Magical Masking Tape Hits Scrapbooking

In January, my stamp club got to dabble in the Magical Masking Tape technique.  We made several cards with this easy as can be technique.  As I designed one of the cards, I thought it would be a great technique to carry over onto one of my scrapbook pages.  This page took no time at all!  The most time consuming part was die cutting the letters.

If you haven't tried this technique, it is something you should.  All you have to do is get some painter's tape (my preference) or masking tape and ink it up light or heavy depending on the effect you want to achieve and "stamp" it on to your paper.  I use painter's tape so it releases easy from the paper and does not risk tearing my project.  As you can see, I used this tape technique under my picture with two different colors and two different lengths of tape.

This project also uses the banner punch that you can earn for free this month with a $50 purchase.  I love this little punch.  It is a great addition to my scrapbooking supplies!  I also used new paper from our Occasions seasonal catalog that will only be available through the spring.

Here are the ingredients to recreate this page:
Stamps: None for this project...just painter's tape
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Tangerine Tango
Paper: Whisper White, Retro Fresh DSP, Pool Party
Accessories: Banner Punch, Typeset Alphabet Sizzix Dies

Keep Your Sympathy On Hand

I am sad to say over the past month I have had a great need for sympathy cards.  If I know the family is Catholic, I tend to send a Mass card, but if not, I try to make sympathy cards.  It seems like each week over the last few weeks friends and family have lost a family member.  I always have a difficult time making sympathy cards in the moment.  I always say I am going to make a few to have on hand but never do.  I encourage you to make some sympathy cards to have ready when you need them and hope you don't need to use them.  It is much easier to make them when you don't need them than when you do.

The set I used for this card, while geared towards sympathy and illness, has been a very versatile set for me.  I have used it in scrapbooking as well as everyday cards.  Unfortunately, today's card was made for its true use.  Here are the details:

Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers
Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Pink Pirouette Marker
Paper: Whisper White, Pistachio Pudding, In-Color DSP
Accessories: Pink Pirouette Taffeta Ribbon, Decorative Label Punch, Sizzix Labels Collection Framelits

Paper Pumpkin Too Cute!!

Have you subscribed to My Paper Pumpkin yet?  If not, here is something you are missing!  February's kit came in perfect time for me to put together an adorable gift bag for my upline's birthday.  I used one of the stamps I got in my kit to make a simple coordinating card to go with it.  This month brought some new features to the kit: more value in each kit and photopolymer stamps for a better cling to your clear block.

Now is a perfect time to try out My Paper Pumpkin.  If you sign up for My Paper Pumpkin as a new subscriber prior to March 31, 2014.  You will receive a free set of in-color markers with your Welcome Kit.  The nice thing about My Paper Pumpkin  is you can cancel at anytime or you can opt out from month to month if you need to take a break.  I love receiving a little surprise in my mailbox each month and it has been the perfect thing to reach for when I am in a pinch and need a quick card or project.  Click on my link to the left to sign up for your kit today!

Birthday Wishes

Last week was my sister-in-law's birthday.  This is the card I sent her.  I used a sketch from the Deconstructed Sketch blog.  I absolutely love how it came out and the fact that I got to play with some new product (Note the Sale-A-Bration banner punch, free with a $50 purchase this month!!!).

Here are the ingredients for this card:
Stamps: Embellished Events, Bring On the Cake
Ink: Midnight Muse Pad; Soft Sky, Tangerine Tango, and So Saffron Markers
Paper: Soft Sky, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, I Am Me DSP
Accessories: 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Banner Punch

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  I hope you have all had fun making cards for this special day.  I was so excited that My Paper Pumpkin this past month had love themed cards so I could put together nice quick and easy cards for my kids.  I can't wait to receive my February kit!  They are increasing the size of the kits but not the price!  If you haven't tried My Paper Pumpkin, now is the time.  You will receive a free set of In-Color Markers with your Welcome Kit.  Just click the link at the left to get to the site to order.  I will be giving my cards I  made with my January kit to the kids this evening with a little sweet treat after a little sledding on our second snow day in a row!  What a way to extend our February vacation!

Today's sample is the card I made for my husband.  I traditionally give it to him with a plate of chocolate chip cookies when he gets home from work, but I may need to do an IOU this year since I think I am out of margarine!  I am contemplating butter as a substitute...

This card was fun to make!  I got to play with a bunch of new die cuts.  Here are the ingredients:
Stamps: Peachy Keen
Ink:  Crisp Cantaloupe
Paper: Crumb Cake, Soft Sky, Pink Pirouette, Crisp Cantaloupe
Accessories: On Film Framelit Dies, Expressions Thinlits

Something for Baby

I have finally gotten a chance to share a new sample with you!  Free time to blog is at such a premium these days!  This card is one I made to accompany a long overdue baby gift for the baby sister of one of my Cub Scouts.  She was born in May and I am finally getting the gift to them!  I have had the gift since the spring!  At least, I always buy big sizes!

Now on to the card.  Here are the specs:
Stamps: Zoo Babies, Mosaic Madness, Embellished Events
Ink: Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Accessories: Strawberry Slush 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim, Stampin' Sponges, Ovals Collections Framelits Dies

Fun Kiddo Birthday Card

Today's card is an extremely simple card I made for a special little guy this past November.  I love when a card can be put together in no time!  It makes coordinating the card with the wrapping super easy.  I often choose my card colors to match the packaging.

Here are the ingredients:
Stamps: Zoo Babies, Bring On the Cake
Paper: Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White, Retired DSP (substitute with Tangerine Tango from the Brights DSP)
Ink: Crushed Curry, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Brights Candy Dots

Happy New Year!

So, I have been on sabbatical for the month of December.  My life gets extremely crazy during that month between birthdays, Hanukkah and Christmas.  So with a new year here, I am happy to get back to a slower pace and blogging more often.  My first post is a little gift I made for my new neighbors who moved in across the street this past fall.  A little tradition I picked up from my Southern friends is to welcome a new neighbor by baking a little something for them.  This was an apple bread, a recipe I acquired from a former co-worker (yum!).  Of course, all  baked goods given as a gift need to be dressed up!  This little dress up took me a matter of seconds to complete!

Here are all the details:
Stamps: Flower Shop, Happy Day
Paper: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, So Saffron
Ink: Calypso Coral, Pool Party
Accessories: Calypso Coral 3/4" Chevron Ribbon, Pansy Punch, Chalk Talk Framelits

25 Year Celebration with 25% Off Stamps

We're celebrating Stampin' Up!'s 25th anniversary all year long, but during the week of the actual date (October 25th to be exact) we thought we should pump up the party even more. So what better way than a sale on the very products that started it all: stamps, of course!

Dates: October 22-28, 2013
Offer: Get 25 percent off 25 stamp sets

The following are the sets being offered.  Note W=wood mount and C=clear mount.  Use Hostess Code : MCEQMBY6 
If you use this code when ordering from my online store, you will be entered in a special drawing for a free stamp set!
 

	Page	Item #	Stamp Description	Original Price	Sale Price
1	59	131056	A Dozen Thoughts (W)	$26.95	$20.21
		131059	A Dozen Thoughts (C)	$18.95	$14.21
2	54	130453	Zoo Babies (W)	$27.95	$20.96
		130456	Zoo Babies (C)	$19.95	$14.96
3	29	129687	Lots of Thanks (W)	$22.95	$17.21
		129690	Lots of Thanks (C)	$16.95	$12.71
4	112	130294	Happy Day (W)	$21.95	$16.46
		130297	Happy Day (C)	$16.95	$12.71
5	83	130441	Gifts of Kindness (W)	$25.95	$19.46
		130444	Gifts of Kindness (C)	$18.95	$14.21
6	124	131922	Hearts a Flutter (W)	$25.95	$19.46
		129252	Hearts a Flutter (C)	$18.95	$14.21
7	22	130240	Hello, Lovely (W)	$32.95	$24.71
		130243	Hello, Lovely (C)	$24.95	$18.71
8	30	131068	Crazy, Mixed-Up Love (W)	$19.95	$14.96
		131071	Crazy, Mixed-Up Love (C)	$14.95	$11.21
9	89	128424	Bright Blossoms (W)	$16.95	$12.71
		125497	Bright Blossoms (C)	$12.95	$9.71
10	30	132022	Itty Bitty Banners (W)	$15.95	$11.96
		126257	Itty Bitty Banners (C)	$11.95	$8.96
11	37	131341	Yippee-Skippee (W)	$18.95	$14.21
		131344	Yippee-Skippee (C)	$14.95	$11.21
12	109	130514	Gorgeous Grunge (W)	$24.95	$18.71
		130517	Gorgeous Grunge (C)	$17.95	$13.46
13	Online	128048	Ornament Keepsakes (W)	$34.95	$26.21
		128051	Ornament Keepsakes (C)	$25.95	$19.46
14	107	128415	Apothecary Art (W)	$34.95	$26.21
		125527	Apothecary Art (C)	$27.95	$20.96
15	56	131913	Cuddles & Kisses (W)	$25.95	$19.46
		127314	Cuddles & Kisses (C)	$18.95	$14.21
16	34	131931	Oh, Hello (W)	$25.95	$19.46
		130733	Oh, Hello (C)	$18.95	$14.21
17	33	130619	Label Love (W)	$24.95	$18.71
		130622	Label Love (C)	$17.95	$13.46
18	Online	134813	Christmas Star Single	$9.95	$7.46
19	Online	134765	A Gift for You	$4.95	$3.71
20	87	131955	Betsy's Blossom (W)	$28.95	$21.71
		126006	Betsy's Blossom (C)	$21.95	$16.46
21	131	132042	Morning Post (W)	$46.95	$35.21
		126592	Morning Post (C)	$34.95	$26.21
22	65	128430	Gently Falling (W)	$39.95	$29.96
		123804	Gently Falling (C)	$28.95	$21.71
23	Online	127922	Snowflake Soiree (W)	$29.95	$22.46
		127925	Snowflake Soiree (C)	$21.95	$16.46
24	Online	128042	Jewish Celebrations (W)	$25.95	$19.46
		128045	Jewish Celebrations (C)	$18.95	$14.21
25	33	131946	That's the Ticket (W)	$22.95	$17.21
		128075	That's the Ticket (C)	$16.95	$12.71

Thank You Thursday

It's Thursday and guess what that means?  Another great Thank You for making our Stampin' Up! blog what it is today.  This week we say thanks with a little bit of Designer Series Paper, or “DSP” as we like to call it! So head over to the online store and grab this paper before the deal runs out!
As always, the discount will be applied at check-out!

	This And That Epic Day DSP: 130814 Regular Price: $10.95 US/$13.50 CAN Discounted Price: $8.21 US/$10.12 CAN
	Soho Subway DSP: 130140 Regular Price: $10.95 US/$13.50 CAN Discounted Price: $8.21 US/$10.12 CAN
	I Am Me DSP: 130138 Regular Price: $10.95 US/$13.50 CAN Discounted Price: $8.21 US/$10.12 CAN
	Etcetera DSP: 130129 Regular Price: $10.95 US/$13.50 CAN Discounted Price: $8.21 US/$10.12 CAN