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!!


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

"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.


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

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.


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

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!

Island Florals: a Candy Oasis Gift Idea

Think bright colors, big blooms, chocolate...

What's not to love? Yes, pretty much any project with chocolate makes me happy, it's true. But projects using the latest goodies from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalog!

This fun summer gift idea could be used as a centerpiece for cookouts, wedding or baby showers or just for fun.

And we'll be making it at Stamp Club in May (tonight and tomorrow, May 12th and 13th--email me for details if you'd like to join us here in Mahomet, IL!). We'll also be making these at our LovenStampfuls demonstrator group Stamp N Share on Saturday...let me know if you'd like information about being a demonstrator--you're welcome to join us on Saturday as my guest!


The center of each peanut butter cup was stamped with the Rough Type Alphabet and punched with the 3/4" Circle Punch. And yes, that cool splotchy circle image is from the same Rough Type stamp set.

The blossoms themselves were created using the new Big Shot Die from the Summer Mini Catalog-- Stampin' Up! Island Floral. The die has two different flowers plus an extra petal/leaf and a 3-sided petal/leaf.

***TIP*** Here's how I assembled my flowers:

1. Use the Big Shot to die cut the large 5-petal flower, the small 5-petal flower and the 3-petal flower, all from the Island Floral Die in bright petal colors
2. Die cut another 3-petal piece in Old Olive for leaves
3. Curling all flower card stock pieces up towards the center and the leaves down toward the stem, attach with SNAIL adhesive so that the center holes line up
4. Use a bamboo skewer to poke through the hole in all layers.
   
5. Leave 1/8" of the skewer sticking up through the blossom and add a Pop-Up Glue Dot to the top of the skewer. Use the same Glue Dot to attach the peanut butter cup to the blossom.
6. Stamp and punch the 3/4" Circle Punch pieces for the tops of the peanut butter cups.
7. To make centerpiece, assemble an Island Oasis Party Favor Box and add a weight to the bottom (i.e. glass beads). Using the pokey end (technical term ;-) of the bamboo skewer, poke a hole through the top of the Favor Box. You may need to trim down the skewer so it's not too top-heavy.
8. Repeat to add 3 blossoms 'on stems' to each Favor Box. Optional: add extra flowers die cut from the Island Oasis Designer Series Paper to the top of the box to disguise skewers. Stamp and cut out flower image from the Tropical Party stamp set to add to flowers.
   

Planning favors for a wedding, graduation party or other event? Be sure to check out some of my other recent Candy Project blog posts!


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Rough Type (wood mount-118659, clear-120072), Tropical Party (w-118515, c-120081)
Ink: Rose Red, Old Olive
Paper: Rose Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Temping Turquoise, Island Oasis Designer Series Paper (117173)
Accessories: 3/4" Circle Punch, Island Oasis Party Favor Boxes (117178), Stampin' Up! Island Floral Bigz Die (118871), Big Shot (113439), Pop-Up Glue Dots

Itty Bitty Tic Tac Toe, Bits in a Box

I'm SO excited about this project for my new Stamps in the Mail Club Round!! Each month Club members make 3 cards plus a 'wow' fun project of some kind. The new Round begins this month (May) so you can jump in and join the club this month.

For our May 'wow' fun project, we're going to be making these sweet Tic Tac Toe "To Go" games! A huge thank you to my friend Kelley Banducci for a similar project that she shared with me several years ago!

I'm not sure the picture shows it very well, but the playing pieces use both the Itty Bitty Bits stamp set (from the Summer Mini Catalog) as well as the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and the Bitty Buttons that match perfectly.


Two fabulous things about the Stamps in the Mail Club... 1) you get all the stamps, inks, accessories and embellishments that you need for the projects, and 2) you get exclusive Video Tutorials with all my tips for making the projects a snap--4 new videos and 4 new projects each month.

Here are the 4 projects you'll be making with your May Kit:


Here's what past Stamps in the Mail Club members have said about the Club:

Here's what Debbie K, an 11-round Stamps in the Mail Club subscriber had to say: "I really enjoy the Stamps in the Mail Club because everything you need for a project or card is right there--everything is pre-cut. The directions are clear and easy, and then you have the directions that you can use on future projects. I love it."

And Dawn H, another Stamps in the Mail Club veteran shared this thought: "Stamps in the mail club is an awesome way to get creative ideas. A fabulous way to build up your supplies at little cost. Stamps in the mail is like taking a class, only you don't have to leave the comforts of your home. Everything is delivered to your door. I highly recommend Stamps in the mail! Besides the demonstrator is awesome!"

You can sign up now! If you're registered and paid before May 13th, your kit will ship on May 18th and you can begin working on your projects right away!

Click here to learn more about how the Stamps in the Mail Club can help you...


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

More Stampin' Up! Cruise Highlights, more scrapbooking ideas!

I mentioned last week that I'm really having fun with scrapbooking my Caribbean Cruise photos with My Digital Studio (MDS). Here are a few more highlights:

This page will be the front of my 12x12" bound scrapbook -- yup, with MDS you can print the front of your album with anything you want. So here I'm making this page the front of my book as well as my opening page. It was an especially easy page. I started with the 9 picture layout that is included with the Photo Templates that come with MDS. Then I added a photo to each box, and in the center I added a .jpg of the cruise logo. Anything you have as a .jpg file can be treated as a photo in MDS. Very handy!


Here's another page--I'm making one of these pages for each day. These will make it easy for me to divide each section and see which adventure occurred on which island (or sea day). The 'day' is written in the Rough Type Alphabet (a new digital download, or the 'real life' stamp set in the Summer Mini Catalog). The numbers are from the new digital download Scoreboard digital set.


Since our first full day on ship was a free day (no ports--just floating at sea), it felt like we had lots of time to relax! Among our favorites of the day... playing games with my friend Meg Daves and her husband, playing the piano on the Deck 14 lounge and getting soft-serve strawberry yogurt. Yum! The background paper for this page is from the Sweet Pea Designer Pack digital download.


And that night was our first Formal Night. We don't get too many chances to get really dressed up at home, so it's fun to pull out our fancy clothes. Okay, you caught me... it's really an excuse to go shopping for fun dresses that I'd never get to wear at home ;-) And on the scrapbook page I used more Sweet Pea Designer Paper as well as the new Satin Ribbon digital download. We're here with some of our dinner table mates--my upline Kim Peck and her husband Tim, and Susan LaCroix and her hubby Al.



To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
My Digital Studio (118108)
Extra Digital Downloads: Rough Type Alphabet (121066), Satin Ribbons (121063), Corduroy Buttons (120170), Textured Cardstock (120168), Jersey Alphabet (122263), Scallop Border Trim Punch (122136), Spring Shades Designer Series Paper (120172), Sweet Pea Designer Pack

Here Birdie Birdie (wait, wasn't that retired?)

Yup, I do know that several parts of this card are retired, but the good news is that you can get some of those same items on the Clearance Rack on my online ordering website! (while supplies last, so don't wait too long--click for ordering website, then pick Clearance Rack on the left column)

This is one of the cards that we made at my A La Card Class last month. Yes, the cardstock and the cute bird from the Good Friend set are done with Pacific Point, but just think... Pacific Point will be coming back soon as part of the Color Renovation! Yay!!!


Be sure to look for the Kiwi Kiss Corduroy Buttons through my Clearance Rack, too. Don't wait too long though--these items are selling quickly.

On the same 'selling quickly' note, please realize that some of the retiring colors from the Color Renovation (click here for list) are also selling out quickly. Don't wait to order your cardstock and reinkers in these colors--they may not be available through June 1st as originally planned.

Which brings me around to today's Stampin' Up! Southern Caribbean Cruise note... we were each given cardstock samplers of the new color families, and I think you're going to love them as much as I do!! Really, I know it's hard to see some old favorites go, but believe me, when I look at the new cardstock colors laid out by family, I am really excited about the combinations and flexibility we have coming on July 1st!


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Good Friend (113740)
Ink: Pacific Point (avail. July 1st), Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango (avail. July 1st)
Paper: Pacific Point (avail. July 1st), Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper (sold out from Clearance Rack), Whisper White
Accessories: Kiwi Kiss Corduroy Buttons (114338--Clearance Rack online), Pigtails Ribbon Originals (114316--Clearance Rack online)

Stampin' Up! Cruise: Pages NOT in Order (GASP!)

You didn't really want me to show you our trip in chronological order, did you? Because while 'in order' is a great way to tell a story, I don't often scrapbook that way.

Here's how scrapbooking works for me:

1. pick out a picture or two that I want to put together on a page
2. find a layout that complements the pictures
3. add some background papers, coordinating elements
4. add the pictures to the page
5. add some final embellishments (buttons, ribbons & stamped images)

So here are a few of my first pages from our trip (like I said, NOT in chronological order). These are all created with the Stampin' Up! My Digital Studio software. (I love it!!) (click here to see more about My Digital Studio)

The page above uses the World Tour digital stamp set, as well as several NEW digital downloads: Corduroy Buttons, Satin Ribbons, Scallop Trim Border Punch and the Textured Cardstock (yum!). If you haven't learned about the latest Digital Downloads, let me know and I can help you find them on my ordering website.

Our first full day on the ship was at sea, and we had a short Stampin' Up! general session for the demonstrators and their guests. Yes, we did see some stamping at sea (cool samples from the new Summer Mini Catalog).


And Shelli and Dale announced the location for the 2012 Incentive Trip... drumroll please... Disneyworld! Yup, they've booked a whole Disney hotel and Stampin' Up! is taking over for a week. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? I know we'll be looking forward to it!

BTW, the alphabet above for "GENERAL" is one of the new digital downloads, too-- it's called Jersey. And the stamp set for the embellishments on the left side -- Certified -- is part of the May National Scrapbooking Month special (the real-life set, not the digital one).

Here's another page--I loved the photo so much that I couldn't wait to make a page for it. The page inspiration came from flipping through scrapbook magazines. The colors are all Crushed Curry, Real Red and Brocade Blue from the Happy Bday Designer Kit (included with the original My Digital Studio package).

The font in the title (Antigua) is called Cheri. If you click on any of these page samples, you can see them in more detail (and read my journaling, if you're interested).

My last page for the day is just the start of a fabulous tour of the island of St. Lucia. The page layout is adapted from one by Ali Edwards. The 'st. lucia' alphabet is another new digital download -- Rough Type. It's definitely my new favorite! Plus you'll notice lots of images from the Extreme Elements stamp set (another of the 'real life' stamp sets on the May special).


See what I mean? There's nothing in my scrapbooking style about 'make page for day 1 first' or even 'scrapbook all pages from a full day'. Mostly I jump around and work with whatever pictures jump out at me first.

As a result, I find scrapbooking to be much more FUN--not a chore where I'm always behind.

If you're a scrapbook expert, or maybe a new scrapbooker, here's my challenge to you: TRY IT! That's right, pull out a random picture you're excited about and just scrapbook it. Don't worry about how far behind you are on your son's baby album (even if he graduates from college this year). Just jump into the middle and find something you're excited about.

You never know, you just might find that you LIKE scrapbooking again! (yup, more fun, less chore ;-)


To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
My Digital Studio (118108)
Extra Digital Downloads: Rough Type Alphabet (121066), Satin Ribbons (121063), Corduroy Buttons (120170), Textured Cardstock (120168), Jersey Alphabet (122263), Scallop Border Trim Punch (122136), Spring Shades Designer Series Paper (120172)