Monday is the last day...

Monday, June 30th is the last day for the $50 starter kit, and I'm always looking for more ladies to join my team.  There are 26 of us currently and I'm so excited that 2 ladies on my team are coming to convention free with us next month.  They've never been to convention, and I know they are going to love it!  I've been enjoying being a part of the fun for 7 1/2 years and looking forward to earning my 2nd incentive trip which is a trip to Hawaii!

2 great Starter Kit Options:
Traditional Starter Kit priced at $99 ($125 in product choices)
Reduced priced Starter Kit at $50 ($55 in product choices...ends on Monday June 30th)

Starter Kits are totally custom... choose from current products or pre-order products.

Now is a Great Time to Join …

• As a demonstrator, you get a 20% discount on all products including pre-orders of new products like Blendabilities and Project Life.
• Pre-order from the new holiday catalog (starts August 1st)!
• Get 30% off your first order of $150 or more within 45 days.
• Your starter kit includes a FREE paper-pumpkin kit.
• Your starter kit also includes FREE business supplies including an 8 count box of the new catalogs to share with friends.
• New Demonstrators as of June 30th receive FREE convention registration!  Convention is July 17th-19th ($295 value - flight and hotel not included).
• Get two FREE months of Demonstrator Business Web Services (DBWS) when you sign up for DBWS within your first 21 days.  This is your SU! website and online store ($12.95/month).
• Minimum to stay active is just $300 in product orders per quarter.  Easy to do with just one get together with friends every 3 months or your own orders with maybe a friend or 2 that orders from you and a few Paper Pumpkin subscriptions.

Join online through my website!

 Happy Stampin'

It's Time for Ice Cream!

I saw some punch art ice cream cone cards and just had to make my own version.  Here's my version that I made for my Stamp Nights this month.

Stamps:

• Peace, Love & Cupcakes

Colors:

• Lost Lagoon
• Crumb Cake
• Blackberry Bliss
• Hello Honey
• Blushing Bride
• Soft Suede
• Whisper White

 Tools / Extras:

• Large Polka Dot embossing folder
• Fancy Fan embossing folder
• Cupcake Builder punch
• Petite Pennants Builder punch
• Moonlight designer series paper stack
• Dimensionals and 2-Way Glue Pen

I didn't realize I'd like the Large Polka Dots folder so much...it's a real wow in person.

Tips:
Curl the banner with your bone folder before adhering to the back of the matted cone piece.
The Cone -- Layer two triangles together or use the scallop triangle as the "waffle cone wrap around" piece.  Glue together slightly overlapped, turn over, and trim the extra off.  Then, curve it some with your fingers before putting a dimensional on the back.
Put dimensionals right on the white background and stack your scoops on it.  That way you don't have to glue the scoops together prior to sticking them down.
Put dots of glue on the scoops where you want the berries and stick them onto the glue instead of trying to put glue on the tiny berries (no glue on your fingers that way!).

Happy Stampin'

Perfect Peacock - So Worth the Wait...

When I first started stamping as a customer with Stampin' Up! there was a retired stamp set with a beautiful peacock in it that I had just missed out on.  I guess that was about 10 years ago.  Well, the Perfect Peacock stamp was so worth the wait!

Stamps:

• Perfect Peacock
• A Dozen Thoughts

 Colors:

• Pistachio Pudding
• Bermuda Bay
• Basic Black
• Whisper White

Tools / Extras:

• Candy Dots - Brights
• StazOn ink - Jet Black (for stamping on Whisper White)
• Scallop Oval punch
• Large Oval punch
• Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack - flower
• Stampin' Sponges, Dimensionals, Glue Dot

I had seen some cards using the masking technique and line art flower images, and thought the Perfect Peacock would be...well...perfect with this technique!

Tips - Don't put your color in the center of the card stock.  With art, off center is usually better.  Also, just sponge from top down and from down up to let the colors mix where they meet.

Happy Stampin'

Open House Works of Art

My Open House on June 1st was another amazing turn out!  I enjoyed chatting with everyone and the new format of the matching discount was a big hit...who doesn't love free stuff!

I had 2 make'n'takes using new stamps and colors that I kept simple since I wanted everyone that came to get a chance to make them.

Here's the first one:

Stamp Set:  Work Of Art
Colors:        Crumb Cake, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White
Punches:     Pansy, Petite Petals, Flower from Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Project Life Corner
Twine:        Thick Baker's Twine, Linen Thread
Extras:        Pearl Basic Jewels, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

The paint swoosh stamp in this set is awesome...just ink and stamp, then stamp again for the lighter shade without re-inking (stamped off once).  I just used the 2 blues full strength and stamped off to get the 4 shades.  The design was based on a card showed on the cruise.  I just added the twine and flowers to the design since it needed some extra stuff :)

Here's the second one:

Stamp Set:  Bravo (Photopolymer set)
Colors:        Sahara Sand, Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Whisper White
Punches:     Star from Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack
Ribbon:       3/8" Stitched Satin
Extras:        Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Moonlight Designer paper stack, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Since the stamp set is photopolymer, I was able to curve the "So happy for you!" greeting on the inside.  I just mounted it on the block that way.

And, just so you know, I'm in love with the new Blackberry Bliss which is one of the 2014-2016 In Colors...just sayin'.

Happy Stampin'

Baroque in Razzleberry - Sea Salt Watercolor Technique

This was a little messy, but fun to see how it turned out each time.  You spritz your watercolor paper all over, add a few drops of refill ink, spread with an aqua painter, and sprinkle on some sea salt.  See full instructions below.

Stamp Sets:

• Simply Celebrate (retired - Spring catalog)

 Colors:

• Strawberry Slush
• Early Espresso
• Rich Razzleberry

Extras / Tools:

• Beautifully Baroque embossing folder
• 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim (retired)
• Core'dinations card stock (retired)
• Elegant Butterfly punch
• Aqua Painter
• Watercolor Paper
• re-inker
• Sea Salt

Here's the Technique Journal page and sample I did for my club members:

After our paper was dry and brushed off, we ran it through an embossing folder and sanded it a little to bring out the texture.  Here's a close up of the sample...I just can't get enough of Bermuda Bay!

We ran the sample through the Modern Mosaic embossing folder.

Happy Stampin'

Ahoy There! Happy Father's Day!

Last month at my Stamp Clubs, I did this card that could be used for Father's Day.

I used the High Tide Designer Series paper and the "Hello, Sailor" stamp set.  And, since I wanted to pair it with Cherry Cobbler, I picked the papers that didn't have Calypso Coral in them.

The background is Hardwood.  This one has a tighter woodgrain pattern than the Woodgrain background that retired.  I am glad they kept this one!

Happy Stampin'

Beautifully Baroque En Francais

I paired up the En Francais background stamp with the Beautifully Baroque (both retired now) to create a classy background on the front of this card.  I sponged everything too with Smoky Slate to give it a vintage feel (my favorite!).

Stamp Sets:

• En Francais
• Beautifully Baroque
• Loving Thoughts

Colors:

• Smoky Slate
• Coastal Cabana
• Crushed Curry
• Very Vanilla

Extras / Tools

• Scalloped Tag Topper Punch
• Project Life Corner Punch
• Full Heart Punch
• Modern Label Punch
• Small Heart Punch
• Rhinestone Basic Jewels
• Taffeta Ribbon
• Silver Glimmer Paper
• Stampin' Sponges
• Dimensionals

Tips - To save paper, punch your heart out of the mat before you tape down your stamped and sponged piece of Very Vanilla card stock.  Also, cut your tag just slightly under 2" wide to make it easier to slide into the Tag Topper punch.

This was one of the May Stamp Night projects.

P.S.  The new catalog is live now!!!  So many great new punches, dies, In Colors, stamp sets, embossing folders...check it out by clicking on my Shop Online button at the top of my blog.

Happy Stampin'