Stamp With LisaT

Great Adhesive Tip

This post falls into the Question-and-Answer Category of blog posts. Many of my customers and stamping friends have asked what type of adhesive is best to use on their cards. Lots of you have been disappointed by cards that fall apart in the mail and don't reach their destination intact. Every adhesive has its own use (that's a post for another day!), but I'm talking about simply adhering layers of card stock. Lots of you have tried Stampin' Up!'s SNAIL and have been disappointed. (SNAIL stands for Simple, Neat, Affordable, In Line Adhesive!). Basically, it's double-sided adhesive that comes in a dispenser. Get out your SNAIL and rejoice - I've got the key to success!

The trick to getting your SNAIL to really adhere is just a little friction. It's not enough to apply your SNAIL and press - you've got to briskly rub your fingers across the top - generate a little heat! You see, SNAIL is heat-activated. Rub until you feel the warmth and I guarantee your layers will stick - I've even got proof, so stick with me (no pun intended)!

I'm located in northern New Jersey, and we had snow on the ground for quite a while this winter. I'd say that from the end of December until the beginning of February, we had snow that never melted away. On January 11, I held a stamp-a-stack card class. My attendees made 12 cards that day, and I had two new stampers with me. I shared my friction trick, and being new stampers, they rubbed their little hearts out.

Fast forward 3 or 4 weeks. The weather had been warming up for a few days, and my 2 year old son and I were outside in the back yard. I followed as he wandered, and we ended up in the front yard. In the melting snow, I spotted some garbage and went to pick it up. I was so confused when I realized it wasn't garbage, but one of my cards! How'd that get outside? Then I realized that it wasn't MY card; it was a card of my design that we made at my January class. It was a Thank You card, and one of my new stampers sent it to me right after the class. Somehow it blew into my yard and was buried in the snow for 3-4 weeks. The envelope had come open and the card was sticking out. Most of the ink had bled away - but all of the layers were intact - even a "liner" layer inside the card - and if you make cards, you know these are the hardest ones to keep adhered!

Here's the proof - be sure to note the washed-away ink and the warped card stock - you can click either picture for a closer view:

      

Pretty bad, right? I'm so amazed by this - the only adhesive on this card that's not SNAIL was a mini glue dot to hold the bow in place (and that held, too!). It snowed, and thawed, and froze, and snowed some more. Even the thin scalloped strip stayed on! Rub that SNAIL!!

If you have any questions about the best way to use a product, or a stamping technique, email your question to me. I may feature your question and my answer here on my blog!

So I don't leave you shuddering, here's a peek at my sample card:

 

Recipe: (all supplies Stampin' Up!, images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2009):
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Very Vanilla
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Always Artichoke
Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Simple Thanks
Accessories: Scalloped Border Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Scalloped Circle Punch, Corner Punch, Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon, glue dots, SNAIL and FRICTION!!

Thank You Card with New Designer Paper!

As promised, here's another card sample that I made at a recent shoebox swap. (You can learn more about shoebox swaps, or see another sample here).

This card uses the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set, which is very versatile, containing two pretty images, and lots of sentiments that are appropriate for Sympathy, Thinking of You, and Get Well cards. All of the sentiments are in a really pretty font. The 'thank you' sentiment on this card is from a different set - not sure which one (one of the downfalls of a shoebox swap!).

This pretty card was designed by my talented demonstrator friend Dana Gestwick. She makes the prettiest cards and projects! For this card, she even let us use a little of her treasured Parisian Breeze Designer Paper - that's one of the new ones out by Stampin' Up! that is textured, cover-weight card stock - lovely! Just goes to show that sometimes a little bit of patterned paper can go a long way! We had fun using the direct to rubber and sponging techniques on this card. Let me know if you have questions on either of these fun stamping techniques!

I've got more shoebox samples to share, so come back!

Recipe: (all supplies Stampin' Up!, images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2009):
Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Parisian Breeze
Ink: Chocolate Chip (Classic Pad & marker), Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel
Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers
Accessories: Sponge Dauber, blender pen

Great Coaching Opportunity for Stamping Business Owners

Are you a demonstrator (with Stampin' Up! or another company) who needs a little guidance with their business? Let's face it - we all need a little direction sometimes - whether it's from a professional or our peers. I don't often promote other services, but I do highly recommend John Sanpietro's Business Stampers Coaching Group. John's been helping stamping business owners for years, with impressive results. This online community is an affordable, ongoing opportunity for you to benefit from John's expertise, and that of many other successful stamping business owners. Best of all, through March 6, the monthly membership has been dropped to less than $20! Sign up before 11:59 PM Pacific Time on March 6 and lock in this great membership fee!

More information on what's included can be found below, or you can jump right on this by clicking here. Hope to see you on the board! --Lisa

Since launching on February 2nd, the Founding Members of the Business Stampers Coaching Group - the online coaching community set up by John Sanpietro exclusively for business-minded Stamping Business Owners looking for an economical business-building solution - have received the following:

- Over 15 minutes of exclusive audio content designed to both motivate and inspire
- Three exclusive How-To Videos, including How To Keep Track of Your Finances and How To Price Your Classes
- Five Coaching Challenges which have allowed Members to focus on the important priorities AND produced immediate profit!
- Two Video Blog Evaluations which have included dozens of tips and ideas for building and maintaining a better
blog

- An exclusive conference call with John where he explained how to set and break down business goals
- Several articles for Members to reproduce on their blogs and in their newsletters
- Several other articles for Members to gain more of the knowledge necessary to build their business
- Access to a private Twitter Group - Members receive exclusive text messages or e-mails from John with motivational thoughts, information and mini-challenges
- Access to the 'Strictly Business' Message Board - in the past three weeks, the Message Board has become THE gathering place for the Business Stamper community. Over 1200 messages have been posted (350 of them by John Sanpietro, responding to Member questions and comments).

All of the above and more for less than $20/month! 

 

If you have not yet signed up to be a member yet of what is becoming the premier online coaching community for business-minded Stamping Business Owners, what are you waiting for?

To learn more, read testimonials from actual Members and/or sign up, visit the Business Stampers Coaching Group information page.

 

Simple Flower Embosslit Card

Here's a very springy card with practically no stamping! I've had enough of this cold weather and have decided to think spring! This card could easily be adapted for Mother's Day, Teacher Appreciation, a feminine birthday or Thinking of You - just by changing the sentiment!

I was challenged to create something with something that I've bought and haven't used or shared yet. I'm not one to let new toys gather any dust - this is a fairly new acquisition, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet - it's the Stampin' Up! Simple Flower Embosslit Die for the Big Shot. These are great little "folders" - they both cut and emboss your cardstock at the same time, and out pop these perfect little flowers. I went with a pastel color scheme from the Soft Subtles family, and used the 5 Petal Flower Punch to create a few leaves.

The yellow flowers were embellished with brads and popped up on dimensionals. I intentionally left edges of the flowers hanging off the sides of the card and trimmed them with a paper trimmer. This card was inspired by a scrapbook page I created a while ago (you can see it here). I had a studio portrait taken of my daughter and I for my husband, and then had an artist create a pastel version of the photograph. When the photograph was returned to me, I scrapped it - of course! Same idea with the profusion of flowers! Funny - I went to my online gallery to get a link for the scrapbook layout and got a little shock! My daughter was about 3 years old in that picture - and the resemblance to my son, who's now 2 1/2 is uncanny!

I haven't forgotten my promise to share the other projects from the shoebox swap I recently attended - I've just been sidetracked by life and sick kids - check back throughout the week!

I'm putting together a class that features some of the fun things you can do with the Big Shot die cutting machine. This card is just one of the many fun things you can do with the Big Shot! My classes are held in my Morris County, NJ home. If you want to be notified of this and other classes, make sure to sign up for my free monthly newsletter!

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Recipe: (all supplies Stampin' Up!; images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2009):
Paper: Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Ink: Lovely Lilac
Stamps: Love You Much
Accessories: Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Simple Flower embosslit die, Soft Subtles brads, dimensionals, Hodgepodge Hardware, Whisper White tafetta ribbon, glue dots

Big Shot Projects Video

Just a quick post to let you know about the fabulous new Big Shot projects VIDEO that you can see on my personal Stampin' Up! Website. The video features several new Big Shot dies: Movers and Shapers Curly Label (#114506), Bag with Scallops (#114519), and Flower Layers #3 die (#114527).  All of these great projects feature stamp sets from the Sale-a-Bration brochure! Pop on over and take a look!

To watch the video, click here.

For more information about the Big Shot, visit my Big Shot Information Central page.

To order any of the items that you see on the video, visit my personal Stampin' Up! website here and click the Order Now button in the upper right corner.

Sock Monkey Challenge Card

I decided to play along with the Sketch Challenge on Splitcoaststampers yesterday. Just finished up the card this morning. I decided to pull out my neglected Sock Monkey (#11150) stamp set and play. So here's my Bella Rose, paper-pieced, faux suede Sock Monkey card for SC216. Whew!

 

The Pink Pirouette cardstock used for the base of the Sock Monkey was prepared so that it's soft and fuzzy. I used the Faux Suede technique that I wrote a tutorial for this summer. Here's a close-up of the monkey so that you can see the texture (you can click for a larger image):

 

If you like the information, tips and tutorials that you're finding here on my blog, make sure not to miss my free monthly newsletters, where you can get more of the same delivered right to your mailbox! Simply type in your email address and click Go!

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Recipe: (all supplies Stampin' Up!, images copyright 1990-2009):
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Bella Rose DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red
Stamps: Sock Monkey
Accessories: Choc Chip marker, Pink Pirouette double striped ribbon, dimensionals, crimper, Word Window Punch, and lots and lots of patience for the cutting and piecing!    

Just Buzzin' By with a Business Opportunity!

Last week I attended a meeting that my Stampin' Up! upline had. What's an 'upline'? She's the Stampin' Up! demonstrator that I signed up under. She had a business meeting for all the members of her 'downline', followed by a shoebox swap. I'll explain that & include photos below!

I'm really fortunate to have joined this organization under such dynamic leadership. My upline and her upline are very active & supportive. All sorts of meetings, get-togethers, training, support - you name it and I get it! They support & coach people all over the country.

Times are tough - if you're looking for a way to contribute to the family income, Stampin' Up!'s a terrific organization - you can work as much or as little as you like, and suit your activities to your family's schedule and needs. During Sale-a-Bration (until March 31st), you can purchase the Demonstrator Startup Kit at a 15% discount - that's $169 instead of the standard $199 - PLUS you can choose any stamp set (a value up to $47.95) from the current catalog for FREE! That's $335 worth of products for only $169!

If you're ready to join, click here. You'll need my recruiter authorization password, which is inkyrubber. For more details, you can view some informational videos or contact me directly. If you're local (I'm in Morris County, NJ), we'll be hosting an Opportunity Night on Monday, March 16 - plan to join us! If you're not local to my area, we'll be making this Opportunity Night available by teleconference also. If you'd like to join us that way, let me know so that I can keep you informed of our plans!

On to the Shoebox Swap! What's that? Instead of creating multiples of the same card to trade with each other, we prepare materials to make several of a card that we've designed. We leave our card 'ingredients' at a station. Then, we each rotate through the various stations and make each others' cards. It's a fun way to use products that you might not have, try new techniques and learn great tips! I've got lots of cards & a few new tricks to share with you this week from the shoebox swap, so be sure to check back!

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Here's a bright, happy card stamped with Just Buzzin' By (#113228). I'm sorry to say that I don't know which of my fellow demonstrators designed this card, but isn't it just so cheery? See those small yellow dots on the main image panel? They were made with bubble wrap! What a fun technique - just smear your inkpad over some bubble wrap, place your paper front side down on top of the inked-up bubble wrap, place a piece of scrap paper on top of that and press/wipe to ensure even coverage (the scrap paper keeps your hands clean!). The 'honeycomb' look this gives is a perfect complement to this bee-themed stamp set!

 

Recipe: (all supplies Stampin' Up!, images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2009):
Paper: YoYo Yellow, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Ink: YoYo Yellow, Basic Black
Stamps: Just Buzzin' By
Accessories: bubble wrap, Designer Label Punch, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Real Red grosgrain, Watercolor Pencils

Free Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog

Until April 30th, you can receive a copy of Stampin' Up!'s Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog for free! To get your free copy, all you have to do is place an online order - there is no minimum order amount and your free catalog will ship with your order. This Idea Book & Catalog is packed with great samples - cards, scrapbook pages and 3-D projects. The color combinations used are fresh and exciting - sure to spark your creativity!

Need some help putting together your order? You can browse our online catalog here (it's a large download!) or contact me for assistance. Stampin' Up! has set aside a certain number of catalogs to send with this offer, so place your order today to get your free copy before they run out! To place your order:

• Visit my personal Stampin' Up! website
• Click the Shop Now button in the upper right corner

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you're all enjoying your day and are spreading the love around. We've got a yummy Valentine's cake in the oven right now! Two last Valentine's to share with you - these are the two that I made for my kids:

 

I used the Love You Much (#113756) set for this card for my daughter. The colors are Bashful Blue and Perfect Plum - she's not a pink kind of girl, and blue and purple are her favorite colors. The white circle was cut from Shimmery White cardstock, and the hearts are embossed with Irrisdescent Ice embossing powder. Lots of sparkle! I could not capture the embossed dots in the photo - I used the Texturz Plates with my Big Shot - specifically the Stamin' Up! Backgrounds I. The four small blue panels and the larger one underneath have embossed dots on them - very pretty IRL!

To get the embossing powder to stick on the hearts (I don't have P.Plum craft ink), I inked the stamp up first in Versamark ink, then in Perfect Plum Classic. (I don't know why, but SU! doesn't follow the industry standard in naming their inks - their "Classic" is dye ink - fast drying. Their "Craft" ink is pigment ink, that stays sticky and wet so that you can get embossing powder to stick to it).

Here's a peek inside - just used a little cardstock strip and the leftover hearts that I didn't use on the front:

 

And here's the card I made for my Construction-Truck-Loving 2 1/2 year old son:

 

I used the retired Little Trucks set. I just discovered and recently acquired this set. It retired long before I started stamping! I'm thrilled to have it since my little guy loves these trucks so much! The little construction man is holding a sign that says "Hi", but I glued the littlest heart from the Heart to Heart punch on top of it. Colored everything in with my SU! markers. Everything's SU! except the sentiment, which I printed from my PC. I used the Texturz Plates with my Big Shot again on the yellow panel - the Textures Plates Kit #4. Think I need a stronger light from the side (or a sunnier day) when trying to capture the embossed patterns!

So that's it - I'm off to prepare for my Open House tomorrow. If you're in the Morris County, NJ area and would like to come, it's from 1-3 PM - just contact me ASAP so I can have enough materials prepared for the Make & Takes! I'd love to see you!

Recipes: (all supplies Stampin' Up!; images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2009):
Blue Heart Card:
Paper: Bashful Blue, Perfect Plum, Shimmery White
Ink: Versamark, Perfect Plum
Stamps: Love You Much
Accessories: Big Shot, Texturz Plates (SU Backgrounds I), Irridescent Ice EP, heat gun, Scalloped Circles #2 die

Little Trucks card:
Paper: Brocade Blue, YoYo Yellow, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Black Stazon, markers: YY Yellow, Creamy Caramel, Basic Grey, Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa
Stamps: Little Trucks
Accessories: Big Shot, Texturz Plates Kit #4, Designer Label Punch, Sm Oval Punch, Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain ribbon

Masculine Valentine Card

Here's another masculine Valentine card - I'm so pleased with this one! I was in the craft store today, and accidentally came across the wood section and discovered Balsa Wood. I remembered that this is on the list of Big-Shot-approved cutting materials, so I picked some up to try. With the wood, of course I reached for my new Totally Tool (#113256) stamp set!

I ran the balsa wood (it's 1/16" thickness) through my Big Shot with the Sizzix Heart #1 die (this is a die that I've had for years - my die-cutting history is longer than my stamping history!). It cut perfectly! Then I started to wonder how the balsa wood would accept ink - beautifully! I really expected some bleeding, but there's none! Then I thought, "Hmmm, what about the Crop-A-Dile?". This worked, but the wood almost splintered - it really is quite soft. Everything ended up OK, and I set a jumbo eyelet.

The tools were paper-pieced - a favorite technique of mine. You can check this post for some helpful hints on paper piecing.

Do you like the information that you're finding here on my blog? You should check out my free monthly newsletter: I try to include stamping techniques or tricks, scrapbooking and/or photography information every month, as well as fun samples. I also include my class schedule, so if you're local to me (Morris County, New Jersey), I'd love to have you come! If you're not local, many of my classes are available with a "to go" option!  To start your subscription now, enter your email and click Go!

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Recipe: (supplies Stampin' Up! with exception of heart die, images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2009):
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Going Gray, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink & marker
Stamps: Totally Tool
Accessories: Big Shot, Sizzix Heart #1, Crop-A-Dile, jumbo eyelet, hemp twine, ticket corner punch