My Weblog

Project: Fruit & Flowers Berry Blossoms!

Today's project is a collection of Love Notes that were quick and easy to create... especially the "You're a Gem" card!    It was also a nice break from all the Valentine projects I have been making.  These 3x3 cards are perfect for gift enclosures... or to tuck in a packaged lunch for a nice surprise.

To make your own set you will need:

Stamp sets: Fruit & Flowers (pg.99), You're a Gem (pg.156) and Pennant Parade (pg.69)

Inks:  Calypso Coral, Jet Black StazOn

Card Stock:  Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Accessories:  Berry Blossoms DSP (pg.185), Stampin' Write Markers, Rhinestone Jewels (pg.198), Dazzling Details, Everyday Enchantment Brads (Sale-a-bration Brochure, pg.7)

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Promotion: Sale-A-Bration (SAB) Has Begun!

Stampin' Up!'s annual Sale-A-Bration promotion has begun!

What does that mean for you as my customer, my hostess or as a new recruit?  It means that from January 24 - March 31, 2012 you will earn FREE product with every order of $50 or more... and additional gifts for hostessing a workshop or joining our family during the promotion period.  Click here to find out more about the benefits of placing an order, hostessing a workshop or joining the Stampin' Up! family during Sale-A-Bration!  Then make the time to view the SAB brochure.  I know that you will LOVE what you see!  To further inspire you....

Here are two cards I made using some of the SAB products!  Both cards were made using the FREE Outline Occasions stamp set. 

I made this "Congratulations" card as a birthday card for my upline.  I used Whisper White and Peach Parfait card stock.  The DSP (Designer Series Paper) is from Everyday Enchantment - another SAB product that you can get for FREE!  The ribbon is Stampin' Up!'s 1/2" Peach Parfait Stitched-Poly Ribbon (pg.194) and the card was colored with Stampin' Write Markers (pg.202). 

This "Thanks" card was for a good friend who treated to me to a lunch out a couple of weeks ago.  The card stock is Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder and Concord Crush - since purple is her favorite color!  I also used Berry Blossoms DSP (pg.185), the Modern Label Punch (pg.209), Mini Brads (pg.199), Stampin' Dimensionals (pg.206) and Stampin' Write Markers to color.

This posting also serves as a sneak preview because the Congratulations card is one of the cards those attending my next class will be making... but you will have the option of using any of the sayings from the FREE Outlined Occasions SAB stamp set.  Be watching for more details within the next day or two.

Meanwhile..... feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Guest Stamper: Lisa Santiago!

Today I am featuring cards made by one of my customers... Lisa Santiago!  She is thrilled to be my guest stamper today, but she is also camera shy so I don't have a photo of her to share.  However, here are her cards...

She made this cute birthday card for one of her friends and co-workers.  Don't you love the way she used Stampin' Up!'s wonderful Designer Series Paper for the gift packages?!?  These are from the now retired Razzle Dazzle collection... but any of our DSPs would work just as well for this quick to make card.

Lisa has introduced several of her coworkers to Stampin' Up! by sharing her projects with them... and even holding a quick demonstration during her lunch hour.  This next card was made to show them one of the many ways they can use brads in their stamping.  (Be watching for a few more examples later this week!)

I love how she cut into the Scallop Circle to give her flowers more of a petal-like look!

Thank you, Lisa, for sharing your creative cards with me... and giving me permission to share them with my readers.  I look forward to seeing your future projects as well.

If you have enjoyed Lisa's cards as much as I have, then please leave a comment of encourangement below for her.

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Stamping Play Day Photos!

I know it's late in the day, but yesterday I said that (today) I would share photos of the cards my nieces and friends from Japan made... so here they are!  Enjoy!

Tomorrow I will feature my first guest stamper of the new year!  Come back to see her creations and to find out who it is.  :O)

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

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)!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

More Fall Leaves!

Here is another example of fall leaves... using Autumn Splendor (pg.115) and Always Thankful (Holiday Mini, pg.19).  I am missing the leaves in Maryland less and less as I play with these two stamp sets, Spice Cake Designer Series Paper (Holiday MIni, pg.17) and the colors of Fall!

To create this card you will also need:

Inks:  Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, More Mustard and Early Espresso

Card Stock:  Very Vanilla, Soft Suede (textured or not!), Confetti White (pg.181) and More Mustard

Accessories:  Big Shot, Die-Cutting Machine (pg.215), Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (pg.219), Ticket Corner Punch (pg.212), 1/2" Peach Parfait Stitched-Poly Ribbon (pg.194), Basics Glimmer Brads (pg.199), Stampin' Dimensionals (pg.206) and Mini Glue Dots (pg.206)

Note:  Don't forget to clean your stamps between colors so that you don't contaminate your ink pads!

Tomorrow.... More leaves!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Autumn Splendor!

I've been so busy working on Cards for the Troops that I have neglected to share projects with you.  Here, finally, is one of the cards I made the begining of the month.  Living on Guam I don't get to see leaves in the colors of fall.  These stamped leaves help me feel like I am there... in Maryland!

The images are from Autumn Splendor (pg.115) and the Designer Series Paper is Spice Cake (Holiday Mini, pg.17) ... my favorite of the season.  The saying is from Sincere Salutations (pg.160).  The card stock colors are Very Vanilla and Cajun Craze.  The leaves and acorns were stamped on Glossy White card stock (pg.181), colored and hand cut before mounting them to the card front using Stampin' Dimensionals (pg.206).  Note the Dazzling Details (Holiday Mini, pg.41) accent on the acorns!

Come back tomorrow for another fall creation!

Happy Stamping~

Mia