Pencils and Pens and School, Oh My!

Ach! I cannot believe it. It is time for school again in only 3 days. Yes, I have to go back to school on August 3rd! That really stinks because I have to go to pre-planning during the convention! With the new catalog date back to July 1st I am really hoping and planning to go to convention next year! I have never been and I am already counting the days even though this years convention has not even started.

Any how, here is a great little project for that special teacher you know. How about a cute little pencil holder like the one here. This one was done using the Big Shot, a little layering of supplies and some funky green pencils. My daughter suggests coffee beans in the jar to give you a little lift every time you pull out or push in a pencil or pen! Who could resist such a great little gift?

Always 6 x 6 Page

I haven't featured a scrapbook page in a while and so I am posting a 6 x 6 today. This is my favorite size because it is close to the size of a card (my favorite to make) and it is also easy to make a lot of pages because they use less supplies. Plus, they make great gifts! I love to make a scrapbook for the new bride or mother to be able to just "paste" in her photos. This page is of course a wedding page and it is simple and beautiful. You can see all the details by clicking over to here!

Chic Boutique

On page 63 of the brand new IBC there is a stamp set called Chic Boutique. Now I have never been to France but this little set is so cute it makes me almost want to go there (I think maybe the French Polynesia because it has great diving!) Any way, this little card was made using that set. It is a whisper white card that has been embossed using the Big Shot. The dress form was also stamped in whisper white and the new In Color marker, Melon Mambo was used the color it in. Also, a piece of Razzleberry Lemonade (sounds delicious) designer paper was also used and VOILA...a beautifully chic card!

Greetings from Sunny Cozumel

Hi, as you know scuba diving with my buddy and hubby Mike is one of my favorite things to do. This week has been fun so far. On the first day out, I found a Lion Fish right off the shore where we are staying! Now, these fish are only supposed to live in the Pacific Ocean, not here in the Caribbean. Imagine my surprise and amazement. Now we are trying to catch it. It is very poisonous and they eat the reef fish here. They have no predator here so many places are offering a bounty to catch it. What do you think of that Denise?

We were able to take some photos of it and I am posting one here. Enjoy! Hopefully I will get some more blog time this week.

Another Christmas in July stamp-a-stack card

This is another card from our recent stamp-a-stack for Christmas. I know you are wishing you had been here by now. If you missed this one, fear not, I have another stamp-a-stack scheduled for August celebrating birthdays! Since my birthday is in August I wanted to make a bunch of cards to have on hand for the coming year.

But now back to our peek into Christmas. This card features the Winter Post set and some designer papers. I love the simplicity of this card and the vintage look of it. Enjoy!

Final Deal of the Week

Summer is rapidly coming to a close and so is Stampin' Up's Deal of the Week deals. I don't know how many of you have been taking advantage of these deals but they have been great. This deal today though ends early on July 31st. So don't delay, take advantage of the deal today. Click here to get more details and then click on Deal of the Week button on the left.

Wooden Card??!!

Have you noticed those wood sheets on page 158 in the new IBC? What are they and what do you do with them? That is what I was thinking for sure. Well, you can stamp on them! Also, you can use them with the Big Shot to cute them out and they are light enough to mail!

So, I finally saw a sample done with one of them by a talented demonstrator named Lisa Brown so I shamelessly copied her card and posted it here. It uses the Top Note die cut and the wood is then stamped with the Woodgrain Background stamps. It also uses the Autumn Days stamp set and some Autumn Days rub ons as well as some yummy Designer paper. Thanks for sharing Lisa!

Wings of Friendship

Wow! What a card! This little beauty is made with a level 2 Hostess stamp set and cannot be bought...it can only be earned by hosting a Stampin' Up! party that reaches the $300 level or higher. If you have been drooling over the catalog and want too many things to buy, why not host a party and invite all your friends and relatives for a little "girl time" and let's party! We will do a make-n-take, chat and browse through all the great things in the catalog. It is so easy. Just send out your invites, whip up some brownies and voila...let the party begin! I would love to host your party. Email me or call me now to book a time to earn your FREE Stampin' Up! goodies.

Only 5 Months Until Christmas!

Did you know that today marks the half-way day until Christmas? Yes, only 6 months left! How are you doing on your handmade Christmas cards and ideas for Christmas gifts this year? Everyone is feeling the crunch this year. Why not make some beautiful cards to give or send and include the stamp you used as part of their gift! Give early and then send a card at the holiday to remind them of your gift. Why not include instructions and supplies for them to make a stack of cards or better yet, you could make them with your friend. It is always so much more fun with 2 or more stamping together! Here is another card to inspire you!

Even as I post this today, I am headed to Cozumel, Mexico for another week of scuba diving with my best buddy and hubby Mike. If I have internet access this week I will try to post some photos for you. So, please forgive me, I am blogging early to have coverage all week. If I do not respond to you quickly then you can be sure I do not have access until after the 2nd of August. Thanks for understanding.

I'm Thinking Christmas!

Another card from our stamp-a-stack! This one I cased from last year's catalog with only a few changes. The stamp set is called 2 Cool Dudes. I used the craft white ink pad for the snow flakes and added a little glitter! You know how I love glitter. I also used the wonderful snowflakes from the hostess level 2 set called Christmas Punch which matches the Boho Blossom punch for easy coordination. Simple, fun and easy to do!

It's a Wrap!

Look at this quick and easy idea for your picnic. It is a round paper coaster from the Country Living special used to wrap your plastic ware for a picnic. How cute is that?!! Get all the details by clicking here!

Christmas in July card

Here is another card I made for my annual "Christmas in July" stamp-a-stack. I cased most of these card ideas from other talented stampers. I may have tweaked them slightly to match my supplies. I had a blast with this class and plan to re-offer it again this Thursday 10-12 and 7 -9. We had sugar cookies, hot drinks, coolish indoor temps, and wonderful Christmas music from Pandora.com. Thanks for stopping by! This card was a rectangle that fits into the small open end envelopes.

New Button on Right of my Blog

I have added a new button to the right of my blog. It is the coolest thing ever. It is a color combo maker for the color challenged. I know sometimes you get stuck in a rut (or is it just me?) and you seem to stay with your favorite colors. This little button takes the guess work out of it for you to come up with new colors. Just play with it and click up a combo. It is FREE to use! So get out there and make up some combos and get to stamping! I look forward to seeing what you come up with, so feel free to share!

You can check out some of my latest creations by scrolling through my blog and seeing what colors I have come up with or have "cased" from others. I love to try new colors and have been really working on my Christmas cards and trying new colors. Don't worry, if they are too "non-traditional" I am not using them in my stamp-a-stack. But hey, a girl has to try, right?

Deal of the Week # 4

It is that time again...what time, you say??? Time for the new Deal of the Week from Stampin' Up! This week it is the very cool Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware kit. The normal price is 29.95 for more than 300 pieces, but until Monday the 20th at 10 AM you can order it for only...18.95. That is nearly a 50% savings! Who doesn't like to save?

So, don't delay and order today. Just click here and you can order directly via my website. Have fun and keep stamping and crafting!

Animal Stories

This is a cute card and stamp set that is perfect for kids to play with and to make cards with. It is called Animal Stories and is on page 88 of the new catalog. This card features a Basic Gray card paired with Bermuda Bay and Whisper White cardstock. The whale is stamped with Bermuda Bay and is has a piece of the coordinating In Color ribbon for accent. The phrase comes from the new set Teeny Tiny Wishes (p.145) and features the new Modern Label punch. Simple, yet so striking.

Crayon Resist Technique

Crayon Resist is a fun technique that is simple to do and requires very few tools. Try it! Here are the basics.

Directions:

1) Stamp your image in Basic Black Classic ink or StazOn ink on Glossy White card stock.

2) Color areas you want to remain white--or that you want different from your background color--using a Whisper White or other light-colored Watercolor Wonder Crayon.

3) Use a brayer or sponge daubers to cover the entire surface of the card stock with ink.

4) Wipe off excess ink with a tissue.

Tips:
Give the ink time to dry before coloring your image with your crayon; otherwise the lines of your image may smudge.

After Step 4, you can color over the masked area with Stampin' Write markers or using watercolor tools.

"Christmas in July" stamp-a-stack

My annual "Christmas in July" stamp-a-stack is on Saturday, July 18th. I am so looking forward to this event because it is just so much fun to bake the cookies, listen to the holiday music and make Christmas cards with friends when it is about 90 degrees outside! We don't let the heat stop us from thinking about Christmas. I am planning to do this class on Saturday and again twice on Thursday 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. for those who missed it on Saturday. This is just one of the 5 beautiful cards we will be making and we will make each of them 2 times so that you will have one to keep and one to send out! Email me @ judilsparks@hotmail.com for more information.

Another Color Combo Card - Try #2

Here is the 2nd card I made for my Color combo challenge on the 11th. This card uses the colors from the 2nd in the stack...Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo and Bermuda Bay. I also used a new stamp set called Circle Circus and Teeny Tiny Wishes. The sentiment is punched using the Word Window punch which fits beautifully with the new Modern Label punch. The curry on the edge was punched using the special of the week #1 punch, Scalloped Edge punch.

My Color Combo Try #1

If you are following along, I challenged you to a color combo a couple of days ago and said I would play along. Here is my first attempt. I followed the colors on the 1st combo on the list - melon mambo, green galore, bermuda bay and crushed curry. I used the stamp set Great Friend. This is a great set that has lots of potential. I also used the background stamp Bella Toile stamped with Crushed Curry for the floral background.

Stampin' Up! Special Offer-Join for only $85

Yes, while the new catalog started July 1st, and excitement is building over all the great new stamps and accessories, Stampin' Up! continues to make fabulous great new offers available to you!

Yes! Stampin' Up! is offering you a fabulous deal! From July 15-August 31, you can join for just $85 and get a GREAT mini starter kit!

Do you:

always seem to want more than you can buy all at once?
love a good deal?
like getting things at a discount?
love our products?
love to stamp, scrap and craft?
want a way to get some extra craft to suport your hobby or family?

Then you will want to take advantage of this MINI STARTER KIT offer..... For just $85 you will receive:

NEW For All You Do Stamp Set (p. 118, $28.95)
NEW Melon Mambo Stamp Pad (p. 155, $5.95)
NEW Rich Razzleberry Stamp Pad (p. 155, $5.95)
NEW Soft Suede Stamp Pad (p. 155, $5.95)
NEW Crushed Curry Stamp Pad (p. 155, $5.95)
NEW Bermuda Bay Stamp Pad (p. 155, $5.95)
NEW Dusty Durango Stamp Pad (p. 155, $5.95)
NEW In-Color 8-1/2 x 11 Assorted Cardstock (p. 155, $7.95)
Whisper White 8-1/2 x 11 Cardstock (p. 155, $7.50)
Catalogs, Order Forms, New Demonstrator Training Materials and business materials and me as your Upline! Never pay full price again!

Go to my website to sign up - my password is sparkles. Or email and I will gladly walk you through the process!

Deal of the Week # 3

Here it is! Deal of the Week #3. Stampin' Up! is offering their Fire colored square Rhinestone Brads for only 6.99, regularly 10.95. This offer ends at 10 A.M. on Monday, July 20th. There is no limit...buy 1 pack or buy 10+. Click here to order.

Brads are a fun addition to any project, and these Rhinestone brads add extra fun and sparkle. Rhinestone brads coordinate with Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colors, so there’s no need to guess about what colors to use your brads with. Details:

Square brads

Approximately 80 per package

4 colors in 3 sizes

Fire assortment (Pink, Red, Pumpkin, and Yellow)

Coordinates with Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colors

On a Pedestal

I love the colors seen in this card. It is so bright and cheery. The card itself is Crushed Curry and the other colors used are Melon Mambo and Soft Suede. To me, this new In Color, Soft Suede is going to be the brown for the year. It kind of grows on you and suddenly you are life feeling bereft without it! At least that is how it is working for me. The stamp set is called On a Pedestal and can be seen on page 71. The sentiment is from the set Short and Sweet. Get out those new colors and start stamping!

Totally Tool Card

Here is another great manly man card. This one uses the Totally Cool stamp set seen on page 66 of the catalog. The card itself is done with Sahara Sand. This cardstock is so neutral that it goes with any color. The other colors used are Dusty Durango (a new In Color) and whisper white. Add a little hemp twine and you have yourself a great card you could be proud to give to any man in your life.

A Color Combo Challenge

This is simple and I hope you will play along. Simply choose a color combination from the ones seen here and make a card or project using those colors. Then post me a link under the comments section so I can see your project. I will then choose a project or 2 that I like best and post them to my blog for you and your friends to see and enjoy. Then I will send a little blog candy to you (2 free handmade cards) for you to use and enjoy. Here are the colors and I hope to see your projects soon!

A No Stamping Project

This little project was done without any stamps! Yes, it is designer papers, cardstock, Sixxix, brads, ribbon etc...but no stamping. I love the colors and the simplicity. The sentiment is a rub on.

The cardstock used is Basic Gray, Brushed Silver and Urban Garden designer paper (recently retired). The accessories used include: Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon, styled silver hodgepodge hardware, stampin' dimensionals, the designer label punch, word window punch, and the corner rounder punch. Also used was the Big Shot and the butterfly die.

A Masculine Card

We all seem to struggle with making masculine cards yet men need and like cards too! They have birthdays, losses and loves just like women do. So here is a card that I think fits the bill for any man. The stamp comes from a level 3 hostess set called Kind and Caring Thoughts. It is one to push to earn with your stamping party. It has beautiful images as well as some nice thoughts. It is done using the new in color Soft Suede. The card is done using Sahara Sand. The white craft pad has been used to accent softly around the edges as well as sponging with Soft Suede. Add the ribbon and voila...a masculine card any guy would be proud to set up on his desk.

Another Razzle Dazzle

This beautiful card was made using several new products from the catalog. The set is called Razzle Dazzle and can be seen on page 94. The sentment is from Teen Tiny Wishes and is sold on page 145. The ribbon is from the new in colors and is on page 182. The colors used are whipser white, pretty in pink and melon mambo. The sentiment has been punched out using the new Modern Label punch. Put all this together and you have a beautiful card! Enjoy and feel free to copy.

Petal Pizazz

This is a great sample of Petal Pizazz in use. The card used is Bashful Blue. It is layered with Tangerine Tango (now retired) and Old Olive. The main image is stamped on whisper white and punched using the scalloped circle punch. Note the little things, like the brad in the center of the flower, the ribbons and the punches at the corners. Of course, this card could easily be done using any other colors, so why not take the challenge and make one like it for yourself with different colors then send it to a friend and wait for their call to thank you for sending them a beautiful, handmade card!

Deal of the Week # 2

Every week in July, Stampin' Up! is offering a sizzlin' hot Summer Fun Deal of the Week. There are no limits, and there is no minimum purchase required!

This week's Deal of the Week is the ... SIZZIX BIG SHOT DOCTOR'S BAG! Save $20 from today until the 13th of July by ordering on my website.

The Doctor's Bag dimensions are 14-1/2" x 12-1/2" x 13", and it holds the Big Shot, cutting pads, and a number of dies of all sizes. It is made of polyester, vinyl, and nylon, with cast zinc rings and hooks. There are 2 outside pockets, mulitiple inner pockets, and a detachable strap for carrying. Skid pads protect the bottom of the bag from scuffing. This is a great tool for carrying and sharing your Big Shot and dies during a crop or other crafting get-together.

Razzle Dazzle Again

Here is another sample of the Razzle Dazzle set.
It has so many possibilities. This one features
the colors Chocolate Chip, Whisper White,
Old Olive and Basic Black. As you can see from
these samples, you can do a lot with this set!
I am sure this one will be enjoyed for quite a
while. Enjoy!

Dormant Stamp List

The Dormant List contains stamp sets that, while they have not been retired, are not listed in the current catalog. These sets are available for purchase during the listed timeframe and may or may not be listed again in future catalogs.

Stamps

Item # Stamp Set Last Publication this Set Appeared in Page #
113407 Backwoods 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 102
114492 Beautiful Baby 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 208
114486 Birthday Wish 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 208
113200 Branch Out 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 100
114496 Celebrations 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 208
113732 Central Park 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 106
113206 Classic Sketches 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 119
113226 Classy & Fabulous 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 51
113750 Easter Beauty 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 29
114024 Bella Pascua 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 29
114498 Flowers in Silhouette 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 208
113405 Font of You 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 46
113216 For the Bride 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 61
114028 Para la novia 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 61
114494 Forever 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 208
109425 Friend by Definition 2008 Fall-Winter Idea Book & Catalog 135
114488 Fun Flowers 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 208
113716 Garden Greetings 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 55
114490 Glad Friends 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 208
111580 Grand Soiree 2008 Fall-Winter Idea Book & Catalog 126
113242 Hit the Road 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 103
113710 Lexicon of Leaves 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 101
113236 Man's Best Friend 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 72
114423 Ocean Commotion 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 97
113728 Playful Petals 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 99
109276 Polka Dot 2008 Fall-Winter Idea Book & Catalog 135
111544 Putt Putt 2008 Fall-Winter Idea Book & Catalog 81
113240 Quilt Quips 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 53
113754 Really Retro 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 132
113403 Sip by Sip 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 51
113726 Sweet Stems 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 99
113250 That's Funny 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 63
113688 Wonderful Watercolors 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 85
114032 Acuarelas Maravillosas 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 85

Happy 4th of July!

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States. (From Wikipedia)

Summer Deal of the Week #1

Stampin' Up! just announced that they are offering a "Deal of the Week" for the rest of the summer. This is the deal #1. It is the Scalloped Border Punch for only 10.99. There are no limitations. You can just buy it or add it to any sized order and get that great price! Be sure to check it out on my website! Why not order a few for your "crafty" friends! Remember, this deal is only here until July 5th, then it will be time to look for another one!

New Catalog, New Rubber!

Here is a new card made with a new stamp set from the new catalog. Whew, that's a lot of news! This is the stamp set called Razzle Dazzle and it is going to be very popular! I love the simple yet striking colors seen here. Real Red, basic Black and Whisper White are always winners in my book!

Stamps

• Elegant Cheer
• Razzle Dazzle

Ink

• Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad

Paper

• Basic Black card stock
• Real Red card stock
• Whisper White card stock

Accessories

• White Uni-Ball Signo gel pen
• Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Designer Label punch
• 3/4" Circle punch
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Flower, Daisies #2 Bigz die

Razzle Dazzle

Here is a striking new card made with Razzle Dazzle stamp set. You know me, I love the bright colors and the simple lay out of this card. I can hardly wait for you all to get the new catalog. I will see you all tomorrow night! In the meantime, you can see the catalog on the left link of my blog. As always, you can order 24/7 here. Check out this new thing called "Deal of the Week" while you are there.