Retiring List is Released!

Stampin' Up's list of retiring stamp sets was released today! Follow the links below to see it...

Retiring List Alphabetically
Retiring List by Page Number

To bid a fond farewell to our old friends, I'm offering my customers 15% off of all retiring stamp sets on the list from June 15th through July 31st - buy as many as you like. Contact me now to take advantage of this offer but don't wait too long - these sets will be gone for good after August 10th!

Note: This offer is valid only through Nicole Kowalk.

A quickie storage solution - handmade of course!

I'm terrible about pens. I usually just leave them laying around on my desk and they're either getting in the way or I can't find any. I finally decided that I needed a container to keep them in - not too small but not too big. And it had to be cute! Usually I'd just grab an old glass or jar out of the cupboard, but my goodness - I'm a Stampin' Up demonstrator and I can MAKE cute, right??

I hadn't really used any of the Die Cut Blooms from the Occasions mini catalog, but they've been laying close at hand, just waiting for inspiration to strike. And it just so happened that I had a package of Bali Breeze Designer Paper, too, which matched the colors of the Die Cut Blooms (and my mood!) perfectly. With those in hand, I started the process of making my own, cute, pencil holder.

I cut a 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of Tempting Turquiose cardstock, wrapped it into a tube shape and adhered it forever using Sticky Strip. If I'd have thought ahead of time, I would've punched the scallop edge before I adhered it, but I must not have had enough coffee that day, so alas, I did it as an after thought. On top of that, I layered a 3 3/4" piece of the Bali Breeze paper (more Sticky Strip) - no scallops on this layer! The bottom circle was cut from more Tempting Turquiose cardstock using the Colluzle and adhered on with Crystal Effects - yes, this will stay on forever, too! For the front medallion, I chose a pumpkin flower from the Die Cut Blooms - I just LOVE that Stampin' Up chose to use textured cardstock for these! The red center is also from the Die Cut Blooms. I adhered them together, punched a hole in the middle and added a gorgeous rhinestone brad. The leaves were made by punching a 5 Petal Flower from Old Olive cardstock, cutting the petals apart, and adhering them to the back of the flower. All of that was adhered onto the front of my pencil holder using my old standby - Stampin' Dimensionals.

What do you think? Did I achieve cuteness?? :D

More Chipboard

Just a few more days left in SU's chipboard special. Here are a couple of samples to help inspire you.

The first is one of SU's chipboard clipboards that I altered. I have to admit that I'm not big into scrapbooking, but I do love altering items to use as picture 'frames'. This one was so easy to make... I covered the chipboard with designer paper and cut/punched additional pieces out of the same DS pack for the medallions, for the picture mat, and for the photo corners. I stamped and embossed 'Cherish' and added a couple pieces of Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon to it. Very quick an easy!

Supplies:
4 1/2" x 9" On Board Clipboard
Outlaw Designer Paper (retired)
Blue Bayou & Really Rust cardstock
Chocolate Chip craft ink
Clear embossing powder
Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon
Pewter Jumbo Eyelet
Fire Rhinestone Brad
Scallop punch
Photo corners punch
Spiral Punch
1 3/8" circle punch
1/8" circle punch
Stampin' Dimensionals

The next is an altered file folder that I made. I do have pictures in it now... they're all in black and white. I chose to use black & white pictures so that I didn't have to worry about coordinating colors in the pictures to the colors I used for the folder. This is a great tip to remember for all of your scrapbooking - black and white pictures will coordinate with any color scheme!

The file folder was first partially covered with apricot textured cardstock. The rest of the folder was covered with designer paper from the Bali Breeze collection - this is one of my favorite designer paper collections! I hid the edges by running grosgrain ribbon from top to bottom. The black rub-ons are from the Cherished Memories set - I love how well they adhere, even to textured cardstock. The chipboard pieces on the front were 'painted' with craft inks. To some I added glitter, to another I added a rub-on from A Perfect Day set (from the current Occasions Mini-catalog). The hardware that I used is from the GORGEOUS Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (also from the current Occasions Mini-catalog). The photo flaps are simply layered cardstock attached together with Prong Fasteners that you can find in any office supply store. I had so much fun making this!















Supplies:

Bali Breeze Desiger Paper
Apricot Appeal textured cardstock
Tempting Turquiose, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie Cardstock
A Perfect Day, Cherished Memories Rub-ons
Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
Grosgrain Ribbon
Chunky Glitter
Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
On Board Blossoms & Basics chipboard

Bloom Framed Print

With only a couple of weeks left to take advantage of Stampin' Up's Chipboard promotion, I want to show a sample of what you can do with our chipboard. You're going to love the chipboard.. it's thick, it's smooth, it's awesome!

This project was made using a piece from the Ginormous Pieces chipboard set. The scalloped frame is 8" x 8" square... huge! I covered it with a piece of Afternoon Tea designer paper from the Occasions mini catalog - isn't it yummy?? I cut it close to the chipboard, then sanded the edges smooth. The stamp set is also from the Occasions mini - it's the Bloomin' Beautiful set that I just fell in love with as soon as I saw it! Then again, it's a floral set... I love floral, and I love hydrandeas!

The main image is done in three layers. The first was stamped onto the background cardstock. Two other images were stamped separately. I cut pieces of the flowers out and layered them onto the first image using Stampin' Dimensionals to pop them out of the page and give lots of dimension to them. The silver frame is from the silver Hodgepodge hardware, also from the Occasions mini catalog.

Don't forget to click on the picture above to see the project up close. It's hard to see the dimension of the hydrangea, though, so you'll have to use your imagination! ;)

Other supplies used:

Soft Sky In Color cardstock & classic ink
Chocolate Chip cardstock
Whisper White cardstock
Basic Brown classic ink
Glue stick
SNAIL adhesive
Sand paper
Paper snips

Fall/Winter Collection Sneak Peek!

Those Stampin' Up demonstrators who worked hard and earned the annual Stampin' Up cruise were spoiled to no end on the latest cruise. They sailed last week to Burmuda and I am so jealous of them! They were treated to many sneak peeks of new products that will be introduced in the upcoming Fall/Winter Collection catalog that will be released in August. Some of those demonstrators were so sweet and shared those sneak peeks when they were able to get an internet connection from the ship and now I'm sharing them with you!

The first sneak peek is the new In Colors. I know you have been dying to see them! Click on the picture below for a close-up. I don't know how true the colors are, but this picture has me really excited about seeing them in person!

The next sneak peek is some of the new designer papers. Aren't they gorgeous?





How about a peek at some of the stamp sets that will be introduced in the Fall/Winter Collection? I don't know if I can stand to wait for 3 months to get my hands on these sets... and I know that I'll have to have them! I LOVE the style of those first three!! {Yes, I know... more floral. But you know how much I love floral sets!}

I have to say that in the 6 years I have been a demonstrator for Stampin' Up, they have done nothing but get better each year! I am anxious to see what else they have up their sleeve for us, aren't you?

Tutorial: Happy Bird-day Gift Card Holder

We had an intimate Coffee & Craft night this month! It was nice to have one-on-one time with a few customers and I really enjoyed getting to know them better! Glad you could make it, ladies! For those who were unable to make it, either because of other commitments or because of not being in the local area, I am posting intructions for re-creating the cute little gift card holder we made.


Isn't this little guy cute?? He comes from the Pun Fun stamp set. I just fell in love with this set the moment I saw it!

Supplies

Cardstock:
Tempting Turquoise (11" x 4 1/4")
Apricot Appeal (2 1/2" x 3 1/2")
Certainly Celery (2 1/4" x 3 1/4")
Whisper White (1 3/4" x 2")

Ink: Stazon Black, Tempting Turquoise, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Cameo Coral

Accessories: AquaPainter, Cutter Kit (Distressing Tool), Celery & Apricot Grosgrain 3/8" ribbon, Word Window Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Adhesive, Paper Cutter with Scoring Blade, rubbing alcohol

Directions

Score the turquoise card base at 3" from each end and at 5 1/2". Fold on score lines in an accordian fashion.

Adhere the center section together at the top, bottom, and back leaving the center and the fold free of adhesive.

Using the Word Window punch, punch twice about 1/4" from the top and bottom edge along the fold on the inside flap. Punch only half pieces (fold is in the center of the punch). You'll be left with a slight dimple.

Using the circle punch, punch about 1/2 of the circle, removing the dimple and leaving a notch that extends a little further back from the Word Window-punched sections. Insert a gift card into the slot to be sure it fits. If it doesn't, re-punch using the Word Window punch to lengthen the slot just a bit.

Stamp that cute little bird onto the Whisper White cardstock using Black Stazon ink. Stamp a sentiment on the inside of the card, too, if you like.

Squeeze the unopened ink pads together to deposit ink onto the lid. Open and use these as your paint palette. Fill the aquapainter with rubbing alcohol. We'll use this to watercolor instead of water - your colors will be more vibrant, they'll blend better, and your cardstock will buckle much less. Trust me... you'll love it! Watercolor the stamped image.

Distress the edges of the Whisper White cardstock and adhere to the Certainly Celery cardstock at the top, tieing a piece of Apricot grosgrain ribbon around the bottom.

Adhere the layered bird panel to the Apricot Appeal cardstock using a Stampin' Dimensional in each corner of the Celery layer.

Adhere the entire panel to the front of the gift card holder.

Wrap Celery Grosgrain ribbon around the gift card holder, threading it between the Apricot & Celery cardstock layers and tie in a bow at the side.

That's it - you're done and your gift card holder is ready to be given to that special person!

April Coffee & Craft Night!

March sure went by quickly! I don't know if it's just that I've been so busy with work and life and trying to plan some upcoming events, but I am just stunned that it's already April. It seems as if we just had our March Coffee & Craft night when here is April's coming up in just a couple of days. Hopefully you'll be able to stop by!

This month, we'll be making a gift card holder very similar to the one shown here. When opened, there's a center panel that a gift card slides into. It's really a very clever design that I wish I'd thought up, but someone else out there in 'stamping land' did instead. I think it was another demonstrator named Patty Bennett, but am not entirely sure. Whomever it was... THANK YOU!

As it is every month, Coffee and Craft Night will be held on Tuesday April 8th at the Eaton Rapids' Evelyn Bay Coffee Shop from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. For $5.00, you'll get your choice of one of Evelyn Bay's YUMMY specialty drinks (coffee, latte, cappucino, smoothy, etc.) and you'll make the craft of the month. Even better, you get a fun night out on the town with your stamping buddies! Come have fun, see old friends, and make new ones! No RSVP is necessary.