NEW! Photopolymer Stamps!

Stampin' Up has searched long and hard for just the right material to be able to introduce completely clear stamping. And now I'm excited to announce that we now have wood-mount, clear-mount AND photopolymer stamps! The top-quality photopolymer (not the thin acrylic, which is often flimsy and does not wear well over time) has just enough give to create a perfectly stamped image every time-- and with the introduction of our new firm-foam pads, that's a match made in heaven!

Fans of clear stamps have loved our clear-mount option. You're also going to love this amazing new option from Stampin' Up, making papercrafting easier than ever! even us old red-rubber wood-mount die-hards are excited, because we know Stampin' Up has done their research and brought us the best clear photopolymer stamps on the market today.

Why try photopolymer stamps?

• They're entirely transparent for perfect placement every time!
• They are durable. The photopolymer material is designed to last.
• These stamps stick amazingly well to our clear blocks.
• They're age tested. They won't yellow or cloud up over time.
• They're easy to clean and care for. They also take up ridiculously little space!
• They use FDA-approved food-safe material. Just in case Junior thinks they're candy.
• They're super inexpensive! Our debut set, Designer Typeset has 57 images for just $13.95a.

Here's a quick (and hilarious) video of Stampin' Up employees trying to describe what photopolymer is.

Quick thanks card

I have lots of retired paper…..lots!!!  Needless to say, when I sell some of my old stamp sets on Ebay, I try to add a quick little thank you note with each item just to say thank you and add a personal touch.  Here is one of those cards I made recently out of my scraps.  

I got the color combo from the color coach – not one I would have put together. 

I used the Pretty Postage stamp set to create the thanks and punched it with the postage stamp punch.

Quick and cute! Plus, the ribbon was free from Sale-a-bration!!!

Stamps:  Pretty Postage

Ink:  Tangerine Tango

Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Concord Crush

Accessories:  Tangerine Tango ribbon (SAB), Postage Stamp Punch, 1 1/4” square punch

Stampin’ Up Basics Online Class

New to stamping or interested in becoming more professional at it? This fabulous online course "The Basics" from Stampin' Up covers all sorts of techniques every stamper should know. There are 34 different projects with instructions and complete supply lists, and everything is printable so you can work on them at your own pace and file the sheets in a binder for later use. There are even coordinating You Tube videos!

The online class is divided into six categories:

• stamping basics (seven projects)
• the Stamp A Majigg (four projects, video)
• masking (four projects, video)
• embossing (seven projects, 2 videos)
• markers & watercoloring (six projects, video)
• Big Shot and punches (six projects, 2 videos)

Each section is designed to take you from the simplest, most basic use of the technique or tool and gradually layer on more advanced techniques, with tips along the way. The instructions are simple and precise, and you can view the videos an unlimited number of times, stopping at starting at will.

So whichever way you like to get your inspiration, it's there. And at only $14.95 and downloadable to your computer or laptop, it's easy and affordable to have inspiration at your fingertips wherever you go!

Plus,  you can earn Sale-a-Bration products for this purchase!  I’m trying it out today!!!

Click HERE to purchase The Basics class on my shopping website. (Item #133385)

Madison Avenue card

I got the inspiration for this card from an idea my downline, Carol Manning sent me that she saw on Barb Mullikin’s blog.  I took the same basic idea and used my stamps and paper to create this card.  It’s actually brighter and prettier in real life!

Stamps:  Madison Avenue

Ink:  Summer Starfruit, Tangerine Tango

Paper:  Pool Party, Sycamore Street DSP

Accessories:  Floral Framelits, Sycamore Street ribbons and buttons

Valentine Treats

These are the Valentine treats my daughter and I made this year.  I bought the heart shaped treat cups on clearance – I couldn’t pass up a dozen for $0.59!!! 

Needless to say, they were the main portion of the valentine treats.  My daughter has a strong opinion about the crafts she makes, so while this is not the way I personally would have made the treat cups….they were not my treat cups to give out!!!

I was very proud that she wrote all of her classmates names and signed her name to each of her valentines.  It probably helped that she is 6 now…and she got an M & M for each one she completed!    Hey, it worked in lightning fast time!

And, these butterflies were such a hit, I decided to make them for her teachers, the special teachers, and the front office staff/custodians.  I think they all liked them! 

Papillion Potpourri

I have loved the combination of the butterflies in the Papillion Potpourri stamp set and the punches since I first saw them.  I put them to good use the other day when I created these cards! 

For this card I chose to use a larger butterfly directly on the Pool Party Paper.  I colored it with Island Indigo, Concord Crush, and Pool Party.

I stamped a smaller butterfly here.  I first colored it with Pool Party and then outlined the main edges with Concord Crush.  For a finishing touch, I thumped the middle parts with Island Indigo.

Here I decided to put the two together.  I didn’t outline the larger stamp with Concord Crush here, so it is a little bit lighter.  Overall, I thought they all turned out nicely!

Stamps:  Vintage Verses

Ink:  Pool Party, Island Indigo, Concord Crush

Paper:  Pool Party, Concord Crush

Accessories:  Small Butterfly punch

Color Challenge

It’s funny that this color challenge inspired this particular card.  Here is the color combo:

I ended up making two of the same cards with a different color combo on each.   The card design was inspired by Mary Brown’s card.  I fell in love with her card the first time I saw it! 

Here are two cards that I made that are similar to her card (hers is much more beautiful and striking!)

Here was the first card that I made – I started with a Daffodil Delight base and stamped Daffodil Delight for the woman.  I stamped the image again in Melon Mambo and fussy cut around the boots and umbrella.  Here the blue is actually Midnight Muse.

While I loved the pop from the Melon Mambo, I wasn’t crazy about the tone on tone Daffodil Delight image – not strong enough.

Enter the color challenge…..I switched out the ink pad colors – the main image is Crumb Cake – you can see it much more clearly.

I switched the umbrella, sentiment, and boots for Not Quite Navy – it’s very vibrant in the picture.  I also added Marina Mist raindrops from her hand.  I guess in retrospect maybe I should have moved the raindrops elsewhere…..oh well, overall I was pleased with the cards!

Thanks for the inspiration!

Stamps:  Million-Dollar Moments

Ink:  Midnight Muse, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy

Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Whisper White