Stamp with Jeanne

Here they are...

Not too long ago I gave you a little sneak peek at the May Stamp Camp cards.  Well, here they are in full view (almost!),  It's hard to get 15 cards in a small area to show up well:

The campers oooh and ahhh'd last weekend while they were making these projects.  I'm always amazed and pleasantly surprised at the quality of the cards you can make out of one Simply Scrappin' Kit.  Normally, I add a pack of White cardstock to the mix and get about 30-40 cards. This time I decide to only use the paper that came in the kit.  I still managed to create 15 beautiful cards.  I did add some brads, buttons and ribbon, but you know me...it's all about the texture!  If you're wondering, YES! you can still purchase the Rose Cottage kit for only $30 (plus shipping).  That's about  $2.00 a card!  Where can you get cards created by hand for only $2.00?!?!?!?  In my town you can pay up to $7-$10 for a handmade card and I know I wouldn't feel half the pleasure of sending it as I do when I send a card I made.  How 'bout you? 

May Page of the Month

A couple of weeks ago my Stampin' Up! Sparkles Team gathered together in my stampin' garage to start working on our technique books.  Each person brought two shoeboxes full of supplies to re-create cards they designed featuring a particular technique.  It was a blast!  We stamped all day.  I loved being re-introduced to stamping techniques I hadn't tried for a while.  One of Anne Axelson's projects included a favorite techique of mine...Emerging Colors.  If you're not familiar with this technique it's pretty easy, but takes some time.  First, you stamp a piece of white glossy paper (I like to use cardstock too) with solid design stamps in as many colors as you would like, making sure to leave some open space between the images. Then you take a large solid stamp, ink it up with Versamark and randomly stamp over the pattern paper you just created.  Quickly add clear embossing powder and heatset.  Once the embossing area cools, load your brayer with a dark color ink and brayer over the entire piece.  Wipe the ink off the embossed area and the pattern design will pop right out.  This is only one of the hundreds of techniques you can learn when you join my Techniques Club, so sign up right away.  You don't want to miss any of the great projects we'll be stampin'!

I loved using this technique again so much that I used it for our May Page of the Month Kit.  I've stamped "Happy Mother's Day", but this layout is great for any occasion.  Thanks Anne for sparking my creativity! 

 

May Card of the Month

For the May Card of the Month kit I wanted to make some masculine cards, so I chose the Wanted stamp set.  I was really happy with the way these turned out. The Wanted stamp set coordinates perfectly with the Western Sky Designer Paper.  Using the designer paper and matching stamp set is so effective and cuts your stampin' time in half.  Now, I cheated a little and used some of my favorite retired sentiment sets, but hey, I figure I'm stampin' the pieces that don't come in the featured set anyway, so why not?  It's fun to go back and use sets you haven't played with for a while.  Isn't that why we're keeping them? 

The Card of the Month kit is $30 (plus shipping) and you will receive everything you need to re-create these cards with ease.  You do need to have your own stamp pads and tools, so if you're missing any of the items you need, let me know to add them to your order.  Don't forget, when you order any of the supplies you need that were used for the cards in the kit you're purchasing, you get a 10% discount on those supplies.  The items must be ordered with your kit to qualify. 

Thank you Patty Bennett for inspiring me once more! 

April Card of the Month

Okay, I have to admit it.  When I first noticed the new Stampin' Up! rub-ons I just didn't get it.  I couldn't help but wonder what Stampin' Up! was thinking.  Why rub-ons?  Won't they compete with the stamps?  How will they work together with what we already know and love?  I decided to step out of the plastic boxes I love so much and challenge myself to try something new.  I teamed up the Die-Cut Blooms with the A Perfect Day rub-ons.  Now I get it.  They're so easy to use.  You can get the designs exactly where you want them and they go on everything.  Glass, wood, pictures, cardstock and more!  And the Die-Cut Blooms?  FAB-U-LOUSSSS!  For those of you who get mad at me for making you cut so many flowers...now you don't have to!  Stampin' Up! has done the cutting for you!  So many sizes, four colors and they add so much dimension to your projects...you just have to try them before they're gone! 

Here's the cards I made for our April Card of the Month kits featuring the products I mentioned above.  Thank you to my fellow demonstrators who inspired the designs and encouraged me to expand my thinking:  

Guess what?  It's not too late to order this kit!  Stampin' Up! extended the life of the Occasions Catalog through June 30 and I can still order the supplies needed...yay!  For $30 (plus shipping) you will receive the Die-Cut Blooms, A Perfect Day rub-ons, pre-cut cardstock, envelopes, embellishments and step-by-step instructions for the four cards you see here.  What a great way to try something new!

Technique Club

I'm starting a Technique Club!  You can join us in my stampin' garage and use my supplies or have a kit sent directly to your door. Each month you will receive 3 technique pages with complete step-by-step instructions, 3 card projects using the techniques, a shopping list and a 10% discount on class supplies.  This is a great way to learn a huge variety of stampin' techniques, have fantastic cards to send to your family and friends, plus create a book of instructions to help you remember exactly how the cards were made.  How many times have you gone to Stamp Camp, loved the project and can't remember what you did?  This technique book will last you lifetime and will help you create project after project of wonderful designs.  Here's a sample of a technique page and card to give you a hint of what you have to look forward to as a Club Member.  Email me at [email protected] to find out more! 

May '08 Stamp Camp peek

Here's a sneak peek at some of this month's Stamp Camp projects.  We're making a total of 15 cards out of the Rose Cottage Simply Scrappin' kit.  If you can't join us at Camp, you can purchase a kit for $25 (plus shipping) and recreate these beautiful cards in the comfort of your own home when it suits you.  Enjoy!