Bottle Cap Necklaces

     One of may favorite classes I held recently was a Bottlecap necklace class.  Each person attending received

   a container of bottlecaps
   a necklace (purchased from Oriental Express)
   a bottle of Crystal Effects

   We flattened the bottlecaps using the Big Shot, the cutting pads, the platform with all tabs opened, and a piece of thick cardboard.  One necklace uses a flattened bottlecap, and the other left the bottlecap in its original shape.
      Next we made all kinds of inserts to place inside the necklace.  The have a punched out circle from a magnet sheet on the back so they can be easily changed out according to a person's mood.

final step is to add Crystal Effects to the top of each design.  I found I was heavy handed with the first inserts I placed the crystal effects on and all I needed was a little bit of liquid.  I just had to make sure that I extended it out to the edges of the insert.

   It was great fun.  I used stamping, pieces of designer paper and jewels. I put the bling on after everything was dry. One of my favorite designs is the crown.  When I wear it I say I am the Queen of Stamping.

   It's not too late to order your set of bottlecaps.  If you want to place a quick order and have a chance at being a hostess at the same time, then place your order on my website and use the following hostess code.  If I draw your name as the hostess I will contact you and find out what you would like for your free gifts. 6:00 PM is the time of the drawing so make sure you have your order in by that time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    The

Celebrate with Pop Up Posies

     One of the things I love about this card is the embossing folder, Delicate Designs,  that can then be cut out with the Large Scallop Edgelit. I wanted my ribbon to wrap around the card because when I cut off a short piece I think the edges ravel.  So, I reached for the tiny postage stamp looking punch from the set Little Labels punch pack and made a small slit at the fold.  I wrapped the ribbon around the card without any problem.  In order to make sure that the inside of the card looked nice, I made sure the ends of the ribbon were placed on the front of the card and then placed the flower on top of the ends.  Now, inside and out this is a nice looking card. What is your favorite part of this card?

     Remember Friday is the last day that you can order the Pop Up Posies kit and make these cute cards.

Embossing Powder Match Up

      The background for this card is Pool Party Core'dination paper. In case you have not ever used this paper before here are the steps you need to get some striking results.

1. Emboss with your favorite embossing folder.

2.  Sand the paper with a light touch until you achieve the look you desire.

3. Finally, use the special cloth to rub the residue off of the paper and your surrounding work space.

     To finish the card, use the matching embossing powder for a saying, some coordinating Calypso Coral flowers and card stock to create the banner. A fast a cute card made simple by using items from the Pop-Up Posies kit.  A great last minute purchase from the Spring catalog.

A Cupcake Liner Daffodil

   What is your favorite spring flower?  One of my favorites is the Ddaffodil.  This card uses cupcake liners, and satin brad from the Pop Up Posies kit.  What else is included in the kit?

Crumb Cake focal points
Daffodil and white satin brads
Cupcake liners in 3 sizes
Calypso Coral and Pool Party flowers
White string

    Do you want this kit?  It can be yours and you can be the Mystery Hostess this Friday, May 31st.  What do you have to do to become the Mystery Hostess?

1.  Place a minimum order of $25 either with me or through the hostess portal numbered TGJDMWNT.  Your name will be entered into the hostess drawing.

2.  For every additional $25 you order your name will be entered in the drawing an additional time. Example, your order totals $50 you name will be entered into the drawing two times.

3. At 6 PM on the 31st I will draw the winning name and call you to find out what you would like for your free items.  So, get a list ready in case you are the winner.
 
Since this order will be placed on the 31st your order can be from the new or the old catalog.  Don't have a new catalog yet.  Contact me and I will see that you get one.

Thanks Big Time

     Layers of Calypso Coral flowers glued together make a wonderful focal point on this thank you card.  The craft accent piece is also a part of what you receive when you purchase the Pop Up Posie kit featured in the Spring catalog.  The great thing about the kit is that there are quite a few of the featured items so you could make several cards with this design.
    The International Bazaar designer paper on the background of this card was one of my very favorites. There are just a few more days where you can order items from both the spring catalog and the big catalog. Consider making an order for my Mystery Hostess party on Friday, May 31st.  Check out the blog tomorrow for more details.

What can you make with a cupcake liner?

     Don't you just love this dress?  I found the sample on the internet and fell in love with the dress as soon as I saw it.  The skirt is made from the miniature cupcake liners found in the Pop Up Posies kit for sale in the Spring catalog.  Last week I had a class where everyone made 5 cards and two flowers with gobs of leftovers.  It was great fun.  What occasion would be a good one for this card?

Bee in charge of your dreams

     One of my favorite sets is retiring this year so I had to feature one of the stamps on a summer card.  I chose the bee from Nature Walk because it goes so well with the beehive embossing folder.  What else is retiring on this card?

More Mustard card stock

Word Play stamp set

Nature Walk stamp set

   I could see this card being a great graduation card.  What would you use it for?

  One of my dreams got accomplished today.  I walked in a 5k race our local hospital sponsors each memorial day weekend and bettered my time from last year.  Yeah for a goal accomplished.

Red and Blue Anchor card

     Red and Blue are colors that will always look good together.  I made this card to look similar to a swap I received at the regional in St. Louis.  But, I knew I needed to use one of the  colors of retiring card stock I seemed to have stockpiled.  Can you guess what retiring color I used?

Yes, Riding Hood Red.  How did I decide what color to put with Riding Hood Red?  I checked out my Designer paper and found a great blue and white checked design in the World's Greatest DSP pack.  So, Island Indigo was my choice and I really like how it looks.

I always need a great looking manly card and have the perfect event to use the card coming up this afternoon.  The retirement of a man that has devoted a lot of time and effort to our local Salvation Army. What would you use this card for?

Cute Bugs of Summer

    What do you think of when you think of Summer?  Me, I think of bugs!  I looked at the Spring Sampler stamp set and found these cute bug stamps.  Another simple card that was featured in my Summer card stamp class.  This cute stamp set is featured in the Spring catalog which will end on May 31st.  What is your favorite part of summer?

Dana's Great Card Idea for Ribbon

     Don't just love this polka dotted ribbon?  My friend Dana made a card similar to this for a swap at the Jubilant Butterflies meeting a couple of months ago.  How simple is this card to make. Can you identify the items that will be retiring on June 3rd?

1. All the polka dotted ribbons

2. The sayings from Word Play

3. The River Rock card stock

     When I recently took inventory of my card stock I noticed that I had gobs of a white card stock that has been gone for quite a while. Do you see it on this card?  Yup, it is Confetti White!  I can't imagine why I have so much of this card stock left over, but we used a lot of it in my Fill Your Card box with Summer cards class.

   I was trying to figure out how to make this card using items that will be staying.  Look for another card in the future that is a remake of this card. What would you use to revamp this card and make it current?

  

A Simple 4th of July card

     What do you think of when the word summer is mentioned?  I think of sun, flowers, 4th of July, bright colors, and vacations. Today is Fill Your Card Box for summer class and this is one of the cards that I created.  Why did I choose this card?

1. Texture on each panel
2. Punches
3. Simple to make

     My husband Sam is one of my critics.  When he looked at my first version he said it needed something.  So, I thought about the card and how to kick it up a notch and added the silver stars, and the texture on each panel.  And I think it worked.

    The other purpose of this card class is to feature items that are retiring.  The Bravo Burgundy, and Not Quite Navy colors are retiring.

Spring Flowers Scrapbook Layout

     One of my favorite ways to create a two page spread is to have one page the mirror image of the other like this one.  When I knew I wanted a bunch of flowers on the page I was trying to figure out how to do a vase without having to create and cut out a design of my own.  Then I remembered the big shot die called Dresden Design.  It was a perfect vase and the reason one vase is taller than the other.  This die is one that is retiring with the current catalog. Next, I wanted to add something to the vases so they did not look so plain.  Vase number 2 was embossed with polka dots.

    

    To create the look for vase number 1, I used the Borders Scoring plate that attaches to the Simply Scored tool.  To highlight the scoring on the vase, I rubbed some ink from the Illuminate ink pad which also gives the scoring some shine.

     I wanted some variety on each flower and had great fun using a different focus on each one. What kind of pictures would you put on this page?  I have some great pictures of flowers in my backyard that would fit in just fine.  But, big problem where have I put these pictures?

Mother's Day Scrapbook Pages

     One of my favorite monthly classes is Scrapbook Your Life.  This class has been going since 2009 with the same people each month.  Why do I like this class?
1. It really stretches me as a crafter.
2. I have so much fun creating the layouts.
3. I get to see how the pages look with pictures. 
 
     Each month we create two  2-page spreads some of which are themed.  If the ladies bring back the pages next month with pictures on them I give them an incentive gift.  My big challenge is to place pictures on my pages.  What should I give myself as an incentive gift?

Closeup of the stamping detail

 

 

     What words would you use to describe yourself?  I know the list can be endless.

Super Snails Washi Tape Challenge cards

Supplies for the April Challenge for the Super Snails



     At the April meeting of my downline, The Super Snails, we learned how to decorate ribbon so that it had a rainbow effect.  Then, I gave each person attending the meeting, 3 strips of washi tape and a piece of This and That Epic Day designer paper.  The challenge was to create a project using those items.  Well, last night was the night they brought back their finished projects.  Everyone agreed it was very challenging to find ways in include the washi tape, but I loved the results.

I had fun making this card, but wondered if it was too busy.

Nan used the backside of the designer paper.  Can you find her washi tape?



Janet twirled her ribbon into a cute ball.

Amanda used every bit of the ribbon.  I love the scarf and waist feature of the dress.

Cindy used some wire to make a flower focal piece.

Jody added some of the window sheet the washi tape was attached to on her card

And had enough supplies to make two cards. I think she added some of her own washi tape to this one.

     It was great fun to see how every one approached the challenge in a different way.  What would your card have looked like if you had gotten the supplies the Super Snails received?  I often take other people's designs as my starting off point for a card, but in these challenges they are always a Sushi Original. 







Cute Bugs for Summer

     What do you think of when you think of summer?  Bugs, that's what I think of.  So, I chose the cute little bugs featured in the Spring Sampler stamp set featured in the Spring Catalog that will soon be retiring.  They are just the right size for the 1 inch punch.
The banners are made from the paper packs that will be retiring from the big catalog on June 3rd.  This card just made me happy looking at it, and I hope it does you too.

Fancy Flower Fun

Cards made with Pop-Up Posies kit

 

 

Posy Flowers

  

     Picture taking the items in the Pop-Up Posies kit from the Spring mini catalog and turning them into 5 cute cards and some cute flowers. Sound like something you might like?  Well, the above pictured cards and the flowers are the projects you will make at my Fancy Flower Fun class on Thursday, May 23rd.

    Do the cards look a little empty?  Well, the sayings will be what you want them to be.  I will place several different saying stamps on a special table and you will be able to personalize the cards to your liking.

    Contact me at my website on the events page to sign up for this fun class. Please RSVP by Wednesday, May 15th in order to make sure your supplies arrive on time.

 

Another Sneak Peek

     This card was the second make n take from the Jubilant Butterflies meeting.  Do you see new colors, new designer paper, new embossing folder, and maybe even a new punch?  What I love about StampinUp is that everything matches.  This card is the perfect example of several new items that match.
    I have new catalogs and will be giving them out starting today to anyone that comes by my house.  You can start ordering from the new catalog on May 31st.  And you can still order from the old catalog until June 3rd. So, come by and catch the excitement for the new catalog.

New Catalog Sneak Peak

     This was a card we made last week at the Jubilant Butterflies meeting.  I love the bright colors.  How many new items can you notice in this card?

1.  New Gingham Garden Washi tape found at the top of the card

2.  New Designer Paper called Gingham Garden.

3, New stamp set called Label Love.

4. Punch that matches Label Love called the Artisan Label punch.

5. New stamp set called A Round Array.
  
     What do you love the best about this card?  Want to make one like it for yourself?  Then look for it to be featured at my New Catalog Open House.  Date to be announced real soon.

Reverse Painter's Tape Technique

More Mustard, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango and Cajun Craze

     Do you enjoy learning new techniques?  Well a couple of weeks ago I posted a card that my sister made by mistake. Check out this link for the step by step directions.  I liked the technique so much I have named it Reverse Painter's Tape technique and even taught it to the Jubilant Stampers on Tuesday. 
    Trying this technique with lots of different color combinations was fun and made it hard for me to stop. Which card is your favorite and what color combinations would you choose to make a card of your own?

Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy

Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Old Olive, Always Artichoke

Blushing Bride, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Melon Mambo



 

All Dressed Up kit

Don't you love this cute card

     Demonstrators have a chance to design a kit and if StampinUp likes your kit they create it for everyone to purchase.  This is a card made with the latest kit called All Dressed Up. Recently, my friend Rita came over and we made up a couple of these cards.  Rita is not a stamper but loved her end result and I did too.  So, why do I like making up kit cards?

1. They still have a handmade look to them.
2. I can make all 6 cards in a very short time.
3. Someone who is nervous about making cards, can have great success.
4 The finished product looks great.

   If you love the idea of this kit, then you too can order one or several for yourself.  Item # 133913.  Click on this link and this kit can be yours.

Washi Tape swap card

     Are you ready for the new catalog?  Well, this card is a sneak peak to some of the products you will find in the catalog.  Last night was the Jubilant Butterflies meeting and I participated in the swap.  I wanted to use some of the new product.  You know how your fingers just itch to try things out.  Here is what I used.

1. New Washi tape called Gingham Garden

2. New designer paper for the tiny butterfly called Gingham Garden

3. Best of Butterflies stamp set

   This card is a great example of how you can change up elements of a card for a totally different look.  Check out the card below that we will make Monday the 13th in my Washi Tape card class.

   Same design, just different Washi Tape, colors of card stock, and saying.  Which one is your favorite?

Scrapbook Your Life Easter Layout

Two page spread for Easter

     Is it already the 7th of May? Where has the time gone?  When getting ready for today's post, I realized that I did not post my second layout that ladies made in April and should do that before the May Scrapbook Your Life class was held. I saw this bunny on the StampinUp website as a cute little Easter basket and made one up for myself.

Original treat box used for inspiration

  
     Carrie Cudney, one of the StampinUp presenters at events, is the one who made my inspiration, and by using the Oval Framelits, and some punches I was able to duplicate her candy box.  Well, I got wondering how else I could use the bunny design and decided I would incorporate it into the layout we made for  Easter. The eggs were made using the More Amore designer paper.  It turned out as cute as I imagined it might.  Now, to find the pictures for the pages.

Closeup of bunny accent

10 Years 10 cards $10

     Ten years ago I became a StampinUp demonstrator.  My youngest sister was already signed up and I loved everything I heard her talk about.  She was having so much fun, and I wanted that for myself.  So, I decided I would join up when I retired from teaching in 4 years.  Well, I only lasted 4 months and have loved every year since then.
    I wanted to do something for my customers as a way of saying thanks for having fun with me for 10 years.  So, I had a class I called 10 years, 10 cards for 10 dollars.  I used the cards and envelopes packs and ordered one for every person who RSVP'd.  They each then made 10 easy to make cards with designs I found online.  When they returned home they had the supplies to duplicate those 10 cards on their own.  It was great fun.
    

 

 

     Which one of these cards would you duplicate?

What exactly is a scrap map?

     Yesterday was National Scrapbooking Day and I decided to show you all my favorite way to make a 6 by 6 scrapbook.  I used a scrap map that StampinUp posted several years ago.  You need just a few supplies, and the rest is up to the person you give the scrapbook to......the pictures.

1.  12 by 12 Neutral card stock
2.  12 by 12 solid colors 2 different kinds
3.  12 by 12 Designer paper 2 different patterns.

   Follow the maps and you will end up with 20 pages ready for pictures.

     These are 3 of the layouts I made using the scrap mat for a baby scrapbook.  I have made baby books, wedding books, family books, kid books and use this same map over and over.  Sound like something you might like, well, I am having a mini scrapbook day on May 9th at 12:30 or 6:30.  You will be able to pick your own colors and designer paper and go home with a book ready to give to a friends.  Contact me at sue.scheets@gmail.com if you need more information or would like to RSVP.