Give a HOOT!

I've been seeing owls everywhere lately: On jewelry, lunchboxes, t-shirts, grocery totes and even shoes! So it was a delightful surprise to see a new punch from Stampin' Up! in the 2010/2011 Idea Book and Catalog that follows this trendy guy:

As you can see, this amazing tool creates more than owls...if you click on any picture (above) you can go to my SU! website, then click on "SHOP NOW" to order your own Two-Step Owl Extra-Large Punch! One thing I love about it is how well it uses up all my scraps of card stock :)

Here are a few tips to remember when you are using this punch:

• Hold your punch upside down while using it to ensure that you punch where you want to on your card stock
• Keep your garbage nearby to sweep all the scraps into, but DON'T punch over your garbage or the little pieces are a bother to pick out!
• Use your Paper Snips (catalog pg. 199) to pick up the teensy-tiny pieces with and build your owl: Just open the sharp tips a bit, slide them under the piece and close the tips to pick it up and place it where you want it.
• The Multipurpose Liquid Glue (pg. 197) has a fine point that works best for owl-production :) I put the glue on my owl base and then lay the pieces on top of the glue with the paper snips!

Just to show you how well this punch "dresses up", I created this card with the Owl and Pinking Hearts Border punches, the Elegant Bouquet Big Shot Embossing Folder and the new Word Play stamp set:

Clean & Simple, Revisited

Now that the kids are back in school, I had time to stamp for fun again! It was delightful and I am reminded how much I enjoy being creative.

Here is my creation showcasing some new colors and stamps:

Recipe (all Stampin' Up! supplies, of course):  Marina Mist, Whisper White, Basic Black card stock, Basic Black and Versamark ink, Just Believe stamp set,  Scallop Edge Border punch, Marina Mist Taffeta ribbon.

I followed the Clean & Simple Fall-To Layout #105 sketch:

A Mom's Ode to Teachers

In May the teacher's plight was lost 

Amid the joyful day

As children books and pencils tossed

And hurried off to play.

The next three months pass in a haze

While mothers entertain
And sweep and clean for endless days~

Summer days wash down the drain.

Exhausted, August finally comes

And school begins once more!

A smiling teacher now welcomes

Each child at classroom door.

A Mother feels both sad and glad

As she waves her goodbyes.

Grateful and appreciative, Mom knows (and Dad!)

That teachers deserve a PRIZE!

(Sample by Pam Clyde, from the Summer Mini Catalog Swap)

Only 6 days left to order from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalog!

Click here to go to my website and choose "Shop Now"

Summer's End

The end of summer is always bittersweet: It's the end of late nights and lazy mornings, but the beginning of preservation season as we can/bottle/dry the fruit of the season and the smell of new school supplies. It's the last chance for summer vacations and the first opportunity to print the pictures from those trips. August is also the last chance to order from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalog, and with that said, I wanted to share some summer-themed samples made by talented demonstrators showcasing the Tropical Party and Sentimental Journey stamp sets from the Summer Mini! First from Jennifer Valk, a taste of the tropics:

 "If you like Pina Colada! Getting caught in the rain..." And I do! And how about that totally cool Designer Series Paper? It's called Island Oasis and is so vibrant, it gives your projects POP!

Next up, the perfect stamp set to use for decorating those scrapbook pages after your vacation or to journal your journey of self-discovery: Sentimental Journey by Pam Staples:

All stamp sets in the Summer Mini catalog are available in wood mounted or clear mounted rubber stamp options, and both of these sets have coordinating Designer Printed 6x6 Albums (only $10.95!) and Designer Series Paper to make scrapbooking your summer vacation a SNAP! Consider it your "Passport to Creativity" :) and you can order on my website anytime, just click the "Shop Now" button in the top right.

Feeling Punchy?

Sweet Treat Cups and Sunflowers

The Sweet Treat Cups (pg 170 of current catalog) from Stampin' Up! are really fun to play with...and even more fun to give/receive! I was trying to come up with a different way to use them without having to destroy a card to get to the treats, and came up with this design that has a flap:

You can just pull the cover out the left side to get to the sunflowers (or any other treat you fill it with).  I promised my Stamp Club members that I would share the dimensions and instructions for this card, and I'm finally making good on the promise! The dimensions/colors are given for this particular card, but go ahead and get crazy using your own colors :)

Step 1:  Cut Daffodil Delight card (8.5"x5.5"folded to create card), Melon Mambo card stock layer (5.5"x3.5"), Tempting Turquoise card stock (8 1/4"x 2 3/4"~scored at 2 2/4" and 5.5") and another Turquoise and white card stock 2 1/4" square. Also punch a Turquoise Round Tab Punch to use on the slider.

Step 2: Stamp the greeting in Early Espresso Ink on the Melon Mambo card stock and run it through the Big Shot in the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder.

 Step 3: Fold the Turquoise card stock and punch a hole with the 1 3/4" Circle Punch in the center square and one side  (HINT: glue a punched circle from a different color in the center to ensure perfect 

placement, then flip your punch over so you can see the circle and punch it out.)

Step 4: Apply sticky strip along the edges as shown...stay as close to the edge as possible! Remove red cover and fold so both holes are together with one open edge.

Step 5: Adhere the Sweet Treat Cup to the front, as shown below. Affix the round tab punch to the edge of the remaining Turquoise square and slide it behind the cup, between the card stock circles.

Step 6: Wrap Daffodil Delight Taffeta ribbon around polka-dot Melon Mambo layer and adhere to front of card. Glue the Turquoise flap (the piece I'm holding, above) to the front of the card over the layers. Punch out a 1 3/4" circle from the White card stock square and stamp the petals (from the Something Sweet stamp set on page 56 of current SU! Idea Book & Catalog) around the opening with Daffodil Delight classic ink and adhere it around the sweet treat cup. 

Slide the cover open, fill the cup with your favorite treats, slide it closed and give it away!

Top 10 Reasons to host a workshop with ME in August:

10. Celebrate the beginning of Mother's Vacation (school starts!)
9. You've ignored your friends all summer long to cater to your kids.
8. Get the brand-spankin'-new 2010/2011 Idea Book & Catalog FREE!
7. You can serve root beer floats 'cuz it's still hotter than blazes :)
6. We can giggle, laugh and share like we are 13 again.
5. Give your husband a chance to bond with the kids at McDonald's!
4. CHOOSE what you want to learn!
3. Get a FREE Stampin' Up! Shopping Tote (when you have 8 guests I've never met in attendance)
2. Earn FREE hostess gifts that aren't available for purchase
1. Earn an EXTRA $25 in merchandise (with qualifying workshop*)

Ready for some fun? I only have 5 dates left in August, so call 801-376-8685 to schedule your party (anywhere in Utah County) ASAP: 12th, 17th, 18th, 25th, 31st