Watermelon Banner: Sweet Summer Stamping

Summer is slowing down, but the produce is perfect! We are swimming in peaches and apricots and I've enjoyed some delectable watermelon, too...and it's a fruit, so completely guilt-free.

I was inspired by my friend Jeanna's Summer & Sunshine framed art on her blog a few weeks ago and thus, when the TGIF "CASE your Fave" challenge came up, her craftiness was the first thing I thought of. And I love banners, so this was the brain-child that resulted:

They are super simple to create and I did a Facebook Live video to demonstrate how:

Did you know I am LIVE on FB almost every Monday at 12:30 PM (MST)? I would love to have you join me in real time, so come on over and like my Creative Juice page!

To order supplies to create this project, visit my Stampin' Store and use the hostess code in the right column to get a hand-crafted Thank You from me.

Visit the Pyramids

Playful Pals Bundle You won't need to leave home to visit these pyramids: So much creativity packed into one playful bundle of fun~ The Playful Pals stamp set and Pyramid Pals framelits go together like milk and cookies so it just makes sense to get them together and save 15% with the Playful Pals Photopolymer Bundle...let the adventure begin!

 

The COLLECTION Playful Pals stamp set (50 stamps) and Pyramid Pals Thinlits Dies (18 dies) are used with the Big Shot Die Cutting Tool.

   

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SALE-A-BRATION TIME

Host & Save

Need another excuse to get together with friends? Just host a qualifying party during Sale-A-Bration and earn $30 more Stampin' Rewards! You can even apply your Stampin' Rewards toward your Starter Kit.

Watermelon and a Slice of Summer

"If watermelon exists, why don't airmelon, 

firemelon and earthmelon exist?" ~the elemelons

Lucky for you, the papermelon exists thanks to the Cutie Pie Thinlits from Stampin' Up!

Now download a tutorial to make your own! 

If you need the supplies, please order them from my Stampin' Up! store and I'll send you a card :)

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

This new Cutie Pie Thinlit is one of the many new beautiful and clever products in 

The NEW CATALOG which arrived June 2nd:

Yep, I'm late in updating the blog: A daily dose of Creativity is on my Facebook Page, so come over and follow me there! 

Starburst: Merry & Bright

Ooops...I missed last week's Tuesday Tutorial, so I'll share two this week (kind of).

It was my pleasure to demonstrate the Starburst (or Sunburst) technique last week at Jill Olsen's Stamp Together in St. George and these are some of the cards I showed how to make:

Wanna know what's cool about these cards? I made 4 starbursts all at the same time by cutting a stack of 4 pieces of paper! I used the awesome tutorial by Sharon Cheng here. Seriously easy...go watch it now and remember the measurements for the DSP are 3"x4". The first card stock layer is 4-7/8" x 3-5/8", and the next layer is usually 5-1/4" x 4", then the card itself (a half sheet of 8.5" x 11" paper, folded in half). 

I cut the star with the Stars Framelits and Big Shot, then scored with my Simply Scored board (on the silver side) of the star from point to opposite indentation, on all points. Then just fold and mount on some Stampin' Dimensionals :) So shiny!

They are even sparklier in person!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

In case you can't get enough stars, check out the new Many Merry Stars Kit from the new Holiday Supplement...and the fun project ideas for this and other products on the Pinterest board HERE.

Is it too early for Christmas?

My husband and I enjoy Sunday afternoon drives and not long ago we noticed a few homes with Christmas lights still up...then I pointed out we can't say "still" because after June 25th, we are officially on the downhill slide toward the holidays = Now we should consider these merry folk "EARLY" with their decorating! So I'm just helping you get a jump on the holidays and help you create some lovely greeting cards EARLY with the Big Shot August Special and the Bright & Beautiful stamp set and framelits:

 

Card Recipe (All supplies from Stampin' Up!): 

Stamps: Bright & Beautiful stamp set (Holiday Catalog!)

Ink: Silver Encore pad (132142)

Paper: Whisper White and Smoky Slate card stock, Silver Fancy Foil Vellum (133364), Silver Foil Sheets (132178)

Accessories:  Stars Framelits (133723), Big Shot, 1/8" Silver Ribbon (132137), Lucky Stars Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (132817), Silver Embossing powder (109131), Rhinestone Jewels (119246)

And special thanks to Create with Connie and Mary for the beautiful sketch challenge this week (CCMC315)...it was perfect for this card!

Everything is AWESOME...in August: Big Shot with FREE Bundles!

Hear that? It's the sound of summer speeding by...and I'm not going to bore you with my excuses for being absent today. Instead, I'm going to shout that EVERYTHING IS AWESOME in August!

(This card was created by UK SU! demonstrator Joanne James and if you click on it, it will take you to her blog, with the supplies she used to create it.)

WHY is August so AWESOME, you may ask?

That's why! If you don't have a Big Shot, you must consider it an essential Back-to-School tool to purchase this month--The bundles essentially make the machine 1/2 price! And if you are one of the wise crafters who already own a Big Shot, you can save 15% when you purchase the bundles separately from the machine.

Here are my Top 5 reasons to love the Big Shot:

1.  The Big Shot cuts and/or embosses, taking your projects to a new level of lovely. 
2. It can cut shapes from over 70 materials (including fabric, magnet sheets and pop cans, so you are being GREEN when you use it and recycling, too)
3. The Big Shot is super easy to use...and cranking the handle counts as (light) exercise.
4. It doesn't need electricity (So when the power goes out, the crafting continues)!
5. The framelits that coordinate with the stamps solve the challenge of cutting out by hand and seriously, that's worth it's price in gold.

I'm off to make you some cute samples that will make you NEED the Big Shot... or if you are ready to discover crafting Nirvana today, go to my stampin' store to place your order :)

Easter Eggs and Memory Albums

Look at me! I actually finished a project BEFORE the holiday! Feeling pretty good right now :) These little Easter Egg "thrones" are such fun to make with a few punches, stamps and the Big Shot!

So I don't have time to make a lengthy tutorial, so let me give you a few tips for making them:

• Cadbury eggs are too small. I found some larger eggs at Costco (they are hollow)

• Cut a 8.5"x2.5" strip from one end of your card stock and score it (down the long edges) at 1/2" and 2" (the Simply Scored board--item #122334--makes all your scoring SUPER SIMPLE). Then chop it up into 2"x 2.5" pieces and punch a hole using the 1-1/4" circle punch (#119861) in the middle like this----->>>>
   
• Cut the rest of the card stock into 2"x8.5" strips. Score them at 3.5" and 5". Punch the ends with the Scallop Tag Topper Punch (133324). 

• Line up the Designer Frame embossing folder (#123130) with the first score line from one end and run through the Big Shot --->>>>>

• Punch the middle of the embossed frame out with the Large Oval Punch (#119859)

• Adhere the "throne" piece between the two sides with SNAIL adhesive, add egg and embellish as desired! I used the flowers and punch from the Petite Petal bundle (#134821-wood or #134822-clear mount). As always, you can purchase these supplies from my Stampin' Up! store!

And in upcoming events, if you have a mother, friend or grad that you need a thoughtful gift for, come to my Mini Memory Album class! You can bring your own pictures or come to create the book and add photos later. The cost is $17 and you MUST bring your own Scissors, SNAIL adhesive and Glue Dots. If you forget your adhesive, I will let you buy new ones from me :) Please register below.

A Banner Day (+Video)

Every living room, every work cubicle, every nursery, every school locker and every holiday needs a banner! It's as simple as this: choose your paper and ink, then stamp and cut using the Big Shot machine. Framelits dies make precision placement a snap, and you'll get perfectly cut shapes every time. 

  
Wood mount bundle #134815 (also available in clear-mount $143816)

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 Save 15% when you purchase the Perfect Pennants Stamp Set and coordinating Banners Framelits Dies together in the bundle :) Then start making every day a BANNER DAY!

Paper Roses

Paper flowers are beautiful but cutting them by hand is tedious, especially if you’re making a bunch. Now you can cut a flower in seconds with the Spiral Flower Originals Die (#129379) and the Big Shot. And you can cut multiple sheets at one time or use different materials. Once the flowers are cut, just roll and adhere. Make one, make a ton—either way, you’ll be done in no time!  

  

As you can see the Spiral Flower die is a fun addition to your Big Shot collection! What will YOU create with paper flowers? 

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Let Nothing Go to Waste

After creating a few Valentine Samplers with my Stampin' Family and stamp clubs, I had a few of these squares left over:

Since I couldn't let them go to waste (quilters and scrapbookers, you know what I mean, right?) I had to repurpose them and use them somehow. So I created some simple Valentines for my kids:

Card Recipe (All Supplies from my Stampin' Up! Store)

Stamps: Occasions Alphabet
Ink: White Stazon (Item #106960)
Paper: Marina Mist, Strawberry Slush, Pear Pizzaz & Whisper White card stock. 2013-14 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack (130137)
Accessories: Window Sheets (114323), Big Shot, Typset Alphabet Bigz die (127553), Alphabet Press embossing folder (130916), Pearls Basics Jewels (119247), White Taffeta Ribbon (109070),  Scallop Edge Border Punch (119882) and Glue Dots.

Hidden Message Slider Card

On my walk this morning as I was cheerfully stomping through some fallen leaves, this card came into my mind...and it actually turned out better than I had imagined!

How about a video tutorial? Okay, even if it did just take me two hours and I still haven't showered...


I'm always THANKFUL for comments to know if you like what I'm sharing :) and even MORE grateful for your Online Orders and will send you a card to tell you how grateful I am (as long as you don't select "No Contact" when you place your order...I have to be able to see your address to send you a card, right?)

{Awe} -inspiring, -some, -gust

Welcome to {Awe}gust and just wait until you see what SU! has in store: It's {Awe}some!

Let's start with the Holiday Catalog:


Oh, will we be having fun with these products this fall! Would you like your own Holiday Catalog? Just ask and I'll give you one.

Next, we have the August "Best Of" stamp set which is the Best of Halloween!

Remember that for every 6 "Best Of" sets you purchase through March 2014, you can choose a FREE stamp set of your choice (up to $14.95 value). Save those 25-year proof of purchase stickers!

And finally for today, these new products (Thinlits Card Dies! were the envy of everyone who won Prize Patrol at convention...now you can order them, too! I'll also be teaching a class in August where you can come try them out, so watch for more details to come. 

A Shapely Birthday

I've needed to make birthday cards for my Stampin' Family, and the sketch over at Create with Connie & Mary inspired me to make this simple, shapely and cheerful greeting (with a little embossed bling on the birthday)!

Don't be afraid to take a sketch and turn it on it's side, like I did with this one:

Card Recipe (all supplies from Stampin' Up!):

Stamps: Blue Ribbon (wood~131964 or clear~125981)
Ink: Bermuda Bay (131171) and Raspberry Ripple (126859)
Paper:  Calypso Coral, Bermuda Bay, Very Vanilla card stock, Birthday Basics DSP(130145) 
Accessories: Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder (131930), Heat Tool (129053), Big Shot (113439), Oval Accent Bigz Clear die (127055),  Ovals Collection framelits (129381), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch (118874), Occasions Paper Piercing Pack (129387), Paper Piercing Tool (126189) and Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199).  

As always, you can order supplies HERE and don't forget that Designer Series Paper (DSP) is Buy 3, Get 1 FREE this month and if you order on my website during July 2013, enter hostess code JF3KWJT7 because someone will be the "Mystery Hostess" and get some fun goodies this month!

I'm going to make a bunch of these cards with the other papers in the same pack and I'll post a picture on my FB Fan Page, if you want to see samples in varying colors and designs :)

Feeling Pink Today

After a much needed vacation (where I pretty much did nothing and loved every moment of it), I'm back and have had a few fun minutes in my stamp room creating :) Today I was feeling PINK, so I jumped into the Create with Connie & Mary challenge! Here's sketch 257:

And here is my take on it:

Card Recipe (All Supplies from Stampin' Up! ~ Order Here):

Stamps: Remembering Your Birthday
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Pistachio Pudding
Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette and Pistachio Pudding card stock, Tea Lace Paper Doilies (129399)
Accessories: Big Shot (113439), Apothocary Accents Framelits (127003), Stripes Embossing Folder (123128) and Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (117335), Decorative Label (120907) and Scallop Edge Border (119882) punches, White Organza Ribbon (114319) and Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246).

Cap & Gown: A Gift for Grads

Today was a proud moment for a mother:

As my graduating senior had a few friends graduating with him, I came up with this fun gift which incorporated a few of his favorite things:

There must be an official name for the pocket than hangs off a bottle, but for today's purpose, we'll call it a pop-pocket, which I made from the Oval Accent Bigz die, the Big Shot and a few well placed score lines. For the owl, I added a few wings (with a scallop oval punch cut in half) to the owl punch (such a cutie) as well as a cap and tassel to dress him appropriately.

Project Recipe:

• Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White and Smoky Slate card stock.
• Accessories from Stampin' Up!: Big Shot (113439), Oval Accent Bigz Clear die (127005), Simply Scored (122334), Brights Brads (119740), Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine (123125 Punches: Owl Builder (118074), 1-1/4" Scallop Circle (127811), 1-1/4" Circle.
• Other: Curling Ribbon

With Braden after the ceremony. his dad and I were very grateful for reaching this Milestone! It's bittersweet to watch your babies grow up.