I'm Moving! Keep Stamping with Me!

No, not my physical home... just my blog address!

That's right... I'm moving over to my own home, right at www.LovenStamps.com

So now you'll want to visit my blog every day at www.LovenStamps.com/blog

If you get my blog posts in a feed reader, then you probably won't even notice a change. (I hope ;-)

If you don't get my posts delivered to your email inbox, but you'd LIKE to have that convenience, then you can still sign up! It's a free service and this way you'll always know when I've posted something fun and new.

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See you over at LovenStamps.com! Happy Stamping!!


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"WOW" Swap Projects You Don't Want to Miss

Last night was our LovenStampfuls Group APEX swap, and wow, there were some incredible projects! Okay, actually ALL the projects were fabulous. So over my next few posts you can expect to see some of these great ideas.

I had to share Sherry Garrett's swap first though--because not only did she make some really cute pins, but she also packed her mailing box with tissue paper that she had STAMPED TO MATCH her swaps cards! I think that's 'going above & beyond', don't you? :-)

Here is Sherry's card--check out the great butterflies! Her pin is gorgeous, too. She stamped layers of Vellum Cardstock and then heat embossed the top layer in black. She colored from the back side with Stampin' Write Markers, then attached all the layers.

Next up is the card by Mary Ellen Stites, and you can get the details on her 'how' through her blog post. Isn't it gorgeous? For the quick explanation, think Crushed Curry & Soft Suede, Presto Patterns Designer Paper, the Elements of Style stamp set and the Beautiful Wings Big Shot Die.


The next card is one by Kim Padan, and she used the Presto Patterns Designer Series Paper, too. You can find detailed directions on Kim's Blog. Except where Mary Ellen colored hers in Crushed Curry, Kim used Melon Mambo. But the stamp set is the same -- Elements of Style has been really popular! If you haven't seen, be sure to check out the Presto Patterns project I shared with this set. (and Kim--thanks for catching my mis-attribution!!!)


I'll stop there for now, but you're going to love the other projects I have to share, too! This is definitely a talented group of demonstrators. Don't forget--if you're considering becoming a demonstrator, there's a special going on til the end of May. You can learn more on my website or email me with any questions.


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Printed Photos "To Go", the Clear Envelope Solution

Ever find yourself headed out for a trip or visit with friends and realize that you need to take a few snapshots along with you? Okay, maybe you just carry your iPod with all your photos, but just pretend your aunt doesn't like to look at those little technology thingies. Or pretend you don't have an iPod.

Here's one of my favorite solutions for take-along photos. It's a Clear Envelope Photo Book!



These are super-easy to put together, not to mention inexpensive and quick. This sample was created with the new Printed Petals stamp set (coming in the July 1st NEW Idea Book & Catalog!) and it's my swap for our LovenStampfuls APEX swap this month.

Can you see the 'guts' of the album here? Here's what you need:

• 5 x 7.5" Pumpkin Pie cardstock, scored at 1" on one short end
• 5 x 8.5" Rose Red cardstock, scored at 1" on one end also
• Clear Envelopes, adhesive removed and stacked on top of each other

And here are the directions:

1. After stacking envelopes, adhere inside Rose Red cardstock just short of score line
2. Tuck Pumpkin Pie cardstock into fold of Rose Red cardstock, secure with Jumbo Eyelets using Crop-A-Dile
3. Decorate album cover

See? Pretty simple! A few minutes and you'll be all ready to run out the door with your gorgeous showcase of photos.


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Printed Petals (to be released July 1st, 2010), In A Word (117143 w, 120057 c)
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Certainly Celery
Paper: Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Accessories: Modern Label Punch, Crop-A-Dile, Jumbo Pewter Eyelets (108432), Clear Translucent Envelopes (102619), Scallop Circle Punch,

Boston Travel Journal: On Board for Stamping!

What a whirlwind! This past weekend (okay, a loooong weekend) I was in Boston visiting my friend Tami White. She invited me to be a speaker at a Demonstrator Training event she co-hosted with Deb Valder. Wow--what a fabulous trip!

Here's a fun project that I took along for Deb and Tami: these little scrapbooks were created from the new Briefcase On Board Books.

I used one of the pages (these are a great value!) for the cover of the album. The decoration was made by tracing the chipboard onto a piece of the new Travel Journal Designer Series Paper. And the Night of Navy Lattice is from the Lattice Big Shot Die--one of the most flexible dies ever.


See how the journal opens? There are more pages (1/4 sheets of cardstock) inside, with little strips of Travel Journey Designer Series Paper included. The car is stamped from the Sentimental Journey stamp set, also in the Summer Mini Catalog.

And just a hint, but demonstrators in our LovenStampfuls Group participating in the APEX swap for the last two quarters 'might' be seeing a project like this soon ;-)

For you Boston fans, here are a few pictures from the recent trip--the first one is our friend BJ Peters standing in front of the harbor with me (and of course carrying our fabulous purses from the Stampin' Up! cruise!)

This next is the wonder of Quincy Market. Yum! Definitely brings 'food court' to another level. We actually ate lunch in the North End, but had to stop by here for a little pre-meal snack of chowder (or chow-dah, if you're from Boston).

Tami treated us to Mike's Pastry, too. Who knew that you could make a cannoli stuffed with chocolate mousse with chocolate and chocolate chips on top?


And of course we squeezed in some time for stamping. See the flower I have on my shirt? BJ taught us how to make those... definitely more on that coming soon--these are a fabulous project!



To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Sentimental Journey (118513 w or 120075 c)
Ink: Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Travel Journal Designer Series Paper (117156), Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Accessories: Lattice Big Shot Die, On Board Book Briefcase (118766), My Way Punch (arrow)

Presto: Patterns Revealed with Sponge Daubers

Here's an idea with the new Presto Patterns Designer Specialty Paper. Really, this stuff is fabulous!! If you haven't seen it in person yet, you'll just have to order a package to try on your own. You'll LOVE it.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you're not alone. This paper is easy to miss in the Mini Catalog, but you're definitely going to want to take another look at it.


The paper itself (it's the background here) is actually white pattern printed on white paper, so it's tough to see in the package (and the Mini Catalog doesn't do it justice at all).

So to get the gorgeous effects with this paper, you 'reveal' the pattern using one of many possible techniques:

• use Sponge Daubers and Classic Ink to add color and reveal the patterns
• spray with Smooch Spritz to reveal the pattern
• use a Brayer to roll ink over the paper and show the pattern
• combine any of the 3 above techniques for REALLY cool effects!
  

For this particular card I used Sponge Daubers in Pretty in Pink and Melon Mambo ink, and for the little tag I used the Elements of Style stamp set (currently on the May special).

Here's another fun sample with the Elements of Style stamp set.

Oh--and one of the most commonly asked questions... yes, this is the Scallop Oval Punch with the LARGE Oval Punch. They layer together perfectly like this :-)


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Elements of Style
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Presto Patterns Specialty Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon

Rainbow Sherbet Sweet Scoops (with Chocolate Sauce)

This card somehow makes me think of rainbow sherbet... with chocolate syrup. Yum!

Supplies Feature:

Sweet Scoops stamp set (W: 117078 or C: 120078)

Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder for Big Shot (119976)

Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper (115675)

To make the background, I ran a piece of through my Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series PaperBig Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder. After I pulled the paper off the folder (cool texture, eh?) then I used a Sanding Block to rub some of the color off the top of the paper, exposing the white paper core. If you've never seen this technique, you can check out my Distressed Texturz Video Tutorial from last summer.

Here's another technique tip: don't forget the Kissing! For the ice cream Sweet Scoops, kiss an uninked stamp against your inked scoop stamp to add the lines. Here's a Video Tutorial on Kissing (with stamps!!) from last winter.


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Island Floral Fun with Card Ideas

New Big Shot Dies nearly always get me excited... and the new Island Floral Die has really made a splash with me! Did you see the peanut butter cup project I shared last week?

This week I'm sharing some card ideas, along with a technique for adding ribbon knots to your flowers. Here are two cards created with the same supplies, but to create different looks.

Supplies Feature:

Island Oasis Designer Series Paper (117173)

Tropical Party stamp set (118515--wood or 120081--clear)

Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (110715)

1. Cut cardstock to size:

Rose Red: 4 ¼ x 8 ½” (fold in half to make card)

Pumpkin Pie: 4 x 5 ¼”

Island Floral Designer Series Paper: 3 x 4”

Rose Red: Big Shot die cut with the Island Floral Die and textured with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder (also for Big Shot)

Whisper White: pre-punched with Modern Label Punch

2. Stamp optional background images from Island Oasis stamp set in Rose Red and Pumpkin Pie.

3. Tear across the bottom of the Designer Series Paper Piece.

4. Add ribbon to flower by sticking one end through center hole, then tie knot and put end of ribbon back through same hole. Use SNAIL to stick ribbon to paper and adhere layer to card front.

5. Stamp greeting (or optional coconut drink & palm tree images) and adhere to card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Other stamps: On Your Birthday stamp set

Diva Night Make N Take: Itty Bitty

Last night was our LovenStampfuls Diva Night for the Summer Mini Catalog. Since the Summer Mini Catalog is full of glitz and glimmer with the Smooch Spritzes, we thought it would be fun to do a theme night!

Here's the Make N Take project I designed -- we had to balance the girly diva 'bling' factor, so we made a card that would be great for either a gal or a guy (even with the small amount of glimmer included!).


The card uses Brilliant Blue for the background (retiring soon! don't wait to order your cardstock or reinkers!!) and the new Travel Journal Designer Series Paper.

The stamps are from the Itty Bitty Bits stamp set (featured in my Stamps in the Mail Club --- yes, you can still sign up!), along with the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and the matching Bitty Buttons. Have I mentioned lately that I love things that coordinate?

Everyone just tied off a bit of linen thread to dress up the button, and voila!

Oh, were you looking for the little bit of glitz? We used the Vanilla Smooch Spritz on the Pumpkin Pie cardstock layer before adding the punched pieces. It's subtle, but enough to add that special 'something' to the card.

Looking for more Itty Bitty Bits and Punches ideas? Be sure to check my Stamps in the Mail Club projects for May!


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Itty Bitty Bits
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Brilliant Blue
Paper: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Brilliant Blue, Travel Journal Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Vanilla Smooch Spritz, Color Catcher, Linen Thread, Mini Glue Dots, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack,

Just for Guys, Itty Bitty Bits Card Idea

Hmm... not sure that blog post title really came across quite right, but I'll carry on anyway... LOL

This is a project that I created for the card kits that I'm sending as thank-yous for my April online orders (thanks everyone!). It uses the Itty Bitty Bits stamp set, which I'm totally in love with, along with the new Travel Journal Designer Series Paper, both from the Summer Mini Catalog.


Here are the directions, in case you'd like to make your own card at home:

1. Cut cardstock to sizes:

• Whisper White 5 ¼ x 7 ½” (fold in half to make card)
• Night of Navy: 4 x 5 ½ ” (mount behind white layer)
• Travel Journal Designer Series Paper :1 ½ x 3 ½” and 3 ½” square
• Whisper White: 2 x 2 ¼”
• Night of Navy: 1 ¾ x 2”
• Scraps: Whisper White

2. Fold the Whisper White piece in half to create the card and mount on Night of Navy background. This is a great technique for creating a white card inside for writing, but still having the effect of a dark background layer.
3. Layer the Travel Journal Designer Series Paper as shown and stamp greeting of your choice at the bottom right. Featured stamp set: On Your Birthday (set of 12, $33.95, 111664)
4. Stamp and punch out 9 Itty Bitty Bits images of your choice in Sahara Sand and Night of Navy.
5. Arrange as grid and attach. Layer Navy and White cardstock and attach to card.

You can also get more Itty Bitty Bits ideas as part of my Stamps in the Mail Club! You can still sign up for the new Round that runs for May, June and July. Ooh... did I mention that as a Stamps In the Mail Club member you'll get a FREE copy of the new big catalog when it comes out on July 1st? Just one more enticement to sign up now ;-)

And here is a copy of the card using the Sentimental Journey stamp set (Summer Mini Catalog) instead of Itty Bitty Bits. The Designer Series Paper in the Travel Journal paper pack is really flexible--you can use pretty much any stamp set to complement it.


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Supplies Feature:
Itty Bitty Bits set (117056 w-$11.95) or (120060 c-$8.95))
Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack of 3 (118309, $16.95)
Travel Journal Designer Series Paper (117156, $9.95)
Alternate card shown: Sentimental Journey stamp set (118513 w-$23.95 or 120075 c-$17.95)

Practicing my Boston Accent (for next week)

That's right! I'm coming to Massachusetts next weekend for a Demonstrator Training Event--the New England Area Demonstrator Extravaganza! My friends Tami White and Deb Valder were kind enough to ask me to present at their upcoming event.

If you live near Springfield, MA or you're going to be there on Saturday, May 22nd, you should join us! Even though it's a demonstrator training event, you don't *have to* be a demonstrator to attend. Although after spending a day packed with stamping ideas, samples, swap cards and Make n Take projects, you're certainly going to WANT to be a demonstrator ;-) Be sure to leave a comment and let me know if you're going to be there!!

At this point I'm working on figuring out how many Stampin' Up! punches I can pack into my carry-on luggage before the bag becomes too heavy to carry.

If you'd like to check out the details or sign up online, you can do so through the event website.


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!