StampingPurrfection

My Digital Studio vs. My Digital Studio Express

Have you every wondered what the difference is between My Digital Studio and My Digital Studio Express?  They are only slightly different in what they contain and how you receive them, but the product is essentially the same.  To make it a little easier to understand, you can view the video below for a complete explanation.   If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Shelli in Columbus, Ohio...

Stampin' Up! has regional meetings for their Demonstrators to get together.  These 'Regionals' are held all over the US and Canada and in different locations each year.  Last weekend, the Regional was in Columbus, Ohio.  Shelli Gardner is usually in attendance and, if she is, she is on stage presenting her current favorite project.  Last weekend she presented the favor boxes above that she is working on for her daughter's baby shower.  I thought you would like to see them.  If you have any questions, please give me a call.

My next Stamp-a-Stack is coming soon!

I wanted to have a pretty card this morning for a quick post to let you know about my upcoming Thank You Stamp-a-Stack.  I saw this lovely card by Sarah Wills.  I don't know Sarah, she shared her card on Stampin' Connection ~ the 'idea place' for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators (so easy to use!).  Which gives me the opportunity to tell you about my upcoming class ~

Saturday morning, March 10, 10 AM

The Cat/Art Studio

16 cards ~ 4 each of 4 designs

$25.00 or $15.00 with a $25.00 order in class

You must sign up by March 1 so that I can have your supplies ready for you ~ everythng is provided except your adhesive.  Email me or give me a call ~ today ~ if possible ~ 757-587-1548.  I look forward to hearing from you.  Have a super Monday!

Two great 'how-to' tips for you!

You may recognize this card from the Sale-a-Bration catalog. It's a great card and you can re-create it very quick and easily. I know it may look more difficult than it is. The flower is simly Stampin' Up!'s Flirtatious Designer Fabric. You can get this fabric FREE during Sale-a-Bration with a $50 purchase. That's a great bonus. If you have never purchased the fabric, now is a perfect time to try it out. You can watch the following video to learn how to create this card AND dye the Baker's Twine. Two great lessons in one quick video. How about that!

The video will show you how to create the flower AND dye the Bakers Twine

Leadership Bag and Portfolio

This cute bag is from Leadership in San Antonio.  It seems when Stampin' Up! holds an event all the Demonstrators receive a bag to carry all their supplies.  Isn't this one cute?  And, it is reversable.  The bottom unbuttons and switches to another pattern.  And, the fabric?  I don't know for sure but I would think we might see it, and be able to purchase it, when the new catalog arrives in June!

And, we also received a matching portfolio with a tag signed by Shelli.  I thought it would be fun to share these with you.  Tomorrow ~ some super card samples from my team members at our Southern Stars meeting last Tuesday!

New Catalog Strategy

Stampin' Up!  announced a new catalog strategy at Leadership in January and I wanted to make you aware of it now (rather than surprise you later!).  The Idea Book & Catalog, Stampin' Up!'s main catalog, has always been introduced in July but it will be a month early this year!  The annual catalog will run from June 1, 2012 through May 31, 2013.  It will also be reduced in size and printed on lighter-weight paper. 

In addition, we have traditionally had three mini catalogs.  There will now be two seasonal catalogs called the Holiday Catalog and the Spring Catalog.  The seasonal catalogs will be larger in both size and page count than the current mini catalogs.  The products and samples will still be the best ~ with fantastic new products introduced and great samples of how to use them.  And, of course, I will be here to help you through these changes ~ just wanted you to know now.  If you have questions, just give me a call or email me and I will get right back to you!

In the meantime, my ALL OCCASIONS STAMP-A-STACK is tomorrow ~ I have to get busy!!!! 

Can I stamp on cork?

Last Thursday, Katy emailed me to ask me if she could stamp on cork.  I thought immediately that I could email back and say YES but then I hadn't stamped on cork in a long time.  I thought I had better try it again so that I could respond to Katy with confidence.

So I got out my cork sheets, #119819 (six 6" x 13" sheets for $9.95), my Jet Black Stazon stamp pad, #101406, and a stamp set I love from Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Mini Catalog, Bordering on Romance, #125482 (c) or #125480 (w).

I used my markers directly on the cork to make this card.  It is so easy to use cork and I really like the texture that it adds to the card above.

Thanks for stopping by.  Tomorrow ~ a Stampin' Up! announcement you won't want to miss!

Tips and Tricks ~ SU's new Doily Die

Stampin' Up!'s new DOILY DIE, #125592, creates a lovely background and I know you will love using it.  But, first a couple of tips to make it easier for you ~

1.  You may need to use a shim (such as a piece of card stock) when you send it through the Big Shot.  Particularly when you are using Designer Series Paper like the sample above.  The DSP is Mocha Morning Specialty Paper, #122366.

2.  Because of its' intricate design, the negative pieces will not all come out automatically when you cut the die.  It will help if you run it through the Big Shot several times ~ back and forth.  Also, roll your doily around a pencil or pen to 'pop' the pieces.  Roll it back the other way so that more of the small pieces will fall out.

3.  Push the pieces out using the Paper Piercing Tool, #116631, or the small end of the Simply Scored Stylus, #125624.

There is a little more effort required when using this die but the results are definitely worth the effort!

    

Tea Stained Tea Shoppe

Poppy Parade is my current 'fav' color.  Here I combined it with Pool Party and the lovely Designer Series Paper from the Sale-a-bration catalog, Everyday Enchantment, #126154, FREE with a purchase of $50 from any of Stampin' Up!'s catalogs.  The stamp set is Tea Shoppe and you can find it in the Occasions Mini Catalog on page 19 (it's also a 'fav' of mine!).

The other thing I did was to use Stampin' Up!'s Tea Stain from the Distressing Essentials Kit, #118762.  This kit contains so many products to help all of us create a vintage look on our cards, scrapbook pages and other craft projects.  It is so easy to create a distressed appearance with the ink spots, the sanding block, emery board or the files.  I will be showing you some more ways to use this product in my upcoming March newsletter.

If you are not on my newsletter list you can sign up now ~ just put your name into the box in the upper left hand side of the blog!  And, let me know what you would like to see ~ my goal is to be as helpful as I can to YOU!

Vintage in Cherry Cobbler

This gorgeous card was in the January issue of STAMPIN' SUCCESS which is sent to all SU Demonstrators each month.  It is full of creative ideas and business ideas ~ just one of the many resources available as a Demonstrator!  You would love it!  In fact, if you are interested I have some old copies that I would be willing to share with you.  Let me know and I will choose one and put it in the mail to you.

This card uses Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details, #125585.  A 6 ounce bottle of Dazzling Details has a fine-tip applicator which allowed me to 'trace' the flourish design from the Creative Elements stamp set, #122647 (c) or #122645 (w).  I just drew a fine line with the glitter glue. 

Dazzling Details (also available in clear, #124117) is acid free and nontoxic, so it's safe for scrapbook pages.  It is economically priced at only $2.50.  A little goes a long way!  And, there is absolutely no mess!!!!

Thanks for stopping by ~ and, do take me up on my offer ~ you know you would love to see Stampin' Success 'in person'!