Paper Pumkins Special Pricing Promotion

If you have not signed up to receive the monthly Paper Pumpkins kit, now is the chance you have been waiting for. Until August 31, sign up for Paper Pumpkins, and your kit will be only $10 per month for the first two months. That is only $5 per kit and $5 for shipping!  Just remember to include the Promo Code PUMKINDEAL when placing your order.  With the monthly kit program, there are never any minimum purchases required, no contracts, and you can change your mind at any time. Even if you have a month that you know you will be away and don't want a kit that month, just notify them by the 10th of the month and you can skip a month!  You don't see that flexibility with other monthly kit clubs.  So what are you waiting for, even if you just try it for the two promotional months, you can't lose!  I have a feeling you might get used to having a little box show up magically on your doorstep each month.  Visit https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/?demoid=2098662 or click on the Paper Pumpkins button on my blog page. 

Modern Medley Bird Silhouette

Okay, you still have today to grab some of the Designer Series Paper on sale... so quick add Modern Medley to your order!  This card is a wonderful sampling of the paper.  This was one of the cards we made at the Convention After Party on Saturday. 

Have you ever found yourself spending a lot of time waiting... waiting for appointments, or for kids to finish up classes or sports, and wondering what you could actually get done if you could use that time better?  Here is your solution.  There is no inking involved with creating this card. It is perfect to pre-cut your pieces, put the pieces and some Snail Adhesive in a little box , our Wood Mount Stamp Cases work wonderfully! Check out page 197 in the Annual Catalog. Then keep the box in your car to grab when you find yourself waiting someplace. Ta-Da you can be making cards anywhere at anytime!

Here the only ingredients are the Modern Medley Designer Series Paper, Very Vanilla and Basic Black card stock. The base layer was embossed using the Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder. The Bird Builder Punch creates the bird.  Here is another peek at the Modern Medley DSP.

I had written at the start of convention about taking swaps with me.  Swaps are similar to trading cards, you bring what you want to share and offer to swap with other demonstrators. I took 170 swaps to Convention in Salt Lake City. That also means that I came home with that many new ideas.  This is the first one to be shared. The original design is by Sharon Hale. Isn't this just a beautiful card? Stay tuned for some more ideas coming from the swaps!

Fabulous Florets with New Colors

I am having such a hard time picking a favorite lately! I know, I usually have a ton of current favorites...and that is probably the case right now. Smoky Slate is definitely in the running though. I just love working (playing) with this color!  Add to it the new shades of Strawberry Slush and Pistachio Pudding and I was loving it!  The flowers come from the Fabulous Florets stamp set. I added clear embossing powder to give them a little extra shine. One of the flowers I cut out and then popped off the page with a Stampin' Up! Dimensional.  The words come from the Simply Sketched set.

Are you ready to get your own Simply Sketched stamp set?  You can only get the set using Hostess Dollars.  Contact me to set up your own private stamping party with your friends.  Don't want to prep your house? Have it here at my place. If you have six people at the party and each one makes just a twenty-five dollar purchase, you get twenty-five Hostess Dollars to spend.  So start thinking about which friends you are going to invite and contact me to set up your next party. You can email me at MightyOakStampers@yahoo.com 

Woodgrain Serene Silouettes

Here is another card from my guest designer :o)  Thanks Mom!  Here she has used the Serene Silhouettes stamp set, using the Marvelous Markers to color in a couple of the birds Rose Red and So Saffron. The image is stamped on Very Vanilla, then layered on a piece of Crumb Cake card stock.  Another layer is created using Baked Brown Sugar card stock and embossing it with the Woodgrain embossing folder. A little Linen Thread adds another layer and softens the card.  The sentiments come from the Simply Sketch Hostess Stamp set.  It was stamped on Crumb Cake cut out using the Scallop Oval Punch. 

It has been wonderful having her here this summer and I will surely miss her company. I especially love our time in the craft room working away at cards. It is so fun to bounce ideas off of each other and get ideas from whatever the other is working on.  Stamping can definitely be a social activity! Want to have that experience? Then keep an eye on the events page, I am working on setting up a fall schedule. Come stamp with others - learn new techniques and make some new friends!  I hope to see you soon at one of my events!

Pansy Punch Stencilled

I am so enjoying the new 2013-15 In Color collection! How about you? Have you played with these colors yet?  Here I have teamed Baked Brown Sugar and Crisp Cantaloupe with Pink Pirouette from the Subtles collection.  Using the Pansy Punch, I created a stencil to sponge the flower background on Whisper White card stock.  I then added the Baked Brown Sugar flowers using the Flower Shop stamp set.  The "Thank You" comes from the Best of Greetings stamp set. The sentiment embellishment was created by layering a Large Oval Punch on a Scallop Oval Punch. 

So don't limit your punches to just punching out the stamp sets they might match.  Use them as stencils to create a different background piece, or use them to create 3-D flowers.... just start playing and see what you can come up with!

Are YOU Ready to Make a Difference?

 

Have you wondered what it is like to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator? Would you like to save 20% on ALL of your Stampin' Up purchases?  Contact me at MightyOakStampers@yahoo.com to find out about all the fun you are currently missing out on.  If you sign up with me between now and August 31,  you can pick a free project kit - including three options from the new Holiday catalog!  Stampin' Up! also let's you customize your starter kit, so you can pick what items are important to you. You know you love Stampin' Up! products, so why not get them at a great discount and then share your love with your friends.    E-mail the above address or call 980-621-2202 to contact me today to find out more about joining the Stampin' Up! team

You’ll be able to select one of the items below in addition to your starter kit. 

Kit Description	Item	Value
Build a Banner Simply Created Kit AND Halloween Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit	133507 132698	$29.90
Build a Banner Simply Created Kit AND Christmas Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit	133507 132697	$29.90
Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit	133463	$19.95
Tag a Bag Bundle AND Tag a Box Bundle	131371 131372	$22.45

. 

 

 

Flower Shop Layered

I had some experimental pieces left over from my process of designing my convention swap card. Well, no sense in just tossing them!  Here I have stamped a background using Smoky Slate ink on the same color card stock.  The Creative Elements stamp set was used.  I added a Coastal Cabana and Island Indigo flower from the Flower Shop stamp set. This piece was layered on Island Indigo and Old Olive card stock.  A piece of 1/8" Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon adds a little depth.  The sentiment comes from the Simply Sketched set.  I really enjoy this color combination. Have you played with the Smoky Slate yet? It is one of my new favorites! What are some of your favorite colors lately? Feel free to add yours to the comments below. 

Ruffle Stretch Trim

I saw this color combination in a fellow demonstrators card and had to play with them. I used Basic Black, Coastal Cabana, and Wisteria Wonder. The Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder gives the Basic Black layer a bit of texture and depth.  The ribbon is the new 3.8 Ruffle Stretch Trim in Coastal Cabana. This is the 2013-15 In-Color featured ribbon.  The Flower Shop stamp set and Pansy Punch add the blossom to the card. The Modern Label punch and Best of Greetings provide the greeting. 

Have you tried this color grouping? It's a lot of fun to play with and the Basic Black background really makes the colors pop.  Take a little time today if you can to play with different colors and see what happens by changing combinations. 

Convention Wrap Up!

No, this will not be the LAST time I mention the Stampin' Up! convention in a post. But don't worry, if you need some new card ideas, I will have some more up here shortly! I had such a fun time - getting some creative inspiration, and meeting some truly amazing people.  Here were a few of them; Jennifer, Karen, Rhonda, and Michelle. And who is that in the middle of the photo? Yes, that is Shelli!!!!  She is the Co-Founder of Stampin' Up and a truly wonderfully sweet lady. I am so inspired by what she has created in this company, not only with their products, but how they operate the organization.  They are always focused on ways to make a difference in the world. 

While I was at convention, I was able to participate in a service project with other demonstrators. We put together two thousand birthday kits to be delivered to a local children's hospital. The kits included birthday banners that we assembled along with other supplies to make their day a little brighter. Stampin' Up also donated a lot of supplies as well as the kits.  Imagine how much brighter that day will be for any child who has to be in the hospital for their birthday.  We also had a visit from Ronald McDonald who talked about the ten years of Stampin' Up partnering with the Ronald McDonald House Charities.  Every  year, in addition to thousands of volunteer hours and cards at Houses nationwide, Stampin' Up creates a special stamp set that is designated as the RMHC set for the year.  For each set sold, Stampin' Up! donates three dollars to RMHC.  Here is the set for the 2013-2014 annual catalog

 

This set is called Tag It and is priced at $22.95 (item 130300). It is a great all around stamp for different occasions and it also coordinates with the Chalk Talk Framelit Dies. If you are ready to order this set and help support this great cause, please visit my site at www.HilarySmith.StampinUp.net today.

 

If you want to hear more about Convention and all the wonderful opportunities available for Stampin' Up Demonstrators, sign up for my Convention After Party scheduled for Sunday, July 28.  Check my events page for more details and to RSVP. Hope to see you then.

Convention 2013 Opening Day

Wahoooo!!! Convention starts today!!!!  Today I will get to join with almost six thousand other stampers to celebrate the fun and joy of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  This is my first Convention experience and I am thrilled and excited for things to start.  I am so fortunate that my Upline Karen Hambright is here to share the experience with me and help guide me along.  We met last night for a wonderful dinner at the Blue Iguana. 

 

Afterward we walked over to the Convention center and Karen gave me a full tour so I could get myself grounded before it was overflowing with other demonstrators.  I am so thankful we had the opportunity to do that.

 

Then we headed over to City Creek and shopped at Brighton Collectibles. Brighton has created a little bag tag just for SU Demonstrators to help celebrate their 25th anniversary. They also had special bee charms for us. How wonderful is that? 

 

Today I will start my official convention experience with a tour of the Stampin' Up! facilities in Riverton, Utah. Then back to the Convention center for the Opening Session this evening. I am so excited for this experience.

 

Stay tuned for more Convention 2013 updates!

 

 

Setting Sail Newest Polymer stamp

If you are wishing to be at the beach about now, this is the stamp set for you! Stampin' Up! has introduced a new photopolymer (think clear rubber) stamp set called Settin' Sail. This is just in time for all your summer scrapbooking or cards.  Can't get to the beach? Throw a beach party right where you are using these to set the mood - starting with your invitations!   

Here is another peek at the set

So get aboard and get your Settin' Sail stamp set today (item 133453 priced at $13.95). You can order any time of day at my website www.HilarySmith.StampinUp.net

Beautifully Baroque Core'dinations

Have you tried Stampin' Up!'s new Core'dinations paper?  This is sandable card stock which creates a beautiful effect with your embossing folders. Here I have used the Beautifully Baroque Embossing folder on my piece of Strawberry Slush Core'dinations paper.  Once it was embossed, a little sanding brings out the lighter paper underneath the surface.  So easy!!!  A few of the Very Vanilla Blossom Punches were also embossed with the Beautifully Baroque folder.  I ran a little 1/8" Basic Black Taffeta on the card stock, then layered it on a piece of Basic Black card stock.  Once attached, I added the layered flower pieces. A Basic Black 7/8 scallop punch underneath the In Color Boutique Details embellishment really makes it pop. 

If you haven't tried the Core'dinations paper yet, and want to give it a test run, sign up for the Convention After Party on July 28th. RSVP on either my Stampin' Up Web page or my Facebook page.  You can also email me at MightyOakStampers@yahoo.com if you need directions. Hope to see you there!

Too Kind Convention Swap

A big part of Stampin' Up! Convention is the swaps. Yes, a lot like baseball cards, you get together and swap cards. This is an awesome way to get new ideas and meet a ton of new people. But to get swaps, you have to give swaps. I will be bringing 170 card fronts to Convention this year, which means I will be bringing 170 new designs and ideas home with me!  This is the design that I made to swap.

I kept this somewhat simple, but with enough layers and samples to keep it interesting (hopefully!).  The base card stock is Island Indigo. The next layer of Smoky Slate card stock has been stamped with the new Dictionary Stamp.  It creates my own printed paper - I love it!  The stamped elements come from the Too Kind stamp set. The flowers are a three step process, stamping the stems first, the lighter part of the blossom, then the darker part. I have used Old Olive, Coastal Cabana, and Island Indigo for the flowers.  A piece of Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon runs across the bottom of the card. The words are punched out using the Curly Label punch. 

If you still don't have a new catalog, please contact me and I can get one out to you. You can also shop online anytime www.HilarySmith.StampinUp.net.

Pansy Punch, Making Lemonade

I had a lot to get done in the office one day, so I invited my four year old to join me in there for a few minutes so I could finish some things up.  It was going pretty well for a few minutes. Which is about the length of a four-year old's attention span when they really don't feel like being in the office. The little guy declares "hey Mom, see I am helping you fold this paper up" and there is a piece of Baked Brown Sugar in his little hands.  My first reaction was to say "stop it can get ruined!" but then realized, this is not so to a small child. So I tried not to panic and as I gently removed it, I said, "Don't you worry, Mommy will figure out what to do with the paper. I can fix it." So then it was my challenge to show him that it could be fixed.

I grabbed the Pansy Punch and punched out some flowers. Then since they already had creases, I actually wadded them up into balls to make them crinklier (yes, I make up words too!).  A little Itty Bitty Shapes punch using Coastal Cabana card stock and a Basic Jewels Pearl in the center finished the flowers.  These were layered on Crisp Cantaloupe, with a layer of Coastal Cabana and Baked Brown Sugar underneath it.  The sentiment comes from the Best of Greetings stamp. 

So now I am thankful that he crumpled my card stock, which inspired this new card.  Just keep playing with your papers and inks, look around at the world inside and outside... you never know where your next idea will come from!

Embossing on Glass

Okay, yes, I saw this on the Internet and HAD to try it!  For my first attempt, I opted to keep it simple.  I used my Embossing Buddy and rubbed down the glass votive.  After selecting a stamp from the Best of Butterflies set, I stamped it with my VersaMark on the glass.  A little Tangerine Tango embossing powder was then sprinkled on it.  I carefully used my heat tool to melt the embossing powder and you see the finished result above.  If you are interested in having a class making these, just write a note in the comments.  It might be a great way to get a head start on your Christmas gifts this year!

 

 

Flowering Flourishes with Swallowtail

Oh how many ways to use this stamp?  I was a bit intimidated by it when I saw the Swallowtail stamp in the Spring Catalog. But once I had the chance to use it at a workshop, I instantly fell in love with it! Here the Flowering Flourishes stamp set creates a pattered paper in Coastal Cabana ink stamped on Whisper White.  The Swallowtail is stamped in Rich Razzleberry, as is the sentiment which comes from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  The base card is made layering Rich Razzleberry and Coastal Cabana card stock. 

So if you are still undecided about getting this stamp, feel free to contact me to set up a stamping day. You can come sample some of the stamps and see the papers in person.  Once you see how well the Stampin' Up! inks and papers work together, trust me you will love them!  Email me today at MightyOakStampers@yahoo.com to schedule your visit today!

Sketched Birthday - Celebrate U

Here's a fun a bright card for just about any age.  At no point in our lives should we stop celebrating each birthday that we get or celebrating ourselves every day!  I picked some happy bright colors from the Brights collection: Bermuda Bay, Real Read, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Daffodil Delight.

The celebrate sign and the cake stamp come from the Sketched Birthday stamp set.  I used the letter U from the Morning Post Alphabet stamp set.  You might be able to see splashes of color here and there on the Whisper White card stock.  You can add liquid and a drop or two of your favorite colors of ink to our Stampin' Spritzers. Spritz away for a splash of color on any project.

Flower Shop

While I was designing my Convention swap, I did a little experimenting with colors and stamps. I started with a Smoky Slate piece of cardstock. The background is stamped with the Flowering Flourishes stamp. I added the layered Flower Shop stamps in Strawberry Slush and Rich Razzleberry.  A layer of Rich Razzleberry card stock sets apart from the rest of the card. A piece of Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon was added across the Coastal Cabana card stock.  This layer was also embossed using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. This a great card for birthday or thank you notes.

Stock up on Designer Series Paper this month!

With a new annual catalog, comes a whole new batch of Designer Series Papers!  Stampin' Up! is helping you get some of those new designs into your supply stash.  If you order three during the month of July, you get one additional set free.  Start shopping now at www.HilarySmith.StampinUp.net. 


Here are a couple of options, but check the website for all the papers available.

Birthday Basics Designer Series Paper

Modern Medley Designer Series Paper

Visit my website by following the link above or clicking the Shop Now button on my blog.

 

Oval Framelit Triple Layer Oops!

I have to laugh at this one. If you saw the Framelits Triple Layer card last week, this was actually the first attempt at making it.  I had been playing with the new In-Colors of Pistachio Pudding and Coastal Cabana. Using the Oval Framelits, I created ovals in Pistachio and Whisper White.  The Swallowtail image was stamped in Pistachio and an image from Best of Butterflies was stamped in Coastal Cabana.  This method does work somewhat for the triple layer card, but I was not as happy with the final result because the image is lost somewhat. It was a combination of the stamp choices and the extra width of the Pistachio card stock when using the framelits that made me not really like the final product. 

However, I wanted to try again using different colors and framelits, so I put this experiment aside to go down that other path.  A bit later, the table was getting messy, as it usually does while I am in there.  I confess the only time it looks really neat is just before a class, I tend to create using the organized chaos theory.  Anyway.... during the chaos part of that theory, a stamp pad accidentally fell face down (of course!) onto the sample. Instead of just tossing it, I started to play with it to see how it could be salvaged.  The final result is above.  When I was just starting to play with paper I had someone tell me "there are no errors in paper-crafting, only room for embellishments." I still quote that to my students today, and obviously use that theory in practice.  So if you "mess" up a card you are working on, don't throw it out, just put it aside until you can redesign or create something new out of it. 

Rev Up The Fun Motorcycle

Coastal Cabana and Basic Black are just fun together!  I wanted a background paper for this card, but none were working for what was in my vision for this card. So I created my own background using the tire tracks from the Rev Up The Fun stamp set. I stamped using the same color, Coastal Cabana, for the ink and cardstock.  Then I added the motorcycle and words from the same stamp set in Basic Black. So simple to throw together and great for birthday or just an everyday card. 

July - Best of Shelli

 

Stampin' Up! has released the month's "Best of" stamp set. This month it is the Best of Shelli! She went back over twenty five years of catalogs and picked out her favorites.  If you want to see her describing the process, check out her blog here http://soshelli.com/so-shelli-blog/2013/6/29/a-sneak-peek-at-my-faves.html

 

If you are ready to get this set for your own collection, shop my website at www.HilarySmith.StampinUp.net  The set is item #133488 for just $14.95.

Rev Up The Fun Car

Here is another version of the Rev Up The Fun stamp set.  Basic Black paired with Cherry Cobbler keep it with clean lines.  I used my VersaMark pad to stamp the car image on Basic Black. I then added Cherry Cobbler embossing powder to add a glossier image that pops off the card. 

Here is a better look at this stamp set.

 

Check back for some more versions of this set coming soon! Or order it today and you can get started on your own designs.

Subtle Thoughts and Prayers

Sometimes, you just want a very soft gentle card to let a person know you are thinking of them. This is the perfect card.  The base and top layer are done in Pistachio Pudding. The tree from the Thoughts and Prayers set is stamped in Pistachio Pudding as well giving it a very quiet effect.  The words and the middle layer of the card are Baked Brown Sugar. The softness of the card is almost like putting a hug in an envelope, which was the way I hoped it to be.

Here is the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set.  I have used it for just about everything, even Valentines day where I hung a little red heart from the tree branches. 

This a pretty flexible set. The flowering vine can also be used alone or with other sentiments. Dress it up by adding Pearl Basic Jewels to the center of each flower.