Have You Seen It Yet?

Why - the NEW Spring/Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog of course! :) It is Bea - u - ti - ful! Oh, and lots of great new stamps, embellishments and tools too! heehee These baskets were all done with the NEW Raspberry Tart DSP (Designer Series Paper) - isn't it yummy? The paper I mean, not the chocolates inside the basket. ;) I used the Big Shot and the Bigx XL Baskets and Blooms Die to make these.

Let me tell you - that Big Shot "works like butter". With this die, the basket pieces are cut, along with the tag I used and several different flower which I am hoping to have show up on near future designs. I used Mini Glue Dots to adhere the bottom piece to the two side pieces - easy peasy and quick too. Stamped and sponged a Curly Label punch to layer on the die cut tag, and attach with a bow of Rose Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon.

Just imagine the possibilities of this fabulous die..... St. Valentine's Day treats, shower and party favors, May Baskets, Secret Santa, Girls Shopping Day Out, Just Because...... What would you use these adorable little purse baskets for?





Stamps: Love You Much
Cardstock: Raspberry Tart DSP, Whisper White
Ink: Regal Rose and Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Big Shot, Bigz XL Baskets & Blooms Die, Rose Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Curly Label Punch, Mini Glue Dots & Sponge Dauber. ENJOY!

Crazy for Cupcakes AND ....

... MY NEW WATERMARK! I am soooooo excited because I just (literally in the last few minutes!) figured out, all by my lonesome, how to insert my beautiful new watermark onto my project pics in GIMP. GIMP is free software that can do A TON of things I have no clue about - lol, but I use it for photo editing, and NOW for watermark inserting!! Can we say HAPPY DANCE, Happy Dance, happy dance...

Okay - so the card (heehee). I love the look of cupcakes, well, really anything small like that - babies are my favorite! :) I ordered the Crazy for Cupcakes set when it was on sale last year and am finally getting around to using it. Part of my 2009 Papercrafting Resolutions don't ya know?
I also used the SU! Bigz Top Note Die for the first time - very cool! Did you know that a lot of the Sizzix dies, including many of the Stampin' Up! exclusives are not only able to be used in the Big Shot, but the Big Kick, the Cuttlebug and other machines too? How cool is that? don't have any of these fun tools yet? contact me to order your Big Shot Starter Kit today, or check it out online via the Shop Now button on my SU! site.

Here's a second design with the same layout but changed up positioning and colors. For both cards, I water-colored with the Blender Pen and Classic Ink Pads on the cupcake papers, the stand and the candle. The edges of the Top Note and Curly Label Punch ( they are so cute together!) are both sponged with Classic Ink. I used a Quickie Glue Pen to outline the cupcake frosting and Top Note, to fill in the candle flame and to make polka dots on the balloons to hold the Iridescent Ice Glitter. I used a mask on the tone-on-tone balloons, then a Stampin' Dimensional to pop up the center balloon. Add a coordinating 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon bow on a Mini Glue Dot and VOILA - two pretty cards! I lined the inside of each card with a layer of the same color as the outside, then stamped the large cupcake image in the Crazy for Cupcakes set tone-on-tone with the wording from the set in the darker color used.

Tip: Isn't the 'half' a punch cute? Stamp close to the edge of your card stock, then flip your punch over and line up the stamped image/wording where you want it, then punch it out. This is usually much easier than trying to stamp in alignment on a very small, already punched piece.

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes
Cardstock: Confetti White, Rose Red, Barely Banana, Tempting Turquoise & Gable Green
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, rose Red, Barely Banaa, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green & YoYo Yellow
Accessories: Bigz Top Note Die, Curly Label Punch, Iridescent Ice Glitter, Rose Red & Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots & Stampin' Sponge
ENJOY!

YOU Did It! - Punched Penguins Card

I received this VERY FUN card from Beth H. at Christmas. Too darn cute Beth! Thanks!!

Beth used Basic Black, Whisper White, Only Orange, Kraft and Soft Sky(retired) card stock. Punches used: 3/4" Circle, Small & Large Oval and the Spring Bouquet (retired) Punches.

This is a wonderful example of the versatility of the SU! punches - thanks again Beth.

YOU Did It!

This lovely card was designed by Marcia R. and was one of my birthday cards this past November. 9I had meant to post this and the previous scrapbook page pic while we were on vacation, but I ran out time waiting for Blogger to remove the post verification - it's removed now though! woohoo!)

Marcia used the beautiful SU! set Upsy Daisy, as well as the Scallop Circle Punch. I love her added "bling" with the blue gems and the Stickles on the daisies. Great job Marcia!

YOU Did It! - Scrapbook Layout

Family friend, Joan T. created this scrapbook page layout for my b-i-l's pre-wedding activities. Joan used to babysit for Alex! :)

I wanted to share her creativity here - look closely at the scrapbook page. Joan used the "Save the Date" postcard Alex & Julie sent out, and the shower invitation I sent out (with the inserts pulled out and incorporated into the page), as well as the shower favor. In order to create the layers under the postcard, she disassembled a second shower invitation (nice recycling idea!) She added some coordinating flower and swirl images for a subtle background and VOILA! a lovely scrapbook page memorializing the pre-wedding activities. Great job Joan!

Introducing...StampinJewels' New Face!

I just loved the blog skin I found for the Christmas season - remember the Wisemen and the Star? But there's nothing like a mini-makeover! I have been so very excited to release the NEW StampinJewels Blog Banner! My birthday treat to myself was this FABULOUS new blog banner, plus a new signature image AND a couple of new Watermarks for my projects (you'll have to wait to see the watermarks.)

I worked with the very talented Michelle Laycock, who is also a Sudsol stamping sister. What a fun and different creative process creating the blog banner was! Michelle asked me a bunch of questions, and I did my best to answer then honestly. Are you sitting down? Of course you are, you're on the computer - LOL - get ready to giggle! I actually used these words in my communications with Michelle - Are you sure you're ready?! ;)

"Kind of an angelic, ethereal with understated definition."

What a HOOT! Did *I* just think/type/say that?! Okay - those who know me, please pick yourself up off the floor now or your stomach will hurt even more from this fit of giggles! :)

It really is a beautiful blog banner - IMHO. THANK YOU so much Michelle, for patiently helping me draw out my own imagination and creativity in a different way - and then giving it a physical image for me.

Since Thanksgiving I have felt so busy and it has really taken a toll on my stamping Mojo. My plan is to change all that, as stated in the previous post, so hopefully you'll be seeing my new watermarks soon!

SOOOO, head on over to Michelle's site and get yourself started on a wonderful creative journey that ends in your very own, personalized blog banner, siggy and watermark. Please, tell Michelle StampinJewels sent you! And remember to leave a link to your blog here once your new Laycock banner is up. For now - I'd love to hear your comments on these new StampinJewels blog features :) ENJOY!

What's Your 2009 Stamping Resolution?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Every year many of us aim at coming up with resolutions for change - either adding something or subtracting something to our lives. Regular exercisers cringe at this time of you as the YMCA and opther health clubs get "really" busy for 4-6 weeks, before the crowds begin to taper off again. I'll leave those kinds of resolutions alone - but lets focus on what we all love to do - PAPERCRAFTING!

What resolution(s) do you have for your stamping, scrapbooking, etc.?

For me, I am carrying over a 2008 resolution regarding a certain SU! perpetual Birthday Calendar - i.e. getting it stamped and embellished, names written in the appropriate months, and cards done ahead of time so they are ready to mail out. (Please don't remind me I'm already behind again on this project!)

I'm also re-resolving to start my scrapbooking adventure in 2009. The desire to scrapbook has been growing and growing - and I have YEARS of pictures I would like to scrapbook, so no lack there.

So what's the plan?
Now that I have some resolutions or goals - how exactly am I going to make them happen? Good question - by scheduling time in each week to work on them. Sounds silly to have to "schedule in" stamping for the sheer pleasure of it time, doesn't it? But I know most of you understand completely! :)

So what's your plan(s)? How will you go about making them happen in 2009?

Please share your comments here so we may all draw inspiration and strength from each other. And please share the invitation to set papercrafting goals with your papercrafting family & friends! ENJOY!