Birthday Girl

Our little friend Anna turned 7 yesterday so I was delighted to make a little girl card for a change.

Cardstock: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive DSP

Stamp Sets: Birthday Bliss, Crazy For Cupcakes

Accessories: Timeless Type Alphabet Junior Sizzlets die-cut set and the Big Shot (you need one of these babies!), Scalloped Edge Border, 3/4" Circle Punch, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain, 1/4" Old Olive Grosgrain, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Thank you to Lori at Living Organized Chaos and to Sandra at Papier Gardens for the I Love Your Blog award!

Join Stampin' Up! for $99!!

During the month of June you can join Stampin' Up! for only $99, and this limited time starter kit comes with products from the new Idea Book & Catalog so you don't have to worry about purchasing retired products. Join Stampin' Up! and get new products for only $99-does it get more exciting than that?

This is a great time to 'try' Stampin' Up! If you have ever thought about it but were too nervous to invest a couple hundred dollars, then this one is for you! Plus you get a discount on everything you want from the new Idea Book & Catalog!! You get a beautiful monthly magazine called Stampin' Success, access to Stampin' Connections where demonstrators post hundreds of projects a day, exclusive on line training, and so much more! I'd love to have you join my Inking Everything Team!

It's as easy as this...go to my my Demonstrator Website and click Start Your Own Business then click on Join Now. The password is yousignupnow. E-mail me if you have any questions at yasou@cableone.net.

I'm Done With the Cake Mixes!

This is it! The final batch of cake mix gifts for the teachers. Every teacher has now received a cake for their birthday. Over the course of the school year, I think I made about 40 of these.

Nice and blurry, no it isn't you :). These are a scaled down version of the class I just taught. No test tubes for cake sprinkles and an apron card for the pocket.

I found my apron pattern HERE, then adjusted it to fit a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card.

Our school year ends on Tuesday and so does my time as Teacher Appreciation coordinator. It's been a blast and I have throughly enjoyed it!

Lots of Texture Going On Here!

I saw a card similar to this by Rhonda Morgan and decided to try it out.

Cardstock: Whisper White, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip
Stamp Set: Thank You Kindly
Accessories: Big Shot (man, if you don't have one of these, you NEED one!), Embossing Folders, Lattice and Polka Dot, Old Olive Satin Ribbon, 1" Circle Punch, Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch, Eyelet Border Punch

All The Discontinued Lists...

Well it's that time of the year again, my favorite and my worst all in one day! (Well except for back to school day!) I'm always so excited to get a Sneak Peek at the new things coming to the new catalog that I can hardly sleep the night before!! Sorry I can't let you peek yet. :( But...you're going to LOVE it!!

I am absolutely thrilled with the new color renovation as I've told you before, but I'm so sad that after the discontinued accessory list was posted today and I started adding up the damage, I'm out literally hundreds of dollars in accessory losses as brads, ribbons, buttons, Watercolor Crayons and many, many other accessories getting remade for the new colors. Now granted, I will use them up on other stuff or eventually sell them, especially all that Crushed Curry stuff (barf)!, and I will be thrilled to have BRAND NEW, but today it is all just a bit overwhelming.

I'm a little sad to say good-bye to Build-A-Brads, Corduroy Brads and Buttons, Micro Beads, the Pretties Kit (especially since I just dropped a new one on the floor and spent 2 hours putting it back together), tons of ribbons...tons of ribbons, any MY Trio Flower punch!

However, you will be thrilled to know that MY Jolliest Time of the Year and Holiday Lineup stamp sets are NOT discontinued. I know, I can hear you cheering for me!! But, Humor in High Heels?...I'm not done with that one yet...waaa!!! AND Itty Bitty Backgrounds...that was my 2nd set I bought with Stampin' Up! My first one was Perfect Plaids, anyone remember that one?

Here are the links to the discontinued accessories set. If you are interested in ordering any of your favorites before they leave, I suggest you do it now. They are available while supplies last and believe me, they go fast!

Order on-line HERE.

Last Chance Papers

Last Chance Inks

Last Chance Punches

Last Chance Ribbon

Last Chance Accessories

Click HERE for discontinued STAMP SETS

Ok, now onto the GREAT NEWS!! If you have ever thought of becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator either as a business or as a hobbyist for your own discount?

NOW is the time! Stampin' Up! has just introduced the new MINI STARTER KIT for just $99!!!!!!!! I know, huh! This offer is June 1-30 ONLY!

Here are the included items:
117050 Watercolor Trio stamp set (wood-mount) $22.95
118571 I {Heart} Hearts stamp set (clear-mount) $18.95
118486 Clear-Mount Block C $6.95
116978 Homemade single stamp* $8.95
100730 Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11") $8.50
119706 Brights Collection assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")* $6.95
115656 Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad $5.95
119667 Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad* $5.95
115658 Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad $5.95
100814 Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad $5.95
119261 Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta ribbon* $6.95
121620 Color Coach* $14.95
104332 SNAIL Adhesive $6.95

Items with an asterisk are substitutable.

PLUS all the business supplies of the Standard Starter Kit!
Getting Started DVD
Getting Started Guide
Guest Invitation Postcards (100)
2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog (8)
2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog (8, shipped separately in July)
Summer Mini Catalog (8)
To My Hostess Envelopes (10)
Recruit Folders (5)
Recruit Brochures (20)
Hostess Brochure (20)
Hostess Benefits Form (10)
Customer Order Form (50)

I would ♥ for you to join my Inking Everything Team! We are a diverse group from all over the US, you don't have to be in Idaho to play with us! E-mail me at yasou@cableone.net if you are interested. I know you are because look...

Join now and pre-order select items in June from the new 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog.

Receive the new catalog with your first June order.

Enjoy full Stampin' Up! demonstrator discounts and benefits with the $99 Mini Starter Kit, including 30% off your first $150 product order if ordered within 45 days of start. WOO-HOO!

Card Size Gift Bag Directions

Wow! Who knew there would be so much e-mail about the gift boxes?! Glad you like then!

Cut 2 pieces of DSP (Edited to Add: DSP is Designer Series Paper, Stampin' Up!'s background paper) and cardstock to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2. Glue the DSP to the cardstock for extra strength. Adhesive about 7" of ribbon to the back of both pieces for handles.

Cut cardstock to 10-1/2 x 6 1/4" Score length at 1/2", 1-1/2", 5-1/2" and 6-1/2"

Score bottom side at 1" width of the box is actually 1", i think I told you yesterday it was 1-1/2", sorry. Cut on the score lines as shown and remove the corner as shown.

Add Sticky StripFold into a box. Adhesive the front and back pieces with the handles to the box. Please refer to yesterdays posting for finished photos.

Be back later with exciting announcements about a new $99 mini starter kit and the current catalogs' discontinued items.

Card Size Gift Bags

Starting a few year end teacher gifts for the boys teachers.

These gift bags are card size, 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" and the box is about 1-1/2" wide.

I cut slits in the card (box) front and slid a ribbon through to tie in a bow.

I used the now discontinued Day & Night Specialty DSP and Black Satin Ribbon. I hope we get some new black and white paper in the new catalog!

Tomorrow I will post the discontinued list in preparation for the NEW Idea Book & Catalog...my favorite time of the year!!!

Girl Tools & Purses

For those of you who have followed me for a while, you know my friend Lorri Heiling that I took to convention on a Popsicle stick last summer (and Nancy Riley too) because her son was getting married and she couldn't go. That was fun!

Lorri has released her first tutorial, the Tool Box/ Flower Box Tutorial.

So I bought her tutorial and made my own tool box...the Girls Tool Box

Super easy and so tiny. It fits in the palm of your hand and is perfect gift card size!

Stampin' Up! Tool Box, Punch Tool Box, whatever you want to call it...it's cute!

You can get a pattern for yourself HERE.

______

Although that is super cute, that really wasn't what I asked you to come back today and see. I want you to see what she did to her Purse-onally Perfect Purses. She added the perfect accessory for the Hawaiian Tropics...SUNGLASSES! Oh how I wish I had come up with that idea, but I am happy to celebrate her genius!
Now I KNOW you all want sunglasses for your purses, right??? She has the .pdf all ready for you with 5 pair of sunglasses on one page, ready to print on cardstock. You can find it on her blog, Confessions of a Stamping Addict.

Here is her Hawaiian purse complete with the cards she and her group made this week.

Lorri also shared with me two more purses she made for her sons teachers.

She stuffed them with little gifts and a gift card and wrapped them in Stampin' Up! bags for a darling presentation. Wouldn't it just make your day if someone handed you one?! So cute!

Once again, the Purse can be found HERE.

The Sunglasses and the Tool Box Tutorial can be found HERE.

Thank you Lorri for sharing your work with all of us! Love ya and can't wait to see you this year at convention!

You've Got A Friend

Cardstock: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Pink Pirouette
Stamp Set: Cheap Talk
Accessories: Lattice Embossing Folder and the Big Shot (you need one of these!!), Top Note die-cut, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Bitty Flower Punch, Bold Brights Brads, various Stampin' Write Markers

All week long I've been sharing with you photos of Purse-onally Perfect Purses that I've received. I hope you have been enjoying them! Tomorrow I have one more, ok... three more, to share that you. They are so darling that you are going to GASP when you see them. They have the added accessory that I soooo wish I would have come up with. However, when you see who did them, you will NOT be surprised as to who came up with that creativity! I can't wait to share them with all of you!

The Nicest Thing

Remember the Royal Blog Tour where I introduced the Cardstock Cabinet?

Well the nicest thing ever happened to me yesterday. I opened the mail to find this nice thank you from the Royal Blog Tour!

They sent this Simply Adorned Charm and lovely purple card as a thank you for being an Honorary Queen. Wasn't that just the nicest thing ever?

Melissa and Gayla from MeGa Stampin' Studio sent over this photo of their purses. I just love them!! I miss that Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper so much! Thank you ladies for sharing your photo with us!

I can't believe how many great Purse-onally Pefect purses there are out there...I love seeing them ALL! Later in the week I have another AWESOME one to share with you then I'll quit for a while. Ü

D Is For Dog

If you are visiting for the first time from the Paper Crafts newsletter, hello and welcome! I hope you spend a few minutes looking around! Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions, yasou@cableone.net.

Not my favorite reason to make a card, but dang this turned out cute if I do say so myself! One of my stamp club girls & I share a love for our Golden Retrievers...and well...

I'll show you how to make a file folder card probably later in the week.

Lucia Dawe of Ink Me Baby One More Time (great blog name!!) sent me pictures of her Purse-onally Purse.

Beth Fesperson of Sweet Sentiments made this purse from Raspberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper.

You can order the tutorial on how to make one for yourself on my tutorials page HERE.

Hello

Something bright and cheery for all the gloomy rain and clouds we've been having here!

Cardstock: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Old Olive, Sweet Peas DSP Pack

Stamp Set: Hello, A Flower For All Seasons

Accessories: Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch, Old Olive Ribbon, Top Note, Big Shot(you need this!!!, you know you want one!!!), various Stampin' Up! Markers, 5-Flower Punch for leaves.

Cake Mix Class Directions

These measurements are for a Betty Crocker cake mix. All cake mixes are slightly different in size, so if using another brand, you may need slight adjustments.

Box
Cut 2 pieces of cardstock to 5-5/8” x 10-3/4”. Score each end at 1-1/2”. Apply Sticky Strip and attach end to end. Slide cake mix inside.

Outside of box (front cover) is a piece of cardstock cut 5-5/8” x 9-1/4”. Score at 1/2” and 1-1/2”. Attach at the bottom of the box with Sticky Strip.

The box closure is a piece of cardstock cut 1-1/2” x 5”. The layering designer series paper (DSP) is 3-3/4” x 1-1/4”. It only covers the front and top and does not reach all the way to the back. Secure to the back of the box with Sticky Strip. The front will be secured with a sticky Velcro circle.

ADD HANDLES NOW!!

Ribbon handles. You’ll need approx. 52“of ribbon. Place Sticky Strip all the way around the box and the front piece about an inch or so from the edges. Start on the bottom, come all the way up the back, leave excess for a handle, go back down the other side of the back and under the bottom, up on the front side, leave room for a handle (make sure they are the same length) and down the other side of the front to the bottom of the box. Cut off excess ribbon. If you are using Sticky Strip, it is slightly repositionable, so you can straighten anything that may need it.

The front pocket is a piece of cardstock cut 5-1/4” x 7”. Score 3 sides at 1/2” and 1”. Use the Scallop Edge Punch to make a decorative edge along the top. Cut off the corner pieces as shown in the photo.

Use a Mini Glue Dot to pull the corners together. Then place a line of Sticky Strip along all 3 sides, peel and attach to the front of the cover.

This is how the pocket looks when attached.

Cut cardstock 1” x 10-1/4”. Score at 1”,1-3/4”, 2-1/2”, 3-1/4”, 4”,4-3/4”, 5-1/2”, 6-1/4”, 7”, 7-3/4”, 8-1/2”, 9-1/4”. Fold on score line as shown in the photo above.
Test Tubes: I bought mine from SKS Bottling because #1, they are my favorite source for fun things to decorate, but #2 because I need to buy a large quantity. The tubes I used are 3/4” x 6”, order number 0890-17, 48/in a bag for $21.12. You can order smaller quantities from Papertrey Ink.

Hold the strip of cardstock you just made up to the project. Insert the test tubes making sure the bottom of the test tubes are on the bottom of the project. Adjust the height of the cardstock so it is about in the middle of the tubes and adhere with either Sticky Strip or Mini Glue Dots. Attach to the inside of the box with either Sticky Strip or Mini Glue Dots. Fill the tubes with a variety of cake decorating sprinkles.

Add embellishments to the closure and the Velcro circle underneath the closure.

Fill the glassine bag with flat backed type sugar cake decorations and tie with a ribbon. Place in the pocket. Stamp a cupcake, color it in with markers, cut out and attach to a clothespin with Mini Glue Dots. Clip to the pocket for decoration.

I had each guest make 2 little favors. I used the Bigz Two Tag die-cut. Fold on the score line then add an additional score line between that line and the top, about 1/2” above the die-cut line. Punch a handle by first punching a 1-3/8” Circle then centering over top of it, punch the scallop circle punch. Fold and secure with a brad. Add a strip of DSP across the front. Embellish as desired. Insert snack size Hershey bar.
The favors were inspired by Barb Mullikin.

Cut card base cardstock to 4-1/4” x 5-1/2” (Regal Rose). Cut layering piece of Old Olive 4” x 5-1/4” and run through the Big Shot with the Polka Dot Embossing folder.
Stamp image once on Whisper White and once on coordinating color cardstock (Regal Rose). Use the 1/2” circle punch to punch out images. Layer on top with adhesive.
Mount on a Top Note die-cut, cut from DSP, trimmed on the perforation line and mounted on another one of cardstock. Tie with ribbon.
The image design with the cut out circles was inspired by Dawn Griffith.

This is a tub of Pillsbury frosting; they all seem to be about the same size. Cut DSP 3-1/3” x 11” and secure with Sticky Strip. Decorate the lid as desired.

Since the Sweet Pea Stitched Felt are discontinued, I made all the flowers for embellishments out of various felts and Big Shot die-cuts.

The cake mix idea was originally created by Nichole Heady of Papertrey Ink. I adapted the project using Stampin’ Up! products for my class. I thank Nichole for her creativity and willingness to share with the blogosphere so we can all enjoy this project.