See ya later, alligator

Every month at club, we do a swap. This month's swap theme is animals. I {heart} the Level 1 hostess set Longfellows, and decided this was a perfect opportunity to show it off! I used the faux alligator skin technique, which is an old favorite! If you'd like to learn how to do it, let me know!

Be on the lookout for a card buffet next month! {gasp} I know, it's been a year since the last one!

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Stamps: Longfellows
Paper: Old Olive, Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, Greenhouse Garden DSP
Ink: Versamark, Old Olive, Early Espresso
Accessories: Clear EP, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Neutral Brads 3/8", 1 3/4 Scallop Circle Punch, White Gel Pen, Dimensionals, Stampin Sponge

Join Stampin Up!

If you've been thinking of becoming a Stampin Up demonstrator, I'd love to talk to you about it! In addition to getting a discount on products I love, I have made dear friends with demonstrators from all over the United States and Canada! This month, new demonstrators will receive this fabulous tote FREE with purchase of a starter kit! Let me know if you'd like more information.

Dates: September 1-October 18, 2010, or while supplies last

Details
New recruits who join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator during the promotion period will receive a FREE craft tote (valued at $39.95) with the purchase of their Starter Kit.

Watercolor just for you

I didn't make it to the Stampin Up Convention this past summer, but I made this card inspired by one most Convention-goers made!

It uses the fabulous stamp set Just Believe. I inked it up with my markers, then spritzed with a bit of water to give the watercolor effect. How about those Brights Buttons! I love 'em. I edged the card with the Scallop Trim Border punch, and then put a line of Old Olive cardstock on the inside of the card to highlight it.

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Stamps: Just Believe
Paper: Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist, Naturals White
Ink: Old Olive and NQN markers, Not Quite Navy classic pad
Accessories: spray bottle, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain, Brights Buttons (Old Olive), Linen Thread, Scallop Trim Border Punch

A fish story

I wanted to post a close-up of one of the fish I did for last week's blog hop. I like this one, because you can see the Smooch Spritz on it! This really is one of my favorite projects in a long time.

 

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Paper:  Concord Crush, In Color DSP 6x6 hostess pack
Ink: Concord Crush
Accessories: Big Shot, Tasteful Trim Die, Neutral Buttons, Rhinestones, 1/8 White Taffeta, White Gel Pen, Stampin Sponge, Mono Multi Glue, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz

Check out what's on sale!

Stampin Up has listed some great buys on the Clearance Rack of my Stampin Up website! These items cannot be added to a regular order--they must be purchased online. Be sure to catch them before they're gone!

Here are a few samples:

Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon
Price: $3.99
Catalog Price : 9.95 Real Red Corduroy Buttons Price: $3.99 Catalog Price : $9.95 Little Felt Flurries Accents & Elements Price: $5.99 Catalog Price : $13.95

Stampin Addicts Holiday Mini Blog Hop!

Welcome to stop #11 on the Stampin Addicts Blog Hop! 

Click here to go back to #10, Kitty Stamp

As long as you keep clicking on to the next blog at the bottom of each post, you'll get to see a parade of projects from the wonderful stampers at Stampin Addicts! This time, we're featuring all new products from the 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog. If you've come from Betty's blog, Kitty Stamp, you've seen her great ideas for the new Stampin' Up fabrics! 

My projects feature the new Bigz XL die, Tasteful Trim. You know how I love my Big Shot! One of my favorite features about the Big Shot dies is that they cut such a variety of materials!

We have had many invitations to bridal showers the last few months, and still a couple more to go, so my thoughts were leaning in a kitchen direction when my Tasteful Trim die arrived. I used iron-on, lightweight interfacing behind all the fabric cut with the Tasteful Trim die.

The napkins are embellished with the bead trim from Tasteful Trim. I ironed our Deck the Halls fabric onto lightweight interfacing, cut, and then appliqued (which is just a fancy word for sewing it down securely with a sewing machine!) it across the corners of the napkins. I think it looks lovely! The coaster set features the large and small ricrac trims. I used fabric glue to attach it to cork, and then put the cork through my Big Shot with the Scalloped Square die.

Sorry for the shadows on this one! These are super-soft white dishtowels I purchased and then added the large ricrac trim (again with applique)! What a great way to personalize a gift or just to dress up your kitchen for the holidays! Fortunately for me, the Deck the Halls fabrics already match my kitchen colors. {smile}

I think we'll be making more of these personalized kitchen ensembles for future shower gifts. They were easy to do and will make a fun gift.

There is ONE more trim from the Tasteful Trim die I haven't shown you yet.

Aren't they the cutest fish on the block??? I admit this idea came to me in the middle of the night {laugh} And it came out even better than I had visualized. How often does that happen???

I used the In Color Hostess Color Pack and cut about 8 pieces 1 inch by 6 inches from the scalloped edge trim. The Tasteful Trim die cut easily through all the layers! Then I sponged and curled my strips (they had a hot date with a cold fish!) and added them one by one to my fish shape. A few brads, buttons, ribbon, and a spritz of Vanilla Shimmer, and they're all off to the "school" dance!

There are SO many possibilities with this die! I hope you'll give it a try and let me know what you make with it!

Click here to go on to #12, Kim's Stitchin n Stampin!

A Holiday Preview!

I was so excited to see fabric available in the new 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog! You can order from this exciting new catalog on September first--a week from today!

This fabric is from the Deck the Halls collection. I die cut it with the Lattice Die and  adhered it to Soft Suede cardstock. With the addition of a jumbo eyelet and a bit of the new Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, I think it makes a striking card that would work for Christmas, birthday, or any time!

We made this card at my downline meeting in August. If you are interested in becoming a Stampin Up demonstrator and getting fun sneak peaks of new stuff, let me know!

Please come back on Friday to see my projects for the Stampin Addicts Holiday Mini Blog Hop! I have some really exciting things to show you with fabric AND cardstock and one of the new dies!

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Stamps: Curly Cute
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Big Shot, Lattice Die, interfacing, Jumbo Eyelets, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Stampin Sponge

Birthdays are the BEST

I send out a lot of birthday cards. I decided it was ridiculous to own all these supplies and have a million cards sitting in a box and actually MISS birthdays! So I made it a goal to keep birthday cards on hand and USE them! {gasp} This has been my August birthday card, and I'm just about out! Guess it's time to cut up some more paper!

When you mail cards, it's best to have them be as flat as possible. I've done the crimped-cardstock-over-the-bumps thing when I've needed to, but flat is ideal for mailing! Makes it kinda hard to make an interesting card, though. lol

The answer for this particular card was texture! I used the Square Lattice Embossing Folder on the Old Olive layer. I {heart} that folder! It's as versatile as the polka dots! And it's fun to pet. But maybe that's just me!

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Stamps: Perfect Punches
Paper: Peach Parfait, Old Olive, So Saffron, Greenhouse Garden DSP
Ink: Peach Parfait
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain, Wide Oval punch, dimensionals