Announcement! Stampin Inspirations Club Site Has Moved

Hello Friends, Club Members, and Faithful Readers,

If you follow my blog, subscribe through Feedblitz or through a reader, all Stampin Up postings will now be posted on my main blog site: Stampin Inspirations

Please subscribe or follow Stampin Inspirations.

I have come to the decision that I can no longer maintain 3 blog sites. I've thought about it for a while now and as much I've enjoyed creating a separate blog site for my Stampin Up Club Members and a blog site focusing only on Stampin Up products, trying to keep up with 3 sites have been quite difficult.

My daughter will be heading out to college this year and in the following months, we will need to take a few trips to visit the various colleges to see which campus fits her needs, I realize that it would be a disservice to my readers and club members if I cannot keep up regular postings for 3 blog sites because I'll be away for periods of time throughout the months.

I will continue to use Stampin up products, create tutorials, post announcements and all that is Stampin Up on Stampin Inspirations but will no longer maintain this site.

Not to worry. . .Stampin Inspirations Club Site will continue to remain open to reference back to past tutorials and projects. I will link it on Stampin Inspirations!!

Thank you for being such wonderful readers and club members!! You have been fabulous and I really am appreciative of your support throughout the past months!!!

Sale-a-bration and Just Buzzin By. . .

Hi Ladies!! I recently purchased this bee stamp set! It's called "Just Buzzin' By". . .such a cute stamp set!! Hey. . .it's sale-a-bration time again. Sorry, for the late announcement. Time have been flying so quickly that I didn't realize that I didn't make an announcement on the sale!!

Not to worry. . .the sale runs from February 1st to March 31 so you have two whole months of this awesome sale. This is one of the main big sales that Stampin Up have each year.

What is the sale? Well first of all. . .Click Here for the Flyer!!

Promotion Dates: February 1- March 31, 2009

Promotion Details: Our Sale-A-Bration promotion gives reason for everyone to celebrate!

Customers: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $50 purchase.

Hostesses: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product with a $300 or more workshop, in addition to the normal hostess benefits.

Recruits: Choose any retail stamp set (a value up to $47.95) from the current catalog when signing up during the promotion. Plus, get 15% off the regular $199 price of the Starter Kit--that's $335 worth of products for only $169!

Okay, now isn't this an AWESOME Sale or what!! I think so!!

Anyway, if you're interested in purchasing any Stampin Up products, you can shop online. Click on the catalog on my side bar and check out all the fabulous products Stampin Up has to offer.

Just a little bit of information on my card. I colored my image using both Prisma color pencils with gamsol and Copic Markers. The designer paper is a retired designer paper called "Berry Bliss" I still had a bunch of the dp so I decided to use it.

Anyway, I hope you all have a fabulous day!!

Card Details:

Stamps: Just Buzzin' By

Paper: Berry Bliss Designer Paper, Regal Rose, More Mustard

Ink: Prismacolor pencils, Copic Markers

Accessories: Fiskar scallop scissors, Prima flowers

Just Because I Love You

Hiya Ladies!! Wow, I haven't been on here for a few days! I've been a bit busy with other

obligations on my Stampin Inspirations blog site that I haven't had the time to step into the Stampin Up world for the past days.

The truth is sometimes when you sign up for things. . .when taken individually, it's really not much but when you add them all together you begin to realize the full extent of the load that you've signed up for. LOL!!

I think we all to some degree go through life in the same manner, not just for crafting but for day to day sort of activities. Sometimes I wake up in the morning thinking I'm all set for the day not realizing the time it takes to do everything and when you don't allow a little extra time anything that extends beyond what you planned for can really mess up your life schedule.

Take for example, traffic. I'll drive my daughter to and from school every day. It's only a few miles drive but because of the traffic, what normally would be a 10 minutes drive turns into 40 minutes. Although I plan for the traffic, sometimes it shocking to think that almost 3 hours of my day have been spent sitting in traffic just bringing my daughter to and from school.

Anyway. . .just a little bit about my card. I used a retired Hostess set called "Serene Spring" for my card. I had already colored the image previously so I decided to use it.

I colored the image using my copic markers and cut scallops using Nestibilities. Stampin Up carries the Scallop dies but I haven't had the chance or the money to purchase them. LOL!! Demonstrators, unfortunately, have to buy the items to demonstrate and if you don't have the budget to buy everything, well you need to make do with what you have or not show it at all.

Well, just to let you know, if you purchase the scallop dies, you can crate a card just like my card.

Anyway. . .I hope you all have a fabulous week ahead!! It's going to be a busy week again!!

Card Details:

Stamps: Serene Spring Retired Hostess Set, Best Yet Retired Hostess Set
Paper: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Ski Slope Retired Designer Paper
Accessories: Hodgepodge Hardware Pewter (retired), White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Signo white pen, Scallop Edge Punch, Nestabilities Classic Circle Scallop, Prima Flower, brad

Announcement!! Christmas Group Blog Debut

Come and join the group site on Paper Craft Planet

Click on the banner below or here

Hello, Friends!! I have a big announcement to make! I started a group blog called "Chistmas Stampin' All Year Long". Stop by and I would love, love, love to have you play along. This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and the card above is my sample. Check out the other blog member's samples. . .all their cards are "inspirational"!!

Were you behind on you Christmas cards and handmade gifts last year? Did you feel overwhelmed during the holidays trying to catch up on creating your cards? Did you fail in sending your Christmas cards on time or not send any at all?

Well, this challenge blog is the place for you to get motivated to start NOW!!! Each week, I'll post a challenge (sketch, color combo and others) each and the group members will show samples of their cards on the group blog.

You can participate by creating a card based on the challenge and commenting on the post with the link to your picture from your blog, SCS photo, PCP photo, or online album. You may also send the photo to my email address cardinspired@gmail.com

I will upload your card photo on to an album on Paper Craft Planet so everyone can see your lovely work. This blog site is primarily a motivational site but from time to time, I may do a contest . . .maybe once a month and I'll have the group members vote on which card they liked best.

Anyway. . .stop by the group blog today and check out are first challenge and the samples!! I hope this challenge blog will help you to get motivated to create your Christmas cards.

Meet the Christmas Stampin All Year Long challenge divas:

Rachel - Inspirations by Rachel

Joan - Scrapmum

Sankari - Sankari's Sunshine Corner

Jen - Pieces of Me

Rina - Heartful Stamping

Vicki - Summerthyme Studio

Danni - Danni's Dream

Michelle - Creative Journey

Marcia - Ciab's Crafty Times

Maria - Stampin Inspirations

Connie - InLoveStamping

Monica - Little Bit of Life

Charlene - Charlene McKenzie

Tina - Mommy Scraps Alot

Posted A Tutorial on Stampin Inspirations

Hi Ladies!!

Because I sometimes post tutorials not using Stampin Up images or products, I post them on my Stampin Inspirations Blog site. I posted a tutorial on a "jacket/coat" card. Go check it out!!

Square Coat Card

January's Kit #1 - Mini Purse Accordion Pocket Album Tutorial

Hi Ladies!! Here is January's Kit #1. It's a 5 x 4 1/4" mini purse album. It uses #10 Envelopes (business size) that are cut in half to create pocket pages and card stock for the pocket's insert.

It's a cute mini purse album that can be given as a gift to family or friends. I created this album for my daughter for Valentines.

Check out the tutorial below for the instructions on how to create this album.

This is the first page/pocket of the album. It's a picture of my daughter. I added a little poem and small prima to decorate the page.

I didn't decorate the tabs or label them because I wanted to get this posted before I head to bed but you can add a prima or ribbon to the tabs if you want. You can also write a label for each tab if you prefer.

This is a side view of the pocket pages.

Here are the pocket inserts/pages outside of the pocket.

Anyway. . .hope you like this project and be sure to check out the tutorial!!

Project Details:

Stamp set: A Happy Heart

Papers: Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron, Pink Pirouette, Parisian Summer

Ink: Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron, Pink Pirouette

Accessories: Pretty in Pink 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Corner Rounder punch, 1" circle punch, Round Tab punch, Crop-a-dile, Prima flower, JoAnn brad

Mini Purse Accordion Pocket Album

Materials

8 1/2 x 4 1/4" card stock
6 1/2 x 4 1/4" card stock
(3) 4 3/4 x 4" card stock
(4) 4 3/4 x 4 1/8 designer paper
(7) 4 x 1 1/4" designer paper (6 are design options)
(2)#10 envelope (9 1/2 x 4 1/8" - business size)
Hole Puncher
Velcro
Corner Punch
Ribbon
Round Tab Punch
1" Circle Punch
Adhesive
Pictures
Scorer

Score the 8 1/2 x 4 1/4" at 1 1/2", 6 1/2", and 1/2" from thereafter until it ends at 8 1/2"

Score the 6 1/2 x 4 1/4" at 5" and 1/2" thereafter

The card stock measurement will create a total of 3 pockets

You may add more pages (accordion folds) by increasing the length of the 6 1/2" of the 6 1/2 x 4 1/4" card stock to 8 1/2".


Fold the 8 1/2 x 4 1/4" card stock as shown in the picture (valley fold, valley fold, mountain fold, valley fold, mountain fold

Fold the 6 1/2 x 4" card stock at the fold line (valley fold, mountain fold)

Apply double stick tape at the end fold of the 6 1/2 x 4 1/4" card stock

Adhere the two card stock together as shown in the picture to create 3 accordion folds as shown in the picture.

Punch the corners of the 1 1/2" flap of the 8 1/2 x 4 1/4" card stock

After punching the corners, the 1 1/2" flap should appear as shown in the picture

Punch the corners of one side of the 4 x 1 1/4" designer paper

Adhere one of the 4 3/4 x 4 1/8" designer paper to the front of the purse and the 4 x 1 1/4" to the 1 1/2" flap as shown in the picture

Seal and cut the #10 envelopes in half to create two pockets. Create a total of 3 pockets using two envelopes.

Adhere the remaining (3) 4 3/4 x 4 1/8" designer paper to the pockets on the "flap" side.

Turn the pockets to the other side and stamp and decorate the pockets.

With the circle punch, punch a slot through the top (open side) of each of the pockets

When completed, the pockets should appear as shown in the picture

Optional: With the (3) 4 3/4 x 4" card stock, adhere the remaining (6) 4 x 1/4" strips of designer paper to the card stock (front and back)

Using scraps of card stock, punch 3 tabs using the "Round Tab Punch"

Insert the 4 3/4 x 4" card stocks partly into the pocket and adhere the tab to the top of the card stock aligning with the slot of the pocket as shown in the picture

When adhering the tabs to the card stock, be sure that it the tabs do not extend beyond the length of the 5" inch covers of the album or the album will be unable to close.

When completed, insert all the 4 3/4 x 4" card stocks into the pocket and your pocket/inserts should appear as shown in the picture

Open up the album and apply adhesive to the front of each accordion fold (one side only)

Adhere the 3 pockets to each of the accordion folds to create 3 pocket pages

Punch 2 holes to the left and right side of the 1 1/2" fold line

Insert a ribbon through the holes to crate the handles. Tie both ends on the inside of the flap.

Another option is to tape down the ends with transparent tape and adhere a designer paper, picture, or journaling to cover the ends of the ribbon.

Adhere the Velcro to the inner aspect of the 1 1/2" flap and the front of the album

Decorate your album, pockets, and inserts with pictures, stamped images, journaling and embellishments

Working on a tutorial!!

Hi Ladies!! I'm working on a tutorial right now and I hope I can post it tomorrow!! In the mean time, I posted a tutorial on my Stampin Inspirations blog site. It's an old tutorial that I transferred from my web site on to my blog but I did create a new sample if you care to check it out.

Slit Flower Frame Tutorial

Serene Spring Bunny

Hello Ladies! Just a random card I made using Retired SU stamps and papers. Believe it or not but this is the first time I've inked this stamp set since buying it several months ago!

This stamp set was the last catalog's hostess set "Serene Spring". It's such a great stamp set for Easter that is actually right around the corner.

I also used a retired designer paper from the 2008-2009 Spring-Summer catalog called "Berry Bliss". I, actually, feel really sad when the designer papers retire because I love them. LOL! I wish they could recirculate them or not retire them. Ahhh, it's just wishful thinking on my part unfortunately.

I colored my image using Prismacolor Pencils with Gamsol and shaded parts of the image with my Copic Markers. In combination, they actually work nicely together.

Anyway, just a quick post today. Hope you all have a fabulous day!

Card Details:

Stamp set: "Serene Spring"

Paper: Berry Bliss, Rose Red, Creamy Caramel

Ink: Prismacolor Pencils, Copic Markers

Accessories: Heart charm (?), Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Fiskar Mini Scallop Scissors, Coluzzle Circle Template, Deja View Large Brads

Posted A Video and Written Tutorial on Card Inspired

Hi Everyone! I justed wanted to let you know I posted a video and written tutorial on my Card Inspired blog site on how to line or cover a heart/round box with designer paper. Anyway, check it out when you have the chance!!

Wet Paper Watercoloring Technique Video Tutorial

Hi Ladies!! I decided to create a video tutorial for a stamping technique called "Wet Paper Watercoloring". It's a super easy technique that works well with large solid rubber stamps.

You can find the written version on Splitcoast Stampers Sometimes I get tired of coloring my images so this is a fun and easy way to create your own card background without having to color in the image.

With the Splitcoast Stampers version, neutral paper is used but I used watercolor paper with my tutorial.

Arrggghh! YouTube is being a butthead about the music on my videos. I attempted to add a "Hawaiian Music" to my tutorial and I got a notice from YouTube saying that I may have a problem with the upload because of the copyright issue with the music. I guess my videos are "tagged" by YouTube. I don't get it because there's a bunch of videos out there that blatantly title their videos with the songs of the same music that I had added on my videos and I don't see their videos being deleted. Sheesh, I can'tseem to put any English music on my videos. Very annoying.

The stamp image is a new stamp set that will be in the 2009 Spring Summer Catalog. The stamp set is called "Petal Pizazz". I like this stamp set. . .the flowers are really pretty.

Anyway, check out the tutorial and try this technique out!

Card Details:

Stamps: Petal Pizazz, Best Yet (Hostess Set)

Paper: Watercolor paper, Pixie Pink, Lovely Lilac

Ink: Kaleidacolor Ink Pad - Pastels, Garden Green, Pixie PInk

Accessories: Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon, Stickles Glitter, Key Tag Punch, HodgePodge Hardware - Styled Vanilla