December Birthday Card Bonanza!

Here is this month's BCB card! I copied the idea from my online stampin' friend, Marisol.

$1 per card, including envelope. Let me know how many you'd like to make. The snowman's hat can be Old Olive (shown), Pretty in Pink, or Pacific Point. You choose!

See you Friday at 7PM!

Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack

I will be SO very happy when I get my computer back!!!

At long last, here are the four card for the Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack, scheduled for November 28th at 2PM. That's the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend!

Cards are $1 each, plus the cost of your stamp set, and occasionally a needed accessory.

The first card is for those of you who can't quite manage to get your cards mailed in time. It's a Happy New Year card! The card color is Pacific Point and the set is Every Little Bit. This set has 28 adorable little stamp images (I love the puppy!!!) for many seasons and reasons. It can be found on page 65 of the IB&C. With tax, S&H, cost for the wood set is $46.59. For clear mount (not including the block) it's $32.60.

The second card uses Bells & Boughs from the Holiday Mini. The card is Crumb Cake with Cherry Cobbler. You get to emboss this one! It's hard to tell in the photo, but the image is gold embossed. This set is $23.27 for wood mount, and $17.44 for clear mount.

The third card uses Come to Bethlehem. You can find it on page 43 of the IB&C. The card is Crumb Cake with Night of Navy stamping and accents. Cost for this set is also $23.27 for wood mount, or $17.44 for clear mount.

The final card is made with two purples that look so rich together: Elegant Eggplant and Perfect Plum. I actually used those colors on my Christmas cards a couple years ago. The main image is Simple Snowflake, one of our single-stamp sets found on page 20 of the IB&C. Cost for this stamp is just $9.27. You'll also need to purchase the Basic Rhinestones that are in the center of each snowflake. The sheet has 150 self-stick jewels on it in three sizes (plus three strips for borders). I used the largest size on the sample, but you can also use the other sizes if you make more than 10 of this card. It's up to you. Cost for the sheet is $5.78. So, if you got the stamp and one sheet of rhinestones, the cost would be $15.05.

I will prepare all the materials you need, including mounting wood sets. (If you choose clear, you MUST bring your own blocks or order some with your set). You just come to stamp and assemble your cards. Cards must be ordered in multiples of 10.

RSVP by noon on Tuesday, November 9th. I know it's short notice - I apologize! :o(

November Birthday Card Bonanza

WOW I am having issues with computers lately!!! The motherboard on our PC is fried, so that's a very sad thing. Please say a little prayer for my hard drive, particularly my "My Pictures" file!!! I am currently using the laptop, which often hates me and will not co-operate. That has been the case this morning, but I finally got it to go online.

So, without further ado, here are the cards for tonight!



Same as always: $1 per card, including the envelope. Let me know how many of each you'd like to make. We start at 7PM tonight, Friday, November 5th.

Happy Stampin'
Shari

October Birthday Card Bonanza

Stamp Night is a week later this month, since I was at Girl Scout Leader Camp last weekend.

Here is this month's card! Gotta' love that Big Shot! Cards are $1 each, with envelope. Let me know how many you'd like to make.

I will have a Halloween card done as well. It'll be a cute kid-style card with a big vampire face on it. Hopefully I'll get that done this afternoon and loaded here for you to see.

Happy Stampin'!
Shari

Inagural SUSstars Blog Hop!

Welcome to my blog, and to the very first SUStars Blog Hop! You should have arrived from Barb Furlong's Blog, The Love of Stamping. If you got lost along the way or want to start at the beginning, you can got to our SUStars blog.

SUStars is a Yahoo!Group just for SU! demonstrators. If you are a demo for SU! and you love what you do and share what you love, then this could be the group for you! We love to post samples, do swaps, teach online classes, and help each other with tips and ideas. Click here to apply.



Now, on to my Halloween project. This is a very quick and easy card/page combo. I did this for a recent workshop, and guests chose whether they wanted to make the card or the page.

Materials:

Stamps: Wicked Cool
Card Stock: Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Rich Razzleberry, Cajun Craze marker
Accessories: Black grosgrain ribbon, SNAIL adhesive, 1 3/4" x 7/8" Large oval punch, Stampin' Dimensional, Stampin' Sponge

I believe the white strips are 2 inches wide. If you need further directions, please email me at the address shown in the top banner.

Your next stop on this hop is Courtney Johnson's Brighten Your Day the SU! Way.

Happy Hoppin'!
Shari

3D Circular Table Top Card

Here is a sample of what we'll be making in my upcoming class.

Class is scheduled for Thursday, September 30th at 7PM. If that is not a good time for you, please contact me to schedule another date for you and a couple of friends. Cost for the class is just $10!

I'll have different Designer Series Papers prepared, so you just choose the packet you like best!

We'll make a large and a small card.

September Birthday Card Bonanza

Kick off your holiday weekend with stamping!

Here is this month's card. It's simple, but the colors are perfect for September.

Cost is $1 per card, with envelope. Let me know how many you'd like to make. Join us on Friday night at 7PM.

Have a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend.

Happy Anniversary... to ME!

Look at what I got in the mail last week! It's my 10-Year pin from Stampin' Up! (As you know, August was my anniversary month. Thanks to everyone who played along with my few little anniversary surprises). The pin has two diamonds on it, each representing five years of being a demonstrator. I can't believe it's been ten years! I have had so much fun, and I can't wait to go to convention next year so I can walk across the stage with the other 10-year achievers.

The pin is on my apron now, just above my 5-Year pin. I shall wear it proudly!

Grunge Rock Swap Card

Here is the promised pic of my most recent swap card. I love this set! My son is a future rock star, you know, so I had to have it. It's called Grunge Rock. You can order it here. It is available in clear mount and traditional wood mount. Be sure to choose me as your demo so you can get the preferred pricing.

I used the harlequin pattern Texturz Plate from Backgrounds 1 on the Basic Black cardstock. The other colors are Baja Breeze and my favorite, Cherry Cobbler! There is a grunge-y harlequin stamp on the bottom left and behind the circles, but it's hard to see in the picture.

Happy Stamping!

VC Blog Hop #4!

Welcome to my blog! After Loni's fine Beginning Blogger class, I finally have my blog on its way to looking the way I would like. At least the width is finally right!

If you have been hopping along, you should have arrived from Marisol's site, A Touch of Sol. If not, you can start at the beginning here.

This time around, I have a Decor Elements project for you. I decorated a mailbox for my sister-in-law. I like it!

Materials:
Decor Elements Flower Garden (Small)
Chocolate DE Sheets
Alphabet Simple & Numbers Big Shot dies
Bone Folder or DE Applicator (I have one, but can't find it! LOL It is easier to use than a bone folder for this).
Metal mailbox from a home improvement store

Directions:

1. Clean and dry the mailbox.
2. Cut pieces from DE Flower Garden
3. Rub each piece with DE Applicator per directions





4. Using blue painter's tape, position your pieces as desired.








5. Flip images up one at a time using the painter's tape as a "hinge," and slowly remove backing paper. If while you are removing the backing paper, some images do not stick to the transfer paper (on front of image) replace the backing paper and rub again with DE Applicator or bone folder. Once the image is fully stuck to the transfer paper, slowly flip the image back down into place. Rub with applicator or bone folder to adhere.









6. Mulit-colored images come in separate pieces. This makes for easier positioning and customization.
















7. I cut out the numbers and letters using the Big Shot and Bigz dies. Remember to place the DE sheets face down so that your letters are not backwards!









8. Lining up the letters was a bit tricky. I'm sure there is an easier way, but I always find the hard way first. I peeled back the backing paper and laid out the letters using the grid from another transfer sheet. Then I replaced the backing, rubbed with the DE applicator, and positioned the words one at a time on the mailbox.

SU! includes directions with their DE sheets (they come in lots of colors!) so read them carefully before you start your project.




Here we have the finished product! The word "sibley" is a little crooked, but it's not too bad.











I added a little on the back, as well.








That's it! I hope you enjoyed this project. Don't be afraid to try Decor Elements!

Thanks for visiting my blog. I just might have some Blog Candy for a few of my VC friends who leave comments.

The next stop on the VC Blog Hop is Angela's site, Scrappin' for Sanity. Enjoy!

Shari

Fun with New Colors

Don't you just LOVE the new Stampin' Up! Core Colors? My favorite is Cherry Cobbler. It is such a rich, gorgeous shade of red. I just made this new blog header on My Digital Studio using Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze and Basic Black. (If you already own MDS, you can get the new color updates FREE! Just click here). I love this color combo. It is on our fabulous new Color Coach. You can order your own Color Coach here or just email me!

I used this same color combo on a swap recently. I will post the card here in a few days. We have to wait to post our swaps until they are returned! Don't want to spoil the fun, you know.

What are your favorite new Core Colors? I'll have some Blog Candy for the first five responses from any of my customers. (Plus one more for a VC buddy!).

Shari

Nostalgia Stamp-a-Stack

Here are the five cards for the Nostalgia Stamp-a-Stack on Sunday, August 29th at 2PM. Why is it nostalgic? Because we're using retired card stock colors and some retired stamps, too. Cards are $1 each, including the envelope. Just let me know how many of each you'd like to make. So we're all on the same page, let's call them (from top left) Purple Flower card, Rust Flower card, Deer card, Rainbow card, Teal Flower card. You can click on the picture to see it larger.

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: The first three people to sign up for this class and choose 15 or more cards will get two cards free!

Also on this day, I am holding a Rubber Rummage Sale! I will be selling lots of retired stamp sets, as well as some retired card stock and accessories. Prices will start at $5 for accessories, and just coins for single sheets of card stock. Sales runs from 2-5PM.

August Birthday Card Bonanza

Here is this month's card for Birthday Card Bonanza. Greeting can be changed to fit your needs. Join us on Friday, August 6th at 7PM. Cost is $1 per card, as always. Just let me know how many you'd like to make.

Stay after class for Stamp Night!

VC Blog Hop #2!

Welcome to my blog! And to some of you, welcome back! We can again use retiring goodies for this VC Blog Hop, so I am. Of course, I cannot let another hop go by without some piratey goodies! I have made a star explosion card for your viewing pleasure. (Ye scurvy dogs!)

I started with a 3.5" square of Whisper White CS. I stamped it with our Pirate Time set, which you can only order until June 30th! Perfect for your favorite pirate! I used Real Red, Going Grey, Sahara Sand, and Soft Suede. I sponged the edges, as well. You will need to stamp five squares, both sides.







This piece is not stamped so that you can see the score lines easier. You need to score vertically and horizontally at the center (here at 1 3/4"). Then FLIP THE PIECE OVER and score diagonally, but just once, as shown.










Fold the score lines inward, making this cup-like piece:


You will repeat this with the remaining four squares.

Now you need to add adhesive. When the above cup-like piece is closed shut, you will have an un-scored square showing on either side. Run some SNAIL around the edges of one square, then do the same on a second piece of stamped, scored CS. Match up those two squares and press together to stick them tightly. Repeat with remaining three pieces.




Once you have the five pieces together, DO NOT ADHERE the ends together, unless you do not want to be able to close this card.

Now you need two small 1 3/4" squares of Whisper White CS. Stamp these as you did the larger pieces, but just on one side. Set aside.

Adhere two twill tape pieces to both ends of your card. Mine are each about 4" long. Adhere your 1 3/4" squares over the ends on the card to cover them.

When tied closed, your card will look like this:



When tied open it will look like a star:




I hope you liked this project! It is a classic, but a fun one to come back to from time to time. I especially like this one with Christmas stamps and some Real Red grosgrain ribbon. Give it a try!

Now it's time to hop along to someone Barb Furlong's blog, The Love of Stamping. If you would like to start from the beginning, just head to the VC Rocks Blog.

See you next time!
Shari

VC Blog Hop!

Welcome to my pitiful blog! If someone could explain to me how to make my own stuff on the sides of the pages, I would love that!

This is my first Blog Hop, and it is the first Annual Blog Hop for VC Rocks! VC is a super-fun group of stampers and SU! addicts. I have so much fun all summer in our virtual hotel, doing swaps, taking classes online, and so much more!

I have been so impressed by all the different punched bouquets out there, that I decided to make one of my own with daisies and black-eyed Susans. For our first VC Blog Hop, we are featuring retiring colors and/or Summer Mini products. I am using both!




Materials:

Cardstock: Creamy Caramel, Summer Sun, Yo-Yo Yellow, Green Galore, Gable Green (all retiring), Chocolate Chip, Whisper White.
Ink: Going Gray (retiring) and Chocolate Chip used for sponging and inside greeting.
Ribbon: Wide Chocolate Chip Grosgrain
Punches: 5-Petal Flower, 3/4" Circle, XL 2-Step Bird, Scallop Edge
Big Shot: Square Lattice embossing folder (Summer Mini), Little Leaves Sizzlit, Birds and Blooms Sizzlit 4-Pack
Adhesives: SNAIL, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals

Directions:

I made this up as I went along. I started with the flower pot, made from Creamy Caramel CS, 11" x 4.25"

1. Score at 5.5"
2. Fold in half, and measure about 1/2" in from the folded corner on both sides, and make a small mark with a pencil.
3. Cut straight from the open corner to the mark you made on both sides. This gives the pot the tapered look.
4. Punch Scallop Edge punch on both open ends.
5. Fold ends about 1" down and crease with bone folder to create lip of flower pot.
6. Sponge all edges with Chocolate Chip classic ink.
7. Use two small pieces of Sticky Strip to keep the pot closed. Put them inside the lip of the pot vertically, close to the edge to be sure you have room for your card to move up and down. You can also use some Sticky Strip to keep the lip of the pot down. Set pot aside.
8. Punch daisies and black-eyed Susans from Whisper White and Summer Sun card stock. Two punches for each flower.
9. Sponge one of each pair of white flowers very lightly with Going Gray classic ink. Do the same with the Summer Sun flowers with Chocolate Chip.
10. Mount the sponged pieces behind the clean ones. This implies shadow and gives definition to the petals.
11. Run Yo-Yo Yellow and Chocolate Chip cardstock thru the Big Shot in the Square Lattice embossing folder.
12. Punch circles out of the textured pieces with the 3/4" Circle punch. Adhere to flowers.
13. Punch the branch and wing from the XL Bird punch with Green Galore and Gable Green. I did two of each color.
14. Run some more Gable Green and Green Galore thru the Big Shot using the Little Leaves Sizzlit die. I used just one of each color. I also have a couple of the larger leaf from Birds & Blooms, but you don't need to do that.

Now we need to make the pull-out card. My inside card is 5.25 x 3. You might need a different size, because you'll cut it to fit your pot so that your flowers are positioned correctly when the card is in the pot.

15. After making your inside card piece, plan where you will adhere your flowers and leaves. Put three flowers on the edge of the pot, up high enough that you can see your scalloped edge, and three on top of the pull-out card. Be sure that they will sit the way you want BEFORE you adhere. I used a Dimensional on the center flowers.
16. Cut a pieces of Whisper White CS to go on the pull-out for your greeting. Mine is 3.25" x 2.5" and I would like it better if I had mounted it on some Chocolate Chip! So you do that. ;o)
17. Stamp your greeting in Chocolate Chip.
18. Adhere Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon to the pot, and you're done!

So... you likely arrived here from Stampin' Stace. Your next hop will take you to Maddiebug Designs. If you'd like to start the Blog Hop from the beginning, start here: www.vcrocks.blogspot.com

I will have blog candy!!! Oooooooooo what will it be???

Going Away Stamp-a-Stack

Let’s celebrate our old “friends.” Just like Birthday Card Bonanza, you can make as many as you like of each card for $1 each, including the envelope. Supplies are limited, as I am using the stock I already have to make room for the new! RSVP ASAP, and no later than April 22nd.

Shown are the first four samples. I hope to make three more, so you'll have seven card options!

Class on Sunday, April 25th at 2PM. As always, dates will change if necessary to meet the needs of the group! If you’re interested in a class, just let me know and we’ll all find a date that works.

Stampin' Up! Color Renovation

Remember back in the 70s when we all had appliances that were Avocado Green or Harvest Gold? Would you want those in your home now? Would you go out and buy those colors today? Of course not. Your kitchen would be outdated. That is why Stampin’ Up! has decided to update their own color palette - to keep us fresh and current!

SU! has done extensive research over the last two years, watching fashion trends and crafting trends; they’ve done surveys of customers, demos, and artists; they’ve had study groups; they’ve closely watched what has sold well and what is getting dusty in their inventory. As a result, in July we will have a gorgeous new group of Core Colors.

In a nutshell, thirty colors will be leaving us at the end of June. We will have five brand-new core colors, and several of our favorite past (and a couple present!) In Colors will become Core Colors. We’ll have four new Color Collections (instead of Families). They are: Bold, Regal, Subtle, and Neutral. There will be ten colors in each Collection.

Our In Color program is changing a bit, too. We will still have five new colors every year, but now, they will stay with us for TWO years! For the new 2010-11 catalog year starting in July, we’ll have 45 colors with the In Colors. When the next catalog comes out in 2011, we’ll still have those 45 colors, and five more In Colors! From then on, we’ll have 50 colors to play with and use each year. Every three to five years, we will see some minor color changes to keep us current and on-trend.

I am SO excited about this!

April Birthday Card Bonanza

I have two cards for this month: one feminine, one masculine.

We'll be using up some of my soon-to-be-retired colors! This month it's Orchid Opulence with Barely Banana, and Mellow Moss with Close to Cocoa (and a bit of Not Quite Navy, which is not retiring).

Same deal as always: $1 per card, including envelope. Let me know how many of each you'd like to make.

Easter Card Class on March 18th at 7:30PM

PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE!

This will be just like Birthday Card Bonanza, but I'll have a couple different Easter cards available. One will use the bunny from Holiday Blitz, and the other one is this giant sheep! STINKIN' CUTE! $1 per card, including envelope. RSVP by March 15th.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Class: April 16th

RMHC Class on Friday, April 16th at 7PM

On the back inside cover of our catalog, you can see this year's RMHC set, Very Thankful. For each set purchased, SU! donates $2 to RMHC. For this class, you will get your own set, mounted and ready to use. We will make two each of five different thank you cards. The duplicates will be sent to a local Ronald McDonald House for the residents to use. Cost for this class is $27.50. If you already have the set, the cost is just $10.

Please RSVP by April 5th.

A Springy Birthday Card Bonanza!

Here is this month's card! There is some bling in the flowers, but you can't see it in the picture.

Same as always: $1 per card with envelope.

Let me know how many you'd like to make.

Birthday Card Bonanza - TONIGHT 2/12

Here is this month's birthday card (left) and Valentine card (right).

Imagine the pink background on the Valentine card to be in the shape of the Top Note die. That's what we'll use!

As always, $1 per card, including envelope. Let me know how many you'd like to make.

We're having a quick Sale-a-Bration and Occasions Mini workshop at 7PM. We'll make these cards afterward.