Birthday Card Bonanza - April 2013

It's Birthday Card Bonanza tonight!

After the Color Refresh announcement from yesterday, I figured it must be time to use up some of the colors that will be retiring.  These cards feature four colors that will only be with us a short while longer:  Baja Breeze (sob), Not Quite Navy, Pretty in Pink, and Regal Rose.

As always, cards are just $1 each.  Let me know how many you'd like to make.  We'll start at 7PM.

Happy Stampin'
Shari

January 2013 Birthday Card Bonanza!

Happy New Year!

It's Birthday Card Bonanza time!  Join us at 7PM to make these cute cards using a new set from our Spring Catalog, Henry Says.  Henry does, in fact, have lots to say, but today he's wishing someone a happy birthday.

Let me know how many you'd like to make!  $1 each, as always.

Shari

Christmas Card Crunch!

Hi ladies-

Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 1st.  At 10AM, come on over to make your Christmas cards.

The card I have planned is shown here.  We will use the Petals a Plenty embossing folder rather than the one one used on this card.  (Petals a Plenty has the poinsettia flowers all over).

If you'd like to make this card, you just need to own the Frosty Friends stamp!  If you already own it, you're half-way there.  If not, let me know by Wednesday, Nov. 21st so I can order one for you.  With tax and shipping, the stamp is $13.94.

You'll also need a package of Basic Rhinestones, which, with tax and shipping, are $5.78.

Cards are $1 each.  Order in multiples of four.

So, to sum up:

$13.94 + $5.78 =  $19.72
Add on $1 each for the number of cards you wish to make.

If you already own this stamp, then your cost is $5.78, plus $1 each for the number of cards you wish to make.

RSVP by WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST so I will have time to order all the necessary card stock and accessories.

I could be persuaded to make cards with Come to Bethlehem or Ornament Keepsakes (Holiday catalog) if you'd like to own those sets.  Just let me know!

Happy Stampin'
Shari

Happy November!

Here is tonight's card for Birthday Card Bonanza!  Same place, same time, same price!

It's not to late to come over.  Just let me know how many you'd like to make when you get here.

$1 each, including envelope.

Next month on the First Friday, we'll have Gift Tag Mania and Christmas Card Crunch-time!!!  Watch for more info soon.

Happy Stampin'
Shari

VC_Rocks! August Blog Hop

Welcome to my blog!  If you've been hopping along, you should have arrived here from Stamping with Janice.  She's always got nice things to share!  If you just arrived here by chance and would like to see the entire hop, just keep going.  There is a link at the bottom of this post to get you to our next stop.  You can also start at the beginning at the VC_Rocks Blog.  (The blog hop starts on Saturday at 10 AM EST, so if you're here before then, be sure to come back to enjoy the whole hop).

Well, it's the last hop of the VC season, and the first one in which I can participate. I have had a busy, busy summer!  This week was no exception.  I lead a Harry Potter-themed week of summer camp at my school. We made these characters on Tuesday.  The camp kids got to make two of them, and they were quite a hit!

I know it's a bit of a stretch to fit in with this month's theme of Big Shot, Punches and Simply Scored, but I did use two of the three!  All the eyes on the four characters were punched with the circle from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack. Draco's eyes (bottom right) were then trimmed to look angry and menacing. Hermione's hair (bottom left) is, of course, the leftover frame from our ever-popular and versatile Top Note die for the Big Shot.

For those interested, I found pillows on Pinterest that looked like the boys, and immediately thought they'd be a cute papercraft for my summer camp.  The Hermione square is based on a card I also found on Pinterest.  You can find them on my "YAY HARRY POTTER!" board on Pinterest.  Yes, I do love Harry Potter!

The Gryffindor scarves are made with Cherry Cobbler and More Mustard.  Draco's Slytherin scarf is Wild Wasabi and Basic Gray.  Draco's hair is Whisper White sponged with So Saffron.  The base card is 4.25" square of Natural Ivory card stock. Contact me if you'd like more details.

I think I will frame the four of these together and hang them on my classroom wall! I'm going to frame a piece that says, "CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF.  HOUSE ELVES DON'T WORK HERE."  I already have three other Potter-themed posters framed and on the wall.  I will also make signs for my lightswitch that say "Lumos" and "Nox."  Hee hee!  It's going to be awesome.  But I digress.

Your next stop is Elizabeth's Stamp Room.  I can't wait to see what she's got for us!

Happy Stamping!
Shari

Holiday Catalog Party

By popular demand, I am hosting a Holiday Catalog Party! Very much like my annual New Catalog Party, we will make three projects using new stamps and products from our fabulous new Holiday Catalog. We'll also enjoy some fresh-baked cookies stamped with the Holiday Sweet Pressed Cookie stamps! It's time to get festive!!!

Like my annual Retirement Party, this will be a Mystery Hostess event. Earn tickets for being on time, bringing a friend, booking a workshop, and purchasing goodies. We'll divide up the Hostess Dollars between our winners. Everyone has a chance to win!

Join us on Friday, August 3rd at 7PM.  Email me ASAP to RSVP.

New Firm Foam Classic Ink Pads

Ladies, I have my first Firm Foam Classic Pad, and it's great!  I may just have to do some Color Clubs this year so we can all get the awesome new pads!  Once you try it, you'll want one in every color!

• The firm foam is nice and flat and will not become wavy.  (No dip in the center!)
• The firm foam material does not imprint on the stamp images like the felt pad sometimes did. However, because the firm foam material is a foam base material, the stamp image can momentarily leave an imprint on the pad, which can transfer to a second stamped image. By inking your stamp on different areas of the pad or waiting momentarily for the ink to rise back to the top, you can easily avoid this situation.
• The firm foam material is soft and has a nice bounce to it. It’s not hard like the felt is.
• The ink lay-down (how the ink is absorbed into the card stock) is even, not blotchy, and dries quickly. It has an increased opacity and stamps solid images beautifully.

Please note: Five ink colors have undergone formula changes to improve functionality and color stability with the new firm foam pads. These colors are

• Basic Black
• Basic Gray
• Marina Mist
• Perfect Plum
• Tempting Turquoise

All five colors of the reformulated inks have been fully tested and approved. While using the new ink formula in the old Stampin’ Pads is fine, we do not recommend using the old ink formula for these five colors in the new firm foam pads. Any refills purchased after April 30, 2012, will contain the new formulated ink.

Here are some FAQs:

Q: Why did we switch from felt pads to firm foam pads?
A: We have worked very hard to improve the functionality of our Classic Stampin’ Pads. The firm foam allows for better ink coverage; plus it stays juicer and lasts longer.

Q: Do old Classic Stampin’ Ink Refills work with the new firm foam pads?
A: Yes, with the exception of Basic Black, Basic Gray, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, and Tempting Turquoise, which have been reformulated to work with the new foam pad material. We do not recommend using old ink refills in these colors with the new firm foam pads.

Q: Before I use my firm foam pad, do I need to tap it and massage the ink around?
A:  No. The firm foam pads are ready for use immediately. The best stamping technique with the firm foam pad is light tapping.

Q: Will Stampin’ Spots use the new firm foam pad?
A: No. Stampin’ Spots will remain the same.
Q: Can I use the reformulated ink with my Stampin’ Spots?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I use the reformulated ink with my Stampin’ Around Wheels?
A: Yes.