A Passion for Stamps

Lions, punches and BUNNIES-OH MY!

Well, I'm gearing up for my punches class this weekend...just returned from a great weekend on Long Island with my dad, followed by some fun with Jan and other demonstrators on my S.O.S. Team in Connecticut. We had a great time-stamping, sharing, eating, laughing and just plain old fun with the girl's at Jan's Rubber Room! This was the first time I got to see her new stamp room, which is just amazing!

Jan and I both had projects planned for everyone to make. Mine was a Stand-up Bunny Card inspired by Jackie Topa that is just so cute, and Jan's was a Bunny Top Note Treat Box filled with grass and jelly beans-made with the Top Note die! If you come to Punch Art Card Class you will make them, but TODAY is the last day to sign up, which you can do by clicking on the CALENDAR on the  right sidebar. Here they are:

      

Heather decided to make her bunny into a WALRUS!:                                                   Isn't this creative?

Another Punch Art Card Class project is this adorable LION M&M                                  card made with the Heart Treat Cups:

(and you don't have to rip the card open to get the candy out!)

Aren't they all adorable? At class you will learn how to make                                      these cuties and a few more other punch cards! Remember                                           to register for Punch Art Card Class today!

Have a great stampin' day!

Sign up for PUNCH ART Card Class! & Heart Treat Cups offer is extended!

I'm so happy to let you know that Stampin' Up! is making the Heart Treat Cups AND the Sweetheart stamp set available THROUGH JULY and BOTH will be offered in the new Idea Book & Catalog! The catch is, the Heart Treat Cups will continue to be available now, ONLY while supplies last  through July, so if you need a bunch before then for a spring or early summer occasion, better order them now, before they run out! 

If you haven't purchased the Heart Treat Cups, you don't know what you are missing!  Go HERE to see what they are.

The Heart Treat Cups were so popular and it's no wonder why- they were wonderful additions to cards and projects for Valentine's Day, but their usefulness certainly does not end there!

Think of the possibilities! These heart shaped plastic cups can be filled almost anything imaginable (that is small of course) for ANY occasion! Have an anniversary coming up? What a great way to say "you'll always be in my heart" and fill it will red hots, heart shaped candies etc. It's great for gifts too...not just cards-for occasions such as weddings, engagements, birthdays for children, and more! You will also need to order the Large Heart Punch too to make your projects. Remember, until March 31, any orders you place that are $50 or more qualify you for a FREE choice of any product or stamp set in the 2010 Sale-A-Bration Catalog...a bonus you will ONLY receive until March 31, 2010!

One of the cards we will be making at our Punch Art Card Classes coming up IN A WEEK in Sussex County NJ  is made with the Heart Treat Cup-and it's just adorable...it's a LION! When you send these cards, they will MAKE A STATEMENT! and will be remembered for a long time to come!

Please join us at our Punch Art Card Classes being offered on 2/26 7-9 and 2/27 10-12 for only $18! We will be making a bunch of cards which will utilize punches to make clever cards that are VERY popular!  You will absolutely LOVE the cards you will go home with...for more details and to pay right now, just click on the Calendar on the right side bar! But HURRY! Last day to register is FEBRUARY 23!

Hope to see you there!

Stampingly yours,

A Big Shot Project-Candle Gift for a Friend!

I'm so excited because this weekend, I'm going to visit my dad on Saturday who lives at my brother's house on Long Island NY  (my dad had a stroke right before Thanksgiving and I couldn't see him till now). I haven't seen him since May, when we went to Manhattan for our new nephew's baptism.  

On Sunday I'm going to catch the Ferry at Orient Point to New London, CT then drive to Pawcatuck to visit Jan Eno, a dear friend and one of my directs in my Stampin' Up! downline-and I look forward to visiting with some of the girls in her downline and stamping with them this weekend!! I will be staying at Jan's until Monday, and I wanted to make her a thank you gift for her hospitality; so I decorated this candle using the Fabric Floral Embellishment I made with the Big Shot in my previous post:

Here's a photo of the back:

and a close-up:

It just so happened that the colors of the fabric matched up perfectly with our Polka-dot IN color ribbons, and the buttons and rhinestone brads coordinated as well! I embossed the saying on tissue paper, wrapped wax paper around it then heat embossed the words onto the candle.

Because of the fabric, this candle cannot be lit as it is. Before I attached the embellishments, I lit the candle and let it melt down a bit in the center. Then I inserted the Tea Light candle into the melted wax. Now the candle can be lit because the flame will stay in the middle, and the candle is protected by the metal tea light holder! When it burns out, it's replaceable!  Here is a photo from the top, so you can see how it looks when it's done:

To make this candle, I used all Stampin' Up! products:

STAMPS: Spring Song saying (115074) $15.95

INK: Taken with Teal Craft Pad (100617) $7.50

PAPER: none

ACCESSORIES: Stampin' Up! Flower Folds die (115970) $42.95 on page 201 of the current Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog; Summer Sun Corduroy Buttons (114343) $9.95; Circle Ice Turquoise Rhinestone Brads (109111) $10.95; Crushed Curry (115614) and Bermuda Bay (115610) 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbons $9.95;Sticky Strip (104294) $6.95; Extended Cutting Pads (113478) $19.95; Big Shot Die-Cut machine (113439) $99.95; Clear Embossing Powder (109130) $4.75; Heat Tool (100005) $29.95

Non-SU: about 1/4 yard coordinating fabrics (3-4 assorted); White Pillar Candle and base; Tea Light Candle

You can purchase these products ONLINE to make this candle right now from my website stampwithdeb.stampinup.net, and you will also qualify for several FREE Sale-A-Bration products! So what are you waiting for? Be a Big Shot with Fabric too! Or, sign up now for my next Big Shot class in March and make this candle, and more fabric projects with the Big Shot! I can't wait to show you!

I hope you've enjoyed this project-thanks for stopping by!

Stampingly yours,

Be a BIG SHOT with FABRIC!

This beautiful 3-D Fabric Flower is just one of the items we will be making at our Be a BIG SHOT with FABRIC class this Friday! Didn't sign up in time? The same class will be offered again on Sunday March 7 from 1-3:30. (To sign up for this and my other upcoming classes, click on the calendar on the right sidebar.)

I'm so excited about using fabric materials with the Big Shot! I am not a seamstress, and really try to stay away from sewing if I can, because it's not my favorite hobby! That's why I'm in love with the Big Shot machine! It can be used with 50 other materials as well! I always provide new Big Shot class attendees with this handout, so they can go home and try them out with their Big Shot machine.

What's great is you can make this flower in ten minutes! It's fun and it's easy! So what do you do with these flowers?  Attach a pin back and add to a coat, purse, headband or use it as an  embellishment for anything-a card, a scrap book cover, a belt and so on...there are many uses for these flowers! These floral flowers are all the rage in the fashion world right now, and they are very pricey ranging from $15-$50 each at fancy boutiques! But now you can learn how to make them at a fraction of the cost of what you would pay elsewhere!

To order, go to my website stampwithdeb.stampinup.net or send an email to [email protected] 

National Salute of 21 guns for Presidents Day

Courage Tile: I make these tiles and sell them individually or in sets of 4.  I also sell them at Craft Fairs. This is made with the Courage Set (115330 $19.95) found on page 67 of the current Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog. It's a two stamp set; in addition to this stamp there is a word stamp that reads "Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities, because it is the quality that guarantees all others.-Winston Churchill" It's a great set! If you are interested in purchasing this stamp set, you can order it from my website www.stampwithdeb.stampinup.net. If you are interested in purchasing the tiles, and/or the coordinating stamped box that holds four of them, email [email protected] for more information.

Today is Presidents Day.  Our son is in the United State Coast Guard, so we receive Coast Guard feed updates.

It's interesting to learn that Coast Guard members on Coast Guard Island (CA) will fire the national salute of 21 guns today at noon in honor of Presidents Day.  The salute takes about a minute and 45 seconds to complete.  The Coast Guard warns surrounding communities that there will be loud noise produced by the blank rounds when fired.

This is a time honored naval tradition which dates back centuries, when it was customary for a ship entering a friendly port to discharge its cannon to demonstrate that they were unloaded.

The following information is provided by the United States Navy with the issuance of new regulations on 24 May 1842. Those regulations laid out the specifics:

"When the President of the United States shall visit a vessel of the navy, he shall be received with the following honors: The yards shall be manned, all the officers shall be on deck in full uniform, the full guard shall be paraded and present arms, the music shall play a march, and a salute of twenty-one guns shall be fired. He shall receive the same honors when he leaves the ship."
"Upon the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States, the colors shall be hoisted at sunrise, and all the vessels of the navy shall, when in port, be dressed, and so continue until the colors are hauled down at sunset, if the state of the weather and other circumstances will allow it. At sunrise, at meridian, and at sunset, a salute of twenty-one guns shall be fired from every vessel in commission mounting six guns and upwards."
"On the twenty-second day of February, the anniversary of the birth of Washington, a salute of twenty-one guns shall be fired at meridian from every vessel of the navy in commission mounting six guns and upwards."

To read more go to: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq40-1.htm

Other occasions when the salute is fired are in honor of the national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President, and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect, on Washington’s Birthday, and the Fourth of July.

It's nice to know the history behind the traditions of our armed forces especially how it relates to Presidents Day. Have a nice day!

Versamark-CLEARLY the answer!

Have you ever found yourself in a predicament when you started a stamp project such as making a card, then you realize you don't have the right color Ink Pad? You have a picture in your mind of the tone-on-tone look you want for your card (ink that is just a shade or two darker than the cardstock you are using) but without that color Ink Pad, what will you do now?  (Not EVERYONE has all 48 colors of Stampin' Up! inks in their stash!) So...you have a dilemma. Do you start the card over using a different color cardstock, and change things up a bit based on an Ink Pad color you already do have? Now you have to start over, and you really need this card in a hurry!

You don't have to get caught off guard like this again! There is a simple solution to this problem so NEXT time, you aren't stuck without the right Ink Pad color. Yes, you COULD order all the other Classic Stampin' Up! Ink Pads you don't have (or whatever brand of ink you are using) but you'll be happy to learn that you don't have to do that-unless you really want to-I won't stop you!

There IS another solution to this problem...and one pad will always come to your rescue-VersaMark is CLEARLY the answer! Why is this one pad the solution to your problem? Because  VersaMark Ink is a watermark ink...a CLEAR ink, which when stamped on colored cardstock, will give the effect of a darker shade of the same color-(tone-on-tone) like a watermark! So if you purchase this one ink pad, you will be able to have a darker shade of every colored cardstock paper you own!

(yes, mine is WELL used and loved)

But there is something else I want to make perfectly clear-the VersaMark Pad isn't solely a watermark pad, it's an embossing pad too!  There are so many things you can do with a VersaMark pad, that I'm going to teach a class on it!

Be on the lookout for this Trendy Techniques Class coming up in March and be sure you sign up for it! (The Calendar on the right will be updated shortly). You will learn some of the techniques you can do with a VersaMark Ink Pad, such as Clear Embossing, Color Embossing, Tone-on-Tone, Poppin' Pastels, etc.! You will want to have your own VersaMark ink pad for this class, so if you want to order one yourself, you can do so from my online store- www.stampwithdeb.stampinup.com anytime, 24/7-or email [email protected] if you would like me to order it for you-and I'll send you a PayPal invoice.

Ordering Information:

102283 VersaMark Pad  $7.50

Other similar products you may want to purchase:

102193 VersaMark Pad Refill (1/2 oz) $3.95                                                                100901 VersaMarker (for coloring in) $3.25 

Embossing Powders: See page 190 of the Stampin' Up! Catalog 

CLEARLY, this will be one of the best little pad investments you will ever make!

How can I decorate my walls without damaging them?

Have you ever wondered if there is an easy way to decorate your walls? I have the perfect solution for you!

Stampin' Up! has several wonderful products, one of which is called Decor Elements! It's a vinyl wall art that provides a way to decorate your walls (and most hard surfaces) quickly, yet is easy to remove when you want to change it!

We have a living room with a cathedral ceiling.. and for almost 10 years, I was trying to figure out how to decorate a cathedral ceiling, and could never make up my mind, so it has remained blank all this time.

When Stampin' Up! came out with their Decor Elements Collection and I saw Tree, Thoughts & Prayers Design, available in 3 sizes up to 52 inches wide and in two colors, I realized THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! I totally loved the sample shown in their Fall-Winter 2009 Definitely Decorative brochure, which added lovely doves coming out of the tree with the saying "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams." by Henry David Thoreau. So-after 9 years of undecision, I finally had a plan for our living room wall!

Here is what it looks like after the images were applied: (click on image for larger view)

I plan to add an oval mirror between the two photos under the tree-or I may move our TV/ Curio Cabinet under this-so I placed the Decor Elements design high enough to accomodate either choice. Here is a close-up of the image after applied to the wall:

 

Although my photograph appears crooked,

the design is perfectly straight on the wall!

   

So just WHAT ARE Decor Elements? It's Stampin' Up!'s designs, and colors in various sizes of the latest craze in home decor! This product enables you to add a seasonal creation to your home walls very quickly!

Stampin' Up! also offers Decor Stencils too, for those more artistic who want to be able to select their own colors, and want to add creative shading. This takes a bit longer to achieve then simply using Decor Elements but enables those who are more creative to come up individual styles that suit their tastes.

If you are not confident you can do this, start with something small and simple-maybe applying a Decor Element to a decorative jar, lamp, candle or even your laptop!  Then, as you acquire more confidence and skill move on to bigger projects. 

Whichever product you choose to try, you are sure to love the variety of designs and colors Stampin' Up! offers.

Did you know if you have any type of Stampin' Up! party or place orders of $150 or more, you can also select a hostess item from Level One of the Decor Elements brochure? There are actually three additional levels of hostess gifts available to you from this brochure, in addition to the Idea Book & Catalog and the Occasions Mini Catalog! Then you are also entitled to at least $15 in other catalog product for free!

Right now, during Sale-A-Bration (until March 31, 2010), you and your friends are also entitled to a free stamp set or product from our Sale-A-Bration catalog too, for every $50 you spend!

If you are unsure how to use a product, how our hostess plan works, or how to qualify for FREE Sale-A-Bration products please feel free to contact me! I will be happy to go over the different types of in-home parties I offer-which I can also do from my home stamp studio.

You can view our Decor Elements Brochure and our NEW additional insert on the right sidebar of this blog, or contact me if you would like to see one in person.

I love decorating with all these latest options! I know you will just love all the designs and colors available in our newest additions to our Decor elements brochure. Ask me about it!

Stampingly yours,

Our First Real Major Snowstorm is over!

Well, here in the Northeast in Sussex County NJ, we were lucky that huge storm from the weekend missed us, but Tuesday into Wednesday, we got the next one! Here are a few photos:

 

These were taken from the Stamp Studio overlooking our tranquil mountain road...great pictures to Scrapbook, right? I think I will do that! I just have to figure out how to get the photos off my camera,so I can save them to my picture file and print them out! (technically challenged with that sort of stuff!)

It took awhile to dig out from a foot of snow, but at least we were spared the 2-3 feet some parts of the Mid-Atlantic experienced!

All the schools around here were closed for two days! That doesn't usually happen, so my seventeen year old daughter Kelley and I shoveled out, then went out for breakfast!

While she chilled in front of the TV this afternoon, I was able to spend some time in the Stamp Studio-doing some cleaning up and organizing....and work on the computer. Tomorrow I'll be catching up on some stamping and I'll be able to post some more creative ideas!

Till then, stay warm!

SNOWY DAY SPECIALS FROM DEBBIE!

Hi! Are you enjoying the snowstorm today? It's a great day to stamp or scrap some pages...

    * When was the last time you used your stamps?
    * Or scrapped a page or two?
    * When was the last time you got together with some friends and hosted a Stampin' Up!  party, or attended a class? 
    * I'm taking dates to doing workshops, and am starting up more class offerings, so please come and join us at a class or event OR host your own class or party! Now is the BEST time to do this-during Sale-A-Bration, when everyone gets something for FREE with each $50 order! If you're interested, I'm booking for late February/March right now. Just contact me to so we can set up a date for you, before my dates are all booked!
    * Maybe my Snowy Day Special will give you some incentive for doing this...read on!


I have a SNOWY DAY SPECIAL just for you-good for TODAY ONLY until midnight EST and here it is:

1) if you email me and book a February/March workshop with me TODAY, OR
2) if you sign up and prepay for any of my upcoming classes (excludes FREE events) in February or March..

...you will receive a coupon from me good for FREE SHIPPING on your order AT THAT class, or workshop! That's a savings of 10%! We all LOVE free shipping...This deal is good only if you sign up TODAY!

Here's another deal for you:

If you get a group of six friends together (including you) in the month of February for a six month ($30 monthly Hostess club) you will receive a $10 coupon for product that will be added to your first club order! (in addition to the Idea Book & Catalog, the mini catalogs and one month you will earn a hostess set and at least $15 in product-AND a Sale-A-Bration product if your order is $50 or more)!

One LAST REMINDER: Don't forget to sign up to attend Winter Interlude Workshop this Saturday (offered in a.m. or p.m. session) RSVP by 2/11! This is FREE-and a great way to see new products, try them, make two projects, win some prizes and partake in a FUN Stampin' Tricky Tray for my demo samples! Click HERE for the flyer and more details! This is the last time this will be offered this season.

Email me with any questions...or to take advantage of these SNOWY DAY SPECIALS!

HAPPY SNOW DAY!

What we stamped at January Jamboree!

I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the new products in the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog and the Sale-A-Bration brochure, don't you?

The Last weekend of January I held my first annual January Jamboree class....didn't come? Here's what we made:

  ...a Love You card, sympathy card, Friend Mini Milk Carton

and a Birthday all-in-one treat box!

I created this floral sympathy card using the Faux Silk Technique(the bumpy white textured cardstock) -one of my favorite techniques:

Notice the new Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402)? This is one of the FREE products you can get right now during our Sale-A-Bration event with an order of at least $50! There is also a matching corner punch too! (available for purchase in Occasion Mini Catalog) Don't you just love the silk ribbons? and now they come in different colors!

Here is the same card showing the scallop punch used on the top and on the side. Which do you prefer?

This card also utilized the Big Shot die cut machine, and Polka Dot background (hard to see), the new Extra Large Fancy Flower punch, Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Papers! Isn't this so bright and cheerful? I could have used hearts, but just had to try the new floral punch!

 

The new Mini Milk Carton Die used with the Big Shot Machine is SO adorable! Here it is featured with the NEW Vintage Vogue stamp set, Sending Love Specialty DS papers and a rhinestone brad and grosgrain ribbon to finish it off! So many great NEW products!

The last project was this pretty Birthday box showing both sides of the designer papers, and using different bow designs and button colors. Can't really tell from the photo, but the Specialty paper is glittered! Oh, so chic!

 

Here the box is opened-the lid is attached-VERY cool! Fill it with Hersey's kisses or whatever you like, and it's the perfect gift for a Birthday--or Valentine's Day!

So--don't you wish you came to January Jamboree?

I'd love to hear what you think of these projects...and all the wonderful new products Stampin' Up! came out with!

Be sure to check out my future classes and events on the Calendar to the right....

or, visit my website to view events and to shop for any of these products 24-7!

Come back and see me tomorrow,