Leadership Roomie Gifts

It is a tradition to give gifts to your stampin' event roomies, especially when they have to put up with me for a few days!  :D  Here's what I made for my friends this year.

I had a My Digital Studio journal professionally printed through Stampin' Up.  I tried to match the graphics they might use at Leadership (by the time I needed to order these, we had only gotten a little peek).

Along with the journal, a matching bookmark.

Traditional Supplies: Comfort Cafe designer fabric, Springtime Vintage designer fabric, Flower trim, Night of Navy striped grosgrain ribbon, So Saffron grosgrain ribbon, White baker's twine, Tea Time Trinket, Felt, Circles #2 die, Fun Flowers die, Big Shot, Hair tie, Starch, Glue gun.

MDS Supplies: Embellishments
    Soft Blooms - embellishments\Soft Blooms - 4 crumb cake (re-colored)
    Soft Blooms - embellishments\Soft Blooms - 4 crumb cake (re-colored)
    Soft Blooms - embellishments\Soft Blooms - 4 so saffron
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl medium
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl medium
    Mis-Stitched - embellishments\Mis-Stitched - white 6b

Stamps
    Hip and Handsome Overlays\Hip and Handsome Overlays - 4, Color = 252,252,252
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 5, Color = 240,204,81
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 3, Color = 240,204,81
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 2, Color = 240,204,81
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 1, Color = 240,204,81
    _Designer Kits\Days to Remember\Days to Remember - banner bold, Color = 240,204,81
    _Designer Kits\Days to Remember\Days to Remember - banner outline, Color = 253,255,255
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 2, Color = WHISPER WHITE 255,255,255
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 2, Color = WHISPER WHITE 255,255,255
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 4, Color = 240,204,81

Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = 232,232,232
    Borders\Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Fill Color = MIDNIGHT MUSE 17,69,93
    Borders\Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Fill Color = MIDNIGHT MUSE 17,69,93
    Extras\Flag Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\First Edition - designer series paper\First Edition - 5
    Extras\Flag Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Summer Smooches - designer series paper\Summer Smooches - 12
    Extras\Flag Punch, Fill Color = MIDNIGHT MUSE 17,69,93
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = 240,204,81
    Flowers\Blossom Petals Leaf 1 Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\Sweet Details - designer series paper\Sweet Details - 7
    Flowers\Blossom Petals Leaf 1 Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\Sweet Details - designer series paper\Sweet Details - 7

Thanks for stopping by!

Leadership Day 2

Oh my gosh, what a day!  Sara Douglass announced a new kit targeting males, called Dude, You're Welcome!  It has rough wood, no block labels (because why would a guy care?), a stamp spot, and large postcards to stamp on (no folding necessary).  The stamp images are rough and cool too!  But why would they just be for guys?  Wanna see?

These will be available starting Monday.

Also there is a really fun product coming up really soon called My Paper Pumpkin.  It is a monthly subscription to receive a crafting project.  They are packaged like little gifts too!  Wouldn't it be fun to receive a little gift in the mail every month?  You can sign up and cancel your subscription any time, and even there is a one-month hold option, if needed.  These kits have clear-mount stamps, an ink spot, paper and embellishments, and of course, instructions.  The first kit all will receive is the Welcome Kit, which is a cute little journal and includes a clear block, and the price INCLUDES SHIPPING.  Some kits may have products exclusive to the Paper Pumpkin program, so you won't want to miss out on that!

If you aren't sure about the subscription, you could also get the Try It Kit.  It is a little more pricey, since the price does not include shipping.  There is definitely an advantage to signing up with the subscription.  Good news is the Try It Kit can be added to a workshop order.

These will be available in March, but you can reserve yours starting Monday.

We had lots of classes and Share Fair events today, including Ramping Up your Social Media Presence, hosted by Andrea Withers, Leadership 2013.  Several demos discussed blogging, Facebook, and YouTube.  It is always fun to attend internet classes, so we all get better at sharing our love for stamping with YOU!

The PJ party / late evening general session was a lot of fun!  Surprisingly, Orlando didn't think it too weird when all these ladies walked the streets in pajamas.

Jammie stamping with friends!  Carol, Mary, and Rosemary.

Thanks for stopping by!

FM92 Patterns & Colors

Hi Everyone, Today on the Friday Mashup, Amy is challenging us with patterns and colors.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project using "Different Patterns".
2. Or Make a project with the three or more colors from "Summer Starfruit, Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Early Espresso and Sahara Sand".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Patterned Project with the Challenge Colors".

This is the first card I made with the new Sale-a-bration products, and of course I mashed it up!  I interpreted patterns as both patterned paper and shapes.

I love the new, fresh colors... always so refreshing to get some bright colors after Fall and Christmas.  Don't you love free stamps, paper, and buttons?!  Sale-a-bration is coming soon... it starts on January 22!

Wonder where I got this layout?  I actually went opposite from my normal direction... I took a mydigitalstudio.net scrapbook sketch challenge and made it into a card.

Stamps: Feeling Sentimental (SAB); Paper: Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango, Summer Starfruit, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Sycamore Street DSP (SAB); Ink: Early Espresso; Accessories: Summer Starfruit ribbon, Sycamore Street button (SAB), White baker's twine, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Honeycomb EF, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

Leadership Day 1

So maybe I almost didn't make it to Leadership Conference.  On the way to Leadership, I fell into a swamp.  Think I'm kidding?  Here's my Facebook post on the matter: "I was going to post that I have the most wonderful husband who let me rent a bike and a car to go mountain biking today. Then I was going to post that I saw a bobcat. But no, that was not the most memorable thing. How about a spectacular crash off the Ridgeline trail at Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve? I endo'd off a very steep incline, somersaulting my way down, landing on my back with my head downhill. Immediately I feel my whole back is wet... oh crap, get up quick before that potential alligator sees you as a very easy meal. Yep, head first into the swamp. Just call me Swamp Girl!"  There is always some gravity incident at a Stampin' Up event among our group of friends, so I guess this year was my turn.

So today was check-in day in sunny Orlando, Florida.  Did I mention I might not go home until the ice thaws up in NY?  Especially if the gators get me first!  We received the Oh, Hello stamp set for our Take & Makes.  Unfortunately for me, I am not one of the managers and above enjoying Harry Potter (Snotter) over at Universal Studios right now.  Wouldn't it be great to get to enjoy some food, free SU goodies (usually a sneak peek of something new - can't wait to see what they get!!), and some fabulous entertainment all for FREE?!

I attended a class instead called "How to Get to Managers' Reception Next Year" aka "Managers' Reception - Be There Next Year", hosted by Brian Pilling, Leadership 2013.  I so appreciate Brian and the way he teaches subjects.  Even if you aren't a stamper, the subjects he teaches can be applied in many places.  We set some goals, wrote them down, and identified the path to get to Leadership.  Well, that's not rocket science, but to get yourself committed and sticking to it... that takes more.  And Kay will be my accountability partner, with monthly communication, to keep us both on track.  Much harder to let this one slide.

How about some eye-candy from the Product Demonstration Table?

The next few photos they were demonstrating the Creped Filter Paper, Artisan Embellishment Kit, and Delicate Details Lace Tape.

Thanks for stopping by!

An Alternate Way to Ink a Stamp

Yesterday I shared my Leadership swap card with you.  I may have mentioned I don't prefer inking stamps with markers.  Perhaps it is just my technique.  I just can't seem to ink up the stamp evenly, whether it is a line stamp or a solid stamp.  I much prefer using ink pads.

I was laying in bed thinking about how to complete my Leadership swaps.  I was much worried about incomplete inking and wasting good Canvas Creations sheets.  This is when my plan started to formulate.  What I needed what a very small felt ink pad.

I cut very small squares of felt to glue onto the end of these long skinny wood blocks.  I used Tombo multipurpose liquid glue.  Once glued and dried a bit, wet the felt with one drop of reinker.  I found more than one drop was WAY too much.

This way I can dab the saturated felt mini ink pad directly onto the stamp with quite a bit of control and feel more confident that I'll get even ink coverage.

Here is a comparison I made as I was trying this method out.  The image on the far left is inked using markers.  The right ones are using my new mini ink pads.  I definitely like the added amount of ink, which I thought I would need to get a good image on the Canvas Creations sheet.

And here's how it came out on the Canvas Creations, comparing inking with markers (left) vs. mini ink pads (right).

I think it is definitely worth the effort for a large number of swap cards.  Does that inspire you to get a bit creative with your stamping, especially if there is something about your image that you aren't satisfied with?  Hope so!

Thanks for stopping by!

Gathering in Orlando for Leadership... And a Web Special!

Today many demonstrators are arriving in Orlando to gather for the Leadership Conference. I've been hanging around sunny Florida for 1-1/2 weeks, so I'm ready to go!

This year Stampin' Up is kicking off their Silver Anniversary; can't wait to see what they have in store for us!  Stay tuned for daily updates on what's going on.

Unfortunately, I won't be available for personalized service, so instead, a special! Place an online order through my demonstrator website and receive free shipping (10% of merchandise total), only through Sunday, January 13! I cannot reduce your order cost directly, so the free shipping will come in the form of a rebate.

I was able to sign up and put together one swap for Leadership.  You can imagine squeezing this in with the hub-bub of Christmas going on.

Have you seen the new Canvas Creations sheets?  What a fun new texture to add to your cards!  I stamped on the Canvas Creations sheet for both the upper layer and the bottom layer of the cross-stitch focal image.  And what do you think about the lace tape?  I've already bought a whole bunch!

Stamps: Hoop La La; Paper: Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Tea for Two DSP; Ink: Calypso Coral marker, Lucky Limeade marker, Early Espresso marker; Accessories: White baker's twine, Delicate Details lace tape, Canvas Creations sheet, Square Lattice EF, Apothecary Accents framelits, Scallop Squares Duo die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

The above card was my prototype card.  I inked up the stamp by coloring on the stamp directly with markers, and it was a bit sparse.  I came up with an alternate plan to ink up the stamp.  Come back tomorrow so I can share it with you.

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for Leadership updates!

FM91 Sketchy Hearts

This week's Friday Mashup is a heart and sketch challenge.  I was waiting for my Spring catalog preorder to arrive, and I just couldn't get the sewed heart sample on pg. 10 out of my mind.  Must.make.one.  Since I didn't have my new goodies, I made due with what I had.

Lots of fun details!

I could see this week's sketch in the catalog sample resembled as well.  Bonus!

Stamps: Lacy & Lovely; Paper: Pool Party, Primrose Petals, Real Red, Very Vanilla,Candlelight Christmas DSP, Love Letter DSP; Ink: Basic Gray; Accessories: Vintage Faceted button, White baker's twine, 1/2" Striped Black/Gray satin ribbon, Perfect Polka Dot EF, Hearts Collection framelits, Delicate Doilies die, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!