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I {Heart} Heart Boxes!

I've been wanting the Stampin' Up! Exclusive Big Shot Itty Bitty Box and Envelope Die (pg.201 of the IB&C) for a long time now... and when I saw the Stampin Up!  Exclusive Milk Carton Die in the Occasions Mini Catalog (pg.23) I just knew I had to have it as well.  They both arrived in the order I received last week.  I love them!  Since I am also loving the I {Heart} Hearts set from the Occasions Mini Catalog (pg.14) - which is the fundraiser set for Haiti relief - I couldn't help using it to enhance my first projects using the two dies.  I've also used the Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (pg.13), and the Pinking Hearts Border Punch (pg.11) from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

The Milk Carton sample shown also uses Pretty In Pink and Real Red card stock (pgs.156-157), Linen Thread (pg.183) and the 1/16" Circle Punch (pg.186).  It's smaller than it looks in the picture - 1 1/2" x 1 5/8 x 2" below the Real Red band - but can hold 6 Hershey Nuggets... custom wrapped or not.

The Itty Bitty Box also uses the Full Heart Punch (pgs.186-187), 1/2" Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (pg.182), Linen Thread, Stampin' Up Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder (Occassions Mini Catalog - pg.35), Pretties Kit (pg.178), and Pretty In Pink, Real Red and White Card Stocks.

Both projects also use Pretty In Pink and/or Real Red ink or markers.

Call or email me to find out how you can learn to make these projects yourself!

Happy Stamping to you all~

Mia

I {Heart} Hearts Love Notes

With Valentine's Day approaching and the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set featured for the  Haiti fundraising, I decided to focus on the set.  Today's share is four Love Note cards (3x3).   They are quick and easy to make.

(I actually made one other one, but like it so much that I have decided to do a complete set... including a gift box to put them in!  Be watching for it later this week!)

You will need:

Stamp Set:  I {Heart} Hearts - Occasions Mini Catalog (pg. 14)

Card Stock:  Whisper White and Real Red

Inks:  Real Red

Accessories:  Sending Love Specialty Designer Paper (Occasions Mini Catalog - pg.13), 1/4" Red Gingham Ribbon (pg. 183), Stampin' Dimensionals (pg. 192), Chat Room Rub-Ons (Occasions Mini Catalog - pg.37)

If you would like to order the supplies to make these cards then you can go here.

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to call,   email or post a comment below.

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Tutorial: Vintage Vogue

It took longer than I had expected it to, but here is the tutorial for the Vintage Vogue card we made at the Stamping Extravaganza I held in Yigo, Guam last weekend!

Supplies Needed:

Stamps:  Vintage Vogue Set (Occasions Mini Catalog pg.26)

                    117690 - Wood Mounted

                    118598 Unmounted**

(** Note - This tutorial is to show how one can assemble all the images on the clear-mount block before stamping the project.  You will need the unmounted stamp set and clear-mount block E.)

Card Stock:

            3 1/4" x 3 1/2" Whisper White

            3 3/8" x 3 3/4" Certainly Celery

            5 1/2" x 8 1/2" Pretty in Pink

            Certainly Celery Scrap

Accessories:

            Clear-Mount Block E ** (Occasions Mini pg. 6) - 118484

            Stampin Write Markers:

                    Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke

            4 1/2" piece of Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon

            3" piece of Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon

            1/16" Circle Punch

            Word Punch

            Vintage Brads

            Grid Paper

            Snail Adhesive

Instructions

Step 1:  Fold Pretty In Pink card stock in half to form card base.

Step 2:  Place border image and "F/friend" image on the clear mount using the grid paper to help align the images.  Color the images with Stampin' Write Markers.  (Figure 1)

 

Step 3:  Breathe on images to reactivate the inks.  Stamp the images on Whisper White card stock... centering the border image on the left edge of the card stock. (Figure 2)

 

Step 4:  Wrap the 4 1/2" piece of Pretty in Pink 1/4" grosgrain ribbon around Whisper White (as shown below) taping the ends to the back of the card stock using Snail Adhesive.  Layer the Whisper White piece onto the Certainly Celery card stock aligning the left edges.  Tie the 3" piece of ribbon in place. (Figures 3a & 3b)

Step 5:  Attach focal point to card front.

Step 6:  Punch Certainly Celery scrap with the Word Punch.  Fold in half.  Use the 1/16" Circle Punch to make a hole in one end of the word punch out.  Position over the lower edge of the card and punch a matching hole through the card front.  Attach to the card using the Vintage Brad.  Use Snail Adhesive to attach the back half of the punch out over the ends of the brad.

Step 7:  Be sure to sign and date your work of art!

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If this tutorial has inspired you to create something of your own then I would love to see what you made.  If you would like to order the supplies to make this card, then you may do so by going here and clicking on shop now.

As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Stamping Extravaganza Projects!

Saturday's Stamping Extravaganza was so much fun!  The focus was hearts and Stampin' Up!'s new unmounted images from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  Several of the projects are pictured below.

 

I had announced two projects... a cello bag with header and a greeting card... but since everyone was having so much fun I surprised them with two additional  projects... a second party favor and a Nugget's label.  (You can view the cello bag in my previous posting.)

The Valentine themed candy holder was the brainstorm of Connie Stewart, a fellow SU! demonstrator.  To make the holder you will need:

Stamp Set:  I {Heart} Hearts (Occasions Mini Catalog - pg 14)

Card Stock:  Real Red

Accessories:  Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (Occassions Mini Catalog - pg13), Pinking Hearts Border Punch (Occasions Mini Catalog - pg 11), Real Red Stampin' Write Marker (Idea Book & Catalog - pg 156), Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon (IB&C - pg 183) and Stampin' Dimensionals (IB&C - pg 192).  Bead (optional)

The label for the Nugget chocolate was made using the small heart image from I {Heart} Hearts with Real Red and the spray from Itty Bitty Backgrounds (IB&B - pg 132) in Pretty in Pink.

Be watching for the card details... actually a tutorial... in the next day or two.

Note: Did you know that Stampin' Up! is doing its part in fundraising for Haiti?!?  For each I {Heart} Hearts stamp set sold now through February 28, 2010 Stampin' Up! will donate $2 to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund.  You can check out the details here.  Let's do our part to help those who desperately need our help!  Click on the "Online Ordering" link in the upper right corner to place your order now! 

As always, if you have any questions then please feel free to email or call me.

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Come Join the Fun!

I'm back!  While I have been away Stampin' Up! has introduced many exciting new products through their Occasions Mini Catalog and Salebrations Catalog.  (You can view them by clicking on their names in the previous sentence.)  I would like to share the fun with you, so.......

This Saturday afternoon, January 23, 2010 from 1-5 pm, you are invited to join me at my house (Yigo, Guam) for a Stamping Extravaganza... during which you will

have the chance to touch, hold and use some of these new toys.  I am especially anxious to share the new unmounted stamps and to show you how easy it is to use them to create wonderful cards, scrapbook pages and gift items... like the candy bag shown here.

The theme of the day is hearts... in honor of love, friendship and Valentine's Day.  The first 6 people to reserve their space and actually attend the event will receive a thank you.  Wear an outfit that is heart themed and/or bring a friend or loved one who is new to me and receive an additional gift. 

Those attending will make two projects.  There will be light refreshments and fun for all!  Best of all, the event is FREE!!!

Call or email me to reserve your space so that I can be sure to have enough supplies prepared in advance!  Also contact me if you have any additional comments.

Note:  You do not need to stay the whole time.  Come, make the projects, browse the catalogs, visit... and leave when you need to!

I look forward to seeing you this Saturday!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Projects: In Color and Thanksgiving!

If you have been following my blog on a regular basis, then you know that family situations have kept me away for quite awhile. Traveling has made it even harder.  Finding a few minutes here and there has been easy, but finding enough time to post has been difficult.  That said... months ago I mentioned not being able to share my first project using items new to the current Stampin' Up! catalog because it was a blog candy for one of my readers.  Well, that project is/was the altered pad... shown below.  I visited Saipan (another island in the Mariana Island chain) last month and was able to hand deliver it to my good friend and fellow Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Jill during her weekly stamping session at one of the local cafes.  She earned it by correctly guessing that the containers I altered during the Christmas season had been from Crystal Light.

I don't have my catalog with me right now, so I can't provide you with all the supplies used, but some of the supplies are Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper... and In Colors! 

The gift envelope shown above was also gifted to Jill.  I used this year's In Colors for this project as well.  I will try to add a list of other supplies when I get computer time and have my catalog with me.

This last project is the card I started while with Jill and her ladies/girls on Saipan.  Unlike most projects I had a difficult time getting this card just right... but I am finally happy with my end results.

I hope to share the Christmas Shaker Card that Jill's stamping session inspired me to create with you in the next day or two, but it will all depend on my access to computers... and time.  Be watching for it!

As always, I hope these projects have inspired you to create something yourself!

Happy Stamping!

Mia

In Memory Of.....

I'm back.... after a long absence.... and decided that this "first" posting should be in honor of my mother-in-law - Dolores I. Pobre - who passed away on August 31, 2009.  It is comforting to know that "Mama" is finally at peace.

Thank you to all who have shown me/us so much support.  I/We received a lot of sympathy cards from family and friends who kept us in their thoughts and prayers the past two months.  The card below was made by Nancy Tan, my good friend and Stampin' Up! demonstrator upline.

She used:

Stamp Sets:  Asian Artistry (Level 2 Hostess Set - pg 15), Close As a Memory (pg 52)

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Garden Green

Card Stock:  Apricot Appeal, Garden Green, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Stampin' Write Markers

Technique:  Watercolor

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Mama loved lavenders and purples.  I used those colors for most of the cards that were made to show our thanks and appreciation to those who visited her in her final days and/or provided support during the difficult time.  This is one example of the many cards.  Simple, but nice!

To create this card you will need:

Stamp Set:  Taffy Alphabet (pg 149)

Inks:  Rich Razzleberry (In Color)

Card Stock:  Whisper White

Accessories:  Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper (pg 162), Rich Razzleberry Stampin' Write Marker (from the set of In Color markers on pg 155)

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Check back regularly for additional stamping ideas and inspiration.  I will be traveling for 6 weeks, but plan to continue to post regularly during that time.  If you have any questions about a technique or project I have shared on my blog, ordering supplies, or even joining the Stampin' Up! family then please feel free to email me at maria@stampingwithmia.com while I am gone.  I will have daily access to the internet... and will respond asap.

Again, thanks to all for the support the past couple of months and....

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Personal Announcement!

Dear Readers,

This is to let you know that I have a critical family situation that will keep me away from my blog for the next couple of weeks.  Classes and other events will be postponed until further notice for the same reason.  I will still be available to answer any questions you have and/or help you to place any orders that you need during this time. You can reach me by email (maria@stampingwithmia.com) or my cell phone - 482-7293.  Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers during this time.

When I am able to come back and share with you there will be... as they say here on Guam... plenty to share.  The Stampin' Up! convention is this week so there will be lots of fun projects being shared by those who attended... and I will be sure to pass those ideas on to you.

Thanks so much.

Sincerely~
Maria Pobre
aka Mia

Project: Scrapbooking - 6x6

Last May I challenged my readers to create scrapbook pages using a sketch/map that I had provided.  Since it was also the end of the school year everyone was too busy.  I wanted to share something with you, my readers, so I approached my upline and downline to see if any of them would like to take me up on my challenge.  Here are the two pages that I received from my upline (Sandra) and my downline (Colleen).  They both use DSP that has since retired, but I'm sharing them anyway because they demonstrate how different the color and shape choices you make can alter the appearance of a page.  I hope they inspire you to try the two sketches for yourself.  You can find them here... and here.

Stamp Set:

Inks:  Basic Black

Card Stock:  Riding Hood Red, Whisper White

Accessories:  Candy Lane DSP, Hodgepodge Hardware (pg.178), Brads (pg.179), Heart to Heart Punch (pg.186-187)

Card Stock: Pink Piroutte, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive

Accessories:  Raspberry Tart DSP, Eyelet Edge Punch (pg.186-187), 5-Petal Flower Punch (pg.186-187)

Thank you Sandra and Colleen!

Now let's see what the rest of you can do!

By the way, if you haven't voted in my poll for your favorite card from my Open House Card Challenge, then you still have time!  You can find the poll in the upper left side column.

Happy Stamping~
Mia

Open House Card Challenge!

It's voting time!  I gave those attending my Open House some phrases from Teeny Tiny Wishes (pg.145) that were punched out using the Modern Label punch (186-187).  I challenged them to create a card using all current Stampin' Up! materials... and to send them to me so that my readers could vote for their favorite.  Here they are for your viewing and voting pleasure.

 

 



 

So... have you decided on a favorite?  Go to my poll in the left sidebar and vote for your favorite now!  The one with the most votes will be receiving an assortment of retired product as a prize.

Happy Stamping~
Mia