Something crafty this way comes + summer break

OK! I'm back!

No one probably noticed but I'm back and busy making all kinds of things Halloween-y.

After attending my first ever Stampin' Up convention this past summer I took a stamping break and just worked on scrapbooks. --Let me tell you, that was one awesome convention! Everyday was packed with ideas, classes, product info, samples and make-n-takes. I will post some of the samples from the convention in the next few days.

Here are some little paper baskets I made that hold candies and other goodies. My upline Brenda showed us how to make it.




This was the make-n-take project we did at her house. This set is available in the current Holiday Mini for $17.95 and is called "Autumn Harvest". We used a watercolor wonder pen and classic ink pads to achieve this pretty shading!

"Creepy Crawly" designer paper is available until Dec. 31 - convenient for those who scrapbook too.

All-time favorite "Carved & Candlelit" stamp set.

A large basket using "Creepy Crawly" designer paper and Clear Round Buttons (page 191) $4.95 for 24 buttons in 3 sizes. Instead of using brads to secure the sides of the box together, I used Black Hemp Twine (only $2.50), a clear round button and a punched-out circle of designer paper to show through underneath the clear button. There are 2 hole punches in the box and also going though the handle. These holes line up with the holes in the buttons and the black hemp twine is holding everything together! Neat, huh? I also used 2 circle punches and the new scallop punch to make the *happy halloween* sentiment stand out, popping them up with dimensionals.

Stamps: "Arachnaphobia" wheel ($6.50, page 28) and "Bitty Boos Too"($17.95). I love this set! I love how the stamps are small and cute and how you can punch them out with various punches. I used the same technique here with using the 3 different punches and then popping it up with dimensionals.

Paper: new InColor "Wild Wasabi", Lavender Lace, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black wheel cartridge, classic ink pad and marker
Punches: Scallop punch, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" circle punches

You can't really see it, but the web is glistening and glittery and more transparent than it shows in this photo. It looks white here for some reason. I used Crystal Effects glue to draw the web and then poured Dazzling Diamonds glitter over it while it was still wet. The *happy halloween* sentiment is from the 56-piece set "Everyday Flexible Phrases". There is a word in that set for just about every occasion.

More "Bitty Boos Too", scallop punching and "Creepy Crawly" designer paper.

Sneak Peak of new stamps!!!

"All About Occasions" Bundle from the upcoming 2007 Fall Collection
I used "Purely Pomegranite" a new color from the upcoming In Color line, basic black, mellow moss, vanilla and a piece of so saffron designer paper also available from the upcoming Fall Collection catalog due out July 1.

***I will have a couple boxes of catalogs, arrange to get one today!

***************
SEE MY ENTIRE ONLINE GALLERY HERE!

***************

Goodbye, forever!

Every year Stampin' Up retires (discontinues) stamp sets to make way for new ones. This year over 230 are saying good-bye! The last day to buy these stamps is June 30. If you don't have the catalog you can see it online. Over the next few weeks I'll be posting cards made with some of the retiring sets.




Nice & Easy Notes stamp set, retiring forever on June 30, 2007. This card was inspired by my upline Brenda's card found here.








"Seaside Sketches" stamp set, page 128.

Inspiration for the Dad and Son card came from a beautiful card by Barbara Guinan




"Roses in Winter" stamp set, page 122

Inspiration for the Roses card came from this card by Sencie.








"Flower Filled" stamp set. page 130

Inspired by my upline, Brenda.

See all my cards and projects here.

Polka Dots, Paisleys & Petals!

These cards were made using Polka Dots & Paisleys and Polka Dots & Petals sets from the Spring Mini, 2007. I used detail white embossing powder and a heat gun for the sentiment on the bottom card. The Polka Dots & Paisleys stamp set was a free gift from Shelli Gardner, the founder of Stampin' Up - every demonstrator received a free one for Christmas! It's also available for anyone to purchase until June 30, 2007. Inspiration for these cards came from Splitcoaststampers. Enjoy!

All supplies by Stampin' Up!:-- Papers: Cool Carribean, apricot, teal, celery.

Office Accoutrement

Have you seen the Stampin' Up Spring Mini? It's just wonderful! There are 2 great paper punches in there -- a tab punch and a spiral punch. On this card I made my own school paper by stamping blue writing lines and a red margin line on thick white cardstock. Then I punched out the holes using the spiral punch, wrote a *to do list* in pencil and mounted it onto the card with foam pop-up dimensionals. I also used the tab punch to punch out the blue tab on the side and fastened it with a stapler. This set is in the Spring Mini and available until June 30, 2007.

Decorated Envelopes

With the postal rates having gone up again, it's time to fight back by spicing up our envelopes! At least if they're going to be 41 cents they may as well look fun and interesting. Here is a regular letter envelope that I stamped with a single image repeatedly on the bottom and up the right-hand side. (the recipient's name has been covered over). Isn't that so easy? You just need one stamp and one ink pad or marker to spruce up an envelope. Luckily, I was able to send this right before the new rates took effect.

In today's digital age most people have online banking and send e-cards. But if you're like me and still enjoy sending greeting cards in the mail, don't forget to buy the new *forever* stamps - you can still use them even if the prices go up again. Click here to see the new postal rate chart

Wild Rose of Summer

Wild Rose of Summer

This beautiful stamp set, Wild Rose can be found in the *All Natural* section of the catalog on page 98. Thankfully this set will not be retiring but the sentiment *refresh* will be. It's part of a set called "Handbill Headlines" which is written in a vintage shabby-chic style.

All materials Stampin' Up except where noted
Stamps: Wild Rose, Handbill Headlines
Paper: Mellow Moss, Really Rust
Inks: Mellow Moss, Artichoke, Really Rust, Pumpkin, Marigold
Accessories: Brads, ribbon, prima flowers

Watercolor Summer

Watercolor Effects

Watercoloring is a great match with summer scenes. This stamp set "Summer by the Sea" is staying but it's mate "Seaside Sketches" is retiring this year on June 30, 2007 . This is can be found on the 'Dormant List" and is still available until Dec 31, 2007.



All supplies by Stampin' Up
Stamps: Summer by the Sea, Season by Season
Paper: Bashful Blue, "Sarah" designer paper
Inks: StazOn Black, Bashful Blue
Markers: Celery, Brocade Blue, Sahara Sand
Accessories: slit punch, sponges, brads, twill tape