Stamping with Melissa

There are only a few seats left...

2011-04-10T21:42:00.003-04:00

...for April Card Club. Hope you can join us!

Tuesday April 12th
4:30-6:00 (4 seats left)
OR
7:30-9:00 (3 seats left)

Wednesday April 13th
4:30-6:00 (1 seat left)
OR
7:30-9:00 (4 seats left)

TODAY is the Registration deadline for this month's Card Club.

Regular Price: $20.00

Early Bird: $15.00

Registration Deadline: 4/11
Early Bird Registration: 4/5

We'll be making 6 cards (one design) at this class. Usually I have a few sentiments available, so you can make the types of cards you need.

Card Club is a monthly event, but there is no commitment involved. This is a great option for those with busy schedules, because you can have your cards finished in only one hour!

Early Bird Pricing is no longer available for this month, but you'll automatically get the Early Bird price when you pay in advance for 5 sessions at a time, and you always get the 6th session FREE!

To register, email me at melissastamps@gmail.com. You can then mail me a check, pay in person, or pay electronically via Paypal.

Click here to view my entire current event calendar.

There is room for you at March Card Club!

2011-03-13T17:14:00.007-04:00

Tuesday is the Registration deadline for this month's Card Club.

Details for this event:

Wednesday, March16th
4:30-6:00 pm (2 seats left)

7:30-9:00 pm (6 seats left)

Thursday, March17th
4:30-6:00 pm (4 seats left)
OR
7:30-9:00 pm (6 seats left)

Regular Price: $20.00

Early Bird: $15.00

Registration Deadline: 3/15
Early Bird Registration: 3/9

We'll be making 6 cards (one design) at this class. Usually I have a few sentiments available, so you can make the types of cards you need.

Card Club is a monthly event, but there is no commitment involved. This is a great option for those with busy schedules, because you can have your cards finished in only one hour!

Early Bird Pricing is no longer available for this month, but you'll automatically get the Early Bird price when you pay in advance for 5 sessions at a time, and you always get the 6th session FREE!

To register, email me at melissastamps@gmail.com. You can then mail me a check, pay in person, or pay electronically via Paypal.

Click here to view my entire current event calendar.

Last Chance to Register for February's Card Club

2011-02-13T17:52:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow is the Registration deadline for this month's Card Club.

Details for this event:

Tuesday, February 15th
4:30-6:00 pm (4 seats left)

7:30-9:00 pm (4 seats left)

Wednesday, February 16th
4:30-6:00 pm (2 seats left)
OR
7:30-9:00 pm (6 seats left)

Regular Price: $20.00

Early Bird: $15.00

Registration Deadline: 2/14
Early Bird Registration: 2/8

Card Club is a monthly event, but there is no commitment involved. This is a great option for those with busy schedules, because you can have your cards finished in only one hour!

We'll be making 6 cards (one design) at this class. Usually I have a few sentiments available, so you can make the types of cards you need.

Early Bird Pricing is no longer available for this month, but you'll automatically get the Early Bird price when you pay in advance for 5 sessions at a time, and you always get the 6th session FREE!

To register, email me at melissastamps@gmail.com. You can then mail me a check, pay in person, or pay electronically via Paypal.

Click here to view my entire current event calendar.

Early Bird Registration Ends Tomorrow

2011-02-07T17:43:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is the Early Bird Registration deadline for this month's Card Club.

Details for this event:

Tuesday, February 15th
4:30-6:00 pm (6 seats left)
OR
7:30-9:00 pm (4 seats left)

Wednesday, February 16th
4:30-6:00 pm (4 seats left)
OR
7:30-9:00 pm (6 seats left)

Regular Price: $20.00

Early Bird: $15.00

Registration Deadline: 2/14
Early Bird Registration: 2/8

Card Club is a monthly event, but there is no commitment involved. This is a great option for those with busy schedules, because you can have your cards finished in only one hour!

We'll be making 6 cards (one design) at this class. Usually I have a few sentiments available, so you can make the types of cards you need.

Don't forget, you'll automatically get the Early Bird price when you pay in advance for 5 sessions at a time, and you always get the 6th session FREE!

To register, email me at melissastamps@gmail.com. You can then mail me a check, pay in person, or pay electronically via Paypal.

Click here to view my entire current event calendar.

Last Chance to Register for February's 10 for 10

2011-02-06T17:46:00.001-05:00

Need some cards, but don't have a lot of time and/or don't want to spend much money? This is the event for you! Make 10 very simple cards for only $10! These cards involve very few steps, and (usually) no layers or embellishments. So you can be heading for home in less than an hour!

Email me at melissastamps@gmail.com to register. Event details are below.

February 10th
4:30-6:00
OR
7:30-9:00

Registration Deadline: 2/7

Registration Deadline for January Card Club is Tomorrow

2011-01-17T18:51:00.005-05:00

Tomorrow is the Registration deadline for this month's Card Club.

Details for this event:

Wednesday, January 19th
4:30-6:00 pm (FULL)
OR
7:30-9:00 pm (6 seats left)

Thursday, January 20th
4:30-6:00 pm (4 seats left)
OR
7:30-9:00 pm (6 seats left)

Regular Price: $20.00

Early Bird: $15.00

Registration Deadline: 1/18
Early Bird Registration: 1/12

Card Club is a monthly event, but there is no commitment involved. This is a great option for those with busy schedules, because you can have your cards finished in only one hour!

We'll be making 6 cards (one design) at this class. Usually I have a few sentiments available, so you can make the types of cards you need.

Early Bird Pricing is no longer available for this month, but don't forget, you'll automatically get the Early Bird price when you pay in advance for 5 sessions at a time, and you always get the 6th session FREE!

To register, email me at melissastamps@gmail.com. You can then mail me a check, pay in person, or pay electronically via Paypal.

Click here to view my entire current event calendar.

Early Bird Deadline is Tomorrow

2011-01-11T17:42:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is the Early Bird Registration deadline for this month's Card Club.

Details for this event:

Wednesday, January 19th
4:30-6:00 pm (1 seat left)
OR
7:30-9:00 pm (6 seats left)

Thursday, January 20th
4:30-6:00 pm (5 seats left)
OR
7:30-9:00 pm (6 seats left)

Regular Price: $20.00

Early Bird: $15.00

Registration Deadline: 1/18
Early Bird Registration: 1/12

Card Club is a monthly event, but there is no commitment involved. This is a great option for those with busy schedules, because you can have your cards finished in only one hour!

We'll be making 6 cards (one design) at this class. Usually I have a few sentiments available, so you can make the types of cards you need.

Don't forget, you'll automatically get the Early Bird price when you pay in advance for 5 sessions at a time, and you always get the 6th session FREE!

To register, email me at melissastamps@gmail.com. You can then mail me a check, pay in person, or pay electronically via Paypal.

Click here to view my entire current event calendar.

Last Chance to Register for January's 10 for 10

2011-01-09T15:22:00.002-05:00

Registration Deadline: 1/10

Ready for some SHOPPING?!

2010-08-18T14:23:00.013-04:00

This weekend (Friday and Saturday) is my Crafty Indoor Yard Sale! Be sure to make time to swing by my house to do a little shopping. I have a lot of great items at EXCELLENT prices...I've slashed prices even more since my July yard sale, and added a few things, too.

Just look at all this wonderful stuff I'm selling. Stamp sets and card stock and markers...oh my!

It's sure to be another busy summer weekend, but if you plan to swing by my house on Friday or Saturday, you won't be disappointed! Dates and times: Friday from 3-5 and Saturday from 9-1. Hope to see you!

August Card Club

2010-08-15T14:22:00.003-04:00

Here are photos of the card we'll be making at this month's Card Club.

This event will be held on Monday and Tuesday, August 16th and 17th, from 2:00-4:00 Open House (you can arrive anytime between 2:00 and 4:00).

General Card Club information:

Cost: $15 (see alternatives below) Time needed: 1 hour Seats: 8

Have fun making a supply of hand-stamped cards, for much less than you would spend at your local card store! There's no other purchase required - just come to my house and make your six cards.

* NO commitment, NOTHING to join, NO orders required
* All sessions open house; allow about 1 hour to make your cards
* When possible, a variety of sentiments made available

Payment options:
* $15 for 6 cards & envelopes any one month (= $2.50/card)
* Come to 5 club gatherings; get the 6th free (= $2.08/card)
* Pay ahead for 5 sessions; get $5 off the total amount (= $1.94/card)
* Bring a friend who's never been to Club; get $5 off that month (= $1.67/card)

Gift Class this week

2010-08-09T15:14:00.002-04:00

We'll be making this cute card tote at Gift Class this week, along with 3x3 cards and envelopes to fill it up, and a unique candy holder. Be sure to let me know right away if you'd like to attend!

To get more information on this and all my events, click here to go to the events page on my site.

Friday Free-for-All

2010-08-05T12:47:00.003-04:00

Friday Free-for-All is tomorrow! It's like an open crop - your chance to get moving on all those crafty projects you've been procrastinating, plus have access to my punches and other tools. Contact me if you'd like to join the productive fun!

2010-07-18T20:35:00.003-04:00

If you haven't RSVP'd for Card Club yet but you are planning to attend, please get back to me ASAP so I can have your materials ready. We are making a fun card this month using some of the NEW colors from Stampin' Up!

This month's Club will be Wednesday and Thursday, July 21st and 22nd, from 9-11 AM. Card Club is always Open House, which means you can arrive anytime between 9 and 11, right up until 11:00. If you need to come even later than that, please let me know, as I can usually accommodate various schedules.

Hope to see you later this week!

Details:
RSVP with payment: 3 days prior
Cost: $15 (see alternatives below) Time needed: 1 hour Seats: 8
Have fun making a supply of hand-stamped cards, for much less than you would spend at your local card store! There's no other purchase required - just come to my house and make your six cards.

Other information:
* NO commitment, NOTHING to join, NO orders required
* All sessions open house, and you will need about 1 hour to make your cards
* When possible, a variety of sentiments made available

Payment options:
* $15 for 6 cards & envelopes any one month (= $2.50/card)
* Come to 5 club gatherings; get the 6th free (= $2.08/card)
* Pay ahead for 5 sessions; get $5 off the total amount (= $1.94/card)
* Bring a friend who's never been to Club; get $5 off that month (= $1.67/card)

Don't forget - open house TODAY!

2010-07-16T10:20:00.003-04:00

Hope to see you at my open house today, celebrating the new Idea Book & Catalog from Stampin' Up! See yesterday's post for more details.

New Catalog Open House RESCHEDULED

2010-07-15T09:57:00.003-04:00

Instead of Saturday, the New Catalog Open House will be tomorrow, Friday, July 16th, at the same time (2:00-5:00).

This event is FREE, and because it's an open house, you can stop by anytime between 2 and 5 - even if you can only come for a half hour. It will be hot outside tomorrow, but I have the AC cranking so we can stamp in cool comfort. :)

The photo above shows 2 of the 3 make-and-takes (a card and a unique candy holder). We'll be using new stamp sets, colors, and papers! Hope to see you tomorrow!

Details:
New Catalog Party: Friday, July 16th ~ 2-5 pm
I'll bet you can't wait to see the brand new Idea Book & Catalog from Stampin' Up! It's beautiful, and full of wonderful samples, ideas, and new products and colors. You are invited to celebrate its release with fun make-and-takes, food, and door prizes galore. I will even be giving away several copies of the new book for FREE ($10 value)!

Please RSVP as soon as possible if you'd like to join us.

Ooooh...pretty!

2010-07-13T17:03:00.000-04:00

The new Stampin' Up! Color Collections are so beautiful. The other day i made this sampler sheet with all the colors on it. I got the sheet online somewhere, so all i had to do was punch a heart out of each color and stick them in the right boxes. It looks so pretty hanging on my wall! If you are a customer or friend of mine, and you would like a color copy of this sampler, please just let me know and i will be happy to share!

3-D Technique Class Tomorrow!

2010-07-12T08:42:00.000-04:00

I have a few seats left for my class tomorrow. Here are the 3-D projects we'll be making; a cute candle and a Hershey kiss holder:

Details:
Tuesday, July 13th ~ 1-3 pm
Cost: $20
Time needed: 2 hours
Seats: 4
This is a "beyond the basics" class, but is still appropriate for beginners. You will go home with two finished projects, and will learn how to use rubber stamping to make unique 3-D items! In addition to their finished projects, all class attendees will receive a coupon good for 10% off the Stampin' Up! supplies we use in class (not including stamp sets), good for the next few months. Let me know ASAP if you'd like to join us!

Last Chance!

2010-06-28T16:00:00.004-04:00

Don't forget - this Wednesday 6/30 from 2:00-5:00 (open house style) is my FREE "Last Chance" party. We will be making 3 cards (see below), plus there will be door prizes and munchies.

If there are any retiring items you'd like to buy, this is the time to do it, because I am offering a 10% discount ONLY to party attendees! However, as always, there is no obligation to purchase anything - feel free to come by for some free stamping fun!

If you can't make it but there are items you'd like to buy before they are gone, please get in touch with me ASAP, as I will be placing all orders Wednesday evening.

Click here for a list of retiring stamp sets.
Click here to see the list of retiring wheels and accessories, marked to show sold out items.

Hope to see you soon!

Summer Events!

2010-05-30T10:47:00.002-04:00

My event calendar for this summer is posted! I have a lot of fun stamping events planned. Click here to see the calendar for June, and then click the arrow next to the word June to page forward through July and August. Hope to see you this summer!

It's not too late!

2010-05-24T22:46:00.005-04:00

You can still plan to join us Tuesday for my Open House featuring products from the new Summer Mini Catalog! I have extra supplies cut up, so feel free to swing by between 4:00 and 7:00.

Here's a preview of the free make-and-takes.

Card Club Tomorrow and Friday

2010-05-19T20:52:00.003-04:00

Here is a picture of the card we're making for this month's card club. Let me know if you'd like to join us!
Your date choices:
Thursday 5/20 or Friday 5/21
Both days open house from 4:00-7:00 (arrive anytime between those times)

Other details:
RSVP with payment: ASAP
Cost: $15 (see alternatives below
Time needed: 1 hour
Seats: 8

Have fun making a supply of hand-stamped cards, for much less than you would spend at your local card store!

NO commitment, NOTHING to join, NO orders required
All sessions open house; allow about 1 hour to make your cards
When possible, a variety of sentiments available

Payment options:
$15 for 6 cards & envelopes (=$2.50/card)
Come to 5 club gatherings; get the 6th free (=$2.08/card)
Pay ahead for 5 sessions; get $5 off total amount (=$1.94/card)
Bring a friend who's never been to Club; get $5 off that month (=$1.67/card)

Color Renovation

2010-04-21T22:04:00.003-04:00

As you may already know, Stampin' Up! is doing a major renovation of their color families. This is the biggest color change they've made in a very long time (if ever). They are moving colors around, changing the names of the families (will now be called Collections), bringing in 5 new colors, bringing back 10 previously discontinued In Colors, and retiring 30 colors! Wow!

The new palette, which i think is gorgeous, can be seen below. Also below is the list of retiring colors. These colors are guaranteed to be available until the end of May. After that they will be available only as supplies last, until the end of June. So if there is a color you just can't craft without, be sure to contact me to order a pack or three of cardstock and a re-inker or two so you will be all set for life. :)

Card Club on Wednesday and Thursday

2010-04-17T12:38:00.000-04:00

Above are pictures of this month's Card Club card. We're making a neat "peekaboo" card this time around. Let me know if you'd like to join us!
Your options:
Wednesday 4/21 or Thursday 4/22
Both days open house from 4:00-7:00 (arrive anytime between those times)
Other details:
RSVP with payment: 3 days prior
Cost: $15 (see alternatives below
Time needed: 1 hour
Seats: 8
Have fun making a supply of hand-stamped cards, for much less than you would spend at your local card store! There’s no other purchase required – just come to my house and make your six cards.
NO commitment, NOTHING to join, NO orders required
All sessions open house; allow about 1 hour to make your cards
When possible, a variety of sentiments available
Payment options:
$15 for 6 cards & envelopes (=$2.50/card)
Come to 5 club gatherings; get the 6th free (=$2.08/card)
Pay ahead for 5 sessions; get $5 off total amount (=$1.94/card)
Bring a friend who's never been to Club; get $5 off that month (=$1.67/card)

Technique class this week!

2010-04-11T14:54:00.008-04:00

There are a few seats available at my technique class this week, so let me know if you'd like to join us! Here are photos of the projects we'll be making (2 cards and a bookmark). See below for details!

· Technique Class – Beautiful Backgrounds:
Thursday, April 15^th 4:30-6:30 PM

RSVP with payment: Tuesday, April 13^th
Cost: $15
Time needed: 2 hours
Seats: 4

This is the third class being offered in a series of “beyond the basics” technique classes. You will go home with three projects (including envelopes for the cards), but even better, you will leave with a new skill – making beautiful and unique backgrounds! In addition to their make-and-takes, all class attendees will receive a coupon good for 10% off any background-making supplies purchased over the next few months.

Card Club this week

2010-03-15T16:02:00.001-04:00

Card Club is tomorrow and Wednesday (open house 4:00-7:00), and there is still room for you! Contact me right away if you'd like to join us.

Cost: $15
Time needed: 1 hour
Seats: 8

Have fun making a supply of hand-stamped cards, for much less than you would spend at your local card store! There’s no other purchase required – just come to my house and make your six cards. This is a great option for those who don’t have many supplies, or who don’t want to place any orders right now.

Feeling Springy!

2010-03-10T15:42:00.000-05:00

The weather has been beautiful for the last few days, and i've really been enjoying getting outside more (without bundling up, that is). I really hope we have a nice long spring season this year. I don't enjoy the heat of summer, so i don't like it when we go right from winter to summer. Hopefully the springtime will stick around for at least a month or two this year!

So i finally got around to playing with my sticky cuts and glitter, which i've had for at least a few months and hadn't even opened the packages. What a fun and quick way to add glitter to a project! Here's what i came up with.

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamp set: Enjoy Every Moment
Cardstock: Cameo Coral, Taken with Teal, Barely Banana, Whisper White
Ink: Taken with Teal, Cameo Coral marker
Tools: Bone folder, Modern Label punch, Craft & Paper Scissors
Adhesive: Snail, Dimensionals
Other: Sticky Cuts "Sweet", Stampin' Glitter (Fine Supernova & Fine Galaxy), Whisper White grosgrain ribbon

Springtime Stamp-a-Stack next Wednesday

2010-03-06T13:53:00.008-05:00

Wednesday, March 10th 4:30-7:30 PM (open house)
RSVP with payment: Monday, March 8th
Cost: $20 Envelopes: +$4
Time needed: 2 hours
Seats: 8
We'll be making 10 cards; 5 each of 2 designs (birthday and thank you, or make them into general occasion cards). Would you like to stamp matching envelopes for your cards? Add them for only $4!

You had to be a Big Shot, did ya?

2010-02-27T15:42:00.001-05:00

Oh my gosh, are you ready for this?? I am SO excited because today i learned an amazingly easy yet awe-inspiring technique to use with my already-much-loved Big Shot. I've seen some cards with this done, but had no idea how these people were doing it. Well, thanks to Splitcoast, i now know, and i think i'll be using this technique a LOT. Check it out:

This card was so easy it's almost funny. I ran a piece of Crushed Curry cardstock through my Big Shot with a Texturz plate. I already love these plates, but sometimes i want the embossed image to be more obvious. I thought there was some complicated way to achieve this...but all you do is flip the cardstock over (to the side with indents rather than bumps) and run your brayer over it with a darker ink! And out pops whatever image was embossed, showing up as whatever color cardstock you used! So you end up with this amazing looking card, when really it was one of the easiest things you'll ever make.

I added a layer underneath, chose Dusty Durango for the card base (apparently Ruby Red + Crushed Curry = Dusty Durango - who knew?!), added the ribbon, and turned it into a love or wedding card by adding one of the sentiments from the Baroque Motifs set. And there you go!

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamp set: Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry
Ink: Dusty Durango, Ruby Red
Tools: Bone folder, Brayer, Big Shot, Eyelet Texturz plate, Large Oval punch
Adhesive: Snail, Dimensionals
Other: Dusty Durango grosgrain ribbon

Mustardless Medallion

2010-02-23T15:42:00.002-05:00

For some reason, the day i made this card, i was in the mood for these kinds of colors. I found myself reaching for Earth Elements over and over. Maybe i was so busy in the fall this year that i just didn't get enough, or maybe it was because i have been working with Bold Brights a lot lately for some wedding invitations. Either way, these deep rich colors were just calling out to me.

So this is an example of another way to use the emboss resist technique. Would you believe that the piece of cardstock with the huge medallion (which i LOVE, by the way...it's my favorite stamp lately) stamped on it was originally More Mustard? By the time i was done with it, you can't see any true More Mustard anywhere.

I wheeled More Mustard and Really Rust onto the mustard piece with the Texture wheel. Then i stamped the Medallion image with Versamark and embossed with clear powder, then brayered & sponged Chocolate Chip ink all over it. Actually, in the end, to get it really dark, i just smashed my Chocolate Chip ink pad over it again and again. Then wiped the ink off the image with a towel, and voila!

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamp sets: Medallion, Texture (wheel), Inspired by Nature
Cardstock: Dusty Durango, Summer Sun, More Mustard
Ink: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Really Rust, VersaMark
Tools: Bone folder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, Brayer, Stampin' Sponges
Adhesive: Snail
Other: Clear Embossing Powder

Beautiful Butterfly

2010-02-19T15:42:00.002-05:00

The card i'm sharing today is one i made for a bridal shower. Unfortunately, the scanner just doesn't do it justice...it's even more beautiful in real life. The butterfly looks like it's about to fly right off the card, and the sentiment has a faint shadow behind it.

I really love the new Sweet Pea DSP stack. There are SO many beautiful papers in that one pad! I cut the butterfly (top and bottom) and the flowered strip out of one piece of 12x12. I hate to admit it, but this is the first time i'm using something from the Pretties Kit (the halfback pearl)...i've been hoarding those beautiful embellishments for months!

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamp set: Well Scripted
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Barely Banana
Designer Series Paper: Sweet Pea DSP stack
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink
Tools: Bone folder, Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, Scallop Trim Border punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Adhesive: Snail, Dimensionals
Other:Pretties Kit

Batik Daisy

2010-02-16T15:42:00.000-05:00

I was checking out various technique tutorials on Splitcoast today and was wowed by a variation on emboss resist. I started playing around with it and came up with this card.

What fun this was! The color peeking through the daisies was done with sponges. I tried doing it with various solid image stamps (which was what they used for the tutorial), but it just didn't work well for me. I had a lot more success with just sponging splashes of color all over, then clear embossing the daisies on top. Then i brayered Chocolate Chip ink over the whole thing and wiped off the daisies. Cool, huh?

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamp sets: Inspired by Nature, Sincere Salutations
Cardstock: Ruby Red, Summer Sun, Taken with Teal
Ink: VersaMark, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Summer Sun, Taken with Teal
Tools: Bone folder, Wide Oval punch, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, Brayer
Adhesive: Snail, Dimensionals
Other: Clear Embossing Powder, Stampin' Sponges

Friday Free-for-All is tomorrow!

2010-01-28T22:34:00.000-05:00

I have a few seats open for tomorrow's Friday Free-for-All. Please let me know ASAP if you'd like to come!

Friday, January 29th 5:00-7:00 PM (open house)
Cost: $5, +$5 for Big Shot & dies
Time needed: varies
Seats: 6

This monthly event is your chance to work on...whatever! That scrapbook you've been meaning to get to, those cards you'd like to make but never seem to have the time, those unmounted sets you'd like me to assemble with you, that special project you'd like a little help with. Bring your own stamp sets and consumables (cardstock, ink, adhesive, etc.), but my tools (paper cutter, punches, scissors, etc.) will be available for your use. I will be available to help you with ideas, designs, etc., and it's always more fun stamping with friends than stamping alone, right?!

Super-quick cards

2010-01-16T22:06:00.000-05:00

Do you like to make cards and usually enjoy the (sometimes slow) creative process, but at times wish you could whip out a card in 10 minutes or less? You know, you're about to run errands and would like to mail a birthday card, but you're pressed for time and need it done FAST. Well, i've found that Designer Series Paper is the way to go in situations like these. It really takes the guesswork out of color choices, and if you fill most of the card front with DSP, you don't need to do much stamping.

Here are a few examples. You might notice that they are very similar in color scheme. That's because i used the SAME sheet of DSP; since it's double-sided, it was very easy to just flip it over to create a different look without coming up with a whole new layout. Any time i can cut out a few design desisions, it always saves time.

Both of these cards were made awhile ago, so they use several items which are now retired. But they can still give you the idea of how to make super-quick cards! They each took me about 5-10 minutes to make, start to finish.

Saved my favorite for last!

2009-06-29T09:25:00.000-04:00

This was the last card i made on the day when i spent so much time doing emboss resist and brayering ink. It is by far my favorite of the day! I absolutely love how this came out. I can hardly believe i made it! I think it's actually my favorite creation in, probably months.

I wanted to use those two techniques again (since i am completely hooked!) but i wanted to try a different color scheme and a different kind of set. So i dug around in my drawer and pulled out the set called Fresh Cuts, which i haven't used in awhile. Well, it is perfect for this technique.

I inked up the image first in Versamark, then in Basic Black. I then embossed it with clear embossing powder. Next, i brayered on the three shades of blue. The black just pops up against that blue, doesn't it?! I love it. I thought it could use one more color for contrast, so i added the yellow layer. I'm still not sure that gray was the perfect choice for the card base...perhaps i should have used one of the blue shades instead.

Anyway, here's the card:

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated.
To place an order, contact me directly OR go to http://melissav.stampinup.net and click the "order now" button.

Set: Fresh Cuts
Cardstock: Going Gray, Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun, Whisper White
Ink: VersaMark, Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue, Night of Navy
Tools: Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Bone folder, Craft & Paper Scissors, Brayer, Stampin' sponge
Adhesive: SNAIL, dimensionals
Other: Clear Embossing Powder, Tempting Turquoise 1/4" grosgrain

Another emboss resist (with brayer)

2009-06-26T16:42:00.005-04:00

Here's another card i made recently using my two new favorite techniques. For this one i used the Thoughts and Prayers set, which i've had for awhile (and love) but hadn't had much chance to use until the last few weeks. Unfortunately, i've needed a sympathy card several times lately, so it was the perfect time to break in this set. It has this beautiful tree, a sprig of flowers, and several perfect sentiments for both the outside and inside of a get well or sympathy card. This card was MUCH easier to make than it looks...and i'm really happy with how it came out.

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated.
To place an order, contact me directly OR go to http://melissav.stampinup.net and click the "order now" button.

Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Cardstock: More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Barely Banana, Whisper White
Ink: VersaMark, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive
Tools: Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Bone folder, Brayer, Stampin' sponge
Adhesive: SNAIL
Other: Clear Embossing Powder

Rose-filled Wedding

2009-06-24T21:26:00.000-04:00

We went to a wedding recently. Here's the card i made for the bride and groom, using one of the sets i got for FREE as a reward for my Sale-a-Bration performance. There's nothing better than free stamps! This set is a two-step-stampin' set, which makes me look like much more of an artist than i actually am. :) Especially now that i finally broke out my Stamp-a-ma-jig and put it to good use. (It enables you to stamp exactly where you want to, which helps a lot with two-step-stamping.) I used mostly blue because that was their wedding color.

Set: A Rose is a Rose, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, A Greeting for All Reasons (retired)
Cardstock: Soft Sky (retired), Blue Bayou (retired), Whisper White, Pink Pirouette
Ink: Soft Sky (retired), Blue Bayou (retired), Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Mellow Moss, Silver
Tools: Bone folder, Craft & Paper Scissors, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scallop Edge punch, 3/16" Corner Rounder
Adhesive: SNAIL, dimensionals
Other: Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon

I can't resist Emboss Resist!

2009-06-22T10:21:00.002-04:00

So yesterday, I got bitten with a creative bug, apparently. I ended up stamping for hours on end. It was so much fun! A special thank you goes out to my baby girl Naomi, for taking two nice long naps, which freed up so much of my time to play and play.

Here's the first card i made, using a technique i've been trying to learn. It's called Emboss Resist, and i also finally figured out how to use my brayer to layer on color. I am now addicted to these two techniques! I made several cards using them, so i'll be sharing the others over the next couple of weeks.

Set: Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: So Saffron, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, More Mustard
Ink: VersaMark, So Saffron, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red
Tools: Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Bone folder, Craft & Paper Scissors, Brayer, Stampin' sponge, Large Oval and Scallop Oval punches
Adhesive: SNAIL, dimensionals
Other: White Embossing Powder, More Mustard 1/4" grosgrain, Post-it note

John's first Father's Day!

2009-06-21T12:58:00.002-04:00

Happy Father's Day, especially to my husband John since this is his very first Father's Day as a father. Naomi made him this card (just kidding, but she did help me write on the inside...or rather, i helped her write on the inside...LOL). Unfortunately, she wasn't feeling well this morning so she and i stayed home from church. So the poor new daddy went to church by himself on his first Father's Day. :(

But she and i used her awake time wisely by making him this card! The "To the Nines" specialty paper really made things easy - we didn't even need to think about a color combination. Naomi loves stripes, so we chose one of the striped designs. You can't see it in the picture, but it's nice and thick (cardstock weight) and has a nice texture to it. I like to really "rough up" guy cards, so we added more texture with the Sanded large background stamp, tone on tone, and by sponging some extra Sahara Sand to the edges of the base piece. Same thing with the sentiment piece. I've found that ribbon doesn't look girly if you use an earth tone and refrain from tying a bow or knot of any kind, which is why i went ahead with a little ribbon here ! So there you have it.

Here's the "recipe":

Sets: Sanded, All Year Cheer II (retired)
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip
DSP: To the Nines
Ink: Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip
Tools: Bone folder, craft & paper scissors, sponge
Adhesive: SNAIL, dimensionals
Other: Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain

Time to bloom!

2009-06-18T08:57:00.000-04:00

Just thought i'd post a card i made the other day.

Because i was pregnant and then having a baby during most of this catalog year, i never had time to just play with this year's In Colors. Making this card made me realize how much i love them and will miss them! I also used two sets which i've had for months but had barely used, and i love them both!

Well, enough chit-chat; here's the card!

Sets: Fifth Avenue Floral, Bella's Bloom, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Pacific Point
Ink: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point
Tools: Bone folder, paper snips, craft & paper scissors, Large Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, 3/16" Corner Rounder
Adhesive: SNAIL, dimensionals
Other: Very Vanilla 1/4" grosgrain

Last Chance Accessories Update

2009-06-18T08:42:00.002-04:00

Wow! I can't believe how much is selling out, and so fast! Notice that all of the In Color card stock is gone, but they do still have ink pads left. There are still quite a bit of sale items left, though, for you bargain hunters!

Item #	Product Description	Price	Discount	Sale Price	Availability
112735	RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN BLOSSOMS	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
112970	LO MEJOR DE TODO	19.95	0.5	9.98	Available
105143	DAYS TO REMEMBER 6X6 FR	9.95	0.5	4.98	Out of stock
113888	RUB ONS MANY OCCASIONS	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
109044	PUNCH SNOW BLOSSOM	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
111364	RIBBON POLY TWILL SO SAFFRON 7/8"	8.95	0.5	4.48	Available
106961	STAZON REFILL WHITE	4.95	0.5	2.48	Out of stock
114341	COURDUROY BUTTONS PACIFIC POINT	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114316	RIBBON ORIGINALS PIG TAILS	13.95	0.5	6.98	Available
111414	RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
114351	DESIGNER HARDWARE HOORAY	4.95	0.5	2.48	Available
114338	COURDUROY BUTTONS KIWI KISS	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114019	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLEURETTES	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114317	RIBBON ORIGINALS DRESS UP	12.95	0.5	6.48	Available
102875	HEMP TWINE RED	2.95	0.5	1.48	Available
101259	HEMP TWINE BLACK	2.95	0.5	1.48	Available
113979	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS CANVAS CUTS	7.95	0.5	3.98	Available
114350	DESIGNER HARDWARE SOHO	4.95	0.5	2.48	Available
111363	RIBBON GROSGRAIN PINK PIROUETTE 1 1/4"	7.95	0.25	5.96	Available
111365	RIBBON TAFFETA RIDING HOOD RED	6.95	0.25	5.21	Available
111847	RIBBON DOUBLE STITICHED BAJA BREEZE 1"	8.95	0.25	6.71	Available
111371	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED TANGERINE TANGO 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111373	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PINK PIROUETTE 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111372	RIBBON GROSGRIAN STRIPED KIWI KISS 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
113884	RUB ONS FASHION DISTRICT	10.95	0.25	8.21	Out of stock
114318	RIBBON ORIGINALS VALET	12.95	0.25	9.71	Available
111374	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED RIDING HOOD RED 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111370	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PACIFIC POINT 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111415	RUB ONS GREATEST MOMENTS	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
113887	RUB ONS BRIGHT DELIGHTS	11.95	0.25	8.96	Available
111416	RUB ONS CHATEAU BELLA	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
111338	NOTES TEXTURED LOVE ASSORTMENT II	12.95	0.25	9.71	Available
111879	RIBBON SATIN KIWI KISS VERY VANILLA	7.95	0.25	5.96	Available
111277	RUB ONS A PERFECT DAY	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
110730	DIE CUTS POCKETS & PIECES	8.95	0.25	6.71	Available
107272	PUNCH KEY TAG	15.95	0.25	11.96	Out of stock
113980	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER CANDY LANE	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111375	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED BAJA BREEZE 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Out of stock
112010	DIE CUTS BLOOMS AGAIN	8.95	0.25	6.71	Out of stock
113991	TASTE OF TEXTILES	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
101399	STIPPLE BRUSHES	6.95	0.25	5.21	Out of stock
112092	BUTTON BOUQUET	7.95	0.25	5.96	Out of stock
112139	NOTES CAROUSEL II	11.95	0.25	8.96	Out of stock
111336	NOTES SCALLOP II	11.95	0.25	8.96	Out of stock
111840	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PACIFIC POINT	2.95			Available
111841	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL TANGEIRNE TANGO	2.95			Available
111843	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PINK PIROUETTE	2.95			Available
111839	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL RIDING HOOD RED	2.95			Out of stock
111842	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL KIWI KISS	2.95			Out of stock
112161	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS KIWI KISS	9.95			Available
112042	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN GARDEN	9.95			Available
112156	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PINK PIROUETTE	9.95			Available
112150	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PACIFIC POINT	9.95			Available
112153	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS TANGERINE TANGO	9.95			Out of stock
111844	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL BAJA BREEZE	2.95			Out of stock
111836	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD RIDINGHOOD RED	5.95			Available
111838	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PINK PIROUETTE	5.95			Available
113966	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE	9.95			Available
109123	STAMPIN WRITE JOURNALER BASIC BROWN	3.25			Out of stock
113981	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA BIRDS	9.95			Available
112157	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS BAJA BREEZE	9.95			Out of stock
113975	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RASPBERRY TART	9.95			Available
114037	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY SWEET SLUMBER	11.95			Out of stock
113978	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN OASIS	9.95			Available
112041	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA ROSE	9.95			Out of stock
112468	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SWEET ALWAYS	9.95			Out of stock
111834	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD TANGERINE TANGO	5.95			Available
114039	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY ROCKABILLY	11.95			Available
108590	CARD STOCK NATURALS ASST 12X12	8.95			Out of stock
111337	NOTES GIFT ASSORTMENT II	9.95			Available
112471	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RAINBOW SHERBET	9.95			Out of stock
112464	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MANCHESTER	9.95			Available
112006	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLOWER FUSION II	14.95			Available
111837	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PACIFIC POINT	5.95			Available
112461	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER WASHINGTON APPLE	9.95			Out of stock
113993	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY PARISIAN BREEZE	11.95			Available
112155	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS RIDING HOOD RED	9.95			Out of stock
111353	CARD STOCK KIWI KISS 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Out of stock
111348	CARD STOCK RIDING HOOD RED 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Out of stock
112172	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE BOY	19.95			Out of stock
100900	GIFT SACKS WHITE	2.95			Available
114605	SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT MORE THOUGHTS	42.95			Out of stock
102264	COLUZZLE STARTER KIT	19.95			Out of stock
111346	CARD STOCK IN COLOR 12 X 12	8.95			Out of stock
111835	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD KIWI KISS	5.95			Available
111350	CARD STOCK PACIFIC POINT 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Out of stock
105668	TATTOO KIT I	13.95			Out of stock
111349	CARD STOCK TANGERINE TANGO 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Out of stock
109231	SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT SENDING HAPPY THOUGHTS	54.95			Available
111351	CARD STOCK PINK PIROUETTE 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Out of stock
112165	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE GIRL	19.95			Out of stock
113950	DIE CUTS BUILD-A-FAIRYTALE	8.95			Available
111345	CARD STOCK TEXTURED IN COLOR 12 X 12	11.95			Available
105669	TATTOO KIT II	13.95			Out of stock
111833	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD BAJA BREEZE	5.95			Available
113936	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN HOPPY MEMORIES	19.95			Out of stock
111347	CARD STOCK IN COLOR 8-1/2 X 11	7.95			Out of stock
107288	ENVELOPE WHISPER WHITE EXTRA LARGE	5.5			Out of stock
104310	CRAFTERS TOOL KIT	39.95			Available
111352	CARD STOCK BAJA BREEZE 8-12 X 11	5.5			Out of stock
113943	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN 2 SWEET	19.95			Available
113925	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SWEET NOTHINGS	19.95			Available
112179	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN LOVE STORIES	19.95			Available
113911	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SUNSHINE GARDEN	19.95			Out of stock
112054	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN BEST EVER	19.95			Out of stock
111253	Blooms & Bulbs	6.5			Available
109684	Doodle	8.5			Out of stock
111257	Happy, Happy Birthday	8.5			Available
109692	Love	6.5			Available
109568	My ABCs	6.5			Out of stock
109682	Perfectly Pretty	6.5			Out of stock
109687	See You Around	8.5			Available
109683	So Swirly	8.5			Available
111260	Something Fishy	8.5			Available
111262	Stems & Silhouettes	8.5			Available
105516	Watercolor Joy	6.5			Available
114528	Embosslit Flower	11.95			Available
116209	Note of Thanks	9.95			Available
116210	Birthdays Count	9.95			Available
112966	Curly Label Bundle*	33.95			Available
115535	Hand Drawn Bundle				Available

Discontinuing Accessories List - Update

2009-06-05T13:37:00.001-04:00

Following is the Accessories list updated to show items that have sold out. Be sure to get in touch with me right away before your favorites sell out, too!

Item #	Product Description	Price	Discount	Sale Price	Availability
112735	RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN BLOSSOMS	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
112970	LO MEJOR DE TODO	19.95	0.5	9.98	Available
105143	DAYS TO REMEMBER 6X6 FR	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
113888	RUB ONS MANY OCCASIONS	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
109044	PUNCH SNOW BLOSSOM	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
111364	RIBBON POLY TWILL SO SAFFRON 7/8"	8.95	0.5	4.48	Available
106961	STAZON REFILL WHITE	4.95	0.5	2.48	Out of stock
114341	COURDUROY BUTTONS PACIFIC POINT	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114316	RIBBON ORIGINALS PIG TAILS	13.95	0.5	6.98	Available
111414	RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
114351	DESIGNER HARDWARE HOORAY	4.95	0.5	2.48	Available
114338	COURDUROY BUTTONS KIWI KISS	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114019	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLEURETTES	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114317	RIBBON ORIGINALS DRESS UP	12.95	0.5	6.48	Available
102875	HEMP TWINE RED	2.95	0.5	1.48	Available
101259	HEMP TWINE BLACK	2.95	0.5	1.48	Available
113979	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS CANVAS CUTS	7.95	0.5	3.98	Available
114350	DESIGNER HARDWARE SOHO	4.95	0.5	2.48	Available
111363	RIBBON GROSGRAIN PINK PIROUETTE 1 1/4"	7.95	0.25	5.96	Available
111365	RIBBON TAFFETA RIDING HOOD RED	6.95	0.25	5.21	Available
111847	RIBBON DOUBLE STITICHED BAJA BREEZE 1"	8.95	0.25	6.71	Available
111371	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED TANGERINE TANGO 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111373	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PINK PIROUETTE 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111372	RIBBON GROSGRIAN STRIPED KIWI KISS 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
113884	RUB ONS FASHION DISTRICT	10.95	0.25	8.21	Out of stock
114318	RIBBON ORIGINALS VALET	12.95	0.25	9.71	Available
111374	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED RIDING HOOD RED 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111370	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PACIFIC POINT 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111415	RUB ONS GREATEST MOMENTS	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
113887	RUB ONS BRIGHT DELIGHTS	11.95	0.25	8.96	Available
111416	RUB ONS CHATEAU BELLA	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
111338	NOTES TEXTURED LOVE ASSORTMENT II	12.95	0.25	9.71	Available
111879	RIBBON SATIN KIWI KISS VERY VANILLA	7.95	0.25	5.96	Available
111277	RUB ONS A PERFECT DAY	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
110730	DIE CUTS POCKETS & PIECES	8.95	0.25	6.71	Available
107272	PUNCH KEY TAG	15.95	0.25	11.96	Available
113980	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER CANDY LANE	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111375	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED BAJA BREEZE 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
112010	DIE CUTS BLOOMS AGAIN	8.95	0.25	6.71	Out of stock
113991	TASTE OF TEXTILES	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
101399	STIPPLE BRUSHES	6.95	0.25	5.21	Available
112092	BUTTON BOUQUET	7.95	0.25	5.96	Out of stock
112139	NOTES CAROUSEL II	11.95	0.25	8.96	Available
111336	NOTES SCALLOP II	11.95	0.25	8.96	Available
111840	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PACIFIC POINT	2.95			Available
111841	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL TANGEIRNE TANGO	2.95			Available
111843	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PINK PIROUETTE	2.95			Available
111839	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL RIDING HOOD RED	2.95			Available
111842	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL KIWI KISS	2.95			Available
112161	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS KIWI KISS	9.95			Available
112042	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN GARDEN	9.95			Available
112156	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PINK PIROUETTE	9.95			Available
112150	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PACIFIC POINT	9.95			Available
112153	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS TANGERINE TANGO	9.95			Available
111844	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL BAJA BREEZE	2.95			Available
111836	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD RIDINGHOOD RED	5.95			Available
111838	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PINK PIROUETTE	5.95			Available
113966	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE	9.95			Available
109123	STAMPIN WRITE JOURNALER BASIC BROWN	3.25			Available
113981	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA BIRDS	9.95			Available
112157	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS BAJA BREEZE	9.95			Out of Stock
113975	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RASPBERRY TART	9.95			Available
114037	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY SWEET SLUMBER	11.95			Available
113978	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN OASIS	9.95			Available
112041	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA ROSE	9.95			Available
112468	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SWEET ALWAYS	9.95			Available
111834	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD TANGERINE TANGO	5.95			Available
114039	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY ROCKABILLY	11.95			Available
108590	CARD STOCK NATURALS ASST 12X12	8.95			Available
111337	NOTES GIFT ASSORTMENT II	9.95			Available
112471	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RAINBOW SHERBET	9.95			Out of Stock
112464	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MANCHESTER	9.95			Available
112006	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLOWER FUSION II	14.95			Available
111837	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PACIFIC POINT	5.95			Available
112461	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER WASHINGTON APPLE	9.95			Out of stoc
113993	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY PARISIAN BREEZE	11.95			Available
112155	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS RIDING HOOD RED	9.95			Available
111353	CARD STOCK KIWI KISS 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
111348	CARD STOCK RIDING HOOD RED 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
112172	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE BOY	19.95			Out of stock
100900	GIFT SACKS WHITE	2.95			Available
114605	SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT MORE THOUGHTS	42.95			Out of stock
102264	COLUZZLE STARTER KIT	19.95			Available
111346	CARD STOCK IN COLOR 12 X 12	8.95			Available
111835	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD KIWI KISS	5.95			Available
111350	CARD STOCK PACIFIC POINT 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
105668	TATTOO KIT I	13.95			Out of stock
111349	CARD STOCK TANGERINE TANGO 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
109231	SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT SENDING HAPPY THOUGHTS	54.95			Available
111351	CARD STOCK PINK PIROUETTE 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
112165	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE GIRL	19.95			Out of stock
113950	DIE CUTS BUILD-A-FAIRYTALE	8.95			Available
111345	CARD STOCK TEXTURED IN COLOR 12 X 12	11.95			Available
105669	TATTOO KIT II	13.95			Out of stock
111833	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD BAJA BREEZE	5.95			Available
113936	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN HOPPY MEMORIES	19.95			Out of stock
111347	CARD STOCK IN COLOR 8-1/2 X 11	7.95			Available
107288	ENVELOPE WHISPER WHITE EXTRA LARGE	5.5			Available
104310	CRAFTERS TOOL KIT	39.95			Available
111352	CARD STOCK BAJA BREEZE 8-12 X 11	5.5			Available
113943	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN 2 SWEET	19.95			Available
113925	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SWEET NOTHINGS	19.95			Available
112179	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN LOVE STORIES	19.95			Available
113911	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SUNSHINE GARDEN	19.95			Out of stock
112054	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN BEST EVER	19.95			Out of stock
111253	Blooms & Bulbs	6.5			Available
109684	Doodle	8.5			Available
111257	Happy, Happy Birthday	8.5			Available
109692	Love	6.5			Available
109568	My ABCs	6.5			Available
109682	Perfectly Pretty	6.5			Available
109687	See You Around	8.5			Available
109683	So Swirly	8.5			Available
111260	Something Fishy	8.5			Available
111262	Stems & Silhouettes	8.5			Available
105516	Watercolor Joy	6.5			Available
114528	Embosslit Flower	11.95			Available
116209	Note of Thanks	9.95			Available
116210	Birthdays Count	9.95			Available
112966	Curly Label Bundle*	33.95			Available
115535	Hand Drawn Bundle				Available

Going, going, gone!

2009-06-03T12:11:00.003-04:00

A new Stampin' Up! catalog is coming out soon! Which means they are discontinuing lots of stamp sets and accessories to make room for new items. There are accessories that have already sold out, so if there's something you want, be sure to let me know ASAP. The sets are guaranteed to be available through June 30th, but after that they are GONE - so be sure to check the list carefully so you don't miss out on any sets you've had your eye on.

You can contact me to place an order, or go to http://melissav.stampinup.net and click the "shop now" button to buy items directly online.

Below you will find links to the set lists as well as the accessories list as of today. The availability of accessories changes constantly. If you want to find out if something is sold out or not, contact me, OR go to my online store and look it up. To do that, go to http://melissav.stampinup.net and click the "shop now" button at the top of the page.

There's also a page here: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/CategoryPage.aspx?categoryID=310
where the list is broken down into 25% and 50% off items.

If you don't have a catalog and would like to see an accessory right away, use the link above to see it online.

Happy Shopping!
Melissa

Retiring sets, alphabetical order:
http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/Retired_Lists_0609_US_alph.pdf

Retiring sets, by page number:
http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/Retired_Lists_0609_US_num.pdf

Retiring Decor Elements (vinyl wall art)
25% off!
http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/Decor_elements_Last_Chance_List_0609_US.pdf

Retiring accessories, availability as of TODAY (red items are out of stock)
many are up to 50% off!

Item #	Product Description	Price	Discount	Sale Price	Availability
112735	RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN BLOSSOMS	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
112970	LO MEJOR DE TODO	19.95	0.5	9.98	Available
105143	DAYS TO REMEMBER 6X6 FR	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
113888	RUB ONS MANY OCCASIONS	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
109044	PUNCH SNOW BLOSSOM	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
111364	RIBBON POLY TWILL SO SAFFRON 7/8"	8.95	0.5	4.48	Available
106961	STAZON REFILL WHITE	4.95	0.5	2.48	Available
114341	COURDUROY BUTTONS PACIFIC POINT	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114316	RIBBON ORIGINALS PIG TAILS	13.95	0.5	6.98	Available
111414	RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN	10.95	0.5	5.48	Available
114351	DESIGNER HARDWARE HOORAY	4.95	0.5	2.48	Available
114338	COURDUROY BUTTONS KIWI KISS	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114019	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLEURETTES	9.95	0.5	4.98	Available
114317	RIBBON ORIGINALS DRESS UP	12.95	0.5	6.48	Available
102875	HEMP TWINE RED	2.95	0.5	1.48	Available
101259	HEMP TWINE BLACK	2.95	0.5	1.48	Available
113979	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS CANVAS CUTS	7.95	0.5	3.98	Available
114350	DESIGNER HARDWARE SOHO	4.95	0.5	2.48	Available
111363	RIBBON GROSGRAIN PINK PIROUETTE 1 1/4"	7.95	0.25	5.96	Available
111365	RIBBON TAFFETA RIDING HOOD RED	6.95	0.25	5.21	Available
111847	RIBBON DOUBLE STITICHED BAJA BREEZE 1"	8.95	0.25	6.71	Available
111371	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED TANGERINE TANGO 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111373	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PINK PIROUETTE 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111372	RIBBON GROSGRIAN STRIPED KIWI KISS 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
113884	RUB ONS FASHION DISTRICT	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
114318	RIBBON ORIGINALS VALET	12.95	0.25	9.71	Available
111374	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED RIDING HOOD RED 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111370	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PACIFIC POINT 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111415	RUB ONS GREATEST MOMENTS	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
113887	RUB ONS BRIGHT DELIGHTS	11.95	0.25	8.96	Available
111416	RUB ONS CHATEAU BELLA	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
111338	NOTES TEXTURED LOVE ASSORTMENT II	12.95	0.25	9.71	Available
111879	RIBBON SATIN KIWI KISS VERY VANILLA	7.95	0.25	5.96	Available
111277	RUB ONS A PERFECT DAY	10.95	0.25	8.21	Available
110730	DIE CUTS POCKETS & PIECES	8.95	0.25	6.71	Available
107272	PUNCH KEY TAG	15.95	0.25	11.96	Available
113980	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER CANDY LANE	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
111375	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED BAJA BREEZE 5/8"	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
112010	DIE CUTS BLOOMS AGAIN	8.95	0.25	6.71	Available
113991	TASTE OF TEXTILES	9.95	0.25	7.46	Available
101399	STIPPLE BRUSHES	6.95	0.25	5.21	Available
112092	BUTTON BOUQUET	7.95	0.25	5.96	Out of stock
112139	NOTES CAROUSEL II	11.95	0.25	8.96	Available
111336	NOTES SCALLOP II	11.95	0.25	8.96	Available
111840	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PACIFIC POINT	2.95			Available
111841	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL TANGEIRNE TANGO	2.95			Available
111843	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PINK PIROUETTE	2.95			Available
111839	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL RIDING HOOD RED	2.95			Available
111842	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL KIWI KISS	2.95			Available
112161	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS KIWI KISS	9.95			Available
112042	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN GARDEN	9.95			Available
112156	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PINK PIROUETTE	9.95			Available
112150	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PACIFIC POINT	9.95			Available
112153	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS TANGERINE TANGO	9.95			Available
111844	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL BAJA BREEZE	2.95			Available
111836	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD RIDINGHOOD RED	5.95			Available
111838	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PINK PIROUETTE	5.95			Available
113966	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE	9.95			Available
109123	STAMPIN WRITE JOURNALER BASIC BROWN	3.25			Available
113981	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA BIRDS	9.95			Available
112157	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS BAJA BREEZE	9.95			Out of Stock
113975	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RASPBERRY TART	9.95			Available
114037	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY SWEET SLUMBER	11.95			Available
113978	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN OASIS	9.95			Available
112041	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA ROSE	9.95			Available
112468	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SWEET ALWAYS	9.95			Available
111834	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD TANGERINE TANGO	5.95			Available
114039	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY ROCKABILLY	11.95			Available
108590	CARD STOCK NATURALS ASST 12X12	8.95			Available
111337	NOTES GIFT ASSORTMENT II	9.95			Available
112471	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RAINBOW SHERBET	9.95			Out of Stock
112464	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MANCHESTER	9.95			Available
112006	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLOWER FUSION II	14.95			Available
111837	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PACIFIC POINT	5.95			Available
112461	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER WASHINGTON APPLE	9.95			Out of stoc
113993	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY PARISIAN BREEZE	11.95			Available
112155	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS RIDING HOOD RED	9.95			Available
111353	CARD STOCK KIWI KISS 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
111348	CARD STOCK RIDING HOOD RED 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
112172	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE BOY	19.95			Out of stock
100900	GIFT SACKS WHITE	2.95			Available
114605	SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT MORE THOUGHTS	42.95			Out of stock
102264	COLUZZLE STARTER KIT	19.95			Available
111346	CARD STOCK IN COLOR 12 X 12	8.95			Available
111835	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD KIWI KISS	5.95			Available
111350	CARD STOCK PACIFIC POINT 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
105668	TATTOO KIT I	13.95			Out of stock
111349	CARD STOCK TANGERINE TANGO 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
109231	SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT SENDING HAPPY THOUGHTS	54.95			Available
111351	CARD STOCK PINK PIROUETTE 8-1/2 X 11	5.5			Available
112165	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE GIRL	19.95			Out of stock
113950	DIE CUTS BUILD-A-FAIRYTALE	8.95			Available
111345	CARD STOCK TEXTURED IN COLOR 12 X 12	11.95			Available
105669	TATTOO KIT II	13.95			Out of stock
111833	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD BAJA BREEZE	5.95			Available
113936	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN HOPPY MEMORIES	19.95			Out of stock
111347	CARD STOCK IN COLOR 8-1/2 X 11	7.95			Available
107288	ENVELOPE WHISPER WHITE EXTRA LARGE	5.5			Available
104310	CRAFTERS TOOL KIT	39.95			Available
111352	CARD STOCK BAJA BREEZE 8-12 X 11	5.5			Available
113943	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN 2 SWEET	19.95			Available
113925	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SWEET NOTHINGS	19.95			Available
112179	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN LOVE STORIES	19.95			Available
113911	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SUNSHINE GARDEN	19.95			Out of stock
112054	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN BEST EVER	19.95			Out of stock
111253	Blooms & Bulbs	6.5			Available
109684	Doodle	8.5			Available
111257	Happy, Happy Birthday	8.5			Available
109692	Love	6.5			Available
109568	My ABCs	6.5			Available
109682	Perfectly Pretty	6.5			Available
109687	See You Around	8.5			Available
109683	So Swirly	8.5			Available
111260	Something Fishy	8.5			Available
111262	Stems & Silhouettes	8.5			Available
105516	Watercolor Joy	6.5			Available
114528	Embosslit Flower	11.95			Available
116209	Note of Thanks	9.95			Available
116210	Birthdays Count	9.95			Available
112966	Curly Label Bundle*	33.95			Available
115535	Hand Drawn Bundle				Available

Valentine-making coming soon!

2009-02-01T20:56:00.004-05:00

Here's a sneak peek of what we'll be making at my Valentine-making party this Saturday. If you live nearby, i hope you can make it!

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated. All rubber stamped images copyright Stampin' Up!

Sets: Love You Much, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Short and Sweet
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Versamark, Riding Hood Red, Regal Rose
Tools: Bone folder, embossing buddy, heat tool, sponges, paper snips, craft & paper scissors
Adhesive: SNAIL, dimensionals
Other: Clear embossing powder, Pretty in Pink 1/4" grosgrain

Set: Love You Much
Cardstock: Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum
Ink: Versamark, Perfect Plum
Tools: Bone folder, embossing buddy, heat tool, scallop edge punch, heart to heart punch, craft & rubber scissors
Adhesive: SNAIL, dimensionals
Other: White embossing powder

All kinds of new things going on!

2009-01-08T21:28:00.007-05:00

So i bet you're wondering if i just dropped off the blog-earth, or what. Well, i do have a semi-good excuse for my frequent absence...i have some happy news! They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here goes:
Obviously, this is not exactly NEW news (a belly like that doesn't usually show up overnight!), but it'll be new to most of you, so there ya go! I'm due in April, and needless to say being pregnant has kind of consumed my world for awhile now. I've managed to (on top of you know, teaching full time) keep up with some stamping, for fun and for business, but haven't had much leftover time and energy to document my efforts here.

The other new things are not quite as exciting as the baby news, but i still want to keep my stampin' people posted. First of all, there are all kinds of things happening at Stampin' Up! these days. Here are the highlights:

1. Retiring stamp set list is up: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/itemlist.aspx?categoryID=381

2. Retiring accessories list is up, but i am WAY too tired right now to paste it in here. Hopefully my friend and fellow demonstrator Kristin won't mind if i send you over to her blog to see it: http://kristinstamps.typepad.com/elmerstamper/2009/01/retired-accessories-list.html
(these items will only be available as long as supplies last, and some items are already sold out!)

3. Inventory Blowout sale: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/itemlist.aspx?categoryID=385
Includes some In-Color items from the last catalog!

4. Love You Much Bundle is 20% off: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/itemlist.aspx?categoryID=383

5. Sampler Promotion is still going on: http://www.stampinup.com/us/enu/11743.asp

You can also just go to my Stampin' Up! site and navigate around the promotions page to check out whatever you might be interested in. http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/melissav/promotions

You can see all the above specials and even order directly through my site (http://melissav.stampinup.net) by clicking the "order now" button on the top right corner of the page. (Of course you can always give me a call or email to place an order directly through me.)

And lastly, i can't neglect to mention that i have just finished putting some stamping events on my calendar. You can check out my January/February calendar by going to my Stampin' Up! website "Event" page at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/melissav/events.

Oh, and feel free to participate in my boy-or-girl poll over to the left there. :)

Happy stamping!

Happy Fall Wedding!

2008-10-25T10:41:00.006-04:00

Yesterday was my friend Michele's wedding day. Everything was beautiful! The bride was breathtaking (of course), the reception place was gorgeous, and everything was just lovely in spite of the rain. They even got to take a few pictures outside when the rain let up, and from what i saw on the photographer's laptop (don't you love it when a wedding photographer does that? you get to see wedding pictures DURING the wedding! nothin' like instant gratification), their photos are gonna be perfect.

I loved the colors Michele picked; brown, orange, and green. (Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, and Old Olive, to be exact.) Perfect for a fall wedding. Michele & DJ had a twiggy "tree" set up near the entrance with cardstock leaves (in their 3 colors) hanging all over it. Each guest's name and table number was on a leaf. They had to be the most unique and creative placecards i've ever seen!

A few weeks ago a group of stampers got together to make some things for Michele and DJ's special day. Here are some of the handstamped items we created.

The program, made of Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip, stamped with the Baroque Motifs stamp set:
The tables were beautiful. They each had a table number which had also been stamped with Baroque Motifs (using the Rock n' Roll technique). They all had a Chocolate Chip base and a Very Vanilla top layer. The other layer was either Old Olive or Pumpkin Pie.

And then at each place setting was a menu card. Again, some with Pumpkin Pie and some with Old Olive, all tucked into chocolate brown cloth napkins. Put all that together with beautiful floral centerpieces which used a pumpkin instead of a vase and a tablecloth which inspired me to stamp something gorgeous, and the tables were so pretty.

So of course, when i sat down to make a card for Michele & DJ, i HAD to use their three colors again. If you've read my blog for awhile, you've seen a card a bit like this one before, but to me it looks completely different in these colors. The hearts & swirls, and the sentiment, are embossed in Classy Copper. I also did something for this card that i had never done before. I wanted my brads to match perfectly, but they were gold, not copper. So i pushed their tops into my Versamark pad, and then into the embossing powder. Holding each brad with needlenose pliers, i heated them with my embossing gun. And voila, copper brads!

Michele and DJ, may God bless you richly as you begin your new lives together! Thanks for including me in your beautiful wedding day.

This is really quite terrible!

2008-10-09T20:03:00.005-04:00

I have been gone so long from blogging world that i hardly know where to begin! Well, when in doubt, post a card. Right? So here ya go:

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated.
Stamp Sets: Cause for Celebration (retired hostess set), Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Whisper White, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip
Papers: Prints Designer Series Paper in Real Red
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow
Markers: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip
Adhesive: 2-Way Glue Pen, Tape runner, Dimensionals
Tools: Corner Rounder, Paper Snips
Other: Real Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Another store added

2008-07-28T17:10:00.002-04:00

Sorry i've continued to be so non-existant in the Blogging World this summer. I have been so busy, between having lots of stamping events, doing things around the house, and oh yeah, working my summer jobs too. *Phew*! I feel busier now than i am during the school year!

Anyway, i've recently started selling some of my cards in another local shop. This one is a horse-themed store called Pegasus Closet. So, of course all the cards i made for them are horse or western-themed. Check out this little collage for a sampling:

Be sure to stop in to Pegasus Closet the next time you need a gift & card for your favorite horseback rider, stable owner, or just plain horse lover!

Great news!

2008-07-24T11:23:00.002-04:00

Just this week, Stampin' Up! announced that they will soon (this fall!) have online ordering available! This means that our customers will be able to order directly online through our business websites (mine is: http://melissav.stampinup.net).

Use this link for more information:
http://www.stampinup.com/us/enu/11319.asp

Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

2008-06-18T22:17:00.005-04:00

Well, sorry i've been a little, well, absent lately. Things were a little hectic because of the end of the school year. It is one of the most insane parts of my year! I feel like i barely have time to breathe, never mind blog. The only reason there were posts up last week is because i had scheduled them the weekend before!

But this past weekend i basically collapsed, and am still recovering. Well, that plus having overnight company for 2 nights, and getting ready for a church yard sale this Saturday where i'm selling some things, etc.

ANYway, i did make something new tonight, with a brand new stamp set! This is made with Fresh Cuts, which is part of a promotion running this month. Check out this flyer for more details:
I got the Fresh Cuts set last week but only tonight had time to play with it. Let me tell you, this set is so much fun because it's so easy to work with. You really can't make it look bad! This card only took me about 15 minutes. Here's what i came up with.

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated.
Stamp Set: Fresh Cuts
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Adhesive: Tape runner, Dimensionals
Other: Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon

Enjoy!

2008-06-14T08:42:00.003-04:00

Well, folks, school is out for summer! Here's a card i made for a colleague who just finished her very last school year - Linda is retiring. I really didn't feel like doing the usual "congratulations" card, and Enjoy Every Moment just seemed like the perfect sentiment! I hope she does enjoy every moment of her long and happy retirement.

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp set: Enjoy Every Moment
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie
Adhesives: Tape runner, dimensionals
Tools: 1/16" hole punch, bone folder, corner rounder
Other: 5/8" Pumpkin Pie striped grosgrain ribbon

Sparkly Wedding

2008-06-11T08:42:00.002-04:00

Here's a card i made recently for a bridal shower. There's a lot of glitter on it but the scanner really doesn't pick it up. But it looks very sparkly in real life! Sorry about the retired background stamp.
All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp Sets: Soft Swirls (retired), Cause for Celebration (hostess)
Cardstock: Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink Pads: Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black
Markers: Rose Red, Regal Rose
Adhesives: Tape runner, Dimensionals, Two-way glue pen
Other: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain ribbon

Summer Cherries

2008-06-08T08:42:00.001-04:00

One night recently, i needed to make a couple of thank you notes. I didn't have a lot of time, but i was in the mood to do something with a little "wow" factor. When i'm in that situation, i often turn to Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Papers. Using one of them makes it so easy to choose colors (which is often the hardest part of designing), and makes a quick card look special and gorgeous.

Lately i'm loving the Summer Picnic DSP, which is only available 'till the end of June. It's so...well, summery!! And i love how well it coordinates with one of my favorite sets these days, Tart & Tangy.

This card only took about 30 minutes once i got going, and in that time i actually made two. 15 minutes per card? You can't beat that, right?! I couldn't have made it to the store and back in that amount of time, were i the card-buying type instead of the card-making type. And that time includes a little snaffu which involved stamping the sentiment directly onto the DSP, not liking it, and then figuring out how to put the sentiment on AND cover my mistake in one shot!

Here's the end result.

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp sets: Tart & Tangy, Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
DSP: Summer Picnic
Ink Pads: Old Olive
Markers: Real Red, Old Olive
Tools: Scallop Circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, large oval punch, small oval punch
Adhesives: Tape runner, dimensionals
Other: Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon

A Chocolate Sky

2008-06-05T08:42:00.000-04:00

The design for this card may seem familiar to you if you've been reading my blog for awhile. It's one i go to when i'm stuck for an idea, but somehow it always ends up looking a little different than the last time i used it.

This time i was motivated to use Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip together for some reason. I guess it's because usually if i'm going to use blue with brown, i reach for Bashful Blue. But in a few short months, the 08 In Colors will go away forever, so i wanted to try these together while i can!

I love how soft sky ink looks stamped on soft sky cardstock. It's so elegant, especially when the stamp is Baroque Motifs. I swear, it's almost impossible to make an ugly card with that stamp set. I'm hoping it will be in the next catalog even though it's already been around for a year. Of course, the wood blocks on my set are so beat up, they look like i've had the set for 5 years, not just 1 year!

There is something i don't LOVE about this card, but i can't put my finger on it. I think it has to do with how the ribbon and circle-punched piece came out. If i had some soft sky ribbon, i think that would have been better, but vanilla was the best i could do. Anyway, enough rambling. Here's what i ended up with.

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp sets: Baroque Motifs, All Year Cheer I (retired)
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink Pads: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Versamark
Tools: 1 1/4" circle punch, 1/16" hole punch, Stampin' sponges
Adhesives: Tape runner, dimensionals
Other: Vintage Brad, Very Vanilla 3/8" grosgrain ribbon

True Confessions

2008-06-02T08:42:00.003-04:00

Sometimes i check my Google Reader at work during my "break" (a term which i use loosely because i'm supposed to use that time to get work done). I really shouldn't be reading blogs during that time, but sometimes i just need a little creative outlet in a day full of tying shoelaces, disciplining, lesson planning, hearing Mrs. ... 57 times per hour, oh, and teaching too.

So, sometime over the last few weeks, on someone's blog in my Reader, probably referring to a SCS color challenge, i saw the combo pumpkin pie, chocolate chip, and purely pomegranate. I scribbled it down on a scrap of paper and tossed it in my bag, not to be discovered again until recently. It's a color combination i have never used and would never have thought of, so when i found that little scrap, it motivated me to give it a try. It's a great color combo - i will definitely be playing with it again!

I started with a cardbase of pumpkin pie and continued from there. I added the background stamp (the dots) almost at the end, because the dots reminded me of the dots around the flower. I must be in the mood for clean, simple, unembellished cards lately, since that seems to be mostly what i'm coming up with! Anyway, here's the end result.

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp sets: One of a Kind, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomegranate, Very Vanilla
Ink Pads: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomegranate
Markers: Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose

Adhesives: Tape runner

Other: Blender pen

Groovy Thanks

2008-05-30T08:42:00.000-04:00

So the other night, i told my husband (who was surfing the web on the computer in my stamping room) that i could, and would, make a card in 5 minutes. I asked him to time me, then i got to work.

I used an idea i got from this post by one of my favorite bloggers, Stampin' Mama. I don't have the sets she used, but i liked the beautiful simplicity of her design. I must admit that it was kinda fun to make a card without ANY embellishment - not a brad, piece of ribbon, or other nit-picky detail in sight. Just cutting, stamping, and sticking, and only a few colors. Well, that and my new corner rounder which i just couldn't resist breaking in!

I will be honest and say that i don't totally LOVE the result. I do like how clean it looks, and i love the idea of having a finished card in a short time, but if i made this one again i would add...i don't know, but i would add SOMEthing.

Anyway, i stuck down the last layer, jumped up, and yelled "DONE" only to be greeted by a blank stare from the hubbard. I said, "well, did i do it?? did i make it in 5 minutes???!!" to which he replied, "oh, sorry hon, i didn't look at the clock".

Guess next time i'll set a timer.

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp sets: Heartfelt Thanks
Cardstock: Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink Pads: Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip
Tools: Corner Rounder
Adhesive: Tape runner

Sweet Scallops

2008-05-27T08:42:00.000-04:00

So as you probably already know, i'm a teacher by day (stamper by night). At the end of the year, some very thoughtful parents often give me a little something to say thanks for working with their child. So i decided i'd make up some thank you cards to have on hand. Since i get bored easily when reproducing one design, i made them in "reverse" colors.

Here's what i ended up with. These are in a great size - you can get 3 card bases out of one sheet of cardstock, and they fit in a regular 3 5/8 x 6 1/2 size envelope. Please excuse my use of one retired stamp set...So Many Scallops was one i got FREE during this year's Sale-a-Bration. It's a great set because it makes it so easy to whip up cute cards. I made a pile of these in under an hour (once i had the basic design figured out).

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp sets: Time Well Spent, So Many Scallops (SAB 2008), Enjoy Every Moment
Cardstock: Mellow Moss, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Ink Pads: Mellow Moss, Regal Rose, Barely Banana
Tools: Scallop Circle punch
Adhesives: Tape runner, Dimensionals

Happy Birthday, Benjamin!

2008-05-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

Today is my nephew Benjamin's birthday. I can't believe he's 9 years old already! Time sure flies, doesn't it?

So, the other day i sent out a box of goodies. (I have made it my little tradition to give a little something to the siblings of the birthday kid, so the goodies include presents for Benjamin plus small somethings for Bethany and Josiah, too.) Here's the card i sent him in the box. Please excuse my use of two retired stamp sets! :)

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamp sets: Stars and Swirls (retired), Birthday Whimsy (SAB 2008)
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, So Saffron, Certainly Celery
Ink Pads: Not Quite Navy, So Saffron, Certainly Celery
Tools: 1/16" punch, Small Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Ticket Corner punch, sponges
Adhesives: Tape runner, Dimensionals
Other: Silver Brads

One of a Kind

2008-05-16T19:42:00.007-04:00

First let me start off by saying that this card is NOT my own design. It was tweaked a bit, yes, but mostly cased from another blogger or two. The problem is that there are so many wonderful stamping bloggers out there, most of whose blogs i subscribe to in Google Reader (love that Reader, btw), that i honestly have NO idea where i saw this card. So, whoever you are, i apologize for not giving you proper credit, but thank you for the cute card idea!

So this was one of the cards we made at my last club workshop, at Becky's house (the other card was the wheelbarrow Mother's Day card that i posted a few days ago). We were missing a lot of club members that night, but we had a great time anyway! If you are interested in joining my next club, go to my Stampin' Up! website (the link is on the left sidebar) for more information!

All supplies from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamp sets: Tart & Tangy, One of a Kind
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa, Real Red, Old Olive
DSP: Summer Picnic
Ink Pads: Close to Cocoa, Real Red, Old Olive
Markers: Close to Cocoa
Tools: Scallop Circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1" punch
Adhesives: Tape runner, dimensionals
Other: White gel pen, white 3/8" grosgrain ribbon

New Poll!

2008-05-14T17:05:00.001-04:00

Scroll down the left side of my blog to participate in my new poll. This time it's about the 2007 In Colors, which I for one will be sad to see go in a few short months.

Happy Momma's Day!

2008-05-13T21:16:00.007-04:00

Well, here i am, late to the party as usual. I guess it's only fitting that i'm posting this card two days after Mother's Day, since i haven't...umm...well, see, i haven't actually sent my mom her card yet. I know, terrible.

But fortunately i don't think she reads my blog, at least not regularly, so she will still (i hope) see this card in person rather than here. Which means that i did make her card! In fact, sorry to say, Mom, i made several of your card this year, so i could sell some at the coffee shop and also use it for a club workshop i had last week.

Boy, now i'm really hoping my mom doesn't read my blog! Since now i've said that her card isn't so unique! However, there is a new mommie-to-be i'd like to wish a special Happy (belated) Mother's Day to: my friend-in-the-computer, Char. Consider this your Mother's Day card, too, Char! :)

I tried my hand at a new-to-me technique (which everyone and their mother has already done just ages ago, but like i said, i'm late to the party) called paper piecing. Of course, me being the cutting-hater that i am, i only did it with an image that has nice clean lines and no inverted corners or jaggedy lines. (Unlike the card Claire made us do last week at Diva Night which i also need to post up here. I have actually been doing a lot of stamping lately, just not very much posting.)

I also did more coloring on this card than i usually do...i'm not generally a fan of the coloring, i must say. But i didn't mind it so much on this one. Flower petals are pretty quick to do; just a quick swipe with the brush tip of my Stampin' Up! marker and there ya go.

One more thing...i'm proud to say that although i usually CASE things quite shamelessly, this one is actually my own design. And i used a different color combo (for me), mostly because i really wanted to use Pumpkin Pie but i already had the Pretty in Pink cardstock cut. Boy, i was just breaking out of my molds all over the place with this one, eh??

ANYway, here's the card. Happy belated Mother's Day to all the moms!

Stamp Set: Blooming with Love (thank you, Kristin!)
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
DSP: Summer Picnic
Ink Pads: Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie
Markers: Creamy Caramel, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Pale Plum, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie
Tools: Blender Pen, Bone Folder, Ticket Corner Punch, 1/16" hole punch, Paper Snips
Adhesives: Tape runner, Stampin' Dimensionals
Other: 3/8" Bashful Blue grosgrain ribbon

Bashful Bride

2008-04-27T19:39:00.002-04:00

Here's a card i made tonight using some of our punches and PDSP (prints designer series paper). I'm pretty happy with how it came out, although to me the blues don't quite match as perfectly as i would like. But then i'm pretty picky about color matching...

Stamp Set: (retired) Mini Mates
Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue
DSP: Bashful Blue Prints Designer Series Paper (from the prints pack hostess gift)
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Tools: Bone Folder, small oval punch, 1 1/4" circle punch
Adhesives: Tape runner, Stampin' Dimensionals
Other: 5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, 1/4" bashful blue grosgrain ribbon

Coming soon to a coffee shop near you!

2008-04-13T15:46:00.003-04:00

Actually, it might not be near you...depends where you live!

I'm going to be selling a few cards at my local coffee shop (and maybe at work, too). So i spent a big chunk of yesterday making some to take over this week. Here's a little sampling...sorry about the glare off the plastic covers; i was too lazy to take them off before scanning!

Jumping out of a perfectly good plane...

2008-04-06T19:06:00.005-04:00

This is totally un-stamping related, but i thought i'd share anyway. For his 40th birthday, my sister surprised her husband Pete with (among other things) a skydive! It was his first jump, so he went tandem. Here are a couple of shots i got from the ground. Cool, huh?

A little Spring in my step

2008-03-30T22:37:00.008-04:00

What a beautiful day today was! It was still a little chilly, but very sunny and spring-like. My husband and i did a little planting and other outdoor type things this afternoon, and it left me in a very fresh and perky mood. So that meant i had to create something fresh and perky in my stamp room tonight, right? Well, here ya go.

Now if that's not fresh and perky, i don't know what is! Here's hoping you have a little spring in your step these days, too.

Stamp set: Enjoy Every Moment
Cardstock: Pink Passion, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Pink Passion, Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Barely Banana
Tools: Bone Folder
Adhesive: Tape Runner, 2-Way Glue Pen
Other: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Black Gingham ribbon

Happy Easter, everyone!

2008-03-22T23:02:00.002-04:00

Sets: Time Well Spent, God's Blessings
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Pale Plum
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, Perfect Plum
Tools: Tag corner punch
Adhesive: Tape runner, Stampin' Dimensionals
Other: Wild Wasabi double-stitched ribbon, Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon

Free Wheelin'

2008-03-20T15:57:00.000-04:00

Wow! Stampin' Up! has a great special going on! From March 18-April 30, if you buy one of the featured stamp sets, you get the coordinating jumbo wheel FREE (an $8.50 value)! This is an excellent deal.

The stamp sets (with the free jumbo wheel for each listed in parentheses) are:

Wonderful You (Stems and Silhouettes)
Life's a Breeze (Something Fishy)
Pun Fun (Sweet Stars)
Year After Year (See You Around)
Stitched Exotics (It's Beautiful)
Enjoy Every Moment (Daisy Dash)

For more information, contact me via email or phone!

Elegant Earth Elements

2008-03-19T22:11:00.004-04:00

My friend Michele and her fiance came over the other night to design their wedding invitation. We had dinner together, and then had some creative collaboration time! I absolutely LOVE the color combination they decided on (they're having a fall wedding), and i think the invite came out gorgeous. After we finished, we of course celebrated with a little ice cream (any celebration is always better with ice cream, if you ask me)!

Here's our finished product (pre-text, of course):

This invite uses the following:
Stamp set: Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Really Rust, and Very Vanilla
Inks: Old Olive, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip
Tools: Scallop Circle Punch, 1/16" hole punch
Adhesives: Tape Runner, Dimensionals
Other: Vintage Brad

Last chance - Sale-a-bration ends TOMORROW!!

2008-03-16T18:42:00.002-04:00

Well, it's your last chance to get the FREE (with a $50 purchase) Sale-a-bration sets. This, the biggest sale of the year, ends tomorrow. So be sure to contact me ASAP if you've been putting it off! These sets all come die-cut, so you can be stamping with them in no time flat. Click here to download the SAB flyer.
The above card was made with 2 SAB sets, Birthday Whimsy and So Many Scallops. Here are the other ingredients:
Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Purely Pomegranate, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Prints in Certainly Celery
Ink: Blue Bayou, Purely Pomegranate
Tools: 1", 1 1/4", and 1 3/8" circle punches, bone folder (of course)
Adhesive: Tape runner, Dimensionals

Pretty in Pink...and brown

2008-03-15T17:59:00.005-04:00

On Monday night, we had a downline meeting. We swapped cards (which i'll show-and-tell another time) and made a 6x6 scrapbook page, designed by Claire. Today i had the chance to put a picture onto the page we made, and i just couldn't wait to share it! (since i hardly ever scrapbook, this is very exciting!) Anyway, here it is:

My scanner really doesn't do these colors justice, but i haven't had much luck with taking photos of my projects either so it'll have to do. Here's what we used for this page:

Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, and Whisper White cardstock
Close to Cocoa Prints Designer Series Paper
Chipboard pieces
Sanding blocks
Hodgepodge Hardware (silver)
Pretty in Pink 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
SNAIL Tape runner, Anywhere Glue Stick, & glue dots

Clubbing once again

2008-03-12T17:34:00.000-04:00

Last weekend my current club met to do some stamping together. A few couldn't make it (we missed you, Becky & Ro!) but the rest of the club and some other friends had a great time together. Thanks for hosting, Judi!

Here are the two cards everyone made. Or, should i say, here are my original designs for the make-and-takes. Thanks to coordinating colors and double-sided Designer Series Paper, each person's "many thanks" card came out completely different. Love that!

Both of these cards were made using stamp sets which you can get for FREE right now during Stampin' Up!'s Sale-a-Bration. In fact, you can only get them for a few more days - the sale ends on Monday, and then these sets will be gone forever! If you'd like to take advantage of the best Stampin' Up! sale of the year, be sure to contact me right away.

Many Thanks:
Stamp set: Lots of Thoughts (SAB)
Cardstock: So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Designer Series Paper: Cutie Pie
Ink: Basic Black
Tools: 1 3/8" circle punch
Adhesive: Tape runner, Stampin' Dimensionals
Other: Whisper White grosgrain ribbon

Happy Birthday:
Stamp set: Birthday Whimsy (SAB), Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Cardstock: Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi, Barely Banana, Whisper White
Ink: Groovy Guava, Elegant Eggplant, and Wild Wasabi ink pads, Barely Banana marker
Tools: Paper snips
Adhesive: Tape runner, Stampin' Dimensionals
Other: Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon

New poll!

2008-03-02T20:05:00.002-05:00

I put up a new poll today, so be sure to vote! This poll will end on March 12th. You can find it in the left-hand sidebar.

Rock n Roll!

2008-03-01T08:07:00.002-05:00

This card is a perfect example of how we cardmakers love to CASE (copy and steal everything!) from one another. Once upon a time, i made a card. Claire liked the layout, so she used the basic layout to come up with a new card and used it for a make-and-take at a PhillyInkers meeting. I loved her changes, so i have now stolen it back, made a minor adjustment, and made yet another card!

Here is the final result, using the technique called Rock and Roll (to get the two-color look in the larger images). I love how the card ends up looking like it was tie-dyed. This technique was not on my original card. The strip of paper going diagonally was my basic layout. The stamp choice, colors, and technique is Claire's. When i changed it again, i only changed the width of the strip and the amount of stamping.

Stamp set: Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Purely Pomegranate (In Color 07-08) textured
Ink: Groovy Guava and Purely Pomegranate (both In Color 07-08)
Tools: Paper trimmer
Adhesive: Tape runner

Happy Birthday, John!

2008-02-28T00:03:00.006-05:00

It's after midnight, so it's officially my husband's 40th birthday! To celebrate, i'm offering a one-day sale in honor of my old man. (boy am i glad he never reads my blog!)

Anyway, choose any stamp set in the catalog with a 4 in the item number, price, or page number, and get it for 15% off! The only catch is that you MUST contact me TODAY or TOMORROW (February 28th OR 29th). You can do so by leaving a comment here, calling me, or sending an email to melissastamps@gmail.com.

Don't forget, Sale-a-Bration is still going on, so you can earn a FREE stamp set for every $50 you spend in addition to taking advantage of John's Birthday Sale. See the sets you can earn by clicking this link: http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/US_SAB_08.pdf.

Happy "four hunting"! If you don't have a catalog, you can see it at http://catalogs.shoplocal.com/stampinup/index.aspx?pagename=shopmain&fsid=58de200d-976f-43f1-bf50-204ef8a0c0f2&storeid=1038724&circularid=12339

John's birthday card uses the following:
Stamp set: Birthday Whimsy (SAB)
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Prints DSP in Certainly Celery
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Certainly Celery ink pads
Tools: Slit punch
Adhesive: Tape runner, Stampin' Dimensionals
Other: Whisper White grossgrain ribbon

Bashfully Baroque

2008-02-25T20:31:00.001-05:00

I just cannot get enough of this set, Baroque Motifs. I use it so much, i keep expecting to get sick of it but i never do! So here's my latest card using that favorite.

Stamp set: Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue, and Blue Bayou (In Color 07-08)
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Blue Bayou (In Color 07-08) ink pads
Tools: Scallop Circle punch, 1⅜" Circle punch
Adhesive: Tape runner, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Other: Chocolate Chip ⅝" grossgrain ribbon

Step it up: Add a brad in the center of the ⅜" circle

Happy (belated) Heart Day!

2008-02-18T16:27:00.004-05:00

I'm really running behind here...but at least maybe i'll give you an idea for next year's valentine's, right?? Anyway, here's the card i made for my hubby this year.

I made this card with only sets i had gotten for FREE. That's one thing i really love about being a demonstrator! More opportunities to get free stuff!

Actually, YOU can get these sets for free, as well. The words are from a set which you can get for free right now just for spending $50 or for hosting a party whose sales reach $300. (There are 5 sets and one pack of rub-ons to choose from.)

Sale-a-Bration ends on March 17th, so be sure to contact me right away if you want to make a purchase during this great sale, or better yet, host a party during this time. It's really the very best time of the year to do either or both!

The other set, which has 12 stamps in it, is not available to purchase. The only way to get it, for free! is by hosting a party whose sales are at least $500. You can of course take advantage of this regular hostess benefit in addition to Sale-a-Bration.

Stamp sets: Time Well Spent (hostess), Lots of Thoughts (Sale-a-Bration)
Cardstock: Mellow Moss, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla, and Rose Red
Ink: Mellow Moss and Rose Red ink pads
Tools: Scallop Circle punch, 1⅜ Circle punch
Adhesive: Tape runner, Stampin’ Dimensionals

A New Look!

2008-02-15T17:49:00.003-05:00

I guess i'm a bit behind the times, if we're supposed to make changes for New Year's. But today i finally had the chance to freshen things up here on my little blog. Besides color and layout changes, you'll notice some new "extras" on the left side of the page. Be sure to vote in the poll i put up - you only have until the end of February to do it!

Another "from the heart" card

2008-02-12T21:34:00.001-05:00

Here's a card that is very similar to the one i posted in this entry. I changed the cardstock, designer series paper, ribbon, and inks, and voila, it looks (almost) like a different card!

Stamp set: Baroque Motifs, All Year Cheer I (retired)
Cardstock: Blue Bayou regular & textured, Wild Wasabi textured, and River Rock textured
Designer Series Paper: Porcelain Prints
Ink: Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, and Chocolate Chip ink pads
Tools: Scallop circle punch, 1" and 1 1/4" circle punches, 1/16" hole punch
Adhesive: Tape runner, dimensionals
Other: (altered) Wild Wasabi double-stitched ribbon, vintage brad

New Stampin' Up! site is up and running!

2008-01-19T16:38:00.001-05:00

Well, thanks to the...er...um...gentle prodding of my sideline Kristin, i have finally set up a website through Stampin' Up! The link (http://melissav.stampinup.net/) is permanently located in my blog sidebar (to the left), just under the lovely photo of my feet. I have not finished personalizing the content yet, but keep checking in over there for updates, etc. You can view my events calendar, get inspiration, and keep up on current promotions. Check it out when you have a chance!

Feelin' Springy?

2007-12-29T18:00:00.000-05:00

I sure am...thanks to receiving Stampin' Up!'s Spring/Summer 2008 Idea Book and Catalog last week! The cover is gorgeous...check it out!

You can see the special Stampin' Up! is offering in January by using this link:
http://www.stampinup.com/us/enu/9446.asp

As you may already know, when Stampin' Up! comes out with a new catalog, they first retire some stamp sets and accessories to make room for new items. I am offering all retiring stamp sets for 15% off. However, if you want to order anything you MUST call or email me by 4:00 P.M. on Monday December 31st.

You can see the alphabetical list of retiring sets here:
http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/US_Retired_List_ALPHA_1207.pdf

Here is a link to the list by catalog page number:
http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/US_Retired_List_PGNUM_1207.pdf

The retiring accessories list is being updated daily as things sell out. (List removed)

Tag! You're it!

2007-12-22T18:04:00.000-05:00

I thought i'd post a few Christmas tags i've made recently.

This first one uses "Dashing" Designer Series Paper (it's double-sided, which works really well for a hanging tag), Whisper White cardstock, Real Red grosgrain ribbon, the scallop punch, and a 1 1/4 circle punch. I don't know why i used Whisper White on this instead of Very Vanilla (which matches Dashing much better)...i guess i must've had some white scraps lying around that day. The "to: from:" is from a retired set called Tiny Talk.

The next one is the tag i'm using for all our family presents this year, except the tags i'm using have no green layer. Most of them will be used on kids' gifts, and as we all know, they rip presents open too fast to make a layered tag worth my time! Actually, many adults do that as well...

Anyway, this tag uses Very Vanilla and Garden Green cardstock, and the ink is Garden Green and Real Red. The stamp set is the hostess set called Perfect Presentation. I used my tag corner punch on the top two corners. I like the way these came out, and they were so quick! I made a big pile in about 20 minutes.

Well, i hope i've motivated you to grab some scraps and make some tags! Happy stamping!

Joy to the World!

2007-12-20T21:12:00.000-05:00

Last night, i was making gifts for the kids in my class. Every year i make the same thing - an ornament in the same design as my 3rd grade teacher made for all of her students. (Thanks for the idea, Mrs. Sawicki!) I'm a frugal wrapper when i have a whole class to make gifts for, so i get plain white lunch bags and stamp on them to liven them up.

Well, this year i decided to go "traditional" color-wise and use red and green. I was so happy with how they turned out, that i got inspired enough to make a few Christmas cards using the same idea, adding some ribbon and one extra layer of cardstock. Here's what i ended up with:

I don't know if it's the bright colors or the cheeriness of the word "joy", but this card just makes me smile every time i see it!

Stamp set: Ornament Elements (retired)
Cardstock: Garden Green, Whisper White
Ink: Garden Green and Real Red ink pads
Adhesive: Tape runner
Other: Jersey from Ribbon Originals (thanks, Kristin!)

We've been clubbing...and no, i don't mean on Delaware Ave!

2007-12-18T20:18:00.000-05:00

Back in the day (we won't talk about what day that was), I had a period in which I used to go into Philly to hit the dance clubs on Delaware Avenue. Thankfully, that time in my life was short lived! These days, the only clubbing I do is stamp clubbing! (Scroll down past the card samples for an explanation about stamp clubs.)

This is pretty old news now, but the stamp club I had going this fall just ended in November. At our last meeting we made the following cards:

For this design, the clubbers could choose which side of the Designer Series Paper to show, like this:This card uses Old Olive, Real Red, and Very Vanilla cardstock. The DSP (Designer Series Paper) is Dashing. We embossed the image (from Greetings Galore) and then shaded it in with Stampin' Pastels.

The next card we made was a snowy "thanks" card:

This one uses Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate, and Whisper White cardstock. The inks are Blue Bayou and Whisper White, and the ribbon is white grosgrain. The stamp sets used are Perfect Presentation (hostess set), Itty Bitty Backgrounds, and Everyday Flexible Phrases.

The club, which was my very first one, was a lot of fun! We had a great time meeting every month at each club member's house for some stamping, laughter, yummy food, and of course lots of chatting. A big THANK YOU to Becky, Judi, Nancy, and Ro for making my first club a great time.

But never fear, Stamp Club Member wannabees, there will be new clubs starting in January!

The way a stamp club works is that the members each agree to spend a certain amount (for a 6-person club, it's $25) in Stampin' Up! products each month. Then each member takes a turn collecting the hostess benefits - whether or not she even hosts an actual party! Since everyone has committed to the minimum, each member knows that she will at least get the minimum of hostess benefits. Usually, due to outside orders and non-club members who the hostess invites to her party, club hostesses end up getting quite a bit more than the minimum in free stamp sets and hostess dollars.

This time around, at the request of some of my customers, I will be offering every-other-month clubs. The first 6-person club will begin in January, and the members will commit to spend $25 in January, March, May, July, September, and November 2008. They will each get a FREE Idea Book & Catalog, and a Special Secret Free Gift just for joining the club!

If you have any questions, are interested in joining a stamp club in 2008, or just want to pressure me into telling you what the Special Secret Free Gift is ;) , drop me an email at melissastamps@gmail.com. Hope to hear from you!

In memory

2007-10-30T22:05:00.000-04:00

This is a card i made for a colleague/friend/mentor of mine. She had been fighting cancer for awhile, and had taken a turn for the worse. Sadly (for us, not for her!), she went to be with the Lord just a few days later. I miss you, Paula.

Stamp set: Baroque Motifs, All Year Cheer I (retired)

Papers: Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, and Sahara Sand cardstock, Fall Flowers Designer Series Paper

Ink: Chocolate Chip and Really Rust ink pads

Tools: Scallop circle punch, 1" and 1 1/4" circle punches, 1/16" hole punch

Adhesive: Tape runner, dimensionals

Other: Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, vintage brad

I'm dreaming of a wasabi Christmas...

2007-10-21T17:07:00.000-04:00

So i'm working on possible make-and-take cards for my club workshop this week. For some reason, i had to do a lot of playing around to get this color combination, and now it seems so simple! I gotta say, though, my scanner really doesn't do justice to the Wild Wasabi color. Oh, well. Anyway, here it is:

A friend/co-worker/Stampin' Up! customer recently commented that she would like it if i'd list materials for each of the cards i post here. I have been very lazy in that area! So, Judi, here you go. I'll go back and edit previous posts as i can.

Stamp set: Season of Joy
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Wild Wasabi ink pad, Real Red marker
Tools: Tag corner punch, q-tips
Adhesive: Tape runner, dimensionals
Other: Wild Wasabi double-stitched ribbon

Feelin' a little rusty...

2007-10-08T19:57:00.000-04:00

...and no, i'm not referring to "Really Rust", although there is a teeny bit of that Stampin' Up! color in the following card.

What i'm actually talking about is the fact that i haven't been doing a whole lot of stamping lately. I have apparently done damage to my hip joint and lower back, so i have some pinched nerves. Which is causing me to be unable to sit for longer than 5-10 minutes at a time. Which has made it a little difficult to make any cards over the last month! (I guess you can't make very nice cards while laying down icing your back.)

Anyway, after a couple of weeks of Chiropractic care and a LOT of rest, i was finally able to make a card today! Woo hoo! I was especially excited because i had paper i've hardly used and a brand-new Birthday set to break in. But it's been so long, that after i was done i really wasn't sure whether i like it or not. So, what do you all think? Do i need some oil on my rusty creative mind, thanks to my (slowly recovering) rusty hip joint?

Stamp set: It's Your Birthday
Cardstock: Old Olive, Sahara Sand, textured Soft Sky
Designer Series Paper: Fall Flowers
Ink: Old Olive ink pad
Tools: 1/8" and 1/16" hole punches
Adhesive: Tape runner, dimensionals
Other: Earth Elements eyelets, Old Olive 5/8" wide grosgrain ribbon

Swaps are DONE!

2007-09-13T19:16:00.000-04:00

Whelp, i went with the first one. Sorry, Claire. :) You're right, Kristin, it was more work that way but i decided i liked it better so it would be worth the extra work. Alison, the ribbon was a great idea too, but i didn't see your comment 'till today and i finished them up last night. I made 50 of them.

Good thing i got them done, because my Monday workshop got switched to Sunday, and i just found out we're having overnight guests on Saturday into Sunday. I'll be at Regionals all day Saturday, so that pretty much leaves tonight to get all the prep done for Sunday's workshop. So i'm pretty glad that i kept plugging away at it and finished the swaps last night.

In other cardmaking news, here's one i made last night (after the swaps were done) for a coworker who surprised me yesterday with a housewarming gift. It was after 10 and i was pretty wiped, so it's very simple, but i love how it came out:

I am LOVING that scallop punch. The projects i'm working on for Sunday also use it. The hostess requested the Flaky Friends set, and she also suggested that we make a bookmark card of some kind. I've been having fun with it. Once i finish it i'll post it for you all to see!

Finally back!

2007-09-08T14:37:00.000-04:00

Wow, i can't believe i haven't posted since JULY. Things have been a little hectic this summer, what with the packing and the painting and the moving and the working and the getting the classroom ready, etc. etc. Plus we had no internet connection for awhile, and then just dialup.

I have managed to squeeze in a little stamping here and there, though, and am thoroughly enjoying my new little stamping room! I still need to paint the room, but it is so great to have my own crafting space.

Today i'm working on a card for swapping at next Saturday's Stampin' Up! regional seminar. I think this is what i'll be doing:

Although i am also thinking about doing it this way instead:

Let me know which one you like better!

Color my world

2007-07-21T00:36:00.000-04:00

So, here i am, at the end of Day 2 of painting (at our new house). It has been a lot of work, but very satisfying.

The rooms we're working on started out totally white, so it's been a lot of fun to make a drastic change by adding color. I took "before" photos yesterday, which i will post together with their "after" shots once i take them.

So far we have the living room totally done, and the dining room almost half done. After that we'll do the master bedroom; all of that needs to be finished by Tuesday because the floor guy is coming. I hope to get the kitchen painted next Thursday if it doesn't get done this weekend.

Needless to say, i haven't had time for much cardmaking lately. However, i did make 2 birthday cards earlier this week. Here's one of them, which i made for my sister-in-love Janice and which i may use for an upcoming Stampin' Up! workshop:

And now i must get some sleep in preparation for tomorrow...Day 3 of the paint job!

Materials:

Stamp sets: Greetings Galore, Background Basics

Cardstock: Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Ink: Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, and Certainly Celery ink pads

Tools: 1/8" and 1/16" Hole punches, paper crimper, bone folder

Adhesive: Tape runner, dimensionals

Other: Pretty in Pink eyelets, Stampin' Pastels, blender pen

Happy Wedding Day!

2007-07-08T20:38:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a very special day around here because our dear friends Wendy and Michael tied the knot. Yes, they were one of the many 7-7-07 couples, although they did not set the date before meeting one another, or get married at one of 7 Walmarts, or any such craziness.

It was a beautiful day for it, the bride was breathtakingly gorgeous, and the groom was proud and handsome. I really am so happy for them...Wendy and i have been very close friends for many years, and I am so glad that God brought Michael into her life. I think they'll be great companions for one another on life's journey.

Anyway, i promised that i would post a scan of their wedding card after i had given it to them, so here it is!

A mini-stamping getaway

2007-07-06T08:04:00.000-04:00

The other day, we went out of town. John still went to work, so i was left to my own devices. For the whole day. Away from the distractions of home. So, thanks to my new cool craft tote, i brought some stamping supplies and had a creativity-filled day. (Well, aside from the couple of errands i had to do.)

Beforehand, i had visions of making piles of cards, like my sideline Kristin can do given a few hours to stamp. That didn't happen. However, i did get some sets mounted and did come up with a few new designs. And i made several copies of some designs. One of the cards i made is downright ugly, so i am not posting it. :) Here are the rest!

These two are the result of forcing myself to get out colors i NEVER use. I used mostly Not Quite Navy and Old Olive for them, and boy did i fall in love with that color combination! Fun. Also, i tried a new (to me) technique on these, called direct to paper. Basically, you swipe your ink pad over the paper. I had left my sponges and stippling brushes at home and didn't bring a good background stamp, so i swiped some Old Olive on the base of these cards to add a little more color.

I made both of these cards with a stamp set and wheel i had not yet used. I had a lot of fun with that set and am pretty happy with how these cards turned out.

And now, for my favorite card of the day:

This was the first one i made with the Olive/Navy combination. The scanner doesn't quite do it justice, but i really love this one. I used another new stamp set, a hostess set called In the Spotlight. You can really do a lot with this set! If i had only thought to bring my circle punch i would have been able to do even more. (I love the fact that so many of the new SU! sets coordinate with various punches, especially because i am way too impatient to cut things out with scissors.)

So for any of you who are thinking about turning a weekend getaway or vacation into a stamping retreat, here is my advice:

1. Get yourself a tote or bag that has lots of pockets for your scissors, markers, stamp sets, ink pads, etc.
2. Don't forget your SU! dimensionals. If you do, you might be forced to use random-brand foam squares, and you will be kicking yourself big time.
3. Likewise, don't forget your bone folder. You'll be stuck folding your cards with *gasp* a popsicle stick, and trust the one who knows, it won't work as well and will drive you crazy all day.
4. Limit yourself to just a few colors of ink pads, but make sure you have the matching paper and coordinating embellishments or you'll be frustrated.
5. Expect your first card of the day to be kinda ugly. Once you get on a roll, they'll get better and better.

Happy Stamping!

Packing, packing, and OH! how wonderful! more PACKING!

2007-06-30T19:02:00.000-04:00

I just spent the last 3 or 4 hours packing some boxes for our move. And i feel like i hardly made a dent. *sigh* Boy, do i ever dislike the moving process. The worst box so far was the dish box i just did. Those take forever because of all the wrapping. My favorites are the book boxes - they go pretty quickly. As of today, i have almost all our books packed up. Which was quite a feat, considering we have about 5 bookcases full, including cookbooks. Plus the random laying-around-because-someone-is-in-the-middle-of-reading-me books.

I did get to do a little stamping this morning, though. I made a card for an upcoming wedding, which i will post (after i give it!) at some point. I also started a couple more turquoise and white bookmarks to finish up the cardstock i cut for my open house events.

The other day i started working on the design for our "just moved" notes. My first design was very cute (if i do say so myself). It would have been one piece, not folded, with our new address printed on the back:

but then my husband mentioned who he'd like to send them to, and it's a LOT of people! There's NO stinkin' way i'm making 80-90 of the above. It took me an hour and a half to make SIX of them for a swap! So i came up with a simpler design. They'll be something like this:

I chose the yellow because i have yellow envelopes already, and the green because i thought it looked fresh and summery with the yellow. However, my (possibly colorblind?) husband said my color choice was perfect because we're "moving to a green and yellow house". Now, folks, our new house is indeed green, but it's green with creamy off-white trim. NOTHING like the "Yoyo Yellow" on the card. When i informed my hubby of this, he said that at least the green (Garden Green) was the same green as the house. It's not, but he didn't seem to really believe me about that part, and hey, if it makes him think i'm clever, then he can go on believing it, right?!

I chose the Loads of Love stamp set because it's cute, but also because my sweet but misguided husband (who has never moved an entire household) had originally suggested that we save money on a truck rental by using his little Tacoma pickup for the move! I think we have now agreed not to do that (*phew*! close call!) but this stamp set with the stuff piled in the back is a reference to that idea. Oh, if only it were that easy - just pile your chair, lamp, plant, and one box in the back of the truck and go!

Earlier today i cut all the brown cardstock for the base. My "did-some-packing" reward for later tonight will be to stamp the truck & its load. The rest will have to wait until my Stampin' Up! order comes in since i didn't have enough of the green and yellow on hand.

Well, the next box is waiting to be packed, so it's back to work for me!

It's HERE!!!

2007-06-26T13:53:00.001-04:00

At long last the new Stampin' Up! Catalog has arrived! I have never in my life been so excited to see a brown-clad UPS man. Perhaps he had already encountered some crazy Stampin' Up! demonstrators today, because he literally dropped the box on the porch and RAN down the street back to his truck. It was quite funny.

Anyway, the new catalog looks great so far. Lots of new stuff and plenty of fresh inspiration. Beginning July 1, you can view the catalog online at the SU! website. (www.stampinup.com) Or, of course, you can contact your friendly local SU! demonstrator (like me!) to find out how to get your own Fall Winter Collection 2007. :-)

Rehearsal invite

2007-06-25T12:23:00.000-04:00

Here is the finished invitation i mentioned a few weeks ago. I think they came out pretty good (if i do say so myself). They did take a bit of work, but since they were fun colors and a fun design, i didn't mind. The most time consuming part was punching the holes and attaching the brads! It was hard to hold the vellum straight while punching the holes in the right spot, and opening the brads got a little frustrating. But then i discovered my new favorite use for my bone folder and things went much more smoothly thereafter. You can slip the bone folder in between the brad "prongs" to separate them and press them apart. MUCH easier, quicker (and less dangerous) than doing it with your fingernail, which is what i had been doing!

Father's Day card

2007-06-25T11:55:00.000-04:00

I'm finally getting around to posting the card i made for Father's Day. This one went pretty quickly, but that's because it's not a very complicated design. Both my dad and my father-in-love liked it a lot. I was pleased because it's such a challenge to make something "manly" when most of my stamp sets feature flowers!

Pastel grapevine

2007-06-22T11:59:00.000-04:00

So here is the card that was one of the projects we made at my Stampin' Up! Kickoff open house events. It featured pastels, using versamark. My guests/customers really seemed to enjoy making this one, which i was happy about because (to me) it's an intermediate project and i had a range of skill levels at my events.

Summer bookmark

2007-06-21T22:07:00.000-04:00

This is the other project we made at my open house events. Everyone liked this one for its quickness (especially those who did the grapevine card first!). Even people who had never done any stamping before had this one finished in about 10 minutes. And since most of my customers are teachers, i think they'll get a lot of use out of a summer themed bookmark!

a busy Saturday

2007-06-02T11:46:00.000-04:00

Well, the husband is away today, which for some reason inspires me to get a lot of stuff done. Good thing, because i have a list a mile long! I have a pile of things to do for my first SU open house next week, plus a little work for the invitations i got hired to create, plus general house cleaning, topped off with doing a little packing! (we're moving this summer, and i have a huge pile of empty boxes taking up space in my dining room.) *phew*

I've been pretty productive this morning. Hopefully i can keep up my momentum for the whole day and just plow through my list!

Wedding stuff

2007-05-22T21:35:00.001-04:00

Thought i'd scan some of the things i made for our wedding and post them up here in case anyone is looking for ideas. I'll add a few things to this post later on as i have time.

Here are the thank you notes. The first one is what i used for shower gifts; the second was used for wedding gifts.

Here is the tag (outside and inside) for the candy, which was part of our favor:

And the bookmark, which was the other part of our favor and was almost completely CASEd from my upline Claire:

Baby card

2007-05-22T21:24:00.000-04:00

I made this card for a baby shower a few months ago. I've really been loving the combination of Real Red and Tempting Turquoise lately, so this card was a fun one.

If i were a scrapbooker...

2007-05-21T22:14:00.001-04:00

I would definitely scrapbook this cute picture of my sweet nephew!

Unfortunately, i haven't gotten into scrapbooking very much so far. I mostly just make cards. Someday, though, i hope to do a little scrapbooking and when i do, this photo will certainly make it into an album!