CNY SCS Gatheirng in Maine, NY - Demo Quality Swap

I recently attended a gathering of Central and Southern Tier NY'ers in Maine, NY. We routinely gather to swap cards, atc's (Artist Trading Cards), Recipie Swaps and stamp together making shoebox projects. A shoebox project is where everyone brings enough pre-cut supplies for the other people at their table to make their project. I participated in the Demo Quality Swap. In this swap, your whole cardfront had to be completely current SU supplies. I called my offering Quilted Tarts. I started by cutting a piece of creamy carmel paper to 4 x 5 and then adhering coordinating 1" pieces to it. I chose Raspberry Tart Designer paper as it's my new favorite and because I knew it would all match and I wouldn't have to worry about that part. After the 4 x 5 piece was covered with 1" square of DP, I ran it through my top note die, then through the big shot again using the new SU texture plate called damask. I adhered the top note piece to a mat of pink pirouette which I had pierced with my pokey poke and the mat pack. Then I stamped thank you using a stamp from the cute and curly set and punched it out with the curly label punch and attached a "button" I had previously die cut using the Buttons #5 sizlet and covered with crystal effects and let dry. The whole card was then attached to a kiwi kiss base. I repeated this 12 times and viola a Demo Quality swap!

what do I do with those watercolor wonder crayons?

That's what this month's DIVA hostess wanted to know.... so I ordered some (yes, I don't have EVERYTHING) and got to work. I'll be honest, I had a bit of a hard time achieving a look that I really liked. This card doesn't show very well, but the flowers are pretty IRL. To get these flowers, I first spritzed my inspired by nature stamp with water, then colored directly onto the stamp with the crayons, spritzed again a couple of times and stamped onto very vanilla cardstock. I'd seen a card much like this on SCS and decided to try it to see if it would work for my DIVA's. I hope they like it, as it's the card we will be doing friday night. We will also color with the crayons directly onto the paper and pick up color from the end of the crayon with an aqua brush. The card is called a tent topper and the base is cut to 4 1/4 x 8 1/2, then folded to make a 4 1/4 inch square. Then you make your focal image any size and shape you want and use a finished card or an envelope to determine placement onto your card base.... KWIM? Thanks for stopping by my rubber room today!

A happy Heart birthday card

Man! Has it really been 10 days since my last post? I'm sorry I'm not a better blogger :( Today I wanted to share a picture of the 2nd card we did at last week's workshop. The girls liked it and it was a nice workshop card as it is not difficult at all. The card base is pink pirouette and also used is chocolate chip (punched with the new eyelet scalloped border), riding hood red and whisper white. The dandelions are stamped with pink pirouette and riding hood red progressively. Progressive stamping is when you ink the stamp and stamp it full strength, then stamp again without reinking. You get varying shades of matching color this way.... very easy! Well, anyway, hope you like today's card. I'm working on a video tour of the rubber room, but first I need to clean it! Happy Valentines Day - hug someone!

happy heart day!

Hi there! I can't believe it's February already - seriously, where does the time go? I love valentines day since being married - no pressure to find a valentine or feeling like a loser without one, but instead just a nice opportunity to tell (and show... if you're not to tired) your valentine how much you love him. I'm very lucky to have such a great valentine - those who know him, know he's great and he is. There, the telling part is done :)

Anyhoo... here's a card I made tonight. This may be a make and take project for an upcoming workshop. It uses lots of new products including the SU exclusive texturz plate (on the pink pirouette piece), the new 3 heart and eyelet border punches and the A Happy Heart set that made it into the big catty from the mini (yeah!). Thanks for stopping in today and Happy Heart Day - hugs!

SAB - Great time to join and hostess!

Did you know ?
Sale- a- bration time is right around the corner and this would be a GREAT time to sign up as a SU! demonstrator , Why? Because on top of the already fabulous goodies you get in the starter kit you will also recieve a FREE stamp set.... any set from the new 2009 catalog ( valued up to 47.95) between Feb 1, 2009- March 31, 2009. Plus you can sign up with me online by clicking HERE and then choosing the Join Stampin' Up tab. If your interested in Joining the SU! family and my stamping team CONTACT ME via the link to the right for more details as you will need my password to access the forms online.

SAB BROCHURES HAVE BEEN MAILED! If you've placed an order with me recently, you should be receiving your copy in the mail. Check out all the great stams (and even ribbon) that you get for FREE with each $50 ordered! The perfect time to host your first workshop and/or build your supplies! If you'd like to host a show during this time, CONTACT ME via the link on the right ----> A link to the brochure will be posted soon.

Card Kit Challenge

Every so often I host a Rubber Room Challenge for the girls who come to my open house or BYOP (bring your own project). This challenge featured the use of a left over card kit from a stamp camp or workshop. The girls could pick a card kit as their base and use a limited supply of scraps and ribbon. They also had to use stamps that will be in the New Spring/Summer 09 catalog that I had on display from my pre-order. Their creations are being posted and are open for voting for 1 week. On January 25th, the one with the most comments (here and on my SCS Gallery) will receive a retired hostess set. So please show the girls some love and vote for your favorite! TFL!

Entry No. 1

Entry #2

Entry #3

Which one will you vote for?

Happy 40th Junie!

Tonight I got to share a little time with some "old" friends - now by old I don't mean age... even though Junie IS turning 40 now too lol! I love spending time with old friends - there is nothing like reliving your youth with girls you have know all your life! I'm so thankful to have maintained a connection with these truly special girls - even though I can't convince them to stamp! Oh well, I'll keep 'em anyway :) The magnet above was cliped to a gift bag.

Here's the card I made for Julie (Only I am allowed to call her Junie). The inside reads "remember when we were young and couldn't wait to get older"..... "boy we're we stupid or what?!"

Here's a snapshot of us taken by our waitress. Front is the Birthday Girl, Junie. Then left to right is Lisa, Me and Tricia. Here's to good friends - just don't drink the martini's!

sneak peak - petal pizzaz from Stampin up's Spring/Summer 2009 catalog

Here's another sample for the New Catty Kick off Open House. This one uses the new set coming out called Petal Pizzaz. The scalloped flower is a solid image stamp and the inner flower is also a solid image stamp. I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to line the centers up and then put a white eyelet in the middle. The red accent is a left over piece after I cut a top note using my top note die in the bigshot, then turning it 180 degrees and cutting it again - kinda into a squareish shape. After you do this, there are 2 of these pieces left over and I think the resemble parenthese (sp?). Anyhoo, thanks for looking - have a great one!

New Catalog Bookmark Wish List

Hi there! I'm so excited that that new catalogs are now arriving. I have all of the ones that I pre-ordered, but I was a little late in getting these bookmarks ready to give out with the catty's - so anyone who has already picked your catty, please remind me to give you one of these cute bookmarks. I found the template for the printed side a while ago on splitcoast. If anyone needs it, email me and I'll be glad to send it to you. Sadly, I can't post word documents on my blog :(

After printing and cutting them, I backed them with some close to cocoa dp, then stamped a flower from the new set called Petal Pizzaz on the front and added some ribbon. The perfect way to keep your wish wish close at hand! Thanks for looking. If you still need a catty - email me and we'll figure out how best to get one in your hot little hands! Cost is $10... or $7 if you've placed an order with me since the last catalog!

Big Shot

Big Shot Spoiler:

Okay you are all going to want to get the Big Shot now! You are going to love the textured templates. They are a great deal -- for only $11.95 you get 3, 2-sided templates. That's less than $2 per texture!

Coming in February - Big Shot Pop-Up dies. You will be able to get a die to make pop-up cards. The dies will cut out all of the pieces you need to make fabulous pop-ups. One is a beach ball and one is a three-tiered cake. The three-tiered cake comes with candles for a birthday or a miniature bride and groom.

Coming in March - Embossing folders!

Wowza - can't wait to get more big shot accessories to play with and show you! I have one new one to show you at my new Catty Open House this Sunday from 12-4 in the Rubber Room - hope to see you there!

Another Stampin Up sneak peak with Petal Pizzaz

Here's another sneak peek at a brand new stampin up set. This card is made using Petal Pizzaz. These are a bunch of solid image flowers and leaves. There are 2 different stamps used to make the flower and the leaves are from this new set too. The stem is made by free hand cutting a strip of kiwi kiss paper and then crimping it. The designer paper is from the new designer paper called Raspberry Tart. The word love is cut using my naturally serif alphabet die and the big shot. The "U" is some retired chipboard that I colored with Riding Hood Red and then covered with dazzling diamond. Thanks for looking - hope you like it... Love U ;)

raspberry tart and sweet stems - sneak peek Spring Summer 2009

Hi there! Sorry it's been so long since I blogged - I'm having a hard time getting back into the swing of things since the holidays. As a demo, we were able to pre-order some select stuff that will be in the new catalog (which should be here next week!). These two cards use a new set called sweet stems. It's a cute little set that has four different flowers in it. One stamp is used on the card above and another stamp is used on the card below. Also on these cards is new Designer Series Paper called Raspberry Tart - LOVE this stuff - it's sooo pretty. The colors in it are Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss and Pink Pirouette - ooooh.... It's so yummy! These cards are cased from cards found on Splitcoast - I told you I was having a hard time getting my mojo back. When I have times like that (Yes, it happens to demos with all sorts of new goodies too), I find that if I go look for inspiration and create SOMETHING, anything.... even if it's a copy of someone else's design, I become inspired and am back on track quickly.

Here's a belated Happpy New Year wish from my son. The kids thought it would be a good idea to write Happy New Year on their faces with baseball eye black. Not really alot of fun scrubbig that off his face at 1 am! He's my little old man as he always wears his glasses at the end of his nose like that and looks over them - I often wonder why he even puts them on his face?!? And, before anyone turns me in - that's sparkling grape juice :) So Anyway - Happy New Year to you and yours!!

The rest of the coaster calendar

still more of the coaster calendar

Coaster Calendar for 2009

Hi everyone! Hope you had a wonderful, busy holiday like me!! I'm sad yet glad that it's over. Already, DH has begun installing the molding in the bathroom that we have put off for about 2 months using holiday prep as an excuse. I've been busy doing the piles of laundry that accumulated over the holiday and so far today I have washed and folded 7 loads!

I wanted to share a project that consumed much of my time before Christmas. My son decided during his school break that he wanted to make a coaster calendar for 2009. He and I worked hard one night to finish 3 months and that's as far as we got as a team. I went ahead and finished mine without him (actually 3 of them), and here is the end result. I gave 2 away as presents and kept one for myself. I wish I had made many more of these as I think they are adorable and would make perfect little gifts for those people you want to get something for but not spend alot of money. They are made using six 4 x 4 coasters and bound using my bind it all. Most coasters are stamped directly on, but some have been covered with DP. If you have any questions, feel free to email me and I"ll be glad to try and help.

stampin up top note die gift card holder - reindeer punch art

Happy Holidays everyone! Hope you are all ready for christmas and it's just the fun stuff now! I was asked by one of my bosses to make a cute gift card holder for a gift card from his daughter to his wife. I hope this works for them! Here's the deets:

--I used the top note die to cut the gift card holder. I folded a normal A2 card and placed it on my top note die just insdie the top cut lines.
--After it was cut, I put a scrap of red cardstock back on the die and cut the piece for the inside (this is the piece that the gift card will slip into).
--The reindeer on front was made using the new scribbles swirl sizzix die from stampin up for the antlers, the large oval was used for the reindeer face and a unknown "splatt" punch was used for the hair tuft. I used the 1/4 circle punch for the nose and then flocked it so it was soft.
--The stars and snowflakes on the front of the card and the reindeer names inside are rub ons.

Hope this helps should you want to make your own! They are very quick and easy. Have a good one!

Christmas Gift Certificate Holder - Criss Cross Card

Hi everyone! Are you all ready for the holidays?!? Only 9 more days - aaaah! I had an order for some gift certificates for Christmas, so I wanted to make a nice little presentation piece for the gift certificates. I used Beate's Criss Cross Card Tutorial found here on SCS. They went together really fast, but I did learn that you MUST use double sided paper for these or else you'll need to cut 2 DP squares. Once you cut the DP in half, it needs to be flipped over in order to fit the other side. (yes, I know that doesn't make ANY sense, but if you try it, you'll see). Instead of lots of extra bulk on the band, I went for a single piece of DP with a rub-on sentiment. I printed the inside pull out piece with the Gift Certificate info and taped it (with repositionable tape) over a piece of computer paper I had already run through the printer so I knew where the printing would line up. Thanks for stopping in and Happy HO Ho HOlidays!

Stampin UP Retiring Stamps Fall Winter 2008

Stampin' Up! has released it's retiring stamps list for the Fall/Winter Catalog 2008. These stamps will only be available until January 18th and right now they are being offered at a 10% savings! PLUS - from now until December 23rd you can get FREE SHIPPING!! Also don't forget that w/any $20.00 you spend you get to get ANY of the stamps that are in the sampler for 20% off!

If you'd like any of these stamps and have ordered from me in the past, you can order via phone or email. Or ANYONE can click on the shop Stampin UP link to the right ANYTIME and order through my stampin up website! Happy Retirement - Stamps! Click here or on the golfing stamp image to the right to see the list! Thanks for visiting my blog

Rockin' Grandma birthday gift with Hambo stamps Gardner

Here's part 2 of my MIL's birthday present. We don't really "do" presents as she would rather we spend the money on the kids' college funds, so I always try to put together a little something with heart. My 11 year old has an ipod and is constantly buying the latest and greatest tunes from I-tunes. I thought it would be fun to make her a mixed cd with all the "kids" music on it so she can stay as hip as she is. Is hip still a "useable" word?!? (just don't tell my kids I said that please) This is the outside view of the holder that I and my youngest son made to hold the CD. It matches her card, which is a couple of posts down.

This picture shows the inside of the holder and the decorated (and named) CD. Below is a close up of the CD. I stamped the Hambo gardner with staz on ink and then colored in with my bic Mark-it permanent markers (sharpies). I love those things - I got a pack of 36 of them at Staples for around $18! If anyone wants the directions to make these, just let me know and I'll get the measurements posted. Thanks for stopping in and don't forget to pull up your pants before you bend over to garden!!

christmas gift for teachers - post it note holders

Hi everyone! Happy December... can you believe that it's almost christmas already?!? Are you ready? Did you brave the crazy crowds on black friday? I did, but didn't really get a lot of stuff. It's a tradition with my sister and mom and sister in laws, so it's always fun! Anyway, I had an order for 2 more post it note holders from my craft show last month that needed to get done. She bought the matching note card sets and wanted post it note holders to complete the teacher's gift. This is one of my favorite retired Stampin Up sets, called both way blossoms. I just can't part with it! It's hard to tell from the picture, but the mellow moss one is cuttlebugged on the back layer and then just stamed and colored before inserting it into the holder. The post it notes are attached to the front of the frame with some sticky strip. These are both 3 1/5 x 5 acrylic frames, one is just turned on it's side. Hope this gives someone an idea for a quick and easy, yet cute gift! Happy Holidaze:)