Life Savers Snowmen Treats

I made it to sunny Orlando for the Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference. The weather is beautiful and as soon as I stepped out of the airport, I grabbed my flip flops out of my suitcase! It sure doesn't feel like winter down here -- I love it!

I just finished putting together these little snowmen treats to give me downline and friends at Leadership. These are about the only snowmen I think you'll find in Orlando!

I printed the face on Whisper White cardstock (you could also have fun making different faces with the super cute Stylin' Snowfolk stamp set!) and wrapped them around a roll of Life Savers, securing with a piece of Sticky Strip. The hat is the fingertip cut off a pair of gloves and the scarf is a piece of designer Fabric (more specifically: Floral District Designer Fabric, #126893). You could also use ribbon.

Aren't they just too cute!?!

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 Reserve Your Spot: Stampin' Up! 2013 Spring Catalog Product Share 

Summer Smooches Grateful Card

Here's another Summer Smooches card from Stampin' Up! (I promise this is the last one for a little while. I have some cards from my Manly Man class to share next!)

Honestly, I can't get enough of the Summer Smooches! It's just so bright and fun! Click here to see these sneak peek products in my online store.

This card uses the Summer Smooches Designer Fabric. I'm not much of a sewer...in fact, my hubby is the one to sew buttons back on at our house! But this lolly (aka rosette) looks easy enough for even me to handle! You could get a similar look by using the designer paper and Designer Rosette die too.

Stampin' Up! Supplies: Pursuit of Happiness, Lucky Limeade marker & cardstock, Real Red marker & cardstock, Whisper White cardstock, Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper, Summer Smooches Designer Fabric, Summer Smooches Designer Brads, Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Blossom Bouquet Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch


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Dyeing Baker's Twine

I was just looking over the Sale-A-Bration Brochure with someone a couple weeks ago and we were trying to figure out how they made the stitched card on page 11. As if they were reading my mind, Stampin' Up! posted a video the day after answering just that question!

The stem and leaf stitched on the card were done with the White Baker's Twine that was dyed with the Lucky Limeade ink refill. Check out the video from Stampin' Up! here.

It's easier than you might think! Here are the instructions from Stampin' Up!

To dye your Baker's Twine, simply create a mixture using rubbing alcohol and any color of our Classic or Craft Stampin' Ink refills. A good starting ratio is one tablespoon of alcohol to one drop of ink refill (you can adjust from there to get the right color intensity for your project). Place the Baker's Twine in the mixture allowing enough time for the dye to fully soak the twine. Lay the dyed twine on a clean paper towel to dry.

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Occasions Mini Sneak Peek: Twitterpated Gift Boxes

At our group meeting last week, we decorated the Kraft Gift Boxes with the new Twitterpated Designer Fabric from the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog and a gift tag using the new Framelits and Bordering on Romance stamp set. A little Twitterpated Designer Button was the perfect final embellishment on this clean and simple package.

Stampin' Up! Supplies: Bordering on Romance, It's Your Day stamp set, Whisper White cardstock, Jet Black Staz-On ink, Blushing Bride marker, Baja Breeze marker, Pear Pizzazz marker, Twitterpated Designer Fabric, Whisper White Baker's Twine, 1/16" Hole Punch, Twitterpated Designer Buttons, Labels Collection Framelits (Big Shot), Mini Glue Dots

bold = products from the 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog

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Holly Berry Bouquet Notebook

My friend Mary McNeely made these beautiful notebooks for her downline who attended the Louisville Regional seminar and she made an extra for me! Thanks again Mary!!

A loop of Wild Wasabi striped ribbon under the Early Espresso cardstock binding is the perfect place to keep a pen. And Mary rolled up a small piece of coordinating Designer Paper to go inside the pen!

The bookmark is the true beauty of this project. Mary followed an example from the Stampin' Success demonstrator magazine and created a center piece with fabric, buttons, ribbon, and jewels. The back of the bookmark shows how it really works. A stretchy hair band connected with the loop of 1/8" taffeta ribbon gives it just enough stretch to reach around the cover of the notebook. Genius!

Stampin' Up! Supplies: Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Paper, Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Fabric, Wild Wasabi cardtock, Early Espresso cardstock, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Wild Wasabi Striped Ribbon, Buttons, Pearl Jewel Accents, Antique Brads, Little Leaves Sizzlit (Big Shot), Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals

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Stamping the Day Away: Demonstrator Retreat Gifts

I have spent the entire day stamping! (Really, what would be more appropriate on World Card Making Day! I'm enjoying some time with my fellow demonstrators at a stamping retreat! Yummy food, good friends, and lots of stamping! I made 30 cards today and got a little caught up on some stamping projects.

As if all that isn't good enough, my upline Kim Peck, who organizes this annual retreat, spoils us with gifts! This adorable Spice Cake stocking was hanging on the door of my dorm room with a decorated roll of candy inside. I'm told I need to make sure it's hanging up there again tonight, so I can't wait to see what Kim will surprise us with next!

Stampin' Up! Supplies: Oval All stamp set, More Mustard ink & cardstock, Very Vanilla cardstock, Spice Cake DSP, Spice Cake Designer Fabric, Spice Cake Designer Buttons, More Mustard Polka Dot Ribbon, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Soft Suede Taffeta Ribbon, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Holiday Stocking Die (Big Shot)

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Mini Stuffed Bear

I was beyond thrilled this spring when I got an email from Stampin' Up! Board of Directors member Lynne Ward asking about a project I had posted on my blog. A board member reading my blog!? Wow! I then met Lynne on the cruise to Alaska. And even though I didn't attend Convention this year, Lynne brought this little gift for me! She connected with my Mom and sent it home with her. My eyes bugged out of my head when I saw this! Isn't it the cutest thing ever!?!? Thank you so much, Lynne! My girls have tried to steal it many times, but I've made it clear that this is Mommy's bear!!

Everything is Stampin' Up! of course -- the Flirtatious Designer Fabric, Pretty in Pink Scalloped Ribbon, Regal Rose 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, and Neutral Buttons. And Lynne has provided instructions to make this bear on Shelli Gardner's blog. Click here for the details. Click here to see another version of this bear that Lynne gifted to Shelli last winter.

Reminder: Today is the last day to order from the Summer Mini Catalog. Click here to view Summer Mini Catalog products in my Online Store. Tomorrow is the big day...the release of the Holiday Mini Catalog, a Labor Day weekend special from me, and Blog Candy!!

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Iron Craft #19: Mother's Day Card

(Mom -- don't look!)

I was really stumped by the Iron Craft challenge this week. The theme was too broad and I just couldn't figure out where to start. I finally found a little mojo on the last day and made this "Springtime Vintage" Mother's Day card. (The Springtime Vintage fabric from Stampin' Up! is still available. Click here to see a whole list of products from the Occasions Mini Catalog that are still available to order.)

I layered the vintage elements until I had it just right. Check out this close-up photo to see the Vanilla Smooch Spritz I used on the vanilla cardstock. The subtle sparkle is just gorgeous in person!

This week, the Iron Craft challenge was a contest! The theme was spring and there was such a variety of projects created. Click here to check out the other contest entries and vote for your favorite.

Stampin' Up! Supplies: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Basic Gray ink, Very Vanilla cardstock, Rose Red cardstock, Beautiful Butterflies die (Big Shot), Framed Tulips Embossing Folder (Big Shot), Vanilla Smooch Spritz, Victoria Crochet Ribbon, Antique Brads, Pearl Jewel Accents

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Stampin' Up! Designer Fabric Project Brochure

Did you see the new Designer Fabric in the Occasions Mini Catalog!? Stampin' Up! released two more beautiful sets that coordinate with other new products: Springtime Vintage and Sweet Stitches Designer Fabric. And to inspire you to create with these new patterns, Stampin' Up! created a set of project sheets and patterns for six different projects -- some require a sewing machine and others are no-sew projects!

Click here to download the Occasions Mini Designer Fabric Project Brochure.

Here are two of the projects you'll find in the brochure:
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Puffy Ornament Card with Stampin' Up! Designer Fabric

I was looking for a project idea using the Designer Fabric that I purchased a month or more ago and has sat unused on my desk. I came across a card by Angie Leach (who CASEd Michele Reynolds), and was inspired to create a puffy ornament using a cotton ball for dimension.

While the ornament concept is the same as the inspiration cards, I used a completely different layout. Instead of using the Ornament Punch, I used the 1-3/4" Circle Punch to create my own ornament with the Sweet Centers stamp set. I used a layout from a card on page 59 of the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog.

Here's a close-up of the fabric sticking out.

Here's how to do it. Punch a 1-3/4" Circle Punch in the Very Vanilla cardstock, Stamp the ornament topper from Sweet Centers at the top. Turn it over and apply Sticky Strip around the circle. Put a piece of fabric over the hole. Spread out a cotton ball and gently mold it into the fabric to puff out the front side. Press down on the fabric to adhere to the Sticky Strip. Trim the excess fabric. Add another layer of cardstock (shown to the left in the photo) to sandwich the cotton ball and hold it in place. Use the 1/16" Hole Punch to punch holes on either side of the ornament hook and tie the Linen Thread through the holes to attach the tag.

Supplies: Friends 24-7 (flourish at the bottom), Sweet Centers (ornament topper), Tiny Tags ("merry"), Always Artichoke ink & cardstock, Cherry Cobbler ink & cardstock, Very Vanilla cardstock, Crumb Cake cardstock, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1/16" Hole Punch, Small Jewelry Tag Punch, Corner Rounder, Deck the Halls Designer Fabric, Linen Thread, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals

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Designer Fabric from Stampin' Up!

Beginning with the 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog, Stampin' Up! is now offering Designer Fabric. This new product line combines our exclusive designs and colors with high-quality fabric—making coordination with our other products a cinch!

Designer Fabric details:

• 100% cotton
• Patterns coordinate with select Designer Series Paper designs
• Each assortment includes three coordinated designs in an extra-wide fat quarter size (28" x 18")
• Each assortment includes an instruction booklet highlighting five projects you can create using the fabric

Check out this video with Shelli Gardner's daughter, Sara Douglass, as she introduces our brand-new Designer Fabric and shares some fun project ideas. (Email subscribers, click here to view the video.)

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