GulfcoastStamper

More Leadership Swaps

The following card is another swap I did for Leadership.  Although the layout is pretty basic and clean, the wow factor here is that the little gem is heat embossed in black on glitter paper, cut out by hand and popped up off the card.  I don't think the glitter paper was meant to be heat embossed but that didn't stop me...it did take a little bit of practice and a few burnt gems however to get it right.  If the heat tool is too close and the glitter is allowed to heat up, you will most likely end up with a scorched image.  In addition, the paper backing on the glitter paper tends to peel away if it is too hot. 

While I'm not sure I would necessarily use this technique on a larger image, I'm pretty pleased with the way they turned out. 

 
I hope you enjoyed this card and thanks for stoppin' by! 

 

 

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Leadership Swaps

The first time I went to a Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference I was with my upline Karen and I made about 60 general swaps. (cards that you randomly swap with anyone who will have you)  This time, I was flying solo, rooming with a girl I had never met before (Hi Maryann!) and was feeling a little out of my element.  What is the saying...In for a penny, in for a pound?  I decided to embrace my solo-ness, step outside my comfort zone and find a way to meet some new stampin' friends.  I went online to our Demo site, found some organized swaps and an organized dinner and signed myself up.  Best move EVER.  I met so many wonderful women who are as passionate about stamping and Stampin' Up! as I am and I came home with some of the best swaps which I will share here over the next few weeks.

Today though, I am going to share one of mine...

The "From the Herd" set was the first new set on my first order from the 2014/2015 Catalog. I love the goofy images in this fun set and the sentiments that are included are just as goofy. 

Do you want to know how I got so much color to "pop" on black cardstock or how I got that perfect white ring around my word bubble? First, I stamped my image with Versamark ink and heat embossed with Whisper White EP.   Then, I took my Blendabilities and colored right over the top of the embossing.  Awesome, right?  The word bubble was cut out with my Word Bubble Framelits Dies but before I removed the die I traced around the edge with my White Signo Pen.  Perfect, symmetrical, even, clean line.  Love it. 

I made these for a pajama swap our first night in Orlando.  Yes, we met in the hotel lobby in our jammies (hey, there were stampin' prizes on the line!).  This particular swap required 27 cards.  Here's what they looked like before packing them up to go to their new homes!

I love the way they turned out and will be using both this stamp set and this embossing technique a lot more.  Let me know what you think and thanks for stopping by! 

 

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Better than Email Giveaway!

 

AND WE HAVE A WINNER!

CONGRATS MANETTA K! 

PLEASE CONTACT ME SO I CAN GET YOUR STAMP

SET TO YOU!

Stampin' Up! released a brand new photopolymer stamp set today and you can win it this week!  While I am celebrating my mom's 85th birthday in Massachusetts, if you place an order of $15 or more in my on-line store using the Hostess Code VX66Z4JT, you will be entered in a drawing to win this awesome new set, Better than Email! 

 This set consists of 12 new stamps that identify your hand crafted and home baked items as one of a kind, made by you, with love. 

 


There will be one winner for every $150 in orders I receive starting today through next Tuesday, January 20th.  If you place a personal order of $150 or more you will receive this set for FREE as my gift to you!  (please do not use the hostess code if your order is $150 or more and prizes will be awarded when I return) 

Remember, a $50 order will also get you a FREE Sale-a-Bration item of your choice!  Who doesn't love FREE? 

January Paper Pumpkin and a Sale-a-Bration Special!

Stampin' Up! just released the January paper pumpkin video!  How cute are these?

 

For the first time ever, Stampin' Up! has lowered the price of the 3 month prepaid subscription. During Sale-A-Bration (January 6-March 31) you  can save money and instantly qualify for a FREE product!

Why did we choose to discount the 3 month subscription? Because all good things come in threes! Here are three things we know you'll love.

1. Save $5.00 on your subscription.
2. The price point instantly qualifies for a FREE Sale-A-Bration product.
3. Skip to the fun for three months with all the stamps, ink, and paper ready to go for amazing papercrafting projects. 

Please click HERE to learn more and thanks for stoppin' by today!

Love You Valentine

After cutting into that brand new stack of Designer Series Paper and creating an awesome project, what do you do with all the little scraps that are left over?  You make a card!  After cutting 16, You + Me project kits for Stamp camp last week, this is what I had left over:

What to do with all those little pieces?  I couldn't bear to throw them away and I knew I could come up with something...

How cute is this?  I am in love with that little heart border from the new Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Die.  The little bag in this die is awesome but I am having so much fun with all the extra parts and pieces.  Just look at all the pieces that come with this die:

I am loving that little bow, I think you will probably see a lot of it in the months to come.  The little piece on the bottom right is meant to look like a piece of washi tape.  Oh, the possibilities! 

I hope you enjoyed todays card and remember, you can earn FREE exclusive Sale-a-Bration stamps, paper and accessories for every $50 purchase (before tax and shipping)  Please click on the Catalogs tab in the right hand side bar to view any of our current catalogs including the Occasions catalog and Sale-a-Bration brochure.  If you would prefer a paper copy, please contact me and I will pop one in the mail to you right away!  (Please use Hostess Code VX66Z4JT when ordering on-line)

Thanks for stoppin' by!

 

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You and Me

One of these day I am actually going to get a Mojo Monday sketch done the same week as the sketch!  I saw this sketch a few weeks ago and immediatley knew which of my new stamp sets I wanted to use.  But then the flu hit the entire house and all my new stamps, papers and accessories never made it out of the box until late last week. :(   Here is my Mojo Monday inspired card: 

I used another fabulous bundle from the Occasions catalog which includes the You Plus Me stamp set and the Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper stack.  I heat embossed the You + Me image with white Stampin' Emboss Powder on Real Red Card Stock and used three different fun patterns from the Stacked with Love DSP. I am in love with this stack which features 48, 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" sheets in 12 double sided designs.  (4 of each)  While one side is all black and white the other is a combination of Real Red, Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantelope and Whisper White for some fun, Valentiney designs.  And the best part?  You can save 15% by purchasing the stamp set and the DSP stack together...such a deal! 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed todays card and remember, you can earn FREE exclusive Sale-a-Bration stamps, paper and accessories for every $50 purchase (before tax and shipping)  Please click on the Catalogs tab in the right hand side bar to view any of our current catalogs including the Occasions catalog and Sale-a-Bration brochure.  If you would prefer a paper copy, please contact me and I will pop one in the mail to you right away!

Please use Hostess Code NB6BRM4Z when ordeing on-line! 

Thanks for stoppin' by!

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Hello Sunshine

While most of the country is dealing with snow, ice and biter cold, we are sunny and warm here in south Florida.  (although my son is attending FSU in Tallahassee and it was only 22 degrees there this morning!)  I thought those of you dealing with typical winter weather could use some cheering up and those of you coming to Florida for Leadership could use an early dose of sunshine. 

I used all new products from the new Occasions catalog on my Hello Sunshine card.  Don't those bright cheery colors cheer you up and make you think warm happy thoughts?  The best part is that the die and stamp set used are offered as a bundle so you can save an extra 15% buy purchasing them together! 

I LOVE this Crazy About You stamp set!  Just look at all those sayings, we have covered every occasion!  I know this is going to be one of my most well loved sets.  There are 30 words plus the three image stamps you see above and they all work perfectly with the Hello You Thinlits Dies.  This stamp set and bundle are available in your choice of wood mount, clear mount or photopolymer so there is something for everyone.  You know what's even better than saving 15%?  Getting a FREE Sale-a-Bration item when you purchase this bundle! 

You can view the Occasions Catalog or the Sale-a-Bration Brochure by clicking on the Catalogs tab in the right-hand side bar.  If you would like a paper copy of either catalog please let me know and I will pop one in the mail to you.  OR, you can click on any of the items in the supply list below and you will be taken directly to my on-line store. 

Please use Hostess Code NB6BRM4Z when ordeing on-line! 

I hope you enjoyed my sunny greeting from Florida and thanks for stoppin' by!

 

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Perpetual Birthday Calendar

There are so many awesome new kits in the Occasions catalog but one of my favs is the Perpetual Birthday Calendar.  What a  great way to remember all the special days of the most special people in your life! 

I will be holding a class on Friday, February 6th at 7:00 pm where we will put this kit together as a group.  In the meantime, here is a video that was put together by the Stampin' Up! home office where you can see all the parts an pieces of this awesome kit.  If you would like to join me on the 6th, please click HERE for all the details! 

 

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Mini Milk Cartons

I am a total sucker for anything that is wrapped up in a cute little package.  It really makes no difference to me what is on the inside if the package is super cute so the fact that these mini milk cartons hold 3 little boxes of Willy Wonka Candy Nerds is just a bonus.  Love them!

    

I had 3 packages of Nerds lying around that I wanted to get out of my craft room.  (see my January 1st post on de-cluttering and de-stressing!) And, I wanted to make the packaging easy to make multiples of with a minimum of cutting and scoring.  I had to channel my Sam Donald and think "WWPD"?  (What would Pootles do?) My goal was to come up with a package that my Nerds would fit in and use a single sheet from the Stacked With Love DSP  stack in the Occasions catalog without any cutting.  My mini milk carton was born and I have to say I'm rather proud of myself (and I think Sam would be too, lol!)

It is a take on the age old 2-4-6-8 box from years past.  Just chose your pattern from the Stacked With Love DSP stack and with the longest side of the paper against the guide on your trimmer, score at 1.25, 3.0, 4.25 and 6.  Turn your paper 90 degrees so the short side is against the guide on your trimmer and score at 1.25 down one long side.  Score all fold lines, use Tombo glue on the skinny flap and match the edges.  Hold until you have a tight seal.  Cut all 4 score lines from the bottom up to the 1.25" score line.  Fold in side tabs and glue down the bottom flaps.  Fill with 3 packages of Nerds and pinch the top like a milk carton.  Decorate as desired.  (I used the You Brighten My Day stamp set from the Sale-a-Bration Brochure which you can get for FREE with a $50 purchase!)

 

I hope you enjoyed my cute little mini milk cartons and thanks for stoppin' by today!

 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

 

A New Year

I am not one for making New Years Resolutions but I have made a vow to myself this year to declutter and destress.   My kids are getting older, I am close to becomming an empty nester and my husband keeps talking about down-sizing.  UGH.  The thought is overwhelming but I am looking forward to taking it a room at a time and getting rid of some of the excess.  (with the exception of my craft room, lol!)

Next comes the de-stressing.  I have a very demanding and  stressful job of which I spend way too much time at.  I would like nothing more than to stay home and work on building my Stampin' Up! business but with 3 kids in college I don't see that happening anytime soon.  So, rather than continue to beat myself up for not posting to my blog regularily or wondering how other people with full time jobs and families do it, I will just do what I can when I can and hope you all stick with me until there comes a day when I have more time on my hands to do what I love to do. 

I hope the New Year brings you much health and happiness and you are able to find the time to do what you love!