My Weblog

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

Designer Series Paper: Well Worn

Stampin' Up! has an ongoing Designer Series Papers Special... Buy 3 get 4th one FREE!  They are perfect for scrapbooking your favorite photos so I've decided to share a page with you today.  See how wonderful and versatile these papers are!

 

I used:

Card Stock:  River Rock, Not Quite Navy

Accessories:  Well Worn DSP (pg.185), Floral Fusion Sizzlit (pg.224), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (pg.210), Rhinestone Jewels (pg.198)

The Floral Fusion Sizzlit was among the new toys that I received a few days ago... and I think they were just the touch I needed for this page.

While I had my Not Quite Navy card stock out, I created a card as well.

To recreate the card you will need:

Stamp Set:  Touch of Kindness (Summer Mini, pg.25)

Inks:  Not Quite Navy

Card Stock:  Not Quite Navy, River Rock

Accessories:  Well Worn DSP, 1/4" Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon (pg.195), Stampin' Dimensionals (pg.206)

Note to my readers who are Stampin' Up! demonstrators:  Both of these projects were inspired by challenges on Sudsol... a Yahoo Group for Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  Sudsol is a great place to go for ideas for projects,  help and mentoring of all kinds.  If you haven't tried it yet, then click here - or on the logo in the right bottom right corner of the page - to sign up for a FREE two week trial of your own.  You won't regret it! - or on the logo in the right bottom right corner of the page - to sign up for a FREE two week trial of your own.  You won't regret it!

Happy Stamping~

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

Mother's Day Framed Art!

This is my last Occasions Mini Catalog share.  It is also my favorite one... and I love how it turned out!  I designed it in honor of my mother who died several years ago.  I still miss her so much and felt that with Mother's Day coming up it would be the perfect time to pay tribute to her!

I used:

Stamp Sets:  Punch Potpourri (Level 1 Hostess Set, pg.10), God's Blessings (pg.151), Three Little Words (pg.151)

Inks:  Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake

Card Stock:  Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper (Occasions Mini), Adornments (Occasions Mini), Pearl Jewels (pg.188), Stampin' Write Markers, 1/8" Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon (pg. 191), Stampin' Up! Big Shot Exclusive Billboard Decorative Strip Die (pg. 212)

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I bought the frame while I was in Maryland this past January/February.  If you would like to make one of these to honor your own mother then contact me.  I am willing to host a Friday afternoon/evening class for those interested.  I only have four frames left so contact me - or click on the button below - asap to reserve your frame.  The class is only $10.... and includes all the supplies needed!

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

Sunday Scrapbooking!

My husband and I did some traveling this past week... and took lots of pictures.  I spent yesterday downloading and sorting the photos... and started on a couple of scrapbook pages using Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio.  I decided to share the first two pages with you.

What does this mean?!?  Well, first of all, I have had trouble finding a picture that I like for my profile, so it means that those of you who have never met me finally get to see what I look like!!!  Second, you get to see what someone with very little knowledge of the program (I've only created 3 or 4 projects) can do with the software.  In this case I used two of the pre-set pages... added photos... and then changed out some of the pre-programed accents in order to make them my own.  The hardest part of the whole project was coming up with the list.  I think you will understand what I mean.  LOL!!!

You should be able to click on the photos for a larger image.  If you can't, then please let me know.

Be watching for more projects done with MDS... as I make the time to play with the program.  I know that the more I play with it... the more I will enjoy it!!!

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

Happy Stamping~

Mia

 

Class: May Simply Scrappin' Classes!

May is National Scrapbooking Month!  In honor of the holiday, I will be hosting two scrapbooking classes during the month.  They are:

Love Sparkles Simply Scrappin' Class

When: Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 1pm *

Where:  Yigo, Guam

Class Fee:  $30 **

You will be creating eight different 12x12 single layout pages using the contents of the Love Sparkles Simply Scrapping' Kit (shown on page 167 of the Idea Book & Catalog).  Class participants will have stickers remaining that can be used to embellish additional scrapbook pages... or cards.

Sunny Day Simply Scrappin' Class

When:  Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 1pm *

Where: Yigo, Guam

Class Fee:  $30 **

You will be creating five different 2-page layouts (Ten pages all together) using the contents from the Sunny Day Simply Scrappin' Kit (shown on page 164 of the Idea Book & Catalog).

NOTE:

* Classes will begin at 1pm and last until you are finished your pages, so the end time will vary depending on the skill of each participant.

 *** The class fees includes the cost of the Scrappin' Kit.  Classes must be pre-paid by April 30, 2010 to allow enough time for me to order the kits for the classes.  All participants should bring their own adhesive of choice. 

Sign up for the classes now by using the PayPal button below:

May Simply Scrappin' Classes

Love Sparkles Simply Scrappin' Class $30.00 Sunny Day Simply Scrappin' Class $30.00 Love Sparkles and Sunny Day Simply Scrappin' Classes $60.00

Happy Stamping~

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

Scrapbooking: RubOns and Kiwi Kiss!

Last month I shared several scrapbooking projects for National Scrapbooking Month.  I had challenged you to pull out your stamps, paper and inks and get some scrapbook pages made.  I challenged myself as well!  This 8 1/2 x 11 scrapbook page is the direct result of that challenge!

I had been doing some sorting last month and came across a packet of pictures from more than 19 years ago.  They inspired me to create several pages... one of which is this one. I admit that I have used a retired Designer Series Paper (Bali Breeze which retired a year ago), but you can easily substitute one of the blue papers from Pink Flamingo (pg.160).  Other products used are:

Stamp Sets:  Seeing Spots (pg.108 - retiring soon!)

Card Stock:  Kiwi Kiss (retiring soon!), Tempting Turquoise

Accessories:  A Prefect Day RubOns (pg.173 - retiring soon!), Scallop Edge Punch (pg.184-185), Scallop Circle Punch (pg.184-185), Trio Flower Punch (pg.184-185), 1 3/8" Circle Punch (pg.184-185), Brads, Big Shot Stampin' Up! Exclusive Billboard Decorative Strip Die (pg.198), Big Shot Die Cut Machine (pg.193)

While creating this page... and the others in the "series"... I realized how many of the relatives in the pictures are no longer with us.  (That's my Mom in the straw hat and sun glasses!)  It saddened me to realize that it took this long for me to get the pictures out where I could appreciate them more easily... and more often.  It has also challenged me to set aside at least one day a week to get more of my years of photos out of the envelopes and into scrapbooks... NOW!  I hope that you will do the same.

Happy Stamping~
Mia

Scrapbooking: Bella Rose Designer Series Paper

Although I have been stamping more than 10 years... and a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for at least 6 of those years... I haven't done very much scrapbooking.  My main focus has been in creating greeting cards and gift items.  I have years of photos still in their original envelopes and since my memory is not what it used to be I knew I needed to move out of my own comfort zone and start scrapbooking to get them into albums.  National Scrapbooking Month is just the push that I needed to get started.

Yesterday I promised to share the 12x12 scrapbook spread that I decided to include in my National Scrapbooking Month class this past weekend.  I was so busy with errands and the traffic (Yes, even Guam has traffic problems during "rush hour"!) that I almost didn't get these pictures taken and downloaded in time to share with  you today... but I did!

One of the benefits of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is that they provide us with a monthly magazine full of projects and ideas to help us share our love of stamping and scrapping with the rest of you.  The layout for the first page in this spread was inspired by just such a project, but the look of my page is very different from the original one.

I had already decided that I wanted to feature our Bella Rose Designer Series Paper (pg.159).  As I was working on the spread it occurred to me that it would be perfect for photos from my mother's 80th birthday... which explains the title.  Unfortunately I don't have those photos yet so I am sharing the spread with you minus the photos and will post an updated image once I have them in place.  I found it interesting that about the same time I realized that my mother's birthday would have been the same day I shared my Watercolor Rose (birthday) card sneak peek  for my Floral Card Class.  So even though Mom is no longer with us, she continues to influence my creativity.

The second page in the spread is entirely my own layout.  I designed the rectangle in the upper  right corner so that it can include just a photo or a photo and additional journaling.  The supplies I used in creating this spread are:

Stamp Sets:  Seeing Spots (pg.108), Taffy Alphabet (pg.145)

Card Stock:  Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Inks:  Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette

Accessories:  Bella Rose DSP (pg.159), Scallop Circle Punch (pg.184/185), 1 3/8" Circle and 1 1/4" Circle Punches (pg.184/185), Eyelet Edge Punch (pg.184/185), 5-Petal Flower Punch (pg.184/185)

I enjoyed creating these two pages so much that I know that even once National Scrapbooking Month is over I will spend at least one day a week scrapping so that I can get my photos out of those aging envelopes.  I challenge you to do the same... and if you have any questions, need additional inspiration, need additional supplies or if I can be of assistance in any other way then please give me a call, send me an email, or simply leave a comment here on my blog.

Happy Stamping~
Mia