Layouts from Convention Boards

I wish there were more scrapbook layouts on the boards at convention so I could get more ideas for my scrapbook classes but there were enough layouts for a good start.  I thought I would feature several of them in a single post.

 

 I like the way this artist used diecuts to add dimension to the background of this layout.  Sewing them on is an unusual yet fun way to adhere diecuts to a layout.

 The scalloped borders under the picture is cut from the Tasteful Trim Bigz Die.  The fabric flower adds another great touch to the layout. 

 This layout features the Perfect Pennants die.  I love the way she topped the pennants with a little piece of the scallop die. 

Even though there is a lot of white on this layout the use of diecuts and embossing folders gives it a lot of depth and character. 

 There is another effective use of multiple dies on this layout.  Cutting the same die with multiple patterns of paper makes for a fun background to go with fun pictures.

 Circle punches abound on this bright layout.  I love that she carried out the circle effect with buttons and a pleated flower too.  The subtle spritzed yellow in the background ties it all together.

I like to put as many pictures as I can on one page so this page definitely appeals to me.  I like the tree bark background and die cut leaves that carry out the nature theme of the page.

 

Aren't these inspiring layouts!  I need to find more time to work on my scrapbook pages. 

 

Don't forget that if you place an order between now and Oct 31st, you will get your name entered in my drawing.  I'm giving away 3 sets of stamps, one for Aug, one for Sept and one for Oct.  Good luck with winning!  And if you haven't finished your Treasure Hunt, go to my previous post and write down my clue to add to your list.  Wouldn't it be great if you were the one to win the $150 of Stampin' Up supplies!

Wonderfall!

Cooler weather has visited us the last few days and reminds me that Fall is just around the corner!  I love the changing colors of the leaves and raking them up in the yard.  Yes, I'm nuts!  I live in the woods and have LOTS of leaves to rake but I enjoy doing it anyway.  I like leaf crafts and leaf stamp sets.  Guess what - not only do we have a great new leaf stamp set called Wonderfall, we have a matching die cut!  It is called Autumn Accents and has 4 leaves and an acorn.  Not only that, there is an embossing folder to top these fun Fall leaves off with a Woodgrain texture!  I used all 3 for this swap card I made for a team meeting I went to a couple of Saturdays ago.

I used the new Core'dinations Cardstock to emboss with the Woodgrain embossing folder.  Then I used the new Stampin' Sanding Block to sand off some of the color so the woodgrain pattern shows up better.  This new cardstock comes in your choice of 3 great colors, Early Espresso like I used as well as Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green.  It is going to be great for Fall and holiday crafting!  I'm very impressed with the Stampin' Sanding System.  The block has velcro on it that you can use to attach the sanding block refills.  The refills are only $1.95 a set so it will be much more economic than replacing the whole sanding block whenever the sandpaper wears out. 

They also have a Core'dinations Dust Buddy that is great for picking up the sanding dust when you use the sanding block on the Core'dinations cardstock.  I just cut off a bit of the 33 1/2" strip of sticky gauze to pick up the debris from all 30 cards I made!  It is like the tac cloths used for tole painting.

Here is another leaf card I got in my swaps.  She also used the Woodgrain background stamp on her card.  Simple and sweet.

 This is one of my favorite projects from the Convention displays.  I love the way they used the frame and "clothesline" to display pictures and stamp art.  I reckon I need to try this, I've got some old frames.

Last of all, a quick reminder that if you join my team you will not only get your Stampin' Up kit that is completely customizable for only $99, you will get this cute Howl-o-ween project kit that is valued at $60.  It is adorable and fun.  I've seen some people use Velcro to attach the pieces to the printer's tray so that they can change them for each season.  What a great idea!  AND, what a great time to join Stampin' Up!

Stamped Silk Scarves

I also signed up for a silk scarf swap at convention.  I happened to have a few craft ink pads to stamp the scarf with so I signed up and right after that Stampin' Up sent out it's new retiring accessories list and the craft inks were ALL on it!  Well, all but the Whisper White and Very Vanilla.  I decided to remain in the swap anyway and I was glad I did!  I got some wonderful creations and with Fall and cooler weather coming I will be wearing scarfs again very soon.  We can't get the craft ink anymore but we can still use the great Stampin' Up stamp sets and pigment inks to create beautiful silk scarves.

I think you will agree with me that these silk scarves are wonderful!

 This is the scarf I made using Tempting Turquoise and Wild Wasabie Craft Ink and the Circle Circus stamp set. 

 Penny Geigner used the Artisan Etchings and Postage Due stamp sets to create this scarf.  She also used Stampin' Up's Craft Ink.

 This scarf was created by Donna Pelon.  She used the Postage Due and Artistic Etchings stamp sets.

 Kim Stathakos made this scarf using the great swirly stamp and a flower one from the Everything Eleanor sets.

I think this is my favorite scarf from the swap.  We only had 5 in each group so we wouldn't have to make too many scarves to make.  Once I decided on a pattern and colors it took me about 1/2 hour to stamp each scarf so I was glad I didn't have to do a dozen!  Debra Brown took the time to tea die her scarves, I love the look!  She also used the french Foliage stamp set, isn't it perfect for a Fall scarf?

More Shoebox Swaps

I loved the shoebox swaps I took part in at the convention.  I did one on Monday that was a 3-D swap, one Tuesday that was a 3-D card swap and another 3-D swap on Wednesday.  There were some great projects shared and I have lots of ideas for classes now!  Here are a few more of them.

 I love the origami butterfly on this card.  The new Gold Stampin' Dazzle Marker that was used for the butterfly body is a great addition to our Mini Catalog line up.  There is also a silver one.  They will be extra great for Christmas projects but really fun for lots of other things all year long.  I like the shape of this card too.  It is an unusual card that will surely make the receiver feel special.

 This is a card with an extra treat, a pack of gum is tucked inside.  What a fun way to tell someone thanks or that you are thinking of them!

 One of my favorite projects was this little backpack.  I've seen these around for a while but have never made one.  This was really kind of simple so I'm sure I'll be making more of them.  I'm thinking they are a great way to record your child's or grandchild's first day of school this year. 

There are several pages inside as well as in the front pocket to put pictures, schedules and other information from this day that is exciting for some and not so fun for others.

 When you  open up the larger pocket there are 4 pages for pictures, etc.  The 2 pockets are held closed by magnets.  Very clever!

Amazing Bargain on Fabric!

I want to share a couple of more convention swaps with you and then details about an amazing sale.  Stay tuned, it is unbelievable!

These are all from some of the shoebox swaps I participated in at the Late Night Stampers events before the convention started.  They are all great projects, I made them myself but forget with EVERY one of them to put the name of the person who taught them.  If  you know or are one of these people, let me know so I can give them credit.

                                                     The inside of the tea bag card:

 The indside of the gift card holder.  The card slips into the diagonal pocket.  It is a very clever fold and will be featured in one of my classes very soon!

Do you like the look of fabric on your projects?  Do you sew?  Do you just like to collect pretty fabric?  Then this sale is for you!  4 of Stampin' Up's beautiful fabric packages are on sale for the incredibly low price of .99 each!  That is 3 extra-wide fat quarters (27"X18") in coordinating designs that originally sold for $9.95 a pack!  I'm no mathematician but that is somewhere in the neighborhood of 90% off isn't it???  I'm going to try to snag a few boxes of the spring ones to make the granddaughters matching dresses.  I got about 10 boxes of the Christmas ones at convention so I can go wild with it too.  The Candy Cane Lane one has cute girly designs and doesn't look Christmasy at all so if I don't get the Springtime one in time, I can still make them some cute dresses.

See a picture of each of the 4 collections here.

Order from the Clearance Rack on my website here
So you don't have to search, here are the links to each collection.  I hope you snag a bargain before they are all gone!

Candy Cane Lane:
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=121715

Deck The Halls:
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=121716

Springtime Vintage:
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=121817

Sweet Stitches:
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=121818

There are lots of other great bargains on the clearance rack so check them all out while you are there!

Convention Swaps

First of all, here are the stamp sets I got at the Stampin' Up convention.  The 4 cases on the bottom row are the ones we got in our convention bag and used for the projects we did in our Make-n-take sessions.  There are actually 3 sets but one has such large stamps that it needs 2 cases.  The ones in the middle with the package of Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper are the ones I won from the Prize Patrol.  Again, it is one stamp set but it takes 2 cases.  The other 3 are sets they gave everyone at the last session of the convention.  I was sure glad I stayed until the end! 

Now, on to swap cards.  I made this card using The Open Sea stamp set.  It had lots of layers and tying all those bows on was kind of a pain but worth it, they finished off the cards nicely.

It would be impossible to pick one favorite from all the cards I got in return for mine.  Here are a few that I just really like.

Jean Nauta

Lana Van Dorn

                                                                          Julie Link

Robin VanDerMoere

Patty Pence

I took a couple of hundred pictures today - with my I phone :~O  I guess my digital camera is officially dead, the lens won't even come out for me to take pictures.  I knew it wouldn't be much longer.  A new camera goes to the top of my list.  Guess what I bought today, something that had been on my list for a year or more but moved to the top when I was looking at the apples waaaaayyyy up in my apple tree.  Yep, an apple picker.  I didn't get a picture of it but it is like a cage at the end of a long pole.  I will be able to reach those perfect apples way up that look so good but I had to wait for them to fall and get bruised to get to them.  I reckon I need to get out there and pick those apples tomorrow! 

August Specials and more convention display boards

Since I am falling asleep as I edit the pictures I will just post a few more convention boards and some of the specials Stampin' Up is running now.  If you click on the pictures they should enlarge so you can see the individual cards better.  Not all of them are as clear as I would like but most of the cards will show up pretty good.

First of all, don't forget the tax-free weekend, it's almost over!  Yesterday's post had a list of the Stampin' Up products that qualify for the tax-free sale. 

One great promotion Stampin' Up is having in August is a special price on digital content AND you can download MDS2 for a 30 day free trial!  I love MDS2.  It is like they took all the suggestions and complaints people had with the first digital program and combined them together to make an even better program.  I loved playing with it at the class I took at convention and look forward to finding some time now that too much Summer vacation is over!

Get 31% off 31 digital content options and most of our print products for all 31 days in August! Feed your My Digital Studio addicted customers and tempt the ones that aren't. With digital goods on sale and the 30-day FREE trial of the software, August is the perfect time for them to enter the digital designing craze and see what it's all about.

What's on sale?
ALL cards, photobooks, individual pages, and tags. That's right: print any photobook, board book, swatchbook, individual pages, greeting card, postcard, trifold card, or tag-all for 31% off.

Some of our best digital content. 30 downloads and 1 content disc.  And that equals 31.

Another great special (along with our already great value of a $99 starter kit) if you sign up as a Stampin' Up demonstrator in August, is a Free Howl-o-ween Printer's Tray Project Kit.
It is a $60 value! This exclusive kit contains the perfect elements of a spooktacular Halloween decoration!

Details for these 2 great promotions are here:  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/elainestamps/promotions
I'd love to have you join my team, we have a lot of fun!  And I'll be having a digital class soon so you can learn great things you can do with your free trial of MDS2.

Holiday Mini Catalog is Live!

I tried to do a blog post on my Iphone while I was in GA this week but it wasn't working for me.  I would get a title and type about half a sentence and it would go back to the Iphone home screen.  I love my Iphone but seriously need to learn how to use it better!

Great news, the Holiday Mini Catalog started on August 1st!  This mini catalog is full of great stamp sets, paper and other crafting products.  I'm loving all the new goodies!  I placed an order last week and it came before I got on the freeway heading to GA for my grandson's birthday on Monday.  My son called and told me the box had come and I so wanted to come back and play!  But, I got a chance to play today and I got some fun goodies.  I'm working on a swap for a meeting tomorrow so I can't show you today but I'll try to get it posted tomorrow when I get home.

I also have to make a tutorial for the little box I taught in SLC.  I'm hoping I'll have time to take all the pictures and get it written the next few days. I have lots of pictures from convention I still want to share and there are several of the 3-D items that I didn't put all the way together so they wouldn't get squashed in my suitcase that I want to get done and pictures taken for you.  I have been with all 5 of my grandchildren nearly every day since I got home so I haven't had much time to craft.  I've enjoyed a huge dose of grandchildren though!

But, enough of yacking, here is another great project from convention!   I have a laundry closet in my kitchen so I don't have a laundry room to put this cute ironing board banner in but I love it anyway.  I might have to get one of those little ironing boards to decorate anyway.  There is space above the closet doors that is big enough that I could hang it there.  I think it would make me smile!

Someone (and I really should remember her name) did a demonstration on how to do this cute project in one of the general sessions at convention.  She stamped on the actual candle with the EnFrancis stamp and Staz-on ink.  Very pretty and it would be great to skip the stamping on tissue paper and heat setting it on with the heat gun.  I ordered Stampin' Up's new heat gun in the order I got Monday so I need to heat up SOMETHING with it!  The new guns are so quiet you almost don't know they are on, it will be great to be able to talk when I'm embossing now.  The leaves are cut with the Big Shot and a new die called Autumn Accents.  There is a stamp set that goes with the die, it was in my order too so I've been using them for my swap I'm working on.  Some of the leaves in this picture were cut from the packing paper we get in our orders but did you notice the bling?????  We have a new glimmer paper called Champagne that is so pretty, kind of bronz-like.  It's a great color, don't you think?

In case you have never been to the convention, here is a shot of part of the project boards.  I can't remember how many there were but I believe there were 4 or 5 long rows of boards.  I took a picture of each one and will spend time looking through them to find great ideas all year long. 

For punch art lovers, this board had some great ideas for punches including a tutorial sheet for some of the cute animals.  I hope I took a close-up of the tutorial sheet, I want to make some of these!

One of my favorite Stampin' Up blogs is written by Erica Cerwin.  I love her style and especially her scrapbook pages.  I guess she has caught Stampin' Up's eye too and she got to display her art at convention this year.  Oh, and the date - remember in a previous post I said my camera was acting up?  It just put whatever date it wanted to on the pictures.  I wish I knew how to turn that thing off!  At least it made it through the convention but it did cause some aggravation as it kept shutting down at random times when I knew it was fully charged. 

At the convention they have classes for demonstrators to attend between making great projects and swapping.  I went to one taught by Brian Pilling called "I Am A Leader".  He talked about dysfunctional leadership and how to avoid it.  I guess I needed that class, my mind can't pin down a solid thought sometimes and I feel dysfunctional!  It was great information though, I need to study my notes real well on that one.

Another class was called "I Am Savy" that had 3 presenters.  Dawn Griffith, Meg Wheeler and Laura Milligan showed new and unusual ways to use the Big Shot and some great tips for ribbon.  They had so many creative ideas that I will be using on my upcoming projects.

There is more news but I'll try to post again tomorrow.