Review PLUS....

This is definitely a REVIEW for most of you but sometimes that is just what we need.  This video from Stampin' Up! was available when the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine first came out.  I reviewed it again recently and thought that it would be good to add it to my blog.  I found myself just fast forwarding through parts of it but other parts were a good 'how to' reminder.   If you don't have the machine in your collection of craft tools this might be very helpful.  And, during SALE-A-BRATION the Mini Machine is available when you join as a demonstrator (see the second video for more information).  Questions?  EMAIL ME!

                                                                

 

                                                                

SEEING SPOTS!

ONE of the best things about being a PAPER PUMPKIN subscriber is that in every box you get a SPOT!  A spot is a miniature stamp pad.  I store mine in a retired plastic box designed for our old design stamp sets with wooden blocks but, really any plastic storage box would do.  You can also find spots on page 129 in the annual catalog ~ a CLASSIC ASSORTMENT of 8 colors (#153183 for $24) or UNINKED set of five spots below.

 

Uninked Spots, #141822, $9

I am very fond of spots and use them often, particularly when I am using my STAMPARATUS (#146276, $49, Page 147 AC).  Because they are small it is easier to ink up your stamp without getting ink in the wrong place and creating a mess!  Spots don't come in every color but, with your handy little refill bottle, they come in any color that you desire!  Just label them and you can easily use them over and over!  How do you store your spots?  How do you use your spots?

 

Thank you!

Loved using the Adorable Owls and the Conversation Bubbles stamp sets on my last card using the Kraft Note Cards & Envelopes & my watercolor pencils.  Instead of using the whole note card this time, I cut off the front of the card so that I could adhere it to a piece of the Country Gingham DSP (page 9 in the mini catalog) and then to a Sahara Sand base card.  

Thanks to everyone who left a comment in the last couple of days!  And, particularly to Beth Ann in Rapid City, SD!!!!  

Watercolor Pencils...

As a continuation of yesterdays use of our Watercolor Pencils I used them to color the images in the retired stamp set, EASTER FRIENDS.  This set is from the 2022 January Mini Catalog and a 'keeper' because of the darling little Spring images included.  I used two of the blue shades of the pencils to shade around the cute animals ~ Pacific Point and Bermuda Bay ~ to make them stand out a little bit more.  Comments?  (I'll send you a card!)

 

Kraft Note Cards

You can find KRAFT NOTE CARDS & ENVELOPES (#159247, $10) on page 137 in Stampin' Up!'s annual catalog.  There are 20 cards and 20 envelopes AND a coordinating box included.  I recently used these note cards with the IN THE COUNTRY sale-a-bration stamp set and my watercolor pencils (page 126 AC).  Note cards & envelope sets also come in Very Vanilla and Basic White ~ without the box!  

I love using the white watercolor pencil on the kraft note cards.  What do you think?  Leave me a comment and I'll send you a notecard!!!  Happy Saturday!

Alison Sloven solving problems ...

Alison is a Canadian demonstrator who has been having trouble using the Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine.  She provides information in this video about how she uses the plates and I thought that it might be helpful to those of you who have this mini machine.  I don't use mine often because I have two of the regular size machines that never get put away.  I hope this is helpful for some of you.  Let me know what you think.  Wednesday hugs, se

                                                                

 

Layering Circles

Pat Saul, a demonstrator on my team of STARS, presented the Layering Circles technique at our meeting yesterday afternoon.  She did a fabulous job and I love her card!

She used the LAYERING CIRCLES DIES at the top of page 172 in the Annual Catalog.  She die cut three circles, glued them together and then cut them in half.  Confused?  I think we all were for a little while but we all made our own cards.

I typed in Layering Circles in Pinterest today and found a lot of samples and started a new board, Paper Craft Techniques.  Check it out.  I will refer to this technique again soon as I am going to be using our new COUNTRY FLORAL LANE collection for Valentines next month in Stamp Club.  In the meantime ~ thanks so much Pat ~ I had totally forgotten about this unique technique!

 

Did you know? I didn't.

I can't believe that I just figured this out ~ or, rather, read about it on SUDSOL.  It is a website that I have belonged to forever ~ at least since I signed up to be a demonstrator all those years ago.  SUDSOL stands for Simply Unique Demonstrators Sharing Online.  It is a wonderful resource for sharing ideas, tips, experience and creativity.  Today a member mentioned that she used the old MAGNETIC PLATE (the one we used with the BIG SHOT) with the new embossing machine.  Duh!  Why didn't I think of that!!!  So, sorting through the old to find my ancient magnetic  plate, I tried it and it worked!!!  I am so happy and wanted to share in case you have an old one too!!

Use the platform and #3 and #3.

Tool Kit

There is a TOOL KIT in the mini catalog that you should order if you don't already have it in your craft room.  Believe me it will save you a lot to trouble (as in mess) when you are embossing.  Katy (pictured) and I were talking about it in my Christmas Card class on Monday afternoon.  I wanted to make sure to reinforce how practical this tool is.  

The EMBOSSING ADDITIONS TOOL KIT is on page 49 in the mini catalog and includes the embossing buddy, crafting tweezers, crafting brush and the tray.  You can see the tray above ~ mine is old and well used because whenever I am embossing I use it ~ often.  The Kit (#159971) is $27 and well worth it as it lasts forever and keeps your craft space much more tidy!!!

 

 

Embossing TIP ~

Online TIP from demonstrator ~ Laura Seki

This is a Tuesday Tip that I posted on my fb page. I use one of the Mini Cutting Plates (Plate 2) for my top cutting plate on my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine when I am die cutting smaller shapes. Not only is it more cost efficient to replace but I find that the dies don’t move around as much when I am assembling the sandwich. It’s quick and easy to feed through the mouth of the machine as you aren’t lining up two plates of the same size and I rarely need to use tape to hold the dies in place! Anyone else do this?