Valentines, My Digital Studio, and a Sneak Peek of the 2011 Occasions Mini

So I went ahead and purchased My Digital Studio - and as I thought it was well worth the money.  I am able to sketch out my card layouts prior to pulling out any paper or tools.  This helps me a lot, because I tend to take a ton of stuff out while figuring out what to do with a card.

I gave myself a challenge this weekend, I wanted to get a head start on Valentines day.  So I cracked open My Digital Studio and started designing my card.  It was SO easy to do, and when I printed my "final" sketch, it printed to scale!  So I was able to measure the size of my paper from the print out!  The only issue I had, was that I decided to stamp a heart around the treat cup, so I had to make the squares matting the treat cup larger.

Here is the digital image of the project, side-by-side with the paper version I created.  Here is also your sneak peek of some patterned paper (the diagonal LOVE paper) from the 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog (starts January 4th 2011) - also the digital stamp (also available in wood and clear mount) is also from the Occasions Mini (I don't own that physical stamp set - I only have it in Digital).

I used Versamark and white embossing powder for the Heart Stamp.  For the "LOVE" title at the top of the card, I used the Versamarker and white embossing powder on my I {Love} Love jumbo wheel.  On the tab I wrote Pull (on both sides) with the Versamarker and heat embossed with white embossing powder.

I used the Sweet Treat Cup and filled it with Nerds, the Pull tab opens a trap door where the recipient can get to the candy without tearing up the card.  Also I used the heart that was punched out on the inside of the card, so once it is empty, you will see a nice striped heart through the window of the treat cup (instead of the white inside of the card).

Materials Are All From Stampin' Up - available 24/7 on my online store!:

• Stamp Set - Sweetheart (# 120780)
• Jumbo Stampin' Wheel - I {Love} Love (# 117084)
• Jumbo Stampin' Around Handle (# 103661)
• Cardstock - Basic Gray,Whisper White [card base] (both from neutrals collection #119707), Real Red (#102482)
• Designer Series Paper - Real Red (Brights Stack #117155), Love Impressions (from 2011 occasions mini available Jan. 4)
• Sweet Treat Cup (#120435 - set of 12)
• Whisper White Satin Ribbon (#114616)
• Full Heart Extra Large Punch (# 119881)
• Scallop Trim Border Punch (#118402)
• Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (#119275)
• Round Tab Extra Large Punch (#119864)
• Basic Rhinestones (#119246)
• White Embossing Powder (#109132)
• Versamark Pad (#102283)
• Versamarker (#100901)
• Heat Tool (#100005)

Digital "Sketch" from My Digital Studio Software - #118108

2010 Christmas Stamp-A-Stack II

December 10th 6-8 pm and December 11th 2-4pm

Christmas has just snuck up on us! Are you ready with all your Christmas Greetings? 

I've scheduled my second Stamp-A-Stack event :)  For $20 you get to bring home 12 cards, 3 each of 4 designs, this also includes Stampin' Up! high quality envelopes.  All you need to do is bring your own adhesive, everything else is provided for you.

All supplies will be pre-cut, so you will only need to stamp, punch, sponge and assemble, easy-peasy. If you are new to stamping, it's not a problem, I will be there to assist and full instructions will be provided.

Register by emailing me - or by registering through my Meetup Group.

Here are the designs for this event:

Design #1 - Contempo Christmas

Design #2 - Christmas Postcard

Design #3 - Classic Christmas

Design 4 - Bells & Boughs

Bells and Boughs Christmas Card

Feeling a bit crafty, I needed a cardmaking fix this morning, here is my creation.  Inspired by Mojo Monday 166 :)

All supplies are from Stampin Up! - order them 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! online store.

Stamp Set: Bells & Boughs (#121142)

Cardstock: Whisper White (#100730), Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke (both from Regals collection #119705)

Ink: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler (both from Regals Collection #119693)

Victoria Crochet Trim (#118481), Basic Jewels Rhinestones (#119246)

Why I would love to have Stampin' Up! My Digital Studio

My Digital Studio is a Digital Papercrafting program for your computer offered by Stampin' Up! .. It contains thousands of digital representations of authentic Stampin' Up! stamps, accessories (punches), designer series paper and embellishments.

The reason I would love to own a tool like this is two-fold.

1) I live far away from my family, so it's easier to share my creative projects digitally, also digital is a great way to send cards!

2) I spend hours upon hours debating my scrapbook layouts.  I would use this tool as a planning tool to save me countless hours sorting, finding, mixing and matching ink colors, cardstock, designer series paper, ribbon, embellishments and stamps.  All of this product will be available to me on my computer through this program to plan out my "physical" projects without the hassle of pulling out all of my stuff.  Plus with my laptop, I can plan my projects in more places, not just in my scrapbooking space.

My Digital Studio is now 1/2 off in the Online Spectacular Promotion - check out this promotion and others on my Stampin' Up! website :)

Artistic Etchings Sunset

As part of the Columbus Scrappers First Blog Hop we were challenged to create a card or layout using the following:

• 3 Fall Colors
• 2 Ribbons
• 1 Word Title

Here is the creation that I came up with :)  I sponged the sunset and stamped the images using the Artistic Etchings stamp set.

Here is the map of your Columbus Scrappers blog hop route!  Visit Jana Next !

Karrie: Welcome To My World   

Lisa: Blessed Beyond Measure  

Carey: Getting Away With Creativity <---- you are here

Jana: Slices Of My Life <---- go here next

All Supplies Used are Stampin' Up! Order these products and many more 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! online store!

Stamp Set - Artistic Etchings (#120573)

Designer Series Paper - Deck The Halls (#120810)

Ink - More Mustard (#103162), Cajun Craze (#119671), Early Expresso (#119670)

Ribbon - Victoria Crochet Trim (#118481), Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon (#117291)

Stamping Sponges (#101610) [quartered, comes in sets of 3]

Thank You Card - Mojo Monday 161

I was up to the challenge for Mojo Monday, I love the sketch!

I used second generation stamping (stamp first on scrap, then on the project) for the hydrangeas in the background using Sahara Sand.  I love the way it looks on Very Vanilla cardstock, it creates a nice subtle background image.  Concord Crush is quickly becoming my favorite color - Rich Razzleberry being a close second.

Supplies Used are all Stampin' Up!  - order these products through my My Stampin' Up web site 24/7 (and have it delivered to your doorstep) or contact me to schedule a workshop :)

Stamp Sets - Because I Care (hydrangea and Thank you - level 1 hostess set) #120118, Elements of Style (bird and swirl in tag) #120045

Cardstock - Very Vanilla #101650, Concord Crush #119792, Tangerine Tango #111349

Ink - Concord Crush #119785, Sahara Sand #105208

Designer Series Paper - Daffodil Delight from the Brights Designer Series Paper Stack #117155

Punches - Large Tag #119876 , 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Extra-Large #119854, Scallop Edge Border #119882, Dotted Scallop Ribbon #119275

Antique Brad #117273

Basic Pearls (smallest size in center of flower in circle punch, eye of bird, and in center of flower in tag punch) #119247

Crop-a-Dile #108362 - to make hole in tag for brad

Crimper Poinsettia Christmas Card

1.  Cut a 5.5" x 5.5" card base (made by a 5.5 x 11 piece of cardstock scored in the middle) using Very Vanilla cardstock

2. Adhere a 5.5" x 5.5" piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock to the card base using Snail adhesive.

3. Cut a 5.25" x 5.25" piece of Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper with all 4 corners punched with a ticket punch was adhere it to the Cherry Cobbler cardstock.

4. Stamp Seasons Greetings from the Snow Swirled set using Cherry Cobbler ink onto Very Vanilla cardstock, cut out and then mat with Always Artichoke cardstock with an 1/8" mat. The greeting is adhered to the upper right corner of the Jolly Holiday DSP using Snail adhesive.

To make the poinsettia:

5. Cut 4 - 2" x 2" squares of Riding Hood Red Cardstock, score down the middle of each square at 1", fold in half

6. Cut 4 - 2" x 4" rectangles of Riding Hood Red Cardstock, score in half lengthwise at 1", fold in half

7. Cut 3 - 2" x 4" rectangles of Always Artichoke, fold in half

8. Load all of your folded squares and rectangles at an angle into your paper crimper and crimp [one at a time!].

9. Keeping the crimped pieces folded, keep fold line to the left, ensure the crimps are pointed upward. Just like in Kindergarten cut a shape of 1/2 a heart except for keeping the bottom flat instead of mounded, this is more like a 1/2 a raindrop than a heart. Do this to all folded pieces.

10. Open up the folds on each of the red petals. Ink them with a sponge dauber around the edges and over the creases of the crimps with Cherry Cobbler ink. Shape each petal as desired by running a bone folder on the back side to give it a slight curve.

11. Open the Always Artichoke leaves, ink them in the same way you did the petals using a Sponge Dauber and Chocolate Chip ink.

12. Arrange Red petals as desired onto a small piece of scrap paper. Once you have your desired look, adhere the petals to the scrap piece of paper using Glue Dots.

13. Arrange leaves underneath the petals as desired and adhere them with Glue Dots.

14. Stamp a small pattern stamp using More Mustard onto a scrap piece of Daffodil Delight cardstock (I used the dots square in the Playful Pieces level 3 hostess set)

15. Punch 3 of a desired flower shape from the stamped pattern using Boho Blossoms punch.

16. Using a Crop-A-Dile, punch a hole in the center of each yellow flower, add a red brad from the Regals collection.

17. Arrange yellow flowers in the center of the poinsettia, adhere with Glue Dots

18. Adhere poinsettia to the card using Glue Dots.

Supplies used are all from Stampin' Up! - Order online 24x7 from my online store and have the products delivered to your doorstep! - or contact me and we can setup a workshop where I can demonstrate any of the techniques shown on the projects on this blog :)

Cardstock - Very Vanilla (#101650), Daffodil Delight (from Brights collection #119706), Cherry Cobbler, Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke (last 3 all from Regals collection #119705)

Designer Series Paper - Jolly Holiday (#117159)

Stamps - Playful Pieces (level 3 hostess set #120145), Snow Swirled (#111690)

Ink - Cherry Cobbler (#119669), More Mustard (#103162), Chocolate Chip (#100908)

Paper Crimper (#101618)

Ticket Corner Punch (#119867)

Boho Blossoms Punch (#119858)

Red brads from the Regals Collection (#119737)