Occasions Mini items highlight of swaps

All of the demonstrators in my American Ink group seem to be enjoying the great new products in the Occasions Mini Catalog. Below, are a few swaps and make & takes. More will be posted in the next couple of days, so come back soon!

Cindy's swap

Frankie's make & take

Frankie's swap with Take It to Heart stamp set

Kim's Tea Shoppe make & take

Sprinkled Expressions for a sweet Valentine

This Valentine's card features a few new items available to you on January 24 in the Sale-a-Bration Mini Catalog - the Sprinkled Expressions stamp set, Everyday Enchantment dsp, and Everyday Enchantment ribbon (part of a ribbon and brad pack). Also featured on this card is the Occasions Mini embossing folder Adorning Accents. The hearts is just one of the three folders in the pack for $8.95.

Timeless Treasures with the Attic Boutique dsp

I offered a free card class as an activity at an assisted care living facility near my home. This is one of the two cards I prepped. It uses Attic Boutique dsp, 3/8" Blushing Bride pleated satin ribbon, 8mm pearls, and stamps from the Timeless Treasures set.

Mouthwatering cherries with Sweet Shop Specialty dsp

Have you smelled the new embossing powders in the Occasions Mini Catalog? There's cherry, melon and vanilla,and they complement the Mouthwatering stamp set. Of course the cherry stamp on the card was embossed with the cherry-scented powder. I first inked the stamp with markers and stamped it on Whisper White, then punched it with the 2" circle punch. I used a VersaMark pad to ink up the entire circle, then poured the Cherry-scented embossing powder on it, tapping off the excess before heating. It smelled great!

Stamps: Mouthwatering, Perfect Words;

Ink: Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, VersaMark;

Paper: Whisper White, Pool Party, Early Espresso, Sweet Shop Specialty dsp;

Accessories: Cherry-scented embossing powder, Modern Label Punch, 2" Circle Punch, Tasteful Trim die for the Big Shot, pearls, dimensionals, heat gun, sponge dauber.

You're My Type: Get Twitterpated!



My club members will be making this card this month. It uses the new You're My Type stamp set, Blushing Bride pleated satin ribbon, and Twitterpated dsp and button. All of these products are available in the Occasions Mini Catalog.

I hosted an American Ink gathering yesterday. There were some fabulous swaps and make & takes. I'll be posting those this coming week!

It's nothing but love for Monkey Challenge #91

I think these words just about say it all! I am loving the new P.S. I Love You stamp set in the Occasions Mini Catalog. There are so many terrific stamps in it.

Here's the full card, which uses Riding Hood Red pleated satin ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds in Cherry Cobbler, and a new label framelit. I think my hubby will love this for Valentine's Day! This card is for an A La Card Monkey Challenge #91: Bundle of Love + Sketch.

Stamps: P.S. I Love You;

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso;

Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Everyday Enchantment;

Accessories: Riding Hood Red pleated satin ribbon, wide oval punch, dimensionals, label framelit, Dazzling Diamonds - Cherry Cobbler, Vintage Trinkets, 1" and 1-3/8" circle punches, hobby blade, Tasteful Trim die and Big Shot, full heart punch.

Gnome Sweet Gnome sprinkling happiness card



It was fun to paper piece this little gnome's hat and apron with Cheery Treat dsp (hostess paper). The watering can, bunch of flowers, gnome and sentiment are all in the Gnome Sweet Gnome stamp set, featured in the Occasions Mini Catalog. This was one of the four cards I made for a class last week. I used an aqua painter and ink pads to color the images.
Stamps: Gnome Sweet Gnome;
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo;
Paper: Whisper White, Cheery Treat dsp, Melon Mambo;
Accessories: Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, aqua painter, Stampin' Dimensionals; Everyday Enchantment brad (SAB item); Old Olive Dotted Scallop Ribbon

Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punched Secret Stampin' Sister card

Here's another Secret Stampin' Sister card received this week. When you want a quick card, you can make fun flowers with the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch. The punch gives you different punched images. Then did you notice the Paper Doily Large Sizzlit die for the Big Shot? Pretty cool! This is a new product in the Occasions Mini Catalog, which started last week.

Dry erase photo frame and candy heart votive

I've been feeling all kinds of crafty today! I made flubber, a candy heart Valentine decoration, and a photo frame dry erase board.

My daughter and I made the flubber using warm water, Borax, Elmer's glue and food coloring (she chose green). She loves it. It's feels cool - I think it'd be fun to use for Halloween. You know, when you have the kids stick their hands in things to feel what they might be. It'd feel like just about any organ. Oooh! I got the recipe off of Pinterest.com.

I picked up a couple of glass containers today and a bag of candy hearts. I don't have much in the way of Valentine's decorations, so I thought I'd make some. I set the smaller glass container in the bigger one, then poured the candy hearts around the outside. The last step is adding the candle. It's sitting on my washstand right now, but it'll be going to my studio with me tomorrow. I got this idea after watching "The Chew" on TV one day awhile ago. They used candy corn (must've been a Halloween show!).

I used a piece of 5" x 7" Beau Chateau dsp in an inexpensive photo frame as a message board for my family. Then I gathered up a strip of Candy Cane fabric to make a flower, added a big designer button, and hot glued it to the frame. I bought dry erase markers that I covered with Beau Chateau paper. You can see the black marker in the photo. Now it's really easy to get my message across. Ha! Another Pinterest idea.

I hope you've been enjoying your Sunday! I've got a busy week ahead. I really should be prepping for my clubs, a 10-card class, my downline meeting, and more. Soon....

Pop tab jewelry: A little bit of recycling and Stampin' Up!

One of my favorite things to do right now is to visit http://Pinterest.com for new craft ideas, recipes, home decor, etc. It's fun to see all of the great ideas everyone shares. I like to "pin" items to try, including items like Pop Tab Jewelry. The bracelet took 17 tabs (the model is my 11-year-old daughter, so it might take a few more for an adult). The necklace took 60 tabs. Both pieces use 1/8" taffeta ribbon from Stampin' Up! - Regal Rose and Old Olive. What a cool way to recycle!

Take It to Heart on Designer Cuts card

I love this image from the Take It to Heart stamp set, so I paired that with other products from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

The design on the bottom front of the card is laser-cut (there are eight cards total, four each of two designs in each Designer Cuts Cards & Envelopes Set). Blushing Bride envelopes are included in the set.

I created this card for a class featuring Occasions Mini products. Each one uses at least 3 things! Also on this card, I added a strip of Blushing Bride inside the card so that when it's closed, the color peeks through the holes. We used sticky strip to hold on the ribbon; hand-cut the first heart, then used the hearts framelit for the larger Regal Rose heart. There are a couple of new 8mm pearls on the card, as well. I finished it with a Tiny Tags saying and Early Espresso/Whisper White Baker's Twine.

I thought this card would be perfect for The Paper Players challenge, which is all about love. I think the boy and girl on the bike are so sweet!

Pin It

Love & Laughter for Monkey Challenge #90: New to You

If you have something new you haven't used yet, pull it out for the A La Card Monkey Challenge #90: New to You + Sketch. I mounted this new Love & Laughter set from the Occasions Mini Catalog to use with new Attic Boutique dsp, also in the mini. There's some new Blushing Bride 3/8" pleated satin ribbon on the card too. I love this stuff! And it comes in three other colors - Pear Pizzazz, Riding Hood Red, and Baja Breeze.

Oh my, I love this happy bunny. He makes my heart sing! I keep hoping for snow, but for now we have fits of rain with mostly blue skies. See what an easy sketch it is? So you try it! Upload your card to http://alacardmonkey.blogspot.com and I'll leave you some nice comments!

Stamps: Love & Laughter;
Ink: Soft Suede, Regal Rose;
Paper: Soft Suede, Blushing Bride, Attic Boutique dsp, Very Vanilla;
Accessories: Basic Pearls, Blushing Bride 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon; 3-1/2" Circle Die for the Big Shot; dimensionals

New Occasions Mini products featured on thank-you cards

I love receiving cards in the mail. That's part of why we do what we do, right? Anyway, this week I received a couple of thank-you cards from my downline that use lots of great products from the new Occasions Mini Catalog.

Do you see what's new? There's a Labels Collection framelit, Mixed Bunch stamp set, and the Blossom Punch. There are also a couple of items from the upcoming Sale-a-Bration Mini, including the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack.

Secret Stampin' Sister program kicks off

This card was sent by a Secret Stampin' Sister (SSS). I started the 6-week program for my American Ink downline this week. I think it's a great way to motivate people to use their stamps to create cards for their SSS, as well as a way to learn about a fellow stamper. From what I've heard, participants eagerly anticipate receiving cards! It's a good thing... and good mail.

My handmade gift: A stamp lamp with ruffled Spice Cake shade

I love Pinterest.com ideas for mason jars and ruffled lamp shade.

I purchased the lighting unit at Lowe's. I glued Spice Cake fabric to the lid (this particular lamp was a Christmas present for my friend Kim, who loves blues and browns, not to mention Spice Cake anything).

Here's the finished stamp lamp. I like the strings popping out from the ruffles. You can always finish the material edges if you don't. I basted down the middle of several 2-inch strips of Spice Cake fabric and tugged on the end strings to make the ruffles. Then, starting at the bottom, I used a hot glue gun to adhere the ruffles, making sure the seams didn't all line up for a more natural look.

I have a ton of retired Stampin' Up! sets in my studio, so I grabbed a couple of them to fill this quart-sized canning jar. You can always unscrew the lid if you want to use one of the stamps in the jar! lol I hope you like it! I still need to make one for myself.

Precious Butterflies on Beau Chateau

This is the last of the five cards from a recent Thank You 10-card class. It features Precious Butterflies (a hostess set), stamped in Crumb Cake and Regal Rose (stamped off once). The edges of the Very Vanilla and polka-dotted Beau Chateau paper were distressed with the Cutter Kit and sponged with Crumb Cake ink.

Sending many thanks with Every Little Bit

I was looking at the 12" x 12" Letters to Santa paper I still have and thought I'd use it for something other than Christmas cards, such as this thank-you card. I started with a Marina Mist card (the front's been run through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder), then added a square piece of the striped paper on top. I picked four images from the Every Little Bit stamp set, stamped them in four colors with matching Postage Stamp Punched squares, added a 1/8" taffeta bow and adhered each layered square with dimensionals.

Kidoodles thanks a bunch card

Kidoodles is a great stamp set that gives you six images and sentiments. This is a quick and easy card that uses Just Eat Cake dsp, 1/8" Daffodil Delight taffeta, the Scallop Trim Border Punch, and aqua painters with ink pads - Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight and a little Blush Blossom for inside the ears.

Not So Seriously thank you

Not So Seriously is a fun stamp set with crazy phrases like the one on this card. Inside the card, it says, "... It's a log bigger than my heart!" This card uses Domestic Goddess dsp, a Designer In Color Brad, and Calypso Coral ink and card stock.

Pursuit of Happiness with Timeless Portrait dsp

It's always nice to have thank-you cards on hand... especially after Christmas. For the card above, I used a sentiment from the Pursuit of Happiness stamp set, layered on a Houndstooth-embossed black circle. The patterned paper is from the Timeless Portrait pack, and has both white and vanilla in it. I used the Ticket Corner Punch, along with 1/8" Basic Black taffeta.