Leadership 2012 Make 'n Takes

As previously mentioned, I was able to be a helper during the Make 'n Takes. We had nine to choose from.  The wall art was made in My Digital Studio.  The flowers are from Blossom Builders Designer Printed Kit.  Very versatile kit especially when combined with Mixed Bunch stamp set and the Blossom punch.

Then, it was embellished with flowers, cardstock, and Tea Stain ink from the Distressing Kit.

The box (top and bottom) is the Fancy Favor Bigz EL die.  The one on top is used as a box with a smaller box that slides into it.  The bottom one is just pinched in on the sides and closed shut with Baker's Twine.

More Blossom Builders Designer Kit, Mixed Bunch, and the Blossom punch.

DSP is Twitterpatted.

A mason jar as a gift box--love it!  Who comes up with these clever ideas?

Cards inside the jar.

Make 'n Takes are the highlight of events for me.  We get to stamp at our business meeetings!  How cool is that?!  Just love going to events, stamping and learning how to use all the new stuff. 

Simply Sent Kits

Did you make New Year's resoultions?  Well, I intended to make some.  Just like I intended to post this card LAST January.  This card is from the Medallion Medley Simply Sent Kit, and was in the 2011 Occasions Mini.  I love this kit because I love the Medallin Stamp (also available for digital download)!  The ribbon and "just because" tag was added by me and does not come in the kit.

For 2011, my intentions were there.  May we follow through on our intentions for 2012.  Happy Stamping!  Bye for now, Maria

January Stamp Club Swaps

The little rubber duckies have been very busy stamping their cards for our monthly card swap.  I saw the gnome set in the new Occasions catalog, and thought "what would I ever do with that?"  Well, here ya go. 

Frances made this card with the Loads of Love stamp set.

Happy Birthday card was stamped by Paige using the new Framelits.

This is a Kim card.

Tina stamped this wonderful Wisteria Wonder happy birthday card.

In case you can't tell, the flowers are shimmery.

Sheila made this lovely Valentine card.

Barbara made this card using the Need for Speed stamp set.  Didn't even know Stampin' Up! had an ATV stamp, and I ride four-wheelers for fun.

Joan made this card using the Strength & Hope stamp set.  Stampin' UP! donated $2 from the sale of each set to the BCRF--they're good like that!

Mary made this thank you card--love the way she used non-traditional leaf colors.

Heather made this cute adorable set of mini note cards, or gift tags, using the Scallop Envelope die.

Happy Stamping! Till next month, Maria

Leadership 2012 San Antonio, Texas

As a Senior Supervisor, I had the privledge of attending my first Leadership event in San Antonio, Texas.  It was wonderful--not more wonderful than Convention, but wonderful in a different way!   Here's why....

Visiting the Alamo.

Being a Make 'n Taker Helper.  This job was so much fun!  I was able to assist other demonstrators with their projects.  Well, it was more like fetching missing items, or uncovering supplies on the tables.  Getting to mingle with Stampin' Up! staff was an added benefit!

Here's the cleanup!

Sorting all the stamps and supplies in tubs and boxes.  Tubs and boxes full of Snail adhesive, Crop-a-diles, Trimmers!  These are the large tubs every body buys at Walley World at the beginning of the year because they're going to get organized--they're that large!!!

Meeting up with friends...Cynthia and Mary Ellen.

Getting to know other demonstrators...I've met Cindy and Janell at Convention before, but was really able to spend time with them at Leadership.  They were gracious enough to let me pal around with them.  Very sweet ladies! 

Met Jan during Make 'n Takes. She has to be one of the nicest demos I've ever met.  Everytime I saw her at Leadership she had a great big smile, took time to say hello and chat.

Making new friends.  Cherie and Betty were so nice to me.  They saw me sitting down for dinner alone in the hotel restaurant.  Actually, I did not even have a chance to sit down at a table--they did not hesitate to ask me to join them. 

Taking a slow moving boat ride along with Riverwalk on the San Antonio  River. 

I enjoyed the Riverwalk so much I took a boat ride both day and night.

Don't forget swaps.

Lyssa's Convention Quality Swap.  You had to sign up for it ahead of time and meet certain criteria.  There are all kinds of swaps at events--card fronts, scrapbook pages, 3D, 3x3 cards, full cards just to name a few. 

I really had a great time in San Antonio.  Wish I could have spent more time sight-seeing the grand state of Texas.  My inention is to post the make 'n takes in a few days.  Happy Stamping!  Bye for now, Maria

January Stamp Club

Happy 2012! Here's to another year of stamping fun!  Since it's a new year, we've decided to get back to basics.  When I started stamping, there were no Big Shots, DSP or metallic paper (I painted my own card stock with metallic paint so my paper would be shimmery, lol--something I would never take the time to do today!).  Cards were much more simple--black ink pad, colored with Pastels (but, they were called chalks), and glitter was added for a little sparkle and shine with the 2-way glue pen.  Here's what we did today....

If you don't recognize the corner punch, it's because it's not a corner rounder.  The circle punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack was used to cut a notch off the corners.  Neat trick, huh?  Learned it at convention!  The Wild Wasabi is "lifted  up" with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Pastels are great because you don't have to color within the lines--whoever told us that anyway?  Where's the fun in that?  I give you permission to color outside the lines, lol!!! Stamping is supposed to be fun!!!  It's not brain surgery, and it's only paper.  Have fun with it!  Bye for now, Maria

Supplies used:  Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red Naturals White cardstock; Basic Black Classic Ink Pad;  Easy Events stamp set; 2 1/2" Circle, the circle punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes, Small Heart Punches; Seam Binding Ribbon; Dazzling Diamonds Glitter; Two-way Glue Pen; Stampin' Pastels (Rose Red, Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi); Stampin' Dimensionals.

Mixed Bunch & Blossom

Just when I thought I did not need another flower stamp or punch along comes the new Occasions Mini Catalog, lol!!!  I love, love, love the Mixed Bunch stamp set with the coordinating Blossom punch! A few of the centers of the flowers are die cuts from Blossom Builders Designer Printed Kit (also in the Occasions Mini).  This kit is really cool.  Each die cut flower is double sided--one side has a pattern, the other is plain.  You get two sheets of flowers along with pink rhinestones--love it!!!  It also comes with these little banners that are great to stamp the perfect sentiment.

Other supplies used:  Loving Thoughts stamp set, Twitterpated DSP, Brights Designer Buttons, Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine, Scallop Edge Border punch.

Spiders, Flowers & Snowflakes

What does a spider, flower and snowflakes have in common?  They were all added to these cards using the same embossed watercolor crayon technique from the previous post.