Add a Little Fun to Your Phone!

I couldn't help myself.... even if the googly eyes don't work in the cell phone case, it just makes using the phone a little more fun!  Why limit yourself to just cards... look around you and see what you can stamp!  This was pretty simply done using the Howlstooth & Scaring Bone Designer Series Paper and the Googly Ghouls stamp set. The "Boo" I created in My Digital Studio but if you don't have the program YET, you can use the Boo stamp in Googly Ghouls. Happy Halloween and Happy Stamping!

No time for Christmas Cards?

Well, you no longer can use that excuse!  Stampin' Up! has made it so easy for you to whip up some nice cards this year.  Go grab that holiday catalog and follow along with me. On page 12, you grab some of the Snow Festival Designer Printed tags. Then you flip back to page 8 and find the Greetings of the Season Stamp set.  If you want to jazz it up a little more, then peek at the Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stacks on page 20.  I made it even easier for myself by using Stampin' Up!'s set of 20 Note Cards & Envelopes on page 160 of the big catalog. So now that you have your few items - start creating! Here are a few of the cards I came up with....

 

 

 

 

 

I did dabble with another stamp set as well from the big catalog, More Merry Messages on page 15. But just by adding a few ribbons or a flower, you can give some very nice homemade cards this year. If you don't have a BigShot to do embossing, don't forget to check my events page for Open Crop time, or call me to schedule some :o) 

Pink or Blue?

Aren't these just the cutest little cards? What a wonderful way to celebrate a new baby. So simple to make too!  I did two polka-dot versions, but you can do just about anything! 

For a little extra girly - I did a scalloped edge on these. You could also add ruffled ribbon or lace to really frill it up.  Pearls and the stitched ribon in Whisper White add another layer too. Stamps used were Every Little Bit for the bear, the bird and boat come from a new set called Baby Boutique. 

Dinosaur Art Aprons

 

Yes, I am willing to stamp anything! Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  This was an apron picked up a while ago at a dollar store. Well, the decal was flaking off and it was time for fixing it up. My three year old helped me decorate this with his favorite stamp set, Dinoroar! We stamped the apron using StazOn ink (page 157 in the catalog) and then colored in the dinosaurs using fabric markers.

StazOn is wonderful to work with if you have not tried it. You can stamp just about anything! Tiles, glass, plastic bags... look around you and let your mind just create! 

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String

These are a few of my favorite things!  Yes, on this one simple brown paper bag - are some of my favorite Stampin' Up! items. This one was focusing on Halloween - but what an affordable way to make a treat for someone. 100 brown lunch bags for $1.25 at the grocery store - you can't beat that! What an easy way to brighten someones day. Let me share with you some of the favorites on this bag though.

First off is the Blossom Punch, I use this one a lot! Yes, it coordinates with the Mixed Bunch Stamp set, but you can use it in many ways. Here I layered it with my other favorite punch - the BoHo Blossom. It has three blossoms and a million ways to use them.  The little Frankenstien is from the Holiday Catalog in the Googly Ghouls stamp set.  Having a blast with these, though I did not add the googly eyes on this one.

Remember that Blossom punch from above - that is what I used to make this wonderful flower! Punch out five flowers, pierce them in the centers. Mist them with water - Stampin' Up!'s spritzer tool works well for this.  Use a small brad and layer the flowers together. You can do all one color or mix and match as I have done (Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, and Howlstooth & Scaringbone Designer Series Paper). Gently pull up each layer around the brad, scrunching it as you go. Do just one layer at at time. Then when all is wadded up, slowly un"scrunch" them leaving the center somewhat closed.  If you want more detailed directions, contact me and I can email you a step by step instruction sheet.

And yes, some more favorites - I used the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder for the paper bag. On the Top Note Die cut for the handle, I used the Chevron embossing folder.  I punched out the handle using the Modern Label punch. The package is tied closed with the Bakers Twine in Lucky Limeade.  The cute little tag I actually created in MDS2 the digital design software from Stampin' Up!  It is so easy to make little tags like this for any occasion. Making treats for a class? You can easily add each student's name to personalize your treats. 

I hope you enjoyed this whirlwind of favorites - I would love to hear from you which are your favorite items from Stampin' Up!.

Holiday Sampler - October 13

Join me from 2-4 for a little sampling of everything holiday! There is so much to choose from this time of year, so I want to share all the fun I am having with Stampin' Up!'s new products. We will be making Halloween treats and a Christmas card or two. Class fee is $10. Please RSVP by October 10 at 704-787-8444.

Scrap & Yap - coming up!

On Friday September, 21, and again Monday October 8, I am hosting open shop time from 9:30 to 11:30. You are free to come join me in my workshop to get ideas, to create together, and basically as the title implies... Scrap and Yap. If you choose to use my stamps and inks there is a $5 fee. Additional materials will also be available for purchase. Please contact me at 704-787-8444 or Mightyoakstampers@yahoo.com if you need directions.

Want to learn more about stamping? More comfortable learning one-on-one? Just contact me and we can set up a private class just for you!

Snow Flurry in September?

Easy to have some snow this early in the season if you have this Snow Flurry Bigz Die from Stampin' Up!  I was able to whip up this ornament in just minutes.... how sweet is that?  Holiday decorating can be easy this year. You can run almost anything through the BigShot. For this ornament I used metal flashing for the extra shine.  If you don't have a BigShot, but want to try making these ornaments, keep an eye on my schedule for holiday events or open crop dates!

Abundant Blessings....

I have been so blessed lately! I have had a lot of help from family and friends recently and wanted to be sure to thank them. My inspiration for these cards (other than thankfulness) was the Cotton Ribbon in the Holiday catalog. Hmmmm, what else could I stamp on that? Well, I grabbed the set closest to me - Flowering Flourishes. Not what I might have normally picked because it has wonderful but big stamps. Then there was this adorable sweet flower that just begged to be stamped on the ribbon. Voila - and that is how cards get made!  I challenged myself to use the same ribbon in four different ways  All Materials and colors are listed at the bottom of the page.

 

So by just changing it a little here or there you can really change the look of a card. Cardstock colors are Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Primrose Petals and 2012-14 In Color Designer Series Paper. I used the Flowering Flourishes and Curly Cute stamp set (this is a great starter set!). Inks were Primrose Petals, Gumball Green and Early Espresso. The embellishments were the 3/8" Cotton Ribbon, Naturals Designer Buttons, Pearl Basic Jewels, and the linen thread.  Enjoy!

More Googlies!

Such googly fun!  I love this funky little Frankenstien. (or is that Frankensteen?) I was so excited to get out my candy bags too! These are wonderful little treats to hand out to all the little goblins you know! Actually, even the big goblins like them too!

This tag was made with the Googly Ghouls stamp set, and Labels Collection Framelits. I embossed the Lucky Limeade cardstock with the Chevron embossing folder.  It is tied off with Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine.  The 1x8 cellophane bags are only $2.50 for fifty bags! What a great deal and though they are pretty thin, you can stuff the with a lot: M&Ms, gumballs, Nerds, pixie stix, gummy bears, sunflower seeds, licorice, skittles... and of course candy corn!

Oh! But she's a good witch!

Isn't she just the cutest little witch? I am having a blast with the Googly Ghouls Stamp Set!  Yes, I could have added a ton of googlies to this card, but restrained myself.  But as with everything Stampin' Up!... the possibilities are endless. Here I have combined it with the Howlstooth & Scaringbone Designer Series Paper.  The Labels Collection Framelits give me a perfect backdrop for the witch. 

Final #13 in the Baker's Dozen!

Yes, we have reached the end of the Baker's Dozen series. I have so enjoyed working with the colors in the Candlelight Christmas Designer Series Paper: Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Primrose Petals, Real Red, and Very Vanilla. I am having a great time working on Christmas cards even though it is only September. 

Don't forget to order the 7/8" Cotton Ribbon while it is available. The ribbon is on page 20 of the Holiday catalog. Combine it with the Border Banter set to get some extra stamps made specifically for stamping this ribbon.  The card above is finished off with a Real Red button from the Brights collection and the linen thread. 

If you are interested in more information on creating your own Baker's Dozen, contact me. Hope you were able to enjoy a long weekend and have found some extra time for stamping and creating!

September is Spool Time!!!

For the month of September, you will receive a free package of 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon for every $40 you spend.  The ribbon comes in the new In Colors: Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple or Summer Starfruit.  Order your Halloween supplies now and get the free ribbon while you can.  Shop now on my website www.hilarysmith.stampinup.net