Last day for the Punch a Bunch Special

I am so sad to see the punch a bunch special coming to an end. Today is the last day. Click here to see more details on the special. I have to say the punch box is one of my favorite products in the Fall Winter Collection. Here is a wedding card I made with the Fun & Fast Notes.

I used Basic Gray card stock for the background. I tore a piece of Vellum and put it on the card, the vellum stays in place with a piece of pretty in pink tafetta ribbon as well as the circle image being adhered on top of the vellum.

I cut the circle with the Coluzzle cutting system. I stamped the cakes in Basic Gray and colored the flowers on the cake with my Pretty in Pink Stampin' Write Marker. I punched the flowers out with my Trio Flower punch from the Three for You punch box with White and Pretty in Pink cardstock. I colored the center of my flowers in with my uni-Signo White Gel Pen and the Zig Painty Gold/Silver Pen.

Oct 6th, World Card Making Day Scrapbooking Crop

I would like to invite all of you to join me and my friends to celebrate World Card Making Day at our 10 hour scrapbooking crop. We have some fabulous cards ready for you to learn how to make and take home. Nevermind the fabulous prizes and vendors! Not to mention Colleen is one of the best massage therapists around. I look forward to hearing from you and spending the day scrapping with all of you. Email me if you have any questions.

World Card Making Day Scrapbooking Crop

Saturday, October 6th

10 hours of Scrapbooking!

Free Classes on how to Make 5 Homemade Cards that you take Home.

11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Fee: 35$ Includes: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Dessert

Prizes, Vendors, Colleen Benedetto - Massage Therapist.

Upper Greenwood Lake Volunteer Ambulance Corp

13 Edgar Drive West Milford, NJ

Route 23 to Union Valley Road.

We will have stations setup so you can learn how to make 5 homemade cards that you will be able to take home. No need to pack your Stamp Pads, Alphabets or Punches! We will have a station setup so you can use these items. Doesn't your bag already feel lighter!

Want to just make the cards and shop with our fabulous vendors, come by between 1 p.m and 5 p.m. and make 5 cards and shop! Cost will be 10$.

September Open Workshop

Thursday, September 20th, I will be holding my monthly open workshop. It starts at 7 p.m. and will end by 9. This is a great overview of stamping where you will create 3 projects to take home.We will be making 3 projects. One of the projects is a 2 page 12x12 scrapbook page spread using Holiday Blitz and Everyday Flexible Phrases. The 12x12 two page spread that we will be making is shown below. The $12 fee will be waived with any purchase of $35 or more. Please RSVP as soon as possible so enough projects will be cut up for everyone when they arrive. Hope to see you there!

Stamp of Authenticity

Here is one of my favorite pocket cards made with the Stamp of Authenticity. The pocket card is a fast and easy way to make a card. In this one, I didn't even use any adhesives. The card is held together by two staples. I was able to fit 3 across vertically on a 8 1/2 x 11 card stock. After I cut the card stock, I folded in half and then folded it an 1 1/2 inch from the top. I stamped with Sahara Sand on top of the Kraft card stock.

Before I stapled the card, I punched with the Spring Flower Bouquet punch from Barely Banana card stock. I attached the flowers with Silver brads to the card stock.

I finished the inside insert with a horizontal slot punch and tied caramel gingham ribbon.

This is great for a little note or to put on top of a scrapbook page to hide the journaling or even top of a present. It is card and packaging all in one.

Dashing Holiday Card

I have to say I love the 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, especially the Real Red. It is absolutely gorgeous. Here it is paired up with the Red Striped paper from the Dashing Designer Series paper. The merry stamp comes from the Perfect Presenation hostess exclusive stamp set. So simple, so easy to make. I can't wait to make a few to give out to family and friends.

Baby Card

Since I just found out that someone was going to have a baby and didn't know if it was going to be a boy or a girl, the certainly celery prints designer series paper with the polka dots called out to me along with the baby carriage from Fun & Fast Notes.

I stamped the baby carriage and then colored it in with my Stampin' Write Markers. After that, I used the uni-Signal white gel pen to make the white polka dots. I cut out the circles out with the Coluzze cutting system and layered them. Lastly, I adhered a strip of Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon. Then tied a bow and attached with a glue dot.

My First Tent Card

I just got some new things and I couldn't wait to play with them. I got the new Bronco wheel and Apple Cider Designer Series Paper. Here is my first tent card. The other sets used to make this card was Wanted and the happy birthday set comes from Amazing to Zany. I finished the card off with Vintage Brads.

Red Hot Hearts

I have to say I love Event Full Hostess exclusive stamp set. I couldn't wait to earn it. It is just so adorable.

Today, I played with the hang in there stamp. I put some Rose Red Prints Designer Series Paper on Rose Red Card Stock. I colored in the Hearts with the Rose Red Stampin' Write Marker. I put some Crystal Effects on the hearts and added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter on top. When I put the Crystal Effects it reminded me of the Red Hots I use to eat a kid. I finished the card off by adding two vintage black brads.

12 Free Classic Stampin' Pads

Purchase the Stampin' Up Demonstrator Starter Kit between August 10 and September 30, and you'll get to pick the family of your choice-color family, that is-of Classic Stampin' Pads® FREE. That's a $57.95 value!

With this special, you will receive 330$ worth of product for only $199 plus all the business supplies you will need to start your Stampin' Up business! What a fantastic deal!

Why I love Stampin' Up!

I have to say signing up and becoming a Stampin' Up demonstrator really has been one of the best descision I have ever made. Here's a picture with me, Shelli Gardner, Cofounder and CEO of Stampin' Up and Tina Rosenkrans, my upline at a Stampin' Up regional event. Here is my top five reasons why I love being part of Stampin' Up!


1. Everyone I have meet since I started Stampin' Up. My customers and fellow demonstrators that have become a part of my circle of friends. I am always amazed by the generosity that is displayed with Stampin' Up demonstrators. If you ever need anything there is always a helping hand to help you out. Here's a great story I want to share with you. My sister came with me to a regional convention. We were sitting in the lobby of the hotel. A total stanger comes up to me and asks if I was a Stampin' Up demonstrator and if had any card swap to trade with her. I told her no, unfortunately I was all out. Well that didn't matter she gave me one of her swaps anyway. My sister couldn't believe what just happened. Stampers and scrapbookers are some of the most generous and wonderful people I have ever meet.


2. FREE STAMPS! Yes, you read that correctly. There always seems to be coming in the UPS truck that I earn for free. If you have an order of $150 or more you qualify and can get hostess benefits, so free stamps. Then if you reach a certain milestone or certain number in sales, free stamps. If you get published, yes free stamps! You can also earn free gift cards, products and even trips. I just got a 100$ gift card in the mail. How great is that!


3. Recognition for my art work and my business. Stampin' Up holds monthly contests where you can submit your artwork and you get published in their quarterly magazine. They also pick 3-4 projects daily and recognize them on the Stampin' Up demonstrator website. Click here and you can see some of the projects I have been recognized for. I have also been recognized for my business as well. I have been promoted 3 times. I am a Senior Supervisor with Stampin' Up and I have the most fabulous downline!


4. Never pay full price on stamps! Every order you put in, you automatically get a 20% discount or 20% instant income if someone places an order with you! We also just got a pay increase this year! So the more you sell the more you make!


5. Training! I just got back from the Stampin' Up Convention. 4 days filled with stamping and business tips. My head is swimming with ideas to do. If that is not enough, in September, I am heading to Philadelphia for another Stampin' Up regional event to share the day with friends and learn more tips and tricks. Then in October, there will be another event in Bloomfield, NJ. Not to mention the monthly magazine we receive and the Stampin' Up demonstrator website that has tons of ideas and patterns.


But most of all it is the flexibility of the business. I am free to make the business what I want it to be; part time, full time, hobbyist, teacher, event organizer or even a crafter that sells her creations. No matter what road I choose, I know I have many options. That I have to say that is the best reason of all. So I guess that makes it 6 reasons. I actually have lots more I can share with you, so contact me today so I can let you know all about this fabulous opportunity.

Priceless Anniversary

Here is an anniversary card I had to make recently. The stamp sets that I used were Priceless and Just so Sayings. I also used the So Swirly Jumbo wheel in the background. The circle was cut out using the Coluzzle. I added some whisper white tafetta ribbon and some dazzling diamonds to finish the card of.

August Open Workshop Projects

Here are the projects we made tonight at my August Open Workshop. The first project you got a sneak peak a week ago. Click here to see a picture of the 2 page 12x12 friends scrapbook page spread that we made tonight.

The next project was a Christmas card made with Perfect Presentation stamp set. The colors used in the card are Real Red and Old Olive. The North Pole saying was stamped twice once in Real Red and then a second time with Old Olive. The one stamped in Old Olive was punched out with the 1 1/4" circle. The Real Red image, Dec. 25 was punched out with 1/2" circle. Then with the 1 3/8" inch circle punch I punched a piece of red card stock. All the images were layered one on top of the other. The Dec. 25 was popped up a dimensional. The curve of the red cardstock on the bottom was done with my cutting board and the Cutter Kit. Tis the season comes from the Greetings Galore stamp set and was punched out with the Word Window punch.

The next project was a Halloween candy bar holder. The ghosts are from Holiday Blitz and the just for you saying comes from the Three For You punch box. The background was stamped in the Aida Cloth background stamp. The colors in the project are Eggplant Envy and Old Olive. The slit at the bottom of the candy bar holder was made with the slit punch. The candy bar was adhered with a pop-up glue dot.

The next open workshop is Thursday, September 20th. Check back here the week or two before for sneak peaks at what projects we will be making on that day.

Regional Swaps

I just got started on making some swaps for the upcoming Stampin' Up Regional event in Philadelphia, Sept 14th. I am so excited to attend this event. My sideline, downline and upline are attending this event. Two of them are attending their first Stampin' Up event and I am looking forward for them to seeing the excitement for the first time. Here's my swap card.

The little bird is from Fun & Fast Notes. I rolled the background with my Whimsy Jumbo Wheel. I don't have an ink cartridge in the Groovy Guava, so I just rolled across the stamp pad a few times and then rolled it onto the cardstock. The colors used in this card are Groovy Guava, Barely Banana, Very Vanilla. I think I found another color combination that I just absolutely love.

I stamped the bird in Basic Brown and then color it in with my Stampin' Write Markers. With the flower, I first put a mini glue dot in the middle and then using my blender pens, I colored it in with the Groovy Guava ink from my stamp pad. Then I put some Dazzling Diamonds to make the glue dot center of the flower pop. I found if I colored the flower and tried to put the glue dot afterwards, the glue dot would not adhere to the colored in cardstock because of the moisture. Lastly, I tied a knot with my Groovy Guava Double Stitched Ribbon and adhered it to the card with a glue dot.

In the Spotlight

I have to say I love the Purely Pomegrate color. I think I have 3 of the great new In Colors from Stampin' Up this year. I think the next one on my list to buy is River Rock.

Here I paired up the Purely Pomegrate color with Wild Wasabi. The flowers come from Hostess exclusive Stamp Set, In the Spotlight. The thinking of you comes from the Three for You punch box.

A natural button with linen thread finish off the card.

Birthdays

One of my little guys is having a birthday party today that I am attending. The gift is huge. It is a dump truck, so I am going to have some fun wrapping it a little bit. I think I am going to cheat and just put in some cellaphane and tie a bow on it. I made 2 versions of the tag, not sure which one is going to make it on the gift. Both tags use the Eat Cake stamp set. The colors are So Saffron, Certainly Celery and Ballet Blue. I just love the color combination. I got my inspiration from the monthly Stampin' Success magazine that is mailed to all demonstrators. I was so excited to use Ballet Blue. It is one of those colors that I have not picked up in sometime now. Now it will one I use since I absolutely love this color combo.

The first tag, I cut out two circles with Coluzzle. One white (smaller) and then another with Ballet Blue (larger). I layered one on top of the other. Then I punched many 3/4" Circles out. I put mono on the outside edge of the Ballet Blue edge and then started to place the circles around the outside edge. When I was done, I put some Dazzling Diamonds on the tag. I finished the tag off by stamping the greeting from Fun & Fast Notes.

The second tag, I added a paper piercing Ballet Blue strip to the bottom of the card. I stamped the confetti in the background with So Saffron. The greeting I used from Think Happy Thoughts. I layered it with my circle punches on top of the scallop punch. The number 3 comes from Short Order Numbers.

I also just received a beautiful belated birthday card from my friend Diane. It uses the Delight in Life stamp set. It's a Sellabration set from the beginning of this year. I love the way she cut out the flowers and layered them on the card. She used Lavendar Lace and Apricot Appeal. I love getting homemade cards!

WANTED Beach Bums

This is one of my favorite projects. I got this great mini catalog bag at the Stampin' Up Convention this year. So instead of putting mini catalogs in the front which is the intent of the bag, I made a scrapbook page and put in the front plastic sleeve for my friend, Diane.

The journaling says WANTED Beach Bums to Spend Hours on the Beach, Playing in the Sand, Catching Rays & Jumping in the Water. Must Have Keen Sense of Hearing to Hear the Ice Cream Truck From Miles Away.

Every summer I get to spend a week with these beautiful children. They are the best. I treasure the week I get to spend time with them and my friend Diane.

To make the page, I used the WANTED stamp set. I stamped the background with Sahara Sand with images. Then I stamped in black on top of the Sahara Sand and punched it out with the scallop punch. They I put a jumbo pewter eyelet in the middle. It maybe hard to see on top of the black cardstock, but along the edge I dry embosssed circles with my Crop-a-dile. Did you know you can do that! I believe you need to have the Crop-a-dile set at A and 1 on top. Once you do that you start punching like you are closing an eyelet, but instead it makes a dry embossed circle. If you line the Crop-a-dile along the edge of the paper, it makes a even line of circles down your edge. Very cool. It is just what you need sometimes when you need just a little more, but you know you should not stamp another thing or no embellishment seems to work.

Baroque Motifs Samples

Here are two samples using the beautiful Baroque Motifs Stamp Set. The So Saffron card is so simple, but yet elegant. The strip of So Saffron on the side of the card is our Prints Designer Series paper. I stamped the large flower in the middle of the small piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. Then I stamped the smaller flower in the set and punched it out with the Spring Bouquet punch and placed in the middle of the larger flower. The card is finished off with some paper piercing and a gold brad in the middle.

With the Groovy Guava book marker, I stamped the large flower and cut it out. I stamped the small flower and punched it out with the Spring Bouquet punch. I punched out with the Scallop punch very vanilla cardstock and then I layer all three images and fastened with a Vintage brad. This project is finished off also with some paper piercing. Lastly, I attached some double stitched ribbon with a vintage brad to keep in place.

Tags and More Tags

When I hand deliver anyone's order, I like to put a homemade gift in their bag. Since I have an order coming in, I got some tags together so they are ready to put with their orders when they arrive. I used again the Three for You Punch Box, can you tell I love the punch and the stamps in. I just keep picking it up time and time again. The other stamp set I used Think Happy Thoughts. The colors are Brocade Blue and Pretty in Pink. I finished off the tag with our beautiful 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon and a silver brad inside the flower.

August Open Workshop

Next Monday, August 20th, I will be holding my monthly open workshop. It starts at 7 p.m. and will end by 9. This is a great overview of stamping where you will create 3 projects to take home.

We will be making a Halloween candy bar holder, a Christmas card and 2 page 12x12 scrapbook page spread using Three for You Punch Box. The 12x12 two page spread that we will be making is shown below. The $12 fee will be waived with any purchase of $35 or more. Please RSVP as soon as possible so enough projects will be cut up for everyone when they arrive. Hope to see you there!

Fallin' for Holiday Blitz

I have to say I absolutely love the images in the new stamp set, Holiday Blitz. It covers every occasion you would need for card making and scrapbooking. I have been fallin' for Holiday Blitz by making some some Fall cards with it. Even though the weather cooled down a little the last couple of days here in NJ, it still doesn't quite feel like Fall, but here are some cards to get us thinking of the beautiful fall weather which is around the corner.

The first card, I used the Think Happy Thoughts stamp set for the greeting. I used three of our wonderful Stampin' Up punches to layer the greeting and pumpkin in the middle. I colored the pumpkins with our Stampin' Write Markers. I distressed the edge of the Very Vanilla cardstock and colored the edge of the distressed card stock with my markers. I stamped the background with the Weathered Background stamp, crumpled up & folded up the edge and put a button on it. Then finished the card by adding some Caramel Gingham Ribbon.

The next card uses some of the same stamp sets with the exception of the greeting. In this case, I used Short & Sweet. I used my handheld circle punch to make holes on the side of the card and then threaded the Moss Gingham Ribbon and attached Vintage brads to keep the ribbon in place. Then the pumpkins were punched out with my circle punch and put on top of punched out squares. Then put dimensionals on the back to add some dimension to the card. Lastly the background was stamped and I distressed the edges.





The last card is a Halloween card. I stamped my little ghosts out and then cut them out with my scissors. Then I adhered them to black cardstock, I added some black brads. I then used Alphabits and punched out BOO with our 1/4" square punch.

Re-Designing Cards

I had some card stock leftover that I cut up for my retirement open house projects. Click here to see the projects that we did. So what I did was try to come up with the card using the same layout and colors, just different stamp sets.


With the I just love you card, I changed the color of the card stock from Cranberry Crisp to Regal Rose. I colored it in with blender pens using my ink from stamp pad to give it a soft look . When I was done, I added crystal effects and sprinkled some glitter on top. The bird card, I used my Stampin' Write Markers to color it in to give it a darker bolder color. The I love you and bird cards both use the Double Line Doodle stamp set. The Sunflower card uses Serene Sunflower stamp set, I tore the bottom of the card and sponge some mellow moss ink on it. The sympathy card uses Close as a Memory stamp set with some paper piercing done on the side of the card.

New Catalog Open House Update.

For some reason, I just can't seem to catch up lately. On Sunday, I had my second new catalog open house. It was a huge success. Everyone got to make three projects which I am finally getting around to posting them.

One of them you got a sneak peak and it was the a double page 12 x 12, which you can check out on the following blog entry. We then made two addtional projects. The first was a tag made with the Three for You punch box. The colors in the tag are Cameo Coral, Apricot Appeal and Lovely Lavender. The next one a 5x5 card using the Double Line Doodle stamp set. I loved the Gable Green and Pink Passion color scheme from that I used for my Convention swap that I decided to turn into a 5x5 card for my customers to make.

I am in the process of coming up with some great projects for you to make at my August Open Workshop. Check back in the next couple of days to get a sneak peak at one of the projects we will be making.

Thank you gift

Isn't this thank you gift my friend, Tracy, made just great! She made an extra one and gave it to me. This is such a great idea. She just wrapped the chocolate with mailing labels. They were her end of school presents to all the teachers. Wouldn't you love getting a box of chocolates in a beautiful package like this!

Belated Birthday Present

I just received a fabulous belated birthday present from my friend Colleen. It's a sketch book! Isn't it great! It has pages of sketches she cut out and put in the notebook as well as space for me to put my favorites. I absolutely love it!

Playing with Scraps

This is what scrapbooking is all about playing with scraps of paper. I had the scallop edge leftover when I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with another scrapbook page. Then I stamped the FRIENDS title finding out that is not the look I was going for. So after all it was said and done all the scraps that were never used ended up with a beautiful scrapbook page. So even though the original 12x12 spread I made did not work out. I got a great 8 1/2 x 11 page that I do love the way it turned out. I just love the color combination of Basic Black, Groovy Guava and Regal Rose. So this is what we do best as scrapbookers, save scraps. Because you never know when that little scrap will turn into something you'll need on another page! :)

Baby Scrapbook Page

I just finished making a 6x6 scrapbook that I made for my friend Diane who just had a baby girl. It is one of my favorite gifts to make for someone having a baby.

Here is a couple of my favorite pages from the book. The cover page uses some of my favorite punches, the scallop, the trio flower punch from the Three for You Punch Box. Just add some designer series paper, some ribbon and brads to complete the page.

The Welcome small wonder page is my absolute favorite. I think it has more to do with the fact it uses my favorite color Certainly Celery. The stamp sets used on this page are So Many Sayings and Event Full. The ticket corner punch was used on all the corners. Prints Designer Series paper and Silver brads complete the page.

The second page features the following stamp sets: Holiday Blitz, the polka dot background from the Three for You punch box and the Best Friends Alphabet.

Project on Stamper's Showcase this morning

I am so excited. I have another project on the Stampin' Up demonstrator website this morning on Stamper's Showcase. I can describe how amazing this is. You are proabably thinking this happens all the time with the fact I have had a few posts this year, but I assure you do not see the same people on Stamper's Showcase week after week. It truly is an honor. They hand pick the samples that are put on the demonstrator website every morning.

I am just so amazed and grateful to have my work to have been chosen.

So as my little niece would say Hurray! I am very excited. What a better way to start the morning.

So here is my scrapbook page with my beautiful little niece.
Enjoy! Again, thank you for sharing in my excitement!

Supplies used in the scrapbook page:

Stamps: BAROQUE MOTIFS STAMP SET

Paper: CARD STOCK BRAVO BURGUNDY 8 1/2X11

CARD STOCK VELLUM 8 1/2 X 11

Inks: CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD BRAVO BURGUNDY

WHITE STAZ-ON

Accessories: BRADS SILVER

CRAFTERS' TOOL KIT

PUNCH SPRING BOUQUET FLOWER

LARGE OVAL PUNCH

Love Notes Special

During the month of August, for every purchase of the Three for You Punch Box, you will get a free exclusive textured 30 Love Notes with Very Vanilla envelopes for free. The love notes come in Wild Wasabi, So Saffron and Purely Pomegranate.

The punch box comes with exclusive trio flower punch- 9 piece DIE-CUT stamp set- Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate and Basic Black ink spots- keepsake tin.

Love Notes are great to put on top of your gifts, give them to co-workers or put in your little one's lunch boxes when school starts!

Here are some additional love note ideas for you...

Here are the samples on my blog that also have feature the Three for You punch box:

Pick a Petal Scrapbook Page
Thinking of You Card
Love Scrapbook Page
Sandy Appelhans Card

Email or call me today so we can order your punch box so you can receive these beautiful love notes cards for free!

Convention Photos

Now that second session of Stampin' Up Demonstrators has returned from convention, I feel like I can post a few photos from the actual event and not spoil it for anyone.

Imagine 2600 stampers in one room. Here are photos of Shelli on stage and side view of the convention center. This is not even getting everyone in the room! Then then had walls and walls of projects posted that were made by demonstrators, samples of the new stamp sets we received at Convention and then all the projects that were made in classes.

The first night we had a Stampin' Pajama Party. So imagine Stampin' Up demonstrators walking the streets of Denver in their pajamas to the Convention Center. We got to make the most fabulous make & takes. I think they were the best I have ever made. We made scrapbook pages, cards, box and altered an Accents & Elements tin. We learned how to use the cropadile, build a brad and watercoloring. The stamp sets we received were Fun & Fast Notes, Wanted, the Happiness Background stamp set and the Build a Flower Accents & Elements. Here is a small love note we made as one of our make & takes. I just love the elegance of this card with the Pretties Kit and the Defining Alphabet and Define Your Life stamp sets.

One of the sessions, Jodi Gloeckner, from the Stampin' Up home office, came out with an apron made from our Designer Series Papers. How great is that. This is just one of the many things we learned we can alter and make homemade with just some paper, stamps and ribbon! The hit of morning sessions was Jaron Winder come out on stage and singing theme from Jeckyll and Hyde. It was like sitting in a Broadway audience.

I also made some fabulous new friends while I was there. I even had Stampin' Up demonstrators sitting right next to me on the plane down. The last photo you will see me with my convention buddy, Debbie Modrowsky and my two new friends Mary Kittell and Yvette Martinelli. This is just a brief summary of all the things I did while at convention. So many stamping and business ideas. I actually came home with 1000's of photos and about 300 card swaps. Next year will be in Salt Lake City, I hope to see some of you there.

Best of Convention Swaps Day 7

Here are two swaps made by Betty Gillespie. I love how she did the All about Birthday wheel in So Saffron! Just love that color with this wheel making it a beautiful birthday card. The second one is a pocket card made with the Wild Rose stamp set. She stamped the Stampin' Up statement of the heart on the card insert. Just gorgeous.





The next two cards are from Liz Thayer. I love Blue Bayou and Soft Sky color combination she used in both swaps. So much detail in both cards. I love the scallop edge and the metal tag in the Zoofari card. And the snowflake card she dry embossed. Just beautiful.

I hope all of you have enjoyed my best of convention day swaps week. I really enjoyed posting these cards and sharing them with you.