Author Archives: Karen Fontinelle

The New Stampin’ Up! Color Coach!

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This is the new Color Coach #120148 from Stampin' Up! and you will want to have one!  It just looks good and is so versatile.  You'll see large swatches of color and on the back of each color are suggested color combinations.  There are even extra cards to help you with color theory and blank cards for you to record your favorite combinations of colors.

ColorCoach 


In Colors are included as well AND see the screw on the back??  You can take the pack apart to add new In Colors or remove old ones or even put the cards in the order you would like them.  If you prefer the colors be in order by Color Collection, you can sort them that way. 

ColorCoachback  

Just to challenge myself, I was going to choose a random card in the Color Coach, without looking, and make something with those colors, regardless of what they were!  It was Early Espresso and I chose to use the "Creative Combination" of colors in a project.

Here's what I made:

Friends Tag 

Stamps:  Artistic Etchings (p.125 IB&C), Vintage Vogue (p. 126)

Card stock:  Very Vanilla #101650, Marina Mist #119682, Early Espresso #119686

Ink:  Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Marina Mist

Accessories:  3/8" Twill Tape #119970, Stamping Sponges #101610, Stampin' Dimensionals #104430, Paper Snips #103579, Crop-A-Dile #108362


Be sure to put that new Color Coach on your new order!  

Click HERE to shop!

 

Stampin’ Up! Color Retrofit Kits

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Stampin' Up! Color Renovation Kits 

Here's the best way to update your existing Stampin' Up! products in order to get the new colors without replacing products you already have.  Click on the above image to read the flyer!  You will see that there are some great deals here!

Click here to download the new Stampin' Up! 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog!

Click here to shop for all the new Stampin' Up! products on your Wish List!

Let me know if you have any questions!

4th of July Simply Adorned Charms

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This morning I was rummaging through my jewelry box and in my holiday decorations trying to find my 4th of July "stuff".  I couldn't remember if I had a special 4th of July bracelet or not, but I found some red and blue cheap plastic beads I probably bought last year and my little 4th of July "crown"…some star garland and cascading curled ribbons down the back!…..that my friend and I bought years ago at a 4th of July celebration.  Then I happened to think of my Simply Adorned Charms from Stampin' Up!  All I would have to do is make a 4th of July insert and I'd have my own customized jewelry!

The charm I have is the middle sized one, the Simply Adorned 1" x 1 1/4" Rectangle Charm #116798 with the 24" Simply Adorned Chain #116800.

Here's the front!

CharmUSA 

And I love that there is a backside too!

CharmUSAback 

I just got out some stamps and punches and had some fun!

What I hope looks like fireworks in the front view of the charm is the medallion in the stamp set Charming #116519, with the center punched out with the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack #118309.  The USA is stamped with the Rough Type Alphabet in the Summer Mini Catalog….the letters are just cut into little blocks by hand.  The star is cut from Brushed Gold cardstock. The red and blue strips are punched with the Pinking Hearts Border Punch #117649.

The backside of the charm I just stamped that same medallion from Charming in Real Red, Daffodil Delight and Pacific Point ink and punched out the three stars with the Star Punch (retired).  I think we need a punch with itty bitty stars!

I can't wait to wear my new 4th of July necklace to see fireworks tonight!!

 

 

Get Good Fireworks Photos for Your Scrapbooking!

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IMG_9214 

I just love watching fireworks on July 4th or any time any place, and I'm sure lots of you do too!  I've tried to take photos of fireworks many times, and usually they don't turn out very well. But with my current camera (still a point and shoot) I'm getting closer to getting some good shots of the fireworks. Today, in my email from Photojojo.com, I was directed to some tips for taking good fireworks photos.  They have eleven great tips here. They strongly recommend using a tripod (as in "Bring a tripod, bring a tripod, bring a tripod.") and finding a good location early where you can look straight at the fireworks, not just up.    Some cameras even have a fireworks mode to shoot with (I'll have to check mine!). But you can read the camera-setting details for yourself.

A couple other suggestions I liked were:

  • Being near a body of water is good for the reflection of the fireworks (we usually are by a small lake in a park for our fireworks viewing!).
  • Include some buildings or landmarks which often add to the composition of the photo.
  • Turn your flash off!
  • Turn your camera for a portrait-oriented shot for a rocket's rise and explosion, but to capture multiple explosions, shoot in landscape.
  • Don't forget the best comes at the end…the Grand Finale….so save some space on your memory card for that!

And my own tip……don't forget to take some pictures of the people you are with, not just the fireworks!

And when you are ready to scrapbook those photos, a quick and easy way to do it is with My Digital Studio from Stampin' Up!  You can make an album to print out or a few pages, or a multi-media presentation to share with your friends and family.  Contact me to find out how to order or go to my Online Store.


 

Fun with Tote-ally Tess on Another Rainy, Flooding Day in Houston!

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Thank goodness stamping does not require electricity!  It has been raining and raining and raining all day here in Houston.  The power went off before 10:30 am, and threatened to even before that, so what is a girl supposed to do with no computer or TV all day??  I got out stamps, ink and paper since I could see pretty well at my kitchen table by the window and made this card!

ToteAllyTess 

So Tote-Ally Tess and I had a pretty good time this morning.  I just kept stamping away until I was satisfied with how the card turned out.  To begin I consulted my new Color Coach #121620 to find a color combination I wanted to use and Sahara Sand, Regal Rose and Tempting Turquoise is what came up!  You'll love the new style Color Coach!

I also got to work on switching out some of my retired stamp sets and markers and cleaned up a few things.  Good day for that, even though I needed a flashlight now and then!  The power finally came back on at 4:00 pm although they say on the news (now that I can watch it) that thousands are without power.  Naturally ours came on just in time to cook dinner, but probably better than being out driving because there are so many spots that flood.  Now if I can just drive to the Park & Ride to pick up my husband!  They even had to set off some of the fireworks downtown today that were being set up for the 4th of July display because the bayou was getting high, just to be safe.  Wish I could have seen that!

 

Daffodil Delight Box #2

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Happy New Stampin' Up! Year!  Yes, today is the day for the new 2010-2011 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog!!  Out with the old and in with the new! Right this minute Stampin' Up! is changing everything over online to the new catalog, so if you wait until this afternoon ( 1 pm Central time) you will be able to shop online and view all the new catalogs.

Here is a project I made with the new products!  I used the Big Shot (#113439) to die cut the Box #2 (#114518) out of the new card stock Daffodil Delight (#119683) and then decorated it with the Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper (#117167).  I used the same sheet, both sides, for the little band of paper around the middle and from the other side I cut out several flowers and leaves with my Paper Snips (#103579) (which make such cutting easy!).  You MUST put this Greenhouse Gala DSP on your first order from the new catalog because it is beautiful!  It will put you in a good mood just to look at it!  For a finishing touch, I added a little of the new 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (#119254).  When I first saw this ribbon I wasn't sure I liked it because it is so very narrow, but when I used it today I just loved it!

Daffodil Delight #2 Box 

Such a fun little project that just brightens up your day to make it!  Think what it would do for someone if you put a little treat inside and gave it away!

Check back later when Stampin' Up! is up and running with new, new, new products!!!!

 

Red, White & Blue Card on Last Chance Day!

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While trying to decide which retiring stamp set to highlight today, it turned out it was this Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper #113976 that caught my eye.  The bold Real Red flowers really looked so summery and I was still in a red, white and blue mood.  The Brilliant Blue paper is retiring also in the Color Renovation.  In spite of all the colors that are going out, I can guarantee you are going to LOVE the new colors and color combinations!  Wait till you see them all in the new catalog in the new projects!  And the new Stampin' Up! 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog begins tomorrow!!!

For some reason I was happy with this card as is and didn't add a sentiment. But I always could later.  So if you ever just feel like making a card, leave off the greeting until you have a occasion for which you want to use it and you can add something later.  Hopefully you can see in the photo that I cut out a flower from another scrap of paper and popped it up with dimensionals over the same flower on the DSP.

Red, White & Blue Card Pink Flamingo DSP 

Today is the LAST CHANCE for retiring Stampin' Up! stamp sets, accessories and Decor Elements as well as outgoing colors due to the Color Renovation.

Be sure you have want to need and want!  Click HERE to order Last Chance items and anything else you want!

 

Sock Monkey is Celebrating the 4th!

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I thought it would be fun to begin celebrating July 4th with Sock Monkey #111552! It's not the idea I started with, but once I looked over my stamp sets, this one jumped out at me. Sock Monkey is happy he isn't being retired tomorrow, too! But with the 4th of July coming up, I wanted to do something red, white and blue!  So here is Sock Monkey and a few things that are retiring.  What ever will we do without "Itty Bitty Backgrounds" #114996?  I've had that stamp set since I started stamping!

4th of July Sock Monkey 

Tomorrow is the Last "Last Chance" Day!!!!!!!!

Check your list and get in your order!!

 

Be a Stampin’ Up! Demo! New Options July 1st!

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During the month of July, any former Stampin' Up! demonstrators who resigned on or before March 31, 2010 can rejoin Stampin' Up! for only $35! Stampin' Up! will send an email or postcard during the first week of July to those who left over the past three years, but if you left earlier than that, you are also eligible.  You will need to purchase the Rejoin Starter Kit and complete a new Demonstrator application and agreement, which must be submitted by mail.  There are no Stampin' Up! products included, just what you need to get your business back up and running.

The Rejoin Starter Kit Contains:

  • 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog (8)
  • 2010 Summer Mini Catalog (8)
  • Guest invitation postcards (100)
  • Customer order forms (50)
  • 2010-2011 Definitely Decorative catalog (1)
  • Celebrando Creatividad (1)
  • Two months free Demonstrator Business Web Services (DBWS) subscription

If this interests you, please contact me and I can send you the form you will need, available July 1st.

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If you would like to be a new Stampin' Up! Demonstrator with the Standard Starter Kit beginning July 1st, the Starter Kit has been revamped in the new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog and the price changed to $175!

The changes include:

Getting Started Colors included.

Clear-mount stamp set and block

Designer Series Paper Pack

Satin Ribbon

More substitution options in your kit

Two add-ons:  Stampin' Memories and Definitely Decorative

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The Digital+ Starter Kit is also being continued since it has been such a success…..so if you are more into the digital side of papercrafting, this kit might interest you, also for only $175.


If you have any questions about joining Stampin' Up! please email me at KSFontinelle@gmail.com and I can answer, or we can get in touch and talk about it more.  This will be a terrific opportunity to start your own business and make a little money while having so much fun at your job!

And in the meantime, for another couple days until June 30th, you can get in on the action right away with the $99 Mini Starter Kit!!


Please think about joining Stampin' Up!  You'll be glad you did!
   

My Digital Studio World Cup Soccer Card

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In honor of the World Cup Soccer game today….USA vs. Ghana…..here's a card made quickly with My Digital Studio!

World Cup Soccer 2010 

I just started with a blank card front and added the letters for "goal" with the Rough Type Alphabet (a newer download), added the "splotches" and crown with the Extreme Elements digital stamp set (LOVE this set, both digital and regular stamps) and added the USA with the Jersey Alphabet (also a newer download).  You can resize each element, change the color, rotate, reposition, whatever you want!

Be sure to watch the video in the link above to get an overview of My Digital Studio!

 

Using My Digital Studio Digital Ribbon

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Yesterday I told you there were new downloads available of pretty digital ribbon for My Digital Studio.  Here is a very quick and easy card I just made on My Digital Studio.  I used one of the designer templates, removed some stitching, added the ribbon and knot, added a button…..done!  So much fun!  You should get My Digital Studio today so you can start having fun too!  You must purchase the software, but after that it is easy to purchase additional downloads that come out from Stampin' Up!  You will have them immediately!  Use Stampin' Up!'s official printer for perfect color matches on your projects or have them printed at the place of your choice….or even on your home printer.

My Digital Studio Ribbon Card 

For more information about My Digital Studio, Stampin' Up! has provided a video for you HERE.

 

More Digital Ribbon for My Digital Studio!

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Stampin' Up! just keeps adding more and more to My Digital Studio!  It certainly keeps this product exciting!

Item         Description         Price
122147    Striped Grosgrain Ribbon $3.95
122148    Narrow Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon $3.95
122149    Wide Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon $.95

Striped Grosgrain Ribbon - Digital Download - by Stampin' Up!

Narrow Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon - Digital Download - by Stampin' Up!

Wide Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon - Digital Download - by Stampin' Up!

Can't you just imagine these pretty ribbons on your digital projects?!

Check it out at my online store HERE!  No shipping!


  

Stamping Tip: Sponge and Marker

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You know when we want to add a little something to a card element, we often dab a sponge into an ink pad and then gently rub the sponge on the edge of the card stock, just to add a little color and interest.  When I wanted to use Baja Breeze as the sponged color, but my old ink pad was still somewhere in the other room, I decided to see if I could use a marker instead.  It worked!  I used my new Baja Breeze marker (in the new Stampin' Up! 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog)  to apply a little color to the Stampin' Up! Sponge #101610….I cut mine in quarters.  Then I rubbed the sponge on the edge of the card stock to add a little color.  Maybe others have done this a million times, but I have only used ink before right from the ink pad.  Some other day I will dig out my old In Color ink pads that are now coming back to be some of our "new" Core Colors!  But for this moment, the marker worked fine!

Use a marker to sponge!
 


Beautiful Vintage Wallpaper Card

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I love this new Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder that we were able to preorder in June and you will be able to order in July in the new Stampin' Up! 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog.

First I used the Bigz Clear Scallop Square Die #115950 to cut the card shape.  It would cut the scallop edge on all four sides, but since I wanted it for a folding card I had to lay the folded card stock just below the top scallop on the die so it would not cut the fold.

Scallop Square Die
Scallop Square Fold
Scallop Square Cut in Die 

Next I ran the front of the card through the Big Shot #113439 using the new Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder #120175.  It's beautiful on the Baja Breeze card stock, one of the "old" In Colors being brought back as one of the core colors in the Subtles collection.

Scallop Square Embossed 

Here is the finished card, using some 5/8" Whisper White Organza Ribbon and a new stamp set Perfect Punches, as well as the Scallop Oval Punch #114889 and the Wide Oval Punch #112082.

Scallop Square Vintage Wallpaper Embossed Card

Yes, I love my Big Shot and all the dies and accessories!  If you need to order some, just go HERE.