Something 'Old' and Something 'New'

Here is 'Something Old'...and 'Something New' (speaking of which), since it is the middle of summer and the best time to catch up on some reading. Emily Giffin one of my favorite authors (Something Blue) has a new book coming out on July 24th called Where We Belong and I can't wait!!

My mind just went there knowing that I was going to share with you something 'old'..and 'blue' that I made a few months ago.

This began as a 12x12 shadow box frame that held yup you guessed it...a 12x12 piece of DSP (this is from Timeless Portrait (122352) retired now, but BEAUTIFUL!!!) I printed the Amherst Branch Team Charter statements onto vellum cardstock...get it 'BRANCH' you know like a 'TREE' (sometimes I amaze myself!). Added some embellishments and ~Voila!!

One of the fun things about working was gifts and such that I could make and share with my co-workers to brighten their day..here is another little treat: inside the treat tube is a tiny little bottle of vodka...(shhh!!) Maybe that is why she is blushing!!

 Hard to tell from the photo but the only thing that I colored on the little gnome girl were her flushed cheeks..to match the blush colored flowers on the inside of the card:

This paper is also retired...I hate that~ but I LOVE all the new ones added to the current catty...I waited until yesterday to place my order with all my new goodies...it took me about that long to figure out what I needed/wanted!

Now on to something 'new' this past weekend we had two birthday parties to attend. One on Friday for my sister-in-law Sharon and here is the card I made for her.

Of course my inspiration was the gift card..here is a close-up:

The flower stem was stamped in Pear Pizazz using the Raining Flowers stamp set (122767). I made the flower with two layers of So Saffron CS and the Blossom Party die, added a brad...the rest is pretty self explanatory but wait until you see the inside:

I know right?? The presents could also be made to look like a cake...add some candles on the top...it was so fun to make...even better to open!! Here is a link to the tutorial. Enjoy!!

RedBull...gives you Wings..

Not sure where to begin...but to fill you in about my 'M.I.A' it has been due to having a 'J.O.B'~ have you ever heard the expression 'just over broke'? Well....that was my job!! I became a bank teller for BB&T late last summer after attending Convention for Stampin' Up! and I did it for several reasons; part-time bankers hours (great schedule that would coincide with the kids school schedule), similar holidays (and they were paid days off!!), and of course the benefits were a huge plus!!

I met some great people, made some new friends, learned alot...even about myself (I am NOT a morning person!). I miss my co-workers already, but I missed being home more. The kids are now out of school for summer break and I had put stamping on the back burner (business wise) and I missed that too. Of course from time to time I would need to whip up something crafty... I did take pictures (stay tuned). So after much review and soul searching...I figured it was best that I return to my full-time job of being a mom. Besides...if I were to buy any more work clothes or shoes there wouldn't be any more room in my closet (maybe that's the real reason I left)...hence the 'just over broke' (J.O.B).

So now I will show you a few of the items that were made while I was working...made for wonderful co-workers at BB&T(Amherst St....my home away from home).  Here is a card that went along with the above Bonsai tree, (for my friend Sherri..who LOVES RedBull) and since RedBull gives you 'wings' I thought it was appropriate..

Here is a close-up of the birdie...made with the Elegant Bird Bigz die (125593).

If you live in the Winchester or surrounding area and would like to learn more about Stampin' Up! then check out my upcoming scheduled events or contact me today to host your own Workshop with friends and family~ we could make whatever you want (cards, scrapbook pages, crafts..etc).

Feelin' Green!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is SO long overdue...but I just finished making a quick video on how to make the above fortune cookie. We made them at my last Stamp Camp for Valentine's Day and now that we are closer to St. Patrick's Day, I decided to make a 'green' one!!

These are simple to make and could be used for any holiday. They would make cute party favors, or as place settings with guests' names printed on the tags. (see video tutorial below).

I grabbed one of my older cameras to take these pictures and inside was an old memory card...as I was looking through them, I came across one that I thought I would share:

Here are my three babies playing in the front yard...look at the 'green' grass!! I can't wait for spring to arrive..it's right around the corner and I am SO excited!!

These pictures just made me smile~ from left: Aiden, Tyler and Regan (Spring 2007)

Here it's all packaged up ready for a co-worker who is moving to PA (Sherri...you will be missed terribly)!! These Kraft gift boxes come in a package of 4...they were featured in the Holiday Mini catalog and are STILL AVAILABLE!! Great for holding a jumbo cupcake, wrapped cookies and so much more!! Please let me know if you have any questions, thanks!!

Here is a close-up:

Please note: the 'good luck' stamp is available to demonstrators sold as Incentive Stamps, this one comes from the set called Fourteen Phrases (116849).

Enjoy the video~

Stampin' hugs,
Erin

Stamp Camp goodies!!

This past Friday I hosted  a Chinese New Year/Valentine themed 'Stamp Camp' and we had a BLAST!! As a demonstrator it takes time to think of what projects you want to show, getting the supplies ready...cleaning the house (LOL) and I usually try to provide something light and tasty to eat...I made Oriental Chicken Salad With Crunchy Ramen Noodles, and it's delicious..thinking about it is making my mouth water!! I just wanted to share the recipe because it's quick and easy to prepare.

This little robot was inspired from one I saw in a Better Homes & Gardens Scrapbooks Etc. (Feb. 2011) magazine...you know you should never throw these babies out!! I started looking through it the other day(rather than buying a newer issue and low and behold there are TONS of ideas. This one I liked because you could alter it to make it any size you want, here it's just a standard card front but it could easily be made into a card.

Here are some details:
The base measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4", layered with a piece that measures 5 1/4" x 4". That piece was spritzed with water and embossed using a texturz plate (this one is retired). Spraying your CS with water gives a much deeper impression...try it!! I then used a sponge and Whisper White Craft ink and rubbed over the words to really make it POP!
Robot
Head: 1 " square punch, the eyelids and mouth were made using the owl punch and attached with 2-way glue pen
Body: wrap desired candy with a belly band of DSP
Arms & Legs: cut desired length and run through crimper
Hands & Feet: circle punches and cut in half

The last thing I did was spray the entire thing with Champage Mist shimmer paint.

This next card uses one of the exclusive sets you can earn from SAB...it's called Elementary Elegance. I LOVE how trendy this set is, the keys and crowns you see all over th place from jewelry to home decor and now...stamps!!

This card also uses the new pleated satin ribbon found in the Occasions Mini (125571). Pretty easy card to make, the Basic Black CS was embossed using the Stripes embossing folder (123128). The stamp set coordinates with the Curly Label punch (119851) so I stamped the main image with Basic Black, then chose my words, stamped them also with black onto Sahara Sand CS and punched it out and that piece was popped up using a dimensional. Added a rhinestone to the crown, and sprayed the entire front with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz (118771). Voila!!

This last card was basically a CASE (copy and steal everything) from this card here. I loved it, and she shows a quick photo tutorial if you are interested in how to make the scallop circle die into a card..which also still fits into an envelope (yay!!). This set is so fun!!

Who wouldn't love getting a card that they can actually play with??

The Maze game pieces come in a pack of 4 (124332) for only $2.50...love it!!

Here is the inside greeting:

Since we had fortune cookies for dessert, we also made a cute little paper fortune cookie. I am going to make a video tutorial showing how simple and easy it is and you can use them for any holiday..not just Valentine's. I will post that over the weekend. So stay tuned!!

Let me know if you have any questions!!

Valentine's Day Home Decor..'SAB' style!

Now you know by now that Stampin' Up!'s promotion Sale-a-Bration (SAB) has officially begun...hooray!! Who doesn't love earning FREE and EXCLUSIVE goodies!!!

This FABULOUS promotion runs until  March 31, 2012.

1. Contact me today to schedule your workshop or check my upcoming scheduled events by going to http://www.erinsstampart.stampinup.net/

*If you have not received your copy of the SAB mini catalog and the new Occasions mini catalog in your mailbox from me (and you have ordered from me this year) then the mailman ate it. So just let me know so I can send you another one. If you have not ordered or seen me in the past year and would like to have one, just reply back and tell me! Be sure to include your current mailing address so I can get it to the right place.

If you are unaware of how this promotion works, then let me just fill you in quickly:
For every $50 spent (before tax, S&H) you may choose a FREE product from the Sale-a-Bration mini catalog. There are some exclusive sets, My Digital Studio downloads, and even sets from the Idea Book & Catalog too.

Place a qualifying $150 workshop and in addition you can earn a FREE tote. Please note, that the tote is not for online orders, please e-mail me your order and I'll place the order for you to ensure that you receive it!!

In addtion, if you decide to sign up to become a demonstrator during this promotion then you can choose to have a FREE pack of Designer Series Paper each and every month OR choose a FREE Digital Download..it's your choice and those savings add up!! You can sign-up on my website at http://www.erinsstampart.stampinup.net/ and click the 'Join Now' tab. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Here are some samples to get you inspired for Valentine's Day and all of these products were made with ONE pack of Everyday Enchantment DSP...I love this paper, it's so shabby chic! I have earned several packs of this beautiful paper and can't wait to make more goodies, so stay tuned!! Yes...that does mean I have spent alot (hee hee!!)

Very simple, quick and easy and the hubby helped me figure out how to hang the hearts, I thought they would also look cute over a window or hung on a branch? Here is a close-up:

Here is a glass block that I bought at Lowes and I think that this little guy will get decorated seasonally...won't that be cute?? I put a 10-count strand of lights inside and the picture really doesn't do it justice...it's so pretty IRL. Here is what it looks from the back:


All of these projects came together pretty quickly because of the Big Shot and dies...I LOVE our new Framelits, these used the Hearts Collection (125599). Shhhh....there are even more designs coming out too!! I am SO excited!

I also used another new product in the Occasions Mini Catalog...the scented embossing powder (pg. 35)...remember how we had to make 'scratch-n-sniff' cards with  clear embossing powder and Kool-Aid?? Well...this is already done for you. You can smell it immediatly after you remove the lid of the powder. I embossed the angel and tag on the glass light and on the hanging hearts below the 'love always' tag. I used the vanilla (125590) and it's faint but elegant. Not sure how long the scent lasts...but it's pretty cool so far!!

Here is a close-up:

This banner was fun~ or maybe I should say funny...I cut the pennants and then the hardest part was trying to figure out in what order did they look best...since I used only 1 piece of DSP per pennant I wanted the other side to be 'pretty' too!! So...after a couple glasses of wine and a fun little game that my daughter Regan and I came up with, this is how it ended up. She would hold the small pennants, I had the large ones...we then took turns like playing cards and layed each one down making sure that we liked the colors on both sides and that it matched the previous one (guess you had to be there) . We both agreed that we liked it..then it was off to decorate and we LOVED it finished and hung! Here is the other side:

Here is a close-up view of these cute little accordian flowers..these are so fun to make. We now have a die that makes these too!!! Thank-you Stampin' Up!

Additional Supplies Used
Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip CS (for all the letters), silver glimmer paper (124005)
Accessories: small heart punch (117193), full heart punch 119883), glue dots (103683), sticky strip (104294), curly label punch (119851), linen thread (104199), Victoria Lace trim (118481), Neutrals Buttons (119743), crop-a-dile (108362),  Simply Scored (122334), Perfect Pennants die (123126), Serif Essentials alphabet die (113464), 3/4" circle punch 119873), 2 3/8" scallop circle punch (118874)

As always, if you have any questions... let me know!!

Stampin' hugs~ Erin

Vantine's Heart Wreath Tutorial

Here is what I made over the weekend~
It uses the new fabric called Twitterpated (125412) found in the current Occasions Mini Catalog.

Saturday I dedicated my time to watching football. I was glued to the game Saturday night..what a victory!! I am originally from Rhode Island and a big HUGE Patriots fan... so I am very happy!! It took days, seriously I mean DAYS to take down all of the Christmas decorations around the house and I was SO not in the mood to do it~ it's so much work. It's all been put away and I'm focused on the next little holiday...Valentine's Day!!

Here is the finished photo of the one I made for the tutorial: (see link below)
While watching the games yesterday I made this heart wreath, since today is MLK and the banks are closed (and I work at a bank  at BB&T) I felt that it was time I made a video tutorial..so here you go!! The kids are home from school today too...they were so funny trying to be quiet while filming...you can't see in the video but Aiden is walking behind me on his tippy-toes trying not to laugh!! Silly kids!!

Here is the tutorial:
Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!!

Stampin' hugs~
Erin

Happy New Year!!!

Shame shame...everyone knows my name!! Looking back at my last post I am not really sure where exactly to begin...sheesh!!Bats??? Halloween?? Where has the time gone??
Obviously we are now into the new year...welcome 2012!!
Happy New Year to you all!!

Obviously there were a couple of holidays in there that seem as though I passed right over~ trust me I didn't...like many of you I fought the crowds shopping....spent way more $$ than I should have (smile)...baked-baked and baked some more~ yes John did help (o.k. he probably cooked more than I did) and in addition I caught the lovely 'common' cold. In a nutshell that is about it, I did enjoy a wonderful visit with my mother (she is living in Tuscon, AZ). Spent some time with my brother, his wife Karolina and their BEAUTIFUL cute little monster Kaia...my niece is about to turn 2 and I assisted in giving her a bath~ it was SO much fun!! I miss the kids (mine) when they were that age, they grow so quickly it's hard to believe...my 'baby' just turned 10!! His birthday was in December too...so there is another holiday that occurred since my last post...this girl has been BUSY!!

Since I feel guilty about not sharing some recent projects here are just a few...I know that the holidays have past...but maybe they will inspire you for next season..or change out the theme to make it apply to what you need!
This first beauty is a 5x7 frame that I made (without the glass). I picked up the frame at Hobby Lobby...OMG...I had heard of this store...but where I live there weren't any stores...guess what???
We have one now here in Winchester and it's GRAND!!

RecipeStamp Set: Pines & Poinsettias (123762 W, 123764 C) and Comfort & Joy (124175 W, 120753 C)
Card Stock: Cherry Cobler, Very Vanilla, Holly Berry Bouquet DSP (124004), First Edition Specialty DSP (121878)
Ink: Cherry Cobler, Early Espresso
Accessories: Chantilly Crochet Trim (118480),  linen thread, Regals buttons, Scallop Trim Border punch (118402), 2 3/8" scallop circle punch (118874), champagne mist shimmer paint (116806), vintage trinkets (118764), large tag punch (119876) and Simply Scored (122334)

I LOVE making these little ol' lollies...with our new Simply Scored tool..it's EASY!!


This past Convention I joined a 12x12 Calendar swap. The way it worked out was great~ in a group of 12, each participant chooses a month and designs (2) 12x12 pages that 'resemble' that month. Here was what I received from another Stampin' Up! Demonstrator~ Wendy Halverson...it's beautiful!!

It inspired me along with art work that was shown in a recent Stampin' Success (a publication for SU! demo's).  I told you it's a BEAUTY!!

Here is the month I created for January: 

Hard to tell from the photo but on the Marina Mist 12x12 piece there are sponged snowflakes in Marina Mist ink that were created from the negative image of the Sizzix Snowflake #2 die (113460). Embossed snowflakes from the Northern Flurry embossing folder (120902) on the Poppy Parade CS. I used the stamp set Season of Friendship (111776 W). The bird and tree were stamped onto Whisper White CS covered with a piece of vellum CS. On the vellum I stamped/embossed snowflake with Dazzling Diamonds EP. It's so much prettier IRL (in real life) because I sprayed Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (118772) ALL over!!

All of the months received were awesome, makes a great gift as a completed scrapbook!!

Here is the Christmas card that I made, different layout and I like the way it came out...pretty easy to mass produce and since the card base is one layer it doesn't use a ton of CS.

Card Recipe
Stamp Set: Christmas Lodge (123767 W, 123769 C)
Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, vellum CS and Frostwood Lodge DSP (124002)
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: silver brads, chocolate chip taffeta
 ribbon and Silver Foil Smooch Spritz (118771)

Here is a view of how it opens:

Now on to the New Year~ and of course the Occasions Mini Catalog click the link to view the catalog online and let me know if you would like me to mail you an actual copy of the catalog. There are TONS of goodies inside..from new fabric with coordinating accessories (oh so pretty!) to AMAZING dies for the Big Shot...just wait until you see for yourself!! I have already placed my order...the box has arrived and this weekend I'm diggin' in!! So stay tuned!!

Remember that this year's Stampin' Up! HUGE promotion 'Sale-a-Bration' begins soon (January 24th!!!) Call me today to reserve a date for your Workshop with friends & family, where you the hostess earns FREE product and your guests can too!!
Until next time~ happy stampin'!
~Erin