Karen Stamps a Lot

Punch Flower element

Here are some photos explaning how I did the flower on the card I posted yesterday. The punch that I used is the 1-3/4" Scallop Circle (119854).
I punched the flower 4 times, from designer series paper - it is lighter weight than cardstock, so it is easier to scrunch. if you use cardstock, you might want to spritx the punched flowers with a little water, to loosen the fibers of the paper and allow you to more easily scrunch it up.

I stacked the 4 punched flowers on top of each other, alternating the pattern. I used some cork coasters as padding for when I poke the hole in the center.

 

Now you can crush the flowers in between your fingers. Like I said, paper is easier to scrunch than cardstock. Once you have all four wrinkled up, you can unfold them and flatten them enough that you can find the hole you punched. Put a brad through the hole, lining up the flowers. Fix the brad on the back. Re-scrunch the top flower then the second, then the others, until they are nice and layered.

 

Let's see what you can do with this new trick!

Big shot for $49.98! Many Marvelous Markers for $54.98

Would you like to be able to get a Big Shot (reg.$99.95) for just $49.98? The revamped Hostess rewards now lets you choose one item from the catalog for 50% off - could even be the Many Marvelous Markers (reg.$109.95) for $54.98...plus you will have $65 that you can spend any way you would like, on Stampin Up products? You can do just that by having a workshop or collectings orders that reach the $400 level. Besides earning all of these great items...we can have a great time with your friends, being creative. Let's start planning now!

New weekly My Digital Studio update and more...

Did you know that there are a few My Digital Studio downloads that are able to be added to a workshop? It is a trick thing to come up with a solution, but Stampin' Up! is getting there! Now there are some collections of coordinating digital graphics that can be ordered as part of a workshop instead of only online as a customer order. Besides the My Digital Studio original product (including over 2000 items - templates, punches, paper choices and stamp/brush sets...) there is an option of just purchasing a package that you can use with other software that you may already have. In the regular and mini catalogs, Stampin' UP! will also be showing various downloads that coordinate stamp sets, paper and embellishments, so if you do digital creations, you can have the same great patterns and images. These collections can be found on page 6 & 7 of the main catalog and are priced less than they would be if purchased separately. The items in the catalogs that are only available as downloads on-line (throughout the rest of the catalog), will say "on-line order only" and not eligible for a workshop order. To see all of the latest downloads, you can go to this page. If you order any, on-line, there is no shipping and they will be immediately available for you to use.

Visit My Digital Studio

Cool ColorLab tool and a FREE download

Would you like to get the free download for the card above? If you already have an "account" through Stampin' Up!, all you need to do is clic on the picture above and you will be taken to the site where you can download this cute card template. If you have never established an account, it is really easy to do...once you do that, it will be easy to order on-line whenever you want and have items shipped straight to your door, or in the case of downloads, they are immediately available for you to copy to your own computer. They are always available to re-install is you need to and NO SHIPPING is charged for downloads...that may seem obvious, but I want to mention it anyway. If you have My Digital Studio, Stampin' Up!'s digital design program, you can now go to the My Digital Studio group page and download the latest updates (1.0.7) to get all of the new In-Colors added for free.

 
I added a link to the right, under the box to subscribe to my blog updates, (which you should be sure and SUBSCRIBE to so you don't miss out on anything!) that will take you to a fantastic site where you can mix and match your own Stampin' Up! colors to see what looks good together...you can also pick one or two colors, then search for combinations that others have come up with and saved. It is a fun site! What is your favorite combination using Pool Party and Not Quite Navy?

My Must Haves from the new catalog

They are on order, but here are the items that I chose to purchase FIRST, from the new catalog. In no particular order...Click on the image to see it better.

First is the new clear "stickers" for the clear block mounting system. I have not seen these in real life, but I love the idea of having lines to go by when placing the rubber on the block.

Clear-Mount Perfectly Placed Guides #121785 $5.95

Place these repositionable guides on clear blocks to line up and position stamp images. Includes eight die-cut guides sized for blocks, D, E, F, H, and I, and three guides you cut to customize.

 

Next is one of the new Embossing Folders...I can hardly create a card anymore without going to one of the embossing folders to add texture and punch

Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder - #123128 $7.95

The Big Shot is for more than cutting shapes--use it with this plastic folder to add embossing to your projects. Creates a strong, embossed image on single layers of card stock and Designer Series Paper. Folder measure 4-1/2" x 5-3/4".

 

 

One thing I am excited to see is a new ribbon...DENIM! I LOVE ribbon as proven by the drawers-full that I own. I just cannot help it! The ribbon we carry is beautful and also a great value. This one will be great for cards or scrapbooking 

Blue 3/8 Inch Denim Jean Ribbon - #125053 $6.95

Bold ribbon with a denim look and feel. Ideal choice for projects for kids, teens, and the men in your life. Coordinates with the Well Worn suite to add the perfect homespun, grunge, or country look. 3/8” wide, approx. 10 yards.

Now for two stamp sets that I just really had to have...I love all things nature and especially anything that looks like wild flowers. This stamp set was a "must have" for me...

Field Flowers, Clear Mount - #122762 $17.95

 Create your own field of beautiful, calming flowers on your projects with this lovely, versatile set.

Another must have for me was a sentiment stamp set...Petite Pairs. I ordered this on as wood mount, mostly because I like to easily use my smaller stamps and not have to worry about mounting them on the clear block each time. I will admit that space is not a huge problem, but with sets like this one that I see myself using all the time, I am going to try to mix it up a little... Honestly, I have not purchased a wood mount set since they came out with the clear mount, except the background stamps that are only available that way, so we'll see if I regret it or not.

Petite Pairs, Wood Mount - #122495 $28.95

The Petite Pairs set, also available in French, offers a sentiment for just about every occasion. Available in both wood- and clear-mount.

 

So there are my top picks! What do you like from the new catalog? You can see it right away on-line or get a copy from me...just let me know!

Build a Blossom punch trick

I did not get this tip posted as soon as I wanted to...I am fairly sure this stamp set might be in the upcoming catalog, but even if it is not, the idea can be used with any set that have stamps that coordinate with a specific punch. You will need to use the clear mount version of the stamp set and probably a "D" size clear block.

Here is what you will do:

Use the punch with a scrap of cardstock to get a template of the shape arrangement. Then use the template as a guide to place the stamps on the block in the correct place. Once they are placed on the block, you can ink and stamp all the images at one time. Once they are stamped, you can turn the punch over and the images line right up with the corresponding space on the punch. For this card I did it five times, to make the card that is shown completed below.So handy to be able to punch all of the images at one time!

       

 

 

My Digital Studio update available

Here dare the My Digital Studio digital downloads that SU added in the month of March. There are some great ones! March Digital catalog

Also, look for there to be some great Digital offerings for national Scrapbooking month in May! If you have purchased My Digital Studio software, be sure to get the latest free update. There are some new template offerings including a jpournal and a "swatch" mini album. To get the new update, open your MyDigital Studio program and at the top, look for the link to "check for Updates". Download the new update and restart your computer. let me know if you have any problems.  

 

Bold Blossom square tile card

  This card is using a favorite color combination...Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede. It is also using the simple Bold Blossoms stamp set from the Occassions mini catalog. Guess What? This great little stamp set will continue to be available in the Summer Mini catalog. I just got the upcoming mini and it is a good one. Colored embossing powder! Several nice masculine sets, beach, sand, sun and fun! One of the great things about being a demo this time of year...lots of new treats and surprises, like preview sets from the new catalog and mini, getting to see the new In-Colors before they are released.

Now, hopefully you can see the dry embossed lines criss-crossing the stamped layer. I did that with one of my favorite tools, my bone folder and Fiskars cutter. I measured and scored 1" each way.

I am going to work on getting several cards posted over the next few days and will be doing a blitz of blog posts beginning April 1. I will be showing some of my favorite sets from th outgoing mini and some sneak-peeks from the upcoming one, so check back frequently!

Happy Stamping!

A cute cupcake card

Here is a card that we made at a workshop last week. I really like the bright colors in the paper - makes for an easy card. I like using up my designer paper scraps this way. Notice the cherry made from the red Glimmer paper that is from the Occasions mini catalog. It is great! mo mess and lots of glam. I have another really cute card I will post tomorrow using this stamp set and coordinating punch. With this punch, you can make cupcakes with or without the stamp set because you can just punch out colored cardstock. The stamp set and punch are also in the Occasions mini. It continues through the end of April...Sale-a-bration is coming to a close this month, though, so if you'd like to place an order and receive a free set, be sure to get your order in. It is a great time to stock up on the basics.

Have a great rest of the weekend.

Sorry...it has been a few days

I have been working on an upcoming workshop and my class, plus all of my regular stuff and have not taken the time to update here. I have several things I will be showing over the next few days, so don't give up on me! I do want to put it out there that I have a couple of offers to pass along.

First, concerns the BIG SHOT. During Sale-a-bration you can get more Big Shot for your buck when you purchase it from me! I will add on your choice of any embossing folder. PLUS with Sale-a-bration, you will be able to make two choices from the brochure, for FREE, through the month of March. Heck, add some fun Big Shot products, or any other merchandise to equal $50 and you can get the hostess benefits (level one stamp set and $15 free) plus three Sale-a-bration sets.

The second offer is from today until March 21, I am having a SNAIL SALE! Everyone always needs more SNAIL.

SNAIL refills usually sell for $4.50 each when ordered from Stampin' Up! By purchasing the refills in bulk from Stampin' Up!, offering you a discount from my commission and using the earned Hostess dollars to purchase more refills, we can get that price down to at least $3.50 per refill, very possibly as low as $3.15 per refill or even lower -- the more we order, the lower the price will go.

How low will it go?  That depends on YOU!

This is a limited time offer, however, so don't move at a SNAIL's pace! Want in on this??? E-mail your SNAIL refill order to me no later than midnight on Tuesday, March 21st. You are guaranteed a price of $3.50 per refill plus shipping and sales tax (remember it may be even less). After all the orders have been received on March 21st, I will e-mail you to let you know the final cost per refill, shipping from SU and sales tax. This represents substantial savings for you! At the time of notification, I can also send you a PayPal invoice so that you can pay for your SNAIL SALE order with your credit card or you can arrange to mail me a check. SNAIL adhesive with the dispenser can also be ordered but that sale price is set at $5.95 (regular price is $6.95 = savings of $1 each!).

Remember, all orders must be e-mailed to me before midnight on March 21st to get in on this Great Deal!

Email me if you have questions or to place your order – karen@karenstampsalot.com Please put "SNAIL SALE" in the subject line.