Inspiration For Melanie

When Melanie called me and said she needed to make Baby Shower Invitations for a friend and could I help with ideas - I had absolutely no idea where to start. All I knew was that I needed to keep it simple because I know how Melanie loves brads and I knew somehow I needed to leave her some "brad mania" space, she also wanted bright colors....

.... Well, here are a few of the samples I gave to Melanie - I knew she'd be making a lot of cards and so I wanted to keep it simple and because she was making so many cards I liked the idea of using curvy verses, because you don't have to get the stamp perfectly strait every time. Once I hit on the idea of polka dots, I wanted to repeat it and so it is in the ribbon and embossed on the white card and again in the eyelet punch boarder and of course I made the ribbon a simple knot so that Melanie didn't have hours of frustrating ribbon tying.

I added a little dazzling diamonds glitter to the bunny tail and to the owl wings, which you can just about make out in the picture. What I loved about this card is that she could use one as the invitation and then keep the theme going by making coordinating Thank You cards with a different "Forest Friend". She stopped short of creating coordinating favors for the shower.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!
Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Way to go Melanie, you created beautiful invitations for the shower and you are one heck of a friend, she's one lucky lady to count you among her friends!

Have a great weekend everyone - stop by here for "Movie Monday" on what will be the last day of August!

Build A Bear Delight

Imagine untying this bow and finding a wonderful Build A Bear surprise inside.......

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

I was having so much fun with my Build A Bear stamp set that I stayed up until 1:30 in the morning to create this fun card. You only have to wait a few more days and you tooooooo could be having as much fun and creating as many smiles on little faces as I am. These cute stamps are featured in the new Holiday Mini which goes on line September 1st 2009.

Hot Off The Press - Growth Chart Success

Stampin' Up! have just shared this fabulous information with us on our Demonstrator web site and I just had to share them with you too:

The Décor Elements Growth Chart Everyone loves the Décor Elements Growth Chart special offer so much, it is now the top selling Décor Elements item for the month of August! Lucky for you, this offer is still available until September 30, during the Just for Kids campaign. Great School Products!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

A fellow demonstrator and second-grade teacher from Metairie, Louisiana, reports, "Everyone at my school decorates their classroom doors, so I decided to use the growth chart on mine. This was the first Décor Element I had put up . . . and I'm hooked!"

Here's how she plans to use the growth chart at her school:

"On the first day of school, I always take a picture of each student . . . so I will take it in front of the grow chart. At the end of the year, I'll take a second picture and send both of them home with our last writing project which will be a book about how they have grown to be better students during the year.

I also plan to use the growth chart during Math and let the students compare the length and height of various objects. I'm going to invite other classes to send their tallest and shortest students to be measured on our door, and we'll compare the differences to the tallest and shortest in our room.""Since my main focus is getting my students to be better readers, I also plan to use the chart to graph the number of books they have read at home . . . so I will be putting other numbers where the metric ones were and adding student names and small punched shapes to the door to show how many books they read."

"Last but not least, my new door decoration has already had lots of comments and questions about where I got it. It's a great conversation starter!"

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

It's An "IN COLOR" Thing.....

When I came to America over sixteen years ago, I thought a "Queen" was someone who lived in a castle and wore a crown - wellllllll, I couldn't believe it when I discovered that here in America you even have a "Queen" of your very own and here she is........

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

....So right now you're thinking "what the heck is this crazy English Stampin' Nut talking about now" - am I right?.........

...... Well, I've been telling you for several years now how you'll see the current Stampin' Up! "In Colors" featured in all kinds of places so you'll be able to coordinate your paper crafts with gift giving in the very latest colors and now you don't have to take my word for it, just look at the cover of the last Oprah magazine, almost every Stampin' Up! in color is being worn/featured by none other than your very own "Queen".....

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

You don't have to take my word for it, just look at how fabulously they all go together. Isn't that just amazing?

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Build A Bear - Color Me Caddy - Sneak Peak

Just imagine, you're going to visit someone with a youngster and you take this fabulous hand made color me card caddie for their little one - now who's going to be the coolest visitor to ever walk through the door?

or

Maybe you're giving a party for a little one - you'll be every Mom's best friend if you give these out as party bags - not only will they appreciate the time you took to make them, they'll love you for not giving their children "another" party bag filled with things they don't need - this one will actually give the children something to do and may even encourage them to save their parents money and make the next card they need for a friend.......

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

These fabulous stamps will be available for you to purchase from the Holiday Mini from September 1st 2009 and I promise this cute tote took just minutes to make and is very simple.... My husband walked in when I was creating the tote and I told him I was flying by the seat of my pants because I had no dimensions and he said "yep I can tell, you're not measuring anything" - he was right, I just used the size of the box of crayons and the envelopes and hey presto it worked out just fine.

Build A Bear - Color Me Caddy - Class Maybe?

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Our Build A Bear product line is brand new and as I start to plan my Fall class schedule, I was wondering if you'd like to attend a class to make this fun "Color Me Card Caddy" class. If you think this is a class you'd like to attend, please send me an email reeveelizabeth@hotmail.com and if enough people are interested we'll add it to the Fall schedule.

Pop Up Ball Die For Stampin' Up!

Sizzix Pop Up Ball Die for Stampin' Up!

Sizzix and Stampin' Up!, two leaders in the crafting industry, have joined forces to bring you even more irresistible products! Bring your cards into the third dimension with the pop up dies for the Big Shot. In this video, Donna Griffith shows how to create our pop up ball.

Holiday Mini Sneak Peek - Build A Bear Is Coming

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

One of the really cool things about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is that we get to order items ahead of their release and boy oh boy is this an exciting time to be a demonstrator.....

The new Holiday mini which will be launched on September 1st is packed with brand new product lines.

Stampin' Up! has partnered with Build A Bear and we'll have a fabulous range of products for you to enjoy, including three delightful stamp sets and dies to create seasonal clothes for the cute bears in the stamp sets.

Stay tuned and on Tuesday I'll show you just one of the projects I've made with this fun new product line......

Don't forget, if you'd like to become a demonstrator, I'm only a phone call away and I'll be happy to work you through the process and hold your hand as you enter my wonderful world of secrets.

Fall Classes

I'm going to be putting together a Fall class schedule soon. If you would like to attend a class to learn how to create the quilt card and if enough people are interested I'd love to offer it in the Fall - Please email me reeveelizabeth@hotmail.com

My Swap

Last week I promised you I'd show you close up pictures of my Stamp Club swaps and so here they are:

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

How do you create this? Hmm, well, here are a few notes to get you started:

1. Run the white background Whisper White through your Big Shot, using the texturz plate of your choice - it takes just seconds to create all this beautiful dry embossing.
2. Take another piece of card any color you like and a square punch and punch out your favorite designer series paper squares - I used Razzleberry Lemonade #115675 - Page 162. It's double sided so I punched out just two or three from each sheet.
3. Starting in the centre - glue your squares onto the card.
4. Run the card through your Big Shot, using the Top Note Die to create the outer shape of the quilt.
5. Take a black Stampinwrite Marker and x stitching onto each square.
6. Decorate your card as desired - I used two of our brand new punches from page 186 - Butterfly #116629 and #116630 Modern Label and of course some of our fabulous in color ribbon.
7. The buttons on the inside of the cards were created with my Big Shot and the Buttons #5 die on page 196.

Stamp Club Project From Friday Night

As soon as I saw this technique, I knew I had to buy all the ingredients and share it with my stamp club. This technique was demonstrated at the Seattle regional and I was absolutely blown away the first time I saw it.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Of course it helps to have fabulous products to use, such as the Bride Speciality paper #115669 - Page 158 - actually, it shouldn't be called paper because it is sturdy enough to make a box from. The Organza Ribbon #114319 - Page 183 is delicately delightful and one of my ladies was stunned to find that it is only $5.95 for 15 yards.

To create the leaf design we ran Handsome Hunter card stock through the Big Shot using the Little Leaves #114511 Sizzlits Die - no cutting required - now that I love.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

OK, I know you want to know how the roses were created, so here goes:

1. Using White Craft Ink, stamp Rose from Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set #113436 Page 98 on Shimmery White Card Stock #101910 - Page 159.
2. Emboss images using clear embossing powder.
3. Spritz with water making sure small amounts of water pool on the petals.
4. Take three or four of your favorite color reinkers and put a spot of each color on a plastic lid.
5. Using an Aqua Painter #103954 - page 192 pick up a little of one of the inks and touch it on one of the pools of the water. You will see that the ink spreads through the water but stops where the image is embossed. Continue with the same color and then change to another color - repeat until your rose is how you like it.
6. You can use your dry Aqua Painter to remove any excess liquid, or I used the corner of a paper towel to soak up the excess.
7. Leave your image to dry. Once it is dry cut it out and attach to your card.

This is one of those hit and miss techniques and no two creations will look exactly alike, just like in nature. The more you experiment, the more fun you'll have.

Thank you Patty for sharing this fabulous technique that you saw in Seattle.

Have fun!

Join My Team

If you love the new Stampin' Up! In Colors for 2009/10, then here's a great way to own all of them and earn some extra money to help pay for your hobby and some of those wonderful extras in life!

As the children start heading back to school, why not give me a call or send me an email reeveelizabeth@hotmail.com and you too could be a member of my team and enjoy the freedom, flexibility and fun doing what I think is the best job in the world! There's even a limited time offer to get you on your way for less than half the normal cost to join......

Dates: July 15 - August 31, 2009
Promotion Details:
Become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator with the limited-time $85 Mini Starter Kit. The Mini Starter Kit contains the following products:

Stampin' Up! - Recruiting Promotion: "Item CodePage #*DescriptionRetail Value**
115360118For All You Do stamp set$28.95
115658155Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad$5.95
115656155Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad$5.95
115659155Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad$5.95
115654155Dusty Durango Classic Stampin' Pad$5.95
115655155Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad$5.95
115657155Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad$5.95
100730155Whisper White card stock (8-1/2' x 11')$7.50
115315155In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2' x 11')$7.95"

*All page numbers refer to the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog**All products may be substituted for like items; see Mini Starter Kit order form for details.

Window Sheet Video

I thought you'd enjoy another video from our home office, this time featuring our vesitile window sheets - enjoy!

Our window sheets bring a whole new look to your creations. Use them on scrapbook pages, embellish them with Rub-Ons that you use as overlays, or layer them on card stock. Create shapes with the Big Shot die-cut machine, sponge the edges with Craft ink to color, or make see-through boxes. There are countless options! They come in two different thicknesses, as well as a printed option. Window sheets provide a lot of options, and Shannon West is only too happy to share those options with you in this video.

"Wellie Boots"

In yesterday's post I was chit chatting about my English Mom and my English friend and the next card I came across was this one and these boots just reminded me of England - We call the "Wellies" - Don't you just want to put them on and jump in puddles?

Have a fabulous weekend - Don't forget to check in on Monday to see more pictures of my swaps and I'll post our project early next week too......

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Autumn Days #115452 - $23.95

The moment I saw the new "Autumn Days" stamp set, I just knew it would become part of my collection.

My Mom is visiting soon and if she returns to England without creating silver embossed Pheasant (bird) place cards, I'll eat my hat.

I have another good friend from England who actually lives just down the road from me here in the United States and it's on her wish list too.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Ribbon Of Hope #115552 - $7.95

When I saw the Ribbon Of Hope stamp in our new catalog, I knew that I absolutely had to add it to my collection.

My dear friend in Germany and my Mom's dear friend in England have both faced Breast Cancer this year and I knew this stamp would help me to support Cancer Research. Alex and Chrisie, I'm so proud of you - you are brave, wonderful and an inspiration to us all!

What I love about about this stamp though is the versatility - you can change the color to any and use it to support which ever cause you choose. If you Google it, you'll find a list of what different colors represent.

A good friend of mine (Debbie) who sells CABI clothing was donating 10% of the sales from a show she was doing to support her friend who is doing a massive three day walk soon to raise money for Breast Cancer research and so I made her this bag tag and some cards that she could use to thank her guests. The next day Jane called me and ordered twenty more cards so that she could use them to show her appreciation to the folks who are supporting her.

"Together We Can Make A Difference"

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Stamp Club Swap August 2009

When it comes to creating my swap for Stamp Club, I always want to create something special for my ladies - they are amazing and some of the founding members have belonged to the club for more than five years now and I'm so thankful to have these ladies to inspire me.

I'll post some close up pictures next week once the ladies have seen them, along with some pictures of our project too. I just thought that since I posted a Big Shot video yesterday, I'd show you this project now - I used the top note die to create the shape of the quilt, the buttons die to create cute coordinating buttons for the inside of the card and the texturz plate to create the white textured paper and of course I used four of our fabulous new in colors.

Some of my ladies have the Big Shot and some of them have it on their wish list - they are going to kill me when they see how many times I used my Big Shot for these swaps - oh and did I mention I used two of our new punches and brand new Designer Series Paper?

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Big Shot Video

Hi,
I hope you enjoy this cool video that Stampin' Up! shared with me to help me introduce my customers to the fabulous Big Shot Machine:

The Sizzix Big Shot for Stampin' Up! product line is a big deal! With the Big Shot you can cut over 50 different material types and duplicate creative and intricate designs quickly and easily. We've designed exclusive dies that coordinate with current Stampin' Up! product lines--such as our stamps and punches--as well as Sizzix dies that coordinate with the Stampin' Up! look and feel. Our product line will continue to expand, so check back to see what exciting new things are on the way.

It's going to be a hot weekend here!

Summer is finally going to get steamy around here - it's been a long time coming, but I bet everyone here will be wishing for a cool glass of something with lots of sparkling ice.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! I'll post again on Monday.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

London Seminar

Cheers - It's Five O'Clock Somewhere

Don't you just want to reach in and pick up that glass?

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

London Seminar

Shaker Card

Who would have thought a bow and glitter in the eyes could make a skull cute?

Before you throw away your empty dimensionals sheets, take a look around the edge - use the edging to create a boarder for the eyes on this cute card, then fill the middle with glitter - Oh yes, don't forget to use a window sheet behind the heart eyes, otherwise your glitter will fall through - ask me how I know that!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

London Seminar

Scrapbooks come in all shapes and sizes - here's another "Candy" inspired one.

This one got me thinking, it would be fun to take pictures of back to school supplies and write prices in or paste receipts in - imagine looking back in years to come and seeing if things have changed much.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

London Seminar

So You Think You Don't Have Anything To Scrapbook?

You know how you see those shows and they take you on a trip down memory lane and you remember comfort foods and candy from your childhood? Why not create your own mini scrapbook of candy you love now and maybe candy you loved when you were a kid - then one day you'll be able to get it out years down the road and take your own trip down memory lane.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

London Seminar

August 1st Promotions

Don't forget to visit my web site often for the latest Stampin' Up! announcements!

Free Buttons
Dates: August 1-31, 2009
Promotion Details:
Spend $35 on stamp sets from the Growing Up section of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog (pages 74-90) and receive a FREE package of Designer buttons--a $7.95 value! Eligible buttons are listed below.
116313 Page 181 Playground Designer Buttons $7.95
116312 Page 181 Sherbet Designer Buttons $7.95
114333 Page 181 Button Latte Designer Buttons $7.95

Click Here for more details

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

Growth Chart Special Offer
Dates: August 1 - September 30, 2009
Promotion Details:
Purchase the brand-new Décor Elements Growth Chart, only available August 1-September 30, and as an added bonus, receive a free applicator tool with your purchase (a $1.95 value).
117519 Décor Elements Growth Chart $24.95

Let's Build A Sand Castle

Today I was at the library and I noticed there was a "book" on building sand castles, yes, a book!! I remember when I was a little girl we decorated our sand castles with shells and patterns we made in the sand and if we were really lucky, we'd get some flags made from paper and tooth picks.......

So, here's a fun idea - get your your big shot and create some fun shapes with craft foam and sticks and make a fun bucket of sand treats for that special little friend who loves to play in the sand. I can only imagine how delighted I would have been if I'd received this gift when I was a little girl.

Remember, the Big Shot cuts more than just paper - for a full list of suggested materials, just send me an email reeveelizabeth@hotmail.com and I'll send the list to you.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!

London Seminar

My son is almost seven and he still spends nearly all his time in the sand box when we visit our local pool.

One more trip down memory lane - do you remember how you'd dig a hole in the sand and try, try, try to fill it with water and every time you got back to your hole with a bucket of water, the last deposit had vanished?

Have a fun filled weekend everyone!!!!