Sale-a-brate 2011: Vintage Look

Anyone else wearing mittens today?! It's a real shock to my system as I just returned from Dallas, where the Arboretum was awash in blooming tulips, pansies, azalea, rhododendron, fuschia, dogwood, redbud... and the temperatures reached nearly 80 degrees. Well, go figure.

I'm posting one last example made with Sale-a-bration products. This was a birthday card for my daughter, and it was supposed to look "vintage 50s". What do you think? The polka-dot DSP sure seems to me to fit, and the big button... as to the rest, at least the message made it through and that's the most important thing!

I do especially like the button extending a bit beyond it's usual limitations. You'll find that most envelopes have a bit of extra space that gives you the freedom to design "outside the box!" Just remember to measure... -Kathy

P.S. Remember that Sale-a-bration ends March 31. If you like free merchandise, don't let this deadline slip by you!

Ribbon Cupcake Box

Isn't this just adorable?! They make me want to stick out my finger and take a swipe. I saw them on Sandy MacIver's blog (where you can find a link with printable instructions) and had to make my own version, using a juice lid instead of a paper lid (the holes punch easily with your crop-a-dile or paper piercer, hammer and mat pack). I also doubled the cupcake liner for sturdiness.

I am imagining these for table decorations or favors at a baby/bridal shower, filled with candies, girlie hair stuff, safety pins, potpourri... whatever seemed appropriate to the recipient. They're surprisingly quick to make, especially if you get set up in an assembly line fashion with several sets of hands busy.

Calorie-free cupcakes, how about that! -Kathy

All supplies Stampin' Up!

Paper: card stock to match your ribbon
Accessories: Big Shot and Perfect Setting die; Elegant Lines embossing folder; 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon; coordinating 5/8" satin ribbon; scrap of 3/8" taffeta ribbon; linen thread; coordinating Big Designer Button; needle and thread; clean metal juice concentrate lid; cupcake liners

Olathe Stamp Club - March 2011

My hostess for this month in Olathe saw some bookmark cards (see post from November 3, 2010) and decided she wanted to do that for this month's project. I changed them a bit for spring, featuring some two-step floral sets (Greenhouse Garden and Flower Fancy) and used an alcohol and reinker technique on shimmery white CS for a little something different.

If you haven't tried this layout yet, what are you waiting for? It's super simple and lends itself to a variety of techniques (you could even use DSP for the background square). -Kathy

Fun Fold Challenge

The March challenge for our 'Cool n' the Gang' Demo Group was to create a card using a fun fold technique. There are a lot of great ideas out there online, but I came upon one that had and angle fold instead of the traditional horizontal or vertical fold and thought I'd give it a try. I tweaked the original idea a little bit and this is my finished product. Hope you like!

Thanks for stopping by!

M.

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

Paper: Whisper white, Rich Razzleberry, Basic Grey, Pretty in Pink Patterned DSP.

Ink: Black Staze On, VersaMark, Pretty in Pink and Rich Razzleberry.

Stamp Set: A Slice of Life, Short and Sweet and Background Basics.

Punches: Scallop Edge Border, Boho Blossoms, Scallop Oval, Oval Large, and Modern Label.

Ribbon: Basic Grey and Rich Razzleberry Taffeta.

Misc.: Stampin' Dimensionals and Silver Brads.

Lawrence Stamp Club - March 2011

We made these little chests using the "Faux Metal" technique I taught at stamp club this month. Aren't they darling?! My original idea was that they would be a sort of "story chest". I read this in a book - a grandmother put a selection of small items in a chest and whenever her grandkids visited her, they would be allowed to select one item from the collection and she would use it as the springboard for a story, either imaginary or about her life/childhood. We did a little brainstorming, and they'd also be perfect for office miscellania (paper clips, tacks, push pins, erasers, stamps), presentation of Hershey nuggets, jewelry, buttons, baby hair thingies, spices, garden seeds... you take it from here.

Oh, notice how all the drawer pulls on the 2nd sample are different (way to go, Jsca!)? I'll be showing you an organizational tip in a day or two that makes it easy to retrieve such a variety of objects.

The drawers are made from the matchbox die, and for chipboard I've attached my "faux metal" card stock to cereal box cardboard using that amazing Tombow multi-purpose adhesive. -Kathy

Sale-a-brate 2011: Birthday Bliss

As promised, here is an entirely different look using the same stamp set and card fold as the pink Mother's Day card.

Here, I've used a black base and a single element from the "Bliss" Sale-a-bration set. On the back panel of the card, I stamped repeatedly in Versamark and clear embossed. On the front fold, I evenly spaced rows of sticky strip, covered these with clear embossing powder, and heat embossed. The focal piece on the front was stamped in Versamark, then gold embossing powder was applied. This was matted with brushed gold CS.

I cut the sentiment panel slightly smaller than the front panel. Stamping in Versamark here creates a subtle image behind the sentiment, which is applied in black craft (be sure to let your craft ink dry thoroughly before adhering). A couple of Vintage Brads finish off the look.

I think this card looks very masculine (it would make a very elegant wedding/anniversary card, too). Isn't it amazing what a slight shift in color can do?! -Kathy

Sale-a-brate 2011: Mother's Day Bliss

I like cards with unexpected folds, so my next project using Sale-a-bration materials was to try out this simple variation on a standard sized card. The "Bliss" stamp set was the first one that caught my eye (those of you who know me well will not be surprised!), and I decided to pair it with a color I don't often use - pink - because this designer paper (also a Sale-a-bration option) was just so lovely. I've added some dimension using a product called Crystal Effects, as well as by cutting out one of the butterflies from the set.

Watch for a totally different look (very formal/masculine) using the same fold and stamp set in the next post! -Kathy

Sale-a-brate 2011: Tulip Time

I took time earlier this week to play with some of the goodies available through the Sale-a-bration promotion going on just now at Stampin' Up! Here's the first project, using an oval punch on the limited edition DSP and the "Sweet Summer" set. I've decorated the envelope and the inside of the card with the same elements.

Hope you're planning to place a qualifying order ($50) before March 31 so that you can attend the free class and make one of these for your very own - it's a cinch to put together and I think it's a design you'll return to time after time using different materials! -Kathy

Secret Club - But You Can Join

Passwords.
Insider trading.
Giggles at the lunch table.
Preferential treatment.
Luxury business trips and tax deductions.

Yup, I bet you guessed: The life of the Stampin' Up! demonstrator!

I was thinking about what fun I have as I gloated over the projects I acquired at our last day-long "conference" (samples above). Always something new to learn, someone to praise your work, someone to cheer you on to your goals. I tell people that I became a demonstrator because it was a way to put something I love - paper crafts - on my calendar. I'm the kind of person who would feel I had to wipe out the refrigerator or sweep the front steps rather than allow myself to get out paper and stamps. Don't get me wrong, a clean fridge is great! But I just never got around to what I really loved, and that wasn't good.

If you're realizing that you need some structure to do what you love and it happens to be paper crafting, talk to me about becoming part of this great group of gals. Your reasons and goals will change over time - the beauty of it is that being a demonstrator adapts to fit YOU.

Through the end of March there's an extra special opportunity: the starter kit is 15% off AND you get a bonus bundle filled with over $50 in free products. If you're curious at all, give me a call. 785.841.9211

-Kathy

I Want it All: Cuties Up Close

Had to split the post when it became cumbersome, so this is just to give you close-ups and interior views. -Kathy