Joyous Folds

It's easy to get caught up in the standard card size and fold so I looked for something I hadn't tried before. Behold the joyfold card. I used our new Labels Collection Framelits to give a new shape to one of the layers and I love the result. It came out fabulous!!!

click on any image to see it full size

Here are the basic instructions for making the joyfold card.
Card base: 4-1/4 x 8-1/2 Score at 5-1/2
Inside layer: 2-3/4 x 4 are the original dimensions. To use Framelits see below:

The 4th frame from the center makes the flap that fold over and tucks under the front sentiment.

The DSP layers are as follows:
2 pieces 2-3/4 x 4 (the flap on the left that's part of the card base)
1 piece 4 x 5-1/4 (inside of card)


Stampin' Supplies
Stamps: Elementary Elegance, Fresh Vintage
Paper: Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade, Everyday Enchantment DSP
Ink: Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade, Tea Stain (Distress Essentials Kit)
Other: Aqua Painters, Curly Label Punch, Jewels Basic Rhinestone, Labels Collection Framelits, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon (Baja Breeze)
Sale-a-Bration - Spend $50 and earn any of these items for FREE!

sally.stampinup.net

Crafting with the Kids

I had a fun workshop last Saturday for kids and moms to come and craft valentines. The kids were great, the moms we're great, and the cards were great!

I let Sydney and Natalie make their cards about an hour before guests started to arrive so they could spend their time as my assistants and socialize with the other kids. This worked pretty well. They showed off the Big Shot and how to use the Adorning Accents Embossing Folder (the strip of hearts) with it. And they were pretty good about making sure everyone made their card in the right steps to avoid any mistakes.

I had every intention of taking pictures of the kids making their cards. I asked my teen, who was hiding out in another room (on the 'puter in her pjs) if she would be my paparazzi. She declined and I never thought about it again until everyone was gone.

So, since I couldn't let that stop me I decided to take a picture of my girls with their cards and share some cuteness with you...

Ok Natalie, keep your eyes open this time.

Not you, Sydney, that is a silly face. And Nat, your eyes are still squinty.

OK Nat, close your eyes and I'll say when.

OMG, I give up! LOL

We are currently working on Sydney's Valentine box for school. It's a Valentine Village made from milk cartons! I'll share the photos here or on my Facebook page as soon as we finish!

My Digital Studio Express FREE Trial

Our FREE 30-day trial of My Digital Studio Express* is now available. Make sure to get it, and let your friends in on it too! My Digital Studio Express includes one stamp brush set, 12 Designer Series Paper patterns, 81 embellishments, 26 punches, and 5 designer templates. Your 30 day trial period starts as soon as you launch the program. It does not matter when you download the program, your 30 days will start as soon as you actually launch (open) the program.

How do you get it?
You can download the software and access the free trial (item 129600) just as you would a Stampin' Up! digital download or any online purchase. Just visit my online store and there is even a link to the free trial on the upper right.

 

Online Community!

Did you know that MDS has it's own online community? Check it out and be inspired!!! =)

http://mydigitalstudio.net/

 

What do you do once you try it and like it?
Once the 30-day free trial period is over, you can purchase the downloadable or disc version of the software to continue using it. You'll simply open up the trial version you already have on your computer, and will be prompted to enter the product registration key you received after purchasing the software. (You'll receive this key via e-mail if you purchase the downloadable version, and you'll find it along with your shipped software if you purchase the disc version.)  

 

*MDS Express is not the full product version. Click HERE to see what is included.

 

My Digital Studio Features & Benefits

Exclusive Stampin’ Up! Content

• Stampin’ Up! artwork and accessories available in a digital format.
• Stampin’ Up! colors allow for perfect coordination when embellishing professional print projects with traditional embellishments. Add depth and dimension when you combine digital with handcrafted elements.
• With My Digital Studio, your favorite images and colors do not retire—you can keep using them for years to come!

Software & Content Options

• The full version of My Digital Studio includes nearly 2,000 unique elements—stamps, embellishments, designer and photo templates, punches, Designer Series papers, card stock, and more. If you have the Express version you can purchase a booster pack to add additional content found in the full version.
• Intuitive functionality for easy navigation and project creation.
• Automatic photo fill for effortless design.
• Boxed software comes on two DVDs, making installation quick and simple.
• PC and Mac compatible.
• Training and quick start materials available to help you learn more.
• My Digital Studio can be used as a design tool, allowing you to create projects digitally before crafting them with paper.
• My Digital Studio boxed software is competitively priced at $79.95.
• Download the My Digital Studio End User Software License Agreement.

Digital Downloads

• Download new stamp brush sets, embellishments, kits, punches, Designer Series Paper and templates to My Digital Studio on a regular basis.
• Digital downloads are compatible with other design programs.
• Digital downloads feature exclusive Stampin’ Up! artwork and colors.
• Many embellishments are true to size, making it easier to combine digital projects with paper crafting.
• Download the End User License Agreement for Stampin’ Up! Digital Content.

Print

• Professional print service integrated in software, allowing you to order photo albums, calendars, cards, and individual pages.
• Stampin’ Up!’s professional print services ensure that printed colors match with our traditional products. Because personal printers and other print services use different settings, their prints may not match Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colors.
• Don’t limit yourself to print projects! You can also create digital projects like DVDs, interactive albums, and e-cards.
• rint your projects from your home printer. (Depending on your printer’s settings, printed colors may not match Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colors.)
• Stampin’ Up!’s professional print services use only the highest quality products— papers and sewn-reinforced album covers (linen, leather, and photo covers).

Stamp Therapy

click to enlarge

Well today, Jan 24th, is another BIG day. The beginning of the Sale-a-Bration promotion!!! This sweet door hanger I made uses the beautiful Everyday Enchantment DSP, as well as the coordinating Ribbon and Brad Pack found in the Sale-a-Bration mini catalog.

These items can not be purchased. You can only earn them for FREE when you place a qualifying order of $50! Spend $100 and choose 2 items in the SAB mini for FREE, spend $150 and you qualify for hostess benefits AND you'll get a 3rd SAB item as well as an exclusive shopping tote for Hostesses only. Visit my website to see more and place your order today, or if you'd like to take it to the next level and invite your friends to a workshop, call/text me and we'll get you on my calendar!

Stampin' Supplies

STAMPS - Jayne's Type Alphabet, Rough Edge Alpha (retired)

INK - Poppy Parade, Soft Suede, Pool Party

PAPER - Everyday Enchantment DSP*, Very Vanilla

OTHER - Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack*, Heart Punch, Adorning Accents Edgelits, Paper Daisies

*SAB Exclusive

Sally

214-354-7685

Leadership/Regional Notes

I just got back from the annual Stampin' Up! Leadership conference. It was my second time to attend, and just like last year...it was amazing! I traveled to San Antonio with my sister Barbara and her downline Laura; since we're in Texas, we drove.

The 3-day event included make-n-takes, swaps, business tips and classes, and lots of sharing! Step one at any Stampin' Up! event is to pick up your "bag." This year they gave us this cute tote.

The make-n-takes were the first day and they gave us NINE of them with two stamp sets. The bag they came in had a little disclaimer stapled to it. "...you won't be able to make all of them...save the rest for later." LOL

We also had gifts from Shelli Gardner (CEO and Co-Founder of SU!) on the table when we walked in!  Three kinds of CHOCOLATE and this little folio that matches our bag! Thank you Shelli!!!

The first project I did was a card they gave us double supplies for. One for me, and one to donate to The Ronald McDonald House. They had a basket set up so we could leave them for Stampin' Up! to make one big donation. Here's the one I kept, isn't it cute?

Mixed Bunch stamp set and Blossom Punch from the Occasions Mini

Here are pictures of some of the other projects I've completed since then. I only got one other card started that night. It was actually after I got home when I finished it and did these other projects! :)

Click on images to enlarge

There were some gorgeous displays to see, so Laura and I walked around and took pictures of the displays before returning to the room. There were different themes showcasing the stamps, fabrics, and accessories in the Occasions Mini. Here is just a small sample of what we saw...

Everyday Enchantment  - earn it free with a $50 purchase

 

Day 2 and 3 both began with a general session followed by classes. We had colored wristbands for the prize patrol, but no one in our group won...although Shelli always gives us free stuff anyway! The first giveaway to everyone was a breathtaking stamp set called Everything Elanor...I can't even show you because it won't be available until the new 2012 catalog! They bundled it with some Large Basic Pearls. Shortly after that her daughter Sara gave out some Basic Pearls, Basic Rhinstones, the Sale-a-Bration Content CD for My Digital Studio, and a roll of Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon!!!

My sister Barbara and I with our stamps and pearls freebie

I want to give a shout out to Carrie Cudney Donna Griffith and Patsy Waggoner! Carrie's class was entertaining as well as informative, we did a lot of laughing in there. It was called Why Women Buy and it gave true insight into the female mind.
I also really enjoyed the class presented by Donna and Patsy called Retaining & Engaging Your Downline. She provided some great ideas for staying connected with my downline and providing them with motivation when they need it. Thank you ladies for all your hard work!

Laura, me, Barbara, and my friend Dee...we four hung out together through most of Leadership

Saturday was the San Antonio Spring Regional. We stayed for that too since it would be silly to miss it, right!? There were 2 more make-n-takes for the Regional. I think everyone was eager to make the little kite card...so precious!!! You can turn the wheel and change the kite image on the front!

It was Barbara's lucky day at the regional. She won a stamp set and paper pack from the prize patrol! Yay Barb!!! No free stamps for me, but you KNOW all of us got something that day prize patrol or not! We all got a 5x5 art journal with a challenge list of 15 things to do inside it. I'm excited about doing mine! The rules are (1) Don't go in order and (2) Don't compare yours to others.
Have a look at Carrie Cudney's art journal (sorry it's blurry, this is a photo of the big TV screen when she held it up), it says "create" on the cover. Love it Carrie! Oh and Shannon, yours is FABULOUS on the inside! ;)

Happy New Year!

As it says in the photo, I have been BAD!! A couple of months back I set up a Facebook page and I have done pretty good at keeping it updated, but the month of December did me in and I get a big fat F on blogging!
There were some crafty creations that I shared over on Facebook, here's a few:

But a GREAT DEAL of my time in the month of December was spent searching online for a store that had these dolls in stock. Clawdeen Wolf was much harder to find than

her friend Cleo de Nile!

I also made plenty of chocolaty things to give to friends and neighbors, it is our family tradition to make fudge and toffee...and the chickens have trained well for when they'll be doing it on their own someday!

I sure hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and I wish you the BEST for 2012!!!
Stampy Hugs,
Sally

Graves R Us

Halloween is just around the corner so I have been working to move the graves from the backyard (they were in the back for Sydney's party) to the front, and beef up the decorations. I have much, much more to do, but it's starting to look pretty good! :)

Years ago I made a tombstone to add to our collection from simple plywood. It's the large one with "Carrie White" written on it. I decided that Carrie needed a hand coming out of the ground, so I whipped one up using a rubber glove stuffed with tissues and a toilet paper roll for her lower arm/wrist. I've always liked making things with paper-mache. I stapled a long wire to a small piece of wood that's inserted inside the arm. To dry I just stabbed it into the ground in the sunshine. This is Carrie's hand, palm up.

 

Once I painted it with a combo of white, black, and blue paint, I let it sit in the sun another hour. Then I dripped and smeared Riding Hood Red ink on her hand, and added some fake nails with hot glue. Click on the image below and zoom in.....not too shabby, right!?!

The hand isn't waterproof though. I have had to rescue it a few times from the rain, but that's a small price to pay for this little detail. I could probably have coated it with something, but I'm not overly worried about it. When it ends up weathered I might like it even better, or I can just make myself a new improved version!

So, anyway, we only had 5 graves that I was moving to the front, and on Sunday I was eyeballing a couple of small plywood scraps in the garage. They were just the right size for a few new headstones! My original DIY grave isn't anything that great, but after cutting and painting 3 new ones I had a "DOH!" moment. Why not STAMP the names on them!? Ta da...

Jack's headstone is actually embossed with VersaMark and Gold Embossing Powder! It's got good visibility in daylight, and at night with the red spotlight it really shimmers (pic below)! I tried Silver EP on Annie Wilke's grave. It's not as easy to read from every angle, but it looks pretty cool too! Silver would be FABULOUS on a plain black headstone. :)

The third gravestone is Norman Bates...bet you recognize that one! lol I stamped his name with Real Red Craft ink and embossed with Clear EP. I was pretty happy with it that way, but Gabe (the husband) wanted to outline the letters in white, so he did. They are certainly each unique!

So here's a trivia question for you. Do you know who Carrie White is? If so, do you know what she has in common with Jack and Annie? Leave me a comment, I'd love to hear what you think!

Can't wait to crank up the fog machine!!! Happy Haunting!

Stamped COOKIES!!!

We just had another Halloween themed birthday party for my daughter, Sydney. We have a really fun time decorating the whole house and backyard for her parties. Since she has a September birthday at the end of the month, we have done the Halloween theme venue a few times before. This one celebrated her 10th birthday!

Sydney in her mummy costume

I made her invitations using My Digital Studio. I just layered a few elements digitally and printed them on my printer. Once trimmed out with my chocolate bar measurements I wrapped them up for delivery to the potential party guests. And since MDS uses Stampin' Up! punches and images I was able to coordinate her cake with it. I used my Bat Punch* with a black sugar sheet to punch bats for her tombstone cake!

Party day is always so crazy I try to do as many things ahead of time as I can. The easiest was making these snickerdoodles, which happen to be the birthday girl's favorite cookie!

Snickerdoodles made with Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps

I didn't put pumpkin faces on them using just any old cookie cutter or mold. These are reminiscent of my post on pie stamping. Stampin' Up! has released a new product for the holidays, Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps!

They are super cute and easy to use. They're sold as a trio, so you get all three of the stamps above along with a beautiful wood handle that they easily slide on and off of. Here's a flyer with more info about Cookie Stamps! =)

The only real trick to them is to use any recipe that doesn't have a leavening agent in it. My snickerdoodle recipe listed baking soda, so I just omitted it. They came out fine. Not as puffy as usual, but still delicious and with cute pumpkin faces!!!

Here's my recipe...

SALLY'S SNICKERDOODLES
Makes 3 dozen

1 Cup Butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2-3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda (you can leave it out)
1/4 teaspoon salt
---------------------------------------------------------
2 tablespoons sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 400. Cream together butter and sugar, eggs and vanilla. Blend in flour, cream of tartar, soda (if using) and salt. Shape dough by rounded spoonfulls into balls. Roll balls into sugar-cinnamon mixture.

Place dough balls on ungreased cookie sheet and press with cookie stamp. After pressing they won't spread during baking. If not using cookie stamps (and if you included baking powder) make sure you space your cookie balls about 2 inches apart so they can expand and rise.

Bake 8-10 minutes depending on how soft you like your cookies. Eat them all!

*Bat Punch retired 2011