Be Kind with Shimmer!

One of my favorite things about being a demonstrator is that I get to meet cool people with cool ideas to share. The demonstrating/Stampin' Up! world is generous and collaborative. During my trip to Phoenix for the Leadership Conference I received a swap from Tammy T. Katch which my Neenah Stamp Group loved. Here is my version:

 

Stamps: Razzle Dazzle, Whimsical Words
Paper: Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
Ink: Lovley Lilac
Accessories: Silver Simmer Paint, Sponge Dauber, Scallop Edge Punch, Designer Label Punch

Can you tell that the Lilac Ink is shimmery? Here's a picture to prove it:

To do this card, I just inked up my stamp with ink and then lightly (key word=lightly) dabbed the image with the silver shimmer paint. Easy!

Today is the last day to order Whimsical Words from the Sale-a-bration Catalog! Just order $50 worth of stuff and ask for Whimsical Words free! WHOO HOOOO! Sales can be finalized on my website!

Forest Friends Reflected

Sale-a-bration is almost over--a little over 24 hours from now, on March 31st, the  best time of year in my Stampin' World ends! Be sure to place any last minute orders on my website-- lilyinkpad.stampinup.net and ship directly to your own home! (or work if you are hiding the spending. Me, I use my shawano house shipping when I want to keep an order a "secret")

Did you know that this cute little set is available for FREE? Yes, Forest Friends is one of the sets available for FREE (when you purchase a measly $50 of Stampin' Up! stuff and who can't do that?). 

Stamps: Forest Friends, On Your Birthday

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Window Sheet, Round Tab Punch

Isn't this cute? This is one of the cards we are making in my technique class this month.  I kept it simple, so we can focus on the Reflection Technique. If you want a hint, you just stamp on a window sheet and rub your image on the page, but I didn't tell you!

Happy Stamping!

Butterflies on Seersucker

I   must have been doing too much shopping lately for girls' clothing because I have fabric on the brain- cute frilly fabric. So when I planned this month's technique class projects, I knew I wanted to try a technique called Faux Seersucker:

Stamps: Fight of the Butterfly, Whimsy Jumbo Wheel
Paper:  Whisper White, Rich Razzlberry, Bashful Blue
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Eyelet Edge Punch, Paper Crimper


This couldn't be easier! Crimp your paper one way, then the other! The texture created is similiar to the seersucker fabric. So cute and fun!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to Mom!

Happy Birthday to Mom!

Happy Birthday to Mooooaaaamoom.

Happy Birthday to Mom!

My mom's birthday is approaching and as we have tried to do the past few years, we are celebrating by scrapping and stamping today! It's tough being a daughter of a crafter! What's cool is that I make a lot of cards but last year got accused of never giving them out. Which was true, but I decided that for sure, I'd give my mom a card this year. Guess what? I think I did pretty well with this one:

Stamps: Vintage Labels

Paper: Lovely Lilac, Sweet Pea Paper Pack, So Saffron

Ink: So Saffron, Lovely Lilac

Accessories: Big Flower Punch, Bone Folder, Crystal Effects, Big Shot, Pennant Die, Matchbox Die, Leaf Sizzlet Wide Oval Punch, Clear Blocks, Crop-a-dile, Jumbo Pewter Brads, 5/8 Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon

Ok. How did I make the flower? Well, I paid attention to my demo friends and saw an amazing card on a demonstrator only resource. I visited the creator's blog and found a great tutorial. Check out Julie Williams' Blog Simi Stamper for a great picture tutorial. Thanks Julie!

As one of  my stampers said, it's not hard, just putsy. Exactly. That's how a lot of stamping projects above and beyond are!

Happy Stamping!

My Stampin' Story

As part of an ongoing training project with Stampin' Up!, I have been encouraged to share my story. Here it goes!

Crafting has always been a part of my life. My mom is a sewer and crafter and I grew up in a house where creativity could turn trash into hours of fun. I also had a strong relationship with my grandmothers, who taught me the value of all things homemade from apple pies to colorful afghans. At one point, I decided to send a weekly card to my grandmother Leone who had chosen to move into a nursing home for health reasons.  I complained to a colleague at work at how much boughten cards cost and she invited me to this event she called a Stamp Camp where we would make 10 cards for $15. She had just become this thing called a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator . I decided to show up and was hooked—what cool colors, what cool ideas, and how easy! My first order was over $100, and I got free stuff from Sale-a-bration. Even cooler! The next month, I went again, dragging my sister along. We learned how to use pastels and  blender pens and placed more big orders. My friend said she was starting this other thing called a hostess club where each member buys a small amount each month and once a cycle, hostesses earn benefits—more free stuff! I said “Yes” and got another friend to join us. Each month we met at the hostesses house and laughed, gossiped, stamped, and made “small “ purchases. After about a year and a half, my friend needed to stop being  a demonstrator to spend time with her family of three kids and husband. I didn’t want the fun to end, so I signed up to be a demonstrator in August of 2007. I have loved every minute of it. I have an outlet for my creativity,  my love of teaching and my value of things homemade.

I've been able to pay for my hobby. I've met amazing people. I've shown folks who claim they aren't creative or crafty that she can create beautiful projects with ease. I've traveled to Salt Lake City twice, Pheonix once, and all over Wisconsin and Minnesota doing workshops and events. I've also been able to build strong relationships with people including my growing downline.

If my story inspires you, think about becoming a demonstrator. If you want to know more, let me know. Right now, there is a Sale-a-bration special on the Demonstrator Starter kit- you get 15% off and a free any-size stamp set from the Idea Book and Catalog. There is also a digital starter kit option. 

Stampin' Up! is truely an amazing company to be affilated with and I am thrilled to be able to share my story with you.

Happy stampin!

Happy Birthday with Style

When I am not stamping, I am a middle school math teacher. The other day, I was trying to explain why common denominators were cool and I made a reference to being in style and matching friends. One of my students stood up and said, "Ms. Mattson, have you seen what we wear? We don't match!" Funny enough, he didn't. His shirt was a tempting turquoise with some dynamic layered deisgn of swirls and sculls and his pants were plaid pj pants in a totally different -almost apricot and tans. I thought, "You're right. You all dress weird." Then I remembered my own planet pants I wore in middle school. Today's "style" is all about mixing and matching, texture and designs. I still hold onto my matchy-matchyness, but I am able to mix and match with Stampin' Up!'s coordinating products:

Stamps: Happy Moments

Paper: Welcome Neighbor Designer Series Paper Pack, Taken with Teal, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Taken with Teal and Pumpkin Pie Marker, Pumpkin Pie Striped Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie Corduroy Brad, Paper piercing tool and matte pack, and paper snips.

Check out the presents--- I used a technique called paper piecing. I stamped my image on DSP and then cut out the present so it looks really wrapped. 

I'll have to show my students my card to see if it has style!

Happy Stamping!

A ticket a tasket, a bitty itty basket

Easter is all about baskets and baskets (usually a special kind) are a big deal in my house so I loved this little basket idea I scooped from You Tube and made my own:

Stamps: Happy Moments
Paper: Welcome Neighbors Designer Series Pack, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Apricot Appeal Marker, Pretty In Pink Marker, Almost Amethyst Marker, Old Olive Marker, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Jumbo Brads
These little baskets are being made right now by my Sale-a-bration Stamp Camp Stampers. How easy and cute. All they need to do is adhere and bend some of the paper strips around. How easy!


If you want to check out my original inspiration--here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkMmSy4TmR8


Happy Creating!

Welcome and Hello

Sometimes you just need a simple card with a simple sentiment. Here is one my stampers will be making at my Sale-a-bration Stamp Camp this weekend.

Stamps: Good Neighbors, Hello Again
Paper: Crushed Curry, Welcome Neighbors Designer Series Paper Pack, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Ink: Baja Breeze, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear Blocks

The clear blocks made stamping the image so much easier. I could see where I was going! I think this card would warm up anyone's heart!

Happy Stamping!

A Very Cool Present!

In the mail, I received a very special present from my friend Kim AKA s1itcher46 at Stampin' Addicts. 

Stamps: Oval All, Taking Care of Business
Paper: Lovely Lilac, Whisper White
Ink: Pixie Pink
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Oval Scallop Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Crop-a-dile, Jumbo Eyelets, Vanilla 1/4 Grosgrain Ribbon, Fabric, Thread, Vinyl, Sewing Machine.

One of the greatest aspects of being a demonstrator and stamper is to have a great friends who are generous wit their talent!

Thank-you Kim!

Which came first--the chick or the egg?

Sorry for the bad joke. I couldn't resist. Can you tell I feel a bit better? Blogging got interrupted by designing new projects and a bit of a spring flu-like illness. I've been going to my day job and sleeping as soon I get home. But, I feel better tonight- so time to post some of the cuteness I've been working on.

Stamps: Vintage Labels
Paper: Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Pack, So Saffron, Only Orange, Basic Black. Kraft
Ink: Basic Black, So Saffron

Accessories: 12" Paper Cutter with Scoring Blade, Bashful Blue Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Slot Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Crop-a-dile, Scallop Punch, Sponge Daubers, Scallop Edge Punch, Crimper

Cute, huh? This little guy could brighten any spring day or Easter Basket. However, it gets better:


Yummy!

If you want to learn how to make one of these join me for the Sale-a-bration Stamp Camp at my house in Neenah this Saturday. Email me to attend!

Happy Stamping!

Happy Moments Birthday!

Happy Moments is a cute stamp set that I keep seeing great examples with, so I had to use it for my stamp club in February. When I sat down to design a card, I could only think one thing: Wax Resist, which totally takes me back to my youth decorating Easter Eggs. What do I mean? Well, check out the card, first:

Stamps: Happy Moments

Paper: Glossy White, Lavender Lace, Certainly Celery

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black

Accessories: 5/8" Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon, Lacey Edge Punch, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aquapainter, White Watercolor Wonder Crayon, Brayer

Fun, huh?

Here's how I created the background:

1. First, I stamped the rose randomly in Basic Black on Glossy Cardstock.

2. Using my White Watercolor Wonder Crayon, I colored in the flowers and leaves. (just like on the old Easter Eggs). It's ok if the white parts get a little gray or black:

4. I added the turquoise by brayering over the entire strip with a brayer full of turquoise ink.

5. To finish, wipe the wax off with a kleenex revealing the white:

Happy Stamping!

Treat Yourself to a Colorful Spring Birthday Card

In February members of my stamp club in Neenah attempted a card using the Something Sweet Stamp Set. It didn't go well because I bought the wood mounted version instead of the clear. Lining up the two-step stamping was difficult. When I made it, I had very little problems as I had mounted the stamps to fit how my brain works--a little off. This card became a joke amongst us and I had to redeem myself--HOW?

THE STAMP-A-MA-JIG. I love this tool, but hated it when I first started using it. In fact, I often forget to use it, but when I do, wowzer, do I love the result:

Stamps: Sweet Somethings

Paper: Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, Yo-yo Yellow, Whisper White, Lavender Lace

Ink: Lavender Lace

Accessories: Scallop Oval Punch, Oval Punch, 1 3/4 Circle Punch, 3/4 Circle Punch, Sweet Treat Cups, 12" Paper Trimmer with Scoring Blade, 5/8" Striped Pretty In Pink Grosgrain Ribbon

What's even cooler is the inside-- it's a trifold!

I have to credit where credit is due. My friend Tara Angus created this card, which I received in a swap at Leadership. One of the best aspects of being a demonstrator is the sharing that goes one between demonstrators!

Why are my colors so different than hers? Well, I had to match my paper to my candy:

It was a little OCD to lay the candied sunflower seeds on top of my paper and take a picture, but I wanted to make sure my colors worked with my candy. Coordination is key!

Happy Stamping!

Luck of the Irish

Happy March! I hope March comes in like a lamb and out like a lamb! A couple of months ago, I was discussing future projects with my Neenah Stamp club, so we were looking through my swaps. Cami saw a cute box and wanted to make it. Well, this month we did!

Stamps: Teeny Weeny Wishes

Paper: Basic Black, Gable Green, Whisper White, Blush Blossom, Really Rust, More Mustard, Glorious Green

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, Scallop Circle Punch, 1/2 inch Circle Punch, Tag Punch, Word Window Punch, Boho Blossom Punch, Modern Label Punch, Basic Black Brad, Arrow Punch, 1/4 Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Sticky Strip, 12" Paper Trimmer with Scoring Blade

Inside, some gold coins, candy or a gift card would be a perfect gift!

The box inside is the hardest part, so I made this template for my club members:

To cut the top notes, I first layered the Glorious Green strip on my top note with SNAIL adhesive and then ran it through the Big Shot. Both layers cut at the same time and it added a great pop of color to my project!

The leprechaun has been on my to do list since I saw him a year or two ago on an online website. Where? I don't know, but I searched and found a few examples and then made him my own.

Happy Stamping!