Valentine Stamp Camp Sampling

Are you needing some Valentine's for that special day coming up or maybe just looking for an excuse to get together with the girls and play? Well, you're in luck! I'm having a Valentine Stamp Camp on Saturday afternoon Feb. 6th from 1-4. Use my tools and supplies and I'll show you how to create beautiful handmade cards to send to those special loved ones! Cost is $ 15.00. Please RSVP to hold your spot! (785) 840-7295 or Moniquebromley@yahoo.com. Hope to see you there!

Hugs and Kisses

Hello!

I made this card for a shoebox swap this past weekend with Cool and the Gang. It's one of those quick and easy cards with lots of cute factor! I'll have it available in my Valentine Stamp Camp next weekend if you'd like to give it a try. Stay tuned for more details! M.

Materials: All materials are Stampin' Up!

Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Pink Pirouette.

Ink: Basic Black and Chocolate Chip.

Stamps: Love You Much.

Punches: Scallop Circle and Small Heart.

Misc.: Stampin' Dimensionals.

Valentine Scrapling

Good morning, friends! About this time last year I discovered a little card format called a "scrapling". They are so much fun to do, first of all because little things are inherently "cute", and second because with no more than three elements, they're done! Besides, they're a great way to use up those long, narrow scraps we often have left over from other projects. In case you're wondering, there is an official scrapling size: 1.25-1.5" wide by 4.25 tall (i.e. an 8.5" strip folded in half). Don't worry too much if your scraps vary slightly from these dimensions!

This one started with the urge to do some "fussycutting". This is where you take a sheet of patterned paper (in this case, from the wonderful Sending Love Specialty paper in the current Stampin' Up! mini catalog), and determine where you could cut with your paper snips to give yourself a border, design element, whatever you're after. I was able to make 5 scraplings out of every 12" strip I cut, they're so tiny.

I folded my strips in half, and applied my FREE Scallop Trim Border punch to the top layer (can you say, Sale-a-bration?!). A quick stamp down with one of the Well Scripted sentiment stamps from the new mini catalog, then two quick punches to layer. I had a "leftover butterfly" from another project that needed a home, and this seemed like a good one. Add a knot of satin ribbon (another new item in the mini) with a glue dot, and presto! You're done!

Bet you'll fall in love with scraplings, too. Give 'em a try!

Kathy


All supplies Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Well Scripted
Ink: Real Red classic
Paper: Pretty in Pink CS, Sending Love Specialty DSP
Accessories: Designer Label and 1 3/8" circle punches, Very Vanilla 5/8" satin ribbon, mini glue dots, Tombow Multipurpose adhesive, butterfly from Beautiful Wings embosslit die

Valentine Sampler Card

If you ordered from me this month, you should have received one of these cards (along with a list of ingredients) in the bag with your other goodies! I just had to show you how well some of my favorite things go together... and I had a hankering to see what I could do in the way of a Valentine without using pink or red! I chose instead Rich Razzleberry and Basic Gray elements. The patterned paper is from the Cottage Wall set, the rectangular scalloped panels come pre-cut (now, that's a time-saver!) in the Occasions mini catalog and are called "hugs". I also used the "faux brad" technique described in an earlier post, punching those and the leaf element from brushed silver metallic card stock.

I want to encourage you to make an extra Valentine this year, and give it to someone who may not receive one from a sweetheart or family member. We all need to know that we matter, that we're cherished.

Kathy

Vintage Vogue

Hello again,

I was playing with the new Vintage Vogue set which I absolutely love, and was trying to design a card for a swap on Saturday and came up with this little guy. I intended for it to be oriented vertically, but after playing with the sentiment I liked it better horizontally. Whatcha think?

Happy Friday!
Monique

Materials: All materials are Stampin' Up!.
Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip and Kraft.
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Ruby Red.
Stamps: Vintage Vogue and Very Vintage Wheel.
Misc.: Stampin' Dimensionals and Brads.

Asia Inspired VI

It's been 7 years now since I traveled to China and Japan and I'm still full of ideas for things to make as a result of that trip! Above is one of the cards I'll be teaching in this edition of "Asia Inspired". It recalls an essential aspect of Asian culture, the tea ceremony. In Japan, this ceremony is intensely detailed down to the angle of the wrist when holding the whisk that stirs the tea, and takes upwards of three hours from start to finish. Fortunately, we experienced the Chinese version, which was more relaxed but still enabled us to experience a number of different teas and traditions in an ancient garden setting - and took about an hour! My favorite was a black tea infused with lychee (lee-chee), a sweet little fruit that looks a lot like a sycamore ball!

Anyway, I invite you to join me in class on Saturday, February 6, from 2-5pm. This is a time change from the original class schedule, as my daughter is representing her junior high school in the Douglas County spelling bee and I want to get in on the excitement! In addition to the card pictured, we'll punch a family of darling little geisha girls, learn a faux silk technique, and more. We'll make "doubles" of all the cards, so you'll have one to keep and one to send.

Class fee $18. Let me know if you want to do a little armchair traveling with me! Kathy

What I've been up to...

Since the death star has hovered over our meagre collection of electronics for the past 9 months or so, I've had a lot of things to re-learn as we've been able to replace equipment. One of those things is how to use a digital SLR camera, and that's what I've been working on since the new year. I really want our photographs to be useful and appealing. So, as suggested on Strobist, I just finished constructing a light box to use for taking close-up shots of projects. You'll see the results as I work with that, and a new-to-me photo storage and editing program. Keep your fingers crossed for me, and thanks for checking in again! Kathy

Blog Candy Round #1

We've been watching with growing excitement as the numbers on our site counter clicked toward 1000 hits. We made it on New Years day, how about that! We hope all you out there in blog-reader land are enjoying this little undertaking of ours. We're learning so much!

To help us celebrate, and to help us continue to grow and learn, we'll ask you to answer one question to be entered in the drawing for these goodies:

What type of project are you most often looking for when you blog surf?

You may reply either by using the comment function at the end of this post (just click on the little word "COMMENTS" that is preceded by a number) or send e-mail to idyllwildestudios@gmail.com. We'll announce the winner Monday, January 25, so good luck!

Kathy

Kindness

I created this card for my Local Area Demo team as a swap. Our focus was to use some of the new product in the Sale-a-bration or the Occasion Mini. These are a couple stamps from the Vintage Vogue set which I absolutely love! This is my first try with the new clear mount stamps and I have to say, I was impressed with the quality. Good job SU! I changed up the color scheme from the original and really like this color combo, it's so crisp and fresh! Hope you do too!

Thanks,

Monique.

Materials: All materials are Stampin' Up.
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red and Bashful Blue.
Ink: Real Red and Certainly Celery.
Stamps: Vintage Vogue.
Misc.: Stampin' Dimensionals and Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter.

Valentine Nugget Purse

Good Morning,

Okay, these have to go into the "Stinkin' Cute" category! I know most of you have probably already seen these, but there so much fun I just had to post 'em! The houndstooth/pink purse I saw posted by Martha Stewart and loved the color combo so had to share that, but the other two I created using the new Specialty Designer Series Paper in the current Occasions Mini Catalog. They're really easy to make with great "wow" factor! Hope you'll give them a try!

Thanks for looking!

Monique

Materials: All materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Night and Day and Sending Love Speciality DSP.

Ink: Real Red.

Stamps: Yummy.

Punches: 1/8" Circle Punch.

Ribbon: Assorted.*

Misc.: Brads and Velcro.*

* Non Stampin' Up! Products.

Valentine Please Be Mine

Hello again,

While searching for some ideas for a Valentine Stamp Camp I came across this card by Dacia Smith and thought it was sooo pretty. I thought it would be a good addition to the camp as it utilizes several products for customers to give a try (and get hooked!). Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by.

Monique

Materials: All materials are Stampin' Up!
Paper: Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip and Sending Love Specialty DSP.
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink Stampin' Write.
Stamp: Holiday Best.
Punch: Scallop Edge.
Ribbon: Pretty in Pink Satin.

A Personal Offer

Hello stamping friends,

I spend the time between Christmas and New Years each year thinking, planning, and hammering my calendar into shape. This year I even made some resolutions! How about you? I figure that even if I don't manage to complete all of them, I'll get farther along the trail I want to go down than I would if I didn't even identify which trail it is...!

One of the things I thought about was some of the comments I heard from you last year. Things like, "I never know what to make when I sit down to do it" or "I'm always missing the things I need to finish!" or "I loved the stamp set, but then I didn't know what to do with it". Any of these sound familiar?

I decided to make you an offer - three of them, actually. I hope they will address some of these needs and frustrations for you.

One: A Personal Consultation.* I will come to your house for an hour or so and look through your stamps and materials with you. We will talk about what kinds of projects you would like to be able to do, and evaluate how your current supplies would work into these projects and what you might need to add in order to get where you want to be. I will leave you with a list of suggestions of things you might wish to purchase in order to have what you need the next time you sit down to create. There is no charge for this consultation, but you must schedule with me in advance during January-March (gardening season starts after that and I'm moving outside!).

Two: A Free Class.* If you make a qualifying purchase ($50) during January or February, you will be eligible to participate in a class where we will make 4-6 projects using Sale-a-bration free products. I will negotiate the class date/time among all those who qualify, but will likely hold it in early March.

Three: A Set Sampler. Purchase a stamp set of your choice in January, February or March that costs $25 or more. I'll help you choose if you're uncertain, but in general I suggest a set that has small, medium and large images and 1-2 sentiments. I will then provide 4-6 project ideas for you using your set so that you can get an idea of the possibilities. This would be something along the lines of the "Always" class I taught last year. (If you want to see examples of set samplers, look at the posts just before Christmas.)

Talk to me soon before that calendar of mine fills in! I've never put myself at your service in quite this way before, and I want to be able to give you the time and attention you need.


Kathy


*I'm afraid that the first two offers must be limited to local customers, but the third offer might just work if you're at a distance. Let's talk!

Celebrate You

Hello there,

I originally made this card (by Nilakias) in the Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip for my Daddy's Birthday in December. Then when I realized the Birthday Stamp-a-Stack (Jan. 2nd 10-2 at Idyllwilde Studios) was quickly approaching, I thought "oh good, I can use this as one of my designs with the Happy B-Day DSP". Well, as luck would have it, I'm low on Brocade Blue paper so if you like this design, come early, first come first serve! :) However, I do have a different sample created with the Party Hearty set if you happen to like it. Hope to see you there!

ttys,

M.

Materials: All materials are Stampin' Up!

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Brocade Blue, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP and Happy B-Day DSP.

Ink: Brocade Blue and Baja Breeze.

Stamps: Party Hearty.

Punches: Scallop Circle.

Ribbon: Red Gingham and Chocolate Chip Grosgrain.

Misc.: Silver and Pewter Brads and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Hope the new year finds you happy, healthy and excited for what the future holds! I have never sent a new years card so was a little perplexed at what to create as I currently don't have any new year stamps. But have no fear, Splitcoast is here! I found a similar design created by LMPard that I CASE'd and here's the final product. The picture doesn't do it justice as the Pearl Ex and shiny silver cardstock sparkle when the light hits it just right. Hope you like!

Take Care,

Monique

Materials: All materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Sahara Sand and Silver Cardstock*.
Ink: Versa Mark.
Stamps: So Swirly Wheel.
Ribbon: White Organza*.
Misc.: Pearl Ex - Micro Pearl (Retired).
* Non Stampin' Up! product.