Stamp With LisaT

Are You a Hoarder?

I got some Thank You cards ready the other day as I had a bunch to send out for various reasons. I was trying to use up some of my retiring Blue Bayou designer paper and came up with this color combination. The layout was inspired by a sketch challenge several months ago on Splitcoast - SC166 if you'd like to look it up. I really like the crisp, clean lines of this layout, and I'll probably go back to it again and again!

I'm really pleased with this color combination - I used Stampin' Up!'s Really Red, Chocolate Chip and the Blue Bayou designer paper - with a little white for a crisp look! So now I'm happy and thankful! I hope the recipients like these cards!

So now I come to the crux of this post - Are you a hoarder or do you actually USE your supplies? The reason I ask is twofold:

1. like I said, I was trying to use up my Blue Bayou patterned paper. It's retiring, and retiring accessories will be announced on July 21. If you love this or any other of the 'In Color' papers (or most of the designer series paper for that matter - they almost all contain an In Color!), you'd better get them while you can. I wasn't a demonstrator at this time last year, but I understand that the In Colors were gone at or before the announcement. If you've gotta build up your HOARD, contact me now so I can place your order!
2. if you actually like to USE UP what you have, and find yourself with bits and pieces of miscellaneous In Color card stock and designer paper, you need to check out this color chart! It shows regular SU! colors in combination with this year's (2007-2008) In Colors.

See, I'm not so creative as everyone thinks - got the card layout idea from SCS and the color combo from this handy dandy chart. Makes for an easy, pretty card! Have a good day!

Recipe:
Paper: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White & Blue Bayou DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip - Classic and Craft (craft for a darker impression on the red card stock)
Stamps: Thanks for Everything
Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch

Are You Up to Date?

Morning!

I made some changes on my blog yesterday to make it easier for you to keep up to date on new posts to my blog. There's a couple of ways:

• In the left column, you can now subscribe to my blog if you use a news or blog reader. I've added Google, Yahoo and Bloglines. If you use another, let me know, and I'll see if I can accommodate you!
• In the right column (sidebar, really - see - I am learning blogese!) there's an email subscription link - you can receive my blog posts in your Inbox so you can get the latest and greatest without actually coming here.
• There's always the Favorites feature of your web browser, but then you have to remember to come visit! Make life easy and subscribe!

I'm thrilled to have so many repeat visitors on my fairly new blog! Keep checking back, 'cause as I was stamping today I kept getting all of these great ideas about future posts: projects, ideas and tidbits that I've picked up along the way - and you won't want to miss them!

Please note that the subscriptions that I'm referring to are about getting my blog posts - the subscription form in the top left corner is for my monthly newsletter. My newsletter recipients get special offers, tips, tricks and tutorials over and above what I provide here in my blog. I've already hinted at an upcoming coupon for hand stamped cards. My July newsletter will have LOTS of information about the new Decor Elements product line also, because after July 1 we're free to go public with all of the information and brochures! If you can't wait that long, contact me, because I am allowed to distribute this information if there's some sort of personal contact!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

I Got Goodies!

What a good mail day I had! I received a box of goodies from a stamping relative in Florida! Around this time last year, we were headed down to Florida, where we planned to spend a few days of our trip with my husband's cousin and his wife, Kathy. To my delight, I learned shortly before we left that Kathy stamps, too! Kathy and I had fun stamping together while I was there, and we chat occasionally and email more frequently. Sure wish we lived closer together!

Kathy has a very pretty, soft, beachy look to a lot of her work. It's really quite lovely and somehow different from a lot of the stamped things that I'm used to seeing. I like her style. If you do, too, and live in the Port Orange area, you're in luck! Kathy sells her cards under the name 'Cards by Kate'. If you need more info, I could probably hook you up!

Look at the other things she sent - these little faux eyelets that have adhesive on the back - perfect for naptime crafting! And look at the pretty image that she stamped on a puzzle! It's so pretty in real life - I hope the picture does it justice. She actually squeezed a gob of Stickles on it and spread it around with a brush (I don't think I've ever seen the words 'Stickles' and 'gob' used in the same sentence before - everyone's usually so careful and precise with the application!). Plus, there's a package of puzzles for me to stamp on! Don't you love the floral image on the oval puzzle? It's really quite large - about as large as my hand! I'll leave you with a close up of the oval puzzle - you really need a good look! Kathy, thanks so much!

(ETA: I've been working behind the scenes on my blog - those with subscriptions may have gotten multiple updates - sorry! Those of you without subscriptions - I've just made it easier to get automatic updates of my blog - I've added feed reader links to popular readers in the left column!)

Tag, I'm It!

Wow, I haven't been blogging for too long, and I've been tagged for one of those blogging games. Looks like fun, so I'll play along! It's a great way to discover other blogs that you might not encounter otherwise, and to offer encouragement along the way. After all, we're all united by this craft that we love!

I was tagged by Tracy, one of my stampin' sisters. She's part of the great group of Stampin' Up demonstrators I belong to. Here's a link to Tracy's blog.

So, according to the rules, I have to share 7 random and/or weird facts about myself, then tag 7 others and provide links to their blogs. (Wow, most of the bloggers I know I only know through stalking their blogs! Guess I'll be meeting them electronically!) So, here goes:

7 Random/Weird Facts about Me

1. I met my husband on a chair lift at a ski resort!
2. I asked my daughter for help with this list, and she reminded me that I can fold up my eyelids! - That is weird! (She thinks it's cool!)
3. I like most foods, but I have strong aversions to bleu cheese and coconut!
4. I have an absent-minded habit of rubbing or pulling on my eyebrows when I'm really concentrating on something. I don't even realize I'm doing it. Since starting this blog, I'm trying to be really conscious of it, or I'll end up with a little bald spot! I'm concentrating so hard on learning all of this new stuff, which leads to . . .
5. When I was working, I worked in the technical field! I was a database manager and a software integrator for a couple of large law firms here in NJ, but that wasn't even my background . .
6. My degree is in Spanish and I really wanted to be a professor of Spanish American literature, but didn't have the funds for grad school
7. In terms of water & swimming, you're either a lake person or a pool person (unless you live right on the coast!). I'm a lake person. What about you? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Now for the links:

1. Jen Peel: Stamping & Scrapping with Jen - my inspirational upline!
2. Deb Krog: Deb's Stamping & Scrapping Grounds - Deb's one of the demos in my group!
3. Dana Gestwick: Stampin' & Scrappin' Momma - another talented 'sideline' with a very pretty style!
4. Kristin Fuller: Stampin' & Scrappin' with Kristin - Kristin is in my extended group of sideline demos. I've gotten to know her a little recently through a business development class that we're taking together. She is a prolific stamper and really knowledgeable about internet and blogging issues. Thanks, Kristin!
5. Kay Kalthoff: Stamping to Share - I 'met' Kay through Splitcoaststampers. We traded comments and ideas on a card, then started sending each other hand stamped cards. I dropped the ball, but I'm getting a card in the mail to Kay soon! I miss our nice little correspondence, and Kay's a talented lady!
6. Asela Hopkins: Hop Art Studio - I've met Asela only electronically. She is a very talented artist. Combine stamping and a background in art and you can't go wrong! She's a busy lady, so I hope she doesn't mind me tagging her, but you must go to her blog and check out 'Botanical Dreams' - a new set that she illustrated for GinaK Designs! I can't wait to get my set! Asela's got many great tutorials on coloring with markers and colored pencils on her blog - you should check them out!
7. Taylor VanBruggen: TayloredExpressions - Taylor doesn't even know me, although I'm a regular visitor and  I've left comments on her beautiful cards. SU! has a new Birthday set coming in their new catalog and it has CUPCAKES - I'll finally be able to participate in Taylor's weekly Cupcake Challenges!

Challenge Completed!

Today I participated in the Color Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.com. If you're not familiar with Splitcoast, you should check it out. It's a huge on-line community of stampers and a wonderful source of inspiration. Beware though - it's a black hole in terms of time!

Today's challenge was to create something using the Stampin' Up! colors Taken with Teal, Wild Wasabi and Whisper White. I was happy to use my Wild Wasabi, as I'm trying to use up all of my retiring supplies. But then I remembered that I had a virgin package of Porcelain Prints designer paper. I love this paper and was saving hoarding it for a special project (that I haven't thought of yet!). Porcelain Prints contains Wild Wasabi - I might have to order some more while I still can. Do you have everything you want from the retiring list? You can see the list of retiring stamps here. The retiring accessories will be announced July 21, so be sure to check back. Typically, the In Color items disappear quickly once the list is announced (if not sooner), so be sure to get yours now. Contact me so that I can help you with your order!

I made two versions of this card - the first time I stamped the large flower from Fabulous Flowers three times and cut them out (in 3 different sizes). I used a glue pen around the edges and sprinkled on Dazzling Diamonds, then layered the 3 flowers on dimensionals. For the second one, I used Craft Taken with Teal and embossed the flowers with clear embossing powder. (See, I'm following my resolution of making at least two cards while my supplies are out!).

Coming Soon:
Watch for some upcoming announcements regarding Purchasing Clubs for Ribbon and new In Colors. Clubs are a great way to group-purchase in large amounts and split things up into smaller portions. You can get some of everything without breaking the bank! Clubs will be announced shortly and orders filled when the new catalog's out!

My July calendar has been updated - check out my class and event offering. My classes are held in my Pine Brook, New Jersey home. Pine Brook is located in Montville Township, in Morris County, with easy access to Routes 46, 10, 80 and 287. Come join the fun!

Recipe:
Paper: Taken With Teal, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Stamps: Fabulous Flowers, One of a Kind
Ink: Craft Taken with Teal, Basic Black
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, Basic Black grosgrain ribbon

Special Offer - Retiring Stamp Set

Wow - I missed a post yesterday! And here I was, going like gangbusters on my new blog! Guess that's what summer vacation will do to you. We went strawberry picking yesterday. Instead of a picture of grimy, sticky kids, I'll post a picture of a pretty Thank You Card.

Both stamp sets used are on the retiring list - 'Just Like You' and 'Much Appreciated'. 'Just Like You' happens to be one of my favorite and most-used sets. Why?

• with each purchase of this set, Stampin' Up! donates $2 to the Ronald McDonald House charity
• it's a great all-around stamp set - perfect for making your own patterned paper!
• it has two 'main images' for focal points and two great sentiments

'Just Like You' also happens to be the stamp set of the month for June for my mailing list subscribers (you are getting my newsletter, aren't you?). Since the month is almost over, I thought I'd share this offer with you!

Click here to use PayPal to order 'Just Like You'! Price includes tax, shipping straight to your door and an email with some great card sample ideas with the set.  The first 10 people to order the Set of the Month will also get a free technique idea using this set!  If you'd like the coordinating Flowers for You Designer Series paper also (p. 169), contact me first for a pricing update

Ahoy! Birthday Card for a Boy

I used Ahoy Matey from Stampin' Up! to create this card. I just love this set - it's perfect for cards, invitations (with the 'You Arrrrrr Invited' sentiment) and scrapbook pages. It's a must if you have or know little boys!

Short post today - naptime ran late and we're off for a quick dip!

I used a technique that was recently showcased on Splitcoast Stampers. Of course, I just tried to find the tutorial so I could provide a link, and couldn't find it. The tutorial was written by the very talented Beate Johns. Basically, what you do stamp an outline image on watercolor paper with Stazon or another waterproof ink. Then, use your Stampin' Up! (or other water-based markers) to color in the image - don't worry about complete coverage. Use an Aquapainter to spread the ink around and get a softer, watercolored look. Sorry for the very brief paraphrasing - just wanted to get the gist across. I learned that when your image has small, adjacent areas like this little pirate guy to marker some of it and use the Aquapainter and then let it dry. I found that the stripes on his shirt were bleeding together. When I allowed drying time in between colors, I got much better results. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Recipe: (all supplies SU! unless otherwise noted; most images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2008)
Paper: Night of Navy, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, watercolor paper
Stamps: Ahoy, Matey! - SU!; small oval by Amuse
Ink: Stazon Jet Black pad, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy, Basic Black, Basic Grey and Going Gray markers
Accessories: Jumbo Wheel Matey's Map, Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Horizontal Slot & Ticket Corner Punches, dimensionals

Check This Out! Tutorial for Money / Check Holder

 

Whew! Finished these holders, with time to photograph, upload AND post before my daughter takes them to a pool party today! These are perfect for holding cash, checks - or in my case, elongated gift certificates. I decorated them for two sisters - they're each getting a gift certificate for a manicure and pedicure at a local salon. Little girls love that stuff!

I learned how to make these at the Spring Fling gathering of my group of Stamin' Up! demonstrators. I belong to a super group of very talented women with a really strong and supportive leadership. I love sharing business and creative tips with my fellow SU! demonstrators! Here's an open view:

 

Here's a little mini-tutorial:

• use a Stampin' Up! small open end envelope - seal it and slice about 1/8" from the long end. Lightly mark the center of the envelope with a pencil so that you can center the sentiment and the notch you'll punch next.
• using a small circle punch (1" or less) - or the end of the rounded tab punch, punch a half-circle in the middle of the top (where you cut before). This creates a notch to show the contents and make for easy removal of the gift.
• trace the envelope onto patterned paper, leaving an additional 1" above the long end that you cut (for the flap), and 1/4" on each short end (this allows for the extra paper used when folding). Cut off the left and right corners of the extra 1" of the patterned paper - you should just have the extra inch of paper above the center part of the envelope - not the two side pieces that you'll be folding over - this makes your 'flap'. Use the tag corner punch or scissors to cut the flap corners at an angle.
• align the patterned paper and the envelope bottom. Fold each side in so that the envelope end matches up with your penciled-in center mark. Use a bone folder to make nice sharp creases! Use your adhesive of preference to adhere the envelope to the patterned paper.
• To close, fold both sides in towards then middle, then fold your flap down. Make a belly band with a 7 1/2" strip of paper. Embellish as desired with ribbon, chipboard, die cuts, flowers, etc. The belly band will hold the flap down.

Aren't these fun? Give it a try and let me know how you did!

Recipe: (all supplies Stampin' Up!; artwork copyright SU! 1990-2008)
Paper: Flowers for You DSP (get it before it retires!)
Stamps: Just Like You, They Say it's Your Birthday
Ink:  Regal Rose, Lovely Lilac, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Small Open End Envelope, 1" Circle Punch, Bone Folder, Sticky Strip, On Board Blossoms chipboard, Tempting Turquois and Certainly Celery 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, green bead duo

Masculine Birthday Card

OK - so today I've made a resolution and I'd like for you to join me. I was going to post a picture of the cute little boy card that I made yesterday using Stampin' Up!'s Ahoy Matey set. Problem is - I finished the card, had my daughter sign it, stuffed it in the envelope and ran out the door to the party! Last minute Lisa strikes again.  Leading to my resolution: whenever you make a card, you have to cut a piece of card stock in half, right? So you have two pieces, right? (Can you see where this is heading?) From now on, I resolve to use both pieces and make two cards - right then and there. Paper's out, stamps are out, accessories are out - your table's already messed up - just go with it and make two. We all know it takes more time to get stuff out and put it away than it does to actually USE it, right?

Since I was in such a hurry, of course my supplies for the cute pirate card are still out, and I will make another card before I put everything away. But today's post is another card that I had to make this morning before the mailman came. Our dear friend Bob is having a birthday soon, and I didn't want to be late. The pirate can wait. For this card I used Lovely As a Tree, which I'm so glad is not on the list of retiring stamp sets! I've had this set for a while, but hadn't used this particular image. I had it in mind to use my Craft Chocolate Chip ink and emboss it, but the tree just didn't look right all shiny. I stamped it again using Versamark ink, and embossed it with my Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress embossing powder - loved it! This EP doesn't get all smooth and shiny when you hit it with the heat gun - it retains a rough texture - perfect for a masculine card! I stamped the image again using the Classic (dye) Chocolate Chip, then colored it in using the Garden Green and Chocolate Chip pastels. I love both of these images, but went with the colored-in image for this card. Before I put my supplies away, I'll make a second, similar card with the Distress EP image. See how I'm sticking to my resolution?

Here's another tip (you're getting two from me today!): while your stamps are still out, stamp a coordinating image on your envelope. Sending someone a handmade card is such a personal expression of your regard - take it one step further and make the envelope pretty, too. Just a little teaser for what's inside! I think it really takes your card up just one more notch to take such care with the envelope, too!

OK - I'm off to make my second Pirate card, my second tree card - and I've still got two gift card holders that need to be done by tomorrow! Plus, there's the issue of my craft table . . .

My local pharmacy is running a coupon special on cards now. Something along the lines of buy 3, get one free. I'm getting my monthly newsletter ready for July, so I plan on also offering a coupon special for cards - gotta keep up with the competition, right? If you're not already on my newsletter mailing list, don't miss out - sign up today! (The signup box is at the top left corner of my blog and it just takes a few seconds!)

Later, gators!

Recipe (all supplies SU unless otherwise stated; images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2008):
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Wintergreen DSP (retired)
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree
Ink: Chocoloate Chip
Accessories: Keytag & 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Pastels, Dimensionals, brads by Making Memories

Scratch and Sniff Birthday Card

Here's one of the birthday cards that my daughter will give this weekend - it's a scratch 'n sniff card!

I used the lemon/orange/lime slice from Stampin' Up!'s Tart and Tangy - this great set is in the current Occasions mini catalog, and is only available until June 30. Sometimes, Stampin' Up! will carry a set or two over from a mini into the new big catalog. I'd love to see this set carried over, along with a companion set of sentiments like "You're the Apple of my Eye", "I Love you Berry Much", or "Orange You Cute". Play along and leave me a comment with your suggestion for a great companion sentiment. Here's a picture of this cute set to spark your imagination. If you decide you have to have this set before it's gone, shoot me an email, and I'll be happy to help you out!

On to the card and the scratch and sniff technique - it's just "souped-up" embossing! You can use a craft/pigment ink, or if you don't have the right color, you can stamp first in your Versamark pad, then your Classic/dye ink pad. Once you've stamped your image, sprinkle on a 50-50 combination of embossing powder and powdered drink mix, and blast it with your heat gun. Just make sure that the drink mix is sugar-free - you don't want creme brulee on your card! Other tips:

• for stamps requiring two different colors (like the strawberry or cherry in this set), stamp in Versamark, stamp off once, then color on the stamp with the brush end of your marker. Breathe on your inked stamp (like you're cleaning eyeglasses) to re moisten the ink and continue as above.
• haven't tried it myself, but I've heard that you can use hot cocoa powder mixed with embossing powder for chocolate, baby powder, ground coffee, powdered bouillon (for a chicken-soup get well!). Experiment and have fun!
• Some of the images on this card were a little 'dry' and didn't hold a lot of EP/drink mix. I think next time I might want to stamp the colored image, then stamp it again in exactly the same location with Versamark. I'd use my trusty Stamp-a-ma-Jig for exact placement, though! If you try this method, you'd have to clean your stamp after each impression - don't get ink on your Versamark pad!

Well, I'm off to do more creating - I still have 3 more birthday cards/gift card holders to get done (one for 4 PM today!). And it's the first day of summer vacation - wish me luck!