Is it a box, Is it a Card, Just What is It? Petal Cone Die?

Are you staying dry today?  It's raining like crazy here in Northeast PA, but I guess that's so much better than snow.  I'm ready for Spring, bring it on!

Today is Fabulous Friday.  I just don't know where the time goes.  Seems like just yesterday I did last Friday's posting. Not sure what happened to Saturday through Thursday.  Actually, I know what happened to Wednesday and Thursday, it's called subbing.  I have been a substitute teacher the past three days.  It's been a lot of fun being with the kids and helping to mold their futures but it sure makes time pass away quickly not being home during the day to do things I often do during the day.

Anyway, this week at Sisters in Stamping we were challenged to use the Petal Cone die for the big shot.  Be sure to check out what the other sisters did.  I was loving this challenge.  The petal cone die is so versatile and at first you would not think that.  I thought it was such a cute box but once I got it, I quickly realized (on my own, too, surprising right?) how awesome this new die was going to be.  So much so that I am offering a class in March that will focus on the petal cone die.  Watch for details in my class schedule coming out in a few days.

So what do you think?  Isn't it the cutest thing ever?  I used the die to make an awesome ice cream cone card.  Ice cream is a weakness of mine so when I looked at the die cut cardstock and saw that I was estatic.  Especially since I don't need to cut out all the pieces by hand to create it.

I used the square lattice embossing folder to give the bottom more of a sugar cone look.  I also used the direct to paper technique on the "cone" to give it a more realistic look.  I cut the scallop "ice cream" in three different colors because I thought it would be so much fun to have a triple dip cone. I've never ordered one for myself because that's just too much ice cream at one time but it was fun to make one with my cardstock.  (Get this, it's absolutely guilt free with zero calories)

I finished it off with some chunky glitter to resemble some sprinkles.  (Ignore the white line on the top ice cream, the glue wasn't dry all the when before I had to leave for school, check back later for a dry version) Check out the drop of ice cream sprinkles that landed on the cone. Fun, huh?

Don't forget to go check out the Sisters in Stamping blog to see even more great ideas using the Petal cone die.

Isn't this just Bliss?

Today I'm sharing with you the second make n take from my Sale-a-bration open house.  It's completely different in look than the card you saw yesterday.  That one was very bright and colorful and this one is more monochromatic and sublte.  Each one has it's place in our card giving, doesn't it?

I used the Bliss stamp set that you can get FREE with an $50 order now through March 31, 2011.  The colors are crumb cake, chocolate chip and very vanilla.  It really is quite a simple card to make multiples of.  I love the tulip frame embossing folder and couldn't resist using it to complete this card.  It "color" the raised portions of the embossing, I used the very vanilla craft pad directly on the paper. I also sponged the edges of the very vanilla cardstock with chocolate chip ink.

Then to finish off the card and make it complete, I used the crumb cake seam binding (found in the Occasions Mini catalog). It is attached with sticky strip (aka scary tape, according to some of my favorite stampers) and ruffled on the edge.  I used two different size pearls on the left side of the seam binding.

Isn't it blissful?  This isn't my usual style but I really love how this turned out.  Hope you enjoy it too.  And remember, Sale-a-bration is still in full force, you can still host your own workshop or place your order to earn FREE stamps and accessories.

Have a great day! See you tomorrow.

Punch Bunch is So Fun

Remember I promised to show you the card everyone made at my Open House last weekend when I posted the Birthday card (which uses the same supplies that I already had cut and left over) on Fabulous Friday?  Well, I didn't forget.  Here it is:

Being that the Open House was a Sale-a-bration Open House this card uses several items from the Sale-a-bration brochure, ice cream parlour designer series paper, the ribbon and buttons that coordinate with the paper and of course, the stamp set: Punch Bunch.

I love this stamp set because every stamp has a punch that coordinates with it.  And many of you know that I love to cut things out and attach them with dimensionals so of course I love this set because I can "cut" them using the punch which makes my life so much easier. 

The daffodil delight circle is cut using the circles big shot die. Remember to stamp the image first and then punch it out so you don't have to try to line up your stamp with the already punched cardstock. Which, by the way, usually doesn't work so well.  Trust me, been there, done that!

Come back tomorrow to see the other card that everyone at the Open House made.  I'm gearing up for substitute teaching for the next three days in a kindergarten classroom.  I'm already planning on being so tired after school that I will need a nap.  Sad, isn't it?  I don't care, I love it.  hahaha

Have a great day.

Happy Anniversary to me. Yes, today is my 10 year anniversary with Stampin' Up!

I'm so excited about it that I am going to run a special of all of you, my loyal customers, for the next 10 days.

I absolutely love my job and am thrilled to have had the opportunity to begin this adventure. I've met so many wonderful people, customers as well as other demonstrators who have become my friends. I am able to work around my children's schedules so I don't need to miss special events and earn extra income for my family. I get a discount on every product that I buy. I get to travel the country learning new ideas and techniques. I get paid to create. Can you see why I love what I do? Of course, if you would like this same opportunity let me know and we can discuss it. Remember, it's open to everyone.

Okay, now onto the special:

Sunday, February 20, 2011 through Tuesday, March 1, 2011

* All orders of $50 will receive any $9.95 or less product for FREE plus 1 Sale-a-bration set (Total of $25 additional product)

* All orders of $100 will receive any $19.95 or less product for FREE plus 2 Sale-a-bration set (total of $50 additional product)

* All orders of $150 will receive an additional $30 in product for FREE plus 3 Sale-a-bration sets, plus a level one hostess set and an additional $15 in free credit (total of $105 additonal product)

* All orders of $200 will receive an additional $40 in product for FREE plus 4 Sale-a-bration sets, plus a level one hostess set and an additional $20 in free credit (total of $135 additional product)

* All orders of $250 will receive an additonal $50 in product for FREE plus 5 Sale-a-bration sets, plus a level one hostess set and an additional $25 in free credit. (total of $165 additional product)


* All orders of $300 will recieve an additional $60 in product for FREE plus 7 Sale-a-bration sets, plus a level one or level 2 hostess sets and an additonal $35 in free credit (total of $215 additional product)

BOOKING SPECIAL:  If you book a workshop for March or April (call me to set it up between the sale dates) as part of this special you, the hostess will receive DOUBLE hostess credits.

And finally, JOINING SPECIAL: if you join the Yurinkin' Stamp Addicts team between today (2/20/11 and 3/1/11), in addition to all the great things that come in the kit at a discounted Sale-a-bration promotion price of $148.50 and the great $50 bundle Stampin' Up! is offering to each new member of the team, I will be offering each of you a stamp set of your choice valued at $19.95 or less. Call me and we can get together to get you started on your own adventure.

I'm so excited to be sharing my anniversary with all of you and hope you are able to take advantage of this great opportunity to get a ton of extra FREE stuff.

Sale-a-bration is Awesome!!!!!

Sale-a-bration is one of the greatest times of the Stampin' Up! year. Many demonstrators, hostesses and customers look forward to it every year.  And why wouldn't you when there's FREE stamps waiting for you with every $50 order.  In the past there's been a brochure with specific sets that were exclusive to the Sale-a-bration time period. Well last year that changed and it continued for this year's Sale-a-bration as well.

Instead of only having the exclusive Sale-a-bration items, Stampin' Up! is letting you choose from many sets that are found in the big 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog.  Did you know that?  So I'm sure there are several sets that have your name on them that you will definitely want to get for FREE during Sale-a-bration.

Look at all the awesome catlaog sets you can choose from:

Now how's that for simply AWESOME? There's still time to host your own party to get some of these great sets for FREE along with other hostess only items.  Sale-a-bration doesn't end until March 31st. 

If you book a March party for you, your friends, and family, I will give you double hostess credits.  So with a $400 show you will get 2 exclusive hostess stamp sets, 1 sale-a-bration stamp set, $45 in credit from Stampin' Up! and an additional $45 in credit as a gift from me.  So that's well over $125 in FREE product for hostessing a girl's night.  Contact me today to get your name on the calendar.

Cupcakes for everyone

This week at Sisters in Stamping we are focusing on the great cupcake punch found in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  I personally love how the punch coordinates with the stamp set, Create a Cupcake.  It's so much fun creating when you don't have to cut everything out the "old-fashioned" way (aka scissors).

I had some pre-cut materials left over from my Open House last weekend so I challenged myself to use a lot of what I already had ready to go.  (I just realized I didn't show you those cards, guess that will be in the next few days, so be sure to come back).  Anyway, I started with daffodil delight cardstock and folded the cardstock to make a z-fold card (see picture below).  I then used some of the great Designer Series paper from the Ice Cream parlour sweet from the Sale-a-bration brochure.  Which, by the way, you can get FREE with a $50 order until the end of March.

See a cool trick below for how I stamped both pieces of the cupcake and punched them out at the same time.  For the focal point of the card I used the 2 3/8" scallop circle punch and the 1 3/4" circle punch.  I attached the pom poms on the back of the old olive circle.  And of course, the cupcake is attached to that with dimensionals.

Here is the view from the top of the card so you can see how it's folded.  It's a very easy way to change up a "regular" card.  Just take the right edge of the card (where it opens) and fold it back to the left edge of the card (on the fold).  It's such a fun, festive birthday card.  Defintiely going to make a few more of these to have them on hand.

Here is the trick I promised you.  I took a piece of Stampin' Up!'s window sheets and punched it with the cupcake punch.  This allowed me to line up the stamps so that I could stamp and then punch only once. Cool, huh?

Remember to head over to Sisters in Stamping to see what the other sisters have made using the cupcake punch. Have a great Friday.

Spring around the Corner, think flowers.....

With temperatures ready to hit close to 50 today, I'm certainly thinking Spring. How can I not?  I'm ready for all the snow to melt and get my driveway back.  I hate how it becomes the incredible shrinking driveway with each snow fall.  It's the small things in life, really.

Anyway onto the cheery, floral card for today.  These pansies have been around for awhile but I never made them myself until one of my regular hostessed asked to see them. So off I was to create my own pansies using the butterfly punch.  You need to punch 2 butterflies from watercolor or shimmer paper to make each pansy.

You spritz both butterflies with water and then you use ink refills to watercolor the butterflies.  Because you spritz the cardstock first the ink will "bleed" into other areas.  You attach the butterflies together with a brad.

I used the tulip frame impressions folder on the daffodil delight cardstock.  I love that folder. I want more of them.  I used the level 3 hostess set for the words, there are inside and outside word sets.  The white cardstock needed something more so I used a basic black marker to trim the edges.  There's that ribbon ruffle again.  Told you I'm loving how it looks on cards.  Plus it's easier than making a bow.

Here's a close up of the flowers. I used concord crush and daffodil delight refills.  If you would like to learn how to make these, I'd love to come out and show you and your friends how to.  Contact me today to schedule your gathering.

Enjoy the warmth and sunshine today.