Friday, October 31, 2014

Vellum vs. Whisper White

Are you familiar withVellum Paper?  Vellum is a translucent parchment paper. I made similar cards with the ghost framelit from Stampin'UP!'s Fall Fest Bundle. 

I like how the white ghosts on the second card really "pop" off the gray background.  White was a good choice for that card.

On the first card I used Vellum because I wanted the ghosts to be translucent so you could see the details of the wood grain through them.



Vellum has lots of other uses too.  Its translucent properties make it a good material for LED "candle" projects.  And it give a very formal look to invitations and announcements.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've been inspired.
and I hope you have some "spook"tacular plans for the day. Happy Halloween.
Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions






Thursday, October 23, 2014

Going "Batty" for Halloween

Looking for some ideas for a Halloween project.  Do you have a butterfly punch?  
Here's a quick tip for how to use your butterfly punch to make a bat.

Stampin'UP! makes 2 different butterfly punches 
and either size works fine to make the bats


Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've been inspired.
Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

A Bootiful Halloween Card - Its All About the Shoes!

The images and colors associated with Halloween don't offer too many options for "bootiful" projects. But here is one you can definitely call beautiful.  Made with the witches boot from a set called Bootiful Occasions.

Halloween Card made with the Witches Boot from Stampin'UP!'s Bootiful Occasions stamp set

How's this for a "bootiful" Halloween Color combination?
Black - Pumpkin Pie (orange) - Elegant Eggplant (purple) - Hello Honey (yellow)

Add a few rhinestones to dress it up and our witch is ready to step out in style
Halloween Card made with the Witches Boot from Stampin'UP!'s Bootiful Occasions stamp set


Stampin'UP!'s Bootiful Occasions Stamp Set

The Bootiful Occasions stamp set 
has some really cute images for a variety of occasions
 
     **Stylish rubber Rain Boot    
     **Fashionable fuzzy Winter Boot     
     **Kick up your heels Cowgirl Boot 
     **and this charming Wicked Witch boot


Clear Mount  #126597 $17.95  
or Wood Mount #131967 $24.95


I usually don't mix images from different stamp sets, but this combination was just too perfect.  
The inside of the card has images from a set called Tee Hee

Halloween Card made with images from Stampin'UP!'s Tee Hee stamp set

This "bootiful" Halloween card was one of 5 that we  made at yesterday's Halloween Stamp Camp.


Want to join us next time? 
Check out my events calendar to see what's next.

I'm located in rural Stoughton, just a short half hour drive from most places in the Madison area.

We'd love to have you join us.


Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've been inspired.
Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions





Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Children's Stamp Sets Make Great Gifts

See what's on sale this week! The items on this week's Sale of the Week are very timely if you're activated on Christmas shopping already. Many of the items are small enough to fit in a stocking.

Items on Stampin'UP!'s Sale of the Week starting 10/21/2014

How fun! There's a kids set on sale this week.  Its the wood mount version - which is perfect for little hands just learning how to stamp.  

A stamp set is a great gift to keep the kids active, creative and off the electronics. Remember to include paper and ink too.

And while you're checking out the Sale of the Week, be sure to check the Clearance Rack, there's more great deals on retired product there.

Thanks for stopping by
Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions



Monday, October 20, 2014

Oh My Mustache!

How do you decorate a paper pumpkin?  
There's no innards to scoop and no place for a candle. 
Solution?  Just add a mustache.

Halloween Card made with Stampin'UP!'s Mustache Die

This classy fellow looks great in his 'stache'.
The shape was cut with Stampin'UP!'s Mustache Framelit Die
Normally $7.95 and on sale now for only $5.96 (sale ends today!)
Check out the other items on sale this week HERE

 
Not to be outdone by a fruit -  I'm sharing a photo of myself sporting a version of the same festive look. This was me at a recent demonstrator event.  Its hard to escape the ubiquitous cellphone camera.

Look what else you can do with the mustache die.
Turn it upside down and add a few holes - Voila! a mask.

Halloween Card made with Stampin'UP!'s Mustache Die used as a mask Halloween Card made with Stampin'UP!'s Mustache Die used as a mask

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've been inspired.
Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions


Thursday, October 16, 2014

Fall Fest Duo

There are so many wonderful images associated with fall. And Stampin'UP! brings them all together in the Fall Fest Stamp Set and its matching Framelits the Fun Fall Framelits

Here are a pair of cards we're doing in classes this month. People attending the class have the choice of making the Thank-you card with the pumpkins or of adding the ghost and turning the card into a Halloween card.

Fall card made with pumpkins die cut using Stampin'UP!'s Fun Fall Framelits.


Halloween card made with pumpkins and a ghost die cut using Stampin'UP!'s Fun Fall Framelits.

If you're looking for a fun fall stamp set and matching set of framelit dies 
then be sure to check out these products


Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've been inspired.
Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions




Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Fun Fall Ghost Die Makes a Cute Boy and Girl Pair

Isn't this pair of ghosts just the cutest!  They look totally ready for a spooky night out.

Halloween Card  ghosts die cut with Stampin'Up!'s Fun Fall Framelits


 
I love her sweet little flower - made with a punch from the Itty Bitty Accents punch pack. Its the same flower punch used on the Easel Card in my last post. In fact, if you check out the photo to the right you'll also notice that its the same punch used for the butterfly. Just use a pen to add antenna. Voila! the Flower becomes a bug. Click here to see the original post about that card.

Halloween Card  ghosts die cut with Stampin'Up!'s Fun Fall Framelits

The ghosts were die cut using the new Fun Fall Framelits.
The set includes the ghost, 3 pumpkins and 4 leaves.


 
The Fun Fall Framelits alone are $24.95 (item #135856). 

But Stampin'UP! has created something even better. 
A matching stamp set  
with a ghost, pumpkins, leaves and spooky faces.  

The stamp set alone Fall Fest is $15.95 (item #135194)
Better yet: Bundle and Save
Save 15% when you buy both the stamps and the framelits.  
The Fall Fest Bundle is only $34.75 (item #137628)


And how about that mustache!  Pretty classy right?
Halloween Card  ghosts die cut with Stampin'Up!'s Fun Fall Framelits
The mustache is a separate framelit. item #133741
If you're seeing this post this week you're in luck - the mustache is ON SALE this week.
Normally $7.95 its on sale right now for only $5.96.
Check out all the weekly sale items here.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've been inspired
Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions




Thursday, October 9, 2014

Easel Card is a Work of Art

An easel card is a fun way to display your art work.  
And this one truly is a "work of art" because its made with the Work of Art stamp set.

Easel Card made with Stampin'UP!'s Work of Art stamp set

This series of photos shows how its made.
You need to incorporate a fold in the design of the front of of the card.  
Where you put the fold depends on the size of the images you plan to use.

Easel Card made with Stampin'UP!'s Work of Art stamp set Easel Card made with Stampin'UP!'s Work of Art stamp set Easel Card made with Stampin'UP!'s Work of Art stamp set
                     Card Front closed                              Card Open                                                Side View Easel Mode
 
The decoration on the inside of the card has some height to it 
so that it supports the front of the card when its folded into the easel shape.

Stampin'UP!'s Work of Art Stamp Set
Ok, so much for the engineering. 
Now for the art part.

Both the clouds and the grass are the same stamp.  
They're both from a set called Work of Art.

Can you tell which stamp I used?
What possibilities do you see with this set?

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've been inspired.
Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions



Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Tuesday Sale Updates

Here are the new items listed for Stampin'UP!'s Sale of the Week



Here's a project I posted a while back that uses the Mosaic Punch.  
Its a very pretty shape and there's lots of ways to dress it up.

    I always check the "Sale of the Week". There's usually a nice mixture of stamps, tools and consummables.  If its something you use - or something that's on your Wish List then definitely take advantage of the sale.


        You can order on-line here
    Earn Rewards Points for on-line orders
         by using this Hostess Code
    3VFCQQPD (valid for October 2014)


    Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've found some really good deals.
    And while you're shopping - be sure to check the Clearance Rack for super deals on retired product.

    Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions



    Wednesday, October 1, 2014

    Comparison of the Big Shot versus the Cuttlebug

    The Big Shot Die Cut and Embossing MachineDo you have a machine that lets you use embossing folders? 
    If not Stampin'UP! carries 2 options.

    The first option for an embossing machine is the Big Shot: This industry standard does both embossing and die cutting. Its extra wide bed lets you use the Magnetic Cutting Platform as well as the larger dies - many of which do not fit in the narrower bed of the Cuttlebug.

     I use My Big Shot all the time! 

    If you do any die cutting at all, or think you might, you'll definitely want to spend the extra money for the Big Shot versus the Cuttlebug. Stampin'UP! sells the Big Shot for $99.95. Retail price on the Cuttlebug is $89.99. The $10 savings isn't worth it. Eventually you'll be kicking yourself for not going with the bigger size machine.

    And the Big Shot is strong enough to work on a a wide variety of different materials (wood sheets, magnet sheets, fabric, shrinky dinks, metal soda cans, cork board, aluminum flashing and more . . .) Click here to see a list of over 50 different materials that can be used with your Big Shot


    The Texture Boutique Embossing MachineYour 2nd option for an embossing machine is the Texture Boutique: This smaller machine is more affordable at only $29.95 (comparably priced in retail stores). Its also smaller and more light weight, which means its portable if you like to travel with your crafting. 

    But the down side is that it does ONLY embossing.  If you want the option to use dies to cut shapes then the Big Shot is your best choice. 

    And if you're wondering why to buy from a demonstrator versus a retail store, the answer is that you get a relationship with a creative coach along with your purchase. As demonstrators we do our best to ensure that our customers are happy with their product and educated about the best ways to use it.

    Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've been inspired to try one of these machines.
    Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions