Happy Birthday Gorgeous and a Challenge

Today I felt like playing along with a challenge, and after looking around, I settled on this week's CAS(E) This Sketch challenge. Here's the sketch:

The back side of the die cut in the Soft Sayings Card Kit was used as a mask with Pool Party lightly sponged through the openings. And I can still use it for the card kit, because the ink on the back of the die cut doesn't show on the front!

The balloons were stamped and punched with the Balloon Bouquet Punch and popped up on dimensionals. The greeting was heat embossed in white on Basic Black and punched with the Classic Label Punch, and also popped up on dimensionals, as was the entire front panel.

I wish we had small black embellishments but, since we don't, coloring pearls or rhinestones with a black Sharpie works well!

Product List

Happy Birthday Gorgeous Photopolymer Stamp Set

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

Stamping Sponges

Versamark Pad

Heat Tool

Embossing Buddy

White Stampin' Emboss Powder

Balloon Bouquet Punch

Classic Label Punch

Pearl Basic Jewels

Stampin' Dimensionals

Getting Carried Away!

Sale-A-Bration ends in two days and this fabulous Carried Away DSP will be gone forever! It coordinates so perfectly with the Lift Me Up bundle that I adore. This is one of the consumables that is on a "while supplies last" basis, so I may have hoarded *cough* stashed an extra pack (or two). Hey it was free, so who am I to turn down free stuff?

The greeting is actually a single stamp. I carefully inked up the top half and stamped it, then cleaned the stamp and did the same with the bottom half so I could split it between the two clouds. I could have cut the stamp apart, as well, but didn't want to bother. Did I just hear someone gasp? You did know you could do that, right? You can do it with the red rubber stamps OR the photopolymer stamps!

Product List

Lift Me Up Clear-Mount Bundle

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Copper Foil Sheets

Carried Away Designer Series Paper

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad

Big Shot

Big Shot Magnetic Platform

Precision Base Plate

Stamping Sponges

Stampin' Dimensionals

Balloon Adventures - Occasions 2017 Sneak Peek!

 

I just got back from a Stampin' Up! demonstrator-only event in Atlanta. We got to preview (and pre-order, woohoo!) items from the Occasions 2017 catalog and the upcoming Sale-A-Bration freebies! I had to wait until this minute to share this with you because of the non-spoiler policy we all agreed to.

Okay, so the card is cute and shows a couple of the stamps in the Balloon Adventures stamp set, along with some of the Party Animal DSP (all part of the Party Animal Suite), but lookie what's inside - the most adorable little pop-up balloons and banner! Isn't this just the cutest thing?!

Now don't look too closely at the card, because we were in a rush to get our projects done, so my stamping isn't straight and I realized after the fact that I should have stamped the balloons before I folded the insert. So there's my tip for you - stamp straight before folding! LOL

Anyhoo, in addition to the Party Animal DSP, Balloon Adventures stamp set, and coordinating 8 piece Balloon Pop-Up Thinlits dies (which I can show you when it they get here Wednesday), there's Washi tape, 1/8" Emerald Envy ribbon, and a 16 piece metal charm set. You get 8 each of the Pacific Point party hat and Tangerine Tango balloon, and they are flat enough that they shouldn't pose a problem when mailing. The hat measures 1/2" x 7/8" and the balloon/string 3/8" x 1-3/16". I'll have more sneak peeks later!

Bringing Birthdays Back

As I mentioned in a previous post, Shannon West has started a movement to bring back the sending of traditional birthday cards in the mail. Too often these days we rely on social media to stay in touch, and I believe we are drifting further apart as a result. We can spend several dollars on a cup of coffee in a coffee shop, but then think it's too expensive to send a card or letter. Really? In my opinion, forty-nine cents isn't too much to tell someone happy birthday, or even that you're just thinking of them. And that birthday card might be the only one they get! How can you NOT send a card?! Okay, hopping off my soapbox now.

I did forget to mention in that post that I am also participating in the #imbringingbirthdaysback movement and will send a birthday card to anyone who sends me their name, address, and birthday. I promise to try to get it sent on time! (And if you want to reciprocate, my birthday is February 6th.)

The card above was sent to someone who didn't even ask to be a part of it, but his keynote speech at the Stampin' Up! Convention a couple years ago really touched my heart. I noticed his birthday was coming up (one good thing about Facebook, I guess), so I asked for his address. I hope he likes it!

I liked it so much that I made eight more similar cards, using up some neglected DSP. If you want to make some quick, cute birthday cards, these would be just the ticket!

Card base: 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" colored cardstock to coordinate with DSP, scored and folded at 4-1/4"
Image panel: 3" x 4" Whisper White
Mat behind image panel: 3-1/8" x 4-1/8" same color as card base

Stamp balloon strings first, making sure to leave room for the stamped small balloons at the top. Stamp small balloons in whatever color your card base is, unless you are using black. (But I guess if someone is having one of "those" milestone birthdays, black balloons might be appropriate!)

If it's a darker color, stamp off once to produce a lighter color. The dots at the bottoms of the balloons can be full strength. On a scrap, stamp the large balloon and dots as you did for the small ones. Punch out with balloon punch or fussy cut, and pop up on Stampin' Dimensionals. Add whatever greeting you want. I did stamp the bow on the first card, but ended up tying little baker's twine bows for the others. I think they looked cuter.

Supplies listed below are for the first card.
STAMPS: Balloon Celebration, Sky Is the Limit (SAB)
CARDSTOCK: Basic Black, Whisper White, Cherry on Top DSP Stack
INK: Basic Black Archival, So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Watermelon Wonder
ACCESSORIES: Balloon Bouquet Punch, Clear Wink of Stella, Stampin' Dimensionals

For a Special Friend....

....who just joined my Stampin' Up! family, and I'm so happy to have her aboard (welcome, Natalie)! In addition to the wonderful perks offered by Stampin' Up! (see below), all my girls get a monthly project from me, which consists of a completed sample and illustrated instruction sheet (with measurements) for the project, which they can use for classes or workshops, if they want. Some of my "family" aren't local, so I keep them in the loop by sending notes from the monthly team meeting, plus any updates from the home office, in addition to the monthly project.

If you are thinking about becoming a demonstrator, whether as a hobby demo (for the discount), or as a business (to add to the family income), now is the perfect time to join. Not only is the customizable Starter Kit discounted right now, anyone who signs up during Sale-A-Bration can choose either a pack of Designer Series Paper or a Digital Download EVERY MONTH for the rest of 2012! 

I'd love to have you join my team! If you've been thinking about it, please contact me with your phone number, and I'll call you and answer any questions you have. And, there's an added bonus from me if you sign up before February 29th! But I'm not telling, unless I talk to you personally. Heh heh!

Stamps: Up, Up & Away

Cardstock: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Nursery Nest DSP

Ink: Basic Black, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Soft Suede, and Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pads, plus Old Olive and Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories: Navy Brads (Regals Collection), Scallop Circle Punch, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals

Just a few of the benefits of becoming a demonstrator:

1. Being the hostess of an order/party anytime you want – you get your discount, commission and hostess benefits.
2. With Stampin’ Up!, personal purchases count towards monthly overrides, quarterly minimums, incentives, contests, promotions and more. 
3. A beautiful full color monthly idea magazine – Stampin’ Success – filled with TONS of samples and ideas. 
4. A free copy of new catalogs when they are released. 
5. Flexibility – you decide what you want your involvement to be. 
6. No commitment – you can decide to quit anytime, and no set number of bookings are required to join. No penalties, nothing to pay back. 
7. A chance to earn free Stamp sets as part of our Stampin’ Start program.
8. Online ordering 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
9. Accept customer credit cards with no fees /costs to the demonstrator.
10. Preorder periods of new and upcoming products.
11. Access to convention, regionals, and other great training venues.
12. Stampin’ Up! handles the sales tax payments to the state. No need for a resale number!