Time Flies!

Oh My! Time does fly! I didn't realize it had been nearly 2 weeks since I last posted.
I have been busy preparing for my upcoming Card Buffet. For those of you who aren't yet familiar with a card buffet let me explain it briefly...
This is how I am doing mine and others may do theirs differently. I will be making about 10 different card samples. I will make 20 sets of each and place all of the materials to make each individual card in a shoe box. I will have a display of all the cards each numbered. The minimum for my buffet is 8 cards @ $2 each for a total of $16. My customers will look at my display and select and write on a menu which cards they want to make within the 3 hour time period. Then each customer gets 1 shoe box to work on at a time and when they are finished they will return them to the stack and get the next one. They can make all 8 of one design, 2 of 4 designs, or whatever they choose as long as they can do them within the time allotted. Oh, and next month I will rotate some of the cards out and add new ones!
I think this is a great idea and am really looking forward to seeing how it goes. It has been a lot of work as well as a lot of fun coming up with 10 ideas. This will be great fun for those who like to make cards. The designs are fairly simple and should be quick to make. I will still be holding specialty classes for more complicated designs.
If any of you are already participating in something like this let me know how it is working on either the making or selling end!

I just finished the cards from our group kits this month and wanted to share them with you tonight.

Thanks Lorraine for casing and preparing these great cards this month! This first one is from the Summer Mini set called Sunny Fun (123040).  I used the Eyelet Lace Border Punch instead of the Scallop Trip Punch that Lorraine used because I don't own that one yet! I think it turned out just fine don't you? I used the markers to color in the kids. The finishing touch is the Red Baker's Twine ran through a red button and tied around the punched pieces before mounting to the base card. 

The Land of the Free card (123100) was a quick and easy one. I was watching Lo's video on this one and I did mine upside down! Ha! What I mean is that I was supposed to put the Blossom Bouquet (122464) Triple Layer Punch pieces on the bottom like a banner....duh! I left it and decided to just go with it. There are rhinestones in the center of the blossom punches even though the picture looks like they are brads. I love the Star Spangled Banner words written all over this stamp. Very Patriotic!

Lo calls this Sailboat Summer. I just love the Baja Breeze cardstock! The Sail Away Stamp (123013) is in the Summer Mini. It was stamped using Pear Pizzaz ink. The white layer behind the sailboat is textured using the Elegant Lines texture folder and ran through the Big Shot. I like how Lo used a small piece of Baja Breeze on the bottom to look like a piece of the seam binding! The button is just threaded and glued right on top of the bow. This is such an elegant looking card.

Last but not least we have The Open Sea (123030) card. There were lots of layers used on this one. Lo used Riding Hood Red, Night of Navy, Sahara Sand,  a piece of Nautical Expedition DSP, and the ship was stamped on watercolor paper. The ribbon used in the center is 2 pieces of Night of Navy grossgrain and 1 piece of real red taped in a row on the paper. It looks like one piece of ribbon glued to the paper. Very clever use of the ribbon. I like how formal this card looks. You could put an invitation on the inside of this card. This would make a nice Father's Day card too. 

Well, I am off to do more preparation for this weekends card buffet! I will post the graduation cards I made when I get the chance. 

Have a great day!

Smiles, 

T

Prepping for card classes

Well, I am trying to figure out what I want to make for this month's card class on the 18th so I was playing around with some stamps and stuff. I just made a few things and one of the cards is way to detailed but it was fun to make. I figured I'd share what I have made so far, not that I have selected these for my class yet, but just because they are cute. I CASED all of the ideas off of the Stampin' Connections site for demonstrators.

This one I cased from Vicki Burdick. Isn't it lovely? She had a few other elements on hers and used some different stamps but I thought it was lovely and had to make one. See that ribbon? A strip of super sticky tape and some ribbon folded back and forth....oh! and the ribbon is our Vanilla seam binding sponged with Baja Breeze. I just love versatile accessories!

This one I cased from Jen Arkfeld. Such talented demonstrators! I just love the easel cards. I used the Strength & Hope set from the Summer Mini. Can you tell I was feeling BLUE today? :o)

This beautiful butterfly card was cased from Kimberly Dawn Lewis. I'm not sure what she used but I tried to use what I had. Sizzlet Butterfly and Big Shot Butterfly Die, I added pearls all over and a Wish Big greeting for a Birthday. A lot of work, but fun. 

Let me know what you think! 

Have a great weekend!

T

Summer Mini Card Exchange

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we did another exchange with the theme of Fun in the Sun using stamps from the Summer Mini catalog. Before I show you those, let me show you the fun card Bonnie designed for our project.

Simple elegance. Wild Wasabi, black, and a small piece of dsp. A few pearls add the elegance. I loved the pairing of the black with the Wasabi too. Thanks Bonnie!

Evelyn designed the first card on the left using the Beyond the Garden (122342) DSP and Fabulous Florets (123025W/123027C), as well as the Little Leaves (114511) sizzlet.  You can't see it in this photo very well, but she stamped on the Celery cardstock too. She used Daffodil Delight. It's subtle. Very nice. The second card was sent down from Lorraine. She used the Blossom Bouquet (122464) triple layer punch and embellished the center with a button. She also used the ice cream stamp from the Sunny Fun Set (123040W/123042C). Mmmm, I want ice cream now....

Dede used the same Blossom Bouquet punch but layered hers on a piece of cardstock and added a bitty bits flower for the center, then she ran it through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Texture folder (119976) to make it look quilted. She used a brad from the Antique Brads (117273) with the Black satin ribbon. I love her choice of colors here...Black, White, and Baja Breeze!

Bonnie used the Sunny Fun set for her card and used the flip flops. That says "Summer" doesn't it! She layered the pieces on top of a couple of Scallop Edge Border(119882) punched pieces. She embellished with the poly ribbon. Brandy had a similar idea. She decided to cut out some flip flops by using a template. Then she ran them through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice texture folder! It looks just like the flip flop foamy soles!! I love it! She punched holes and added ribbon, then finished off with a bitty bits flower with a rhinestone in the center of it. Too cute!! Oh, the paper she used here was from the Beyond the Garden DSP (122342). 

Casey's fun card was made using the same Sunny Fun set that we've seen earlier in this post. She also used the Scallop Edge Punch but she added glitter to the top of the waves so they sparkle! Michelle used the quilted background effect on her card just like some of the other ladies. It looks so different each time though. She textured the sky and sun, then layered her celery cardstock, stamped, and edged with scallop border punch. She used the sunflowers from the Flower For All Seasons Set (111592) and watercolored it using the water pens. Great ideas ladies! 

As you may know, the new Stampin'Up! Catalog is being released in July! This means many of our current stamps will be discontinued. Our retirement list will be released soon and I will be posting it here once it is. You wont want to wait to get that set you always wanted if its on the list, because once it's gone....It's GONE. I am planning my summer schedule now and will have a retirement party as well as a new catalog party in the upcoming months. Stay tuned for the latest!

Smiles, 

T

Out with the Old.....Getting ready for the new!

The SU Retirement lists are out!
These stamps, accessories, and Definitely Decorative items are only available till June 30th.
Click Here For the Retiring Stamp List
Click Here For the Retiring Accessory List
Click Here For the Retiring Definitely Decorative List
These items are only available while supplies last. You can contact me to place your order or go directly to my Demonstrator web site to place your order.

The 2011/2012 Idea Book & Catalog will be released on July 1st. Please let me know if you would like the new catalog and I will add you to my "waiting list". Stay tuned for information about my upcoming New Catalog Party. I am putting together a fun day of stamping, raffle prizes, food, and of course the New SU 2011/2012 Catalog & Idea Book! This will be a RSVP only event and lots of fun! Contact me if you are interested and I will make sure you are on my mailing list.
Thanks for stopping by!
T

Sassy Meeting Card Exchange

I wanted to share some of the card exchanges from last weeks group meeting. The theme for the previous meeting was Patriotic or Red, White, & Blue. I missed that meeting but my friend Bonnie was able to pick up my card samples from the exchange. Everyone has such fun ideas and I just love to share them. This first one was mine. It was actually a combination of last month's theme and this month's theme. I didn't have much in the patriotic dept. but I had red, white, & blue in this wonderful set from the Summer Mini.

I thought this one would work really well for a Father's Day card as well as a men's birthday card. I love the Open Sea stamp set (123030W/123032C) found in the Summer Mini Catalog. I paired it up with the Nautical Expedition DSP (122343). The anchor and compass are embossed in silver and I sponged around the edges of each item to give it a worn look. The baker's twine on the anchor adds just a bit of fun as well as color. I like it. It's very manly and I think I will have a lot more fun ideas with this set in the future. Here are some of the other ladies cards from the group. 

The first card on the left was made by DeDe. I love how she did the yellow ribbon and hung the message from the brad. You can't see it in this picture, but she pierced the right edge of the card all down the side. Super cute! Brandy made the next one. She used the Land of the Free(123100) stamp and cut around it to make it into a flag. The background is textured with the Perfect Polka Dots (117335) texture folder and she stamped the message right on top of the Seam Binding Ribbon. 

The flag card on the left was done by Lorraine. She pieced the different parts together and glued them down to the card, then she ran them through the Big Shot using the square lattice texture folder. This is a fun technique that lots of people have been using to create a quilted kind of look.  Now, I have to apologize up front....the next few cards didn't have names on them so I don't know who made them. Ladies, I hope you will forgive me if it is one of your cards. The second card didn't have a name on it but I just love the firecrackers using the bakers twine! The tulip texture folder was used around the outside edge and she used the gold and silver markers to make the appearance of fireworks in the corner. Woo Hoo!

Kay designed the card on the left here. Just adorable!! I love the way she used the Doily Triple Layer Punch (122465) for the laced edges. She lined them up to make it look like lace. Wow! Such creativity! Let's Celebrate on the right had no name on it but I just love the idea of using the iHeart hearts stamps (117010W/118571C) and Heart to Heart punch (119881). She also used the shimmer paint on the background......love it!

Last but not least is the fun Petal Cone die (121810) treat hanger. This could be filled with yummy Hot Tamales.....or something else that you may like. I love the red, white, & blue, don't you? Ooop! I sound like Dr. Suess! Ha! If you have any questions please drop me a note, I will be happy to answer them.

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Thanks for visiting today. I have more samples from our Summer Mini exchange coming up...so check back soon!

Smiles, 

T

Father's Day Cards

These are the projects Lorraine (my upline) sent for our demonstrator projects this month. Thanks Lo! I just love these Father's Day ideas! I have seen similar examples online. these were so fun to make...

Ahh, The shirt and tie card. A very simple card to make. The collar is just a 3/4 to an inch cut in and 1/2 cut down from top of the card, then folded in to look like a shirt collar. The pocket is a small label punch...upside down! Add a patterned paper tie, a couple of small triangles for the hankie, and some bling. The colors used here were Concord Crush and Sahara Sand.

The diamond cut steel is the special effect on this fun card. Aluminum foil was ran through the Big Shot using the lattice texture plate. Then a small piece of card stock was mounted to the back for stability. I am not sure if you can see them, but there is a rhinestone in the middle of the A and another in the middle of the # sign.  Dads deserve bling to ya know!

Now, these two are my favorites! The tackle box and fishing vest. Once again the pockets are the small label punch. Some hemp cord was wrapped up and placed behind one pocket and on another it was threaded thru a small hole pierced in the pocket. Oh, and don't forget to add the stitching using a white gel pen. The little red fly was made by taking a small piece of grosgrain ribbon (1-1/2") and tying a 3" piece of hemp in the center. Fold it over and take another piece of hemp and tie close to fold. Trim the edges of the ribbon and fray. Trim the hemp but not too much, you want it to hold together. The fly was glue dotted on the pocket. The small tag above the pocket says DAD, but you could make one and personalize it with dad or whom ever's name.

Soft Sued and Early Espresso were used for these two projects. The box was a bit more custom. It is embellished with some Hodgepodge hardware and brads. The corners are just one of the label punches wrapped around each edge. Some people are sooooo clever! The box doesn't really seal tight, but it's just for display anyway. I am sure dad would love some Reese's peanut butter cups or something sweet stuffed inside. (At least that's what my husband would like....) 

Tonight I have another group meeting and swap so I hope to share some more fun ideas with you tomorrow. Hope you enjoyed today's offering. Post a note and let me know which one is your favorite!

Until next time...

National Scrapbook Month

Well, Hello again! Yes, It's me....remember me??? May has been National Scrapbook Month. Have you all out there in blog land been scrapbooking this month? I finally did something the other night at my upline's monthly stamp meeting. It's actually meant to be a wall hanging, but I suppose it could be title page or divider page in a scrapbook album. It could be done with any kind of patterned paper and stamps you like. Evelyn & DeDe came up with this one and I just love it!

We used watercolor crayons to color in the flowers on the smaller card. That was fun and new for me! I just love the butterflies as accents as well as the texture I added by using a texture folder with the Big Shot. 

I had hoped to have an all day scrapbook day this month, but somehow time got away from me. I am working on scheduling a monthly day just to get back in the habit of putting my pics in albums again.  Thanks for stopping by. Check out the National Scrapbook Month Flyer on the side of the blog to see what's on special till the end of this month. I'll be back tomorrow with some pics of our demonstrator cards from Lorraine....fun Father's Day stuff.....come back and see.....

Smiles, 

T