Halloween Hello, Evergreen, & Label Love make & takes

Halloween Hello by Frankie White

 

Spending the weekend stamping with friends is a wonderful way to spend time. I adore Halloween! I know it's not a big card-sending holiday, but it's so much fun to make them - especially with this Halloween Hello set. Frankie's card uses Witches' Brew designer paper, the ultrafine orange glitter and Witches' Brew Designer Washi Tape in the Holiday Catalog, and burlap ribbon that was cut in half and then frayed. Those are glitter brads too.

Evergreen by Heather Williams

This card makes great use of paper scraps. On the right, there are smallish rectangles from the Seasons of Style designer series paper stack (page 22 in Holiday Catalog, $6.95 and Item 132181). It's a great way to get a variety of card-sized patterns for crafting.

Label Love by Mary Ann Huntington

This card is so simple and striking in person. It feels classy. The strips are from the Modern Medley dsp pack, with a bow of 1/8" Basic Black taffeta and a sentiment from Label Love punched with the Artisan Label punch.

 

I have more make and takes I'll take photos of tomorrow to share with you.

 

My Special: Order the Tag It (Item stamp set from me by August 31 and you'll get your name entered into a drawing for the Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder in the Holiday Catalog. I'll announce the winner on Sept. 1 AND if you use the following hostess code, you'll also be eligible to win the hostess benefits - GGQ2GJ3A.

 

Order anytime via my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net. Thanks!

 

My niece and I visited a local garage sale recently and found lots of cool tins. I thought I'd share a few with you today. I love the look of these. They'll hold anything too! If you'd like to see more of our vintage finds, please feel free to "Like" us on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/booth6goods.

Chalk Talk, Christmas and Tag It swaps

Chalk Talk by Kimberly Becker

I hosted a stampin' retreat at my studio this past weekend, and an American Ink team meeting too. Everyone stayed all day. Here are a few swaps to share. This first one uses the Chalk Talk Framelits and coordinating stamp set, along with Etcetera designer paper.

Northern Flurry by Frankie White

My photo doesn't do justice to the strip of shiny designer paper at the top of this card. Frankie used the Northern Flurry embossing folder and Festive Flurry framelits to diecut an embossed snowflake she adhered over the embossed card front.

Tag It by Heather Williams

Birthday Basics designer paper shines on this Tag It card. Heather used the Chalk Talk framelit to diecut the image after inking it with markers.

 

Remember: Order the Tag It stamp set from me by August 31 and you'll get your name entered into a drawing for the Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder in the Holiday Catalog. I'll announce the winner on Sept. 1 AND if you use the following hostess code, you'll also be eligible to win the hostess benefits - GGQ2GJ3A.

 

Order anytime via my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net. Thanks!



I picked up this little vintage item at an estate sale. It looks like a mini toothbrush holder! I'd asked several people, but I found a photo and description online today. My treasure? A vintage brass lipstick holder! It makes sense now that I know what it is. lol

 

 

 

Beautiful paper bows are so Worth the Wait!

 

Have you seen the new Gift Bow Bigz L Die in the Holiday Catalog? Love it! You'll never have bow issues again, worrying about making the sides even. This is the smaller of the two bows you can build with the die. You need two of the curved pieces and one small rectangle. I use a bone folder to curl the ends of the bow before adhering them together.

 

The Coastal Cabana bow tops off a cute punched baby card that uses the single Worth the Wait stamp. I stamped the image once in Baked Brown Sugar and once in Coastal Cabana and used the largest scallop circle punch, along with the 1-3/4" Circle punch to create a window of sorts. I even fussy-cut the turtle. I embossed the top Whisper White layer with Perfect Polka Dots, and adhered it to the Whisper White card front with dimensionals.

 

I've had tons of fun the past few days, and haven't been home much. I got to stamp for hours with my bestest bud, Kim, as well as other demonstrators this weekend for a stampin' retreat. My niece baked many dishes for us, and prepared fresh guacamole and taco meat for a taco bar. It was wonderful!





Here's my vintage share today. It was thrown in with other items I purchased at a garage sale. Do you know what it is? (Hint: It's not a mini waffle iron, which is what my hubby guessed. lol)

Well, after pondering the two spouts and the patterns, I've discovered it's a vintage WMF Ritter Citro - a lemon wedge squeezer/juicer for tea or fish. Cool, eh? And I've just been using my fingers to squeeze lemon juice into my water!

All of the items used to create the card above may be ordered at your convenience through my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net. I have a great deal for you this month - order Tag It from me by August 31 and you'll get your name entered into a drawing for the Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder in the Holiday Catalog. I'll announce the winner on Sept. 1 AND if you use the following hostess code, you'll also be eligible to win the hostess benefits - GGQ2GJ3A.

Thank you, Judy, for your online order! You're in my drawing for hostess benefits on Sept. 1.

Only a few weeks left to sign up for almost half-off kits

 

Time is running out to get two months of Paper Pumpkin kits at almost half off! There's a special promo code for first-time kit subscribers - PUMPKINDEAL. These kits make fabulous gifts for people who want to be a little creative without investing lots of time, money and room in their homes! (Is this you?) It's easy to sign-up - just go to http://mypaperpumpkin.com and please choose me (Terry Blais) as your demonstrator.

Here's the nitty-gritty:

Offer Details: Use the promotion code PUMPKINDEAL to join Paper Pumpkin before August 31, 2013, and pay only $10 a month* for the first two months.
*plus tax, where applicable. Shipping included!

The Fine Print:

• Promotion applies only to the first two months of a new subscription. After receiving two month's worth, the price for each month's kit will go to the regular price: $19.95.
• You must click "Add Promo Code" and then enter the promo code PUMPKINDEAL in the "Promo Code" field when you sign up on the mypaperpumpkin.com website to take advantage of this promotion.
• You must join by Saturday, August 31, 2013; 11:50 PM (MT).

Grateful Chalk Talk card in pistachio and black

 

I love all of the stamps in the Chalk Talk set. You can see a sentiment layered on top of another stamp from the set. Ornate without being too fussy.

 

I started with a Very Vanilla card base, and layered a 4" x 5-1/4" piece of Modern Medley designer paper on top of that. I just wanted to highlight one color, so I chose Pistachio Pudding, adding a couple of pearls on the bigger stamped image. You can find this stamp set on page 12 of the annual catalog. All of the images may either be diecut with the coordinating framelits, or punched with circle and oval punches. Love it! BTW, I CASE'd this card from fellow SU! demo Julie Davison. Her card was white, brown and pink.

 

These products - along with Clearance Rack, specials and Holiday Catalog items - may be ordered at your convenience through my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net. I have a great deal for you this month -

order Tag It from me by August 31 and you'll get your name entered into a drawing for the Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder in the Holiday Catalog. I'll announce the winner on Sept. 1 AND if you use the following hostess code, you'll also be eligible to win the hostess benefits - GGQ2GJ3A.

 

In our garage sale travels, my niece has gravitated toward old jars and bottles. She's got an entire shelving unit dedicated to mason jars at the Poulsbo Antique Mall - vintage, painted inside, painted outside and distressed, and filled with goodies like a couple in this photo with wooden spools. If they don't have glass lids with wire bales, they have the old zinc lids with the porcelain inserts. I think I've caught the bug. I have a great wire rack carrier that holds eight jars in my dining room, as well as more old jars on my kitchen shelves. The jars are filled with mini clothespins, Monopoly houses and hotels, buttons, poker chips, marbles,wooden spools, and Scrabble tiles (one old jar holds 300 tiles!).

 

Enjoy your day!







A little Label Love for Mosaic Madness

 

I love the look of Coastal Cabana and Baked Brown Sugar colors together. I used them with the Mosaic Madness stamp set and coordinating punch and embossing folder. This card is a CASE of one by fellow SU! demosntrator Marika Lemay. The scalloped Coastal Cabana card stock at the bottom was diecut using the Tasteful Trim die in the Big Shot, and the sentiment is from Label Love and punched with the Artisan Label punch. Hope you enjoy!

 

All of these wonderful items are available to you day and night by ordering through my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net. And I have a great deal for you this month.

Everybody who orders Tag It from me by August 31 will have their name entered into a drawing for the Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder in the Holiday Catalog. I'll announce the winner on Sept. 1 AND if you use the following hostess code, you'll also be eligible to win the hostess benefits - GGQ2GJ3A.

 

I found this adorable child's suitcase at a garage sale awhile back. The size is perfect for a weekend or overnight trip to Grandma's house. Cheerful, no?

A bright palette for Wildflower Meadow

 

I focused on a Daffodil Delight/Island Indigo/Melon Mambo/Pear Pizzazz palette for this happy card. The sentiment is from the Hello, Lovely stamp set - one of the ones we received at SU!'s Convention 2013 - and the gingham yellow pattern is actually a piece of washi tape. You can find the stamp set on page 22 of the annual catalog.

 



My number one tip for this card - stamp before you emboss. lol I used markers to ink up the Wildflower Meadow stamp, embossed it with the coordinating folder, and then added little punched flowers with pearls. This card makes me happy!

All of these wonderful items are available to you day and night by ordering through my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net. And I have a great deal for you this month.

Everybody who orders Tag It from me by August 31 will have their name entered into a drawing for the Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder in the Holiday Catalog. I'll announce the winner on Sept. 1 AND if you use the following hostess code, you'll also be eligible to win the hostess benefits - GGQ2GJ3A.

 

Here's my vintage find of the day - hand-painted soldier cake picks. Aren't they adorable? Enjoy your day!

Sponged one-layer card uses Serene Silhouettes

 

Sponging was one of the first techniques I learned when I started stamping. It can make a dramatic impact on your finished creation with little effort.

 

First, I used my Stampin' Trimmer to cut a rectangle in a scrap piece of paper. That scrap was then placed over my card front so I had a guide to follow while sponging three different colors of ink - Pool Party, Crushed Curry and Pumpkin Pie. Then I stamped an image from Serene Silhouettes (page 54) in Jet Black StazOn over the top of the sponged area. I removed my template (in the foreground), then stamped a sentiment from Petite Pairs (page 73).

 

This clean and simple card is also called a one-layer card. Hope you like it!

 

Don't forget - you may win hostess benefits (starting at $25) when you place an order through my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net by August 31 using the hostess code below. And everybody who orders Tag It from me by August 31 will also have their name entered into a drawing for the Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder in the Holiday Catalog. I'll announce the winner on Sept. 1 AND if you use the following hostess code, you'll also be eligible to win hostess benefits starting at $25. Here's the code - GGQ2GJ3A.

The photo shows a sample of the Pretty Print embossing.

 

This is a wire egg basket I bought at a garage sale. I have a metal hen basket on the washstand in my entryway that holds miscellaneous things like coupons, pens, and anything I want to remember to take with me as I leave the house. I think it adds a touch of whimsy to any decor. Have a wonderful day!







Create a candle birthday card; guess what kind of dog

 

This is a great go-to birthday card for someone of the male persuasion, or someone who doesn't like a lot of fluff. I CASE'd the card from our SU! demo magazine, Stampin' Success.

 

The candle flame is a punched piece of Polka Dot designer paper adhered with a dimensional. The punch is the retired Blossom Petals. I cut a 1/2" x 3" piece of Venetian Romance designer paper for the candle body, then tied a bow using linen thread. The sentiment is from Delightful Dozen and is stamped in Early Espresso. I used a Crushed Curry marker to color in "You're How Old?" and use an oval framelit to diecut it. The oval was sponged with Early Espresso ink, and the front of the Crumb Cake card was embossing with the Perfect Polka Dots folder. There's a Pistachio Pudding layer behind the Very Vanilla too.

 

Don't forget that when you place an Online Order through my store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net by August 31 you become eligible to win the hostess benefits AND be entered into a drawing for a Pretty Print embossing folder if your order includes the Tag It stamp set, which benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities. Thanks!

 

I came across this brass dog letter opener at a garage sale this weekend. It's a nice, hefty weight and very solid. Here's a close-up of the dog:

 

So does it look like a retriever maybe? Or what kind of dog would you say it is? Leave a comment, please!







Love a chameleon, help Ronald McDonald House Charities

 

I immediately thought of the movie, "Tangled," when I saw this chameleon. He's so cute! And my whole family loved that movie. I made a very clean and simple card with a 2-inch strip of Polka Dot designer paper, a corner rounder punch, and markers.

 

Everyone at the Stampin' Up! convention was given this Tag It stamp set, which is very cool, because with almost 5,800 demonstrators showing it off, it's bound to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. SU! has contributed well over a million dollars. Impressive! A couple of bucks from the sale of each Tag It set benefits RMHC this year. The set is on page 45. In clear-mount, the cost is $16.95 (item #130303); wood-mount is $22.95 (item #130300).

 

To order your Tag It stamp set, along with other SU! products, please visit my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net.

 

*** Everybody who orders Tag It from me by August 31 will have their name entered into a drawing for the Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder in the Holiday Catalog. I'll announce the winner on Sept. 1 AND if you use the following hostess code, you'll also be eligible to win the hostess benefits - GGQ2GJ3A.

 

 

The photo shows a sample of the Pretty Print embossing.

 

Here's a new-to-me vintage hand mirror I picked up the other day. I'm helping my niece with a booth at a local antique store. It's been alot of fun hanging out with her and her daughter, looking for great deals at thrift stores and garage sales, and repurposing and upcycling other items. One of the most difficult things to do is decide the prices of items. What would you say for this mirror?





Use the hexagon punch and take a Walk in the Wild

 

Have you seen this moose from the new Walk in the Wild stamp set yet? He looks so majestic!

 

This was the one swap card I received at convention - yes, one! My friend, Cindy Fodor, gave it to me when I saw her. She's an amazing demo in Pennsylvania who hit $700,000 in career sales this year. I love that she paired the moose with hexagons. Who would've thunk it? The sentiment is from a hostess set in the big catalog called Express Yourself.

 

I didn't make any swaps by choice. It stresses me out, to tell the truth. I love swapping monthly at my American Ink gatherings to get some great ideas, but I feel swapping at convention gets a little crazy/crowded at times, with swappers buzzing around in swarms. I like my space. lol

 

Use my August hostess code to be eligible to win the hostess benefits. Order the Tag It stamp set and be entered into a drawing to win the Pretty Prints embossing folder, as well. Here's the hostess code to use till Aug. 31: GGQ2GJ3A

 

Here are a few cuties I found at a recent garage sale. Do you know what they are, because I sure don't! The two on the left have NWA painted on their base, while the third looks like it has duck feet! I'm thinking it may be some kind of cake decoration from back in the day? If you know, please comment!

 

I'll be sharing more finds with each blog post. There have been so many announcements of new stuff from Stampin' Up! lately, that I haven't been posting cards. I've taken many photos today and will be updating the blog once or twice a day with cards. See you soon!





With Thinlits, making cards that move is a cinch!

 

They've been called flip cards, flip flop cards, swing cards, and more - but they have always been a bit tricky to create. Not anymore! Our amazing new Thinlits Card Dies cut and score to create a card that flips in just one step.

 

Item	Description
133479	Label Card Thinlits Die
133480	Circle Card Thinlits Die

Both dies are $32.95 (US). There are some products you just have to see in action before you realize how much you need them, right? This is one of them! These new card dies come with extra die pieces that have versatile designs, so you can use them on other projects, not just flip cards. (The Circle Card Thinlits Die comes with 10 total pieces; the Label Card Thinlits Die comes with nine total pieces.)

With the number of dies you're getting, plus the die that creates the card itself, the price is a great value-especially to create an interactive card! Here are the stamp sets that work well with the Thinlits:

Label Card Thinlits Die (item 133479):

• Happy Day Stamp Set (item 130294 W item 130297 C)

Circle Card Thinlits Die (item 133480):

• Worth the Wait Stamp (item 131094 W)
• Five-Way Flower Stamp (item 131088 W)

Both card dies pair well with:

• Oh, Hello Stamp Set (item 131931 W item 130733 C)
• Yippee-Skippee! Stamp Set (item 131341 W item 131344 C)
• Really Good Greetings Stamp Set (item 130330 W item 130333 C)
• Regarding Dahlias Stamp Set (item 130324 W item 130327 C)
• These dies also work well with our new magnetic platform (item 130658) so you can place the dies exactly where you want them!

 

Your card stock is cut and scored for you! To order, please visit my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net. When you use the following Hostess Code, you'll be entered to win the hostess benefits too: GGQ2GJ3A. Thanks!

The Holiday Catalog is live!

The Holiday Catalog is available to order from now. It's filled with plenty of products so you can get started on your holiday projects.

View the online holiday catalog now

Be sure to try out the new augmented reality feature to see videos that show our products in action. It's easy enough for newbies, fun enough for tech-savvy users, and free!

1. Install the free Layar app to your smartphone or tablet.
2. Using the Layar app, scan any catalog page that has the Stampin' Up! Interactive icon on it.

While you're using this feature, be sure to share your favorite products and videos on social media so your friends can see what there is to love about Stampin' Up! products.

Different mobile devices work differently with different apps. Some are faster than others, some take more steps to load videos, etc. With the Layar app, we have noticed these differences in user experience too.

Don't forget you may order any or all of the items in the Holiday Catalog and annual catalog anytime you want from my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net. Thanks!

New downloads in full bloom

 

It's Tuesday and you know what that means - new downloads are in full bloom. (PDF) Straight from the annual catalog, the Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper pairs perfectly with the Kind & Cozy Stamp Brush Set. While the About to Blossom August Kit adds a bouquet of possibilities to the FREE About to Blossom August Wallpaper. Don't miss out on all the floral fun!

 

To order this download and any other SU! item, please visit my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net. Thanks!

Pure Gumption is perfection for a folding graduation card

 

I think this card is lookin' fine for a great graduation card. Sure, most graduations are over, but it's never too early to make a card or two to keep in your stash for a graduation a year or two down the road. My friend and downline, Mary Ann, brought this card as a make and take to our last American Ink gathering. The sentiment is from Pure Gumption on page 52 in the big catalog. We stamped that first before running the Whisper White layer through the Big Shot in the Fancy Fan embossing folder. The hat is two red pieces of card stock cut 2" square, with a silver mini brad holding the twine tassel.

 



 

Ha ha! I took this photo upside down by mistake with my phone! Anyway, you can see how the inside of the hat is stamped, and there's a third sentiment inside the card. The inside of the hat is a white square that was folding in half each way, then folded on one diagonal. You push in the diagonal score lines so one square lines up with the other. I hope that makes sense!

 

My 20-card class was fun Saturday. I'll be posting those 10 card designs this week. I'm playing with clay today for a club project and will have those club cards to post too.

 

To order anything you see here, please visit my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net. There's still the Buy 3, Get 1 Free Designer Series Paper special, as well as the Undefined Stamp Carving Kit for $19.95, and other new products here. Contact me if you have any questions or need some information (tblaisink@gmail.com). Enjoy your day!

Amazing cell phone purse and charming note

 

My dear friend Kim has some mad skills! Look how cute and functional this bag is. Kim sewed cell phone purses with an extra pocket for credit cards and ID for me and members of my American Ink downline who attended convention - 11 in all. Mine also shows off a sneak peek of the burlap ribbon in the Holiday Catalog, which starts August 1.

 

Thank you so much, bestie! You rock!!! As a side note, it was a very exciting time for Kim this past week - three of her goats were pregnant and ready to pop. She's got five new kids, two boys and three girls. She's thrilled! And her farm is bustling with activity, with the animals and the garden.
 

 

I never finished showing swaps from our last American Ink gathering. This 3" x 3" note was designed by Holly, one of my downline now living in Pennsylvania. I love how bright and cheerful it is. It uses Mosaic Madness, Quattrefancy designer paper and the Mosaic embossing folder. The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Banners.

 

 

There's a great Starter Kit special going on now. You get to pick a free kit in addition to $125 worth of SU! product for only $99. You can join through my SU! website at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net.

 

Offer: New recruits get to pick one of four project kits for free in addition to their starter kit when they join Stampin' Up!  Dates: July 15-August 31, 2013

Kit Options:
The first three project kits are from the holiday catalog and the last option is from the annual catalog.

Option	Kit Description	Item	Total Value
1	Build a Banner Simply Created Kit AND Halloween Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit	133507 132698	$29.90
2	Build a Banner Simply Created Kit AND Christmas Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit	133507 132697	$29.90
3	Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit	133463	$19.95
4	Tag a Bag Bundle AND Tag a Box Bundle	131371 131372	$22.45



I'd love to have you join my American Ink team. We have alot of fun! And we have a Stampin' Retreat coming up Aug. 9-11 at my studio. I'm prepping a couple of 3d projects for everybody, and I'll have totes of cards to make as a service project benefitting our troops and a local nursing home. You may bring whatever projects you wish to work on and use my stamps, inks, Big Shot and accessories, paper cutters and so much more! It'll save you lugging tons of stuff around. lol

Get crazy with the Undefined stamp carving kit

 

Today I promised I'd show you a couple of stamps carved by my 12-year-old daughter, Sylvie. She started with a drawing on a piece of paper (bottom right). Then she carved the image from rubber provided in the Undefined stamp carving kit, which is on sale now. Finally, I stamped the image in Jet Black StazOn onto a wood block from the kit and adhered the rubber to the foam adhesive and onto the block for her very own stamp! I inked up the image with markers to see how it stamped on a postcard provided in the kit.

 

I was skeptical when the Undefined kit was announced at Convention 2013. But my daughter LOVES it. So, if anything, this would make a great gift for an older kid.

 

Here are the steps:

 

 

Draw your image on a piece of paper in pencil.

 

Turn the image upside down on the rubber and rub with your fingers. If it's too light, you may choose to trace over it with a bolder color, like my daughter did with an Island Indigo marker provided in the kit.

 

Using the smallest tool, guide it along the outside of your lines, turning the rubber to keep the rubber trench you're making as smooth as possible.

 

 

Peel off one side of the foam adhesive and stick it to the back of your rubber image. Trim off the excess. The rubber is THICK! (Note: See the lines on the big chunk of excess rubber? That's where Sylvie first tried out the tool before carving her stamp to get a feel for it.)

 

 

Before you adhere the rubber to the block, don't forget to ink it up and stamp it on the wood block. I used Jet Black StazOn ink.

 

 

My daughter created a simple anime card to share with a friend. Quite the personal touch, eh? I love it! And she was thrilled!

 

Tips: The Undefined stamp carving kit comes with four wood blocks, one chunk of rubber and one piece of foam adhesive, plus other stuff. I put the blocks on the rubber and drew around them and cut the foam apart to make sure I had enough for all four stamps. Then I did the same thing with the foam adhesive.

 

I stamped the bird image on card stock first to see how it looked after the initial carving. Then Sylvie smoothed out a couple of places using the carving tool. We re-stamped it and, once satisfied, stamped it on the wood block.

 

You don't need to carve super deep to get a good image! This simple bird image took three times longer to carve than the Garfield/Pookie image.

 

Let your imagination go wild! It really is fun, and very satisfying to see an image you've drawn come to life in a rubber stamp that may be used over and over again.

 

Here's the link for the Undefined stamp carving kit and item numbers. The whole kit is $19.95, and the refill kit is $9.95. You may place your order through my Online Store at http://therubberroom.stampinup.net. Thanks!