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!









Have fun creating your own fabulous stamps!

 

Have you ever wanted a stamp but couldn't find the perfect image?

 

Express your personality, thoughts, feelings, etc. with a stamp you've carved all on your own! I know you'll have a "look what I made!" moment.

Stampin' Up! wants to see what you make with your kit. Please e-mail a photo of your creations and any projects you make with your carved stamps to undefined@stampinup.com so your photos can be pinned to the Undefined Pinterest board!

 

 

Included in the Stamp Carving Kit:

• 2 carving tools
• 3" x 4" rubber
• 3" x 4" foam
• 4 wood blocks (various sizes)
• 1 Island Indigo Stampin' Write Marker
• 3 postcards
• Instruction sheet
• Stamp image templates

 

Included in the Refill Kit:

• 3" x 4" rubber
• 3" x 4" foam
• 4 wood blocks (various sizes)
• Instruction sheet

 

Stampin' Up! gave all 5,800 Convention 2013 attendees a block of rubber and foam adhesive so we could make our own stamp. I also traded a Prize Patrol (free product) with my friend Puddin' to get the Undefined Kit with tools because I knew my daughter would love it. She does! I'll share two stamps she made, along with photos and tips tomorrow.

 

The Undefined stamp carving kit is available NOW! You may order it, along with any other catalog, clearance or MDS item, via my Online Store at http://therubberroomstampinup.net. Thanks!

Buy $99 Starter Kit and pick a FREE kit!

 

The banners are so much fun!

I just returned from the Stampin' Up! Convention in Salt Lake City and saw first-hand how fabulous these kits are. Start a great hobby or your own business when you purchase a Starter Kit for only $99 (and pick $125 worth of product!). Free shipping - you just pay sales tax.To buy the Starter Kit and pick your FREE kit, please visit my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net. Thanks! Terry 

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

Get a fun kit for only $10 a month

 

Great crafting fun comes to your door!

Offer Dates: July 18, 2013 -August 31, 2013
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:

• For new subscribers only.
• Select me - Terry Blais - as your Stampin' Up! demonstrator.
• 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 need to visit mypaperpumpkin.com to join.
• 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).

Papillon Potpourri in blue and green

 

My friend and downline, Barb, made this striking Papillon Potpourri card for her American Ink team gathering swap last Saturday. I love that she used the Flower Garden embossing folder and adhered the punched butterflies over it with dimensionals. This is definitely a color combo I'll file away to use in the future. I love it!

Coffee & friends... just about all I need!

 

There were a couple of guest demonstrators at my last American Ink gathering. Heather brought this lovely Perfect Blend (p. 37) coffee card. She said she'd recently taken a watercoloring class. The coffee cup feels and looks amazing. I love it! The designer paper is from This & That. Our other guest demo, Pat, brought some delicious Hay Stacks, along with the recipe for how to make them. They were wonderful! Thanks to both ladies.

 

If you'd like to purchase the Perfect Blend coffee stamp set and any other Stampin' Up! items, please visit my Online Store at http://therubberroom.stampinup.net. 

Pleasant Poppies pop on label framelit

 

My mother-in-law and downline, Ginette, came up with this card design on her own for a swap at Saturday's demo gathering. It uses the Pleasant Poppies background stamp on a label framelit. The Melon Mambo front of the card was embossed using the Fancy Fans folder, and Ginette used an Itty Bitty punch to punch a flower out of each corner, then added a pearl.

Embossed Mosaic Madness swap

The Crisp Cantaloupe color with white and Crumb Cake feel so crisp to me... refreshing. I love cards like this during the summer. This was Puddin's swap. She's my friend and downline. Stamps from the Mosaic Madness set were used, as well as the Modern Mosaic embossing folder. I love that she cut along the embossed lines on the white layer. It's so pretty.

A Perfect Blend of designer paper scraps

My bestie Kim brought this cute Perfect Blend make & take Saturday to our American Ink team gathering. I love that it uses smallish strips of Quattrefancy designer series paper on a Whisper White card. As one of my downline observed - this would make a great card in which to include a gift card to Starbucks!

Mixed Bunch fabulousness in new In Colors

 

The In Colors never looked better than they do on my good friend Barb's fabulous make and take she brought for everyone in our American Ink group to make recently. I love the Pistachio Pudding card, stretch ribbon and punched flower with the Crisp Cantaloupe card stock layer and button. Fabulous! The flower is from the Mixed Bunch stamp set (p. 89), and was punched using the Blossom punch (p. 183).

To order any of these items (and so much more!) please visit my Online Store at http://therubberroom.stampinup.net. Thanks!

Pumpkin kit has more life than just one project

 

Once you've made a My Paper Pumpkin kit, you can still use the 1" square ink spot and stamp to create more projects. Bonnie is one of my amazing downline. Not only did she bring doughnuts, coffee and creamer to our American Ink team gathering Saturday, she also sewed each of us our own journal and used products from My Paper Pumpkin kit for her make & take.

Shop Around jumbo wheel framelit card

 

I love the images on the Shop Around jumbo wheel. Here's a close-up of two of the panels in Calypso Coral ink. It's my swap for my American Ink team of SU! demonstrators this morning.

 

 

I started with this sketch challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary (CCMC 260). I made my card out of Crisp Cantaloupe card stock, running it through the Big Shot with the second largest label framelit, making sure the top of the framelit was above the fold so that part would be the top fold of the card. I'm loving my new magnetic platform - it holds the framelit firmly in place!

 

 

I ran the front of the card through the Beautifully Baroque embossing folder, before adding the stamped wheel panels. Then I used the Pansy punch with Crisp Cantaloupe and Calypso Coral card stock, holding them together with Calypso Coral designer brads.



 

 

Create with Connie and Mary had a double challenge - the sketch and colors - but I didn't use Pistachio Pudding. I just wasn't feeling it! I hope you enjoy your weekend. I've got lots of fun things planned with different people. Fun!

Clean & Simple By The Seashore

 

I discovered one thing making this card - I love Bermuda Bay with Coastal Cabana. This sketch from Clean & Simple just went up today, so there's still 13 days left to participate.

 

I used the Tasteful Trim die with Bermuda Bay card stock to diecut the large scallops. The crabs were stamped in Early Espresso on Crumb Cake card stock, then layered on Early Espresso.

 

To order any of these Stampin' Up! products (except Banner Greetings, which is a hostess set) please visit my Online Store at http://TheRubberRoom.stampinup.net.

 

I'm adding my card to the 52 Card Pickup. There are a few more days left to link up your card here.

Easy card with stamp-punch combo & 25% off words

 

Everyone who knows me knows I LOVE stamps with coordinating punches. They rock! This flower was made using the Flower Shop stamp set, then punching it with the new Pansy punch.

 

 

I started with a Pear Pizzazz card, adding a 2" x 5-1/2" piece of Gingham Garden designer paper. Then I stamped three flowers in Rich Razzleberry and punched them out, adhered them with dimensionals and added big rhinestones in the centers. I added a knot of stitched Rich Razzleberry ribbon, and a sentiment from the Sweet Essentials stamp set (you can save 25% on this set as part of a greetings special NOW).

 

This was another of the card designs for a recent 10-card class. Quick, cute and easy! I hope you have a wonderful day.



Fishin' Around for a cute card

 

These fish are super cute! This single stamp - Fishin' Around - made the top of my list when the new catalog was released. I used all of the new In Color markers - Crisp Canteloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar, and Coastal Cabana - to color the image, which was stamped in Jet Black StazOn.

 

 

I used a greeting from the hostess set, Banner Greetings, cutting it out and adding it to the top of the card with dimensionals. I had to fussy cut the fish bowl, and adhered that with dimensionals, as well. I chose the Fancy Fan embossing folder to mimic waves, which is why the fish bowl water is in line with the embossing. I hope you love this cute card as much as I do!

 

As always, if you'd like to buy the supplies to make this card, please visit my Online Store at http://therubberroom.stampinup.net. Thanks!

Zoo Babies with Crushed Curry

 

How cute is this giraffe? It's one of the Zoo Babies in a new stamp set you may purchase in the big catalog.

 

 

I can honestly say I'm not a fan of Crushed Curry. It's a hard color for me to use. So I grabbed my Color Coach and found that Coastal Cabana and Pumpkin Pie complement Crushed Curry. I like those two colors! So here we go. I love the Scallop Border punched strip of Coastal Cabana with the 1/8" Pumpkin Pie taffeta and the little punched tag with "hi" from Fabulous Phrases.

 

 

I started planning my card with last week's sketch challenge from Try Stampin' On Tuesday. That's why I added a "tree" in Baked Brown Sugar ink from Take Care. It's the second design today I used for my 10-card class. What do you think?

 

To order any of these products, please visit my Online Store at http://therubberroom.stampinup.net. If you don't have a demonstrator, I'd love to be yours! Thanks!!!

Adding some Venetian Romance to my card

 

I love this Venetian Romance designer series paper. The colors are GORGEOUS! I tried creating a card that's a little different for me, using the sketch challenge from several days ago from Create with Connie and Mary.

 

I'm using a new stamp set called Happy Day. The medallion stamp doesn't fit in any circle or scallop punch well. I ended up using the 1-3/4" Circle punch, which cut off the very ends of the points. Of course there's a flag on the card, along with crochet trim and one of the jumbo pearls. The 2-1/2" Soft Suede circle was run through the Big Shot in the new Beautifully Baroque embossing folder. I'm using this card as one of 5 designs at a 10-card class today.

 

It's going to be a HOT day! I hope you have a good one.

Chalk Talk card for sketch, color challenges

It's been awhile since I've taken part in a sketch or color challenge, so I decided to make one card using the Chalk Talk stamp set (p. 12) and Beautifully Baroque embossing folder (p. 191) for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge 93 and Sunday Stamps Color Challenge 53. There's still time to participate in both challenges!

 

 

I started with a 5-1/4" x 8-1/2" piece of So Saffron card stock, then added a 5" x 4" piece of Tempting Turquoise, punching the corners. I layered a 4-3/4" x 3-3/4" piece of Tangerine Tango card stock on top of the turquoise after running it through the Big Shot and rounding the corners. These colors were seriously a challenge for me!

 

 

I used an 11/16" x 5" piece of Tempting Turquoise under the Delicate Details Lace Tape (p. 171) because I thought the card needed a bit more blue, then I added Brights Candy Dots (p. 171). The "for you" is punched with the 1-3/8" Circle punch and adhered with dimensionals on the blue and white layer, which is also adhered with dimensionals over the lace tape. Could there be more? Of course there is! There's an Anything Goes Challenge over at Stampin' Royalty, so I'm adding this card there too. You still have a few days left to add something!

 

Stampin' Royalty Challenge #183 - Anything Goes!

Create a card, Scrapbook page, 3-D Item, or My Digital Studio project,
Then upload it to your blog or public gallery and be sure to add a link back here letting people know you're participating in our challenge!

 

Thanks for coming by and spending a few minutes on my blog! I appreciate it.

Happy 4th of July!

 

Just wanted to pop in and wish all of my fellow Americans a safe and sane Independence Day! I've got family coming over for a late lunch. No barbecue here - I've got a nice ham in the oven, I've already made potato salad and a cake (requests from my kids), as well as some sweet watermelon. We'll be playing a few rounds of croquet in a fierce contest after we eat. ha ha ha

 

Have you thought about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? I've been getting so many goodies from SU! delivered to my doorstep lately. The latest box included a bundle I received for recruiting during Sale-a-Bration earlier this year. I earned the Happy Day stamp set, Essentials hardware clips, and Modern Medley designer paper. I'm stoked! Then there are the free bundles I get for having a senior manager title, earning the incentive trip... it's wonderful! If you'd like to get started with your own flexible business, you may sign up anytime via my website: http://therubberroom.stampinup.net. Once you pick $125 worth of product (for only $99 plus tax and NO shipping), you'll be up and running! You'll be a member of my American Ink group of demos, and I'm available to help you in any way you wish. Enjoy your holiday!

Online class available: What to Washi

Washi Class Flyer

Our next online class -- What to Washi -- is now available. Offering seven different sections of Washi wisdom, this class includes everything you need to know to make the most of one of the hottest crafting trends out there. Originating in Japan, Washi Tape has taken the crafting world by storm, offering an incredibly quick, easy way to add a fresh, colorful look to any project. What to Washi explores a myriad of Washi options and provides much more than the basics for you to begin your own Washi adventures. Divided into seven PDF documents, this class includes written instructions, step-out photos, instructional videos, and supply lists for more than 30 projects. What to Washi Class: item 134742 Price: $14.95 US The following topics are covered in the class:

• The Washi Basics
• Washi-The Next Step
• Above and Beyond
• Sharing Washi with Others
• Memory Keeping
• Storage
• Only the Beginning. . .

And wait, there's more! This class is also being offered as part of the What to Washi Bundle. When you order the bundle you receive everything listed below:

• What to Washi Class
• Epic Day This and That Designer Washi Tape
• Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape
• Season of Style Designer Washi Tape
• Witches Brew Designer Washi Tape
• 20 Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes

Each Washi Tape package contains three coordinating rolls of Stampin' Up!'s exclusive Washi Tape for a total of 12 rolls. And when you order the What to Washi Bundle, you'll be the first to receive our Season of Style and Witches Brew Washi Tape packages; they aren't available to individual purchase until August 1!

What to Washi Bundle: item 134743
Price: $36.95 US

PC Instructions
The files will be downloaded as archive files that you can then extract and save on your computer. When you click on the download link, an extraction program will automatically launch. Choose the location where you would like to save the files (be sure to note where you save them). Follow the prompts on the extraction program, then navigate to the location where you saved the files. Click on the file and open.

Mac Instructions
When you click on the download link, the file will be mounted as a drive. Once it is mounted, open the drive and drag and drop the files to the location of your choice on your hard drive. The files can then be opened.


Q: Who is the target audience for the What to Washi class and What to Washi Bundle?
A: Anybody who loves to create will love Washi Tape, especially crafters who are looking for quick, easy creative options--and who isn't? Washi Tape is one of the hottest trends in the creative world, and this class and bundle provides everything anyone needs to go wild over Washi. It's a must-have product for the Washi Tape rookie, as well as the Washi Tape expert!

Q: How long will the class and bundle available?
A: Both products will be available until January 2, 2014; however, until August 1, the What to Washi Bundle is the only way you can get your hands on Stampin' Up!'s newest Washi Tape offerings--Witches Brew Washi Tape and Seasons of Style Washi Tape. These products are featured in the Holiday Catalog and are not available for purchase individually until August 1.

Q: How do I purchase the class?
A: This class, item 134742, can be purchased on a customer, workshop, or Starter Kit order.

Q: How do customers get the class materials?
A: Once the class is purchased, a customer will log into her online account and access the download the same way she would when ordering a digital download for MDS. The difference is that the file will be a PDF and will open in her default PDF reader rather than MDS.

Buy 3 paper packs and get 1 free!

Offer Dates: July 1-31, 2013
Offer Details: Buy three packs of select Designer Series Paper and get one for free!
The Fine Print:

• These items don't qualify for the offer:
• Designer Series Paper Stacks
• Specialty Designer Series Paper
• Designer Series Paper ordered through hostess benefits
• No limits. Order six? You'll get two for free. Nine? You'll get three for free.
• Check out our Designer Series Papers in the annual catalog pages 151, 153, and 154.
• Order deadlines:
  • Wednesday, July 31, 2013; 11:50 PM (MT)