A Trial Run

I'm working on my Spring Stamp Camp scheduled for Saturday, May 21st.

I wanted to use the new Designer Series Papers in the Summer Mini catalog, but honestly...they are just way too bright for my liking. These are the first of the samples I made using the bright matching colors before I threw in the towel. I felt like I needed to stamp with my sunglasses on they are so bright!

We're still doing the purse and these two cards (plus 2 more) but in a much more toned down set of colors *Ü* Details on the stamp camp will be coming, but if you are in the Boise area, save the date for Saturday May 21st!

If you can't attend but want to make the full size purse that fits up to 4 full size (A2) cards & envelopes, you can find the pattern in the 12 Days of Christmas 2010 edition tutorial available HERE.

Thank you to the ever-so-talented Connie Babbert for the design (for the card on the right) using the new Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch in the upcoming Summer Mini catalog.

Decor Elements

I'm so proud of my downline, Julie Brewer - she just promoted to Supervisor in my Inking Everything team! Congratulations Julie!

I sent her this jar with Stampin' Up!'s Decor Elements logo on it and a topper made from the Fun Flowers die cut.

If you are in the Boise area this Saturday, April 30th, come by my neighbor Kim's open house. Kim owns London Locks, and makes beautiful couture hair accessories and other beautiful items.

April 30th 3-5pm

5463 N Ebbetts Ave, Boise, ID 83713

Or you can find here online here:

Website: www.londonlocks.etsy.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/London-Locks/125078937541303

Imagine The Possibilities

I love that phrase, it applies to so many situations! It just kind of sends your mind somewhere else for a moment, don't you think?

This is probably the last project I will post with the Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper and fabric unless they make it into the new catalog in July. I've really enjoyed using them both. Edited to Add: Stampin' Up! says the fabric will be available until June 30th then we will have to wait and see if it makes it into the new catalog.

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke

Stamp Set: Word Play

Accessories: Fun Flowers die-cut, Circles #2 die-cut & the Big Shot baby!, Big Buttons, pearls, Scallop Edge Punch, Paper Piercing tool & mat. That little flower is cut out of the fabric *Ü*

This is the last week to take advantage of the Spring is Blossoming promotion. This one is a sneak peek from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog debuting in July!

Spend $20 on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper. Promotion ends this Saturday! You better get it while it's available because I have an upcoming project to show you that you will want to have it for...but I can't show you yet.
Have you ever thought of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? Would you like to get a discount on your supplies? How about convention, you know how much fun we have there! Come join me!

Signing up is easy, just visit my demonstrator website HERE and click on Start Your Own Business. Fill out what you want in your starter kit and submit the payment. You are a demonstrator!

When you sign up for your starter kit with me, you become a member of my personal downline, Inking Everything. We live nationwide and are entirely virtual, low pressure and fun! My team members receive access to a private blog just for them, with exclusive projects and videos. Our blog is password protected and packed with Stampin' Up! news, inspiration and rewards exclusive to our group. My team receive complimentary copies of all my tutorials before I release them to the public. And, if you join now, you can request previously released tutorials at any time. Imagine the possibilities!

I Love These Babies!

One of the things I do like about living in Idaho, is the amount of Canadian Geese that live here. I absolutely love watching them fly across the skies, honking and talking to each other. They stop and drink in the puddles our sprinklers leave, build their nests pretty much anywhere they want and are really not that scared of people.

In fact, my husband's work even has signs out reminding you to be quiet and not drive fast through the parking lot as not disturb them during nesting season. There are hundreds of them nesting on the grounds there. I just love how they respect their needs.

Saturday we went to the Boise Zoo and right in the middle of a busy walkway was this nest and babies! At first it was one of those things that you really could not believe that is what you were seeing...but sure enough, there were babies under the wing!

It was hard to see how many were under there. I thought I saw four.


Then this one popped up to take a look out of the wing - five.

Six little babies under there!!

I could have stayed there all day and watched them but my family insisted on seeing the rest of the zoo. All of the animals were getting their Easter meals and that was equally as fun to watch. It was our first beautiful sunny (but chilly) day here in Boise and we were all enjoying the sun. For all the days I miss California, this made up for some of them...a little. *Ü*

Happy Easter

This year Greek Orthodox Easter falls on the same Sunday as Traditional Easter. Usually they are a week or more apart. Here at the Roberdopoulos (that is the loving blend of Roberts and Papadopoulos that our friends the Maroney's gave us many years ago!) household will celebrate the traditions of both. The boys love it when they happen on the same day! Easter baskets and Greek food!

Greek Easter is not complete without tsoureki, the sweet bread. You know, when you have things only once a year they are so much more special. *Ü*

Orthodox Christians die their Easter eggs bright red. From ancient times, the egg has been a symbol of the renewal of life, and the message of the red eggs is victory over death. Tradition says that the Virgin Mother, Mary, dyed eggs this color to celebrated the Resurrection of Christ and to celebrate life. We make them all nice and shiny with olive oil.
Everyone gets a colored Easter egg after dinner. You tap each other's eggs until everyone's egg is cracked; the person whose egg cracks last is said to be destined to receive good fortune for the coming year.

However you celebrate Easter today, I wish you a beautiful day!

Christos Anesti! Christ is risen!

Allithos Anesti! Truly He is risen!

Oval Frame Die-Cut Basket

I've been making these little baskets for Easter gifts. They are so fun and cute to put a couple little candies in.

Run two pieces of Baja Breeze cardstock and Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper through the Oval Frame die-cut and the Big Shot.

Adhere the DSP to the cardstock.

Trim the edge flat.

Discard one of the scallop frame pieces and cut the other one in half. Attach to the back of each oval piece with Mini Glue Dots for handles.

The box is a piece of Baja Breeze cardstock cut 7-1/2" x 3".

Score the long side at 2-1/2", 3-1/2", 6" and 7".

Score the short side at 1".

Cut on the score lines up to the intersecting score lines and fold into a box shape.

Attach to the ovals with Sticky Strip.

The flap is made with a Modern Label punch. Attach it to the back of the basket with Mini Glue dots and the front of the basket with a Velcro sticky circle.

The flower is the middle size flower from the Fun Flowers die-cut. I know it has been on back order, :( so any flower will do.

Flower - Run the flowers through the paper crimper about 20 times until they are super limp and wimpy and thin and starting to separate. You are breaking down the fibers inside the cardstock. Then crush them in your hands really hard and unfold them. You should definitely see the paper starting to separate into two pieces. If not, crimp and crush some more - some papers are a little harder to break down. Peel the layers apart, making each flower into two pieces. Stack them together and put a brad through them or a vintage Rosette like I did on this one.

Just For You

Here I am CASEing myself - after CASEing Krystal (skdeleeuw) earlier this month, see below. A good layout deserves repeating!

It's been a long time since I used Always Artichoke as a card base and boy is my cardstock getting old. Some of it actually cracked with I folded it! I love all the colors this new Sneak Peek Designer Series Paper matches.

The colors that coordinate with the Paisley Prints DSP are Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, River Rock, soft Suede and Tangerine Tango.

These papers will be in the NEW 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog in July, BUT this month, spend $20 on any Stampin' Up! products and you are eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.

Host a $350 workshop and get the Four Frames Set and and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!

Cardstock: Always Artichoke, River Rock, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, Whisper White

Stamp Set: Oval All, Elements of Style (background)

Accessories: Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Rhinestones, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Lattice Embossing Folder and the Big Shot, baby!, Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper

This was the one I originally CASEed for my March Stamp Club. Details can be found HERE.

Easter Wishes

Getting ready for Easter...

Cardstock: Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla, springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper
Stamp Set: Four Frames, All Holiday
Accessories: Decorative Label Punch, Vanilla Rosettes, Lattice Embossing Folder and the Big Shot baby!, Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Chantilly Lace

Big Things Happening Around Here

My Inking Everything team had a pretty amazing Sale-a-bration! Several of them took advantage of our Convention Bucks incentive and got a little help with their convention expenses! Congratulations ladies!!

If you are interested in joining Stampin' Up! and would like to be a part of my team, let me know. Send me an e-mail at yasou@cableone.net.

Happy Birthday to Benjamin! My baby boy (well, my oldest baby boy) turns 15 today. My oh my, how the time has flown by! We're so proud of you Benjamin and Daddy and I wish you the happiest day ever.

My baby boy (the real baby this time) Nicholas turned 12 last month. Saturday I said to him Nicholas 'what the heck are you doing'? He said 'rolling in my dough, mom'. Well duh! That was obvious! *Ü*

More Big Shot Magnets

These are magnets but not the same method as the ones I posted a couple of days ago.

I ran the cardstock and fabric through the Big Shot, sponged the edges with ink, added a Vanilla Rosette to the center and a little Thank You. Instead of cutting the magnet with the Big Shot, I just glued a magnet on the back of these flowers because I had a few to make. *Ü*I always put a thank you in my stamp club members bag and thought a magnet might be a fun change.

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake

Stamp Set: Thank You Kindly

Accessories: Vintage Springtime Fabric, Fun flowers die-cut, the Big Shot, baby!, Vanilla Rosettes, magnets (non SU!), Stampin' Sponge

Big Shot Magnets

Boy I hope this Fun flowers die-cut makes it into the new catalog in July. I just love it!

Today I was playing with the magnet sheets and the Big Shot. I cut the magnet to the size of the flowers and ran them through the Big Shot. They cut like butter!!

Then I cut the cardstock, the largest flower is Perfect Plum (cut 2), medium flower is Elegant Eggplant and the small flower is Concord Crush.

Peel the adhesive from the magnet and adhere the cardstock to it. Then take the other three flowers and run them through the crimper about 20 times until they are super limp and wimpy and thin and starting to separate. You are breaking down the fibers inside the cardstock. Finally, crush them in your hands really hard then unfold them. You should definitely see the paper starting to separate into two pieces. If not, crimp and crush some more - some papers are a little harder to break down.

Peel the layers apart, making each flower into two pieces. Stack them together and put a brad through them. Adhesive this whole flower to the front of the magnet.

This one is the butterfly die-cut. Cut three colors of cardstock, these are Melon Mambo, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink. I ran the largest and smallest through different embossing folders for texture and finished it off with pearls.

The small flower is made the same way as the purple one only using Whisper White and Pink Pirouette cardstocks.

Thank you to Cynthia of Ink-a-Doodle Creations for the Versatile Blogger award!

Scrappin' Friendzy Day

Here are a few photos of the Scrappin' Friendzy Day I participated in last Saturday. I just has a small table this time, so I couldn't really take a lot of stuff. It worked out well, I think sometimes less is more.

Thank you to the new friends that stopped by to say hi. It was great meeting you all!

Mini 3x3 Envelope Scrapbook Purse

This is the project I will be teaching at the Scrappin' Friendzy event today.

I'm using the new Sneak Peek Designer Series Papers Paisley Petals, on special this month. These papers will be in the NEW 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog in July, BUT this month, spend $20 on any Stampin' Up! products and you are eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.

Host a $350 workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!

3 x 3 Envelope Scrapbook Purse

All products are Stampin’ Up! © unless otherwise stated

Body

Two 3x3 Mini Whisper White Square Envelopes

Whisper White cardstock cut to 3 1/8” x 3”. Score the 3” side in half at 1 ½”. This is the center piece for connecting the envelopes.

Cardstock

Cut 2 pieces 3” x 3” for the inside left and right pages.

Cut 2 pieces 3” x 3” for the front and back cover.

Cut 3 pieces 3-1/2” x 3-1/2”. Two for inside square scallop die-cut pages and one for the scallop circle die-cut on the closing flap.

Cut 2 pieces 1-1/8” x 2-5/8” for the photo mount on the center.

Cut one 2” x 2” and one 2” x 2-1/2” for photo mount on inside pages

Various scrap pieces for decorating pages.

Designer Series Paper (DSP)

Two pieces for the inside left and right pages cut 2 3/4” x 2 3/4”.

Two pieces for the front and back cover cut 2-3/4” x 2-3/4”.

One piece for covering the center section cut 2 7/8” x 3”. Score the 2 7/8” side and fold in half.

Two pieces for the inside scallop square pages cut to 2-1/2” x 2-1/2”.

One 3” x 3” piece for die-cutting the circle for the outside flap.

Various scrap pieces for decorating pages.

Accessory Supplies

1-1/4” Circle, Scallop Circle, Boho Blossoms and Scallop Edge punch for embellishing the flap closure and inside pages. Rectangle Punch for handles.

7” of wide grosgrain ribbon for handle. 12” of 1/8” Grosgrain for center pages.

Brads, Velcro adhesive circles, Stampin’ Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive

Circles #2, Scallop Circles #2, Scallop Squares Duo, Blossom Party die-cuts

Directions

Lay the two 3 x 3 Envelopes down with the flaps facing up.

Adhesive the Whisper White cardstock to the flaps and fold on the score mark. It should look like a ‘W’ now when you stand it up.

Inside Pages

1. Layer the DSP to the cardstock for the pages. Use the 1 ¼” circle punch to punch a half circle in the center of both pages. This leaves an opening for you to see the scallop pages inside the envelopes. Attach page to the envelope being careful not to adhesive the opening closed. Attach the scored DSP to the center section.

2. Layer the DSP to the cardstock scallop pages and insert into the envelopes.

3. Stamp and embellish the scrapbook pages using desired Stampin’ Up! products.

Outside Pages

1. Adhesive the DSP to the outsides of the envelopes for the front and back cover. Hold the scallop circle up to the front cover and measure how much needs to be trimmed off. It is on the front only, it does not fold over and cover the back (it’s too big). Adhere DSP circle to the scallop and fold that piece over to the back. Use the rectangle punch to put 2 holes on the back/top side of the fold for handle. Insert ribbon and secure with Sticky Strip.

2. Die-cut the flower for the flap embellishment and layer on Scallop Circle. Attach the front with Sticky Strip.

3. Place Velcro adhesive circle under the flap and fold together sealing it nice and tight.

4. Add photos and enjoy!