My Paper Pumpkin & Travels

This past week I was able to go on a business trip with my hubby to New Orleans.  I knew that I would have to entertain myself quite a bit while he was off to his conference.  I spent my days doing some wandering and shopping.  One place I found to spend time in was at the Confederate Memorial Hall Museum.  A very interesting place filled with a dark side of our American history.  I wasn't able to take photos inside though.

Confederate Memorial Hall Museum
New Orleans, LA

Jester along Decatur St

River Boats on the Mississipi River

With the knowledge that I would need to spend time by myself, I made sure to include in my luggage some things to do while at the hotel.

One of the things I packed was the latest delivery of My Paper Pumpkin.  I've found it to be a great way to stamp away from home since the only things not included are adhesive, scissors and a clear block to mount the stamp(s).

I didn't change anything in the layout, I just made the projects as the instructions suggested.  I left the little tags blank on most of the cards so that I can personalize them later.  The stamps included 'Dad', 'Bro', and 'Son' stamps to personalize on the tag.

If you haven't checked out My Paper Pumpkin lately, try it out!  The quality and quantity has improved greatly since it debuted.

Join my team for only $50!

Join the Stampin' Up! family from now through June 30th and choose between the traditional starter kit priced at $99 ($125 product value), or for a limited time, a reduced priced Starter Kit at the low price of $50 ($55 product value.). 

Don't wait, take advantage while you can!

Stamp-A-Stack Class

Come make a stack of cards at my Stamp-A-Stack class!

Details:

Friday, June 6th - 6:30PM to 9:00PM (most will finish in less time)
Held in my home.

Make 6 cards w/envelopes (2 each of 3 different designs).
Cost is $10, and you bring your own adhesive and $15 if you use mine.

Space is limited to the first 6 people who RSVP.  (If space fills too soon, I can look at holding another class.)  Also, this is a great class to hold in your own home (or invite friends and let me host it).

RSVP required by June 1st.  RSVP here.

Here's what we'll be making - everything uses the stamp set Wetlands:

 

You'll notice some new colors too, and those attending will get to order from the new catalog!

Another MDS card

For my stamp club this month, I used the card below.  It was done using My Digital Studio, taking a designer created card layout and changing it up.  The original card was a baby card.  You'd never know that now.  

That's one of the things I love about MDS, you can make everything in it completely your own or you can simply use something already designed for you!  The photo doesn't do the card justice, as it's much nicer in person.  

I had MDS print services print the cards (they come with envelopes) and at $1.45 each (unless you print 10 or more as bulk pricing kicks in then and they become less expensive per card) it's a great value.  Have you priced cards at the store lately?  Let alone these are completely customizable.  

To complete the card, we simply colored in the "celebrate" using a Smoky Slate marker and added some Basic Jewels Rhinestones.  Voila!

Want to try out MDS for FREE?  Download the free 30-day trial and see what you think.  Go to my online store and click on My Digital Studio, then MDS Free Trial.  

May Projects & My Digital Studio

I'm so excited for my May classes.  We'll be making cards and projects for those men in our lives whether it's for a birthday or for Father's Day.

 I was wanting to find a project that would use these empty frappucino bottles.  I've had them in my stamp room for a LONG time, and they needed to be used.  Thanks to an idea on Pinterest and My Digital Studio I came up with this idea for either Father's Day as done here, or for a birthday.

I used the "Rad Dad" and "Father's Day" digital brush set downloads for My Digital Studio and colored and resized them to work for the bottle top and for the jar front.  Then, I printed them out on my printer onto Whisper White card stock (it works great in the printer).  The jar topper is then cut using the Big Shot and the Circles Collection Framelits and the tie is cut out the old-fashioned way with the Paper Snips.

Here's what they looked like before assembly:

The collar is simply a piece of Whisper White card stock, measuring 1" x 5-3/4" and attached using Mini Glue Dots.  The tie is attached the same way.

I needed a graduation card idea, but I don't have any current graduation stamp sets.  However, I do have a digital brush set for My Digital Studio that also happens to be in the Occasions Catalog.  So, once again, I printed out images onto Whisper White card stock and then cut and punched to use them on the front of this great graduation card.

Here is what the images looked like before assembly:

I ended up not using the "congratulations" from the MDS, but instead used the "Happy Graduation" stamp from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Finally, I wanted a sports related card.  The idea came from a card that I cased from Michelle Suit that was a baseball card.  My good friend, Jen Wade, thought I could use the same idea and make the card a football card.  She was so right!  Thanks, Jen!

Now don't you wish you were coming to my class tonight?  You know, I could hold a class like this one in your home too!  Ask me how.

Playing with My Paper Pumpkin

I decided to change up the remaining pieces from the April My Paper Pumpkin kit using a new stamp set, Sea Street, from the 2014-15 SU! catalog.  The "hello" banner stamp is from the stamp set Perfect Pennants.  It'll make the perfect thinking of you summer card.

Supplies used to make the card:

Thanks for stopping by.

New Stamp Set

I had the chance to play a little with a new stamp set.  One that isn't available just yet, but will be starting June 2nd when the new SU! catalog sales begin.  Because I was one of many who attended the Catalog Premiere on Monday evening, I not only got to see the new catalog first but also see so many wonderful samples made using new products from it!

All who attended were sent home with a new stamp set (Work of Art) from the upcoming catalog too.  And, I LOVE it!  I can't show you a picture of the stamp set just yet, but I can show you a couple of samples made using it.

This first card is one that I almost completely cased from the sample in the new catalog.  I don't have the new In-Colors (yet), so I used the In-Colors from 2013-2015.  And, I layered my card onto a Cantaloupe Crisp card base and added some scoring for a little texture too.

This second card was cased from the Stampin' Success magazine, an every other month publication sent to all demonstrators filled with business ideas and stamping ideas.  I changed the image, used paper from the Occasions catalog, Fresh Prints.  I didn't have the nifty new framelit that makes a file folder tab (it's pretty cool looking though), so I used my handy Envelope Punch Board to make it.

If you are ordering from me this month, you will be receiving one of these adorable thank-you's in your order (or in the mail if it's an on-line order).

Isn't it beautiful?  Want your own copy?  Ask me how to get yours today.