July Stampers' Night Out!

Last night, The TOPICS! met for our July Stampers' Night Out at La Madeline - AND WE HAD A SUPER TIME! It is always a thrill for me to see everyone in one room and to share our stamping enthusiasm! We engaged in a card swap, and the requirements were to use a brand spankin' new stamp set from our new catalog and to somehow incorporate one of our new colors, either through card stock, inks, ribbon, or an embellishment! I think our group did a fabulous job for this swap! The winner of our favorite card received a gift certificate from me for some goodies out of the catalog. Kate Osborne was the winner! Here are the entries below:

The card above was stamped by Pam D'Urso.

The card above was stamped by Elizabeth Hurst.

The card above was stamped by Faye Wilson.

The card above was stamped by Cathy Vogel.

The card above was stamped by Danielle Adams.

The card above was stamped by Kate Osborne - and was THE WINNER!

The card above was stamped by Diane Burns.

The card above was stamped by Susanne Jeffery.

The card above was stamped by Karrilyn Ringnald.

The card above was stamped by Amy Hansen. Amy used the owl punch to make tulips!

The card above was stamped by Jennifer Gulch.

The card above was stamped by Jennifer Park.

The card above was stamped by Mary Lee Sherman.

The card above was stamped by Pam Davenport.

The card above was stamped by Gail Mikeska.

The card above was stamped by Blanca Cortez-Keister.

The card above did not have a name on the back.

The card above was stamped by Katherine Langner.

The card above was stamped by Tracy Fraser.

The bag topper above was stamped by Lizette Lobpries.

We also engaged in a New Catalog Scavenger Hunt! Here the gals are deeply engrossed in the hunt - all hoping to win the new owl punch in our catalog. The winner was Elizabeth Hurst, who took that cute little owl punch home with her! We had such a nice evening and I enjoyed everyone's company. What a great bunch of gals!

Pool Process - Step 11!

It's getting so close, I can taste it! I'm jumping out of my skin to get our pool finished! Today the pool workers poured the concrete for the decking around the pool. Once they fill in all the spaces, they take a big spatula-looking-thing and smooth it out nice and pretty! Of course, once they were gone, me and Hunter and Haley (and Otto, too!) had to go out there and mess with it! The kids put their handprints and names into it and I just put my thumbprint in it! Of course the kids wanted Otto's paw print in it, too, but he started walking in it and got several paw prints in it! That's okay - it will all be covered up with flagstone on Monday morning! And then we can plaster! I went outside to take pictures of our handprints, but it had rained a little bit and almost completely washed away what we had done. BUMMER!

New Catalog Open House Make-n-Take!

This is a card stock color sample chart we made at the New Catalog Open House! I downloaded these charts from http://www.mukibug.com/! My stampin' buddy Chrystyna sent me this information and I thought it would make a super make-n-take for the open house! The recipe is below. All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up!, except for the binder rings! Recipe: Paper: Dusty Durango or Soft Suede - 8-1/2 X 3-1/2; Dusty Durango scrap; Soft Suede scrap; Whisper White scrap Stamps: Circle Circus (P. 129 of the catalog); Certified (P. 128 of the catalog) Inks: Dusty Durango; Soft Suede Miscellaneous: Whisper White Color Charts; 1/4" Hole Punch; 3/4" Binder Rings; Scallop Circle Punch; 1-1/4" Circle Punch; 1" Circle Punch; Stampin' Dimensionals; Soft Suede 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon or Dusty Durango 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon - 13" long; Paper Snips

New Catalog Open House Make-n-Take!

This is a cute little party favor made with the Scallop Circle Die! You just fold the scallop circle in half, punch a hole in the top for the ribbon, cover your chocolate nuggets with coordinating designer papers, run some Snail Adhesive along the bottom of each nugget, and press them into place inside the scallop circle! Easy-peasy! The recipe is below. All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up!, except for the Hershey Chocolate Nuggets! Recipe: Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper - 5-1/4 X 5; Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper - 3 X 1 (3); score at 3/4" and 2-1/2" for the nuggets; Rich Razzleberry scrap; Whisper White scrap Stamps: Think Happy Thoughts (P. 144 of the catalog) Inks: Crushed Curry; Melon Mambo Miscellaneous: 1/8" Hole Punch; Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon - 4" long; 1-1/4" Circle Punch; 1-3/8" Circle Punch; Paper Piercer; Clear Rhinestone Brad; 3 Hershey Chocolate Nuggets; Stampin' Dimensionals; The Big Shot Machine; Scallop Circle Die

New Catalog Open House Make-n-Take!

Isn't this just the best thing you've ever seen? My sister sent me a card like this for my birthday and it looked so realistic, I wanted to take a sip from the straw! As soon as I saw it, I knew it would make a GREAT summertime make-n-take for my New Catalog Open House! The recipe is below. All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up!, except the straw! Recipe: Paper: Whisper White - 8-1/2 X 5-1/2; So Saffron - 5-1/4 X 4; Whisper White - 5-1/8 X 3-7/8; Cardstock Vellum in the shape of a glass; Whisper White scrap for the berries Stamps: Happy Everything (P. 142 of the catalog); Tart & Tangy (P. 126 of the catalog) Inks: Basic Black; Yoyo Yellow; Real Red Marker; Green Galore Marker Miscellaneous: Stamp-a-ma-jig; Mini Glue Dots; 1-1/4" Circle Punch; Paper Snips; Sticky Strip; Dazzling Diamonds; Stampin' Sponge; Straw

A Beautiful Card!

As you're viewing this, I'm in Salt Lake City at the Stampin' Up! Convention! Amazing what you can do with technology, right? I wish I could have fit you all in my back pocket and taken you with me! We have such a super fantabulous time - and then we come home totally obnoxious - all pumped up about Stampin' Up! and the products we sell! That's why we love to go - it reminds us how lucky we are to be part of such a wonderful company!

Okay, these colors make me melt! But what was I thinking? "To a Wonderful....Husband?" My husband doesn't want a card with a pink bow and flowers all over it! Why didn't I change that to "friend" or "sister"? Oh, well, this stamp set (the flowers, that is) is about to retire and I wanted you to see what a gorgeous card you can make with it before it's too late! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up! - THE best rubber stamp company in the world!

Recipe:
Stamps: All Through the Year (P. 59); Wonderful Favorites (P. 145); Paisley Background (P. 136)
Paper: Certainly Celery - 8-1/2 X 5-1/2; Whisper White; 5-1/4 X 4; Regal Rose - 4-1/4 X 2-1/2; So Saffron - 5 X 2-1/4; Regal Rose - 4-1/2 X 1-3/4; Whisper White - 4-1/4 X 1-1/2; Certainly Celery Scrap for "husband"
Inks: So Saffron; Regal Rose; Certainly Celery; Basic Black
Miscellaneous: Regal Rose Wide Grosgrain (P. 191) - 16" long; Certainly Celery Brads (P. 189); Stampin' Dimensionals (P. 186); Paper Piercer with Mat (P. 189)

Card of the Week - July 28th

Here's another gorgeous birthday card I received - it's so soft and soothing - and this one came from my sister, Pam, who is a demonstrator in Missouri! I'm just sick that the Soft Sky Designer Paper is being discontinued, but I guess we have to make room for the cool new In Colors coming in. I love the Build-a-Brad in the center - it's one of my favorite accessories! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up!

Recipe:
Stamps: Baroque Motifs (P. 120) - if you don't have this set, how come? It's a must-have!
Paper: Soft Sky (the card base) - 11 X 4-1/4; Whisper White - 4-1/4 X 4-1/2; Soft Sky - 4-1/4 X 2; Soft Sky Designer Paper - 2 strips that are 4-1/4 X 1; Whisper White scrap for the flower
Inks: Soft Sky
Miscellaneous: Soft Sky Double-Stitched Ribbon (P. 191); Scallop Punch (P. 181); Stampin' Dimensionals (P. 186); Pewter Build-A-Brad (P. 189)

Beautifully Simple Notecards

These two notecards embody everything that I love about stamping! My favorite cards are always the simple ones! They look so crisp and clean, and they're elegant and easy! I don't need all kinds of bells and whistles and doodahs on my cards to be happy, and I don't feel that I need to create a masterpiece to feel fulfilled! These cards make we warm and happy inside - and that's all I need! I made these with our prescored notecards. Any long sentiment will do, and any delicate flower will work, too! I challenge you to take out what you have and produce some instant cards like this! You'll build up a stash of thank-you notes, sympathy cards, birthday cards, or baby cards that you'll have ready when the occasion calls - and you'll be smiling from ear to ear! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up!

Recipe: (And this recipe includes supplies for both cards)
Stamps: Artfully Asian (P. 56); All Holidays (P. 146); Live Your Dream (P. 9 from Occasions Mini Catalog)
Paper: Whisper White Notecards (P. 167) - and they come with the envelopes!
Inks: Basic Black; Bashful Blue Marker; Chocolate Chip Marker; Certainly Celery Marker; Pretty in Pink Marker
Miscellaneous: Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon (P. 191); Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon (P. 191); scissors; Stamp-a-ma-jig (P. 184)

3 X 3 Box with Matching Cards Tutorial

Here is the project we made at my 2008 Great eScape event with Stampin' Up! It was a huge hit! I would love to make 50 of these - and I practically did this last weekend with my first-level downline! They came to make these, too, and we had loads of fun! Give it a try, you'll be hooked! If you don't want to make your box and matching cards with monograms, you can use any of our stamps that can be punched out with a 1" circle punch, so the possibilities are endless and they all turn out so precious! The colors I used were Soft Sky, So Saffron, River Rock, and Groovy Guava. All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up! The videographer: My son, Hunter

Recipe:

Box Bottom: Card stock measuring 9 X 3-1/2; score along the 9" side at 1/2", 1-1/2", 4-3/4", and 5-3/4"; score along the 3-1/2" side at 1"; Designer Paper: 3 X 2-1/4; Ribbon: 14" long

Box Top: Card stock measuring 9-1/4 X 2-1/4; score along the 9-1/4" side at 1/2", 1-9/16", 4-7/8", and 5-15/16"; score along 2-1/4" side at 1-1/16"; Designer Paper: 3 X 1

Cards: Card stock measuring 5-1/2 X 3; score at 3"; white insert: 2-3/4" X 2-3/4"; Designer Paper: 2-1/2 X 3; Ribbon: 12" long

Miscellaneous: Sticky Strip; 1-1/4" Circle Punch; 1" Circle Punch; Paper Piercer with Mat; Silver Brads; Stampin' Dimensionals

Card of the Week - July 21st

Isn't this beautiful? This is another birthday card that I received, and it was stamped by my friend and fellow demonstrator, Trudy! I love how she used an oval to spotlight the flower and bee! I'm going to have to case this one for sure, but I was stupid and didn't purchase this stamp set while it was available! I hate it when that happens! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up!

Recipe:

Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful (retired now!); It's Your Birthday (P. 141); Weathered Background (P. 134)

Paper: Old Olive - 8-1/2 X 5-1/2; Certainly Celery - 4 X 2; Ruby Red - 3-3/4 X 1-3/4; Certainly Celery - 3-3/4 X 2-3/4; Whisper White - 3-1/2 X 2-1/2

Inks: Ruby Red; Old Olive; Basic Black; Apricot Appeal; Certainly Celery

Miscellaneous: Celery Grosgrain Ribbon; Crystal Effects (wings of the bee); Gold Brads; Coluzzle Cutter System (for the oval); Stampin' Sponge; Blender Pens

Double Gift-Card Holder Tutorial

Here's a fun project for you! It's so easy to make! This little project has two different pockets to hold two different gift cards! I think it would be fun to have a gift card to a restaurant in one pocket and a gift card to the theater in the other pocket to treat a friend to dinner and a movie! Fun, huh? Or how about one gift card to Talbots and the other gift card to Cold Water Creek to treat a friend to a shopping trip? Or how about one gift card to a nail salon and the other gift card to a hairdresser for a day of pampering? The video tutorial below will show you how to make this double gift-card holder! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up! The videographer: My husband Randy

Recipe:

Stamp Set: Sealed with a Kiss (P. 28)
Paper: Old Olive Designer Paper (P. 171) 7-1/2 X 5-1/2 - scored on the 7-1/2" side at 2" from each end; Bashful Blue - 3-1/2 X 3/4"; Whisper White scrap for square

Inks: Basic Black; Pretty in Pink Marker; Old Olive Marker; Bashful Blue Marker; So Saffron Marker

Miscellaneous: Sticky Strip (P. 186); Pink Grosgrain Ribbon - 10" long (P. 191); Soft Subtles Brads (P. 189); Stampin' Dimensionals (P. 186); Paper Piercer with Mat (P. 189)

Christmas Planner Tutorial

Well, I'm on a roll here with the "Christmas in July" theme, so why not continue? This is a Christmas Planner we made last November - and it was a huge hit! Would you ever actually use it? Maybe not - probably not - 'cause we'd rather keep it and just look at it every day! You can find these white file folders at Office Max, and you simply fold the outer covers to the center to create a nice accordion affect that has little pockets at the bottom. Little pockets are perfect for tucking fun little things into - that's what we love! Although the "Wintergreen" Christmas Designer Paper isn't available any longer - that's the beauty of stamping - you just adapt this to whatever you have, and it still turns out cute! We used the "Punch Pals" stamp set (P. 34) to create this planner, and in the video tutorial below, I'll show you how I made the snowy window that the adorable snowman is peeking into! As far as the "Wish List" and the "Card List," I just created lines on my computer and printed them up and then cut them down to fit in the pocket. The "Receipts" envelope is one of our "Small Open End Envelopes" (P. 167) to hold all of your coupons and receipts! The notepad is 4 X 6. This planner was embellished throughout using many of our punches - so put those on your "must have" list! They make decorating ANYTHING so much faster and easier! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted. The videographer: My son Hunter

Countdown to Christmas Calendar!

Last November, we got together and made these "Countdown to Christmas" calendars for early Christmas presents! We had a blast making them - it's a fun project! What you need is the 9 X 4-1/2 On Board Clipboard (P. 179); the Christmas designer paper you'd like to use; a Christmas image where the Santa is; a star punch; a "numbers" stamp set to stamp the numbers; brads; glitter; Stampin' Dimensionals; mini glue dots; an alphabet set to stamp the words; and ribbon! The number pockets are 2-1/4 X 1-1/2; scored at 1/2" to create little pockets to slide the numbers in and out of! The "number" pieces are 1-1/2 X 1. We decorated the back of the clipboard as well and placed a mini envelope back there to store the extra number pieces in while they're not being used! I purchased a stand to place my countdown calendar in, and it looks beautiful while displayed during the holidays! Each day, my kids and I would fuss over who would get to change the numbers! Fun, fun! It's not too early to start planning those special handmade gifts for Christmas! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up!

Rolodex Birthday File

Don't you just love it when you can take ordinary office supplies and make them WAY more fun? If you're bored this summer and looking for a special project to keep you busy, you'll love this! Just take an ordinary Rolodex, make 12 tabs for the months, and then decorate the white Rolodex cards uniquely for each person's birthday that you'd like to remember! Since my son loves anything to do with "army," I just had to use the little tank on his card - and since my husband is an architect, I just had to use the "Architectural Elements" stamp set for his! Even our dog Otto has his own special page! The sky is the limit on a project like this! Your pages can be elaborate or very simple, whatever suits you! I used a nifty Rolodex tool to punch out the little grooves at the bottom of my card stock pieces so they would fit perfectly into the Rolodex! Gotta love it! Wouldn't it be fun to make a recipe Rolodex? For the tabs, you could stamp "appetizers," "main dishes," "desserts," etc., using the "From the Kitchen of" stamp set on Page 131 of the catalog! What an awesome Christmas gift! So many projects, so little time! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up, unless otherwise noted!