Stamp Club Olathe - April 2012

The request was for a man-birthday card, so of course we had to do the shaving cream-reinker background, and of course the card had to have moving parts!

My inspiration came from fellow demo Arla of Topeka, who recently reviewed this "telescoping card" with us. The framelits worked well for creating added interest to the shapes, but of course you could use a variety of circles. I did one design that pulls down, and the other telescopes up.

Such a great reminder to take time to play as you work, just to see what happens! -Kathy

Treat Yourself to a Workshop!

Although most of what you see here on the blog is from stamp classes and clubs, we also do workshops to introduce new folks to the pleasure of stamping. I wanted to show you something I put together for a customer who asked for a workshop with a "cupcake" themed project.

The card uses a hostess set from last years' IB&C, although several of our current sets would have worked splendidly too. Why would I feature a retired set? It was accessible and fit the theme, of course. Also, we are coming up on that time of year when Stampin' Up! retires many, many items from our current catalog and introduces new ones! I wanted to emphasize that if you like something in this catalog, it may no longer be available to you after June 1.

The cupcake treat holder begins with the petal cone die for the Big Shot. Some sponging and a little DSP, and voila! Looks good enough to eat regardless of what you put inside.

Imagine: Someone creates a project, cuts all the pieces, shows you how to put it together, gives you inspirational materials to look through, and helps you get those creative juices flowing. As hostess, you just invite a few friends over, clear off the table (or host at the studio, we're flexible!), maybe decide to make some treats (or not), then relax and enjoy the experience. If your friends decide they like stamping and perhaps order a few items (no sales pressure, promise!), you earn free merchandise!*

Sound like fun? Talk to Monique, Lori or myself. We'd be happy to schedule a workshop for YOU! -Kathy

*Hostesses earn free merchandise on orders totaling $150 or more.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

Hope everybody a blessed Weekend.

Today's post is from a stamp camp I did for some friends last week just in time for Easter. It's inspired by Chat Wszelaki, absolutely love her work! Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks, M.

Materials: All materials are Stampin' Up!

Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Blushing Bride and Crumb Cake DSP.

Ink: Chocolate Chip and Blushing Bride Marker.

Ribbon: Crumb Cake Seam Binding.

Accessories: Pearls, Lattice EF, and Dimensionals.

...Hoppin' Down the Bunny Trail

If you're filling Easter baskets this year, here's a quick treat container for you!

Each "carrot box" begins with two petal cone die cuts from orange DSP. You won't need the accessories, just the cone itself, and the die will easily cut through both layers at once. Glue together to form box, then fill with treats. (if you wish to cut a window in your box, do so at this point by simpy cutting an opening 1/2" from each edge of one side of your box, using a ruler and an x-acto knife.)

Since I was using food, I protected it in our little cello bags and tied it with a piece of seam binding tape. Tuck your goodies in the cone, and glue the flaps closed. Top with a long-tailed knot of green rribbon.

Clean & Simple Elegance

Want a quick yet elegant card for just about any one on any occasion?! How about this clean and simple beauty? It goes together in under 10 minutes.

Simply cut a strip of Whisper White card stock to 4.5" x 11" and score your fold line at 5.5". Fold and crease firmly with bone. Using black StazOn ink (instant dry, fine line, will not smear if you color over it with marker or Aqua Painter), stamp the foliage spray in the lower left corner of the card, leaving 1/4-1/2" margin to the edge. Add a word phrase (the hostess set Perfect Words has some great choices).

I've colored in all sets of three circles with a Real Red marker, and placed a basic pearl on the single circles of the design.

Finally, to pop the color and add dimension, I've attached three butterflies by folding in the middle and using Tombow. The dots and stripes on the butterflies add a sense of fun.Ta da! It doesn't get much simpler than that, but its very simplicity is what creates the elegance.

Give it a try! -Kathy


All supplies Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Creative Elements, Perfect Words (hostess)
Inks: black StazOn, Real Red Stampin' Write marker
Paper: Whisper White CS, 2010-2012 In-Color DSP Paper Stack (butterflies)
Accessories: Basic Pearls, Beautiful Wings sizzlit, Tombow Multipurpose glue

Tips for Using Clear Stamps

I am seeing more and more customers choose the space-saving benefits of clear stamps. I thought it might be a good idea to relate some information I've picked up along the way so that you can get the most from yours!

Not all clear stamps are created equal (tell me this does not surprise you!). Straight acrylic clear stamps tend to get sticky and "decompose" in an average of 6 years. Stampin' Up! clear stamps are a hybrid, pairing our durable high quality rubber with the benefits of see-through blocks.

Our stamps are all laser cut and come with decals so you can orient the image as you wish. I have heard a number of people recommend leaving off the decals so that the stamps cling better, but in my experience this is unnecessary. The difficulty with your stamps adhering to your blocks arises when your blocks are covered with oil and dirt from you hands. Wiping them with alcohol or lighter fluid cleans them right up and your stamps will stick just fine... if you remember to "huff" on the decal side first. Yes, you do need to "do the Darth Vader" to help your stamps cling firmly to your blocks.

A couple more tips on assembly. Did you realize that one side of the waxed paper covering the decals has a slit in it? Just bend backward slightly to "pop up" the paper layer you wish to remove. Allow the decal to remain attached to the backing sheet and lay your stamp on it, carefully noting the contours of the laser cutting and aligning the shapes. The larger the stamp image, the more you need to be aware of "rolling" the stamp onto the decal in order to avoid large air pockets. If you end up with an air bubble, just pierce with the point of an x-acto and smooth out the air bubble toward the piercing.

Finally, I recommend saving the "scrap plate" from your stamps and adhering it to the inside of the case so that you can tuck your stamps back into their cubbies. This prevents them from rattling around in the case and inadvertently getting shut in the edges as you're closing it, and gives you a quick check to be sure all the images are back in the box before you put it away. I peel off the waxed paper side and put some sticky strip around the edges and here and there in the center for support, as shown.

You may also be able to consolidate sets that come in two boxes, into one with this method. One mat can be mounted inside the lid, the other to the back of the case.

If you're wondering which blocks to begin with, may I suggest D, E & H? I find I am able to fit most images on these sizes. And have you noticed that on p.205 of the 2011-12 IB&C you can find guides to put on your blocks if you prefer a little help with alignment? This is especially useful with sentiment stamps.

Happy (clear) stamping, -Kathy

Sale-a-bration Ends Midnight, March 31

Here's the final "Sale-a-bration Sunday" post, since the promotion ends March 31st. I couldn't resist adding this box with its matching tag to the smorgasbord of projects we'll be making in the free class on April 15! It uses the gorgeous Everyday Elegance Simply Sent cards that are one of the FREE selections in the SAB brochure (or you can purchase them from the big catalog on p. 193). I've had my eye on these little beauties since the catalog came out!

If you haven't placed a qualifying order yet ($50 gets you some of the materials we'll be using so you can replicate at home) and received an invitation to the class, time is running out! And yes, anything in any current catalog goes toward your total - if you're ordering online, even your Clearance Rack items count! -Kathy