Paper Crafters Holiday Gift Exchange

So, for our Nacho Average Stamper holiday gift exchange, we were to make/create something using Stampin' Up! products. The price range is $5-$10. So, nothing too expensive and nothing too cheap. So, here is what I made!

I printed the template for the paper tote onto Chocolate Chip cardstock. I used the Greenhouse Gala DSP to add some color. I did the trim in Baja Breeze, to help bring out the blues in the tiny flowers. I stamped the definition 'inspire' in Baja Breeze. I chose that definition, because it is one of the home decor elements. And, I love it! I think that as demonstrators, not only do we create, but we also inspire our customers (and blog followers) to create something out of paper, or to use a product in a new way. I had to add the rhinestones! What girl doesn't like bling?

I covered a notebook with the same supplies. The stamp set I used for the flower is Greenhouse Gala, and the 'take note' is from Notable Ornate. I colored the floral image with markers (Baja Breeze and Certainly Celery). And I also created a cover, for a Stampin' Up! notepad. If nothing else, she can use the products in a workshop to jot down notes, names, ideas for workshops, etc. And, she can reproduce the items for hostess gifts! Functional, creative, and inspirational!

I will have the PDF for the covered notepad available for sale in Jan. 2011. I will repost that when it is available.

Thank you for looking. And, if you don't make it back here before Saturday, Merry Christmas!

Friends - Clean & Simple

Friends! I think of 'friends' as the 'family' you get to choose. I hold my friends dear. And, I'd do just about anything for them. This card was inspired by my affection for them.

This is our second card, for the Stampalicious Card Club, that is meeting today. The technique is coloring your stamp. The tool is the Stamp-a-ma-jig. I wanted a clean & simple card, because our other card is a little more labor intensive. (Its the shadow box Christmas card two posts down.)

This card uses minimal supplies, and ink. You can basically use your scraps of paper and ribbon to create this layout. Also, any sentiment will work, as will any object. So, its very versatile and easy.

Thanks for looking! Enjoy your weekend! If you have to go to the grocery store to stock up on your Thanksgiving supplies, please be patient and courteous to the other shoppers. We are all in this together!

Life

When anyone places their Stampin' Up! order with me (email, phone, or on-line) I include a blank hand-stamped card. I love making them, and I think it gives the recipient a little something.

I was using the Greenhouse Gala DSP (#117167) and Friends Never Fade stamp set (#120618) to make a card for my Saturday Technique & Tool Usage class and have fallen in love with this paper and stamp set. So, I figure why not make their 'thank you for your order' card using the same products? It will show them an additional item to make with the same supplies. Pretty thrifty, huh? I love products that have more than one use.

So here is what I came up with. The card is clean and simple. Not a million dollars in supplys and very easy to reproduce. And very easy to dress-up. You can always had some bling to the center of the flowers on the DSP, by adding glitter, clear beads, shimmer paint. You can spritz some shimmer paint or smooch on the card. You can add a button or brad the the knot in the ribbon. Or you can add some of the half-rhinestones to the flourish that I stamped on the card front. This card can easily go from C&S, to dressed-up with little to no effort. Just by making it your own. :)

I hope that they like this card, as much as I do. Thank you for looking.

Wonderful Friend

Have you had a girl friend, who you are just so close to, that you should have been sisters? Well, I am blessed to have a few of those. Two of my 'sister' make their own cards and sell them. Shocking, huh? that we know each other. Anyway, they have started their venture with Stampin' Up! and I wanted to send them a quick & easy card to both congratulate them individually, and have a sample card on hand. Sometimes, your eye just likes clean and simple. You know what I mean? Sometimes, extra stuff, is just too much stuff.

Anyways, this card is made with Chocolate Chip card stock as the base. A 4" x 5 1/4" pattern paper (Greenhouse Gala #117167) was adhered to the front of the card. I stamped the saying on a scrap piece of white card stock, matted it on a scrap piece of Pear Pizzazz, did a 'fancy' scallop edge to one side and added one of the new half pearls. (Oh, I 'colored' the half-pearl with a chocolate chip marker and then heat set it.) To give the piece a little shimmer, I sprayed it with my frost white shimmer paint that I made into a spray. Used some dimensionals to get this piece off the card front. Pretty simple, and pretty quick! :)

Thank you for looking! Please leave a comment, as they always make me smile. And Congrats to B. & S.! You both will do a wonderful job!