Author Archives: Karen Fontinelle

Make Beautiful Festive Flurry Ornaments with an Easy Kit

Festive Flurry Ornament Kit

Images copyright Stampin’ Up! 2013

A new kit from Stampin’ Up! and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

Add a little festive flare to your holiday decorating with the new Festive Flurry Ornament Kit! Top presents, embellish cards, create a wintery garland, or trim the tree. How you use them is up to you!

The kit includes everything you need (minus adhesive) to create 10 snowflakes, including
* 10 feet of Soft Sky Ribbon
* Printed cardstock – die cut and scored, ready to be assembled (Soft Sky, Crumb Cake, Whisper White Cardstock and Silver Glimmer Paper)
* Large Rhinestone Basic Jewels (40)

Order this kit from my Stampin’ Up! Online Store HERE.

Watch the video below!  All you have to do is punch out the snowflakes, fold where scored and glue together with a glue gun! Then let your imagination run and decide how you will use them!

 

 

We Thank and Honor Our Veterans Today

Veterans Day

Images copyright Stampin’ Up! 2013

Veterans Day honors all those who have served in the armed forces for the United States of America. November 11th was made a legal holiday back in 1938, called “Armistice Day”, as a day to honor those who had served in World War I because hostilities had ceased between the Allied Forces and Germany in 1918 in the eleventh hour in the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Later on, the word Armistice was taken out and Veterans Day became a holiday to honor veterans of all wars.

To read more about the history of Veterans Day, please click HERE to go to the US Department of Veterans Affairs website.

I loved this story the first time I saw it online the other day. Someone notified the USO that a group of Marines were on their way home from Afghanistan on a plane from Baltimore bound for Chicago. Quickly it was arranged for their plane to be met by a corridor of Chicago police, firemen, airport workers and USO volunteers as they deplaned after their plane taxied under a water salute. Once they started boarding their next flight to San Diego, they found out American Airlines has a policy to upgrade military in uniform when possible.  They had six first class seats available. At that, seven other first class passengers jumped up to give up their seats so the soldiers could sit together! If that is not a heart-warming story throughout, I don’t know what is!

One More Chance!

MDS Banner Generic DBWS

This past week Stampin’ Up! has been offering daily digital scrapbooking deals for My Digital Studio and write-ups on the mydigitalstudio.net blog with ideas of how to use those downloads.  But some people have missed out, so if you would like one more chance to purchase any of these select downloads for 50% off,here is your chance until midnight MT November 9.

Here are the downloads that will be on sale:

  • Amped Up Ampersands Kit (item 134844)
  • Hello There Kit (item 133374)
  • All Time Fave Photobook Template (item 132915)
  • Modern Medley Overlays Kit (item 134839)
  • Be Brave Pocket Cards (item 134840)
  • Nobody’s Business Photobook Template (item 132812)
  • Autumn Traditions Kit (item 127600)
  • Afternoon Daydream Kit (item 130861)

Go here to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store and put in the item number. You’ll see a full description of the download and usually will be able to view better close-ups of the elements. You’ll usually see a magnifying glass or the word “More” and sometimes you can scroll through to look at each element.

To find out more about My Digital Studio, just click HERE.  You can purchase the software and a ton of content for a mere $19.95.  And it’s not just for digital scrapbooking!

Decorating a Baby Gift Bag

Decorating a baby gift bag

While I had this shiny blue gift bag, it needed something to be appropriate for a baby gift.  I just stamped a panel to put on the front of the bag. The animals are from the retired stamp set “Animal Stories” (do you have it in your stash?). Even the greeting is retired but from one of my all-time favorite, how-can-we-live-without-it stamp sets, “Sincere Salutations”. Of course the panel still needed some jazzing up. I used some pieces of the Silver Glimmer Paper die cut with the  Tasteful Trim Bigz Die for the top and bottom edges and tied some Silver 1/8″ Ribbon in the Holiday Catalog around the panel.

You can do this with any plain gift bags you have.  I like to save the handled gift-bag-type bags you sometimes get at stores or you can buy at the craft store. Then you can use those for gifts after you decorate them!

If you are looking for a similar cute animal stamp set, perfect for baby cards and gifts, try Zoo Babies available in wood- or clear-mount.

Autumn Traditions Kit for My Digital Studio 50% Off to

Autumn Traditions Kit for My Digital Studio

Images copyright Stampin’ Up! 2013

Only today and tomorrow left of Stampin’ Up! Digital Scrapbooking Days! Today this beautiful Autumn Traditions Kit is available for 50% off the regular price, today only! If you think you might make a fall digital album or photobook or even if you just want to print off the paper or words yourself, this might be the set for you! Sometimes if I don’t have quite the right words or greeting I want in regular stamps, I can check on My Digital Studio and print my choice from there right onto my card stock. Also downloads, stamp set, and paper do not retire on My Digital Studio.

If you live where there are/were beautiful fall colored leaves or have taken photos on trips, like I have, this paper and images would be beautiful to design your pages and album. Or maybe you’d like just a simple “swatchbook”. Not that you are limited to scrapbooks with digital software because you absolutely are not!  You can make all sorts of projects with My Digital Studio!

For more information on My Digital Studio, please visit HERE.

Baby Circle Flip Card

Baby Circle Flip Card

Have I said before that I think you will love the Circle Card Thinlits Die for making cards?  I needed a baby card for a little boy and thought the Thinlits Die would make a cute card! The paper I used is retired (Nursery Nest), but of course you could use any paper of your choice.  The stamp set I used is also retired, unfortunately.  I loved the Easy Events stamp set because it was so versatile for many occasions. I loved the little duck so I had to use it for this card.

The Thinlits Die practically makes the card for you!  Just decide what to put for the focal point on the front of the card in the circle and probably a greeting for the circle on the other side inside the card.  Add a little designer paper if you like or do some stamping on the plain card stock.

Baby Circle Flip Card Inside

If you are game to try the new Thinlits Dies, just contact me or shop online at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store HERE.

New Deals from Stampin’ Up!

Here’s a new list of Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! good today through next Monday!

Wk Deal Nov 5(1)

Click to enlarge 

Adorning Accents Textured Embossing Folder Item # 125601
Regular Price: $8.95 US/$10.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $6.71 US/$8.21 CANAutumn Accents Die Item # 127812
Regular Price: $21.95 US/$26.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $16.46 US/$20.21 CAN

Cherry Cobbler Grosgrain Ribbon
Item # 132135

Regular Price: $8.95 US/$12.50 CAN
Discounted Price: $6.71 US/$9.37 CAN

Wk Deal Nov 5(2)

Click to Enlarge

Cupcake Punch Item # 121807
Regular Price: $16.95 US/$22.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $12.71 US/$17.21 CAN

Day in the Life Kit MDS Download 
Item # 128876
Regular Price: $14.95 US/$16.50 CAN
Discounted Price: $8.97 US/$9.90 CANDress Form Pop N Cuts Item # 130100

Regular Price: $21.95 US/ $26.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $16.46 US/$20.21 CAN

Weekly Deal Nov. 5

Click to Enlarge

Simply Created Goody Gear Pumpkin Pie
Item # 132792

Regular Price: $4.95 US/$6.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $3.71 US/$5.21 CANRhinestones Large Item # 129324
Regular Price: $4.95 US/$6.50 CAN
Discounted Price: $3.71 US/$4.87 CAN

Just visit my Online Store HERE or use the links above to order any of these great supplies that you NEED!  Especially when they are on sale!  One week Only!

A Pop-Up Birthday Card for My Son

Pop Up Birthday Card

Lots of days I can have or see hundreds of ideas for cards and  stamping projects I want to make, but sometimes when I need a card for someone special it’s like I’ve never stamped before and can’t think of a thing to make.  Does that ever happen to you?! Sometimes I can look around in all the usual inspirational places and not see anything I like, just because I NEED something right then.

Cards for guys always seem a little harder to come up with, although they really shouldn’t be. Often it’s just a matter of changing the color or the paper or using less bling or more texture. Anyway, when I needed a card for my son for his birthday I found this one at StampingSchool.com. I used the “You’re Amazing” greeting on the front of the card from the stamp set You’re Amazing and used the Big Shot and the Apothecary Accents Framelit to cut it out. Love, love, love the little Candy Dots and the Candy Dot Brad Bases (or the Candy Dots by themselves!). While the sample I was copying used a more feminine designer series paper, I changed it to our current Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper.

Pop Up Birthday Card Inside

The inside of the card is a pop-up!  And it’s made the old-fashioned way, with two little strips of paper making a box shape on each side of the card hidden by a front panel that you can then add things to so that it pops up. I copied the sample pretty closely except for the greeting and the designer paper. Then if you like you can stick a gift card, check or cash in that opening or even engineer it to have a pocket, or any other design along the pop up portion!

This was a good male birthday card to make.  It could be for anyone, but the Sweater Weather Designer Paper makes it look like fall and more masculine.  With a whole pack of paper, you can choose any of the patterns and know they will look good together because Stampin’ Up! has done all the work of coordinating colors and patterns.  And did I mention that I love the Candy Dots??!!!

To order any of these supplies or papers or stamps, just go to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store.

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And it is Day 4 of Digital Scrapbooking Days over at Stampin’ Up! website for My Digital Studio! Choose this Modern Medley Overlays Kit digital download for 50% off today only! Click on the image below for more information and to shop for this download.

Modern Medley Overlays Kit

Click Image

Visit the website www.mydigitalstudio.net (you do have to sign in) for more information about using this download and tons of information about My Digital Studio.

Digital Scrapbooking Days from Stampin’ Up!

All Time Fave Photobook

Images copyright Stampin’ Up! 2013

Stampin’ Up! continues celebrating digital scrapbooking with 50% off this digital download, TODAY ONLY. This download is the “All Time Fave Photobook” #132915.  You can click the image above or the link and view this download in detail. Once you are on the shopping page you can click “More” or the magnifying glass to get a closer look.  If you like documenting your favorite things and making lists, this is the download for you!

You don’t have to own My Digital Studio to use it, it will work with other design software, but why wouldn’t you own My Digital Studio?! It’s an easy program to learn and you’ll have access to lots of your favorite, past and present, Stampin’ Up! stamps in the “brush sets” as well as designer papers and embellishments. Have your projects printed by the Stampin’ Up! printer and be assured of exact color matches.  Or print yourself or at a local printer if you are in a hurry.

Check out My Digital Studio here for more information.

Click HERE to purchase the My Digital Studio software which comes with an ENORMOUS amount of content!!  I recommend the digital download version because you won’t have to worry about losing or damaging the MDS disc.  But if you prefer the hard copy, you can purchase the program on a MDS Disc.

I guarantee you at only $19.95 My Digital Studio is an absolute bargain!

Not convinced??  Do the 30-Day Free MDS Trial.  No obligation.  You get to use the FULL software (not as much content, but enough to play with, and you can purchase more that you like AND print your projects). At the end of 30 days it will just expire.

Did You Remember to Change Your Clocks last night??  We’re back on Standard Time!  “Fall back” an hour!  Hope you enjoyed your extra hour of sleep!

New Best of 25 Years Stamp Set from Stampin’ Up!

Best of 25 Years November Best of Snow

Images copyright Stampin’ Up! 2013

Here is the November Best of 25 Years, celebrating Stampin’ Up!’s 25th Anniversary!  This stamp set, Best of Snow, has one of everyone’s favorite images “Frosty” plus a couple of hedgehogs!! The Frosty stamp set was one of the first ones I bought when I became a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator.  Frosty became one of those stamp sets that no one wanted to see retire. Although I didn’t own the hedgehogs, I know they were very popular as well.

It’s time to be working on those Christmas cards so if these images speak to you, you should order them right away!  Just go to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decorated Halloween Candy Tin

Halloween Candy Tin

What could be more fun than decorating some candy and a tin for Halloween? I had this tin with the clear window on top in my “stash” but if you couldn’t find an exact match, I’m sure any tin or container would do. I have always loved these tins because they make sure cute, quick and easy gifts to make up in minutes for someone. Of course you could use different types of candy or other contents in the tin, but this is just to give you some ideas!  I used Hershey Nuggets for my candy and wrapped each one with a 1″ x 3″ strip of designer series paper. You just want to be sure when using adhesive and candy that you don’t let the adhesive make contact with the candy. I just used a Mini Glue Dot to secure the strip of paper to itself so it is not attached to the candy piece.

To decorate the tin, I just took a strip of designer paper and wrapped it around the tin for a bellyband. You could also layer it on a strip of card stock if you wanted. For the flower on top, just use one of the flower punches to punch about three or more flowers or even one of the scallop punches. Crinkle up each layer of the flower if you like that look, then reopen and layer one on top of the other.  Secure in the center with a brad of some sort (looks like I used a retired one!). Adhere to the bellyband with Stampin’ Dimensionals or Mini Glue Dots.

The Witches’ Brew Designer Series Paper was used in this project. My friend I gave this gift to really liked the little skulls on the paper!

If you would like some Witches’ Brew paper for your Halloween projects and cards, now is the time to order some! Just go to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store here for all your stamping supplies!

***Don’t forget the 25% Off 25 Stamps Offer only available through October 28th!***

Halloween Framed Art for a Friend

Halloween Framed Art

We got back home Saturday from a wonderful fall vacation to Michigan! There has been no sign of fall here in Houston, Texas except for the date on the calendar, so to see REAL fall, with colored leaves beyond expectations, cooler (okay, sometimes COLD!) weather, that overcast fall look was just a wonderful change! The people up there decorate for fall, not just Halloween, because it IS fall there!  I saw so many pumpkin stands and corn shucks and fall flowers plus Halloween decorations. I loved it all!

The Halloween framed art above was a gift for my friend we were visiting. I happened to have a frame with a square opening of 10″ x 10″  so I was able to use 2″ squares for the “art”. As you can see, I made two elements 2″ x 4″ to fit into the design.  Some of the stamps were retired ( I couldn’t resist going through some of my “old” Halloween stamp sets) and some designs were ideas I got online or at least got me started on my own ideas.  It was fun to make and an easy project for anyone to make.  Make it as small or large as you want.  Check to see what picture frames you already have in your stash and start there.  You could do something with four squares or 16!  Whatever you like! There’s a glare because I did put the glass in the frame but you can also omit the glass, especially if you want to put a lot of 3D layers on your art.

I’ll tell you more about my trip when I get all the photos sorted out. The trees were unbelievably gorgeous – if they weren’t at “peak” color, I don’t know how they could be any more beautiful. A lot of my photos were shot through the car windshield or passenger window, sometimes through the windshield wiper and raindrops!  Here’s a sneak peek of some trees along the highway when we first arrived!  I just held my camera in my hands at all times as we were driving!

Fall trees in Michigan

Halloween Hello Washi Tape Card

Halloween Hello Washi Tape Card

We made this Halloween card at my recent stamp camp. I got the idea in a magazine and it was very easy to make. There are many ways you can vary the design too, even use it for other occasions. Just apply three strips of Washi Tape spaced out a little on the top card layer. Carefully stamp the images you like in between or randomly on the card. I used the Witches’ Brew Designer Washi Tape and the Halloween Hello Stamp Set on this card.  I also tied a piece of Baker’s Twine around the card.  Very simple and a fun design!

What can you make with a few pieces of Washi Tape?  Remember it is easy to tear and is repositionable!  No mistakes!

Get your washi tape and other fun embellishments at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!  Click and shop today! Of course I am always happy to help you with your order.

Halloween Hello Candy Card

Halloween Hello Candy Card

Here’s a cute Halloween card idea, one I received as a swap at the Stampin’ Up! Convention last summer! It’s very simple.  Just use the candy stamp and greeting in the Halloween Hello stamp set.  The designer paper is pieces from Witches’ Brew Designer Series Paper or you could use anything similar. Stamp on Pumpkin Pie card stock and mount on Basic Black.

You can shop MORE EASILY at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store now!  Stampin’ Up! has made some much-needed improvements to your shopping experience! Here are some of them:

  •  Customers can now easily save bag contents. Also, when adding items to your bag, you can choose to go directly to the bag or continue shopping.
  •  There is a new progress bar to guide customers through the ordering process.
  • Enjoy more images. . Additional product images are bigger and easier to view.
  • Now you can sort merchandise based on newest or oldest–a real plus when you want to see the latest MDS downloads.
  • Sale prices are clearly marked. Items on sale are clearly marked without having to add them to your bag. You can also sort products by the sales price (instead of according to the original price).

Go to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store NOW and see how you like the new shopping experience!

Halloween Bash Shaker Card

Halloween Shaker Card

I thought this week I would post a new Halloween project everyday but then I went on vacation and did not have wifi!!  Worse than that was that I thought I had a new plan that would give me wifi but it did not work!  Don’t try to add a new technology on a day before you are leaving for vacation, especially without trying it out first!  But now I do have wifi, so here is a Halloween card I LOVE! It’s been around on the internet and I certainly did not come up with the original idea.

Cut a window sheet the same size as your top card layer.  Stamp that top card layer however you like.  Use Washi Tape on three sides of the window sheets, half of the tape on the front window sheet and half wrapped around to the page.  ONLY DO THREE SIDES!  Then punch or stamp the “confetti” you want inside the card.  First insert a couple of the Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons in between the window sheet and card layer.  This will separate the two layers so that the confetti can move around a little. Then insert all the confetti pieces you have made. Once you have that all how you like it, apply the last pieces of washi tape to the open side.  Then adhere that whole packet to the card base.  Shake it around and try it out!  What a fun card to send somebody!

For this Halloween card, I stamped the greeting with the Halloween Bash Stamp Set, coloring with different Stampin’ Write Markers. The Washi Tape is Witches Brew Designer Tape.