I HAVE A NEW BLOG ADDRESS

Hello, Stamping Friends!

I have some exciting news - I have had a new web page professionally designed by Cristena Bagne of www.gcblogdesigns.com - and it's fabulous!!

PLEASE COME TO MY NEW ADDRESS AT www.stampandcreate.net

I will be updating my blog from this new address, along with posting my card creations, upcoming classes, specials, and everything else! 

I will not be updating this blog effective today, August 26th 2012.

The LNS Treasure Hunt will continue on my new site at www.StampandCreate.net

MORE SHARING!

Okay - I just had to share something else!! 

I found this on Jenn Webber's blog, and just had to share -



Can you relate?!  Share it with your 'true friend' who helps you hide your stash! 
Then - go visit Jenn at her blog - just click on her name - and see the other goodies she has to share!

Happy browsing - and stashing - and stamping!

~Deborah

SHARING - Is what it's all about!

Hello Stampers!

I hope that everyone is having a fabulous week - I know I am!  One of my wonderful nieces and her husband are visiting with us this week from out of town - although we keep in touch throughout the year, having them visit in person is so nice!!  She is my sister's youngest daughter, so it's kind of like seeing part of my sister at the same time :)  (bonus - my sister is coming to visit me next month for my birthday - now that's a great present!!)

The world of Stampin' Up! is kind of like an extended family - it's wonderful to meet these great people whether it's on our online demonstrator site, or in person, like at one of our Regional meetings or annual Convention.  (extra bonus - I'll be attending my first Regional meeting next month in Tacoma, and I'll get to meet lots of the great people I've only met on line to date! Life is good!)

Now, you know we're having this terrific Treasure Hunt right now, which gives you the chance to enter to win $150 FREE STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCT!  And to do this, you visit the blogs of the Late Night Stampers Group to collect the clues, to enter.

Well, I don't want you to be so busy collecting clues, that you miss the fabulous work that these demos do - so I thought I'd share them with you! :)

If you look on the LNS Web Ring list, Kimberly Morris' blog is listed after mine - have you checked out her creations?  Here's some -

 



How great are these?!  And - Kimberly shares her tutorials on her blog - that's right - you can create these beauties yourself!  So - click on her name - Kimberly Morris - and go visit!  Tell her I said 'hi'!   :)

FALL 2012 TREASURE HUNT!

Watson - the game is afoot!!

Or rather - the Treasure Hunt is on again!  Yes, that's right!  Once again, the Late Night Stampers group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators is holding a Treasure Hunt for YOU to WIN!!

Last Hunt, 'Heather - Cricut Diva' won the 'Betsy's Blossoms' stamp set from me! 

This time, there will be 50 demonstrators playing, and every entry from all 50 demo websites will be combined for one GRAND PRIZE of $150 in Stampin' Up! Product!!  You heard it right - $150 in Stampin' Up! product of your choice!!

Here's how to play:

-go to the page (listed at the top of my blog) titled 'LNS Web Ring'
-visit each of the blogs listed (it's always nice to leave a comment!)
-look for participating Treasure Hunt players - they will have the picture of the SU! box (below), and they will list their clue
-make a note of what the clue is, and whose blog it is on
-once you've collected 50 clues, email them to ME at debsmart@shaw.ca  listing each clue & where you found it
-you have from Monday August 20th to Wednesday, October 31st 2012 to collect 50 clues and email them to me, to be entered into the contest
-Contest closes Wednesday October 31st 2012 at midnight PST

Here's the box that tells you that I'm participating in the Treasure Hunt

Here is my clue - you'll want to write this down, and the name of my blog:

MDS2 - My Digital Studio 2 is out - get it while it's hot!

Now - go hunting!!  Remember to keep checking back on the  blogs for the clues - even though our start date is tomorrow, Monday Aug. 20th, some blogs may not have their clue posted yet.

Have fun, Stampin' Friends, and come back to visit me often!  You never know if there may be another surprise in store for you....

Happy Hunting - and Stamping!
~Deborah

Triple Time Stamping - New Technique

Hello Stampers!

I hope you are all keeping well!  We're going through a bit of a heat-wave here; now, my youngest say "it's not that hot", but at 32Celcius, and with the humidity on top of that - it's just too hot for comfort!  It's been like this all week - thankfully, it's supposed to cool down a few degrees on Monday/Tuesday, so I'm looking forward to that!

One of the things I like best about being a SU! demonstrator (besides being able to get my 20% discount on all products! what's not to like about that?!) is the way all the demonstrators share so generously with each other - tips, techniques, etc.

This card that I've done is using a technique called 'Triple Time', because you actually stamp on 3 different sizes of card stock at the same time, and when you layer it with the solid colour card stock in between - well, as you can see, the effect is fabulous!

For this card, my base card and solid layers are the new Midnight Muse card stock.  I used one of my favourite stamp sets, 'Elements of Style'; stamping the flowers in Crumb Cake, and the swirls and hummingbirds in Not Quite Navy ink on Very Vanilla card stock.  The sentiment, from the 'Loving Thoughts' stamp set on Very Vanilla in Not Quite Navy ink, and I cut the ends banner style and popped it up on the card with dimensionals.

You really should try this technique - it's really a lot easier than it looks!  Rather than 'reinvent the wheel', I'm going to direct you to the video by Dawn Olschefske - she explains everything very well, and takes you through step by step.  Here's the link to the page on her blog  with the tutorial http://dostamping.typepad.com/dostamping_with_dawn/2012/06/triple-time-stamping-video-creative-elements-and-new-naturals-designer-buttons.htmls See what I mean about SU! demo's being super helpful & friendly! 

If you'd like to become one of us - super helpful friendly demonstrators - I'd love to have you join my team! 
Join Stampin' Up! in your way . . . with our completely customizable Starter Kit for just $125!
Build your own personal kit by picking $155 worth of any of our high-quality traditional or digital products. We'll add in a business supplies pack valued at $70 (to help you get your business up and running), and you've got a customizable kit worth up to $225!
It's that easy.
I can answer you questions, and/or I can help you with the sign up process - just give me a call or leave me a message (604 298 0472 or debsmart@shaw.ca ) or, you can sign up yourself online at my SU! online site www.stampandcreate.stampinup.net

Be sure to check back here on Monday - there's going to be a special treat in store for you!!

Until then - Happy Stamping!
~Deborah

'Birthday Bash' Fun & Another Christmas Card

Hello Stampers!

Well, it was lots of fun today at the 'Birthday Bash' class -there were lots of cards, goodies and laughs!

One comment that I hear a lot from people when copying a card in a class is "but mine isn't exactly like yours!"  You know what - that's a GOOD thing!!  There are no mistakes in creating - only opportunities for creativity!  The cards I prepare as examples are just that - examples.  I love it when a client will add, delete or change something on a card!  It shows the crafters personality, and you know what - the card that they changed - that they think they made a 'mistake' on - is always the one the crafter is most proud of!

Here's a picture of my good friend and client Susan - proudly showing off the card that she changed up, and made her own!

Doesn't she look thrilled with how her card turned out?  Yes - and she should!!  It's gorgeous!

I had made these little treats for each stamper to take home!  (they had chocolates in them, of course!)

I used the now-retired Pillow Box die, and decorated each with a mix of new and retired DSP to decorate them.  Who doesn't love a treat - chocolate, even!?

I promised you another new card using product from the new Holiday catalogue - and here it is!

How cute are these little mittens?!  They are from the 'Chock Full of Cheer' set (pg.10 Annual Catalogue #126715w $26.95 or 126717c $20.95 set of 7), and punched out with the new Mitten Builder Punch (pg.11 Holiday cat. #127824 $21.95).  I used a DSP from the Festival of Prints DSP Stack (#126904 $8.50 Holiday cat.), using the Labels Collection Framelits (#125598 $32.95 Annual cat.)to frame the mittens.  To soften the look, I sponged the outline of the frame with Gumball Green, and stamped the mittens with Gumball Green and Real Red classic inks.  The sentiment, also from the Chock Full of Cheer set, was stamped in Real Red, punched out with the Scalllop Oval punch (#119856 $22.95).  The mittens were 'tied' together with Baker's Twine in Lucky Limeade (#125572 $3.95 Annual cat.)  Both the mittens and the sentiment were popped up with dimensionals, to add depth to the card.  The card base is Whisper White card stock.

Well, it's been a fun & busy day - I hope you've had a good day too, and have enjoyed seeing my latest creation!

Remember - if you'd like a copy of the catalogue(s), feel free to contact me - either by phone or email at 604 298 0472 debsmart@shaw.ca  Or, you can place an order any time 24/7 online by clicking the 'Shop Now' button at the top right of this page!

Until next time  - Happy Stamping!
~Deborah

Christmas comes Early!

Hello Stampers!

 I hope everyone has had a great week, and had some time to do something creative!  Did you make any cards, scrapbook pages, or just get your fingers inky?

I've had some time (finally) to play with some of the new stamp sets from the Holiday catalogue - you're going to love the selection!!  For me, it was a much shorter list of what I didn't want, rather than what I did want!!

In playing with my new stamps, I'm also getting ideas for upcoming Christmas stamp-a-stacks that I'm going to be doing, as well as cards for Christmas craft fairs.

Let me know what you think of this card:

This card highlights the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set (#128048w $42.95 or 128051c $31.95) and their matching Framelits Dies (#127816 $30.95)  The great thing about these is that you can order them seperately, or save 15% by ordering them as a Bundle (#129949w $61.95 or 129950c $52.95)
Isn't that a great deal?!!  The DSP is from the new Festival of Prints DSP paper stack (#126904 $8.50) which is 48 sheets, 4 each of 12 double sided designs!  This set is so versatile, and the size is great for both card making and scrapbooking. 
The sentiment is from the Joyous Celebrations stamp set of 9 images (#128066w $27.95 or 128069c $19.95 pg7).  I popped up the ornaments and sentiment with dimensionals on top of the DSP and Old Olive card stock (the edge of which I scalloped with the Adorning Accents Edgelits #125595 $11.95 pg 190 in the Annual catalogue).

So - let me know what you think!  What kind of cards and items would you like to see at a Christmas stamp-a-stack, or when you go shopping at a Craft Fair?  I'd love to hear your feedback! 

Tomorrow, I'm busy with my 'Birthday Bash' card class, but hopefully I'll have time afterwards to post another picture or two.  Now, I'm off to see a movie with my oldest son!

Happy Stamping, friends :)
~Deborah

Too Hot to Work!

Hello Stampers!

Well, I have to apologize for not posting lately!  It's been quite hot here - right now, at 10:30 at night, it's 82 degrees F in the house - I don't know how I'm going to get to sleep tonight!

So, this afternoon I was working on prepping for my upcoming 'Birthday Bash' card class (it's not too late to register - leave me a message on this post, or email me at stampandcreate@shaw.ca)  but I couldn't even get that finished!

I did get 2 special cards done; one Sympathy card for my neice's boyfriend, whose Mother has just passed away; the other a Birthday card for my cousin, who lives in Scotland.  Now, her birthday isn't until the beginning of September, but I still have to choose a gift and mail it off,and it will take several weeks to reach her - so I'm determined not to wait til the last minute!

So, because these 2 cards are special, and neither has reached the recipients yet, I don't want to post them, in case they happen to see them here!

If you have a special card, or technique that you'd like to share, I'd love to see it!  Or, if there's a type of card, or technique that you'd like ME to share - let me know and I'll be happy to try it out!

Tomorrow is supposed to be a *bit* cooler - so hopefully I'll have something to share with you!

Until then - keep cool, and happy stamping!
~Deborah