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Are
you interested in making your own holiday cards but aren't sure where
to start? I can totally relate! I wanted to make my own cards for
years but never got around to making them! Let me help! I have put
together a FABULOUS collection of Holiday Cards for you this year!
I've designed 34 cards using the stamp sets in the 2009-2010 Idea Book
& Catalog and the 2009 Holiday Mini.
Here's how it works:
When:
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September
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October
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November
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: How much does it cost?
Answer: That depends on the design you choose. When you browse through the card samples, you will see a price listed. That is the per-card price. The prices include envelopes.
Question: That's great, but I need 53 cards. How much would that cost?
Answer: Simply multiply the listed price by the number of cards you'd like to make and that will be your total cost.
Question: I love the idea but I'm not available any of the dates listed. What can I do?
Answer: No problem. I'll be happy to arrange a time when you can make your cards that's convenient for you.
Mike came home the other night and reminded me his parents wedding anniversary was this weekend...I'm terrible at remembering those things! I was blog hopping the other day and remembered seeing a card that used the hearts from the Always stamp set. I had forgotten about that stamp set! I played with this card for quite some time...and cut out LOTS of hearts. I was trying to emboss white powder on white card stock. I like the effect, but it wasn't working on this particular card. Then I decided to heat emboss two with white powder on Rich Razzleberry Card Stock and stamp one on Whisper White with Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink for the reverse look. Layered over some Cottage Wall DSP, I love it! What do you think?
Here are the supplies I used:
I stamped a stack of these cards last weekend for my entire team of demonstrators (which is growing QUICKLY). I used a cool new color combo (at least it's new to me). Inspired by the new DSP in the Holiday Mini, I paired Close to Cocoa and Taken with Teal. LOVE IT!!!
The stamp set I used, Charming, is designed to pair nicely with the new Simply Adorned Charms available in September...I can't wait to order mine!!! But, look! The stamp set also works well with the Very Vanilla Hodgepodge Designer Label pieces!!!
Here are the supplies I used on their cards:
I made a dozen of these cards last week for our monthly downline meeting. I love our downline meetings!!! All of the demonstrators in our group (there are around 40) are invited to attend. We share business ideas, techniques, tips, stamp projects, and swap cards. This was my swap card. It was inspired by a card I designed for my Holiday Card Workshops!
I'm not sure you can tell in the photo, but that is FLOCKED designer series paper. YEP! You heard me right!!! There is FLOCKED paper in the Holiday Mini. It's AWESOME!!!
Here are the supplies I used on this card:
Wow...now I like this stamp set! It's amazing how your opinion changes once you use a set. I received this stamp set for FREE at convention as an award because of my sales achievements last year. I designed this card for my "I Can See Clearly Now" class last weekend. A lot of the class attendees also decided they liked the set after using it! Ha Ha!!! It's addictive!
As soon as I saw these adorable treat cups in the upcoming Holiday Mini, I knew they would be PERFECT for my "I Can See Clearly Now" class. I sat down to design what I thought would be a card on Friday night. But, after fighting with one of the stamps to get a good image, I decided to stamp the balloon. But, I forgot a filler! I ran to the local grocery store to get some candy. Well, let me tell you, finding pastel-colored candy in late summer in my 6-aisle grocery store is difficult! The only thing I found were marshmallows. That's when it hit me...it wouldn't be a card, it would be a hot cocoa packet/favor!!! The treat cup would be filled with pink marshmallows to put in the hot cocoa!!! Each packet contains two servings of hot cocoa in one of our clear cello bags!
Here are all of the supplies:
Here's a photo of the side of the packet...you can see the two envelopes of hot cocoa tucked neatly inside!!!
I completely forgot all about this stamp set!!! But, it was exactly what I was looking for when I designed this card for Kacey's Custom Stamp-a-Stack last Saturday. She contacted me through Facebook and asked to set up a custom stamp-a-stack for her, her mom, and friends. It was loads of fun!!! They made 12 cards...4 designs...3 of each. I loved the simplicity of this one!
After the event, Kacey posted her thoughts from the class on Saturday. I cried when I read it! Experiences like this are what I love most about my "job". I love the relationships, the laughter, the inspiration, and the sharing. Wow!
Here are the supplies I used:
I let my stamp club hostesses request projects for their clubs. This month my hostess challenged me to design a masculine birthday card that didn't use cars, trucks, tools, or other traditionally masculine stamp sets. Lucky for me, she made this request before convention, so I kept an eye out for ideas! Of course I found several, but one stood out and inspired the card on today's post. Can you name all five stamp sets that were used on this card? No worries...I'll list all of the supplies for ya!
WOW! The Stampin' Up! convention is getting TONS of media attention. Check out this article on the PaperCrafts blog! I enjoyed reading it...and got a little choked up remembering all of the fun I had a couple of weeks ago. The author has lots of pictures...including a lot of the display boards. I've never posted pictures of the awesome display boards....mostly because I didn't think we were allowed!!! But, there are a few on the PaperCrafts blog for you to enjoy. I was also excited to see a good picture of the stage. I can never capture the stage well in my photos because of the poor lighting...and all of the demonstrators!
Anyway, I hope you'll read the blog post at PaperCrafts - they also talk about My Digital Studio...coming this fall. You're gonna LOVE it!
Do you want to share in the enthusiasm next year? Now is the PERFECT time to sign up to join my team and become a demonstrator! Whether you want to earn a few extra dollars OR just get all of your stamping supplies at a discount! Stampin' Up! is offering a Mini Starter Kit for only $85 through the end of August. The Mini Kit is completely customizable...you can pick out any 6 ink pads, 2 packs of card stock, and 1 stamp set ($28.95 or lower). Then you get to enjoy all of the fabulous benefits of being a demonstrator....a 20% discount on all of your purchases, fabulous events like convention, access to the AWESOME demonstrator website including video tutorials and daily samples, and more!!! I also give my team added benefits....discounts to my classes, contests, and open stamp nights every other month! What have you got to lose?
Click here to Join Now!!! You'll get instant access to the demonstrator website. Simply enter Recruiter Authorization Password "elmerstamper" when prompted! Or, feel free to contact me with any questions.
I know I haven't posted samples in a couple of days, I'm sorry. You guys are keeping me busy with lots of events!!! But, I did manage to design 20 Christmas Cards for my Holiday Card Workshops last week. I'll be posting them sometime between now and September 1st. I want to design 10-20 more. Not familiar with my Holiday Card Workshops, click here to learn more about how you can make all of your Christmas cards in one evening!
Anyway, back to today's post....I was browsing through the blogs I track this morning when I came across an article in the Utah Desert News about Convention! It was fun to read about it from a non-SU point-of-view. There are also some photos - the one pictured below was taken by Michael Brandy. The one here on my blog is of demonstrators making their Make & Takes. Doesn't that look like so much fun??? Hundreds of demonstrators making projects at once!!! If you're a helper, they keep you on your toes!!! Click here to read the full article.
I created a mini stack of these cards on Thursday night to send to some friends who've had a rough week. I love the way it turned out! I wanted to use my favorite DSP...Cottage Wall...but I wanted to stamp some images on the sentiment layer that coordinated. I flipped through the catalog and found For All You Do! This is the stamp set I received in Hawaii but I haven't used it too much. It coordinates SO nicely!
Did you notice the little rhinestone? People have been doing this since our rhinestone brads came out, but I hadn't tried it yet....'cause I always forget to add bling to my cards. All I did was take a Medium Clear Rhinestone Brad and pulled apart the prongs to remove the rhinestone from the back! I then adhered it to my card with just a drop of Tombo Multipurpose Adhesive. What do you think??
Here are the supplies I used on this card:
I was so flattered that Kelly liked my card that posted on August 5 (click here to view my original). Unfortunately, my original design wasn't a great stamp-a-stack card since I just don't have enough DSP in that pattern to make 48 cards...or enough of the rub-ons!!! But then we came across another swap I received at convention that I received from Teresa Clark (pictured at the bottom of this post). At first I didn't realize her card had a stamped background using the Autumn Days stamp set. It looks SO similar to the DSP. It makes a great stamp-a-stack card! We stuck with the layout from my card - especially since another of her cards already uses punched squares (see yesterday's post). She wanted to omit the square card stock because she didn't want to cover up too much of the stamped background. But we both agreed that the card needed something. So, we decided on an Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelet along with some Dusty Durango Ribbon. I LOVE it!
Here are the supplies we used to make this card:
Here's Teresa's original card:
I've started offering a new service...custom classes for my customers and their friends. These are "private" classes that I don't advertise on my website. Most of them are Stamp-a-Stacks. That format of class is SO incredibly popular. You guys can't seem to get enough of them!!!! In fact, I have TWO custom stamp-a-stacks this week for customers. One is at the customer's house. One is in my classroom.
When you schedule a custom class, I let YOU tell me what YOU want to do and what your budget is! Kelly even wanted to help design the cards for her event! I was glad to have some design help...and I love stamping with friends!!! She chose to have an event where we design 3 cards and everyone makes 4 of each. We sat down with the 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog, the Holiday Mini, her notes of ideas, and my box of swaps from convention. She loves Cottage Wall DSP (who doesn't?) - so she wanted to work that in somewhere. We used it on today's card!
Want to host your own custom class? Contact me to discuss what you'd like to make at your class!
Here are the supplies we used on this card:
We CASEd (Copy And Share Everything) from a swap card I received at convention. We changed some of the colors and ribbon, but I'm sure you'll recognize it as the same card! I like the way it turned out. The designer is Kriss Huels from Middlesex, NY. (Her original card is pictured below.)
One of my customers is a Longaberger Consultant. She recently asked me to donate a gift for their Annual "Hope is on the Horizon" Benefit. I was more than happy to contribute something!!! Last year the group raised over $3,000 for the American Cancer Society. I hope my little contribution helps them raise even more money this year!!!
I put together a simple Christmas card and included supplies to make 20! Here's a sample of the card and the supplies I included in the kit:
I'm making an effort to stamp and actually SEND cards out to my friends, customers, and family! I wrote a HUGE list of cards that need to go out....including those VERY late wedding thank you cards. I know, I know...its almost unforgivable - Friday will have been 5 months!!! But, today I made a card for one of my customers and Die-Cut Divas!
I really wanted to use the new baby set out of the catalog, but I don't think I own it! Surprising, I know!
Here are the supplies I used to make this card:
I've been stamping up a storm since I got home from convention on Sunday. I can't post everything...actually I can't post most of it...but I finally jumped into my box of Holiday Mini Stamp Sets....which arrived an entire WEEK AGO thanks to a minor "Next Day Air" shipping snafu.
I instantly fell in love with the Serene Snowflakes stamp set. I can tell it's gonna be a popular one! Inspired by the projects on the same page of the mini, I designed this card. I also took my first stab at using the new shimmer paint. I started by sponging some on the edges. But then it got lopsided and I added more to each side. Frustrated, I just decided to coat the entire card base with the shimmery stuff. I love the subtle shimmer it adds! Not sure how well it shows up online, though...I think it may actually be more subtle in person.
I also "aged" the DSP and the Very Vanilla Card Stock by tearing the edges and sponging Close to Cocoa Classic Ink over the top.
So, here are the supplies I used to make this card:
Do you want to earn some free stamps??? Do you want to have a fun evening with family and friends while making a couple of cute projects? My hostesses enjoy LOTS of fabulous benefits! Contact me to book your workshop today!!! Click HERE to view some of my available workshop dates.
When you host a qualifying workshop in August or September, I will enter you into my drawing for a FREE Big Shot*!! That's on top of the fabulous benefits you already receive from Stampin' Up!
OR....when you host a workshop in September, October, or November, Stampin' Up! will allow you to purchase any item in the Holiday Mini catalog (excluding the Hostess Sets or My Digital Studio) for only $10....that includes some of the $42.95 Big Shot Dies!!! How''s that for savings???
....and yes....if you were paying attention, you realized that the two promotions I just mentioned OVERLAP in September!!! If you host a qualfying workshop in September, you will be entered in my drawing to win a Big Shot (worth $99.95), take home at least $25 in free catalog merchandise, receive at least 1 free hostess set, AND pick out an item from the Holiday Mini for $10 (up to a $32.95 savings). WOW!!!!! What are you waiting for?!?!?!?!
So..are you still wondering what the photo is on today's post??? I'm glad I got your attention!!! Finally, when you host a workshop and some of your guests book their own workshop, you'll be able to open this cute gift and possibly keep the fabulous gift inside!!!
* If you already own a Big Shot, you may choose to receive a $100 gift certificate instead.
There are new, wooden blocks in the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog. I can't wait to use them! I'm working on a holiday home decor class where you can get your own set.
So, after making the Halloween favor from yesterday, I was inspired. I made my own blocks out of card stock using the Petal Card Die for the Big Shot. I cut out some letters using the new Simple Letters Alphabet Dies in Old Olive, Basic Black, and Pumpkin Pie card stock. I embellished the blocks with some of the Spooky Treats Rub-Ons, Cast-a-Spell DSP, Black Brads, and Black Grosgrain Ribbon. How cute are these??? However, I felt like I was cutting out Petal Cards forever!
Tip: You can't cut more than 1 at a time since there are score lines on the dies. The Big Shot will cut through the score lines when you try to cut multiple sheets at once. So, I ran 18 pieces of card stock through, individually, for these blocks. I get bored easily, it was torture. But, the result is worth it!
Don't have a Big Shot??? Want to WIN one??? Click on the Big Shot picture below to learn how you can win a Big Shot from me! Already have a Big Shot?!?!? No worries...you can choose a $100 Gift Card instead!!!
I went a little nuts with Halloween this past weekend. I made a card, an invitation, a party favor, and check back tomorrow for a coordinating home decor item!
First up...the card. I showed this to my husband and he immediately commented that it wasn't my style. He thought I should add some orange. I kinda like the Olive/Black combo going on. What do you think?
Here are the supplies I used to make the card:
Next up...the Invitation. This one too FAR longer than it should have. Even though it's possible to apply rub-ons to our ribbon...it takes FOREVER!!! My arm felt like it was going to fall off. Definitely not a technique I'd actually use on an invitation. But, I was determined to make it work. And, yes....labor-intensive steps were popular on this project - I cut out all of the stamped images. I was nuts.
Here are the supplies I used to make the invitation:
I made the favor last. It's stinkin' simple....maybe because I killed myself on that stupid invitation!!! I made this box with 7 Petal Card cut-outs. One for each of the sides. One for the bottom. And, two for the lid. The lid is tricky...if you make it too tight, you can't get it on the box. But, it makes a very nice sized box.
Here are the supplies I used to make the favor:
Don't have a Big Shot??? Want to WIN one??? Click on the Big Shot picture below to learn how you can win a Big Shot from me! Already have a Big Shot?!?!? No worries...you can choose a $100 Gift Card instead!!!
I just finished updating my Convention Day 4 page. Click on the following convention icon to read all about my adventures!!! It was a GREAT day!!!
And...thanks to all of you for the kind e-mails!!! I always do a little dance (even if I'm sitting in the middle of a session) when I get them on my Blackberry!! Okay...so maybe I don't actually dance in the middle of someone's presentation, but I'm dancing inside. I'm flattered that so many of you follow along during convention.
Well, it's Friday of convention (at least that's when this post will show up online). Hopefully I've run out of all of my swaps by now and gotten great ones in return! I should...I only made 96 this year. But, for those of you who couldn't attend convention this year, I'm sharing it with you here. I kept it pretty simple. My challenge - use a different color combination than I normally would and use a stamp set I thought would be a bit more rare then the obvious favorites.
Here are the supplies I used to make this card:
Have you seen the new Elegant Notes and Pendant Notes in the catalog? They make card-making super-easy! I whipped these two out in no time (with a little inspiration from catalog samples)! I punched out the die-cut shapes, layered some coordinating card stock inside, wrapped around a little ribbon, and stamped a sentiment! Quick, easy, and elegant!
I was inspired by Bella Bleu DSP. I LOVE it! Hello??? How did I miss out on this paper for the last 6 months? It's gorgeous! I'm glad it didn't retire. Now I have a whole year to play with it....apparently I have four, unopened packs. Are you surprised???
Here are the supplies I used on both of these cards:
Check out the convention section of my website -
Good afternoon! I know, I'm spoiling you with all of these posts! But I have SO much to share this week. This project is the gift I gave to my SAM yesterday. What's a SAM? It's a person at Stampin' Up! that helps to answer my questions, coaches me on my business, and is there for whatever I need. I was assigned a SAM because I earned the incentive trip to the Southern Caribbean. Personally, I think my SAM is more valuable that the free cruise. You think I'm nuts, don't you? Well, I'm not alone - once you've had that level of support, you never want to lose it!
SO...to show my appreciation, I made up a little gift for my SAM. Using an empty Pretties Kit box, I decorated it with some Cottage Wall DSP and coordinating Rich Razzleberry ribbon. I filled it with all kinds of things I thought she might need while "working" at convention - chocolate, chocolate, tissues, chocolate...you get the idea. I cannot wait to se my SAM this year. I talk to her every week, but only get the chance to see her once - maybe twice - if she's lucky enough to attend Leadership. I'll post a picture of the two of us over on the convention section of my blog.
It's a tradition at convention to give your roommate a gift. This year my roommate is my husband. But, one of the other demonstrators in the Philly Inkers group is attending with me this year. This is her first convention but she doesn't have a roommate. SO, I couldn't let her miss out on this little tradition! Inspired by the gift my Leadership Roommate gave me, I covered a composition book with some Thoroughly Modern DSP. I also stamped some images from the Define Your Life and Eastern Blooms stamp sets in coordinating colors. Can you read the definition I chose? It's "Inspire - To cause or create new ideas. Fresh thought; to influence. To motivate one to action." She can use this little book to capture all of the inspirational ideas she hears this week! The theme for convention this year is "Inspire Create Share". PERFECT!
Want to read about our convention adventures? Click on the following convention logo!
If you've been following me along in SLC (and I know you have because I can see how many of you dropped by to check on me today) my final updates are now up for today. I'm headed to bed for lots of fun coming tomorrow....I think I heard a hint that they'll tell us when My Digital Studio will be available!!!! I can't wait to learn more! The samples today were AWESOME!!! Great quality. Cute projects.
Click on the following convention icon to read all about my adventures!!!
I thought I'd share with you my convention bag tag! I made this cute little tag so I could easily identify my convention bag from all of the others - since there will be thousands of us with the same bag!
I covered pieces of raw chipboard with various patterns of Cottage Wall DSP - adhering them together with Tombo Multi-Purpose adhesive. I then ran them through my Big Shot using the Top Note and Butterflies dies. I cut some coordinating letters using the Stampin' Up! exclusive Simple Letters Alphabet and Timeless Type Alphabet Junior Letters and Numbers Sizzlits out of Rich Razzleberry card stock. I popped a Jumbo Eyelet through the top and looped some Old Olive Wide Grosgrain ribbon through for a tie. Finally, I adhered some half-pearls from the Pretties kit to the butterfly using Crystal Effects.
It's finally here - it's Check-In Day for Convention! I created a special section on my website just for convention. Click on the following convention icon to read all about it!!!
As promised, I still have a daily sample for you!!! Honestly, I really struggled with this card. I don't know why! I couldn't figure out which rub-on to use or whether I should stamp or not stamp. Why are some cards harder to design than others??? I do like the result. It's simple! And, there's no stamping!
Here are the supplies I used on this card:
When I was in Hawaii, Stampin' Up! gave us a sneak peek of the new Bride Specialty Paper. They showed us how you could brayer classic ink over the paper. The shiny swirls (or stripes) on the paper resist the ink. So, after the color is brayered on, you can wipe off the excess with a paper towel. I LOVE it even more now that I've tried it.
On this card, I took the swirly paper in the Bride Specialty Paper and brayered Melon Mambo Classic Ink over the paper. Once I was satisfied with the coverage, I wiped off the excess. GORGEOUS!!! The white now POPS! I had a really tough time finding images to stamp for this card. The bride and groom from the "To Have and To Hold Stamp Set" kept coming to mind. It is retired. But, I am NOT selling it!!! I used it on my wedding invitations. So, I stamped the bride and groom in Melon Mambo as well. I thought she needed some bling. So, using my two-way glue pen, I adhered some Dazzling Diamonds on her veil. I layered with some additional Whisper White Card Stock, Melon Mambo Card Stock, and Soft Suede Card Stock. Voila!!!
Also....don't miss out on your chance to win a Big Shot!!! Click the Big Shot picture below for more info!!!
Whoo Hoo!!! Do you know what tomorrow is??? I leave for Salt Lake City and the Annual Stampin' Up! Convention. I have worked my butt off to give you daily samples while I am gone - check back every day. And, no worries, I will be blogging as well from SLC - and if you followed along with me last year, you know you'll feel like you're experiencing the convention right along with me.
I am IN LOVE with this snazzy Big Shot technique! You might remember my Die Cut Diva's card from a few days ago. I was inspired by the Bella Bleu DSP color combo when I designed this card. There will be more Bella Bleu later this week.
How did I achieve this look? I brayered the flat side of the embossing folder with Not Quite Navy Classic Ink. I then ran it through with Shimmery White Card Stock. The raised areas don't get inked. Here's my tip - make sure you have your embossing folder well-inked. And, I run the folder through the Big Shot four times!!! I want to make sure every little drop of ink gets transfered.
Here are the supplies I used on this card:
Yesterday was my grandmother's 87th birthday! I made her up a basket of chocolaty goodness. It was packed full of chocolate-covered pretzels, nonpareils, assorted chocolates, chocolate chip cookies, and a few other things. I tied up the basket with pink ribbon and decorated the chocolate boxes with some Tea Party DSP and coordinating ribbon. The card matched, too!!! I took a quick picture so I could share it with you.
Here are the supplies I used:
Check out these two great promotions for August!!!
Promotion #1 - Growth Chart: Purchase the brand-new Décor Elements Growth Chart, only available August 1-September 30, and as an added bonus, receive a free applicator tool with your purchase (a $1.95 value).
Isn't this chart too stinkin' cute? I wish I had a growing child so that I could have this charting their height!
Promotion #2 - FREE Buttons: Spend $35 on stamp sets from the Growing Up section of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog (pages 74-90) and receive a FREE package of Designer buttons--a $7.95 value! Eligible buttons are listed below.
| Item # | Page | Description | Retail Value |
| 116313 | 181 |
Playground Designer buttons |
$7.95 |
| 116312 | 181 |
Sherbet Designer buttons |
$7.95 |
| 114333 | 181 |
Button Latte Designer buttons |
$7.95 |
