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Are You Ready?!?

Are you ready for those last minute guests and/or unexpected visitors this Sunday?  If not, then pull out your Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Fancy Favor Box Die, punches and some card stock and
get to work making some of these cute favors to fill with candy, a couple of tealights or votives, some homemade cookies or what ever else you can think of.

To recreate these you will need:

Stamps:  Jolly Bingo Bits (Snowflake, pg.41)

Card Stock: Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Marina Mist, Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake

Ink:  Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Ornament Punch, Bird Builder Punch, Owl Builder Punch, Word Window Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Modern Label Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Large Oval Punch,  Extra Large Oval Punch, Fancy Favor Box Die, Red Glimmer Paper, Dazzling Details, uni-ball Signo Gel Pen, Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and Baja Breeze Seam Binding

*** Note:  Punches are on pages 209-213 of the current catalog, and pages 34 & 36 of the Holiday Mini catalog.

I've got to get back to making more of them myself!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Project: Gift Givers!

Time goes by too fast!  I had intended to share this with you over the weekend... and it is already Thursday here on Guam!

This is the second of four cards those attending my Christmas Card Class made.  We used:

Stamps:  Gift Givers (Holiday Mini, pg.39)

Inks:  Jet Black StazOn

Card Stock:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper (Holiday Mini, pg.20), Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding (pg.195), 2-1/2" Circle Punch (pg.212), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (pg.210), Dazzling Details (Holiday Mini, pg.41), Glue Dots (pg.206)

I decided I wanted to share the experience of the Treat Cups (pg.182) and Mica Flakes (Holiday Mini, pg.21) so each person made one variation of the card using them.  Here is one of them... using the
other side of the Designer Series Paper and a Garden Green 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon for the bow.  I think we could have put a bit more of the Mica Flakes inside the treat cups.  Next time!

Tomorrow I will share some of the projects I made for my holiday season displays.

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Project: Stitched Stockings!

I held a Christmas Card Class last Saturday.  Here is one of the four designs that we made.  We used:

Stamp Sets:  Gift Givers (Holiday Mini, pg.39)

Card Stock:  Early Espresso, Confetti Cream/Confetti White, Cherry Cobbler

Inks:  Jet Black StazOn

Accessories:  Platinum Shimmer Paint (pg.203), Stocking Builder Punch (Holiday Mini, pg.34), Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper (Holiday Mini, pg.20), Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper (pg.185), 1/8" Real Red Taffeta Ribbon (pg.195), Brights Brads (pg.199), Stampin' Dimensionals (pg.206), 1/16" Circle Punch (pg.212), Stampin' Write Markers for coloring

There was one person in the class who decided to make her cards "her own"... so she changed them up a bit.  (I love it when someone in my class does that!  Sometimes they come up with ideas that I hadn't thought about myself.)  She made one like the card shown above.  Here are the other two...

Her variations inspired me to explain that one reason I love stamping is because we don't have to follow "the rules".  It is in not following the rules that we come up with some great ideas!  The card on the right gave me opportunity to introduce them to Mica Flakes (Holiday Mini, pg.21).

Tomorrow I will share another card from the class... and a variation on it that uses/used Mica Flakes!

Don't forget to stop by and see me at the Sea Grill Restaurant in Tumon, Guam for a chance to hand stamp a greeting card of your own!  They will be hosting a delicious holiday buffet lunch... complete with a fashion show and several vendors!  Come see some of the gift ideas I have to share... and you may win a FREE stamp set!  If you remember to tell me to "Have a wonderful Stampin' Up! Christmas!" then you will receive a FREE gift from me!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Project: "Go Green" with Scraps!

The most recent issue of the magazine sent to Stampin' Up! demonstrators covers a topic that is near and dear to my heart.... "Go Green"!  The article suggests ways to use up all the bits and pieces of card stock, patterned papers and embellishments that most crafters accumulate while enjoying their creative side.  It inspired me to make another "Strip Quilt" card using the tiny curled pieces of Designer Series Papers from having made pad and pen sets for my recent craft displays.  (If you haven't seen these sets yet, then you can view them here!)  Here is the resulting card:

I admit to using one of our retired colors for the card base - and some of the paper scraps - but Rich Razzleberry would look just as nice for the base... probably even better!  Some of the other supplies I used are:  Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set (pg.67), Classic Ink Pads - Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Soft Suede and Riding Hood Red (pgs.177-180) - for the watercoloring, Log Cabin and Gold Smooch Spritzes (pg.203) and Dazzling Details (Holiday Mini, pg.41).  I couldn't resist adding a sparkle of Dazzling Details to the cherries.  I absolutely love how the Log Cabin Smooch Spritz shows through the watercolored image giving the cupcakes some added texture and making the cake stand look like stoneware.

When using scraps like the ones I've used here, be sure to watercolor some touches here and there - especially where they are wrinkly and/or torn - to give them a vintage look... as seen in the close-up below.  It makes such a big difference in the overall appearance of the card.  (Note:  Click on the images for a larger view of them.)

I have been playing so much with Autumn and Christmas colors recently, that playing with all these other bright Spring/Summer colors has been such a nice change!

Now to get back to prepping for Saturday's Christmas Card Class!  It is being held in Yigo, Guam on Saturday, December 3, 2011 from 2:00-5:00 pm.  We'll be making a total of 12 Christmas Cards (3 each of 4 different designs).  Fee is $25.00 pre-paid.  I still have a few seats available, so contact me (maria@stampingwithmia.com) if you are interested in joining the fun!   Hope to see you there!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Fun Christmas Project!

I did another Christmas Bazaar this past weekend... at St. Paul's Christian School in Harmon, Guam.  There was already a Stampin' Up! vendor signed up... so I participated as Country Crafts & More... the name listed on my local business license.  I pulled out some boxes of supplies from my early craft fair days.  Among them were a bunch of plastic frames from small counted cross-stitch kits that I had decided not to use for the counted cross-stitch.  This is what I did with them for Saturday's fair.  I love how they turned out and enjoyed how quickly they came together!

I used some of our retired Designer Series Papers and card stock, but any of our current papers would work just as nicely!  The stamp images and punches are all still current.  They are:

Stamp Set:  Jolly Bingo Bits (pg.41)

Card Stock: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Poppy Red, Glorious Green (Retired.  Substitute Garden Green or whichever green matching your DSP)

Inks:  Poppy Red, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green

Accessories:  1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (pg.210), 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" Circle Punches (pg.212), Dazzling Details (Holilday Mini, pg.41), 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (pg.195)

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Coming later today - November 21, 2011 at 5:01pm Guam time!

 

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Project: Yo-yos... Part 1!

In my last blog post I shared a photo of all the yo-yos I had made that day.  Here is a follow-up photo showing one of the completed projects using some of the yo-yos.

It's a set that includes a pony tail holder and two barrettes!  What a wonderful gift or stocking stuffer!

The finished Yo-yos are about 1-1/2 inches in size.  I made them using the Spice Cake Designer Fabric (Holiday Mini, pg.18) and the larger size scallop circle from the Scallop Circle #2 die (pg.222).  The buttons are from the Regal Designer Buttons (pg.197); and the ribbon is 1/8" Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon (pg.195).  I made three of these sets... and if you look closely you will see part of the set I made using the Springtime Vintage Designer Fabric (pg.196).

I hope that you will try making some of them yourself.

You will find another one of the projects here... on my facebook page!  Be sure to "like" me while you are there.  :O)

Happy Stamping.... or should I say Sewing(?)~

Mia

Autumn Splendor with Pool Party and Pear Pizzazz!

Okay!?!  I admit it!  Even though blue is one of my most favorite colors, I have had a hard time using this paper from the Spice Cake Designer Series Paper collection.I always want to turn it over and use it with my leaves that are more autumn (More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie and Riding Hood Red) in color.  That said, I am very happy with the card I am sharing today!

I've used the Designer Series Paper with Stampin' Up!'s Glossy White, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla card stocks.  Other products used are:

Stamp Sets:  Autumn Splendor (pg.115), Pocket Silhouettes (pg.109)

Inks: Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard

Accessories: Lace Ribbon Border Punch (pg.211), Word Window Punch (pg.209), Metallic Brads (pg.199), 1/8" Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon (pg.195), Pool Party Stampin' Write Marker (pg.176), Mini Glue Dots (pg.206), Stampin' Dimensionals (pg.206)  and for the first time - Drum Roll please(!) - Log Cabin Smooch Spritz (pg.203)!

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I can't believe I waited so long to use the Smooch Spritz!  Those of you who attend my Autumn Splendor Wreath class at 2:00 pm on October 29, 2011 will have the opportunity to try it yourself!  See yesterday's posting for the sample! You will see I've included a tutorial in the post.  The class is more for those of you who are visual learners... and/or want to have a fun time away from the children and household chores!!!  You will also get a "hands on" lesson in the Direct to Paper Technique.  

Note:  If you are a local reader and didn't receive my email with information about the class, then please email me at maria@stampingwithmia.com and I will send you the information.

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Framable Gratitude Greeting Card!

One of the challenges in making yesterday's framed project was getting my printer set up to print it to the size I wanted.  (This is another one of the issues that those of you who choose to print your projects at home will run in to.)  Being one who doesn't like to waste things, I didn't feel comfortable tossing the copies that weren't the right size for the project.  Today's card was made using part of one of the first attempts at printing the project to size.

I trimmed the definition part and mounted it on Early Espresso card stock. I added one of the patterns from Spice Cake Designer Series Paper (Holiday Mini, pg.17) to a card front and then mounted the matted to the center of the card front.  I'll probably add some ribbon at the top, but haven't decided yet.

Now how quick & easy was that... and yet another way to use the Framable Gratitude Download (Item #127762) for My Digital Studio (pgs.6-7)!

Happy Digital Stamping~

Mia

Fall... My Digital Studio Style!

Today's project continues my fall theme... but instead of using stamps I've used My Digital Studio - Stampin' Up!'s digital program for scrapbooking, greeting cards and so much more.  My Digital Studio makes this a quick and easy project!

The download I used is Frameable Gratitude. It includes a designer template which can be printed and framed.  The download also includes the different elements - the pumpkins, the word "gratitude" and the definition - broken down into individual parts so that you can use them in other projects as well.

I adjusted my home printer settings to print the template slightly smaller on photo paper and added accents to the pumpkins using Stampin' Write Markers and Dazzling Details (Holiday Mini, pg.41).  I added some Spice Cake Designer Series Paper (Holiday Mini, pg.17) on the left side before mounting it on Early Espresso card stock.  The ribbon accent is 1/4" Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon (pg.195) with a Brights Glimmer Brad (pg.199).  The project is then mounted to a page of Old Olive Designer Series Paper from the Brights Pattern Stack (pg.177) and framed.

I enjoyed combining digital "stamping" with Stampin' Up!'s embellishments and papers!

(Note: Stampin' Up! doesn't guarantee the colors to be accurate when printing at home.) 

Happy Stamping... Digitally!

Mia

Autumn Splendor Wreath!

Today's project is another home decor item using some of my many handcut Autumn Splendor leaves.  It is by far my favorite Autumn Splendor project to date!  Many people are making Medallion wreaths... and I plan to make one myself... but I was playing with all my Autuman Splendor leaves and realized that they have a curve that is perfect for making a wreath!  Here is the one I designed.  It's perfect for the front door, in a window or hanging on the wall.

I love the sheen the Glossy White card stock gives to the leaves and acorns.  I used many of the same supplies I've used in the previous Autumn Splendor projects... but here they are again:

Stamps:  Autumn Splendor (pg.115)

Inks: Jet Black StazOn (pg.203), Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Soft Suede and Early Espresso Classic Inks

Card Stock:  Glossy White (pg.181)

Accessories:  1/2" Peach Parfait Stitched-Poly Ribbon (pg.194), 1/4" Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon (pg.195), Brights Glimmer Brads (pg.199), Dazzling Details (Holiday mini, pg.41), Stampin' Dimensionals and Mini Glue Dots (pg.206)

I've got lots more of the Autumn Splendor leaves so there are more projects with them in the near future... but for tomorrow's project I have used MDS (My Digital Studio).  Come back then to see a quick and easy project you can create for your fall decor.

Happy Stamping~

Mia