Halloween fun!

Hi Stampers!
I wanted to share some fun Halloween ideas with you as that is the first of the holidays heading our way. Stampin'Up! always devotes several pages of its Holiday Catalog to Halloween with very cute papers, stamps and accessories to help you create the perfect party favors, decor or cards.  How many of you need some classroom treats?  There's a solution for all of this!

I made some fun stuff for my open house with some of the "Spooktacular Bash" bundle. I'll devote a more in detail post about it after Sept 4th, when the catalog goes live, but I thought I'd share some fun pics from my open house.

Do you have any old frames kicking around that you can use to make some seasonal decor with?  I did! This barnwood frame was perfect for a Halloween theme. I used some of the Monster Bash DSP and also the tree die from the See a Silhouette bundle.  The pumpkin stamps and punch are perfect!

I remembered I had this bare tree in my Christmas decor boxes so I dug it out and made some Halloween ornaments. The lighting isn't great so I will take a better picture for my next post! I fussy cut the DSP you see in the lower left corner of the picture for my ornaments.

Here's a close up of the cut little coffin treat boxes!  You get 12 boxes in a pack for $7 so think about that for your treat giving needs!

Also, there's always something cooking at Paper Pumpkin!  September's kit always is Halloween themed and usually treat carrier related so if that's what you need, subscribe now!



Here's the link to sign up for a subscription.  You can pause your monthly subscription or even cancel it at any time, but I don't think you'll want to!

Paper Pumpkin Link

Hope you have a great long weekend!  Twenty five years ago, I had my last child on Labor Day weekend, kind of appropriate don't you think!  Nothing can top that one, but we'll try!

Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

My Personal Favorites out of the Holiday Catalog!

Hey Friends!
A funny thing happened during my recent Holiday Catalog Open House. Over and over, I heard someone say "wait a minute, I didn't see that in the catalog!"  People were seeing things in person that didn't pop out in print so I thought it would be fun to highlight some of them so you can add them to your wish list if they are a favorite of yours too!

First, the inexpensive way to take any project from "meh" to "WOW" - embossing folders!  There are two that I love, the 3D Hammered Metal and the 3D Winter Knit folders. Here they are:

For new ink products, guess what is back?  Metallic inks!  We now have Gold, Silver and Cooper, with refills!  They also don't smear, especially if you blast them with a tad bit of heat from your heat tool after stamping!  The top card above shows ornaments that were stamped with copper ink!

Are you in need of Halloween party favors or treat holders?  Well take a look at this:

Pretty cute, huh?  They come precut in a package of 12 boxes with lids.  I put this together in a jiffy with tear tape and glue dots.

Stumped for teacher gifts or cards?  We now have an apple punch that doubles as a pumpkin punch!

Have you been wishing you had an Advent Calendar or a way to countdown Christmas with your family?  Take a look at this!!

I'm so positive this will be a big hit that I'm making a list of everyone that wants one and ordering them on the 4th, the day the catalog goes live!  How about you?  Want your name added to the list, let me know!

Have you ever wished a stamp came in a mirror image, so you could reverse the orientation?  Guess what! Stampin'Up! has entered new territory with a reversible stamp set, the adorable mugs! It's an exclusive idea they are getting a patent on and I hope they make more!

The coffee mug stamps are reversible so you can mount the stamp to have the handle on the left or the right - genius!!

Finally, if you like punches, there are several new ones coming your way!  A moose, a snowman builder punch, the apple mentioned above and two different sizes of ornament punches (pictured in first card above).  Here's a quick peek at the moose and snowman!

And yes, you will be so excited about the snowman embellishment pack, completed with carrot noses, stick arms, coal buttons and scarves, mittens and beanies!

There is so much to love about the latest products coming to you in the Holiday Catalog on Sept 4th!   I'll keep posting more sneak peeks until then, but be sure to check back on the 4th for all the links including a PDF of the catalog itself and a link to the online store!  Happy Holidays!

Sarah

More Sneak Peeks!

Hi Friends!
I have a quick post today with mostly pictures, which I know is your favorite!  I had a wonderful Holiday Catalog open house yesterday with lots of people attending, some great orders being placed and so much fun. I did a prize patrol for the first time which the ladies really appreciated!  I had managed to put together over 80 cards and projects for them to see the new products and some potential ideas.   I thought I would share a few here... It doesn't always have to be about cards!

These were all fun to make with new products for the Holidays. The Holiday catalog goes live on September 4th and I'm so anxious to share my ideas and the specific details then.  Stay tuned!

Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

The Holidays are coming!

Hi Stampin' Friends!
While I haven't been busy blogging, I've been super busy with classes AND prepping for my upcoming Holiday Catalog Open House launch. Whenever Stampin'Up! releases a new catalog, I offer an open house for people to stop by, grab a catalog, see tons of product and samples made from that new product, games, food, prizes and most people's favorite, Make-N-Takes. I have found that my friends and customers like an opportunity to see and touch some new stamps, paper and embellishments before they decide what to buy. It's even more fun to try out some of those products with a Make-N-Take.

Yesterday, I spent about 9 hours in my room and a whole lot of goodness happened while I played with new stuff. I started at the top of the pile and worked my way through (not done yet) as I attempted to create at least 3 different designs/ideas with each bundle or suite. I plan on doing the same thing today. It's rare that I have that kind of uninterrupted time so I'm taking advantage of it!

Ready for some sneak peeks? I won't say anything for now, just let the awesome products speak for themselves. Just know that 99% of what you see here is new and in the Holiday Catalog!

Excited?  I sure am!  Once the catalog launches on September 4th, I'll be blogging about each of these projects along with other ideas using the same products. I can't wait to share the details and inspire you as everything Autumn and Christmas comes alive.

If you're a seasoned crafter/stamper, you'll love all the new and fresh ideas in the Holiday catalog. If you're a dabbler in stamping, there are some things that will pique your interest and even give your mojo a shot in the arm. If you have never stamped, there are some fabulous ideas to take on that won't frustrate or intimidate!  There are also all kinds of styles and themes to please as many people as possible! If you're local, I hope you can swing by my open house which will be next Tuesday, the 27th, from 3 to 7 p.m.  You will be so glad you did!

Well, I'm headed back downstairs to enter the stampin' zone and I'll be back with more sneak peeks soon! In the meantime, check your stash and make sure you have all the basics on hand like Whisper White and Very Vanilla cardstock, envelopes, adhesives, ink or refills, etc. You have some serious stamping ahead of you and I want you to be ready!  You can order online by clicking on the "shop now" link and you'll be ready to go!

Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

Christmas in August Card Class

Hey Stampin' Friends!
Well, it's that time again, time to start thinking about Christmas crafting!  Not really... it's still a tad early, but apparently several people agreed with me and showed up at my card class yesterday to make some Christmas cards. We made a couple with products from the annual catalog and a couple with products from the upcoming Holiday catalog which will be released on September 4th!  While none of us are hoping for an early winter, it was fun to celebrate the season with ink, stamps and paper!  I wanted to share what we did with you!

This first card is from the Pretty Pavillion bundle. It's a unique set that features a gorgeous, timeless park type gazebo with enough details to make a wedding card, Christmas card, birthday card, thank you card, etc. This evokes another era when life was perhaps simple, sweeter and maybe even more romantic!  It was fun to color with the Stampin' Blends alcohol markers and the coordinating dies cut out all the pieces.  It's a wonderful set to add to your collection!

For the second card, we went with one of my favorites from the Annual Catalog called "Rustic Retreat". it features a gorgeous, homey cabin (along with some animals and more trees). We colored with our watercolor pencils and then used Blender Pens to smooth out the coloring a bit. The background stamp "Birch" was perfect for my woodsy theme as well as the Buffalo Check background stamp to create some red flannel look.

Here's a sneak peak at one new suite called "Christmas Gleaming". The bundle includes stamps and two ornament punches as well as absolutely gorgeous Designer Series Paper that features copper foil accents. We embossed the ornaments with copper embossing powder and used a new embossing folder in the background as well. I will feature this card in a future blog post when the catalog goes live!

The last card was made with products from the "Feels Like Frost" suite, also new in the upcoming Holiday catalog. The Designer Series Paper is photographic on one side and white/silver designs on the other. The dies cut some fun botanical and framed images and the stamps are great too. There's also a new paper product on the horizon with the Holiday catalog - Mercury Glass like acetate paper. It's a clear paper that looks like mercury glass and you can see it in a layer with this card.

I'm excited to start making some samples with products from the Holiday catalog. I have an open house coming up on the 27th and hope to have oodles to show people! I know that people love to see samples of what you can do with products before they decide to purchase. That's the whole point of my blog as well as sharing what I'm working on with fellow stampers and crafters.  None of these projects I make are out of reach!  I love to share this hobby with people and get them started on their own creative journey. Maybe you are a recent empty nester or retiree and need to fill some time that used to be occupied by other things. Stamping is so fun because it is creative, purposeful and therapeutic. There is so much help for inspiration and ideas if you need them but if you're the type that likes to figure things out for yourself, that works too.  Please contact me if you'd like to dip your toes in the water and start some papercrafting. You can try it for a nominal cost and see if it's something you enjoy with one of our kits. You can also think of a project like family birthday cards or Christmas cards and get what you need for that.  I'd love to get your started!

I hope you have a glorious weekend ahead of you and happy stampin'!
Sarah

Modern Heart

Hi Friends!
It's been a few days since I posted. Sometimes summer gets away from me and my attention is on being outside and enjoying all Montana has to offer. It's a beautiful summer here and smoke-free which is a real blessing. I want to share a set that caught my eye in the Annual Catalog for a few reasons. First, I love any stamps that create a watercolor image. It's makes me feel more artistic for some reason!  I also loved the sentiments in this stamp set and I had fun playing with it recently.

My first card is actually the most detailed that I did. I embossed the heart "spider web" with silver embossing powder, on watercolor paper. I then used my Aqua Painter to carefully put on some ink on the water color paper in pools of color. I did blot the excess water so it wouldn't run too much. For the background of the card, I embossed Highland Heather cardstock with the Country Floral folder. I added some ribbon and a sentiment.

This card was the simplest one I made. I used the water color stamps to get some blobs of color on the card and then added the heart stamp and the sentiment. I think this sentiment is my favorite!

Lastly, I tried stamping the heart 3 times and then used three different colors of ink for the watercolor "swoosh". I used Blushing Bride, Soft Seafoam and Seaside Spray. The embossing folder on this card is a new one this year, called Eyelet Lace.

These were fun to play around with and create. That's one of my favorite parts about this hobby. It's almost impossible to make something ugly! With great stamps and coordinating color products, you have a wonderful project in front of you before you know it.

Don't forget to use any Bonus Days coupons you may have while it's still August!  They expire at the end of the month. I also hope you are looking forward to the Holiday Catalog which launches on September 4th. I'm handing them out in classes now and can get one to you if you contact me. I would love to pick up some more online customers across the United States. I'm available for questions or advice and love to help any way I can with your creative ideas.

Hope you are having a great week!  Stay calm and keep stampin'!
Sarah

Dino Days

Hey Stampers!
How many of you try to make/find the perfect card for the people in your life?  You maybe focus on a theme, an occasion, a special color scheme or even a particularly perfect sentiment. I have something to show you that is perfect for the little people in your life - dinosaurs!  I don't think there are any kids that don't like dinosaurs at least a little and the stamp set I want to show you today will bring a big small to their face. And, it's not only for the little people but some of the bigger people that are a child at heart!  Stampin'Up! has a new dinosaur themed suite that is sure to delight! The color scheme is bright and cheery and the dinosaurs are friendly and cute!  Here are some examples:

This wonderful suite includes stamps, dies for cutting out the stamps, coordinating Designer Series Paper and some stick-on enamel accents!  The Designer Series Paper is especially charming and there are lots of options for what colors to emphasize, as I did the pinker tones in this card.

One of the sentiments lends itself to making a "baby" card!  There is a half egg that is perfect to tuck a cute dinosaur in. This card also uses some of the enamel stick-ons for an accent.

I love the color scheme of these card, as well as the sentiment. There are lots of types of dinosaurs to look at here!

It's always good to have some "friend" cards on hand and there's got to be someone in your life who would appreciate this!

If you have some little kids in your life, or even some adult dinosaur-lovers, this is the perfect addition to your stash. We've had dinosaur sets in the past but they never were paired with dies and that makes this set especially versatile. Our dies make nice easy cuts, generally with one pass through your die cutting machine! Here's a picture of the whole suite:



You can find ordering information below in my supply list. Click on any product and you'll be directed to the store.

My Holiday Catalog preorder box #1 came yesterday so I'll start playing with some new stuff and have some sneak peeks to show you soon. I have to admit I was overwhelmed when I opened it because I love everything I got and wasn't sure where to start!  There is something for everyone in this catalog, ever style of holiday celebrating and probably some you haven't even thought of!  If you place an order in my online store from now thru September 30th, I'll make sure you get a print copy of the catalog. It's easy to order and even better to have it delivered to your door!  Click on "shop now" to the right and you are there!  The Holiday catalog launches on September 4th so be ready for more info soon!

Happy Stampin' and RAWR!
Sarah

Winds of Change

Hi Stampers!
Woohoo! My Holiday catalog preorder is coming today and I'm really excited.  I will finally get to see a print copy of the catalog and also some of the products that I chose. Would you believe I even texted my UPS driver to see if there was any wiggle room in her schedule and she could come to my neighborhood sooner rather than later?!!  She's a friend and she will proceed as her job requires so I'm guessing it will still be several hours.

I really shouldn't be that anxious as there are still so many things in the annual catalog that I haven't given much attention to. Summer is a great time to be outside and do all the fun adventures so my stamping time is hit and miss some weeks.

I live in an area with a huge Dutch community nearby. Have you ever heard the saying, "If you ain't Dutch, you ain't much!"  Well, I have and while I disagree with the saying (haha) many of these people are some of my dear friends and fellow stampers. I even met a couple of demonstrators from the Netherlands at an OnStage even a year ago. All that to say that when they saw the "Winds of Change" stamp set in the Annual Catalog, I would guess they jumped for joy!   I had some fun with this set recently:

Probably the most iconic symbol of the Dutch is the windmill.  They are scattered throughout the Netherlands and there are even a few here and there in our country.  I actually looked up what a windmill does and they harness the energy from wind to mill grain or pump water in the past. They are probably mostly for looks now and boy do they look charming! This was a fun card to make with my coloring using Stampin' Blends Alcohol markers. I also used the Rectangle Dies to cut out my layers.

Another iconic "Dutch" thing is the Delft blue and white design on everything from housewares, decor to linens. I'm a big fan of blue and white and have several pieces in my home. I thought that should definitely be one design idea for a card!

I also wanted to try and incorporate the other stamps that are included in this set, including some long stemmed tulips and a bicycle. I just did a little bit of coloring, only the flowers to give this card some interest but mostly kept it simple. I cut the sections apart from a 3.75" x 5" piece of white card stock as I stamped them and then adhered them to my background with some space in between. I did have to tweak my trimming just a bit but it wasn't hard to create this card.

This is a fun stamp set to play with, especially if you are enjoying all the coloring options we have from watercolor pencils, blender pens, Aqua painters and markers. Coloring is back in a big way and I'm so glad Stampin'Up! is on board!

You can get this set as well as my other supplies by clicking on the supply list below which will take you to the store. Online shopping is easy and convenient. Try it!

Until next time, happy stampin'!
Sarah

We'll Walrus Be Friends

Hi Stampin' Friends,
How's your summer going?  Mine has been full of sun and fun so far and I'm really enjoying it. We usually have the arrival of forest fire smoke by now and this year, it's held off for now. I'm so grateful to still see blue skies every morning.  We've also done some traveling to see family and friends which is always a great summer activity.  Before I even knew it, Stampin'Up! was promoting the upcoming Holiday Catalog to us demonstrators and that doesn't even seem possible!

I'm catching up on some stamping that has been in my "to do" pile. Whenever I get new product, I keep it separated out from my stash to remind myself that I haven't played with it yet. It can take awhile to get out of this pile as I try to think of what to do or look for inspiration elsewhere. I actually had a "brain dead" moment with the stamp set I was featuring today. It is all about the walrus and for the life of me, I couldn't think of even one fact I knew about a walrus so I had to resort to Wikipedia!  Did you know they live in the North Pole and subarctic area. They are the "largest flippered marine mammal". I didn't get into too much more detail but at least I could place a walrus in his habitat!

the "We'll Walrus Be Friends" stamp set is really cute!  It's on page 82 of the Annual Catalog and there are several walrus stamps to play with. Being very unfamiliar with this animal didn't help my creative inspiration, but I like what happened in spite of my lack of knowledge!

My favorite sentiment in this set is the one I used in the card above. I thought it was a really cute play on words!  The "Happy Birthday" part of the card is from the "Well Said" bundle which combines die cut words with stamped sentiments. This is an extremely versatile set that will work for any occasion and for anyone!  Don't you just love the new In Color Seaside Spray? What a perfect arctic blue! My Designer Series Paper is from the "See A Silhouette" series.

I grabbed a different piece of paper from the "See a Silhouette" DSP pack for this card. It is really rich Pretty Peacock, a smattering of yellow and dark blues. This walrus and ice was fun to color with my Stampin' Blends markers and I added some Wink of Stella to the ice and water.

I love the walrus with his paws over his face like he's playing hide n seek!  These walrus sketches are certainly playful and whimsical so it's easy to get in the mood! For this card, I used some Bird Ballad DSP and the "Broadway Birthday" party hat stamp and die cut.

It's always tricky to work in different colors when you need gray and blue for the walrus and water. I thought Mango Melody would provide a good accent color!  Be sure to grab some Designer Series Paper in every color Stampin'Up! offers. There are 6" x 6" packages of paper in our color families and then you will always have some DSP in the right color!

I hope you enjoyed my walrus cards!  It's such an atypical thing to use for a card but I decided he was really cute and fun to play with. I wouldn't want to cuddle up to one in real life but these great images will provide cheer and warm fuzzies to your family and friends.

Since we are now into August, you can redeem your Bonus Days coupons on any order!  Just type in your coupon code where it says "manage my coupons" on an order or contact me and I'll help you get them entered. 

Thanks for stopping by! It's very rewarding to share what I'm doing since I love it so much!

Happy Stampin'!
Sarah