Sunday, November 10, 2013

Organizing Card Stock Scraps

If you've been stamping or paper crafting for a while, you end up with tons of paper scraps.  What to do with all of them?  I organize my card stock scraps by pairing up scraps that look good together.  That's the great thing about Stampin' Up!--even if it's been retired all their colors still coordinate and look good together!! 
The scrap bundles are held together by these little binder clips--purchase those at your favorite office supply store. 

These little bundles will one day be made into beautiful cards one day--that's the plan anyway! 

Saturday, November 9, 2013

November Stamp Club: Gift Bow Angel

Don't you love when you buy something, and it has more than one purpose?  Like the Gift Bow die!  Trolling Pinterest the other day, I saw the most adorable angel, and upon closer view it was made with the Gift Bow Bigz L Die.  ADORABLE!!!


The Gift Bow Angel was our project for November.  These are so easy to make!  Here's what you need....


To create the halo, punch Gold Foil Sheet with the 1 1/4 Circle first.  Then, punch that circle out with the 1 3/4 circle.  You will have a circle punched within a circle.


I left the angel's face blank, because I am not gifted in drawing--that's why I stamp!


Supplies used:
Mixed Bunch Stamp Set (Annual Catalog)
Gift Bow Bigz L Die
Gold Foil Sheets
Very Vanilla and Blushing Bride CS
Cherry Cobbler Ink
Linen Thread
Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Tombo Liquid Glue

Punches:  7/8" Scallop, 1" Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, 1 1/4" Circle, and 1 3/4" Circle

These would be the cutest gift tags EVER!!!  And, they would like so pretty hanging on a Christmas tree.  Happy Stamping!  Bye for now, Maria

Friday, November 8, 2013

Inspiration Journal


As a rubber stamper and demonstrator, I always get asked, "where do you come up with your ideas?"  This is the one question I get asked the most.  Most of my ideas come from Stampin' Up!'s annual convention--being able to attend is a demonstrator perk.  Between the swaps and displays, I see more than enough to carry me through the entire year.  I must take at least 1000 pictures when I'm there--so glad they invented digital cameras!  Our demonstrator magazine and online community have soooooo many ideas, pics, tutorials (yes, another perk, wanna sign up?).  So many ideas, so little time! 


Paper-crafting magazines (there are still a few of them around), blogs, websites, Pinterest, and even google, are great places to get ideas. The Stampin' Up! catalogs have tons of samples.  Feel free to CASE--that's copy and share everything!   When something flashes across our screen, we "pin it!"  What did we ever do before Pinterest?!  But, what do you do with a magazine clipping, or an old post card that inspires you?  How about placing these items in an Inspiration Journal? 


Inspiration and ideas can come from lots of places--think outside of the crafting/stamping world.  Think about your favorite things, places and stores.  What is about it that you love so much ?  Is it the color, textures, graphics, color combos?  Jot those down in your journal.  When you're stuck for an idea, pull out your journal.  Those ideas can be a spring board in your card-making and scrapbooking. 

Where do you look for inspiration?  Bye for now, Maria