My own Swap Bag

I made this lovely bag to carry my swaps at SU! events.  

Check out the windows on the front to show off your swap! There's two on each side!
They are 6"x6", so it holds vertical and horizontal card fronts.
You can use all four or just two, it's up to how many swaps you want to make! 

Handy side pockets to hold a few tools, like your Paper Snips, Snail, name tag and other things.
They have some elastic at the top to keep the pocket opening a little closer to the bag.

Now for the inside. See those beautiful dividers? Those are for you to put your swaps in. On the outside you have a sample of what swaps are in each pocket, making it so simple to keep track of them. The big one in the middle is for all those great swaps in! It can hold quite a few!

 It's pretty durable too, you won't have to worry about it ripping from all those swaps.
I'm working on making the pattern and instructions available for download, and made bags ready for purchase. If you want to be on my email list for when it is available, be sure to subscribe to my blog!

Paper Pumpkin for just $10!

I know, you're probably thinking "What is it and what makes you think I want it?".

Paper Pumpkin is a 30-minute creativity escape. It comes with everything you need 

to create a sweet project: the ink, exclusive to Paper Pumpkin stamps, pre-cut card 
stock and embellishments, just grab your SNAIL and go! The best part is, it's 
delivered to your door in a pretty red box every month. I love mine. I look forward 
to the shipping email every month saying my surprise is on it's way! And it really 
is a surprise! After the first month where you get your Welcome Kit, it's a new 
design every month, no repeats!

Join Paper Pumpkin  now through Aug. 31 you can get your own kits for only $10 
a month for the first two months!* After your first two months, keep the creativity 
coming every month for only $19.95—shipping included! Here's another great thing 
about it. Say you're going to be gone on a vacation for a month (we can dream, right?) 
and you won't be able to work on your kit, you can suspend it for a month and then 
have it start up again next month! You don't have to cancel and sign back up later! 
And if you don't want to continue your subscription, you can stop the shipments 
altogether without it being a pain to do so.

Here's how to do it:
~Sign up at mypaperpumpkin.com. 
~Use the promo code PUMPKINDEAL

 DONE!

Remember it's only valid until August 31, 2013, so don't miss out!

JOIN NOW TO CREATE AND SAVE WITH PROMO CODE: PUMPKINDEAL

*Plus tax, where applicable. Shipping included. For new members only.

Here are a few projects that past Paper Pumpkin kits have provided: 

The Welcome Kit

May Project

Retiring List is HERE!

The list is available, so check it out! Stamps, ink, paper, accessories and more! Some things are only available while supplies last. You don't want to miss out on these "oldie' but goodies," with a discount of up to 60%.

Here are links to the retiring items:
Stamps        Accessories

When doing your online shopping, enter hostess code BURZUYRF.

Faux Petina Technique

I learned this great technique and just had to share it with you! It is so gorgeous! I love the different colors blended together...

 ...and the flecks of gold kissing the embossed details. How elegant! So, how do you create the Faux Petina look?

 First ink up your brayer with Crumb Cake ink, then roll it onto the upper half (the side with the logo on it) of your Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. If you don't have a brayer (like me!), you can just rub and pat your ink pad directly onto your folder.

Then put your Whisper White or Very Vanilla card stock inside and run it through your Big Shot. Don't worry about your embossing folder, it comes completely clean with just a quick rinse. Even if you leave the ink on for a few days (like somebody you know *cough cough*).

Next, you sponge Marina Mist over the whole thing (it will look more blue than it does in the pic)......

 then lightly with Early Espresso. That last round of sponging really transforms it!

 The last step is the heat embossing. Take your Versamark pad and VERY lightly brush it over your beautiful card stock. Sprinkle your gold embossing powder on it (I brush off the excess, or spots that shouldn't have it, with a paintbrush), then heat set with your Heat Tool.

There is your beautiful Faux Petina! To see the blog I learned this from, or to see more colors used, click here! On the completed card I use the ever wonderful From My Heart set, Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Aqua Painter, Pearls Jewels, Very Vanilla 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Early Espresso Card Stock & Raspberry Ripple Ink in addition to the needed items used in the technique.

Thanks for stopping by & Happy Stamping!

New Strater Kit for a new Stampin' Up! year

How exciting! A new Starter Kit. If you thought the last one was great, wait till you hear about this one!

With a price of just $99, the new, completely customizable Starter Kit can be as unique as your own creativity! It’s the perfect way to get your business off to a great start—your way. The new Starter Kit comes with:
· Up to $125 worth of exclusive Stampin’ Up! products that YOU choose
· A business supplies pack (valued a t $65)
The total kit is valued up to $190, but the Stampin’ Up! opportunity can be priceless!
You can look at the business supplies pack, a suggestion of products, the career plan and what it means to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator here.
Contact me for more information or for help ordering your kit!

Last Chance Retiring Stamps List is HERE!

As we get closer to the new catalog (coming out June 1st!) we remember that we will have to say goodbye to some of or favorite sets. FOREVER! *sob!* I have the list of those sets for you to take a look at and order before they are gone. But you have to hurry, they are only available until May 31st! If you want to see them in action, contact me and we'll set up a time for you and your friends to play with these sets before they leave us forever.

Card Class Results!

We had another great card class this month! I always enjoy the classes, having other stampers come over and the conversations. Not to mention the cards we make! This month we focused on birthdays. Here are the finished cards.

This one uses two of our Sale-A-Bration items, the Everyday Enchantment DSP and Elementary Elegance stamp set.

I love the Twitterpated DSP we used on this one! We also used the Happiest Birthday set.

Yellow and blue has been my favorite combo lately, so we did this one with Daffodil Delight and Night of Navy. The stamp set is Vintage Vogue.

Soft and subtle was to feel of this card. This one also uses a Sale-A-Bration stamp set, Fresh Vintage.

Message Board Madness!

 

I'm offering a special class! 

I saw this and had to have one of my own. So, I thought I'd share my awesome find with you! They are great as a functional addition to your home, or as a gift for someone you love. There are plenty of choices of fabric, so look at the selection below! The fee includes the fabric (the whole package of all three designs!), ribbon, brads and everything else you will need to create your own message board. When you sign-up, contact me with your name and fabric choice.

Date:  Sat. March 10
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Place: 6501 Los Rios Dr, Mesquite 75150
Cost: $30.00 (due by Feb 29)
Includes: Designer fabric of your choice
5 yards coordinating ribbon
Brads
Board
Sign-up Deadline: February 29 by 11:59pm 

Click the "Buy Now" button to purchase online!

Beau Chateau with Soft Suede 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Candy Cane Christmas with Real Red 5/8" ribbon

Deck the Halls with Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Seam Binding

Flirtatious with Whisper White 5/8" Satin Ribbon

Spice Cake with Soft Suede 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Sweet Stitches with Chocolate Chip 5/8" Satin Ribbon

Springtime Vintage with Rose Red 1/2" Seam Binding

Twitterpated with Riding Hood Red 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Timeless Portrait with Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Seam Binding

 

Stamp on!

Every now and then you just run out of creative juices. That happens, it's normal. I do. When that does happen, look for inspiration in magazines, websites, books, blogs and even things like clothes. What ever you do, don't stop creating! Maybe switch to a different craft for a few days to restock the creative stores of your crafting true love. In my case, I'll switch from stamping to sewing, then back to stamping. But, I don't stop. So stamp on!

Happy Valentine's Day

It's Valentine's day.  The day we like to express our love to one another.  We spend tons of money buying things like cards, flowers and gifts for each other.  Well, this year, I made those things for my lovies.  Okay, I haven't made flowers for them, but there is still time for that!  Here are some of the cards that we made at Stamp-a-Stack and at a private class. I love them and couldn't wait to give the ones I made to my family!