Holiday Cards

Two of my dear friends, Sue and Sherry who also both happen to be demos, and I have been having more fun getting together to come up with ideas of ways to better market our workshops, cards, etc. Additionally we've just been having fun getting together and challenging ourselves to make cards.

One idea is to market our Christmas cards. Say if someone wants to do a particular Christmas card, they can choose from tons of pre-made designs in this book.



This front page tells them to choose a design, schedule a date to bring their friends and family to make the card (J'll have them pre-cut), and just place 50% down.



Then the fun part (other than making the cards of course) is looking through our book of pre-made cards and choosing a design.



Another project we have been working on it building our stock of sample cards for chosen stamp sets. For instance, each of us choose one stamp set. We make two cards using that stamp set. Then we precut the cards for each other and demonstrate them at our next get together. I'll demonstrate a stamp set by having them make two cards, then Sherry and Sue will do the same with their own chosen stamp set. After that, we trade stamp sets, go home and start the process over again. By the end of the third time we get together we will have 6 sample cards per stamp set to display -- that's 18 cards. And as each of us have different tastes, its great to show the versatility of each stamp set.

Okay, enough description. Here are the first set of cards made with our chosen stamp set. First, Sherry chose SIMPLE FRIENDSHIP:

Playing Around with Techniques

I love learning new techniques. The card below is made using the Faux Linen technique. The sad thing is that the camera does not capture how beautiful the paper is using this technique. It really does look like linen. Stunning.



Ingredients:
Stamps: Flores Suaves (this is only in the Spanish SU catalog and I'm a firm believer it needs to be a staple in every stamper's collection), En Francais, On Your Birthday
Inkpads: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Paper: Soft Suede, So Saffron, Glossy White
Punches: Wide Oval, Large Scallop Oval
Ribbon: 3/8" Old Olive Taffeta
Misc.: Watercolor Pencils, Blending Pens, SNAIL, Dimensionals, Sanding Block

For directions on how the Faux Linen look:
SU Demonstrators - you need to see this wonderful how-to video.
Non demonstrators can see directions at Splitcoaststampers.

Workshops No. 2

I've now completed my multiple Workshops No. 2's -- and we had a great deal of fun with these cards. I workshopped these cards because I wanted my customers to see the cute things they could make with them before they retire this week. I'm really sad to see some of them go because even though I'll still use them in my private collections, I won't be workshopping them anymore.


This card was inspired by http://wickedlywonderfulcreations.blogspot.com/2010/07/convention-greetings.html


Designed by http://www.laurazstamps.com. I absolutely love this stamp set and am soooo sad that it is going away with the Summer Mini 2010 catalog.


Designed by http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1739774?&cat=19175. Knot Tutorial: http://barspaperpursuits.blogspot.com/2010/02/thank-you-sailors-knot-tutorial.html. Yet, another stamp set that I have come to love. Learn this knot technique was the coolest thing ever. Everyone in my workshops absolutely loved it. I think what I like most about it is that it really makes a great masculine card. I definitely need to work on designing more of those!


Designed by http://bon2stamp.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-garden.html. For directions to a “Whacked” embossing folder, go here: http://www.sandimaciver.com/sandi_maciver/2009/09/i-was-a-very-bad-girl.html. This was a very simple card to make, yet sometimes the most simple cards are truly the most stunning.

And finally, the technique I taught in this workshop was the Kissing Technique. Just in a knick of time as it appears the Sweet Scoop stamp set was truly designed for this technique. After making our technique card that we added to our ring, this is the card that we made using the technique:


Inspired by http://www.mysweetstampinspot.com/2010/08/we-all-scream-for-ice-cream.html.

I have some really adorable cards and a special project that we'll be making for my Workshops No. 3s. I'll post those soon. I welcome your comments.

First Workshop in Ages

Well, I finally kicked off the new 2010-2011 catalog with an open house and a new workshop. About time! It was so much fun. I had forgotten how much I enjoy creating (and casing!). Here are the cards we made in the first workshop.





I'm working on designs for the next workshop which will be held before the end of the month. You can see more about my workshops by going to http://www.meetup.com/Stampin-n-Stuff/.

Black Magic Card

It has been much, much too long since I've been able to play with my Stampin' Up! materials. And what fun now with all of the new products in the catalogue. I'll be busy posting many new designs using the new stamp sets, embellishments, etc. So much fun. This is the first card I've made in quite awhile, and I just love it. Its using the new Happiness Shared stamp set and using the Technique called Black Magic.


Ingredients:
Stamp Sets: Happiness Shared, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Whisper White, Garden Green
Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Black
Ribbon: Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain
Punches: Scallop Trim Border, Small Oval, Large Oval
Other: SNAIL Adhesive, Two-way glue, Dimensionals, Mat Pak, paper piercer, silver brad, heat gun, white gel pen, chalk pastels, Dazzling Glitter.

The new Mini Holiday Catalog is here!!

The wonderful Holiday Mini Catalog officially started today. It's the best and biggest holiday mini Stampin' Up! has ever produced.....it has 39 pages.

It's chocked full of new stamp sets for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, designer paper, ribbon, and various embellishments. Also included is the fabulous BUILD-A-BEAR line of products which includes several stamp sets and dies for the Big Shot. My Digital Studio, Stampin' Ups! own digital scrapbooking program for the computer that will be available beginning October 1st!

If you'd like to view the Holiday Mini Catalog, click on the link in the left side bar.

If you would like your own personal copy of the Holiday Mini Catalog, EMAIL ME and I'll be glad to drop one in the mail to you!

Holiday Mini Cards - More

Playing around with some more of my Holiday mini pre-orders tonight. I was trying to make at least one sample from each pre-item I purchased to have available for my workshop this coming Tuesday night -- September 1st. Here are two of them.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Beary Nice Wishes
Ink: Cameo Coral
Paper: Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Pink Flamingo DSP
Punches: Modern Label
Other: Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Bear Bigz Die, Beary Essentials Bigz Die, Beary Girl Sizzlit Die


Ingredients:
Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Simple Snowflake, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Silver
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Brushed Silver, Bordering Blue
Punches: Snowflake, Modern Label, Word Window
Other: Frost White Shimmer Paint, Sponge, Silver Rhinestone (from Pretties Kit), Dimensionals

Finally, I had a workshop today and I thought it would be a great time for us to play with my new Elegant Bouquet embossing folder. My clients were thrilled to get to play with it. These are what they made.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Great Friend
Ink: Apricot Appeal
Paper: Apricot Appeal, Taken with Teal, Very Vanilla
Punches: Designer Label
Other: Big Shot, Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, Pastels, Vanilla Hodpodge Hardware and Brads