
Monday, June 30, 2008
Stamp Set of the Month Club---Unfrogettable!

A Bit of Scrapbooking



Saturday, June 28, 2008
Fresh Cuts-a Fresh and Easy Idea
These cards took less than an hour with interruptions as I welcomed the stampers and scrapbookers at the Pack 'n Play last Friday night in Green Bay. Added BONUS: the set is die cut! No more trimming stamps! I am way to impatient to trim stamps.
To create these cards, I used basic techniques to create a cool look:
TOP LEFT: I stamped Basic Brown with the brown stamp. I then used an aquapainter and a bashful blue watercolor crayon to create a wash over the top.
TOP RIGHT: I stamped the image in Almost Amythest and placed a 3 3/4 by 3 3/4 piece of Almost Amethyst on the inside to show through. I punched a 3/4 inch circle in Almost Amethyst to add dimension to the center.
BOTTOM LEFT: I stamped the image in Basic Brown, created a 3 3/4 by 3 3/4 piece of Summer Sun on the inside similar to the other card. I used my 5 petal flower punch in Old Olive to create a flower layer, and a blossom from the Boho Blossom punch for the center.
BOTTOM RIGHT: I used some Almost Amethyst prints paper for the inside matte. I used the small flower stamp to create the center. I also used the berry stamp to create the background of Almost Amethyst on white.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
They're Here! (and on my wall)
You, see, my stamp room is upstairs in a Cape Cod style house. Thus, the walls are slanted from about 5 feet up to the ceiling. All of my stamping gear has to to be hung below this. So, there's a very visual area (all my junk) and then a blank space. It's always bugged me, but I couldn't figure out how and what to hang there. NOW I KNOW!
Disclaimer: I try to keep my room clean and neat, but often find that creativity and cleanliness as well as too many things and not enough space, keep my room a bit messy. Be aware and understanding as you view these pictures.
Here is a photo essay of my journey over the last hour:
I was working on my swaps for convention..Party Pails. I have 48 umbrellas, 48 cards, and now, 6 luminaries in process on my table:

The Box opened:

Yes. That's them! In the tubes! Ahhh.. Which one is for the stamp room? Oh my gosh!

Here it is!
I found it so easy apply! After searching for the recommended painter's tape in the garage, I put it up, measured for level, and decided the right place. Next, you rub the vinyl onto the front paper, repost and rub it onto the wall. It was fun and easy.



The finale! It's getting dark outside, so the natural light isn't there to get a great picture. I will try again tomorrow. I also have another image to put next to it, but am thinking about how...umm...the possibilities.
Click here to see the Decor Elements Brochure. These can be ordered after July 1.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Inspiration Sunday
Sundays have always been a time of rejuvenation for me...I love a quiet Sunday morning. After so many things went on last week, (For those of you who don't know the intimate dealings of my life...every single plan I made last week went from Plan A to ZZ instantly. My flexibility and positivity were stretched to the max). Sunday was a perfect morning. I awoke before the Guys (hard to do), made coffee, and escaped to my stamp room. I worked on cards and ideas for my upcoming Retiring Sets Stamp Camp. I had wanted to use So Much, the stamp set, but it didn't really work with design I had in mind. I still had this image in my head...where I got it, I don't remember. I look at a lot of websites, blogs, and galleries randomly to get ideas and I do forget where they come from. I wanted to put the flower in the middle of the circles. But, I was out of cards for this event! I needed to think up a 3D item. Now what?
Off to the cupboard! I have way too many items in this room to alter. I purchase things on clearance and stash them. The stash gets too big and I forget I own them. I run out of time to use them.....we all know the excuses! Anyway, I found these candle tins I bought somewhere at some time that were just waiting to be altered. I only had 3, so I can't use them as a project for my event. Instead, I will use these as prizes and treats for those attending!
Enough explanation....here they are!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wild About a Birthday
The nitty gritty:
Stamps: Wild About You, Big Deal Numbers, Hugs and Wishes (inside)
Paper: Wild Wasabi Textured Cardstock (cut into 6" squares and folded), Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Jersey Shore Designer Series Paper
Ink: Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Dimensionals, Tombow Multi Adhesive, Paper Snips
A few weeks ago a friend at a vendor fair asked me if I would create invitations for her son's 3rd birthday in July. She really loved an idea from the Spring-Summer Collection. Look carefully at the picture, the image she liked is in the back. I don't own the set used, but had Wild About You (and love it), so asked if she would be cool with animals. She thought it would be great.
I had to make a few other changes from the original as I needed to make 20 invites. One, the original used rub-ons. To mass produce that image, I would have needed to buy 4 sets of rub-ons. As that would be cost prohibitive, I looked in my stash of another of my favorite accessories-- Designer Series Paper. The Jersey Coast Paper had just what I needed! I cut strips of about 1/2 inch by 3 inches to create the accent I needed. Another change I made to the design was the "3". The original used On Board Chipboard and I would have to buy 20 packs to create that look! Instead, I used the Big Deal Numbers. I love my alphabet sets!
Trimming the alligators and 3's turned out to be tough, but my grandma helped me when I visited her! In the end, I love how they turned out and hope my friend likes them when I drop them off tomorrow!
Happy Stampin'
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
An Ode to Unfrogettable


Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Retirement List is Here!
If you've always wanted one of these stamp sets, now's the chance to buy it. Retired stamps will no longer be available after August 10th.
Here is a link to a pdf of the RETIREMENT LIST!
I've only been away for a half hour and need to go catch my plane, but I have to look! Any of my stamp sets that will be retiring will be available for purchase from me directly after August 10th. Be sure to check my blog for updates!
Just so you know, I am mourning the loss of Happy Camper and Touch of Nature the most! Wait...UNFROGETTABLE is leaving! Oh not! I love those frogs! Peaceful Wishes has been my favorite Christmas set! Oh what will I do? I need a few days to accept reality. When the new catalog comes out, I know I will be thrilled once again!
Happy Stamping!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Party Pail Class
Back to the reason for the post--- Party Pails! I've had this idea running around in my head for a while, since I bought a bunch of these pails at a closeout store. I knew I wanted to create a kit for a party...to show how easy and fun it is to create decorations using Stampin' Up! products. Then, the Spring-Summer Collection had this FABULOUS paper called Bali Breeze. I knew that was my focus. My goal was to create an easy way for you to set up for a small, summer party.
After sifting through ideas after ideas after ideas and thinking about cost and time involved, I created this kit. (DRUMROLL).

This kit contains: a decorated bucket with tag, 8 invitations (only one showing), 8 drink umbrellas with different floral patterns so that they can be used as drink charms, 8 napkin rings, a cute centerpiece holder, which house the umbrellas, and a luminarie.
I had so much fun! This uses less than 1/2 a package of Bali Breeze paper, so you can create more luminaries, thank-you notes, treats and more!
I also used the Flower Fusion felt flowers to tie it all together! I love how easy they coordinate with the Bali Breeze Paper. As I worked on which projects to include from all that ran around in my head, I felt like I was going back to my summer camp days...paper luminaries, paper umbrellas. It was fun.
If you want to learn how to create these items, sign up for one of my Party Pail classes on June 24. I have reserved two time slots for about 4 stampers each. Please indicate whether you will attend the 10-12 time slot or the 1-3 time slot. The cost is $15. Please register by email or phone by June 22, so I can cut your supplies.
One final note, for those of you from Splitcoaststampers who are in the "Over the Top" Stamp Camp Swap by shannacourt in my group, this is the project. I hope I'm not spoiling the beans too early!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Crab and Company...What fun!
I've loved Crab and Company since it first came out in the Spring 2007 mini catalog. Summer is here and I am inspired to create with it again. You can check it out in the Stampin' Up! online Spring Summer Collection 2008 by clicking here. There are so many great ways to use this set! I tried to limit myself, but got crazy when writing up my newsletter information, so...there are 6 cards, count them SIX! for this month, along with a 12 x 12 scrapbook page, a sucker holder, and a photo album. Whew! Enough words...here is a picture!

I know. There is one card hiding. It's a surprise for those that attend. Here are the deets (details):
I need to thank three great stampers on splitcoaststampers (my inspiration), as I CASED their ideas. CASING is copying, basically, but changing it up a bit. The first one is the kickstand card, The one with Crabby in the circle. I changed the DSP, but loved the color combo and changed the ribbon. You gotta use what you have! hsummers inspired that one! The second One is the apron card. My inspiration was from inkpad. She got her inspiration from a set of linens! I changed the color combo to Earth Elements and had to create my own template for the apron. Finally, my last CASE was the 6 square card. I loved it the moment I saw it. mrsparker used more layers and a different background. Mine is much, simpler and more to my style. I used glossy cardstock, which really makes it shine. Yes, I am proud of it and not afraid to say it!
One reason, and just one of millions, that I love Stampin' Up! is that everything coordinates, from the papers to the designer papers, to the ribbons, brads, buttons, inks, punches, glitter, embossing powders, everything! I recently bought the Jersey Shore Designer Series paper and haven't had time to use it. The package was out on my desk, so I decided it was time to make a trifecta for this month. First the aforementioned kickstand card, second the sucker holder, and third, the photo album. I love the idea of a sucker holder. It's a cute treat. They are fun and easy to make. Crabby needed a home! I started with a swap I got at Regionals for the basic design (my other sucker covers were way more complicated). I found colors and papers I loved and Voila' a great treat for a birthday package to match the card I had already made! Then, I needed another 3D item, that was simple...I was expecting these projects to take less than two hours to create. I dug around my full cupboards of STUFF, and found....a photo album to alter. This used to have some ugly flower pattern on the cover. I took out the inserts, measured my cardstock, and created a new cover. I thought this would be a good pre-teen gift. (Yes, I am still on middle school teacher mode).
One of my favorite cards for this month took a while to design. I had an idea, changed it over and over and over and over and....ended up with....
So fun. I love these In Colors- Blue Bayou and Soft Sky.
Here's how I did it. I cut a matte out of blue bayou, punched 1 1/4 circles where I wanted my images. I then created frames of soft sky to SNAIL around my frames. I added some smaller circles for accents. How fun and all from me!
If you want to recreate my creations, join my stamp set of the month club.
You can attend the class or choose the by mail option, but your class kit will include the supplies for the projects in the picture above as well as the stamp set PRECUT and READY TO GO! I will also provide an add-on list of accessories and inks we will use. The cost for this month's membership is $30.
The dates of the club meeting are: Sunday, June 29, 2008 from 1-3 pm or Monday, June 30, 2008 from 10-12 or 6-8 pm. You can choose the best time for you! I need registration (including payment) by June 18, so I can make sure the sets arrive! I can accept cash, credit card, checks, or paypal.
Off to go shopping for new shorts....! Have a great day!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Day One
Actually, I was looking for a better way to create newsletters and share all that I have going on in my head, creative-wise. Don't get worried that you will get more than that. As I work to always improve my Stampin' Up! business, I realized that I needed to find better ways to share!
I plan to create many, many posts this summer, design some monthly or weekly features, and explain stuff that I can't explain well in a traditoinal enewsletter or on my awesome Stampin' Up! Website.
Be sure to check out lilyinkpad.stampinup.net for great stuff from Stampin' Up!, my calendar, some other creative projects, promotions, and more.
Hang on...more will be coming....lots more!