On Hiatus

As I've mentioned several times recently, we are making the move back to the U.S. from Okinawa very soon. In fact, the movers will be here the day after tomorrow to begin picking up our stuff!  As such, I will not have access to my Stamping stuff for awhile!!!  Most of it is already sorted and stored for the movers to load into their trucks.  I should have an order waiting for me when I arrive at my final designation on August 11, but don't know how soon I'll be able to get inky!  I promise I'll be back with new creations as soon as possible.  In the meantime, I'll be suffering through withdrawal!!!  

Pennant Parade ... Not Just For Pennants!

I promised to show you another card made with Pennant Parade and then got busy with the upcoming move!  I love the versatility of this stamp set!  Can't say it enough!  This card serves several purposes for me! 

1.  Virtual Convention Swap Card for UStamp with Dawn and Friends Blog Hop
2.  SCS New IB&C WOW Swap for Demonstrators Only
3.  MOJO Monday Sketch Week 183

This card was a lot of fun to make.  And believe it or not, it was fairly quick and easy to reproduce.  I really didn't think I would be able to have hand-made Christmas cards this year with our move and everything else going on, but I may just be able to pull a few out of my hat!  We shall see when we get back to the States and get settled if I can knock some out.

Supplies:
Always Artichoke Classic Ink (105219)
Early Espresso Classic Ink (119670)
Always Artichoke Card Stock (105119)
Early Espresso Card Stock (119686)
Cherry Cobbler Card Stock (119685)
Regals Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (117154)
Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (116824)
Doily Triple Layer Punch (122465)
Pennant Parade Stamp Set (Wood Mount 122740; Clear Mount 122742)
Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon (120992)
Jewels Basic Rhinestones (119246)
Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Convention 2011 Highlights

Every year, Stampin' Up! has an AMAZING convention in Utah. Thousands of demonstrators go and learn great things about their business and have a wonderful time meeting new stamping friends and renewing friendships with others! I have been overseas the entire time I've been a demonstrator so have never been able to attend. Can't wait for next year!!!! Perhaps after watching this video, you'll get the fever, too! Don't forget about the new recruit special this month! $99.00 Mini Starter Kit with bonus Christmas Keepsake Box!!!

Stamp Club Card

Yesterday I shared the 3D item we made in Stamp Club.  Today I am sharing the card we made.  I am absolutely in love with the new Pennant Parade stamp set.  You can do so much with this set!  It's not just for pennants; but that's for another day :)

We just made a quick and simple card at Club.  The girls loved it and so do I!

The card actually served two purposes for me.  I was able to knock out a project for my Club girls and also use it as a virtual convention swap for a UStamp group I'm involved with!  Love being able to use my cards for more than one purpose!

Supplies:
Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
Pool Party Card Stock (122924)
Pool Party Classic Ink (122938)
Calypso Coral Classic Ink (122939)
Daffodil Delight Classic Ink (119667)
Pennant Parade Stamp Set (Wood Mount 122740; Clear Mount 122742)
Swirls & Curls Verses (Summer Mini Hostess - Wood Mount 123015; Clear Mount 123017)
White Baker's Twine (124262)
Petite Pennants Builder Punch (122361)

Stamp Club Project

I had my final stamp club meeting with some of the most amazing women I know and it was fantastic.  I am so sad to be saying goodbye to my stamping friends.  I would love to continue with them, but my family will be moving back to the United States from being overseas for the past 6 years in just 26 days!!!  I'm so excited to see my family and be able to participate in family functions again. 

Today I'm going to share with you one of the projects that we made.  I'll share the other in tomorrow's post!

These DVD cases are so easy to make and so versatile!  You can use them to hold a set of cards, a notebook and pen, a mini scrapbook ... the possibilities are endless! 

Supplies:
Rose Red Classic Ink (101778)
Chocolate Chip Card Stock (102128)
Pretty in Pink Card Stock (102544)
Retired Designer Series Paper
Lovely Letters Alphabet Stamp Set (115030)
1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (119854)
1-3/8" Circle Punch (119860)
1-1/4" Circle Punch (119861)
Paper Piercing Tool (116631)
Clear-Mount Stamp Cases (119105)

Scrapbook Page Revision

So, a few days ago I posted this scrapbook page and asked for some suggestions to make it better because I was completely unsatisfied with it.  My good blogging friend Ann Schach gave me some great suggestions.  I used a few of hers and came up with some of my own.  I like this page a whole lot more.  I hope you do, too!

Supplies:
My Digital Studio (118108)
Cast a Spell Designer Series Paper Digital Download (118114)

Word Window Punch Digital Download (122161)
Vintage Overlays Stamp Brush Set Digital Download (121061)
Nite Owl Digital Kit Digital Download (122174)

Blog Candy Winner!!!

Hi everyone!  Thank you all for visiting my blog during the July 2011 Anything But a Card VC Rocks Blog Hop!  I hope you enjoyed all the stops along the hop! 

As promised, I have drawn a winner for my blog candy!  I went to Random.org and input my numbers and here is the result:


Comment #4 said:

That is a fun page! What an amazing opportunity to experience something new! Ria Blackwell - rforsch1@yahoo.com



By Ria Blackwell on Let's All Do the Hop!!! on 7/9/11

Congratulations Ria!  I will contact you by email to let you know you won my blog candy and I will get your package in the mail ASAP!!! 

Thanks for playing everyone!

Let's All Do the Hop!!!

Welcome to Stop # 18 of the VC Rocks July Blog Hop!  I am so excited to have you join us.  The hop officially kicks off at 10AM Eastern/9AM Central, 8AM Mountain, 7AM Pacific on Saturday and will run through the weekend.  So if you're here early, some blogs may not be live yet.  Be sure to check back, though!

You should have arrived from Carolyn Sharkas' blog.  If not, no worries.  you can begin here and loop back around or you can go to the VC Rocks blog and begin there!

Today I am sharing a layout I created in My Digital Studio.  I can't say enough how much I LOVE this program!  It is so versatile and easy to use.  I have created more scrapbook pages in the last few months than I have in my entire life!  And the printing through Stampin' Up! is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! 

Anyway, on to my pages.  Back in May, a group of us "girls" went on a tour to a traditional Japanese Tea Room and participated in a Tea Ceremony.  It was extremely interesting to say the least.  And the tea, well, umm, I was taught that if I can't say something nice not to say anything at all LOL.

Seriously, though, it was really interesting to see how the tea was made and learn about the

Japanese Tea Master.  Did you know that one must study the art of making tea for 25 years before becoming a Tea Master???  Crazy, huh?  I thought so, too. 

The grounds were lovely and the ladies were very nice.  The traditional dress is absolutely beautiful! 

Supplies Used:

My Digital Studio

Dotted Scallop Border Punch Digital Download (122151)

If you've read this far, then you're in luck.  Why, you ask?  Because I'm offering up some delicious blog candy!  Please leave a comment on this post and I will draw one lucky winner to receive the Darling Dots stamp set and 6x6 pack of Prints Pack Designer Series Paper pictured below.  Please be sure to leave me your email address in your post as I was unable to contact my last blog candy winner because I had no contact info!  You have until 11:59 p.m. Central Time on July 10 to leave a comment.  The winner will be announced shortly after that.

I hope you enjoyed visiting my stop on the blog tour.  Please come back again! 

From Card to Scrapbook Page

I made this card here several years ago and have always loved it.  I decided to try and recreate it as a 12x12 scrapbook page using My Digital Studio.  It is definitely lacking in my opinion.  I know it needs more, but I just can't put my finger on it.  I'd love to know what you think!

Supplies:
My Digital Studio Software (118108)
Cast a Spell Designer Series Paper Download (118114)
Word Window Punch Download (122161)

I {Heart} Swaps!

One of my favorite things to do as a stamper is to swap! I participate in a lot of demonstrator only swaps on Splitcoaststampers, but I've also recently begun swapping with my UStamp sisters!  A few rounds ago, Dawn began setting up two swaps per UStamp event -- one is a group swap and the other is a friend to friend swap.  For the group swap, we make six of one card and mail it to our Swap Skipper who then swaps the cards out with all those received and mails back six different cards to each participant.  Can I just say that there is so much incredible talent out there and I am blessed to be the recipient of some of that talent! 

The friend to friend swap is a little more detailed.  We each get paired up with another stamper.  A lot of times you get an international partner.  We then make a small 3D item along with a card and coordinating envelope for our partner.  This year, I was partnered with the super talented Jeannie!  Be sure to visit her blog and give her some love.  Here is the fabulous swap that Jeannie sent me!

In Case You Need Another Reason to Become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator ...

Today I got to place an order for FOUR FREE stamp sets from Stampin' Up! valued up to $47.95 that I earned for my sales and recruiting during Sale-a-Bration!  Just another reason I LOVE being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  Want to know more?  Contact me now!

Strength and Hope

I just realized that I never shared this cute project we did for Stamp Club in May.  It is a mini bag in a box with matching 3x3 note cards.  This set is so versatile and you can get it until August 31.  As an added bonus, Stampin' Up! will $2.00 from the purchase of every set to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation!!! 

Supplies:
Soft Suede Classic Stampin Pad (115657)
Soft Suede Card Stock (115318)
Very Vanilla Card Stock (101650)
Elegant Soiree Designers Series Paper (RETIRED; still available as a digital download - 121433)
Strength and Hope Stamp Set (Wood - 118100; Clear - 123660)
Round Tab Punch (119864)
1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (119854)
Eyelet Border Punch (119853)
1-3/8" Circle Punch (119860)
1-3/4" Circle Punch (119850)

Paisley Petals Card

As promised, here is the coordinating card I created to go with the Tres Chic bag and note cards I showed you yesterday.  This Designer Series Paper is absolutely gorgeous and stands alone quite nicely to create the focal point for a card or other project.

Supplies:

Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin Pad (103008)
Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Marker (105113)
Not Quite Navy Stampin' Write Marker (100059)
Cajun Craze Stampin' Write Marker (119678)
Not Quite Navy Card Stock (101722)
Marina Mist Card Stock (119682)
Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper (122367)
Perfect Punches Stamp Set (Wood - 117022; Clear - 120516)
Friends Never Fade Stamp Set (Wood - 118750; Clear - 120618)
Curly Label Punch (119851)
Medium Whisper White Envelopes (107301)
Retired Ribbon

$99 Starter Kit -- Don't Miss Out!

$99 Starter Kit + Free Project Kit!

During July, you can join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator for only $99! This limited time Starter Kit—valued at $185—comes with the following high-quality products:

•Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*
•Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*
•Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
•Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
•Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
•Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
•Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
•Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
•Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*

•Note Cards (20)

•Clear-Mount Block C

•Blender Pen (1)

•SNAIL Adhesive

•Business supplies

*Brand new to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

Plus, join in July and get a FREE Christmas Keepsake project kit—a $40 value! Imagine an afternoon spent chatting with friends while creating something beautiful—isn't that what Stampin' Up! is all about? But act now because this special kit is only available as part of this limited-time offer.

Join Stampin' Up! in July and get brand-new products, including an exclusive project kit—all for just $99! Contact me to get started today.

So Much Going On!!!!

Oh my!  Where has the time gone?  I haven't posted for nearly two weeks!  As I mentioned, we are crazy busy at my house getting ready for our upcoming move.  We also took advantage of the holiday weekend and went with a few other families to spend 4 days at the beach.  It was wonderful and restful ... just what we needed!  Especially since the movers will be here in 21 days for our first shipment, at which time all my stamping supplies will be gone, so be prepared for another dry spell from me!

So while I was gone on my mini holiday, all kinds of stuff was going on!  The new Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog went live!  You can view it by clicking the button on my sidebar.  There is also a fantastic Starter Kit Promotion (again viewable with a button click).  So many fun new stamp sets!  Can't wait to get my hands on them.  Also, there is an update for your My Digital Studio software to include the new 2011-2013 In Colors! 

And now, for what you'd probably rather see than read all about ... a stamped project!  I created this cutie for my UStamp swap partner.  I'm hoping she's received it by now!  I'll show you the coordinating card tomorrow. 

You can get the instructions for this darling bag, called the Tres Chic bag, from Becky Roberts at Inking Idaho!!!  LOVE IT! 

Supplies:

Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin Pad (103008)

Not Quite Navy Card Stock (101722)

Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper (122367)

Perfect Punches Stamp Set (Wood - 117022; Clear - 120516)

Scallop Oval Punch (119856)

Eyelet Border Punch (119853)

1" Circle Punch (119868)

Retired Ribbon