Unfrogettable Stamping!

Just Buzzin' By... in Rose & Pink!

I have been super-busy the last couple of days with my Chicks Crop on Friday night, swim team sign-ups all morning on Saturday (boy, did I get a nice sunburn!), a workshop of my downline's on Saturday afternoon, a birthday dinner with family friends at Red Lobster on Saturday night (man, I LOVE those cheddar biscuits!), a stamp-a-stack yesterday and a church picnic last night.  Needless to say, I'm a little behind in posting to my blog and exhausted from the long weekend! 

I don't have any new projects to post today so I thought I'd share some super-cute project ideas that my good friend and soon-to-be Stampin' Up! Convention roomie Karla Anders created with the Just Buzzin' By stamp set (#113228, $27.95) along with the Raspberry Tart DSP (#113975, $9.95).  Don't forget that the DSP special is still going on through the end of the month - buy 3, get 1 FREE!  If you purchase $50 in product before Saturday, May 23rd, you'll earn $10 in Stampin' Bucks to redeem at the end of the month as well as a spot on my $50-50 board!!

Who knew that these bees could be so darn cute in pink?  The card at the top of the post matches this great little key ring that she created.  I believe Karla said she purchased the blanks from Oriental Trading Co.  If you're in the Madison, WI area and are looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, be sure and give Karla a call.  You can contact her by visiting her demonstrator site - just click the link here!  She's a fabulously talented demonstrator and I'm lucky to have her as a friend! 

What a cute gift this matching card and key ring would make!  Our school mascot is a bee, so this stamp set is definitely going to get used for our end-of-year gifts for the teachers!!

Thanks for stopping by... until next time, happy stamping!

Debbie

Gift-boxes made easy with the Big Shot!

  I can't say this enough - I LOVE MY BIG SHOT!!  I pulled out my Big Shot to play around with the new Bag with Scallops bigz xl die (#114519, $34.95) that I just got and came up with this cute bag... what an easy little gift bag to make!  The Designer Series Paper (DSP) that I used is from the Raspberry Tart (#113975, $9.95) package - the colors include real red, rose red, cameo coral, pretty in pink and kiwi kiss.  Isn't it pretty?  The sides of the bag are made with rose red cardstock.  I just ran all the pieces through my Big Shot and adhered it together with my trusty Sticky Strip (#104294, $6.95).  To embellish the bag, I punched out a scallop circle (#109043, $15.95) from pretty in pink, a 1-3/8" circle (#104401, $15.95) in kiwi kiss and stamped the monogram initial of my hostess next week using the Lovely Letters alphabet stamp (#115030, $42.95) in rose red on whisper white cardstock and punched that out with the 1-1/4" circle punch (104403, $15.95).  By stamping on your cardstock scrap first and punching second (turning the punch upside down) you can perfectly center your letter.  Much easier than trying to aim a stamp onto a small piece of cardstock and lining it up perfectly!  The bag is held closed with a small piece of velcro.

  I plan to fill the bag with chocolates, but this is the perfect size to hold a gift card or a pair of earrings, a bracelet or any other small but wonderful gift.  I think I may make up a bunch of these to give my kids' teachers at the end of the year to fill!  Imagine making and decorating them based on a bridal shower or baby shower theme or as party favors at a graduation party!  The possibilities are endless...

 

  Here is another gift ensemble.. a 3" x 3" notecard to match the cute gift box made with the Box #2 bigz xl die (#114518, $34.95) that I created with baja breeze cardstock and Walk in the Park DSP (#115123, $9.95) from the Occasions mini catalog.  The gorgeous white 5/8" satin ribbon (#114616, $8.95) along with the Oval All (#113790, $16.95) stamped image and the scallop oval punch (#114889, $15.95) are also from the Occasions mini catalog.  These items are available through the end of June.  This box is just a little bit bigger than the gift bag above... you can fit all kinds of goodies in it! 

  Now is a great time to stock up on these gorgeous Designer papers while they are on sale - buy 3, get 1 FREE!!  Call me to place your order before the end of the month!!

  Do you want a Big Shot of your own so you can quickly and easily create great projects like these?  If you purchase the Big Shot starter kit plus one additional sizzlit die (priced at $4.95), you'll qualify as a hostess of your own workshop and earn a hostess level 1 stamp set PLUS $20 in FREE merchandise - why not pick up a few more dies for your Big Shot?  You'll also earn 4 spots on my $50-50 board and an invitation to my Hostess Appreciation event in July.  If you purchase these before May 23rd, you'll also earn $40 in Stampin' Bucks - enough to get you either of the bigz xl dies used in the 2 projects above for FREE at the end of this month.

 

  Want to purchase the Big Shot at a discount of 30% off?  It's possible if you purchase the $75 Scrapbooking special edition starter kit this month!  By joining my team as a demonstrator, you will be eligible for a discount of 30% off on your very first $150+ order placed within 45 days of becoming a demonstrator.  Never before has it been possible to come on board with SU! at such an incredibly low price!  The savings of almost $60 you'll get this way almost pays for the starter kit... how great is that?!  Plus, you'll have a $43.95 stamp set, a $19.95 Simply Scrappin' kit, a $7.50 craft ink pad and an $8.95 assorment of 12" x 12 cardstock AND all the business supplies you'll need if you decide to make some extra income with your demonstratorship.

  I listed an FAQ about being a demonstrator in an earlier post - you can view it here.

  I'd love to have you join my team, the Little Debbies!  We have a great time getting together to stamp at my monthly downline meetings, have an exclusive yahoo group to communicate, share and keep in touch with our long-distance members in California, Washington and across Virginia.  Please contact me with any questions or if you're ready to sign on the dotted line you can join online via my demonstrator website here.  The password is debstamps.  Follow the steps, enter your credit card information and within just a few minutes you'll be assigned your demonstrator ID# and be on your way!  The $300 sales quota will not have to be fulfilled until the very end of September - Stampin' Up! allows you a full quarter to meet your sales requirement.  Next month we get to preorder from the NEW catalog - don't you want to be able to join in on that fun!?!

  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Friday!!  I'm excited about attending the Chicks Crop tomorrow night!  Hope to see some of you there...

  Debbie

 

May 17th Stamp-a-Stack

  Once a month I like to hold a Stamp-a-Stack class.  Stampers who want to build up their card collection come and make 16 cards - 4 each of 4 designs.  I tend to keep these cards simple so that they can be mass-produced pretty quickly and without a lot of embellishment so they can be mailed without having to add extra postage.  These 4 cards featured in my post are for this month's SAS on May 17th.  Next month I plan to feature 4 retiring stamp sets in my "Kiss Them Good-Bye" SAS on June 16th.  During August I always hold a Christmas card SAS so that my customers can get a jump-start on their holiday cards.

  Since we're getting close to wedding season, I had to have a card featuring the To Have and To Hold (#115098, $26.95) stamp set (card at top of this post).  I created it for a black and white swap that my downline held back in February.  There's just a little bit of bling on the bride's bouquet with dazzling diamonds (#102023, $4.50) and the awesome organza ribbon (#114319, $5.95) is anchored to the basic black mat with a circle ice rhinestone brad (#109111, $10.95).  I added texture to the black piece with the SU! Backgrounds Texturz plates (#114512, $11.95) and my Big Shot.

  This card above is an all-occasion card - any sentiment can be added inside.  I love this Branch Out stamp set (#113200, $22.95).  Just by changing the color of the image used to stamp leaves or flowers you can change the whole feel of the tree... from a sympathy card to one that is spring-y and cheerful.  Again, I turned to my Texturz plates and my Big Shot on the almost amethyst piece.  The splash of color was added with a piece of the 5/8" grosgrain ribbon in certainly celery (#109050, $7.95).  I created this card after seeing a picture of the beautiful cherry blossoms in DC that my sister Cindy posted on her blog here.

  Often I will turn to cards I receive in swaps or look on Splitcoaststampers website for inspiration for my SAS classes.  I've mentioned it before, but I want to reiterate that I never feel pressured to create original card ideas... there are so many great samples out there and often I will start off with an idea that I intend to CASE (copy and share everything) but end up tweaking it to my style.  The stamping community is such a sharing one and there are so many wonderful ideas out there! 

  This card above was CASE'd from Yapha on SCS... the original can be found here. The funny thing is that she CASE'd it from Angie Juda's cards here.  I like a white base on my cards so mine is a little different than Yapha's.. I also didn't stamp on the pink pirouette Top Note diecut.

  The final card for my class is this one using the Ocean Commotion stamp set (#114423, $17.95).  What a fun little set and perfect for using with the In Colors!  I CASE'd this card from my downline Sherri Gough... she created one for her own SAS on Saturday and I loved it!  I added the large polka dot texture using, you guessed it - the Texturz plates and my Big Shot!  I can't resist... the Big Shot makes papercrafting so much quicker, easier and gives such a wow factor.  I use it almost every time I stamp!

  My class on Sunday is full, but if you want to order any of the products needed to reproduce these cards, please give me a call to place your order or go to my online store and place the order any time, day or night!  You can click on the "shop now" button in the upper right-hand corner here.  My Stampin' Bucks program is still in effect through May 23rd!!

  Thank you for stopping by.  Until next time, happy stamping!

  Debbie

 

Make-n-Take for Chicks Crop event Friday night

  My celebration of National Scrapbooking month continues!  I hope you can join me this Friday night at the Chicks Crop at the Madison Heights library from 6-10 pm.  The only fee to get in is to bring a snack to share - it doesn't get much better than that, does it?!  You do have to RSVP as there are limited spots - please contact the organizers, Davina or Rose, directly at chickscrop@yahoo.com

  I met Rose and her daughter Davina at the Amherst County Apple Harvest Festival last fall and they are so sweet!  They asked me to attend their crop back in January as a featured vendor and everyone had a good time making a Valentine's Day card.  This month they've asked me to prepare a Father's Day card for the free make-n-take... you can see one take on it above.  Because of our special this month on the Designer Series Papers (buy 3, get 1 free) I decided to feature the Walk in the Park (#115123, $9.95) papers from the Occasions mini catalog plus I wanted these scrapbookers to be able to play with the new sneak peek Jumble Alphabet set (#115199), which is on sale this month for $35.16. 

  I came up with this simple card based on the Totally Tool (#113256, $25.95) card in the Idea Book & Catalog on pg. 47.  My downline Jennifer Rawlings CASE'd this card for our Catalog CASE swap last month and I just HAD to get this set after seeing her card.  I plan to have several different options for the various pieces of cardstock so that each card can be slightly different.  Here is another version of the card below - the DSP is double-sided so there are 4 options!

  I really love the basic gray as a neutral!  And using various colors from the In Color family means they will all work together... baja breeze, pacific point and kiwi kiss.  Don't the silver brads really pop off the saw?  And these words are great for a Father's Day card, don't you think?  Just in case there are ladies there who don't care to make a Father's Day card, I will have my Great Friend (#113792, $17.95) stamp set from the mini catalog available to use.  Here are 2 different versions I came up with using the same pieces from the Father's Day cards above, just flipping the DSP pieces over to the more girly side... it is so easy to take these masculine cards and make them more feminine just by changing out the stamp set!

 

 

If you are unable to attend the crop but want the supplies to make these cards, I will be happy to place that order for you.  Give me a call, drop me an email or go to my website and place your order by clicking on "Shop Now" here.

Thanks for looking!  Hope to see you at a stamping event soon!!

Debbie

 

 

 

Happy Mother's Day

  Just a quick post to wish all you Mothers out there a Happy Mother's Day!!!  I was lucky enough to get breakfast in bed this morning from my children and some time to stamp in peace and quiet. 

  I came up with this card as one of the four that my members will make in my Card of the Month club during May.  They will, of course, switch out the sentiment.  I took my color inspiration for this card from the Bella Rose designer series paper (DSP) from Stampin' Up!  That is a good place to go in the catalog when looking for color combinations since they are now listed.  I used chocolate chip, kiwi kiss, riding hood red and pink pirouette - it's hard to believe we have less than 2 months of these beautiful In Colors.  If you've purhcased any of the In Color ink pads, be sure and buy the ink refills before they're gone for good! The ribbon is riding hood red taffeta (#111365, $6.95) - this, too, will be gone soon since it is an In Color accessory.  The featured stamp set, A Rose is a Rose (#111560, $37.95), is one of my favorites.  I'm such a pushover for floral stamp sets... I think I own more florals than any other type of stamps (well, maybe alphabet stamps).  And of course I had to run the kiwi kiss piece through my Big Shot with the SU! Backgrounds I texturz plate (#114512, $11.95) - it really dresses up an otherwise very simple card.

  Don't forget about the great special this month - buy 3 get 1 free specialty papers... mix and match any $11.95 textured 12 x 12 cardstock pack, $11.95 specialty DSP and/or $9.95 DSP.  And if you spend $50 on product before May 23rd you'll earn $10 in Debbie's Stampin' Bucks, redeemable the last week of the month to celebrate my birthday.  Online orders count, too, so if you'd like to place an order please either contact me via email or by phone or place your order on my Stampin' Up! demonstrator website and click on "Shop Now" here.

Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping!

Debbie

It's not too late for Mother's Day gift certificates

It is not too late to purchase a Stampin' Up! gift certificate from me for Mother's Day!!  I can make them in any denomination and will even include a hand-stamped card.  If you purchase a $50 gift certificate and it is redeemed before May 23rd, you'll earn $10 in Debbie's Stampin' Bucks to redeem the last week of the month and a spot on my $50-50 board.  I only have a few spots left before I will be drawing the next winner of $50 in free product!!  Don't delay, ask your husband/kids to contact me today!!!

Here is a view of the outside of one of the cards I have made for my Mother's Day gift certificates... I just love this Heartfelt Thanks stamp set (#114980, $32.95)!  The 2-step stamping can be a little tricky, but when you use the Stamp-a-ma-jig (#101049, $11.95) it's a piece of cake!  The base of the card is chocolate chip cardstock run through the Big Shot with the exclusive SU! Backgrounds I texturz plates (#114512, $11.95).  I read somewhere that if you lightly mist your cardstock with rubbing alcohol before running it through you get a much deeper impression - well sure enough, it worked!  I also used the Top Note die (#113463, $21.95) for my stamped image and sponged it with Creamy Caramel ink as well as using the Color Spritzer Tool (#107066, $12.95) with several colors of markers to give it some character.  The last thing I did was go around the perforation marks with a chocolate chip marker to give it a faux stitched look.   I added just a bit of bling with dazzling diamonds glitter (#102023, $4.50) on the center of the flower, which was stamped with Cameo Coral, Old Olive and Summer Sun inks.  The detail and sentiment were stamped with Chocolate Chip ink.  One final embellishment was adding the 5/8" old olive grosgrain ribbon (#109054, $7.95).  The "Happy Mother's Day" sentiment on the inside of the card is from the All Holidays stamp set (#114916, $34.95), a great all-around word stamp set.

Please let me know if you are interested in purchasing any of these great Stampin' Up! products or you can use the online ordering function of my SU! website here to place your order 24/7!  If you spend $50 in product between now and May 23rd, you will receive $10 in Stampin' Bucks to redeem at the end of the month and a spot on my $50-50 board.

Thank you for stopping by... until next time, happy stamping!

Debbie

Making a difference - cards for the troops

It is not often that we can give back, but I believe that sending cards to the troops deployed in the Middle East is a small way that we as stampers can give back a little.  It broke my heart to hear that there are many men and women serving in our armed forces who do not regularly receive mail or have cards to send home to loved ones.  I have a friend, Jen Phillips, who has a penpal from Hawaii stationed in Kuwait and she regularly sends him care packages.  I realized that sending hand-stamped cards made with love to these brave soldiers would be a great way to remind them that there are many of us here back home in America who appreciate all the sacrifices they are making for us to ensure our way of life.

So, last month I asked my downline to bring cards to our team meeting and look at all we collected!  At least 60 hand-stamped cards plus many packs of various store-bought notecards were put in my collection box!  This is a service project that I can get my kids involved in, too.  I plan to put out a call to my customers, too.  Together we can all make a difference! I plan to keep a collection box in my stamping studio and will mail them off every couple of months.  If you'd like to contribute or have a loved one stationed overseas that could use a box full of cards, please contact me!!

I pulled out a few cards from the pack to share with you... not all were Stampin' Up! and that is okay!  I am committed, however, to keeping this blog Stampin' Up! only so am only showing those cards using Stampin' Up! stamps.  This one below was stamped by Heather Guilliams - isn't it beautiful?  I really love this A Rose is a Rose stamp set (#111560, $37.95) and it looks great stamped on the Top Note Big Shot die (#113463, $21.95).  The notched out corners on the Certainly Celery piece was done using the Ticket Corner punch (#107214, $6.95) and I think it gives it a nice finishing touch.

 

These two Sock Monkey (#111550, $26.95) cards are too cute for words.  Lori Subosits made them and look at the cute pacific point corduroy button (#114341, $9.95) that she added as an embellishment!  I didn't know this, but you are not allowed to use dazzling diamonds or any other type of glitter on cards going to the troops because it could be a potential safety issue.  Apparently glitter can be seen quite far away if it catches the sunlight... who knew?!  Great coloring, Lori!  I'm fairly certain she used the Watercolor Wonder crayons and Aqua Painter for these.. her new favorite accessories!!

Last but not least, this is a card made by Kacey Dean and it features the ever-versatile Fun & Fast Notes stamp set (#113500, $32.95), a starter kit staple, as well as our beautiful Bashful Blue Patterns DSP (#112151, $9.95) which is currently on sale this month as part of the Buy 3/Get 1 Free promotion.  Kacey also used the Top Note Big Shot die and the Scallop Edge punch (#112091, $15.95).  Great use of the uni-ball Signo white gel pen (#105021, $3.95), too - it mimics the polka dots on the DSP.

Thanks for looking and I hope you feel moved to stamp a few extra cards for our troops!!

 

 

 

Finding scrapbooking inspiration

  Often I find myself hitting a blank wall when trying to come up with a scrapbook layout for a class or club.  But then it hit me, BAM!  The best source of inspiration is right at my finger tips... Stampin' Up's Idea Book & Catalog!  There are fabulous color combinations to choose from and wonderful layouts for cards and scrapbook pages!!

  The scrapbook layout above, which was one of my scrapbook club layouts for March, started with the Garden Whimsy (#113502, $25.95) sample found on page 89 of the current Spring Summer IBC.  I took all my colors and inspiration from this complete CASE of the card in the catalog, which I turned into a focal embellishment on my page.  Who knew that sahara sand, so saffron, bravo burgundy and pink pirouette could be so pretty together?

  I also knew I wanted to feature the sticky cuts letters (#111109, $8.95) and fun new Fine Supernova glitter assortment (#114287, $13.95) we have in the catalog so came up with the "happy" layout.  You can see it in greater detail here.  The Big Shot made cutting out the pink pirouette mat from the Lots of Tags sizzlit set (#114508, $21.95) a breeze for the wide oval punch (#112082, $15.95). The stamp sets for this layout include Define Your Life (#114950, $47.95) for the definition of happy, Jumbo Outline Alphabet (#114998, $42.95) for the spelling of "appy" and of course Garden Whimsy for the focal panel mentioned above.  The only other punch used for this layout was the great scallop edge border punch (112091, $15.95).  Believe it or not, I cut out that butterfly to pop it up on the focal piece!  The two accessories used but not previously mentioned are the 1-1/4" grosgrain ribbon in pink pirouette (#111363, $7.95) and Circle Fire rhinestone brads (#109110, $10.95).

  I hope you turn to your Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog when looking for inspiration for your stamping projects.  If you don't have one and would like one, please contact me and I will be happy to get one to you!  Club members and hostesses receive these for FREE... ask me how you can get one for FREE, too.

  Happy Monday to you and thanks for stopping by!  Until next time, happy stamping!!

Debbie

 

 

New Scrapbooking Class for May

  All month long I'll be featuring different scrapbooking projects and classes to celebrate National Scrapbooking month.  Stampin' Up! products make it so easy to put beautiful coordinating scrapbook layouts together.

  Have you ever wanted to create an entire scrapbook in one sitting?  Let me show you how fun and easy it is with our Simply Scrappin' kits! Join me for this fun session of scrapbooking and leave with an entire album. All you need to do is choose a Simply Scrappin' kit from pages 162-165 in the catalog and you'll receive a coordinating kit which will include half a pack of whisper white cardstock, half a pack each of 4 matching colors of cardstock, one 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" On Board album (#112456, $13.95) as well as your own SNAIL adhesive (#104332, $6.95). You'll use this kit to create a 20-page album ready to drop photos in when you get home. I'll have my Big Shot dies available (including the large alphabet) as well punches and some alphabet stamp sets for you to use. These albums make the perfect gift for a new mother, graduate, bride or grandparent! Cost of the class is $70, or $65 if you are a member of one of my clubs, and will include your kit for creating your album plus dinner/lunch (depending on the day you take the class). If you were to purchase these items separately you would pay $64 after shipping & handling and tax.  What a deal - you're getting the class essentially for free!!  The deadline to register for this class is May 8th and the class size will be limited to the first 6 people who prepay and register.  I already have a couple of spots filled so don't delay, call me today to book your spot!

  Here are some sample pages from my own album that I created for my recent trip to Hawaii... I used the Petal Party Simply Scrappin' kit (#113059, $19.95) and was able to use the coordinating Best Wishes and More stamp set (#111602, $26.95) that we received at the Virginia Beach Regional event back in November.  Now all I have to do is print out my photos and complete my journaling.

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by, until next time... happy scrappin'!

Debbie

Lots of specials in May!!

  May is a very special month to me… it is my birthday month and also National Scrapbooking Month.  Scrapbooking is what led me to Stampin’ Up! 6 years ago… I was tired of having to buy so many alphabet stickers for my kids’ pages (I kept needing more a’s for Amanda and Brandon) and a friend of mine from California introduced me to stamping through a Stampin’ Up! workshop.  WOW!  I was hooked right from the very beginning!!  I loved Stampin’ Up’s quality and variety of punches and alphabet stamp sets and still am an avid collector of both to this day.  Did you happen to see my Top Dog scrapbook layout here a few days ago?  That should show you how much I love using alphabet stamps for my titles and punches on my pages!!  If you missed it, you can view it  HERE.

  To celebrate my birthday, I’m going to be offering Debbie’s Stampin’ Bucks from May 1^st – 23rd.  When you spend $50 in Stampin’ Up! merchandise with me, you’ll get $10 in Stampin’ Bucks redeemable the last week of May – my birthday week - AND a spot on my $50-50 board.  Spend $100 and you’ll receive $20 in Stampin’ Bucks and 2 spots… the more you spend, the more you get FREE!!!  This special will apply to all orders placed during the promotion period… including club orders!!  Contact me to place your order or place it online on my website HERE... either way you qualify with a $50 merchandise order!

 

  Stampin' Up! is also offering some great specials while we celebrate National Scrapbooking Month!  I posted earlier about the special-edition scrapbooking starter kit being offered for $75 all month long.  As a customer, you can take advantage of these specials:

 

1. Buy three packs of Designer Series paper (including our Specialty Designer Series paper) or 12" x 12" textured card stock, and get one FREE!

2. Buy a sneak peek stamp set from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog--Jumble Alphabet (set of 52; double-mounted)--at a 20 percent discount.

Item #	Description	Regular Price	Sale Price
115199	Jumble Alphabet stamp set	$43.95	$35.16