Wednesday, April 8, 2009

And the Winner is...

Debra!!!

Debra has won the new Summer Love Rub-ons from the Occasions Mini!


Here is what Debra had to say:

"I have several favorites from the new mini, but my most favorite would have to be the scallop punch and the stamp set that coordinates perfectly. Thanks, Debra"

Debra, you have 24 hours to email me your mailing address! I do have a back-up winner if I don't hear back.

Congrats!!

Carrie

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Pastels and Glitter... two of my favorite things!

One of the reasons I love Easter (and Spring in general) is for all the beautiful soft pastels that seem to pop-up everywhere. Today's card is no exception! The layout is from Mojo Monday (sketch 81-below).

The stamp set featured here is An Egg-cellent Easter, from the Occasions Mini-Catalog (which went "live" only 1 week ago!). Confession: I don't actually own this set. My group of Pal's did an image swap, and this set was included. What a great idea! I do wish that I had actually purchased this set, however. The images are darling.

The card base starts with Certainly Celery. Strips of Tea Party Designer Series paper and Pink Pirouette were added next. Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon was tied around the Tea Party paper before adhering. TIP: the great dot texture was added to the Pirouette using my Big Shot and an SU Background I Texturz Plate. To create a deeper impression, I used a thin piece of the cardboard (it comes with DSP) on top of my "sandwich".

The bunny and eggs were colored in using a blender pen and ink pads in Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, and Almost Amethyst. The bunny's vest and eggs were glittered using a 2-way glue pen. TIP: The larger egg was cut out of whisper white card stock to isolate the egg from the string (see image below). By glittering the egg, I was able to disquise the parts of the string that appear inside egg.

The sentiment was punched out with a 1 3/8" circle punch, and layered over a scalloped circle of Certainly Celery (using the scallop punch). The egg and sentiment were popped up using Stampin' Dimensionals. Three glitter dots were placed in the lower right of the card (Dress It Up buttons, non-SU).

Cute, right?

Don't forget! The winner of my blog candy (for reaching 5000 visitors) will be announced tomorrow morning! Check back to see if you are a winner!

Are you loving the new Occasions Mini? Any $40 purchase from the mini will earn you a free "Under $10" product (page 208 Idea Book and Catalog)! Click here to make your purchase!

Happy Stampin'!

Carrie

Shop Stampin' Up! Online 24-7! Click Here!

Recipe:
Stamp Set: An Egg-cellent Easter (113196)
Paper: Certainly Celery (105125), Whisper White (100730), Pink Pirouette (111351), Almost Amethyst (102158), Tea Party Designer Series Paper (113992)
Ink: Basic Black (101179), Pink Pirouette (111838), Certainly Celery (105217), Sahara Sand (105208), Almost Amethyst (101723)
Accessories: Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon (109070), Big Shot (113439), Texturz Impressions Pad (114614), Texturz Silicone Rubber (114615), Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plates (114512), 1 3/8" Circle Punch (104401), Scallop Circle Punch (109043), 2-Way Glue Pen (100425), Fine Cosmo Glitter (108796)

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Blog Candy- don't forget to leave your comment!

Tuesday is the deadline for comments on my blog candy post. Make sure you tell me what your favorite Occasions Mini product is to qualify! The winner will be announced here on my blog on Wednesday!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Woo Hoo!!! It's Blog Candy Time!

That's right! My visitor counter has passed 5000, which means it is time to give out some blog candy! Simply leave a comment on this post that includes your favorite new product from the Occasions Mini (on my left sidebar, or by clicking here). The deadline is Tuesday, April 7th, at which time I will randomly select a winner. The winner will be announced on my blog on Wednesday.

What will you win, you ask? The fabulous new Summer Love Rub-on's that come in Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Cameo Coral, and Basic Gray:
Now onto today's card. The layout was inspired by Taylored Expressions (TECC61-Below), with a twist to use any shade of blue with a neutral. The card was beginning to get a bit busy, so I decided to omit the flower/embellishment.

Believe it or not, no Designer Series paper was cut in the making of this card :). The background was created by using the the damask stamp from Friends 24-7 and Bordering Blue card stock. It was inked in Versamark and embossed with clear powder. This was repeated over the entire piece of cardstock using a Stamp-a-majig. TIP: I always find it much more pleasing to the eye to carry patterns off of the card stock, rather than keeping with in the borders.

The second pattern was created using my Big Shot and the Swirls and Scribbles Sizzlet. I ran Bordering Blue through several times using the die. Next I used my mini Xyron to transform all the pieces into stickers and randomly placed them on 1" pieces of Very Vanilla card stock. The edges were trimmed off, and the pieces were matted onto Chocolate Chip.

The focal point consists of the flower grouping from Friends 24-7. It was inked in Bordering Blue and stamped onto Very Vanilla. To make the image fit more within the lines of the layout, I trimmed off the bottom. Three small filigree brads were added as the flowers.

Even though this card took a bit of time, I love that it doesn't use a ton of supplies- just one stamp set!

Just announced: A new promotion! For every $40 purchase from the new Occasions Mini, you can choose an item under $10 (last page of the catalog) for FREE! Hostesses who have a workshop of $150 or more can also choose and item under $10 for FREE! Email me with your order!



Happy Stampin'!
Carrie

Order Stampin' Up! Online 24/7! Click Here!

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Friends 24-7 (113218)
Paper: Very Vanilla (101650), Bordering Blue (102630), Chocolate Chip (102128)
Ink: Bordering Blue (102265), Versamark (102283)
Accessories: Big Shot (113439), Swirls and Scribbles Sizzlet (113441), Filigree Brads (112577), Clear Embossing powder (109130), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)


Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Occassions Mini-Catalog is Now Available!



It's here! The Occasions Mini is now available for download by clicking here, or on my left sidebar. I am loving all the new products! What are your favorites?

On Monday night, I had a workshop for my cousin (thanks Michelle!), and I thought it would be fun to post the projects that we made. I demonstrated 3 cards (beginner level), with the last one also being a make-and-take. Recipes and photos are below- just click to enlarge the photo.

I would love to be a demonstrator for your workshop! If you live in the Spokane area and would like to earn some free product contact me. I can tailor each workshop to meet the specific needs of the group (beginners, advanced, scrapbooks, home decor, etc.). If you don't live in my area, don't panic! You can still earn free product by hosting a catalog party, and don't forget to check my blog often for ideas and inspiration!

My visitor counter is nearing 5000! Look for some fun blog candy when it reaches this milestone!

Happy Stampin'!
Carrie

Shop Stampin' Up! Online 24/7! Click Here!


Recipe for Bunny Card:
Stamp Set: Animal Crackers
(113395)
Paper: Bashful Blue (105120), Whisper White (100730), Barely Banana (102701), Pretty in Pink (100459), Delicate Dots (SAB Freebie)

Ink: Sahara Sand (105208), Pretty in Pink (101301), Basic Black (101179)
Accessories: Baja Breeze Corduroy Buttons (114344), Scallop Edge Punch (112091), Pretty in Pink 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (113882), Blender Pens
(102845)


Recipe for Owl Card:
Stamp Set: None

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Tangerine Tango (111349), Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper (113966)

Ink: None

Accessories: On Board So Tweet (113893), Bright Delights Rub-ons (113887), Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon (111879), Sanding Block (103301)





Recipe for Bird Card:
Stamp Set: Friends 24-7 (113218)
Paper: Baja Breeze (111352), Whisper White (100730), Pink Pirouette
(111351)
Ink: Basic Black (101179), Baja Breeze (111833), Chocolate Chip (100908), Kiwi Kiss (111835), Versamark
(102283)
Accessories: 1/4 Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon (109070), Ticket Corner Punch (107214), Stampin' Dimensionals
(104430)

It's Mojo Monday!

Well actually it is Tuesday :). My family and I have been sick, and so I decided to take an extra long nap today. Needless to say, I feel completely better, but now I cannot sleep! Hence the reason for such a late post, and for taking a break from blogging.

On to today's card. I simply followed the layout from this week's Mojo Monday Sketch (Week 80-see below). The card starts with a base of Baja Breeze. The partially hidden square is a piece of Bella Birds Designer Series Paper, in Pink Pirouette. This was layered onto a matte of Whisper White. So Saffron Ribbon (an SAB freebie) was tied around the layers. TIP: The main color scheme does not include So Saffron, however the ribbon was such a close match to Barely Banana that I think it just "goes". :-)

A strip of Pink Pirouette went through my Big Shot with a Stampin' Up! Background Texturz Plate (the dots and flowers from Backgrounds I). The sweet scallop at the top was created out of Whisper White using the scallop border punch.

This adorable little chick is from An Egg-cellent Easter. This set is in the soon-to-be released Occasions Mini-catalog (Apr. 1st). (In order to give customers time to get their Easter projects done, Stampin' Up! is allowing pre-orders of the Easter sets in the mini-catalog now!) TIP: One of the awesome things about being a demo was that I was able to see and purchase (at a discount!!) the products in the mini-catalog. Ask me how you can get started!

The chick was inked in Basic Black onto Whisper White. It was then watercolored using blender pens and ink pads in Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, and Barely Banana. A corner rounder punch gives the edges a softer look, and paper piercing (using the crafter's tool kit) was added as a frame. The chick was then layered onto Pink Pirouette and Barely Banana.

Two silver 5/8" Jumbo Brads were added in the upper left corner. The Baja Breeze flower was created with the Cherry Blossom Embosslit folder and my Big Shot. Can you tell that I love this machine? :)

Last chance! Tomorrow is the last day for Sale-a-bration. Order now to earn your free products!

Happy Stamping!
Carrie

Shop Stampin' Up! online 24/7! Click Here!
Recipe: Stamp Set: An Egg-cellent Easter (113196) Paper: Bella Birds Designer Series Paper (113981), Baja Breeze (111352), Pink Pirouette (111351), Barely Banana (102701), Whisper White (100730) Ink: Basic Black (101179), Baja Breeze (111833), Barely Banana (101170), Pink Pirouette (111838) Accessories: Big Shot (113439), Cherry Blossom Embosslit (114516), Texturz Plate Stampin' Up Backgrounds I (114512), Crafter's Tool Kit (104310), Blender Pens (102045) So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Border Punch (112091), Corner Rounder Punch (109047), Stampin Dimensionals (104430)

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Fifth Avenue Friend

My sister-in-law and her husband are in town staying with us this weekend, and I couldn't think of a better gift for her than a monogram stationary set! I have been working my way around to making one for all the women in our family (see what I made for my sister here). My SIL, Janiece, has such a great sense of style and fashion. When I bought the set Fifth Avenue Floral, I actually thought of her.

The set starts out with an Accents and Elements Tin, which I covered with a card front, and wrapped with Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon.

The base of the card is Whisper White, trimmed to fit inside the tin, and all corners clipped with a corner rounder punch. Next a layer of the Baja Breeze print from Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper was clipped with the rounder punch and adhered. Next a piece of Kiwi Kiss DSP was layered onto Basic Gray. A swirl piece from the retired Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware was looped through some Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, and adhered over the strip.

A wider strip of Whisper White Card stock was randomly stamped with images from Fifth Avenue Floral using Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, and Basic Gray ink. This, too, was layered over Basic Gray.

The monogram was created by first stamping the frame (from Frames with a Florish) in Basic Gray ink onto Whisper White. Next, using a Stamp-a-majig, the "J" (from Lovely Letters) was stamped in the center using Kiwi Kiss. This was cut out and adhered using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Pewter brads were added to create a little extra interest. TIP: Perfect placement of the brads was easy using the crafter's tool kit. I used the paper piercing template and pad, and a paper piercing tool from the kit.

I also made coordinating envelopes by stamping a couple of the images from Fifth Avenue floral in the right corner of the front side (this was also done on the inside of the cards). I also lined the inside of the all the envelopes with more Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper. TIP: An easy way to line envelopes is to measure the widest part of your card, then cut a strip of Designer Series Paper that same width (the envelope should be slightly larger than your card so this measurement should work perfectly). What I do next is trim off the adhesive part of an extra envelope (I kept this one from a previous project to be used again and again). Now slide the Designer Series paper into the envelope, turn the whole envelope over and trace the outline of flap onto the back of the DSP. Take the paper out and trim just below the line you traced. Now you can put the paper in a useable envelope, fold just under the fold on the envelope, and adhere just to the flap. Ta dah!! An easy and pretty way to finish off a project.

Happy Stamping!
Carrie

Shop Stampin' Up! Online 24/7! Click Here!

Recipe: Stamp Set: Fifth Avenue Floral (113734), Frames with a Flourish (113496), Lovely Letters (115030) Paper: Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper (113978), Whisper White (100730), Basic Gray (108692) Ink: Baja Breeze (111833), Kiwi Kiss (111835), Basic Gray (109120) Accessories: Pewter HodgePodge (retired), Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon (111879), Vintage Brads (109109), Crafter's Tool Kit (104301), Corner Rounder Punch (109047), Stamp-a-majig (101049)