March Stampin' Nite + an added bonus

     March is just around the corner.  Than means it's time for another Stampin' Nite.

DATE:  Thursday March 8, 2012

TIME: 6-8 PM

COST: $8

WHERE:  My house (contact me for directions)

     This month we will be doing something fun - something that will cost you NOTHING!

Sandy's 1st Craft Item Swap

Do you have craft items you no longer want?  Do you hate the idea of throwing them out?  Do you wish you could get some new crafting items, but just don't have the money to do so right now?  If you answered yes, then I have just the thing for you!  A craft item swap!

Here is how it will work:  

1.  Go through your craft items, and pull out anything you no longer want.  

     This can include stamps, inks, markers, paper, card stock, tools (punches, paper trimmers, eyelet setters), embellishments (brads, stickers, ribbon, flowers, eyelets, chip board shapes, bling of any kind), or any thing considered a crafting item. 

NOTE:  Craft items from ALL companies are welcome :O)

2.  Bring it with you to my March Stampin' Nite.

3.  Put it on display at my house.  If you bring 3 items, you can go home with 3 new items (this is just an example).

4.  If you wish to really unload your stuff, you can allow unlimited taking - that will be up to each individual.

5.  Go home with new-to-you craft items (and hopefully none of what you brought).

No money will be involved with this - swapping only.  Each individual can swap as they see fit, but I do want to make it fair to all who wish to participate.

NOTE:  You do not need to participate in this swap to attend Stampin' Nite.  I'm offering this as a way to share what we no longer use.  As the saying goes, "What is one woman's trash is another woman's treasure."  That is so true when it comes to crafting items.

RSVP:  Please contact me by Saturday March 3, 2012 if you plan to come.  When you RSVP, please let me know if you will be participating in the craft item swap.

     I hope you can make it!

Happy Tuesday!

Stampin' Up! Memo Board

     At our team demonstrator meeting yesterday we discussed ways to help us get our business where we'd like it to be.  Of course we all love to be making a million dollars a year, but for me, that's not a realistic goal at this point in my life.  I'd be happy to make a little more a month and to add a card club to my monthly activities.  These will be my goals this year.

     Also at our meeting, Sally Chuchman, my upline, brought a memo board she made.  I instantly fell in love with it.  So, I went home, stopping at a big box store to pick up a canvas and some quilting batting, and went home and made my own.  I plan to use mine as a visualization board for my business goals.

    Here is my memo board.  What do you think?

      I also made fabric flowers as an embellishment to my board.  I followed the tutorial in the video I posted yesterday - HERE.  They were so easy to make.  As you can see, my flowers are two different sizes.  To make them different sizes, use a wider or thinner strip of fabric.  I did do like they suggested in the video, I made two flowers for each one flower.  They ended up being too thin for my liking with just one flower.  I really like how the blue one turned out.

     Here are close ups of my fabric flowers:

RECIPE:

CARD STOCK:  Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, & a tiny scrap of Twitterpated Designer Series Paper

FABRIC:  Twitterpated & Springtime Vintage

ACCESSORIES:  Antique Brads, Fire Square Brads, Flower Designer Brads, & 3/8" Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon

TOOLS:  Big Shot & Fun Flowers Bigz Die

NON-SU! TOOLS:  11 x 14 painter's canvas, quilting batting, hot glue gun & staple gun

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! products from my website, 24/7

     I plan to make a second memo board.  This went together so quick and easy.  Watch out - memo boards galore!

Happy Sunday!

Fabric Flower & Dying Baker's Twine

     Don't you just love the flower on this card?  It's made using fabric from Stampin' Up!   Also, the Baker's twine used on this card was originally the white Baker's twine.

This photo is from the Sale-A-Bration catalog.
The stamp set is Outlined Occasions.
You can get it for FREE with a $50 purchase.

     Want to know how to make both the flower and how to dye the Baker's twine?  Watch the video to learn how to make the fabric flower (just ignore the title of the video - it doesn't show you how to dye to twine).  Then scroll down after the video for the written tutorial, from Stampin' Up!, on how to dye your twine any color you want.  Both are so simple to make, you won't believe it!

MINI TUTORIAL

Dying Baker's Twine Tutorial:

     Create a mixture using rubbing alcohol and any color of our Classic or Craft Stampin' Ink refills.  A god 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.  Use as desired.

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! products from my website, 24/7

     I hope you find these tutorials easy to follow.  In my next post, I hope to have a picture of the flower I made.  They really aren't hard to make, just take a little time.

Happy Saturday!

Simply Scored Diagonal Plate

     I was VERY excited when Stampin' Up! came out with their very own Simply Scored score board.

Simply Scored - 122334 - $29.95
Click HERE to order yours!

     I just LOVE it!  I love how you can mark where you need to score - such a time save for me.  I love how it has measurements every 1/8".  The Simply Scored comes with 3 place markers (you can also purchase more - I did!), and the scoring stylus, (what you see in the above picture is what comes with the board) - everything you need to get started!  What more could you want?

     How about this!

Simply Scored Diagonal Plate:

Here is a video from the Stampin' Up! home office about this new product:



     Oh, I can't wait until mine comes!

Here are some features to this add-on tool:

PRODUCT FEATURES:

• Sits on top of the Simply Scored base
• Held securely in place by rubber pads on back of the plate
• Has etched grooves every 1/8"
• Can score any size card stock up to 12" x12"
• Includes instructions for creting common envelope sizes
• Coordinating products include:
• Simply Scored (122334)
• Simply Scored Place Markers (125625)
• Simply Scored Stylus (125624)
• Bone Folder (102300)

And what could be better than the price?  $11.95!  What a steal!

     You will be able to order yours on March 1st!  Contact me today if you would like to add your order to the others that I will be placing on March 1st.

     If you don't have the Simply Scored score board, what are you waiting for?  Order one today!

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! products from my website, 24/7

     If you are interested in seeing how the Simply Scored board and new Simply Scored Diagonal Plate work and would like to try it out, please contact me.  I'd be happy to show them to you.  Also, come to my Stampin' Nite on Thursday March 8, 2012, at 6 pm - more information to follow.  I will be demonstrating these two products that evening.

     Don't forget about Sale-a-Bration! with every $50 in product you spend, you get a FREE Stampin' Up! product.  Now through March 31, 2012.  Don't miss out on FREE!

Happy Monday!

A Valentine Tree

     The idea for this card came from Dolores Bettner.  Her card was posted on Stampin' Connection, a website for demonstrators - full of thousands of ideas and inspiration.  Thank you Dolores for a WONDERFUL idea!

     I envisioned this card, at least the shape of this card, the minute I saw the heart shaped framelits.  

Hearts Collection Framelits Dies - 125599 - $26.95

     I really like how this card turned out. It started out as a 5x5 card.  I used the largest, scalloped heart from the hearts framelits to cut out the shape.  As you can see, I folded the card and put the framelit off the to left, so one edge overhang the edge, leaving part of the fold so it would be a card.  I then inked the edges in Pink Pirouette, in order to soften the white card.

     You might be surprised to know that the stamp set I used was Holiday Happiness.  

Clear Mount - 12079 - $11.95
Wood Mount - 120786 - $14.95

     Yes, a Christmas set.  When I saw what Dolores did, I fell in love with it.  Can you imagine all the holidays you can use this set for?  Just wait!

RECIPE

CARD STOCK:  Whisper White, Red & Silver Glitter Paper

INKS:  Riding Hood Red & Pink Pirouette

STAMPS:  Holiday Happiness

TOOLS/ACCESSORIES:  Big Shot, Heart Framelits, Fashionable Hearts Embosslit, Small Heart Punch, & Heart to Heart Punch

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! products from my website, 24/7

     I hope this card gives you ideas on using stamps sets outside their obvious intentions.  Sometimes someone points out a good idea and your ideas start running.  Feel free to leave a comment with your ideas.  I'd love to hear them all and share them with others.  Together we can find great uses for stamp sets we thought were meant for only one particular holiday!

Happy Saturday!