My Weblog

Welcome 2012!

I have been busy with family and friends this past week... and finally had some time to work on my blog.  My new banner was created using My Digital Studio from Stampin' Up!  It is one of many things that you can do with the scrapbookking and card making program.  Leave a comment below letting me know what you think of my new look.  One of you will win some card candy!  :O)

Things will settle down for me mid-week... when our son leaves our lovely tropical island of Guam to return to the continental U.S.  Our house will then become very quiet... and I will have time for rubber stamping to share with you again.  Be watching for samples/ideas using the wonderful new products from Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Mini catalog... which goes live on January 4, 2012.

Until then... Wishing you a year of happiness and many many blessings... especially for good health!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Merry Christmas to all!

Taking a quick moment to share my Christmas greeting with you....

Inside....

More details after the weekend!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

MDS: Thanksgiving Greetings!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all~

Mia

MDS: Framable Gratitude Everyday Style!

I have been busy creating projects with Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio scrapbooking and papercrafting program so that I could take advantage of the bulk pricing from the printer.  I finally got the projects designed and submitted to the printer and am anxiously waiting their arrival here on Guam.  I can't wait to see them in person... and show them to you!  I don't want to spoil the viewing of the actual items, so I won't be posting them online... at least not yet... but I have a different MDS project to share with you today.

I've been focusing on the colors of fall recently... partly because I miss the fall landscapes of Maryland... but today I have decided to take what was designed as a fall theme - Framable Gratitiude - and show you how easy it is to use some of the elements from the download to make an everyday project that you can enjoy and share with others all year long.

I have used two of the digital stamps (the words) from the Framable Gratitude download, and combined them with elements from the Playful Polka Dot Designer Kit download.  I've also used the Scallop Ribbons download.

Regular readers will recognize the papers, borders and flowers from the Summer Mini catalog.  The bright colors and flowers are perfect for continued use here in the tropics... so I had to choose it as one of my recent digital purchases.  If you missed the chance to buy the scrapbook kit this past summer, then you will want to order the download so that you can create your own projects similar to the scrapbook page I have shared above.

And remember, the bulk pricing from Stampin' Up!'s printer is ongoing, so now is the perfect time to purchase the My Digital Studio software and downloads to use in your holiday crafting!

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

Project: Framable Gratitude...

Yesterday I shared a project using Stampin' Up!'s Framable Gratitude Download*  (Item #127762) from My Digital Studio (pg.6-7).  Here is another project where I tweaked the download to make it even more my style.... and to show you how changing just a few things can give you a different look.

I used Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio to increase the empty space between the pumpkins and the wording.  Then I changed the background color... added a Scallop Edge Punch border* with our Basic Pearls*... and changed the color of the wording to Early Espresso.  I wanted to add a little something to the bottom, so I used one of the leaf punches from the Autumn Traditions Kit Download* (Item #127600) to create the two leaves. The other leaves are stamps from the same download.

Note:  These are all downloads for Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio program and are available through my website.  Click here... Select "Digital Designing"... and start shopping today!

It took me a few tries to print it the way I wanted, but I am happy with the final results.  I think it will make a great gift for family and friends this holiday season! 

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

Unit Open House & MDS!

We held our Unit Open House this past Sunday.  For those of you who weren't able to attend... you missed a whole lot of fun!  Those attending created four different projects using products that are new in the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog which was released on July 1, 2011.

My "assignment" was to feature MDS - My Digital Studio... Stampin' Up!'s digital software for creating scrapbook pages, greeting cards, calendars and more!  (You
can find out more about the software by clicking here!)  Since many of our customers are busy and need quick and easy projects... like our Simply Sent Kits

shown on pages 192 and 193... I decided to show them how they can use MDS to
create their own supply of "ready to embellish" cards.  This is the card I designed and ordered from the Stampin' Up! printer for them to embellish.  It is a hybrid card... meaning that the ribbon, scallop circle and circle punches are the same size as the actual punches and ribbon.

I used one of the Berry Blossom Designer Series Papers from the MDS Avant-garde Collection DVD, pg.7.  I knew that the
stamp set - Fruit & Flowers
(pg.99) - wouldn't arrive on Guam in time for our Open House, so I designed a second card (shown on the right) that participants could punch for the card's focal point.  I provided Stampin' Dimensionals, Pearl Jewels, Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Jet Black StazOn ink and one of the sayings from "On Your Birthday" (pg.163).  Here is the card after adding all the stamping and embellishments:

I also demonstrated My Digital Studio... showing how easy it is to create similar cards to send to the Stampin' Up! printer and have on hand for when a last minute card is needed for a birthday, anniversary, thank you, thinking of you... or whatever occasion they may need.  Just change out the image and saying depending on the occasion.

Again, for more information about My Digital Studio please click here.  As always, please contact me if you have any questions.

Happy Stamping.... or in this case Digital Designing~

Mia

Stamping Is Soooo Much Fun....

...especially when you have a Ladies' Night (or Day) Out!!!

I have many pictures of fun times stamping with "old" friends, "new" friends, customers and customers-to-be.  I used Stampin' Up!'s My Didital Studio program to make this two page spread so that I could share some of them with you.  Meet Chiro, Colleen, Bernie, Lindsay, Yoko, Hana, Emi, Mari, Kaoru, Cara and me... not necessarily in that order!

 
Some of the photos are from a spontaneous gathering that my downline Colleen and I arranged for our new friend Cara who was visiting Guam last year.  It was before Christmas, so most of what we created were Christmas themed cards... although Colleen and I did gather a few non-Christmas products to use as well.  The other photos are from stamping times with friends who were visiting from Japan.  We all had loads of fun socializing... and had something to show for it when we were done!

Call or email me to set up your own Ladies' Night Out and/or you would like more information about My Digital Studio!!!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

More Tropical Party!

As I stated in my last posting, I was thrilled to find out that Stampin' Up! had released a digital download of the Tropical Party stamp set and the Island Oasis DSP.  I am enjoying them so much that I have another MDS (My Digital Studio) share for your pleasure.

I designed 12x12 scrapbook page using one of the many pre-programmed layouts.  All I had to do was choose the background design (from Island Oasis) and then add the photos and journaling.  The hardest part was deciding which of the many beautiful pictures of our neighboring Saipan to use!  I just LOVE the blues and greens of Saipan and Guam!  It continues to amaze me how many different shades of blue and green can be found in our waters.

If you have any questions or would like to have a "hand's on" demonstration of what YOU can do with MDS then be sure to contact me.

Happy Stamping~

Mia