Another Wagon Full of Fun card – Lucky Duck variation

Mar 29, 2009

Mar-27-2009-004-a So I promised you another variation of my Lucky Duck card.  This one's exactly the same construction as a couple days ago, but using different colors.  (Oh, and I guess I added a ribbon to this one.) 

This one features the colors Certainly Celery and So Saffron, inspired by the Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper and Ribbon Bundle – both of which are available for free – but only through March 31st - as Sale-a-Bration rewards! 

 And here's a tease about a coordinating project I'll unveil in April.  You're just gonna SWOON!

Mar-27-2009-004

Wagon Full of Fun – Cupcake

Mar 28, 2009

Mar-16-2009-001  So the story of this cupcake (which is yet another yummy image from the Wagon Full of Fun stamp set available this month as a Sneak Peek opportunity for those who just can't wait until the Occasions Mini Catalog goes into effect next month – or who are clever enough to make it count towards Sale-a-Bration rewards!)…..

At our demonstrator meeting earlier this month I had the idea to have everyone make just the cupcake image you see here, and then go home and work it up into a project.  So this is my finished project from that exercise.  I did pull out some retired DSP, but how could I NOT?!?  The colors were too perfect!

So now that I've got 2 or 3 more identical cupcakes already made; I wonder what *those* will end up becoming???  Hmm……

Here are the images you'll find in the Wagon Full of Fun stamp set that I'm having so much fun with these days….

Need more detail about that set?  Check 'em out here.Wagon_Full_of_Fun_images 

Lucky Ducks

Mar 28, 2009

Mar-27-2009-003  As you may know, my demonstrator group participates in a monthly card swap.  Here's the card I contributed to our swap this month.  Isn't this duck just so charming?!?  This is another image from the Wagon Full of Fun stamp set….. and in fact I think it's the MAIN reason I knew I just HAD to have that set! 

For those of you lucky ducks who participated in our group swap this month, be looking for your own little card to arrive soon - and for the rest of you, you can make your own version if you're lucky enough to own a Wagon Full of Fun!

(Check back here in the coming days for more variations on this card, as well as coordinating projects.)

I can see clearly now

Mar 27, 2009

 

Mar-27-2009-001  I believe this is the first acetate card I've ever made.  Sure, I've seen 'em "around" for a couple of years now, but never actually attempted one myself before.  So not having had any sample on hand to follow, it took me a while to "reinvent the wheel" of the structure of this thing, but overall I'm ok with how this one turned out for my first attempt. 

BTW, this flower image is from the FABULOUS stamp set "Wagon Full of Fun", which will be in the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog (April – June), but is available right NOW as a sneak peek!  Did I mention I ADORE this stamp set, btw?  The various elements of the flower image use paper-piecing, with the Delicate Dots DSP available for free as a Sale-a-Bration reward.  (The ribbon is a free SAB reward, too.) 

This card is actually a card within a card.  There's the white card (2-1/2" square), mounted to the front surface of the acetate card (4" square).  My greatest challenge was in figuring out what to use to adhere the inner card to the outer – without the adhesive showing too much.  I finally settled on my old standby – Stampin' Up!'s SNAIL adhesive, my good ol' favorite.  I just placed a teeny little bit in each of the 4 corners of the inner card.

But then not only did it still show (a little), but I was also nervous about it not holding real well – or at least allowing the inner card to shift.  (And if you know me at all, you know that would just not do!)  So I decided to put little jewels of some kind in 3 corners and a ribbon in the other.  Problem is, I didn't have any appropriate "little jewels". 

So I grabbed some of our mini brads, dipped 'em into white embossing powder & heated with my heat tool, then repeated several more times until they were white.  Then dipped several more times into Dazzling Diamonds glitter, heating in between until I was happy with the degree of white and sparkle. And then those brads became not only my "jewels", but also my "can't move this now!" corner anchors!

So whatdya think?!?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

And don't you want that wonderful stamp set "Wagon Full of Fun" yourself now?  Order it right online and get it in plenty of time for your Easter stamping!

Happy Spring

Mar 23, 2009

Mar-16-2009-004Well you'd never know it by the looks of the weather outside as I write this, but the calendar claims it IS officially spring now! 

This delicious card was a favorite at my Stamp-a-Stacks earlier this month – all done up in Bashful Blue and Whisper White. Of course we used the Big Shot (to emboss the polka dots of the background and add that soft blue in between), and the flower comes from one of my new favorite stamp sets – Fifth Avenue Floral. "HAPPY" is from Fundamental Phrases, and "Spring", well, that's one of those all-time winning word sets that I refused to part with when it retired!

Wouldn't you like to join us at my monthly Stamp-a-Stacks and make some of these cards yourself?  You can register right online for any one of my 3 sessions each month; just click the keyboard graphic in the left-hand column, or the class registration link at the top of the page!

Lynda

Sweet Basket for Easter, Party Centerpiece, or ?

Mar 22, 2009

Mar-22-2009-003This sweet basket was a Make & Take project my March Clubs made last week.  (Eggs weren't included, although they, too, feature rub-ons from last year.)  Can't you just imagine how this basket could be used in so many fun, creative ways?!?  Not only can it serve as an Easter basket as shown here, but how about a wedding or shower centerpiece, or for any other type of party or celebration, as well….. just by changing out the embellishments and modifying the colors!  And how fun would it be to see it adorned in one of our bright Designer Series Papers?!? 

And while it's not absolutely necessary that this basket be lined, doing so not only presents a more finished look on the inside, but also provides added strength, so it can actually hold up those pretty eggs!

A few other highlights of this one include the Eyelet Border (punch) used to make the "lace" at the top edge, and the flowers (one on each basket end) were made with the Flower Daisies #2 Sizzix die.  We used a white brad from the Neutrals Jumbo Brads  (5/16") assortment for the centers.  And can you figure out how the basket ends were created?  They're a slightly-modified shape from the Stampin' Up!® Baskets and Blooms die.  (Yes, apparently I can no longer live without my Big Shot, lol!) 

As always, if you'd like to order any of these items to make your own basket, you may either email me or click here for easy online ordering.  And if you order at least 3 of the 4 items highlighted in the previous paragraph through me before the end of March 2009 I'll send you the instructions for making this basket yourself!

Pay for your Demonstrator Starter Kit in 3 easy payments!

Mar 14, 2009

Stampin' Up!® has just announced a never-before-offered opportunity:  the option to pay for your Demonstrator Starter Kit in 3 monthly payments.  This provides you the opportunity to jump in and begin earning money right away – and then pay for the remaining installments on your starter kit with your earnings!

Click here to learn more about this limited-time offer – and don't forget that from now through March 31st, new demonstrators get a 15% discount on their starter kits ($30 savings), AND can choose an extra bonus stamp set from ANY in the current catalog!  March is a GREAT time to start your new Stampin' Up! business!

Congrats to these recent Olympic Circle hostesses!

Mar 11, 2009

I just realized that after having made some changes to my layout here a while back I haven't been updating my list of Olympic Circle hostesses.  (Oops!  Sorry 'bout that.)  

So here are the qualifiers for the 2008/2009 year so far (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009).  Congratulations on your great workshops, ladies – and THANK YOU for going that extra mile (or more)!

  • Kevin B. – Gold
  • Jeanette E. – Bronze
  • Joanne L. – Bronze
  • Karyle K. – Bronze

Hostesses qualify for my Olympic Circle when the total product sales at their workshops (actual parties, not clubs) exceed $500.  $500 qualifies for Bronze, $750 gets a Silver, and $1000+ means Gold.  These awesome hostesses will be honored at a special event this summer.  If you'd like to join us, there's still plenty of time to hold your own qualifying workshop!  Call me and let's set it up!

Vinyl wall art – more sophisticated than you might think

Mar 9, 2009

CM391B copy What do you think of when you think of vinyl wall art?  Does your imagination automatically head off to a kid's room or bathroom with cheap and tacky plastic decals?  I wouldn't be surprised if it does; I've seen plenty of those myself. 

But "type" has been a hot trend in design for several years now – not only in our crafting, but in home decor as well.  And in the meantime vinyl art has "grown up" – permitting thinner materials and finer details.  Stampin' Up!® entered the market last year with the introduction of our Decor Elements line – part of our Definitely Decorative® product line – with a growing collection of exclusive images from whimsical to sophisticated.  Have you reviewed the latest Decor Elements catalog recently? 

If you see something that would enhance your living space you can order it right online – or contact me to assist you.