Teacher Gifts

I went to a local gift store in Historic Downtown Apex called Blue Tiger. They have the cutest gifts, unique and artsy! I LOVE this store. The owner Lynn Willis is very nice and has a great eye for hand selecting gift items to carry in her store. They also hand wrap gifts for free! I selected some cute items for teacher gifts (sorry, I'm not unwrapping them to show you), and they kindly wrapped them individually. I love to package my own gifts, but these were already so cute. I decided to only add a tag. Pretty stinkin' cute tags if you ask me!

I used the stamp set Tart n' Tangy for a fresh, finally out of school, summertime look. After stamping the image onto Whisper White cardstock, I colored over it with a Versamarker, sprinkled on clear embossing powder, and heat set. Cute, shiny, and professional....just how I like it!

12 x 12 Memory

Our annual family reunion in Utah is one of my kids' favorite memories. They love camping and spending time with their grandparents. It makes me happy to get these pictures out of a box and put them on a simple page. My kids really enjoy opening a scrapbook and remembering these great times.

There are 3 days left of National Scrapbooking Month. Take advantage of the buy 3 get 1 free of the Designer Series Paper promotion. Contact me or visit my website and click 'shop now'

for this awesome special.

Birthday Box #3

I'm really enjoying making these party boxes! Fortunately there are many May and June birthdays in my family, so I'm not stock piling these babies.


This gable box is stamped with the balloon from 'Crazy for Cupcakes' with Versamark. The letters on the box are die cut with the Big Shot using the Go-Go Boots die.


'Crazy for Cupcakes' was also used to make the matching card. The greeting is from 'Short and Sweet'. I used the paper piecing technique to really make this cupcake pop! To do this technique, stamp your lined image stamp onto your card base. Then stamp again on colored carstock or Designer Series Paper, cut out the desired parts and adhere to your original image. - I hope that isn't confusing! Email me with questions.


Here is another 'Piece of Cake'. This one is cut out of Whisper White cardstock, glued on the sprinkles, and tied with a ribbon.


Colors: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Yo-Yo Yellow, Brilliant Blue, and Green Galore



Crazy for Cupcakes is my favorite birthday set! I have used it for so many cards and projects. This stamp set can be purchased through my Stampin' Up! website for $23.95.

Sweeeeet!

I'm loving this birthday gift! I love to match gift wrapping to the card. It looks very professional, and the gift receiver is often impressed! This gable box was stamped with Fifth Avenue Floral in Versamark. Then I created a large card front to match the birthday card.

A birthday would not be complete without a piece of cake! I printed this template off of Stampin' Up!'s Demonstrator website and cut it out of Chocolate Chip cardstock. then I used a Versamark Pad and Versamarker along with Clear Embossing Powder to get the yummy look of icing. Curled a few pieces of cardstock to finish off the top. I'm going to put a gift card in this box, but a hostess cupcake fits inside too! Oh, I hand stamped a 'doily' to showcase my delicious box. Email me if you would like a copy of this template.

More Rub-ons

Jen has done it again with the Bright Delight Rub-ons! What a great way to step up a boring white mat. These Bright Delights would also look nice on a white picture frame.

Stamp-a-Stack

I missed you all who weren't able to attend tonight's Stamp-A-Stack. Here are photos and a brief description of the cards we made. I hope you can join us next time!

Stamp Set: Voila
Colors: Riding Hood Red, Bordering Blue, Blush Blossom
Techniques: Paper Piercing, Blender Pen

Stamp Set: Thoughts & Prayers

Colors: Kraft, Black, and Baja Breeze

Big Shot: Top Note Die

Stamp Set: Great Friend, Together Forever (greeting only)

Colors: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze

Techniques: Stamping Off to achieve light gray on the leaves image.

Stamp Set: Fifth Ave Floral, Many Thanks

Colors: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze

Stamp Set: Thoughts & Prayers

Colors: Pirouette Pink, Kiwi Kiss

Technique: Sponge Daubers used to blend colors on the stamp before stamping onto the cardstock.

Big Shot: Butterflies Die

Just Buzzin' By

This 'Just Buzzin' By' sample is another simple layout that can easily become a completely different card. Change up the colors, stamp a small image in the circle, and add a greeting! Try this layout and share it with me. I love to see your artwork!

Father's Day Gift

Isn't this wallet so cool? I plan on making several of these for Father's Day gifts. There are five pockets which allows plenty of room for notes, photos, and gift cards.

Stamps: Rough Edges Wheel (retired). Sanded background, or just sponging it would work well too. The greeting is from 'And Many Mower', stamped with Versamark & Clear Embossing Powder.

The wallet is made using Chocolate Chip Cardstock and ink, and a Black Stampin' Write Marker. Faux Stitching makes it complete!

I got this idea from Lorri Heiling (SU demo). Have questions? Send me an email!

Scallop Edge Punch

Putting together a small collage with a few embellishments is an easy way to put together a simple scrapbook page. On this page I used the Scallop Edge Punch on Brocade Blue cardstock, and the Little Leaves and Go-Go Boots Dies with the Big Shot die cutting machine for the title and embellishments.


When creating a border like this with the Scallop Edge Punch, mark the center of each of your four sides of cardstock to be punched. Start punching from the center out (line the center of your punch with your mark) so all sides will be punched the same. This will also help your corners look uniform.

Jen's Sample with Rub-Ons

My friend Jen Austin emailed me this cute sample using Stampin' Up!'s Bright Delight rub-ons...no stamping necessary. I freakin' LOVE her glitter clouds! Bright Delight rub-ons include

2 sheets that feature 4 colors; Rose Red, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, and Chocolate Chip. The images are super cute and I love the words as well. Rub-ons can be used just about anywhere! Jen recently showed me a sample of ribbon that she added rub-ons too. She has also made some cute jars and even a lamp shade! Check out page 172 of the Idea Book & Catalog for these cute accessories.


Jen's card: Not Quite Navy and Kiwi Kiss cardstock. Chocolate Chip Designer Series Paper. Silver Hodgepodge Hardware.

Birthday Party to Go

I saw this idea for a To Go Party sometime last year and finally decided to try my spin on it. My nephew is really going to enjoy this little party! I made a tag with a goofy little poem that

should make him laugh. The little boxes contain cupcakes; one for him and one for his mom.

Stamp Set: Crazy for Cupcakes. 'Happy Birthday' greeting is from Voila.

Color Combo: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Real Read, Tempting Turquoise, Yo-Yo Yellow

'Comments' Link Fixed!

Okay, so I had a 'duh' moment, and finally repaired my blog after hours of research! The 'Comments' link now appears at the bottom of each post, so feel free to leave a comment when visiting my blog.

Can't wait to hear from you!

Deena

Versamarker

I saw a card similar to this at my friends house today. I just couldn't get over how cute the greeting was! I knew right away I wanted to duplicate the idea, but obviously didn't have a stamp with the exact greeting. Sometimes hand written greetings don't look like they belong on the card. I stepped it up by writing with my Versamarker (like the Versamark pad, but it's a marker!) and then heat embossed with black embossing powder. It's hard to tell from the image, but the heat embossing really gives the writing a professional look.

Stamp Set: Neighborhood Wheel
Color Combo: Old Olive and Baja Breeze.

Less is More

I love to keep all my artwork uncluttered...less is more! Too many patterns and over use of accessories can take away from your photos, so keep it simple. This 12 x 12 layout was so easy to put together, and perfect for a sequence of photos.

Stamp Set: Big Deal Alphabet
Ingredients: Pretty in pink and Regal Rose cardstock; Tea Party Designer Series Paper; Regal Rose ink pad; Swirls Scribbles die; flower from the Pretties Kit.

Upcoming Class Project

This is a preview of one of the projects we will be making at next Saturday's (May 23rd) Stamp-a-Stack. Come join me to make 15 cards, 3ea of 5 designs, for only $25! Everything will be cut and ready for you to stamp and assemble. There are only a couple spots left, so contact me right away to reserve your place.

To see the other four cards, you will have to join us!

Taste of Stamping Make-and-Takes

Here are two of the make-and-takes we made at Taste of Stamping. We are always making cute projects and learning the latest techniques. Would you like to join me? Contact me to join me at the next event!

Stamp Set: Bugs n' Kisses
Ingredients: Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss cardstock; Rose Red, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Kiwi Kiss ink pads. Raspberry Tart DSP




Stamp Set: Cheep Talk
Ingredients: Apricot Appeal, Chocolate Chip cardstock; Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip ink pads. Good Morning Sunshine DSP. Trio Flower Punch (White gel pen for flower centers).

I really like the DSP(Designer Series Paper) that Stampin' Up! offers. It's two sided and much nicer quality than the papers the craft store offer. They match SU's colors too, which gives your projects a very polished look! Check out this month's promotion for DSP. Go to www.myhomegrownart.com and click on 'details' under promotions.

More Swap Cards

Here are more swap cards from our Taste of Stamping night:
This first card was made by Alicia Motyka using Matchbox Messages and the Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper. The colors used here are Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, and Cameo Coral.


Don't Forget!...Stampin' Up is running a special right now. If you buy 3 packs of Designer Series Paper, you receive a 4th one for FREE!!!






This card was made by Michelle Archer. I love the Branch Out stamp set, it's perfect for any season. The colors are kiwi, coral and chocolate chip. The ribbon is from the Ribbon Originals Valet. Check out how awesome those circles are. They were made with the Circle Scissors.






Love this 3-Dimensional card made by Jen Austin. It folds flat for mailing and pops up to stand. It's hard to see, but the golf balls have little dry embossed dimples in them!


Stamp Set: And Many Mower
Color Combo: Kraft, Choc. Chip, Certainly Celery








This card was made by Jessie Benjamin. The flowers actually pull up to reveal a white card for your message. So cute! Flowers and stems were made using the Big Shot, another of my favorite toys.


Color Combo: Kraft, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Pirouette Pink.

Fifth Ave Watercolor

Fifth Avenue Floral has the most beautiful rose that begs to be painted! With these roses, I created a resist with the image, using Versamark and Clear Embossing Powder, so the outline of my image stayed white even when crossing the lines.

To get this look I stamped the image in Versamark onto Shimmery White Cardstock (Watercolor paper could also be used). I poured Clear EP over the image, shook off the excess, and heat set with my Heat Tool. Using an AquaPainter, I went over the image with just water. Then while the image was still wet, I colored in the image using my ink pads*. This allows the color to flow into each petal. To get in darker in some areas, simply load your AquaPainter and touch the tip down to the area you want to have a darker hue. For an overall darker flower, repaint or use re-inkers. Make sure the each time you paint an area it is wet before you add color, or you will need to color the whole petal to avoid watermark lines in your image.

*To paint using your ink pads, simply squeeze the lid into the pad (while the ink pad is closed). This will create an ink spot on the inside of your lid from where you will pull your color. Do not use your AquaPainter directly on your ink pad.

Ingredients: Fifth Avenue Floral and Thank You Kindly Stamp Sets

(Gray Card) Basic Gray, Black, Whisper White, and Shimmery White cardstock. 'Walk in the Park' Designer Series Paper (Occasions Mini), Tangerine Tango Classic ink pad. I used an orange Sharpie to color my Saffron brads. Little Leaves Die for the Big Shot die cut machine.

(Tangerine Card) Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Kiwi Kiss, and Shimmery White Cardstock. Summer Sun, Tangerine Tango, and Kiwi Kiss Class ink pads. Little Leaves Die for the Big Shot die cut machine.

Have more questions? Send me an email or give me a call. I'm always happy to help!

- Deena

Big Shot Rolo Mums

This cute little Rolo bouquet is a perfect Spring gift. The Mums are made using the Flower Daisy Die and the Big Shot. I adhered the Rolo and the lollipop sticks to the flower using Tombo Adhesive. I got the pot pattern from SU's demo site (being a demo rocks!), but it would be even easier to make a super cute basket using Stampin' Up!'s exclusive Scallop Envelope Die...I guess I need to add that to my collection. I cut a small block of foam from some packaging to insert the sticks into and covered it up with more Rolos. It was so easy to put together!

Texturize with Tissue Paper

The Faux Silk technique was used here. I personally don't think it looks like silk here, but it adds a great texture! To get this look, follow the instructions on my Faux Silk posting, except there will be tearing involved. Tear the neutral cardstock before adhering the tissue paper. After adhering the tissue paper, use a blender pen to run along the tissue paper at the torn edge of the neutral cardstock. This will make it easier to tear your tissue paper and give you a nice soft edge. Clear as mud? Email me if you have questions!

Ingredients: A Flower For All Seasons and Sprinkles stamp sets. Certainly Celery and Whisper White cardstock. Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, and Barely Banana ink pads. Blender pens were used with the ink pads for a soft water color look. A little sponging and Dimensionals to finish it off!

Floral Swap

I have fallen in love with 'Fifth Ave Floral', the stamp set used to make this card. I have seen lots of beautiful samples made with it. Janet Rippel made this super cute sample...thanks Janet!

Ingredients: Not Quite Navy and Whisper White cardstock. Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, and Craft White ink pads. Finishing Touches: Spiral Punch, a cute clip from SU's clip assortment, and a piece of striped Kiwi Kiss ribbon!

Swap #2!

This card, is simply elegant with black velvety ribbon from the 'Valet' Ribbon Originals collection. 'Together Forever' is a great stamp set that's perfect for an engagement announcement, wedding or anniversary card, and perfect for scrapbooking too. You could even make wedding favors or bridesmaid gifts! Oh, the possibilities!

Ingredients: Basic Gray, Whisper White, and Real Red Cardstock. Basic Black and Real Red Classic ink.

Thanks to Salina Kohut, my fellow demo, for making this super cute swap card!

Card Swap

I went to Taste of Stamping (a demonstrator event) last night and had a blast...what else is new?! Yummy dinner, some stamping chat, lovely make and takes, and a fabulous card swap! I made several of the same card and swapped them with other demos that did the same thing. The cards were amazing! This one was my favorite. A girl in my downline, Merri Jensen, brought this card and of course everyone loved it. This is a great card to make with your scraps! I will continue to post the swap cards over the next several days, so be sure to check back.

Join my team! You can become a demonstrator right now for $75! Contact me or go to my Stampin' Up! website for more details. www.myhomegrownart.com We have a great support group, even for those who live out of the area.

Card Ingredients: Flight of the Butterfly and Sincere Salutations stamp sets. Butterfly colors: Elegant Eggplant, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Summer Sun, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, Regal Rose, Pirouette Pink.

Faux Silk

Faux Silk is a very easy technique to add texture to your paper-craft project. Click on the photo to see the texture details.

To get this look:

1. Stamp your image on a piece of tissue paper slightly larger than the area you would like to cover. Color image with Stampin' Write markers if necessary. The ink will go through the tissue paper so take precautions to protect your surface.
2. Wrinkle your tissue paper into a ball and carefully straighten it back out.
3. Use a glue stick liberally on a neutral cardstock, making sure to cover the whole piece of cardstock.
4. Lay the tissue paper on top and press straight down all over to adhere. Do not completely smooth out the tissue paper, we are going for a wrinkled look!
5. Trim excess tissue paper and add to your project.

This card features 'Embrace Life' stamp set. Stamped with Black Stazon ink and colored in with Cameo Coral Stampin' Write Marker. Embellished with White Taffeta ribbon and a piece of Silver Hodgepodge Hardware.

You Can't Beat This!

Stampin' Up! is celebrating National Scrapbooking month by offering a $75 kit to join Stampin' Up! The kit includes: A stamp set of your choice (up to $43.95), a Simply Scrappin' Kit ($19.95), pack of assorted 12 x 12 textured cardstock ($11.95), one craft pad ($7.50), and a ton of business supplies including catalogs!

Not only are the products in the kit worth more than $75, but you get SO much more being a demonstrator. Here are just a few perks of being a demonstrator:

1. Discount on all your stamping supplies!
2. Monthly Magazine with samples, techniques, and business information!
3. You get to be part of our amazing local group which provides help, samples, discussion, and just plain fun! Honestly, we are a family and one of the best groups in the country.
4. If you wish, you can turn this into a business and work from home!
5. There are absolutely no commitments!

Join me at our next demonstrator event, Taste of Stamping, this Monday night. There is no pressure, just a whole lot of fun and excitement. Call or email me if you would like to attend.

Can't attend the event, but want more information? Contact me or check out my website: www.myhomegrownart.com I would be glad to answer all of your questions about the promotion and becoming a demonstrator.