Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Another Scrapbook Option!

Many of you know that my first love in the paper-crafting world  is scrapbooking.  I had stamped a few times and sometimes used stamping in my scrapbooks but mostly I just scrapbooked  from 1994-2004 when I joined a Stampin' Up Stamper's 10 group.  Then I learned how to do a LOT of stamping on scrapbook pages and loved it!  Soon I decided I wanted to join Stampin' Up as a demonstrator - the best job ever  :~)

There was an exciting announcement today, Stampin' Up is partnering with Becky Higgins, a very famous name in the scrapbooking world!  She started Project Hope a while back and now you can get this great scrapbooking product in Stampin' Up colors, how cool is that???

Here is a video of the announcement:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8r2VmVJ2Zk

Customers can begin ordering Project Life products on May 1st and with the introduction of the new catalog on June 2 there will be an even larger line of Project Life products available.  It is an exciting time to be a Stampin' Up demonstrator with Sale-a-Bration just ending and the new catalog about to be unveiled.  I'll get to see the new catalog in 2 weeks and will be ordering a few things right away so I can share some brand new ideas with you as soon as possible.

 
 I'm in a bit of a hurry, I forgot to take my taxes to mail when I went to my hair apt this morning so I have to drive back in to the Post Office.  Sigh.  I don't like wasting time and gas.  Here are some of the swaps I got when I went to the stamp retreat in Huntsville.  I love the cute idea of putting a seed packet in a slide out card and the "I Dig You" stamp is perfect for that project!  Since we are expecting a frost tonight (isn't April 15 the time they say you can plant in TN because freeze chances are past???) I haven't planted my flowers yet.  I have planted lettuce and spinach though.  Since they are only up about 1/2" I will cover them tonight.  They should be ok since they are hardy plants but I don't want to take chances.



Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Stamp Case Projects

Have you bought any of the Stampin' Up stamp cases?  They make 3 sizes, the regular clear stamp cases and 2 sizes of wood block cases.  They are on page 197 of the 2013/14 catalog.  The clear mount cases are 7-1/2"X 5-1/2" and are about 3/4" thick (119105, $5.95 for 4 cases).  They are great for storing things like Stampin' Up markers, a color family will fit in each case.  Very handy to keep them together.  Thinlits also fit great in these thin cases.  Add some  magnet sheet to hold them in place and they will be kept safe, unchipped and unwarped in these little cases. 
 
The larger wood mount cases are about 1 1/4" thick and are 7-1/2"X 5-1/2" (127551, $6.95 for 4), the half size are the same thickness but only 3-3/4"X 5-1/2" (127552, $4.95 for 4).  The larger cases are big enough to store our sheets of basic rhinestones and pearls, plenty of adhesive or about dozen card kits or partially finished cards.  The smaller ones are a great size for the little things like sponge daubers, reinkers, brads, buttons, ribbon and baker's twine.  What do you keep in your wonderful stamp cases besides stamps?
 One of the projects we made at the retreat in Huntsville, AL was made with a half size wood block case.  We inserted a piece of the beautiful Water Color Wonder Designer paper into the cover of the case and  made a band to put around it that we decorated with a punched, scrunched flower.
Inside the half-size case we made some pretty monogramed notecards AND matching envelopes using the same designer paper and  the new, wonderful, versatile Envelope Punch Board.  I love that thing!  You have probably seen the boxes, bows and variety of file folders made with the punch board. 
Our second clear case project was a mini scrapbook.  Tip here, always stamp before adhering.  I had the white piece stuck to the Summer Starfruit one before I stamped and I dropped the inked stamp on it!  Oh well, I just turned it upside down so it was at the top and will be covered (mostly) with the picture I put on the front.  I might need to do some blue inking around it to make it less noticeable  :~)  The front and back pieces were assembled and inserted in the outside cover of the case.
 This is what the inside looks like when you first open the case.  On the left the page was a single page and adhered right to the inside of the case.  The page on the right is the front of an accordion fold out album.
 The inside front pages.
 The back of the accordion pages.

I love this mini album, it was quick and easy and with the Water Color Wonder designer paper it is just beautiful!  I hope you get some of these great cases and not only store things in them but craft something too.