Author Archives: Karen Fontinelle

Flip Album for a Graduation Gift

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I have just LOVED these flip albums ever since I saw my first one!  I've made several for gifts and this one was for a graduation gift.  I left it rather generic so she could use it any way she wanted to, whether for graduation pictures or college or family or friends or anything.  The first one I ever made I thought was incredibly complicated, but they really are pretty simple and this one went together easily.  I won't go into detail on how I made it because there are a lot of directions out there, but if you have questions, leave a comment or email me.  I did use retired Designer Series Paper, Bella Birds but I think everything else is current…..at least for June!!

Flip Album Cover with Daisies #2 Die 

Flip Album inside pages
Flip Album center pages 

Flip Album inside cover 

Flip Album pages using Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder
Flip Album using Scallop Envelope Big Shot Die
Flip Album Bella Birds DSP and Scallop Trim Corner Punch

 

When you make one of these albums, you can hardly stop yourself from flipping all the pages back and forth!  The Big Shot and our Stampin' Up! punches really help to make interesting elements in the album.   


Click:  Be sure to check the retiring lists of stamps, accessories and Decor Elements before they are gone June 30th….or sooner!

 
  

 

 

My Digital Studio Birthday Card…Happy Birthday to My Girl!

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When you need to make an easy birthday card to either print out yourself or send via email to someone, there is no better way than with My Digital Studio!  There are templates to use as is, or you can modify all you want. Here is one I made today for my daughter's birthday!  You also make the inside pages however you like, which really adds value because you can color the pages, add digital embellishments, photos, write your own message, anything you want.  When can you usually buy a card with a fancy inside?!

My Digital Studio Birthday Card
The front page of the card, no modifications.

My Digital Studio Inside Card
Inside the front page……I just made the background the same Certainly Celery color and copied and pasted the little flowers.

My Digital Studio Birthday Card Inside 

Second inside page….made the background Certainly Celery and then had to play around!  I added an "element" from the designer template (the yellow frame), added another element (the birthday words), added the "Make a Wish" element, added a border to the left side (several to choose from) and added the little "buttons" as well.  And for the message I just added a Text Box and could write whatever I wanted in whatever font and size I had on my computer!

There is so much you can do with My Digital Studio!  Sometimes you have to know when to stop, though!!

Let me know if you want more information on My Digital Studio.

 

Sweet Scoops Cookies!

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You never know where your inspiration will come from to make a card or project!  When I saw these Gianna's sugar cookies at Whole Foods today I immediately thought of our Sweet Scoops stamp set from the Stampin' Up! !  I also thought about how yummy these cookies looked! So for art's sake, I decided to purchase a box so I could make something. Here is the very simple card I made, just to go along with the cookies!

Sweet Scoops Card and Matching Cookies! 

Click on photo to enlarge.

I know the card is a little bit in the background, but it really is all about the cute cookies, isn't it?!

Stamps:  Sweet Scoops (p. 10, Summer Mini)

Ink:  Apricot Appeal, Yoyo Yellow, Rose Red, Only Orange

Paper:  Bermuda Bay card stock, Whisper White card stock, Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper #115673

Accessories:  2-Way Glue Pen #100425, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter #102023, Bermuda Bay 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon #115610


If you want this darling stamp set, in either wood-mount or clear-mount from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini, just go HERE to my Online Store and order yours today!



 

Watercolor Trio Card

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Watercolor Trio is a beautiful set in the Summer Mini AND it is also a stamp set in the $99 Mini Starter Kit Promotion!  This is a great opportunity to start your own stamping and scrapbooking business right when the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog comes out!

Watercolor Trio Card and Square Lattice

This card uses some of the retiring colors, Pink Passion and Mellow Moss.  If there are any retiring colors you "need" before they are gone you really need to place your order soon.  Some are already not available or backordered.  I also used the new Textured Impressions Embossing Folder "Square Lattice" #119976  for the Big Shot as my background layer on this card.  And as a final touch, I couldn't resist spraying on some of the Gold Glow Smooch Spritz #118770 that is in the Summer Mini using my Color Catcher #121093.  

You can see the gold spritz in this photo although you might not be able to see the shine.  You can also see that I distressed the edges of the stamped layers.

Watercolor Trio with Gold Glow Smooch Spritz 

If you are reading this and haven't signed up for my newsletter yet, this would be a good time because the June newsletter will be going out very shortly!  Just click on the Mailing List signup box in the upper left!

 

June 1st! It’s Here! Last Chance Lists!

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Today is the day everyone looks forward to with guarded anticipation (to see the lists!), with anxiety (what are they going to retire?), with disappointment (oh no, not my favorite set….how could they?!) and wonderful excitement (because with the retirement lists means a new catalog is just around the corner!)!

  • Stampin' Up! is offering a $99 Starter Kit Promotion!!!

For just $99 you can become a demo in minutes (on my website!) and start your own Stampin' Up! business!  Where else can you start you own business for only $99?!  It would be fun to have you on my team!  Email me!

The Mini Starter Kit—valued at over $180—contains the items listed below; while all items are recommended, you can substitute a like item of equal or lesser value.

  • Watercolor Trio stamp set (wood-mount)
  • I {Heart} Hearts stamp set (clear-mount)
  • Clear-Mount Block C
  • Homemade single stamp*
  • Whisper White card stock (8-1/2” x 11”)
  • Brights Collection assorted card stock (8-1/2” x 11”)*
  • Melon Mambo Classic Stampin’ Pad
  • Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin’ Pad*
  • Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin’ Pad
  • Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin’ Pad
  • Basic Black 1/8” taffeta ribbon*
  • Color Coach*
  • SNAIL Adhesive

*Sneak peek items!

The Mini Starter Kit also includes the same business supplies that are in the standard Starter Kit. Plus, new demonstrator who join Stampin’ Up! in June, you will receive a free box of 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalogs during the first part of July!


  • Retiring Stamps 2010


  Retiring Stamps 2010 

 Click on the list above to go to the real list!


  • Retiring Accessories, Decor Elements

Go HERE to see everything at my Online Store on my Demo Website!  It's the easiest way!!  Some are even discounted!!  You won't want to miss those!


Grab your cup of coffee or Coke and check everything over!  Then contact me ( KSFontinelle@gmail.com)  with any questions or go ahead and place your order.  Be sure you are on MY website, not the general Stampin' Up! one, so you get the best pricing and shipping!

Happy Memorial Day!

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Memorial Day Card from My Digital Studio 

I made this card using My Digital Studio, starting with a Designer Template but changing the colors and adding a few elements!  Easy and fun!

Hope you all have a happy and safe Memorial Day!

Do you have your flag flying today in honor of the men and women who died while serving in the United States military??

 

National Scrapbooking Month Special—Ends May 31, 2010

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Is it really the end of May already??!  What a fast month and so much going on for so many people with graduations, end of the school year, etc.  I just wanted to send one more reminder of the Stampin' Up! promotion going on today and tomorrow:

Take your scrapbooking to a whole new level with Stampin’ Up!

During National Scrapbooking Month, get a FREE package of Designer brads with the purchase of My Digital Studio (item 118108) or any of the following stamp sets:

Page

Description

 Wood-
Mount
Item		 Wood-
Mount
Price		 Clear-
Mount
Item		 Clear-
Mount
Price
81 Extreme Elements 115181 $26.95 — —
119 Framed with Love** 114389 $27.95 — —
128 Certified** 113706 $27.95 — —
129 Circle Circus 115778 $28.95 — —
12* Elements of Style 118611 $27.95 120045 $19.95
13* Momentos 119910 $27.95 120105 $19.95
13* Éléments de style 119900 $27.95 120099 $19.95
14* Rough Type 118659 $26.95 120072 $18.95
22* Sentimental Journey 118513 $23.95 120075 $17.95
25* First Day 118521 $23.95 120051 $17.95
25* Camino a la Escuela 120152 $23.95 120154 $17.95

*From the Summer Mini Catalog
**A Last Chance stamp set!

Choose from the following Designer brads with qualifying purchase:

Page

Description

 Item
179

Flower Designer brads

 112579
179

Filigree Designer brads

 112577
179

Circle Designer brads

 112571
179

Star Designer brads

 112572

View the flyer for more information and some great scrapbooking ideas. 

Notice that the sets with the double asterisk are sets that are going on the retirement list on June 1st.

If you want to purchase any of these sets just go to my Online Store and watch the video if you'd like or click on the "Shop Now" button and go straight to the store.  You can set up your Customer Account and you're ready to go!  Or email me your order and I'll take care of it for you.  Once your merchandise is entered, you can choose your free brads for each stamp set on the list!

Don't forget, this offer ends tomorrow!!

Sweet Scoops Card….Not Just Ice Cream!

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SweetScoopsPartybears 

This new stamp set in the Summer Mini, Sweet Scoops, reminded me of a Stampin' Up! set from a long time ago when I first started stamping.  It was called "Perfect Party" but the ice cream scoop and cone were larger than these.  I remember being so amazed back then that somebody would think to make something besides an ice cream cone out of those stamps!  Don't these look like little bears with party hats on??  We also used to have a face stamp but since we don't now, I just drew in a little face with a marker.  

The little poofs on top of their hats are made with the new Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack in the Summer Mini also.  Sweet Scoops is a cute little stamp set perfect for summer and hot weather when some ice cream cones or a sundae is just the thing!  And how perfect to use for kids' birthday parties!  Get your set ordered now at my Online Store!  You can order it wood-mount (#117078) or clear-mount (#120078)!

Stampin’ Up! My Digital Studio Introductory Video by Mark Jessen

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Stampin' Up! has just released this video with Mark Jessen, a Stampin' Up! Trainer, to give you an overview of how to use My Digital Studio. Whether you are wondering about it or want to learn a little bit about how to use it, this video is a good one. Mark taught all of us demos who signed up for the Stampin' Up! My Digital Studio Certification program so we would be able to help our customers. 

I'm sure you will enjoy this video.  It's just an introduction, but it will give you an idea of how My Digital Studio works.  If you already own a good digital program, you can purchase the Stampin' Up! downloads without the software to add to your own program.  Watch the video and email me with any questions. To purchase My Digital Studio or any of the downloads (and new ones are being added often!!), just Shop Online HERE.

Going, Going…….Better get them while you can!

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Don't forget with the new Color Renovation by Stampin' Up! a lot of favorite colors are retiring….and not only the card stock but the refills, the markers, ribbons, buttons, etc.  Be sure you get what you want because when they are gone, they are gone!  Already a lot of things are either not available or on backorder.  Stampin' Up! will substitute textured card stock for the smooth when it is no longer available for as long as possible.


These are the retiring colors:

Stampin' Up! Retiring Colors 

 

The following items are no longer available to order. Our inventory has been depleted, and we are unable to order more.

101563: Sage Shadow card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
102837: Only Orange card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
107079: Sage Shadow card stock (12" x 12")
107101: Close to Cocoa card stock (12" x 12")
119833: Old Olive Polka-Dot 6" x 6" Designer printed album (in the new Summer Mini Catalog)


Availability can change at any time, of course!  You can place your order with me or Shop Online HERE.  Also, don't forget the May National Scrapbooking Month Promotion….great stamp sets and FREE Designer Brads….or purchase the My Digital Studio software!

Extreme Elements Graduation Card

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Extreme Elements Graduation Card stamped 

Extreme Elements #115181 is one of the stamp sets on the May Scrapbooking Month Promotion, which ends May 31.  Purchase this set, or one of many others, and get a free set of Designer Brads with each set!  I didn’t think this stamp set was my style until I played with it!  Oh my gosh, I had the most fun using this set on this card!!  You can just do anything with this stamp set and it comes out looking great!  Since this card is for a  college boy, I thought something a little less traditional might be fine.  I also added a little Gold Glow Smooch Spritz #118770 for even more fun!  You can see it better in the close-up.  And my Big Shot came in handy to make the “OU” with the Naturally Serif Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die #113453.

Look closely and you can see the Gold Glow Smooch Spritz!

Extreme Elements Graduation Card Gold Glow Smooch Spritz 

Order your Extreme Elements stamp set this week while you can get your choice of Designer Brads (page 179 of the Idea Book & Catalog) FREE!  And don’t forget about the Happy Grad (#117006) single stamp on the last page of the Summer Mini Catalog !  It’s such a useful stamp….and when graduation season is over, you could omit the “Happy Graduation” and use just the words below for various cards and projects!

May Promotions at Stampin’ Up!

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Stampin' Up! in recent years often has LOTS going on and that's what keeps life exciting! But that also means all good things must come to an end….usually at the end of a month. Can you believe the last day of May is next Monday?!  And since that weekend is Memorial Day weekend and you might have plans (even if plans just to relax!), you might want to check over the Stampin' Up! specials and things going on right away before Friday!

Best Thing:

Become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!  Have as much fun as I do being a part of this great company!  They just improved their "Career Plan".  There's still time to sign up for the fabulous Stampin' Up! Convention in July in Salt Lake City if you want to jump in with both feet!  And if you want to really make this a business and work hard, you could earn a free incentive trip to Disney World, which, knowing Stampin' Up!, won't be your ordinary trip to Disney World. They make everything extra-special.  Don't wait another day!  Be ready for the new catalog in July and as a demo take advantage of preordering new merchandise in June!!

Go to my website HERE, watch the video, read the information, then click the "JOIN NOW" button on the left and start the sign-up process.  You will need my password:  karenstamps  Just choose which Starter Kit would suit you the best….the regular one or the Digital+ Starter Kit with the new My Digital Studio software.

You can be a demo in minutes and with your new demo number can sign in to the Stampin' Up! website right away and start exploring!  And of course I am available to help you along the way.

To help you get started, Stampin' Up! is offering these two free DVDs full of presentations of various stamping techniques.  Offer ends May 31st.

Free Technique DVDs Special Offer

From April 1-May 31, join Stampin’ Up! as a demonstrator and receive two FREE technique DVDs.

Free Technique DVD Details

Description

Retail Value
Workshop Wow DVD 2008-2009 (140 min.)
Includes 19 demonstrator presentations of “WOW” techniques.		 $24.95
Workshop Wow 2007-2008 DVD (117 min.)
Includes 18 demonstrator presentations of “WOW” techniques for use in preparing for workshops.		 $17.47
Total value for over 250 minutes of stamping and paper crafting ideas! $42.42

*DVDs are in English only

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.  I'd be happy to answer your questions!

UT Graduation Easel Card

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We enjoyed a fabulous weekend in Austin celebrating our son's girlfriend's graduation from the University of Texas at Austin!  Here is the card I made for her.  I had planned to post a "decoy" ahead of time to fool her in case she was looking at my blog, but I ran out of time!  I love this easel card, so easy to make and looks like a special style!

UT University of Texas stamped Graduation Card 


  UT graduation easel card

Stamps:  Happy Grad (#117006 Stampin' Up! Summer Mini), Typeset Alphabet (retired), In the Stars (inside) (retired).

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Really Rust, UT Scrapbook Kit (non-SU)


Saturday was a very full day!  First was a luncheon with her parents and family, then the graduation ceremony, and finally the spectacular University-Wide Commencement outside at the UT Tower.  You have to arrive more than two hours ahead to get a seat for that evening event….did I mention it is outside?….in Texas?….in May?….but they do provide free ice water!…and paper fans…..and it wasn't TOO bad being outside for over five hours in the evening… there was a breeze….and it will get a LOT hotter than that pretty soon….so, not too bad.  There were over 7000 graduates and their familes!  I'm sure they weren't all there, but most of them were!!  The actress Marcia Gay Harden was the speaker, and it was fun to hear the deans bestow the degrees on each school, some offering a little humor in their spiel or perhaps the graduates having some impromptu reaction.  Finally the evening concluded with the impressive fireworks display off the Tower and "The Eyes of Texas" playing in the background.  The Tower is lit in orange for the graduates and the windows display a "10" for the graduation year if you look carefully!  It's really a great way to celebrate commencement!

TowerFireworks
 

Fancy Favor Box with Butterfly Pansy

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These pansies made from butterfly punches are all the rage right now and so easy to make!  I believe another demonstrator, Dawn Olchefske, may be the originator.  After I made my pansy, I die cut the Stampin' Up! Fancy Favor Box #115965 with my Big Shot, stamped with Elements of Style from the Summer Mini with Versamark on the box, and attached my pretty pansy.

Fancy Favor Box with Butterfly Pansy 

To make the pansy:

  • Use the Butterfly Punch #116629 to punch two butterflies from Shimmery White card stock #101910. (it works better with the water)
  • Place on a folded paper towel and spritz heavily with water.
  • Using your Aquapainter #103954 or small brush, pick up some ink and touch to the wet butterflies.  Use one or more colors.  The ink will spread with the water.
  • Let dry, draw little "whisker" type lines from the center of each.
  • Assemble the two butterflies at right angles with a center brad, curl the edges a bit with your fingers or a tool, and look at your beautiful pansy!
  • Be careful, because they are addicting and you will want to make more!

Who on earth would think you could make a pansy out of two butterflies?!  But that's how talented a lot of our Stampin' Up! Demonstrators are!

 

My Digital Studio….New Digital Downloads Available!

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Just in time for graduation!  Stampin' Up! just released this new graduation stamp brush set for My Digital Studio called "Go Graduate Plus"!  Plus two alphabets!  If you already own My Digital Studio, great!  If you own other digital scrapbooking software, you can use these Stampin' Up! downloads.  If you own neither, it's time to buy the My Digital Studio software!  You'll be glad you did!  We're all having so much fun learning to use it, exploring all the options and elements included, and just playing around when working on our projects!  In some cases, you can use a template, just insert your photos, and you're done in minutes!

If you are interested in purchasing "My Digital Studio" or any of the extra downloads including these newest ones, please click on the Shop Online button in the upper right corner to go to my Stampin' Up! store.


Item         Description         Price
121069    Go Graduate Plus stamp brush set $5.95
122143    Jumbo Outline Alphabet stamp brush set $9.95
122145    Contempo Alphabet stamp brush set    $9.95


                All images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2010.

HappyGradDigi

Contempodigi
Contempo Alphabet

Jumbo Outline Alphabet Stamp Set - by Stampin' Up!

Jumbo Outline Alphabet