Stampin' Up! Black Friday Deals Start *TOMORROW* with Online Extravaganza

Yesterday, I sent an email to my customers about this week's Online Extravaganza, which is the Stampin' Up! way of celebrating Black Friday.  One of the best things about it (aside from the *prices*) is the fact that it starts TOMORROW! Didn't get my email? Why not? Click {HERE} and I'll get you on my list!

There are *2* Blockbuster deals...

• One is available on November 24 and one is available on December 1.
• Each is only available while supplies last or for 24 hours (at the longest). 

Available *ONLY* on Monday, November 24:

Available *ONLY* on Monday, December 1:

Available for as long as supplies last (from November 24 -- December 2):

Other things to remember:

• Paper Pumpkin Refill Kits (does not include stamps or ink) are normally reserved for subscribers only.
• There is no minimum purchase required.
• If you're ordering a bundle, you *MUST* use the bundle code.
• These items can be purchased (combined in the same order) with any other current items.

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this!

{Tuesday: Technique Video (Punch Flowers)}

Hello and welcome to the Studio! I'm sorry this is a day late. Stampin' Up! came out with an enormous announcement about its color offerings in the next catalog and I was completely distracted by this big news. I'll be publishing another post today about all of that excitement...

For the {Tuesday: Technique Video}, I enjoyed putting together the card above. I'd used that basic layout for a challenge a couple of weeks ago and then I used it in another challenge last week, but changed the colors and the textures a bit. I'm thrilled with this easy, effective layout that has eaten up so many of my scraps for me!

Here's the video:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: NONE this time!

Papers: Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: NONE this time!

Accessories: Large Oval Punch, 1-inch Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1/16-inch Handheld Punch, brad, Whisper White Satin Ribbon

Thanks so much for your visit! Join me later today as I explain Stampin' Up!'s big news…

Heart Blossoms

Happy Valentine's Day, Studio Visitors!


Here's a fun card that would work as a valentine for someone special or as a card for any special occasion!



I took the bird image from Fun & Fast Notes and inked it with black Stazon ink. Since I knew I'd be placing a paper heart on the stem instead of the blossom, I inked everything *except* the blossom. That technique sounds like a good post of its own (stay tuned)!



Next, I used my Blender Pen and Classic ink pads to watercolor the birds and their stems. For the middle bird, I used a scrap of sueded card stock (but used the smooth side). I just stamped it with the bird, cut it out with my Paper Snips (which make precision cutting like this a breeze), and used a Stampin' Dimensional to pop it up. I did the same thing with a teensy piece of Summer Sun for its beak.
For the hearts, I used my Big Shot and the Hearts and Brackets Bigz die. For some reason, I've never purchased a heart punch, so that was my only option. ;) I was still able to use scraps, which has been a recent mission of mine...
I finished it off with the Scallop Edge punch and a length of White Satin Ribbon tied in a knot. I also stamped the sentiment (a freebie choice from my Sale-A-Bration order!) in Bravo Burgundy at the bottom. For the first time, Stampin' Up! is offering items from the Idea Book and Catalog as freebies in addition to the limited edition Sale-A-Bration items. You & Moi had been a set on my wish list and now it's mine... for free!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes, You & Moi (SAB freebie)

Papers: Ruby Red, Apricot Appeal, Mellow Moss, Bravo Burgundy, Summer Sun and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Black Stazon, Bravo Burgundy, Mellow Moss and Ruby Red Classics

Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts and Brackets Bigz die, Scallop Edge Punch, White Satin Ribbon, Blender Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thank you for your visit! Hope you have a great day!

White Space with Vintage Vogue

Hey, hey and welcome to the Studio!

For today's card, I participated in a white space challenge over at 365 Cards. I've never tried a white space challenge before and found it to be a fun and interesting one. Basically, the rules were that stampers could do whatever they wanted outside of the oval, but that the oval in the middle had to stay, well, white...

I was excited to get to use one of my favorite sets from the new Occasions Mini Catalog. It's Vintage Vogue...

As you'll notice, I used my Backgrounds I Texturz Plate ("Flourish") to add some dimension and visual interest to the white vellum oval in the center.

The "Friends" piece was inked with Elegant Eggplant and stamped on Whisper White card stock. I tore the edges to give a bit of a shabby chic effect...

I love the look of layering punches (stay tuned -- that's going to be a post all its own someday). Anyhoo, this sentiment and flower were too big to do a Word Window/Modern Label combo, so I trimmed the sentiment/flower piece to replicate that effect, using my Paper Snips.

Finally, since Valentine's Day is in the offing, I chose to use Pretty in Pink card stock (with images from Vintage Vogue inked in Classic Elegant Eggplant) and the softness of a satin bow. The Pretty in Pink portion was adhered to the card body using Stampin' Dimensionals. Speaking of the card body, I used an 8 1/2- x 11-inch piece of card stock and cut it in half lengthwise ("hot dog" style, to my former students), or at 4 1/4-inches. Then at the 5 1/2-inch mark, I folded it in half to create the card body.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Vintage Vogue (please refer to the link on the right for the Occasions Mini or contact me for your own hard copy)

Ink: Elegant Eggplant Classic

Papers: Elegant Eggplant, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White card stocks, Vellum paper

Accessories: Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plates, Paper Snips, Modern Label Punch, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Hope you have a great start to your short week! Thanks so much for joining me here!

Stay tuned for a post about Stampin' Up!'s new clear mount stamps...

Through the Window...

Here's a card I made for the 365 Cards challenge involving, among other things, window sheets...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Medallion Background and Circle Circus (new!) and Elegant Thank You

Papers: Bermuda Bay, Mambo Melon, Old Olive and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Elegant Eggplant and Mambo Melon Classics

Accessories: Window sheet, Scallop Circle, Scallop Edge, and 1/2-inch Circle Punches, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

Thanks so much for visiting!

Wedded Bliss!

I'm really enjoying the all-white color scheme! Here's a wedding or anniversary card...

Note the embossed piece behind the flower and the embossed dove. I used my Big Shot and Texturz Plates (Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I) to add the subtle details.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Set: Always

Inks: Basic Black Classic

Paper: Whisper White card stock

Accessories: Sizzix Big Shot, Texturz Plates Backgrounds I (Stampin' Up! exclusive), Pretties Kit, Photo Corner Punch, Whisper White Satin Ribbon

Another challenge: Baroque Motifs in Purple!

This next challenge meant I had to work with scraps because I discovered that I'm out of my favorite purple card stock! The challenge also called for five circles. I hope you like this entry. I love this stamp set (Baroque Motifs) and I loved this challenge. In case they are difficult to see, the circles (requirements of the challenge) are the flowers, which are raised up on Dimensionals.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Baroque Motifs

Inks: Lovely Lilac and Going Grey Classics

Papers: Whisper White, Lovely Lilac and Going Grey Card Stock

Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals and Whisper White Satin Ribbon

Thank you so much for looking!

Simple Cards

Here are some simple cards I made for my moms group to stamp. The group consists of new and experienced stampers, so I have to be sure that everyone is successful and enjoys their final products. I also love to throw in a technique or two. There are two major constraints on my planning, though. First, the projects have to be simple because we don't have a lot of time and my supplies of scissors, punches, stamps, inks, etc, are limited. I want all of the moms to have time to complete our project. No one wants to go home with something she couldn't finish. Second, we really have to watch our pennies. I have to look to things like sueded card stock as lower-cost embellishments.

These projects are also good make-and-take projects for workshops, because the aforementioned constraints apply there as well.

Dreams du Jour card:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Dreams du Jour

Inks: Chocolate Chip Classic

Papers: Kraft, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla Card Stock

Accessories: Stampin' Pastels; paperclip; Linen Thread

Special Technique: Using a towel (I'm a weenie), I repeatedly crumpled and smoothed out the piece of Baja Breeze card stock until the layers started to want to peel. I gently peeled them apart, leaving me with two pieces of "sueded" card stock, which adds visual and textural interest (**Excellent for scrapbooks!**).

Love You flower punch card:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Short & Sweet and Boho Backgrounds

Inks: Gable Green and Basic Black Classic

Papers: Gable Green, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White Card Stock

Accessories: 5-Petal Flower punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Whisper White 5/8-inch Satin Ribbon

Lovely as a Tree card:

I wrote about this card in an earlier post (see "Happy Birthday, Uncle Brian"). I love this design and can't wait to play with it! I made a few changes for this group:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree; Fundamental Phrases

Inks: Chocolate Chip

Papers: Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, and Whisper White card stock

Accessories: Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon; Linen Thread; Sizzix Big Shot; Top Note Bigz Die; Handheld rectangle and 1/16-inch punches; Word Slot punch