Author Archives: Karen Fontinelle

Easy Birthday Card to Make With All Abloom Paper Stack

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All Abloom Birthday Card

There’s not an easier birthday card to make than this one using the All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack. I have to admit, I’ve had this All Abloom Paper Stack since it came out, but hadn’t used it. It actually got lost under all the “stuff” on my desk! To make this card, all I had to do was flip through the stack and see which pattern caught my eye or inspired me. This one just looked so pretty, and I liked the opportunity to use my Strawberry Slush card stock! The greeting is from Four You, a stamp set I find myself using a LOT! I thought the paper was pretty enough itself so the card didn’t need much else.  I added just a little flower punched with the flower punch in the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack  with a little Candy Dot in the center! I probably would have added a little flower or something-something somewhere on the card, but honestly, I stamped the greeting just a tad too far to the left so the flower filled in the space perfectly and added just a little accent!  See, there ARE no mistakes in stamping!

The All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack gives you a ton of paper choices very inexpensively. Not every pattern is a flower so no worries there! You can view them all and purchase in my Stampin’ Up! Online Store. Just think of the tons of cards you could make easily with this small stack of paper!

All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack

(c) Stampin’ Up! 2014

Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals & Sales Tax Holiday Coming Up!

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Stampin' Up! Weekly Deal August 5Weekly Deal Aug 5Here are the new Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals for the week of August 5th through next Monday, August 11.  When you are on the store page be sure to click to page 2 to see the Wisteria ribbon.

Just a reminder:  The Texas Sales Tax Holiday, in preparation for Back to School, will be August 8-10, which is this weekend! You might not think that has anything to do with Stampin’ Up!, but it does! If you live in Texas, you can order certain items that can be used as school supplies, you can purchase them tax free! These are generally items like adhesives, scissors, markers, and pens. It includes the new Blendabilities markers so this is your chance to save a few pennies (that do add up!) on the new alcohol markers! Other states have different dates and may have different items.

The following items are tax-exempt during the Texas sales tax holiday:

·         2-Way Glue Pen (item 100425) $4.50
·         Snail Adhesive (item 104332) $6.95
·         Snail Adhesive Refill (item 104331) $4.50
·         Sticky Strip (item 104294) $6.95
·         Stampin’ Dimensionals (item 104430) $3.95
·         Mini Glue Dots (item 103683) $4.95
·         Paper Snips (item 103579) $9.95
·         Craft & Paper Scissors (item 108360) $29.95
·         Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen (item 105021) $3.95
·         Blender Pens (item 102845) $9.95
·         Stampin’ Write Markers (various item numbers) $3.50
·         Subtles Stampin’ Write Markers (item 131263) $28.95
·         Regals Stampin’ Write Markers (item 131262) $28.95
·         Brights Stampin’ Write Markers (item 131259) $28.95
·         Neutrals Stampin’ Write Markers (item 131261) $22.95
·         Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive (item 110755) $3.95
·         Anywhere Glue Sticks (item 104045) $3.95
·         2012-2014 In Color Stampin’ Write Markers (item 126856) $14.95
·         2013-2015 In Color Stampin’ Write Markers (item 131260) $14.95
·         2014-2016 In Colors Stampin’ Write Markers (item 133654) $14.95
·         Stampin’ Write Marker New Color Kit (item 130034) $28.95
·         Stampin’ Write Marker New Color Kit (item 130034,131259,131263,131262,131261) $28.95
·         Project Life Journaling Pens  (item 135304)  $4.95
·         Stampin” Dazzle markers gold and silver (item 133634 & 128978) $3.50 ea
·         White Stampin’ Chalk Marker  (Item 132133)  $3.50
·         Blendabilities Markers (Item all)  $11.95 ea
·         Blendabilities Skin Tone Assortment Markers (item 129370) $22.95
·         Paper Snips/Scissors, Fringe Scissors $9.95

To do your shopping, please visit my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

So Very Happy Mini Album

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So Very Happy Mini Album

This is one of those cute little mini albums that can be made for a little gift or special treat. It’s just 3″ x 3″. The inside pages are made from one piece of 12″ x 12″ designer paper scored, cut, and folded a certain way. the covers are made with just pieces of chipboard (like scraps from the cardboard in our designer paper packages or a cereal box) and covered with designer paper.

The flower and greeting are stamped from the set So Very Happy.  I actually stamped the flower several times, in different colors, so that I could cut out parts of each with my Paper Snips to make a layered flower for more pizzazz.

Here is the inside:

So Very Happy Mini Album Inside

It’s fun to make these little albums.  There are all different kinds you can make and of course just changing the paper and covers and embellishments make each one look different.  With people taking so many photos with phones these days, these little albums could work really well with smaller photos cropped to fit and with a little journaling.

Things to Remember:

New Big Shot & Bundles Special – Buy a Big Shot, Get a Bundle OR Have a Big Shot, Buy a Discounted Bundle(s)

Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals – Last Day – 2 punches, buttons, and 2 Big Shot dies on there!

Paper Pumpkin 50% Off Special – Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, the papercrafting kit that comes to your door! Use code HALFOFF2 and get the first two months at half-price! It’s fun, try it! (new subscribers only and not good on prepaid subscriptions). Sign up by August 10 to get the August kit!

Shop at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store for any of your stamping and papercrafting needs!

Flower Fair Framelits and the Big Shot

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Flower Patch Flower Fair Birthday Card

The Flower Patch Stamp Set makes beautiful flowers on a birthday card, but would you like to cut them all out after you stamped them, or would you rather use the Big Shot and the Flower Fair Framelits Dies? You could cut them with Paper Snips but it’s easier to use the Big Shot!

The background of the Crumb Cake card base is stamped with the stripe from the Work of Art Stamp Set. The Birthday greeting is from the Four You stamp set, one that I love for greetings!

I really liked adding the sequins on the card from the In Color Sequin Assortment. Those three were just enough, though. I had planned to put some on the birthday greeting too. You have to know when to stop!

If you don’t own a Big Shot, you want to consider the August Big Shot special from Stampin’ Up!  Purchase a Big Shot and choose a select bundle free!  If you already own a Big Shot, choose any of the bundles at a 15% discount. Everyone who has a Big Shot loves it and uses it a lot.

If you are not familiar with a Big Shot, watch this Stampin’ Up! video! I had chosen a little notebook cover in the catalog on page 155 to copy as a card. When I watched this video again, well, check out the last project she shows you!  My ESP has been working overtime lately! Yes, I had seen this video before, but really was not thinking about it when I chose the design for the card!  Must have been buried in my subconscious!!

Just go to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store and order your Big Shot and choose your free bundle! You’ll be glad you did!

It’s August! Big Shot Bundles and Blendabilities!

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It’s August 1st and an exciting day at Stampin’ Up! There is a Big Shot Bundle Promotion starting today, plus the rest of the Blendabilities markers are available to all!

Big Shot Bundle Stampin' Up! Promo

I use my Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine almost everyday on lots of projects! I couldn’t do without it! If you don’t already own one, I think it would really enhance your papercrafting experience!

But if you do already own a Big Shot or similar machine, you can order any of these bundles and save 15%! In case it doesn’t jump out at you, the Bright & Beautiful Stars Bundle has the new Stars Framelits that just came out in the new Stampin’ Up! Catalog AND comes with the Bright & Beautiful Stamp Set that WILL be available in the upcoming Holiday Catalog! Get a Bundle and get a Sneak Peek! Maybe even a head start on your Christmas cards and decorations!

Blendabilities!!

As you know, we have had several colors of the new Blendabilities alcohol markers available, but as of today, August 1st, ALL the colors are available to you!

Here are the newest colors, available starting today, August 1st!

New Colors Stampin' Blendabilities Markers

  • Night of Navy  (Item 131001 – $11.95 )
  • Wisteria Wonder (Item 131002 – $11.95 )
  • Calypso Coral   (Item 130996 – $11.95 )
  • Melon Mambo   (Item 130994 – $11.95 )
  • Crumb Cake  (Item 131004 – $11.95 )
  • Smokey Slate  (Item 131005 – $11.95 )

These colors and items have already been available:

  • Cherry Cobbler   (Item #130995 – $11.95)
  • Coastal Cabana  (Item #131000 – $11.95)
  • Daffodil Delight   (Item #130998 – $11.95)
  • Old Olive   (Item #130999 – $11.95)
  • Pumpkin Pie  (Item #130997 – $11.95)
  • Rich Razzleberry  (Item #131003 – $11.95)
  • Skin Tone Assortment (Item #129370 – $22.95)
  • Memento Ink Pad (Item 132708 – $5.95 )
  • Memento Ink Refill (Item 133456 – $4.95 )
  • Color Lifter  (Item 129369 – $4.95 )

See all the Stampin’ Blendabilities products available in my Stampin’ Up! Online Store HERE!

FYI:  Texas Sales Tax Holiday August 8 – 10! Since school supplies will be tax free during this period, certain Stampin’ Up! products, including the Stampin’ Blendabilities, will be included.  More details coming!

This is a good day and weekend to go to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store and check out the Big Shot Bundles Promotion and the new Blendabilities you can order!

Last Day! Buy 3 DSP Get 1 Free!

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Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper Buy 3 Get One Free Offer

Today is the last day to get a free package of Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper when you buy 3!  That’s like ordering 4 and getting $10.95 off your order! Just put in the three sets of papers you want to order and the fourth one will come up free. Today is the last day! You can chose from the papers on pages 186-7 in the new Stampin’ Up! Catalog.

As I’ve been enjoying looking at the DSP I already ordered, here is a cute box I made with the Big Shot and the Hamburger Box Die! (Don’t buy the Big Shot today, though!) I die-cut the tag with the Chalk Talk Framelits and just tied it on with a piece of Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine. The greeting and heart are from the stamp set Something To Say.

Flashback DSP Hamburger Box

Here’s a tip when making the Hamburger Box!  Instead of following the directions to fold in all the corners of the box on the score lines, it is much easier if you cut one of the score lines in each corner.   Do NOT cut the center score line, cut one on either side of the center score line like in this photo. It doesn’t matter which side, just do not cut the center one.  Then use a Glue Dot to adhere.

Hamburger Box Cut Corners

When choosing DSP, don’t go by the title or the main sheet shown on the top.  Many patterns in each package are good for other projects rather than just what you think they are.

Shop Today at my Online Store to take advantage of the

Buy 3 DSP Get 1 Free Offer!

Make a Cupcake Party Card With Flashback Paper

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Cupcake Party Card with Flashback Paper

As I looked through the Flashback Designer Series Paper, the Real Red and Pool Party colors on this pattern really caught my eye. I love red! I wondered if I could use it some way with the Cupcake Party stamp set and the Cupcake Builder Punch, on sale this week in the Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals. The Cupcake Punch is used for the top and bottom of the cupcake, but I handcut the little Happy Birthday flag for the top. With the punch, I could have punched out a little cherry for the top! You wouldn’t believe how many circles and scallop circles I punched in various colors and tried different combinations to see which one worked best behind the cupcake. Finally I just decided on this one! I also put a little strip of Real Red 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon across the card, even though you don’t see much of it.

This card is cut lengthwise, meaning the Pool Party is cut 11″ x 4 1/4″ and then folded in half. Just a little change!

Don’t judge a pack of designer paper by the first sheet in the package! This one has retro cameras, but there are other pretty patterned papers in the pack. And don’t forget that the Buy 3 DSP Get 1 Free Offer from Stampin’ Up! during July! Much to my surprise, July is almost over! Tomorrow is the last day you can take advantage of this special deal to stock up on designer paper.  Specialty papers are not included. Choose from the patterns on pages 186-7 in the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog.

One more day to order 3 designer series packs and then get the 4th one free!  Add some of the Weekly Deals to your order as well!

Shop any time at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

New Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deal July 29 2014

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Weekly Deal July 29 2014

Stampin' Up! Weekly Deal July 29 2014 Washi Tape

Here they are!  The new Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals for the week of July 29 – August 4. I think if I didn’t already own these items, the things that would jump out the most for me would be the Cupcake Builder Punch and the Gift Bow Die, as well as the 1/2″ Circle Punch and for sure the Watercolor Wonder Designer Washi Tape! (Plus maybe the Pool Party Embossing Powder and oh, of course the Brights Designer Buttons!). Who can pass up a bargain?!

Be sure to click to page 2 if you are looking at the Weekly Deals in my store or you will miss the Washi Tape!

Even though the Cupcake Builder Punch has been around for awhile, I have been getting lots of use out of it with the new Cupcake Party stamp set. You might want to check out that stamp set, in either clear- or wood-mount. It’s on page 58 in the new Stampin’ Up! Catalog with lots of cute examples on the page.

If you don’t own a Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine yet, just hang on a few more days until August! Then you might want to go ahead and order the Gift Bow Die and the Clear Oval Accent Bigz Die.

It’s time to go shop at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store! What Weekly Deals will you choose?

Stampin’ Up! Paper Pumpkin: New Subscriber 50% Off Special!

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Paper Pumpkin 50% Off Special

Click to Enlarge

What is Paper Pumpkin anyway?

“I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I’ll help you to escape your life with some paper fun.

I come in a sweet box, but you’ll really love what you find on the inside:

All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create pinable projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!

Paper Pumpkin by Stampin’ Up! is a monthly kit program that anyone (even you) can enjoy!“

Get Started!

It’s so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program by clicking THIS LINK and then click JOIN. Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family every month!

Of course, you’ll want to know more. So here’s the nitty gritty:

  • Each month we send you a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We’ve even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
  • Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
  • Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape.
  • We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.
  • You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month’s kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let’s say you sign up on August 10, we’ll send your kit around August 15. If you sign up on August 11, we’ll send your first kit around September 15.)
  • A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95 per month (and shipping is included!). There’s no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.

New Subscribers:  There is a special for you from now until September 10th! Enter the code HALFOFF2 and get the first two months at 50% off!

Stampin’ Up! continues to improve these kits!  There is a lot more “stuff” in each month’s box. You will often have extra left over to make even more projects of some kind. Follow the directions or dip your toe in the creative pool and see what you come up with yourself!

Sign up TODAY for Paper Pumpkin, the monthly papercrafting kit that comes to you in the mail, so the August Kit can be mailed to you mid-August! With the holidays coming up, the kits will come in handy perhaps as an easy way to make a gift for someone or some holiday item for you to have. You can subscribe for more than one kit, and you can change that quantity every month.  Just do it before the 10th of any month to make any changes in your subscription.

 

 

Back To Black Designer Paper Congratulations Card

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Back To Black Congratulations Card

I think just using black and white can make a beautiful card, and that’s why the Back To Black Designer Series Paper from Stampin’ Up! is so useful. Here is an easy black and white Congratulations card that you could be proud to send to anyone. Or change out the greeting and make it a birthday card or whatever occasion you need. I just chose several scraps of my Back To Black DSP and cut strips and made them into banners of varying widths and lengths and adhered them to my card front (stamp first in case you mess up!). I tend to just cut the flag end of the banner with my Paper Snips, it doesn’t have to be perfect, but you could also punch with the arrow punch or the square punch or some others.

The greeting is from the Hey You Stamp Set. And for a finishing touch, I added some black Neutrals Candy Dots to look like they are holding up the banner.

Buy 3 Get 1 DSP Free Offer (last day July 31)

Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals (last day July 28)

Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin Use HALFOFF2 code.

 

Back to Black Designer Paper Colored with Blendabilities

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Back to Black DSP Black and WhiteWhat if you take this Back to Black Designer Series Paper from Stampin’ Up! and color all the white images on the paper with Blendabilities alcohol markers?

Back to Black DSP Colored with Blendabilities

You get this! Since the background is black, it doesn’t matter if you color outside the lines! I even used two colors on some leaves or used the Color Lifter just to add some different shades of green. I love the feel of coloring with the Blendabilities! All of the Blendabilities colors (so far!) will be available to order August 1.

Back to Black DSP back

What if you turn the designer paper over to apply Liquid Multipurpose Glue (in the green bottle) and see the other side since the color soaks through from the Blendabilities Markers and think “Wow! Even the wrong side looks kind of cool with the color showing through!”?

Back to Black Blendabilities Colored DSP CardAnd then what if you adhere the colored piece of Back to Black Designer Series Paper to a card base and layer and start adding some other elements to make a card? What if you cut off a tiny scrap strip of another pattern of the designer paper and adhered it to a strip punched with the Scallop Edge Border Punch for a little accent piece? What if you looked through stamp sets and found this greeting from the Yippee Skippee Stamp Set and then by chance pulled out an already punched piece of Melon Mambo in a tag shape with the Tag Topper Scalloped Punch and made a tag for the focal point of the card? The little flowers are punched from the Boho Blossom Punch and the flower punch in the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack. The small leaves are from the Bird Builder Punch. I added some Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon to the tag and of course, a bit of bling with a Rhinestone and Candy Dots!

To purchase this Back to Black Designer Series Paper and two other packs so that you can get 1 pack FREE during July, please visit my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

Back to Black with Gold Birthday Card

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Back to Black with Gold Birthday Card

I’m finally taking the time to play with the new Back To Black Designer Series Paper to make a birthday card with a touch of gold. I learned a long time ago in my stamping that black and white could be very stunning – and really all you need sometimes to make a card. That’s all I was going to use on this card, but somehow a little bit of gold snuck in! Once I made the flower using the Blossom Punch, I decided the Gold Baker’s Twine would look good with the Vintage Faceted Button. I thought little strips of the Gold Foil Sheets would look great against the black and while. If you could see this card in person, you would see that the extra glimmer really looks nice. Once I had the gold foil accent, I had to emboss the greeting from the Four You stamp set with my Heat Tool and Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder. Remember, before you emboss, rub the Embossing Buddy on the card stock to try to keep stray flecks of the embossing powder from sticking. Then stamp with Versamark.

I also have another technique I saw recently that I will share with you soon using this paper!  With the July special offer on Designer Series Paper from Stampin’ Up!, now is the time to stock up on paper! Get all the new ones in the catalog while you can get one free!

Be sure the Back To Black Designer Series Paper is on your Wish List!

Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals July 22 2014

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Stampin' Up! Weekly Deal July 22 2014

Here are the newest Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals for the week of July 22.  These deals are good while supplies last or through midnight MT on Monday July 28. Get ’em while you can!

And don’t forget about this deal during July!  Time to stock up on the new papers!

Buy 3 Get 1 Free Designer Series Paper Stampin' Up! July Offer

Choose any 3 Designer Series Papers, get the fourth package FREE! Designer Series Paper Stacks and Specialty Designer Series Papers not included. Check out all the beautiful new papers in the new Stampin’ Up! 2014-15 Catalog! They’re on pages 186-7.

Stampin’ Up! Inspire.Create.Share.2014 Convention Highlights

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I almost felt like I was at the Stampin’ Up! Convention, now referred to as Inspire.Create.Share.2014, the last few days because of the live streaming they did every day. I initially thought they would show only a few minutes, but they were quite generous with the convention time they showed. It was really great for those of us who did not go this year. Really great!! Yesterday afternoon they streamed the entire Closing Session and it did not disappoint. Sara Douglass showed how the kits can be used as is and also with alternate ideas. I can’t wait to get my hands on the holiday ones! Shelli also stamped and showed samples and ideas for easy get-togethers or parties to make things that people need and use. It’s always hard to believe that Convention is REALLY coming to an end, it would be nice to live in that happy Stampin’ Up! world a little longer!

If this looks like so much fun to you, you might be interested in being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator too! Stampin’ Up! is making it easier and easier to be a demonstrator so you don’t need to worry it will take too much time or that you have to be a creative person in order to do Stampin’ Up! Find out more about being a Demonstrator HERE. Then contact me to answer your questions or get more information!

Enjoy the highlights video!

 

Watching the Stampin’ Up! Inspire.Create.Share.2014 Convention from Home

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Donna Griffith of Stampin' Up!

Stampin’ Up! was kind enough to live stream a portion of the Inspire.Create.Share.2014 Convention from Salt Lake City so those of us who did not attend this year could watch it. It’s almost as good as being there! And I still found myself trying to take photos of my laptop screen and write down notes of the projects all at the same time like I would be doing if I were there! This morning Donna Griffith was the presenter on stage teaching about using the new Stampin’ Up! Blendabilities alcohol markers. I missed a little bit of the beginning since they started a few minutes earlier than they’d planned, but I still saw plenty of cute ideas!

Did you know you can color the Vintage Faceted Buttons? Just be careful on the sharp edges with your marker so you don’t wear out the tip. You can also color pearls, rhinestones, and other embellishments.

Button colored with Blendabilities

You can color on Window Sheets. Here she stamped the flower with White Stazon Ink but did not let the coloring touch the Stazon ink. The ink sits on top of the window sheet so you have to let it dry and add more if you want.

Window Sheet Blendabilities

You can use Blendabilities on the Mini Muslin Bags.

Muslin Bag with Blendabilities

Start with light colored lines at the bottom and make them darker as you go for the ombre effect!

Muslin Bag Ombre

Coloring Washi Tape

Amazingly, you can color on black & white photos! This is Donna’s granddaughter! See the headband?

Coloring on Photo with Blendabilities

And how about a mask on the superhero! (Donna’s grandson!)

Coloring on Photo Boy

To see another really neat idea, come over to my Stamping With Karen Facebook Page HERE!