to use the beautiful Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper and our Silver Foil Sheets. I layered the flowery piece of designer paper on the strip of Silver Foil, but I had cut the foil too wide. I trimmed it off and decided that scrap would look good going across the bottom of the card! I wouldn’t have thought of that ahead of time, it just happened. So when you are making cards and projects, just play and see what you come up with!

For the greeting, I used the one in the stamp set Happy Watercolor. To match the Silver Foil Sheet I had used, I decided to emboss the greeting with Pewter Stampin’ Emboss Powder and the Heat Tool.

The card base is Island Indigo, which is one of the coordinating colors with the Watercolor Wonder DSP. You can look on the back of any package of designer paper and see what Stampin’ Up! colors coordinate with the paper. The catalog also lists them.

The watercolor look is IN so be sure to check out the Stampin’ Up! products in the Occasions Catalog! Order $50 or more and you’ll earn a free product from the Sale-A-Bration Brochure!

Go to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store today and place your order! Check the Clearance Rack, too!

Go For the Gold! Sale-A-Bration Good As Gold Card Kit!

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During the Olympics, everyone is going for the gold and now you can, too, with the Good As Gold Card Kit, available FREE to you during Stampin’ Up! Sale-A-Bration when you make a $50 purchase in current Stampin’ Up! products! Its one of eleven items you can choose for FREE during Sale-A-Bration, the biggest promotion of the year from Stampin’ Up! Just shop online at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store or contact me with your order and for every $50 you spend you get to choose one free Sale-A-Bration product, no limits! Spend $100, get two free items. Spend $150, the magic number, and get three free SAB products PLUS Hostess Rewards! There are so many great Stampin’ Up! products to choose from, including some that are not even in the catalog. So be sure to check out ALL the categories in the left sidebar of my Online Store so you won’t miss a thing and get to choose your “gold” in the Sale-A-Bration Brochure!

Wow! Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals, MDS Downloads, and Paper Pumpkin Extras!!

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Here are the Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals for this week February 18th! Click on the image below to go to my Online Store!

New Stampin’ Up! My Digital Studio Downloads for February 18 2014. Click the image below.

Paper Pumpkin Refills and Additional Kits

Available for the First Time Ever!

You MUST be a subscriber to Paper Pumpkin, the quick and easy papercrafting kit that comes in the mail once a month from Stampin’ Up! to take advantage of these refills and extra past kits. So subscribe NOW and you’ll be eligible PLUS you will get a FREE set of In Color Markers with your Welcome Kit!

Click on any of the images above to see the Paper Pumpkin flyer. To order any of these Paper Pumpkin extras you do need to CALL Stampin’ Up! at 1-800-STAMP UP. (Paper Pumpkin is not connected with the usual Online Ordering so you have to call.) Don’t worry! Calling Stampin’ Up! will be one of the most pleasant phone calls you ever make! And remember, you must be a subscriber to get them, so SUBSCRIBE to PAPER PUMPKIN TODAY!

And new items on the Stampin’ Up! Clearance Rack today! Get them while they last!

Be sure to check out the Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals, the Clearance Rack, and the Paper Pumpkin extra kits and refills because some of these are available only while supplies last. And check out the new My Digital Studio downloads, too!

Banner Blast Valentine Card

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This Banner Blast Valentine card is made with a stamp set and punch you can get FREE during the Stampin’ Up! Sale-A-Bration Promotion! And even though it has a heart and the word “love” on it doesn’t mean it is only for Valentine’s Day. You could make a little banner like this on a card for many occasions – birthday, anniversary, think of you, wedding, and more. Banners are really popular right now so why not use them on your cards and scrapbook pages?! This card also uses the Scallops Textured Impressions Embossing Folder in the Occasions Catalog for the background. You could change the greeting to any sentiment you wanted. The banner pieces are all stamped with the Banner Blast Stamp Set and then punched out with the Banner Punch, both available in the Sale-A-Bration Brochure. They are then just adhered to the card in line with the Baker’s Twine with Stampin’ Dimensionals. You could also just use the Banner Punch to punch out any designer paper rather than stamping. So versatile and so easy!

Sale-A-Bration is the biggest promotion during the Stampin’ Up! year so don’t miss it! With every $50 purchase you get to choose a FREE product from the Sale-A-Bration brochure! You can purchase any current Stampin’ Up! products to qualify. The Bundles shown in the Sale-A-Bration Brochure are there as suggestions if people need ideas for $50 worth of product, but you are not limited to those choices. Sale-A-Bration runs until March 31.

Are you ready to have a Banner Blast in your card-making and scrapbooking? Use Sale-A-Bration to get a free stamp set and/or Banner Punch! Purchase anything you need from Stampin’ Up! in my Online Store HERE.

Triple Heart Easel Valentine Card

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One of the cards I worked on this week is this Triple Hearts Easel Valentine Card. It’s not that hard to make but looks quite fancy and elegant! It’s best to work with the Hearts Collection Framelits Dies to cut out the hearts. For the base of the card,cut out three sizes of hearts. The card stock should be folded in half and then the fold placed just inside the top of the framelit so the fold will remain when the rest of the heart is cut out by the die. The bottom of the folded heart will be the base and the top heart will be folded about in half. It remains open and the folded down part will hold another single heart. Adhere the three base hearts together spacing them the correct distance apart to fit in an envelope or just to be able to stand up the way you want them.

Once you have the base assembled, cut out the same size hearts ago, but just singles. Decorate the hearts how you like and adhere to the base hearts. The whole thing can be folded down flat for mailing.

Hope you had a nice Valentine’s Day making, sending, and/or receiving valentines!

If you need some Hearts Framelits for your projects, please visit my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

A Husband Valentine

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Here’s the valentine I just made for my husband! I guess you can say I work best under pressure! At the last minute! I got the idea to use the little wooden people that came in a Paper Pumpkin Kit. What a cute little 3D embellishment especially for a man’s card! The ampersand and sideways banner is from Perfect Pennants. The Real Red heart is die-cut with one of the Hearts Framelits. That background paper is from the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack. The “love” die-cut is from the Expressions Thinlits that were in the Holiday Catalog and sadly NOT carried over! What WERE they thinking??! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they reappear in the next Annual Catalog!

I hope you are having a great Valentine’s Day! The bouquet of flowers has arrived, right? And your husband will be bringing home the box of chocolates and diamond necklace later, right? Well, if not, then you get a free evening of stamping! Treat yourself!! One year I bought myself that purple bottle of Elizabeth Taylor perfume, whatever it was called, and had it gift-wrapped at the cosmetic counter…for myself for Valentine’s Day! Why not?!

Hope this card will inspire you if you need an idea for a husband Valentine!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Grab Some Ideas for Valentines!

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Here are some Valentine ideas from the past! Perhaps if you don’t have the newest Stampin’ Up! products, you will find something here that you already have and can use today if you are a last-minute Valentine stamper and creator!

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Candy Treat Ideas

(click the link above to go to post)

You Are Loved Valentine for Valentine’s Day

Robot Valentines for Kids

A Love Card

Valentine Fancy Favor Box

And for more Valentine ideas just click HERE.

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Make a Valentine Treat Box with Hearts

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If you need to make a little Valentine gift box or Valentine treat box, here is an easy one to do You can vary the size if you want according to the size of paper you have. You just have to do a little math! If you want this box a little wider you would need to start with 12×12 paper. You could use designer paper if you don’t mind it a little less sturdy.

I cut my Real Red card stock 11 x 4 3/4. It is scored at 2 5/8″, 5 1/4″, 7 7/8″, and 10 1/2″. Turn the paper then and score at 1 3/4″. On the short side, cut the flaps up to the score line and trim off the 1/2″ tab on the end. See photo below.

Fold on all the score lines and use your Bone Folder to get good creases. Figure out how you will fold the bottom flaps and where you will put the adhesive. You can use Sticky Strip or the Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive. I put my Sticky Strip on the first bottom flap (side opposite the narrow tab) and the third one.

And to decorate the box, I used layers of the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack, 2 7/8″ x 2 1/2″. Can you see what I did wrong with mine?! I glued them on upside down! Sheesh! But I bet if I gave this box to someone, they wouldn’t even notice! So I just left it as is rather than risk tearing the paper to get it off! To decorate the front I just used various punched and die cut hearts and a banner I had already stamped but didn’t use the other day, with the greeting from Loving Thoughts. The ribbon handle is the 7/16″ Natural Trim Ribbon in the Annual Catalog.

Like this Valentine Treat Box? If you need any of these supplies for future projects (remember hearts aren’t just for Valentine’s Day!) feel free to visit my Stampin’ Up! Online Store for all the current Stampin’ Up! products. And when you spend $50 or more, you get to choose a FREE Sale-A-Bration product until March 31.

Make a Valentine Treat Bag with Scraps

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You might be getting ready to make Valentine Treat Bags of some sort for Valentine’s Day perhaps for your child’s classroom or their teachers or your friends, neighbors, co-workers or maybe your family! Maybe this tag will inspire you. Put the treat in a Cello Bag and make a tag from your scraps! You know you’ve got ’em! I punched the tag with the new Scalloped Tag Topper Punch and then used scraps to decorate it. Now the tag is pretty narrow, only 2″ wide, as is, but for my small bag I wanted it even smaller. You can trim your strip of paper narrower than 2″ and just be sure to center it when you put it in the punch so it will be even on both sides. But since I had already punched it at 2″, I just trimmed off both sides, trying to make the top scalloped edge look symmetrical. And it doesn’t have to be perfect! Then I rounded off the bottom edges of the tag to match the scallops at the top. It really gives the tag a nicer look. The layer on top of the Real Red tag is from the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack. The “XOXO” is from the Oh, Goodie! Stamp Set, a carryover from the Holiday 2013 Catalog. That means you can still order it! And then I grabbed some die-cut hearts from the Hearts Collection Framelits Dies and the Hearts A Flutter Framelits and even the Small Heart Punch. Use whatever you have! Or even just cut some hearts by hand! They can be whimsical odd-shaped hearts! Tie on your tag with a piece of 1/8″ Silver Ribbon.

Here’s a tip for cutting a narrow banner. If the strip is narrow enough, stick the end in the new Banner Punch, free with a $50 purchase during Sale-A-Bration! You only want it to cut the one end, that”s why you don’t slide the strip in the regular way. This will punch just the end and that will make you little “flags” at the ends.

Have fun making your Valentine Treat Bags and don’t forget to check your pile of scraps!

Stampin’ Up! Paper Pumpkin Free Markers Offer Extended!

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HOT OFF THE PRESS TODAY!

Just today Stampin’ Up! extended the special offer with Paper Pumpkin! Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin during Sale-A-Bration until March 31 and receive a free set of In Color Stampin’ Write Markers! The markers will be sent with the subscriber’s Welcome Kit (pictured in the flyer above). No coupon code required.

If you’re looking for a fun surprise in your mailbox every month, if you are a new crafter, if you want to make things but don’t know where to start, if you would like a special project to make with a friend or loved one (order two!), if you want to craft but don’t want to buy a lot of craft supplies, if you have every papercrafting supply under the sun but you still like to be surprised with something new to make in your mailbox — then Paper Pumpkin might be for you!

Sign up for Paper Pumpkin today (only $19.95 a month including shipping!) and get your Welcome Kit and free markers in mid-March. You will not be charged until the kit ships. No obligation! Cancel your subscription if you need to. Better yet, just “Pause” it now and then if you must and continue on when you are ready. The 10th of the month is the magic date to make any changes in your subscription for that month’s shipment. The kits are not always cards. They can be anything. They are quick and easy and contain everything you need except adhesive. Stampin’ Up! has stepped up the kits recently so they are even a better value now!

Stamping With Karen

Having Fun With Paper, Ink, and Stamps

Monthly Archives: February 2014

Making a Card With My Own Carved Crown Stamp

Make Some Gift Bags with Stampin’ Up! Paper Pumpkin!

Save Money on Stampin’ Up! Products

Gift Wrap Idea: Gold Kraft Gift Box with Gold Frizzle

Happy National Margarita Day!

Happy Watercolor Wonder Card with Silver

Go For the Gold! Sale-A-Bration Good As Gold Card Kit!

Wow! Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals, MDS Downloads, and Paper Pumpkin Extras!!

Paper Pumpkin Refills and Additional Kits

Available for the First Time Ever!

Banner Blast Valentine Card

Triple Heart Easel Valentine Card

A Husband Valentine

Happy Valentine’s Day! Grab Some Ideas for Valentines!

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Candy Treat Ideas

You Are Loved Valentine for Valentine’s Day

Robot Valentines for Kids

A Love Card

Valentine Fancy Favor Box

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Make a Valentine Treat Box with Hearts

Make a Valentine Treat Bag with Scraps

Stampin’ Up! Paper Pumpkin Free Markers Offer Extended!

HOT OFF THE PRESS TODAY!