Stampin' Up! is Advertising

When I was at the Stampin' Up! Convention, management revealed that they were going to start a marketing campaign in several popular women's and parenting magazines to help spread the word so that more people can learn about this wonderful company and the products they make that help you make special gifts and memories for loved ones. I thought I'd share a small photo of two of their ads because I really agree with their sentiments! You can go to www.stampinup.com to learn more.

My Top 5 Favorite Stampin' Up! Tools

I don't know about you, but to me, having the right tools for a job makes all the difference in the world. That's why I appreciate the tools that Stampin' Up! provides to make creativity in our papercrafting easier. Here's my top 5 favorites:

5.  SNAIL Adhesive (104332 for $6.95) I love how the tape dispenser and adhesive are so easy to grab and whip around the edges of your cards and poof! the layers are adhered together solidly. The SNAIL refill (104331 for $4.50) snaps right into the plastic case easily for little time wasted, so you can keep on gluing your projects.

4.  Adhesive Remover (103684 for $3.50) This little block of rubbery material is the perfect tool to removed extra SNAIL adhesive in case you get a little carried away with  your gluing. I've cut the 2 x 2 inch block into one inch squares and have tucked them in my supplies so I have one handy wherever I'm crafting.

3. Paper Snips ( 103579 for $9.95) These are the best pair of small scissors I have ever owned, now I own 4 pairs. Their blades are so sharp for cutting into tight corners when you are "fussy cutting" around a stamped image and they just slice right through SU ribbon without a frayed edge at all. I love them!!!

2. Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334 for $29.95) This is SU's version of a scoring board and it is the best one out there. I used to use a Martha Stewart brand board, but the stylus alone is enough to buy this tool, it doesn't rip your paper if you accidentally get a little over zealous with your scoring. There's even a little storage compartment on the back of the board for when you are traveling places to sneak a little chocolate in!

1. Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (113439 for $99.95) I LOVE this tool. It does so much to make your paper crafts look beautiful. With the simple turn of the handle, you can die cut shapes, emboss paper, or make 3D ideas with special dies. You can cut/emboss different thicknesses of paper, thin aluminum, acetate, and fabric. It is so versatile, I highly recommend it to any crafter out there. You won't regret this investment!

If you'd like to purchase any of these tools, just click on my online shopping button.

500th Visit

Last month I thought I'm never going to get to 500 visitors, but in less than a month I have. I'm learning a valuable lesson about blogging, the more you post the more people visit your site. Common sense, right? I'm inviting folks to stop by this blog when I post a card on Stampin' Connection (a site for Stampin' Up! demonstrators) or Splitcoast Stampers (a site for any paper crafter) or Pinterest and it's really paying off! I'm enjoying seeing where my visitors are coming from in my feedit column. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by. Onward to 1000!

Joy Ornament Christmas Card

Here's the last of my Christmas card designs for now. This card uses Triple Time stamping technique promoted by Dawn Olfeske and the specific CASed card was from www.stamp4fun.net. This card uses Midnight Muse, one of the 2012-2014 In Colors collection that Stampin' Up! has been promoting these past few years. I really like this technique.

Materials Used:
Cardstock: Midnight Muse and Very Vanilla
Inks: Midnight Muse, Marina Mist, and Crumb Cake
Stamp Sets: Snow Swirled and Delightful Decorations
Ornament Punch
Embellishment - Stitched Satin Ribbon in Midnight Muse and Pearls.

Snow Swirled Set

111690 Wood Mount  $24.95

127799 Clear Mount   $17.95

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Vertical JOY Card

Here's card 3 out of 4: A simple layout, but the results make for a classy card I think. I CASed this card, but unfortunately the artist didn't put their watermark on it so I can't give credit.
Here's the supplies I used: 
Cardstock: Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Gumball Green
Designer Series Paper: Be of Good Cheer
Stamp Sets: Delightful Decorations, and Lovely Letters
Punches: 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" Square, and Ornament Punch
Rhinestones for accent

Lovely Letters

115030 Wood Set$43.95

127796 Clear Set $31.95

Delightful Decorations

116517 Wood Set 21.95

127787 Clear Set 16.95

A little trick I tried to cut that perfect end of the banner was to use one corner of the 1-1/4" square punch, since the DSP paper was that width and voila, perfection!

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Regal Ornament Card

Here's card number two out of four Christmas cards, I'll be sharing with you this week. Isn't this one simple but pretty?

Cardstock: Whisper White and Real Red

Ink: Real Red

Stamp Sets: Ornament Keepsakes and Four the Holidays (retired)

Poinsettias Dry Embossing Folder in the Big Shot

Ribbon: 1/2' Real Red satin ribbon, with bow tied on a meat fork.

Embellishment: Rhinestones

Check out my previous post about ordering the stamp set and matching framelits at my online store. There is so much you can do with this elegant set.  Thanks for stopping by!

Speaking of Christmas...

Over the next 3 days plus today, I'll be revealing 4 Christmas cards that I'll be demonstrating at my church for their Craft Night. It's crazy to be thinking about Christmas in August, but all good planners sure do!

Here's my first card of the set, which all have an ornament theme to them.

I CASed this card from Andrea Borries, but made it my own by changing the decoration and adding the greeting. This card is made with the following cardstocks: Garden Green, Very Vanilla, and Cherry Cobbler. The Designer Series Paper set is called Be of Good Cheer. The stamp sets are Ornament Keepsakes (see below) and Four the Holidays (retired). I used the matching framelits to cut out the ornament. The banner is sponged with Cherry Cobbler ink. The ornament is stamped with Gumball Green ink and it hangs from Gumball Green stitched satin ribbon. Pearls accent the card.

Ornament Keepsakes Wood-Mount Bundle $49.95

Ornament Keepsakes Clear-Mount Bundle  129950  $42.95 P.S. I'd love to have more followers, how about 10, 20, or more?