Festive Flurry Ornament Kit

Today we are putting up our Christmas decorations.  I know to some this seems very early but a snowman collector has a very small window to display the collection and it sure feels like it's cold enough outside!

Besides my existing collection, I'm always looking to add new elements to my stash.  I purchased a few of the Festive Flurry Ornament Kits to do with Callie for our tree this year.  Turned out that they are not tiny kid friendly - lots of folds and require a glue gun.  That didn't stop me from making them with my own mom though!

Are you looking for a project that you can complete in under an hour, that only requires a kit and a glue gun, and that looks great on your holiday gifts?  If so, you should check out the Festive Flurry Ornament Kit.

The kit comes with everything you need to assemble 10 of these great ornaments that can be used in a variety of holiday ways!

• You could put them on a wine bottle for a holiday hostess.
• You could decorate the top of a great gift box for a holiday gift.
• You could hang them on your tree as original homemade ornaments.
• You could string them up on the ribbon and make a beautiful garland for your tree or mantle.

At $14.95, this is a way to make a homemade keepsake for under $2 each!  Plus if you make them EXACTLY like the instructions say, you have 30 big rhinestones left to use on other holiday projects!

Tip:

• I could not get the two rosette elements to stay closed using a glue gun.  I recommend folding on the score lines for the large Soft Sky snowflake and putting the glue directly on the Crumb Cake snowflake.  Hold the center tight like a rosette but if it doesn't stay tight, it's okay.  You will do the same thing with the glitter snowflake after you fold on the score lines and use the glue to put it on top of the Soft Sky snowflake. 

You can find the instructions here and order them here.

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Christmas Wish Lists & Stocking Stuffers

We have been working with Callie on various words that mean the same thing.  This week we taught her about big, huge, ginormous, etc. because we were looking at my wish list from the Occasions Mini Catalog.   Gargantuan is right!  At least it makes Christmas easy for my husband - he can get me a gift card to ME for ME!

That list made me start thinking of other Stampin' Up! products that would make excellent gifts.  These items are ones that I use as a crafter daily or have made great home decor projects with!   Click the name of the product to view more details about it!

 

1. Big Shot
Why do I love it?  The Big Shot lets me create in a quick and easy way.  With a toddler, it helps me maximize my crafting time and she can help.  My favorites are the embossing folders and all the framelits you can use with it to make perfect cuts and perfect embossing every time!

  

2. Magnetic Platform
Why do I love it?  This little tool keeps Framelits in place so that they cut out complicated or simple stamped images perfectly.  The magnets in the platform keep the metal framelits in place every time!

  

3. Stampin' Dimensionals
Why do I love it?  Everything needs a little dimension and these make your homemade cards look even better.  There are no better pop-ups on the market than ours, in my opinion, and I've tried a lot!

  

4. Stampin' Scrub & Stampin' Mist
Why do I love it?  Cleaning your stamps is a breeze with these products.  Just put a spritz of cleaner on one side of the pad with a little water and clean away.  When it gets covered with ink, just pull out the mats and rinse under the sink.  It doesn't leave behind lint or scraps like when you use paper towels or baby wipes!

  

5. Paper Snips
Why do I love it?  You can't beat a pair of super sharp scissors and that is exactly what these are!

  

6. My Digital Studio - CD or Download

Why do I love it?  Crafting is a breeze when you can do it as life happens around you.  I use MDS as my photo editing software and template tool as well as using it to design mini books, cards, and calendars.  There is something for everyone in this tool, whether you are a tech expert or a newbie! 

7. Stampin' Trimmer
Why do I love it?  So many features in one place that make cutting cardstock and DSP easier!  Some of my favorites - The arm locks so that we don't break the ruler off!  It will cut and score up to 14" and the guide is under the plastic so it won't wear off with use. 

  

8. Everyday Occasions Card Kit
Why do I love it?  20 cards in one box?  A killer stamp set that covers every occasion?  Two colors of versatile ink?  Instructions?  This kit comes with all of this and is a great gift in itself for the holidays.  All you need is to add some adhesive and scissors and you can craft at home and make some beautiful and colorful cards.

  

9. Hexagon Punch
Why do I love it?  I love banners but hate making them.  This punch lets me do that with ease and I can leave my OCD at the door.  It's also super trendy right now!

  

10. Build a Banner Simply Created Kit and Refills
This product line made me fall in love with home décor products again.  I have a Joy and Blessed banner up in my house and taught several banner classes.  I think the stencils work great with mixed media and the products are super easy to use.  I think every house looks brighter with a few perfectly chosen word banners sprinkled through it!

These gifts can be purchased from my online store or you can buy a gift card from me so that your loved one (or yourself) can enjoy these products during Sale-A-Bration or at your own party in the new year.  All gift cards come with a great new holder never shown in a class and the instructions to replicate it. 

This is also a great time to stock up on the stamp camp essentials.  As you know, I have you bring a "craft kit" to my house when you come to stamp camps.  The products below are what I ask you to bring!

Craft Kit:

• Adhesive (required) – 104332 - $6.95
• Paper Snips (required) – 103579 – $9.95 
• Bone Folder (required) – 102300 - $6.95
• Dimensionals (required) – 104430 - $3.95
• Paper Piercing Tool (optional) – 126189 - $3.95 
• Paper Piercing Mat (optional) – 126199 - $4.95
• Glue Dots (recommended) - 103693 - $4.95
• Silicon Craft Sheet (recommended)  - 127853 - 5.95

The December mystery hostess code is ZFZTVF6C and I will draw on 12/20 for that one.  To be eligible, just place an order with this hostess code and if the party reaches $150, I will draw a name and that lucky winner will get the free merchandise!

 

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

 

Paper Leaf Wreaths

November Mystery Hostess Announcement

 

Thank you everyone that participated in my November Online party!  Callie drew names this morning and the lucky winner is….. BARB D!  Congrats to Barb!  The party reached the $300 level so that is $50 in free merchandise! 

 

The December code is ZFZTVF6C and I will draw on 12/20 for that one.  Remember that stamping supplies make great stocking stuffers and I also do gift cards that you can apply to online codes in the new year!

 

Today we are going to set up our Christmas tree and get out all my snowmen.  I'm so excited.  Funny how the craziest time of the year is the cleanest in my house since I get to pack up all my clutter in my boxes after I pull out the snowmen!

 

But with good comes bad.  I also have to rake leaves today once they thaw.  Yuck.  I love the Fall.  I love the changing leaves, the colors, and the crispness.  Unfortunately I don't love the cold rain that ruins said leaves before I can get them picked up for my projects.  Thank goodness we sell the Autumn Accents Sizzix Die so that I could use my favorite stamping tools to recreate this project since I could not use real leaves.

 

This week for our play-date craft, we broke out the glue, paper plates, scissors, and cardstock to create these fall wreathes with the kiddos.

 

Callie wasn't the most invested in this project.  She liked the glue stick but once the real glue had to come out, she was more interested in Sofia the First and her cars than her project.

 

However, Henry was all over this one.  He wanted as much glue and as many leaves as possible to the wreath and they had to be perfect.  It was adorable.  This little man is a crafter after my own heart!

 

Supplies:

• Cardstock: Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Garden Green, Early Espresso, Birch Paper (from Thanksgiving Tablescape Simply Created Kit)
• Accessories: Paper Snips, Elmer's Glue (non-SU), Paper Plates (non-SU), Big Shot & Cutting Mats, Autumn Accents Bigz Die

To make these wreaths, check out this post.

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Holiday Card Duo

The final cards for our Tealish camp today were inspired by make-n-takes from the Creative Convention Online training that I took in October.  These cards were designed by Ronda Wade and Maggie Patterson who also delivered our training.  They are the first of many samples I will be posting in December and the last class I'm offering in 2013!

I didn't have the Christmas Collectibles stamp set (which is currently on sale here) so I decided to use the Mosaic Madness set and punch instead to make the ornaments.

 

 I really like the design they came up with because you can use the punch out from the first card to make the 2nd card and don't have to use too many supplies to complete them.



 

 

Supplies:

• Cardstock: Island Indigo (2 @ 8 1/2 x 5 1/2), Winter Frost DSP - 4 x 1, scrap for 1 3/4 circle), Whisper White (5 1/4 x 4, 4 x 1, scrap)
• Ink: Island Indigo
• Stamps: Mosaic Madness, Many Merry Messages
• Accessories: 1 3/4 Circle Punch, 2 1/2 Circle Punch, Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Big Shot & Cutting Mats, Multi-purpose Platform, 1/8 Silver Taffeta Ribbon, Mosaic Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals, Scissors, Adhesive

 

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Holiday Scrapbooking - Day 8 - Titles and Journaling

This is the last post in my series about our divided page protectors and Season of Style products.  Several of these items are currently on sale for our Holiday sale.  Links to these products are below.

8 x 8 Divided Page Protectors - 132544 - on sale for $3.96

Season of Style This & That Bundle - 136531 - exclusive bundle on sale for $21.44

Seasonal Stripes 8 x 8 Designer Ring Album - 132259 - on sale for $11.96

Our online party is over $300 which means the lucky winner will get $50 in free merchandise!!!  To be considered for this drawing, place an online order by midnight on 11/23 with the hostess code of G3SGBMJK.  Callie will draw a name from all those that placed online orders on 11/24 and that lucky winner will get the free merchandise!

Once you have your photos in the book, you will want to add some journaling and titling.  You could cut this in cardstock and write them by hand.  Some people have that skill.  I do not.  I like to wordsmith.

There are several reasons I like using My Digital Studio for journaling and titles.

1. With My Digital Studio, you can set the size of your text box in Edit Object so that the text inside is the perfect size for your project.  This may because you want to mat it on a 2 x 2 square or because you want to punch it out using one of our great punches or you want it to be exactly 3 3/4 long.
2. You can also change the colors to match the Stampin' Up! colors used in the rest of your project. 
3. You can add text boxes directly to photos so that it prints with the journaling directly on the photo.

Here are my tips for how to create your titles and journaling in My Digital Studio and print on White 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock.

Creating Journaling & titles in MDS

• Click Photobooks & Individual Pages
• Select 8 1/2 x 11 Portrait
• Select Create Your Own
• Name the project - Holiday Titles
• If you need to put it in a specific folder, click Change Location, click on the folder,  and click Select Folder.  If it's already selected, skip this step.
• Click OK

Adding Text

• Click the Text header from the Design Center (on the right)
• Click Add Text
• Type your text
• Click the Select Font dropdown and select your font
• Change the Size as needed
• Click Change color to change to Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, or Crumb Cake (the colors in your Season of Style paper)
• Repeat for all titles or journaling you want to create.
• Click Ctrl-S to save.

Printing your Titles:

• Select Share from the Design Center (on the right)
• Click Print
• Save if prompted
• Click Print
• Print out using Whisper White cardstock and cut out into banners or punch out with punches. 

My Digital Studio (MDS) creates a great stocking stuffer for the crafter on your list that wants to explore digital scrapbooking or is looking for a great photo editing software and so much more.  You can order an MDS cd here.

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Holiday Scrapbooking - Day 7 - Embellishing Pocket Cards

Customers taking my class were given a package of basic rhinestones to decorate their pocket cards and other elements of the book.

If you do not find all the pocket cards you would like, you can download the Season of Style Pocket Cards and make your own in MDS.

• Season of Style Pocket Cards - $7.95 - http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=134934

Making Pocket Cards in MDS

Creating the Project

• Open MDS
• Click Photobooks & Individual Pages
• Select 8 1/2 x 11 Portrait
• Select Create Your Own
• Name the project - Holiday Pocket Cards
• If you need to put it in a specific folder, click Change Location, click on the folder,  and click Select Folder.  If it's already selected, skip this step.
• Click OK

Finding the Cards

• Click the Flower icon under Resource Palette (left) - this opens your embellishments
• Click Browse
• Click Designer Kits
• Select Season of Style Pocket Cards - Embellishments
• Click Open
• Resizing the Embellishment
• Drag the Embellishment from the left into the project.
• Right click on the image and select Edit Object
• Change the W & H to the right size and unclick the Keep Proportions box
• Click the red X to close the box.
• Repeat until all your elements are created.

Printing the Embellishments

• Select Share from the Design Center (on the right)
• Click Print
• Save if prompted
• Click Print
• Print out using Whisper White cardstock and cut using your Paper Trimmer.

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Holiday Scrapbooking - Day 6 - Mini Book - Pocket Book

Today kicks off our annual holiday sale!  For 24 hours only, you can get the three products below at a discount.  I have all three and that Trimmer is a MUST!  The markers make crafting with our great colors quick and easy.  The Diagonal plate will help make boxes and mini books for the holidays and other occasions a breeze!

• Many Marvelous Markers - on sale for $76.97 instead of $109.95 - http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=131264
• Simply Scored Diagonal Plate - on sale for $8.37 instead of $11.95 - http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=125586
• Stampin' Trimmer - on sale for $20.97 instead of $29.95 - http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=126889

The rest of the products will be on sale until 12/2!  Check them out here: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/CategoryPage.aspx?categoryid=1664

Since the holiday scrapbook and divided page protectors are on sale, it works perfectly with my series of posts on this great album!

Some of the page protectors lend themselves to inserting little mini books versus single photos so that you can get more happy holiday faces into your scrapbook!  This is the final mini book/insert idea that I did for this holiday scrapbook.  It came about because I had a stack of photos celebrating our family tradition of making covered pretzels for all the grandparents!

 

 I couldn't decide on my favorites and couldn't narrow it down to just 4 photos!

• Score a 4 x 11 piece of cardstock at 5 1/2.  Fold in half.  Attach the Let's Be Jolly card to the front of the piece using adhesive. 
• Open the cardstock back up.  Attach a 4 x 2 piece of Old Olive to the bottom of the piece using washi tape around the edges and the bottom.** Attach the 4 x 2 piece of Cherry Cobbler to the bottom.  If you like how the washi tape looks, you don't have to do this - but I didn't.... :) 
• Stamp the saying in Cherry Cobbler ink on the 1 x 3 1/2 piece of Crumb Cake.  Make a banner end on the right using your scissors or the hexagon punch.  Tie a knot in the small piece of Grosgrain Ribbon and attach to the left end of the banner using adhesive on the back to hold it.  Attach to the pocket using dimensionals. 
• Insert photos into your pocket.
• Cut the journaling piece off the Glad Tidings pocket card.  Cut to 3 1/2 x 3 7/8.  Attach to the upper piece of the book.  Insert a 1" x 4" piece of DSP to the bottom of that journaling tag. 
• Put adhesive on the back of the book and attach to a piece of 4 x 6 polka dot DSP.

 

Tips:

• Using washi tape to make a pocket instead of sticky strip gives you a bigger pocket.  Sticky strip cuts 1/4 inch off each side.  Washi tape wrapped around the edges gives you a true 4" wide pocket. 
• You can put a photo directly on the back of this folder.  If the other side of the page is another event or theme, you can leave the back of this pocket book blank and put a sheet of 4 x 6 DSP lose behind the book instead to hook your picture too.  That way you aren't pulling out the insert and finding a tree cutting photo when you were scrapbooking a sweet treat in the mini book.

Our online party is over $300 which means the lucky winner will get $50 in free merchandise!!!  To be considered for this drawing, place an online order by midnight on 11/23 with the hostess code of G3SGBMJK.  Callie will draw a name from all those that placed online orders on 11/24 and that lucky winner will get the free merchandise!

 

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

 

What's New - 11/19/2013

Just a few updates from Stampin' Up! for you all!

 

Holiday Shipping

 

Stampin' Up! recommends that you submit your holiday orders by the following dates to receive them by December 24:

• My Digital Studio print products: December 6 for regular shipping, December 14 for Second-Day Air, and December 15 for Next-Day Air
• Traditional products: December 17 by 6:50 PM (MT) via phone or 11:50 PM (MT) via OEX

Delivery times vary depending on where you live; if your personal experience indicates that it takes longer for packages to reach you, you should allow a little extra time for shipping during the holidays. As you know, we cannot control delivery times. Holiday mail volumes are high, and our delivery services encourage customers to ship as early as possible to avoid disappointment. 

Holiday Sale 

 

This year's online holiday sale (formerly known as Online Extravaganza) will be November 20-December 2. Get ready for your holiday shopping! Also, we'll be starting it off with a 24-hour doorbuster sale you won't want to miss so make sure to check it out tomorrow.
 

Festive Flurry Ornament Kit

 

Just in time for Christmas decorating, this kit helps you make ten beautiful ornaments for just $14.95!   Add a little festive flare to your holiday decorating with our new Festive Flurry Ornament Kit! Top presents, embellish cards, create a wintery garland, or trim the tree. How you use them is up to you!

The kit includes everything you need (minus adhesive) to create 10 snowflakes, including
• 10 feet of Soft Sky Ribbon
• Printed cardstock - die cut and scored, ready to be assembled (Soft Sky, Crumb Cake, Whisper White Cardstock and Silver Glimmer Paper)
• Large Rhinestone Basic Jewels (40)

Festive Flurry Ornament Kit - 135813 - $14.95
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=135813 

New Digital Downloads for My Digital Studio (MDS)

Check out our newest downloads: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryID=1682

 

MDS Seasonal Sale

 

Through the end of November we have 30% off select holiday downloads and print products. Make sure to take advantage of the sale and print all your holiday cards and more!

New Weekly Deals

 

Check out the newest weekly deals: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryid=1634

Hostess Code

 

The hostess code for online orders for this month is G3SGBMJK.  Anyone that purchases anything online by 11/24 can enter this code when they check out.  We have reached a qualifying workshop  this month so I will draw a mystery hostess from those that purchased and the lucky winner will get the free merchandise (currently at $50!)

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Holiday Scrapbooking - Day 5 - Mini Book - File Folder

Some of the page protectors lend themselves to inserting little mini books versus single photos so that you can get more happy holiday faces into your scrapbook!  Here is my 3rd idea for making more room for photos!

• Score a 7 1/2 x 6 piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock at 4 inches. 
• Using the Envelope Punch board, create a file tab at the top of the 4" side.  Do this by inserting the top on the punch board so that it aligns with the 3" mark.  Push the button on the board. 
• Turn over and align the other side to the button so that the end of the cardstock is directly in the center of the button.  Push the button to punch out. 
• Use the paper trimmer or scissors to cut off the unwanted Cherry Cobbler and make the tab. 
• Turn two scraps of DSP that you cut off into banners using scissors or hexagon punch and attach to the file folder AFTER you attach your photo to the front. 
• Adhere a long one using adhesive and a short one using dimensionals.
• Then put two photos on the inside, adding more embellishments or banners, if desired, and one on the back.

You could really embellish this one up.  I didn't because I had large funny photos to use so I wanted to highlight those photos and not cluster embellishments.  I've received some great swap cards using this same idea that I will post soon.

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Holiday Scrapbooking - Day 4 - Mini Book - Banner Pull Out

Some of the page protectors lend themselves to inserting little mini books versus single photos so that you can get more happy holiday faces into your scrapbook!

This one isn't a mini book as much as a solution for pull outs in divided albums in general.  I've found in the past that if I use a tab on a photo, it eventually comes unglued.  I'm not a fan of staples and I have never actually sewed on a card.  So I was trying to find a way to pull out photos to easily see what is on the other side.  In this case, it's my lovely Grandma on one side and my adorable Mother-in-Law on the other.  To do this technique, you have to put something on each side to cover up the hole.

 

 

Directions:

• Punch a hole with the small heart punch at the top of the Old Olive 4 x 6 piece, about 1/2 from the top.  The point of the bottom of the heart should face the right edge of the cardstock.
• Take one of the strips leftover from cutting your DSP and fold in half. 
• Insert it into the heart and add adhesive to keep it closed. 

• Create a banner end using your scissors or the hexagon punch. 
• Layer a photo on the front and back of the cardstock to cover up the hole.

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Holiday Scrapbooking - Day 3 - Mini Book - Swatchbook

Some of the page protectors lend themselves to inserting little mini books versus single photos so that you can get more happy holiday faces into your scrapbook! 

 

Directions:

• Layer the Pocket card shown with the 2 pieces of Crumb Cake (cut at 4 x 6). 
• Punch a hole in the upper corner using the paper piercing tool. 
• Insert a brad base. 
• Insert a Crumb Cake Candy Dot. 
• Create a banner using your scissors or the hexagon punch out of a strip of diagonal stripes left over from cutting up your DSP. 
• Attach to the book using dimensionals. 
• Insert a strip of DSP to the last page after you add your photo to cover the brad legs, if desired

 

Tips:

• Make sure your pictures are put in the swatchbook the right way or they will be upside-down when someone opens the book.
• Don't cover the brad legs with a dimensional - it will make it hard for the book to turn and open.
• If you had 4 x 6 photos that you didn't want to cut down, you could just add them directly to the swatchbook so that they swivel instead of using the Crumb Cake cardstock.

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Holiday Scrapbooking - Day 2 - Creating Photo Templates in MDS

The important part of any album is the photos in it.  With these divided protectors, you can fit in a LOT of them.  I struggled to figure out how to get the right ratio and the right images in my 2 x 2 slots which lead me to look in My Digital Studio to see if there was something to help there.  Here is what I figured out.

Filling the Divided Protectors

 

You can always cut down your photos so that they fit the various holes in the template.  The templates have the following sizes of photos (H x W) and the quantity represents the pages being double-sided.

• 2 x 2 - 80
• 4 x 4 - 16
• 4 x 6 - 4
• 4 x 2 - 4
• 6 x 4 - 4
• 2 x 4 - 4
• 3 x 4 - 4
• 4 x 3 - 16

Other ideas:

• You can fill the holes using photos, pocket cards, cardstock, Designer Series Paper (DSP), or elements created through My Digital Studio (MDS).
• You can mat your photos so that the colored paper on the back of the photos shows on the other side of the protector.
• You can use the embossing folders on cardstock to insert in the holes and then mat your smaller photo on them.
• You can cut a photo to 4 x 4 and then cut it to 4 photos at 2 x 2 and put that in your album or cut a 4 x 6 into 6 2 x 2 squares. I did this with the photo of Callie below.  This idea was courtesy of Ronda Wade and provided during Creative Convention Online - Holiday Edition.  When doing this, make sure you don't cut through the face to split it up and make it look like a Halloween photo instead of a holiday photo!

MDS Tips for resizing photos for divided protectors

 

You can create a template in MDS that allows you to zoom in on photos to make them the correct size for the divided protectors.  Then you can print them out on 4 x 6 sheets on your own printer or at a kiosk somewhere.

 

Creating the Template:

• Open MDS
• Click Custom
• Set size parameters at the top as 4 inches (width) x 6 inches (height)
• Click Create Project
• Name - 2x2 template
• If you need to put the template in a specific folder, click Change Location, click on the folder,  and click Select Folder.  If it's already selected, skip this step.
• Click OK.

Adding Photo Boxes:

• Click Photos from the Design Center (on the right)
• Click Photo Box
• Right click on the photo box and select Edit Object
• Change the W to 2 and the H to 2
• Uncheck box by Keep Proportions
• Click the red x to close the box
• Click on the photo box and click Ctrl-C
• Click below it and click Ctrl-V
• Repeat so you have 3 boxes

Aligning Photo Boxes

• Hold down on your Ctrl key and left mouse click on all three photo boxes
• Right click on one box and click Select Align
• Select Left
• Right click and select Align again
• Select Space Evenly - Vertically
• While all three boxes are still selected, click Ctrl-C
• Click Ctrl-V - this creates a new aligned row of boxes
• Drag the boxes to the left
• Click Ctrl-S to Save your template
• Click File from the upper right and click Save As.  Re-save as Christmas  2x2 - otherwise you will be saving into your template so you won't be able to use it on future divided protector projects.

Adding Photos to the template

• Right click on Page 1 at the bottom - Insert Duplicate Page
• Repeat for as many photos as you will need
• Under the Resource Palette on the left, click the camera icon and click Browse to find the folder with your photos.
• Once you find the folder, click Open
• Drag each photo over into your project on a photo box until the box turns blue
• Use the + magnifying glass button to zoom into your photo so you capture the part of the photo you want to include.  Drag the box so that it hightlights the right part of your photo.  Click OK.
• Repeat this process until all photos have been added.
• Click Ctrl-S

Printing the Photos

• Click Share from the Design Center on the right.
• Select Export Pages - JPG PNG PDF
• Click Change Location, Select the folder, & click OK
• Click Finish
• Click OK when prompted that the save is complete.
• When you go to print the photo, you will print it as a 4x6.  Then you can cut out the 2x2 squares to use in the dividers for the album.

You can repeat this process by creating additional templates to help with the divided pages if desired.  Potential templates are:

• Vertical 2 x 3 -  4 x 6 template for a four vertical 2 x 3 photos
• Horizontal 2 x 4 - 4 x 6 template for three 2 x 4 horizontal photos
• Horizontal 4 x 3 - 6 x 4 template for two 4 x 3 horizontal photos
• Vertical 3 x 2 - 6 x 4 template for three 3 x 2 vertical photos
• 4 x 4 - 4 x 4 template for a 4 x 4 picture.

 

You could use this same technique for any size of mini album or trying to fit a perfectly sized photo into your This and That books.

Haven't used My Digital Studio?  You can download the free trial for 30 days here or you can purchase the software for only $19.99 as a download or as a cd.  I use My Digital Studio for all my photo editing, printing, and design for photo cards, calendars, mini books and home décor.  I will help you learn to use it so have no fear.

 

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Holiday Scrapbooking - Day 1 - The Cover & Photo Selection Tips

Last night I taught a holiday scrapbook that was one of my favorite classes I've done since becoming a demonstrator.  I loved the customers that came and they loved the project and the incredible deal they got since I can't do math.  For $35, they received the following merchandise:

• Seasonal Stripes 8 x 8 Designer Ring Album with protectors - #132259 - $14.95
• Basic Rhinestones - #119246 - $4.95
• Season of Style Pocket Cards - #132808 - $4.95
• 1/2 Pack of Season of Style Designer Series Paper Stack - #132181 - $6.95
• MDS class on creating templates, altering pocket cards, and titling in My Digital Studio
• Cut cardstock for altering tags, the cover, and 4 interior mini books with embellishments!

Because the class was small and I think this project is a great one to do over the holidays, I thought I'd share the class content and pictures over the next week.  I really hope that you take the challenge to do one of these albums yourselves.  They take just a few hours from start to finish and set you up for a great holiday memento. Or, use the tips below to complete other great projects!

The cover of any album is something that I actually design last.  I need to get a feel for what's in the album before I work on the cover!  

 

 

Instructions:

Create the folder out of Crumb Cake DSP.  Do this by inserting the top on the punch board so that it aligns with the 3" mark.  Push the button on the board.  Turn over and align the other side to the button so that the end of the cardstock is directly in the center of the button.  Push the button to punch out.  Use the paper trimmer or scissors to cut off the unwanted Crumb Cake DSP and make the tab.   Create two banners out of the scrap of DSP and the scrap of Cherry Cobbler.  Attach using adhesive.  Layer the December Pocket card over them using dimensionals.  Punch out 2012 using the pieces of Cherry Cobbler provided and the sizzlits.  Adhere to the bottom of the folder using adhesive.  I recommend you apply adhesive using the silicon mat so that the adhesive only sticks to the letter. 

 

Tips:

• When you cut down your DSP, cut it to 4 x 6.  This gives you two pieces of DSP to use for a short and long banner.  You will end up with a LOT of these! 
• Use the side of the hexagon punch to make your banners - makes them all even and you can do several layers of DSP at a time!
• When applying adhesive to small elements like the numbers, use the Silicon Sheet.  It will only allow the adhesive to stick to the back of the numbers and not to anything else!

Supplies:

1 piece of Crumb Cake from Season of Style Print Pack, Cherry Cobbler for numbers and banner, Big Shot, Sizzix Numbers, Envelope Punch Board, Season of Style Pocket Cards, Hexagon Punch, Dimensionals,  Silicon Sheet, Adhesive.

 

Wondering how to start on a project like this?  Here are a few tips for organizing photos for the holidays.

 

1 - Look through your photos to find themes for your photos.  Possible themes are:

• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Morning
• Christmas Crafts
• Christmas Parties
• Decorating the Tree
• Christmas Baking
• Christmas Traditions

2 - You also need to determine if you want to scrapbook a specific year in this book or multiple years.

 

3 - Once you have your photos identified and sorted by theme, you can figure out which divided page best suits that series of pictures.

 

Tomorrow I'll offer up some creative uses of My Digital Studio for this book and more!

 

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Embossed Bermuda Kindness

Taking a break from holiday cards for another day, here is another of the Tealish color scheme cards for my workshop next weekend. 

The card is done in Bermuda Bay.  I ran the Whisper White through the embossing folder to give it the same polka dot effect as the flower had once heat embossed.  I contemplated cutting out the big flower and putting it up on dimensionals but I didn't want the card to take much longer than it did since it was for a  stamp camp!  That would look really pretty though!

Once embossed, I cut out the flower using the Apothecary Accents Framelits and then sponged it to bring out a great shade.  I may not be a big fan of these colors but I think that sponging is a beautiful effect for the card.  The center of the flower is punched from the leftovers of the framelit and sponged as well.  Attendees will be able to put rhinestones in the center as well if desired.  The banner is using the Bitty Banner Framelits like on yesterday's card.

Supplies:

• Cardstock: Whisper White (2 @ 5 1/4 x 4, scrap), Bermuda Bay (8 1/2 x 5 1/2, 5 1/2 x 4 1/4)
• Ink: Bermuda Bay, VersaMark
• Stamps: Gifts of Kindness
• Accessories: 1/2 Circle Punch, Big Shot & Cutting Mats, Multi-purpose Platform, Magnetic Platform, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy, White Embossing Powder, Powder Pal (retired), Daubers, Dimensionals, Adhesive

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

A Coastal Sketched Birthday

It's workshop week!  I have my holiday scrapbook Thursday, my holiday stamp camp & hostess appreciation camps in Payette/Fruitland on Saturday, and then one more stamp camp for a hostess in Caldwell.  Happy we've seen crisp weather and not snowy weather yet - would be great if that held out for a little while longer to allow for all this driving!

Today's project is one for my stamp camp next weekend.  The hostess requested two holiday projects and three other cards working for other occasions all designed using the Tealish color schemes.  It was an interesting one to design too since this is a color scheme I stay away from.  It gives me creative block but in prepping this camp, I now have several cards just for my mother-in-law who LOVES this scheme too!

My camera is still somewhere in the world so my apologies for the poor quality of this photo.  I hope to hear back from Nikon in time for Thanksgiving!!!

This project utilizes Coastal Cabana.  I wanted to keep it simple but also show off some of my favorite products and some of the more versatile products that Stampin' Up! sells since I am not familiar with all the attendees of this workshop!

Supplies:

• Cardstock: Very Vanilla (8 1/2 x 5 1/2, 3 1/4 x 4 1/2, 2 1/2 x 3 3/4, scrap), Coastal Cabana (3 1/4 x 1, scrap)
• Ink: Coastal Cabana
• Stamps: Sketched Birthday
• Accessories: Big Shot & Cutting Mats, Multi-purpose Platform, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Basic Rhinestones, Magnetic Platform, Bitty Banner Framelit, Dimensionals, Dauber, Bone Folder, Scissors, Adhesive

I tried to do a banner with the strip across the card but it just didn't look the way I wanted so I cut it down to match that second Very Vanilla layer.  You could use any embossing folder to give this piece dimension and the sponging adds another layer of color.  The cake piece is cut out and sponged as well and then up on a dimensional.  The sayings are both cut using the Bitty Banner framelits and are up on dimensionals.  Then I put a few strategically placed rhinestones to complete the project!

 

What are my favorite products mentioned before in this project?

• Dimensionals - Favorite Stampin' Up! product and they are only a few dollars per package!  I use them to give my projects dimension and they are the perfect height.  Other products that offer similar function are either too bulky or the wrong size or the wrong height.  I use these on every card, mini book, and scrapbook page I make!
• Big Shot - I think this revolutionized my crafting and artistry.  I use it for everything!
• Embossing Folders - I have most of them and I think they make an easy card look masterful!
• Magnetic Platform - I love my post-its but it's nice to have them back for notes and use this great tool to keep my framelits PERFECT every time!
• Basic Rhinestones - Sometimes a little bling is all a card needs. 
• Tip - use the tip of your paper piercing tool to get the rhinestones off the sheet so that it will pull the adhesive off the sheet too.  If it sticks to your piercer, you'll know you got all the adhesive! 

The hostess code for online orders for next month is G3SGBMJK.  Anyone that purchases anything online by 11/24 can enter this code.  We have reached a qualifying workshop already this month so I will draw a mystery hostess from those that purchased and the lucky winner will get the free merchandise (currently at $30).

 

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

New Deals from Stampin' Up!

A few updates to mention – some are time sensitive and all are super cute!!!!  SU will release all updates on Tuesday so now Tuesdays are the best day to hit this blog for updates!

Festive Flurry Ornament Kit

This cute kit gives you die cut snowflakes to make 10 homemade ornaments or gift embellishments for the holidays.  For $14.95, you get everything you need (except adhesive) to make these special projects.  I’m ordering them to make with Callie since they are kid-friendly if you are patient.    These are while supplies last and usually sell out fast!
• http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=135813

Weekly Deals

Weekly deals have posted.  These are available at discount until Monday at midnight. 

I know I’m getting the burlap ribbon, the gift boxes, and the download for holiday gifts!  Check them out via the link below!
• http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryid=1634 

New Digital Downloads

The newest digital downloads have posted.  There are a few “kits” that include online classes to show you projects using those downloads and include techniques. 

• http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryID=1660

You can click the Facebook link below and follow the instructions to be put into a drawing for a free class!

• http://bit.ly/1aCKrjt (to register for the drawing for free digital content and the class!)

New Digital Downloads

This sale continues until 11:50 MST on November 30th.  It includes 30% discounts on photobooks, individual pages, and cards.  You could have your tags printed or make recipe tags to include with your homemade foods and mixes (hint hint – guess who is doing that????)    It also includes various downloads at 30% off.  Check out those downloads below. 

• http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryid=1650

The Best Year Photobook Template is on sale and is what I’m using for my photobooks and calendars for the holidays – highly recommended!!!

Hostess Code

The hostess code for online orders for next month is G3SGBMJK.  Anyone that purchases anything online by 11/24 can enter this code.  We have reached a qualifying workshop already this month so I will draw a mystery hostess from those that purchased and the lucky winner will get the free merchandise (currently at $30).

Holiday Sale

Our Holiday Sale (previously known as Online Extravaganza) will kick off on November 20th with a 24 hour doorbuster sale.  It will run from 11/20-12/2.

Paper Pumpkin

 

For those participating in Paper Pumpkin, your kits have shipped and should be to you by the end of the week.  If you are interested in learning more about this kit in the mail club, please check out this link: http://craftasticdayswithstacy.blogspot.com/2013/07/join-my-paper-princesses-club.html

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Autumn Accents ABCs

By now you know that I really like doing crafting with Callie.  If there is a way for me to use it to help her learn the fundamentals, that's even better.  If you had told me when I joined Stampin' Up! that I would be doing this with my children, I would have called you crazy.  1 - Because I never thought I'd had children and 2 - My mind doesn't work this way.  I wouldn't even look at the kid sets in the catalog because I'd never use them....

However, I think that becoming a parent was my calling.  My mom and sister are smiling right now if they are reading this.  I was one of those adamant "Kids are not for me" people. I loved my selfish lifestyle and I couldn't imagine being responsible for another person in that way.  I remember my best friend telling me she was having a baby and thinking "Oh God, here we go!"  If she hadn't gotten pregnant with Mae, I don't think I would have been brave enough to consider changing everything by bringing a child into the world.  I am grateful for their decision giving me strength to make mine with Conlyn.  I would have had a part of me that searched for my whole life for that piece of me that was missing if I hadn't had Callie.  And without Callie, I wouldn't be having Michael either.

Anyhow, personal tangent over, and back to the project. 

The inspiration for this project came from this idea I found several clicks deep in Pinterest.  I didn't have Kraft paper big enough for a tree so I decided to just use the leaves portion.

We used some scraps of retired cardstock with the Big Shot and Autumn Accents Bigz Die.  Callie loves the Big Shot.  She likes turning the handle and separating all the pieces.  Once she ran all these through, I wrote the upper case letters on one set and lower case letters on the other.  Make sure you write on both sides so that you don't spend their tiny attention spans turning over letters!   I also marked the lower case ones with rhinestones so that they would be easy to sort if they got mixed up.

We've made several games with these.

1. Sorting by color - Sort all the leaves by color and then practice counting them.
2. Sorting by type - Sort all the leaves by shape and then practice counting them.
3. Alphabetizing - Put all the upper case letters in alphabetical order. 
4. Matching - Put all the corresponding lower case letters below the upper case letters.  This was the hardest for her but the most important as we start working on sounding our letters and recognizing words in her stories.

You could also do these with numbers and practice math skills.

Supplies:

• Cardstock: Gumball Green, More Mustard (retired), Daffodil Delight, Certainly Celery (retired), Cherry Cobbler
• Marker: Basic Black
• Accessories: Big Shot & Cutting Mats, Autumn Accents Die, Basic Rhinestones

Remember that the Autumn Accents Bigz Die is part of the weekly deal that expires tonight at midnight! 

The hostess code for online orders for next month is G3SGBMJK.  Anyone that purchases anything online by 11/24 can enter this code.  We have reached a qualifying workshop already this month so I will draw a mystery hostess from those that purchased and the lucky winner will get the free merchandise (currently at $30).

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Holiday Calendar Prep Underway

Before My Digital Studio, Stampin' Up! used to sell calendars. Mom and I would spend months designing and prepping kits and it was our most popular and most difficult class of the year.  Since buying MDS and learning how to use it, I've been able to make my calendars in under an hour!  And that's without a template!

This year I am making 12 x 12, Desktop, and Easel calendars.  Below is a sample page from the October calendar page in Conlyn's calendar.  The month is on the first side and this is the back of the easel.  These photos capture our Halloween evening, our pumpkin picking, and also our pumpkin carving party this year!

 

Supplies:

 

Background

• Color = VERY VANILLA 254,249,232

Stamps

• Yippee Skippee\Yippee Skippee - you can never have too much happy, Color = PUMPKIN PIE 255,130,1
• All Holidays\All Holidays - halloween, Color = PUMPKIN PIE 255,130,1

 

 

Couple design elements to mention:

• Cropping - I used the Happy Halloween from All Holidays and used the cropping too to remove the Happy.  Then I could use the sentiment from Yippee-Skippee with this image and get it to follow my frames.
• Photo Frames & Base Colors - I turned the base of my calendar to Very Vanilla so the white mats would show up against them like frames.  Then you use the drop shadow feature to make them look raised and it looks like a photograph with a border.
• Bleed Area - Make sure you turn on the Desktop Calendar bleed area with these easel calendars.  If you use the Calendar bleed area, your elements will not be spaced evenly on the top and bottom.

We are off for family photos today so I hope you have a craftastic day and a great Sunday doing something you enjoy!

 

Stacy

 

 

Hostess Appreciation Project - 2013

I am grateful for many things in my life and feel like that is something to celebrate, especially in November.  Starting last year, I began acknowledging my hostesses with a free appreciation event where they made a fun project for free.  I also include my downline in this free event since I appreciate them as well!

Last year, we made a fold out stationary box with several cards and love notes inside using the Naturals Composition paper.  This year, we are making a fun Thankful book.  We saw a demonstration at Convention about converting this kit into a book and we all had an "aha" moment.  The 12 x 6 book was designed by me and my mom, Cris McCarthy.  It takes 1/2 a Thanksgiving Tablescape kit plus a few extra items to complete.  It truly represents what I'm thankful for from my group and makes a nice decoration to have out over the holiday.

The kits for my hostesses included a cut kit from 1/2 of the Thanksgiving Tablescape kit, a chalk marker, and a role of sticky strip!  My hostesses have been asked to bring their crafting kits (scissors, dimensionals, adhesive, bone folder, paper piercing tool & mat) and a corner rounder.

The Cover:

 

The Left Page:

 

The idea is that you put into the Chalkboard Banner what you are Thankful for.  The Thankful For insert pulls out and includes the text of what makes you grateful for that.  You could also put a photo underneath it that represents what you are thankful for.

 

 



The Insert:

 

 

 

The Right Page:

 

 This is a photo page.  You can put a photo on the birch paper, on the front or back of the tags, and on the chalkboard element. 

 

 

 

The Tags:

 

The tags are the flaps from the pockets cut of and then embellished so you can put a photo or two on the patterned side and then journal if needed on the back or include more photos.  

 

 

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Thankful For, Harvest of Thanks

Ink: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip

Accessories:  Thanksgiving Tablescape Simply Created Kit, Corner Rounder, 1 3/4 Circle Punch, Sticky Strip, Daubers, Big Shot & Cutting Pads, Magnetic Platform, Autumn Accents Die, Chalk Marker, Candy Dot Brad Bases, Basic Pearls, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat, Apothecary Accents Framelits

Customers Bring: Adhesive, Scissors, Dimensionals, and Bone Folder

Few lessons learned & tips:

• 6 x 12 albums are hard to ship so keep it 8 1/2 x 11 or you'll have to use a big box to ship it to out of state hostesses.
• The curled birch paper and chocolate chevron paper is really hard to cut because of the curl. You should move your blade up and down so you cut from the top down to you don't have to lift up the cutting bar each time and can just slide it over.
• The largest pearl in our Basic Pearls fits perfectly in the Candy Dot brad bases.
• Birch paper is light weight but it's also curled so you need to use sticky strip to adhere it to things.  Adhesive will not hold.
• I recommend not putting the chalkboard embellishments on this album until you have written on them - it's tough to write over dimensionals.... at least for me!

I do have word instructions for this project that can be shared for free if anyone wants them.  Email me at stacy @ acrophile.net if you'd like them.  I won't make a kit for you but you can buy the supplies from my online store!  :)  

The hostess code for online orders for next month is G3SGBMJK.  Anyone that purchases anything online by 11/24 can enter this code.  We have reached a qualifying workshop already this month so I will draw a mystery hostess from those that purchased and the lucky winner will get the free merchandise (currently at $30).

If you want to be included in next year's hostess appreciation event, contact me today to host a workshop, stamp camp, or online catalog party or join my team!

Take care,
Stacy