For the last couple months, I’ve really racked up the samples with this stamp set that we received for free in April on SU!’s incentive cruise to the Southern Caribbean. Since I haven’t posted much since then, I thought I’d give you a taste of some of the samples using this stamp set to enjoy over the Labor Day holiday! First, are scrapbook page and card samples from this month’s Crop n’ Cards class. My favorite part of this ensemble is the color combination of Cherry Cobbler, Elegant Eggplant and More Mustard. It is so striking and warm and I think perfect for the theme. 

In contrast to that, is the bright and cheery color combination used on the swap card I did for a New Catalog Mega Swap last month.

And finally, this card is one that I did at my catalog kick off last month using our new In Colors. It was quick and easy and used more punches. I especially love that I can punch out the little flowers in the stamp set with our Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309 – $16.95) and they layer real nicely under our clear Bitty Buttons (118761  $4.95)

Guess what these last two stamped samples have in common?

A wonderful new greeting set that works with all of our punches:  Perfect Punches. This set covers a myriad of occasions and makes quick work of it because they can be punched out with our Scallop Oval, Wide Oval, Scallop Circle, Modern Label, Round Tab and Curly Label punches.

If you’d like to purchase either of Printed Petals or Perfect Punches, drop me a quick line or give me a buzz or go to http://amanda.stampinup.net to shop online 24/7! Here’s the sets, codes and prices.

116679 PRINTED PETALS STAMP SET $19.95 WOOD

120444 PRINTED PETALS STAMP SET $14.95 CLEAR

117022 PERFECT PUNCHES STAMP SET WOOD $24.95

120516 PERFECT PUNCHES STAMP SET CLEAR $17.95

Now go stamp or go shop! )

I know I missed you! 

Blogging to me is like having a nice long chat with a friend. I’ve missed our chats! I’ve missed sharing my projects. And most of all, I’ve missed all of your encouraging comments, praise and feedback.

What was supposed to be a short sabbatical from the blog, turned out to be more like a long Summer break. Sorry I did that to ya’ll. Do ya forgive me?

How about if I promised to post some really cool projects?

Yea?

Okay…deal!

Here’s one of my scrapbook pages and cards from my Crop N’ Cards class. My customers absolutely loved the three I offered today. Quote: "These are some of your absolute best ones yet, Amanda." (And I didn’t pay them to say that…promise!)

LAST CHANCE FOR FIRST DAY!

Today was the first day of school around here. I know…early, huh? That’s what I thought at least. So, I figured doing a back-to-school page would be a safe bet! I figured that I might as well post this one first in honor of all the mom’s who’ve been working like a dickens to get the kiddos prepped and spit-shined for the first day.

Wish you could see this layout in person. The Real Red, Certainly Celery and Daffodil Delight just pop against the Basic Black card stock. And, if you gotta have this stamp set — which I could think of a bazillion school pages for — you only have until the end of August to get it! The wood mounted option is $23.95 and the clear mount is only $17.95. AND, teacher’s, you could use these images to create book marks, label books, mark kid’s papers, etc.

This layout has so many purposes. You could use it to scrap the annual school pictures over the years or several photos from their first day of school whether they are in kindergarten or going into their senior year in high school.

One of my customer’s (hey Cathy!) had her two daughters, now high school seniors and juniors, pose for pictures today so she could scrapbook them on this page. Of course, she said their reaction was, "Mom!! We’re too old for this." Cathy said, however, that they sure do appreciate all the scrapbook pages she’s done of them when they were in elementary school so they’ll eventually grow to appreciate these just like them.

Then, one of my other customers, who home school’s her 10 year-old daughter, brought her along to do the pages with her for art credit. I, of course, took it upon myself to take pictures of her on her "first day".

Isn’t this fun! Of course, she thought it was the coolest! I’m e-mailing the photos to her mom so they can scrapbook themselves scrapbooking the page! Ha ha ha!

 Here’s the coordinating card from the class. Figured it would be good for giving to a teacher or to encourage a youngster for their first day.

So that’s it for my first post since May. Not too bad of a debut, ya think? Hope you enjoyed the inspiration. Stay tuned for more fun from my recent classes. I promise to be posting regularly again.

Stampin’ Recipe:

• Stamp Set: First Day (from Summer Mini catalog)
• Inks: Real Red, Basic Black
• Card Stock: Basic Black, Real Red, Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White
• Accessories: Certainly Celery, Real Red and Daffodil Delight markers,Scallop Circle, 1 1/4 inch circle, 1 3/8 inch circle and Spiral Border punches

First Day: Set of 9 stamps

 Hello there! Welcome…welcome! Are you ready for a refreshing stop on your exploration of creativity with the many talented princesses?

Ahhh…feel the fresh balmy breeze, hear the lapping waves of the ocean and the shouts of the sea gulls and smell the coconut scent of tanning oil……couldn’t you use a sip of………………………

Ahhh….yes, a fruity cocktail would be nice right about now, wouldn’t it!?  I know, I know … I shouldn’t have teased you like that but I just felt that this adorable Coconut Cocktail card deserved a proper introduction!  In fact, when you tune in the first week of May, you’ll see a link to a You Tube video tutorial for this card as well as a way for you to download the coconut card pattern! So be sure to subscribe to my feed in the right-hand sidebar so you’ll not miss a thing (and be eligible for my blog candy–see below)

This was a card I created for a Summer Mini catalog swap I participated in this past month with other Stampin’ Up! cruise achievers. It uses new products from our new Summer Mini catalog starting May 1, including:

• 119976 Stampin’ Up! Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
• 118871 Stampin’ Up! Island Floral Bigz Die $21.95
• 118309 Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (3 punches) $16.95
• 117173 Island Oasis Designer Series Paper $9.95

Since I was gearing up for vacation, I was in the tropical frame of mind and kept on going with the theme when I needed packaging for cruise achiever friendship gifts:

Wish I could give every one of you who visit my blog one of these adorable bags(which uses the same die and punches as above plus the 115690 Treat Boxes — only $3.95 for 5 boxes, p. 159 in the Idea Book & Catalog), but alas, that would definitely break my bank! But, what I will do is give one lucky winner one! Yup– one of these cutie bags ALONG with the Level 3 Hostess Lovely Flowers Bundle which includes  the Lovely Lines stamp set, Lovely Flowers Designer paper and Lovely Lines Rub Ons! This way you can get tropical, too!

How to Win!

All you have to do is post a comment about your favorite project posted in this entry AND sign up to receive creative ideas from me in your in-box! (See my right sidebar subscription invitation- it says: Get a Semi-Daily Dosage of Ideas Sent to Your In Box! Subscribe Here!) That’s it! I’ll throw all the subscribers/posters names in a hat and draw a winner! You’ll then receive:

• the Lovely Flowers bundle
• the Tropical Treat Bag (above) AND……
• photos of the 20 pages of my Tropical Brag Book below! – 

Just to whet your blog candy appetite, here’s a photograph of two of the brag book layouts:

The brag book is our newest 6×6 offering in the Summer Mini catalog and the pages were created with the118515  Tropical Party stamp set (118515 Wood Mounted for $17.95 or 120081 Unmounted for $13.95) and Island Oasis Designer Series Paper (117173 $9.95 for 12 sheets, 2 of each of the 6 double-sided designs!)

Aren’t they fabulous!!? They are actually a sneak peek for an event I’m having called Scrapa-palooza! scheduled from 5 to 10 pm Sat., May 22 at Golden Corral Restaurant on Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa! If you’re in the area, you need to mark the date for this one! More details will be announced when I return from the Stampin’ Up! Incentive Cruise in early May!

And, finally, here’s the last sneak peek card for the Summer Mini catalog products:

This is another card I created for a Summer Mini catalog swap that I’m in! I used the new Party Favor boxes (117178 Island Oasis Party Favor boxes $5.95 for 12 boxes – 6 ea of 2 designs) to create the flower pot base.

.

Pretty cute…pretty cute! When I return from vacation, I’ll create a YouTube video to show how I did it!  So it won’t be top secret for long! I really LOVE this double pocket card and can’t wait to make more! It also uses the new Itty Bitty Bits stamp set (117056 $11.95 Mounted and 120060 $8.95 Unmounted) as well as the Island Floral Bigz Die, Punch Pack and Island Oasis Designer paper mentioned above.

So, I hope you enjoyed your Tropical Getaway! The Blog Candy winner will be notified by e-mail so be sure to leave the important info in your posts and subscription so you can win the blog candy! There’s lots more fabulous works of art ahead of you. Enjoy but be sure to come back and enjoy all the offerings I have coming up that are not to be missed!

Aloha!

 Howdy folks!

As promised, here’s another layout from my Crop n’ Cards class! I wish I would have taken some close up shots of this or at least zoomed and cropped on the cute elements. Unfortunately, the original photo was deleted during an "emergency memory delete"  during my niece’s birthday party pony ride highlight! (Why is it that the memory is full message comes up during the most CRITICAL times! ha ha ha!) And, I’m swamped so I don’t have time to take another and edit it.

I purposely left the baby rattle element from the absolutely fabulous and versatile Something Sweet stamp set ( in the upper left) blank in the center so you could crop in a photo if you want. Or, some of my stampers put a punched star in there just like the card below. On the upper right, I used a small square glassine envelope from the current mini catalog to tuck in a fun little pocket for memories or a lock of hair or a tooth–whatever special keepsake you want to save! I stamped "A star is born" from the "Picture This" hostess set also in the mini. All the other word embellishments are from the Little Angel stamp set. I’m really going to miss all the wonderful products in the Ocassions Mini catalog, aren’t you!? If there’s any favorites you haven’t purchased yet, NOW’S THE TIME!! )

Here’s the coordinating card from class:

As you can see, I used blue in the layout and pink in the card. I arranged for my stampers to be able to use either color depending on their needs for the layout and the card. Are they spoiled or what? (I LOVE MY CUSTOMERS!! Spoiling them is fun!) You can see that I used the Little Angel stamp set words as a "background" of sorts on the right hand side of the card. My customers could choose from pink or blue ribbon and pink and blue scraps and inks were also available. I also used So Saffron Print Patterns designer paper for both the layout and card with the Scallop border punch to provide just the right whimsical touch!

Well, gotta start packing! If you’re reading this post on Sunday, April 25–I’m on my way or IN Puerto Rico ready to set sail to the Southern Caribbean! Thanks to all my wonderful customers for your support! I wouldn’t be on this all-expense paid trip WITHOUT YOU!! Keep tuning in, though! I’ve scheduled a few posts and the Royal Blog tour with some "TROPICAL" contributions on my part is next weekend! Be sure to check it out! I’ll post some highlights of my trip when I get back!

Bon Voyage to me! Woo HOO!

Layout and Card Supplies:

• Picture This Hostess set
• Something Sweet Stamp set
• Little Angel Stamp Set
• So Saffron Print Patterns Designer paper
• Large Star punch
• Small Star Punch
• Scallop Border Punch
• Pink and Blue striped ribbon
• Word Window punch
• Small oval punch
• 1 3/4" Circle punch
• Small Square Glassine envelope

Helloooo! Been nutsville around here but I promise you’re going to understand why very soon! I’ve been up to some fun stampin’ shenanigans! And you’rrrrrreee gonna LOVE IT!  Plus, I’m getting ready to hop on a plane to Puerto Rico in a few days to enjoy 7 glorious Southern Caribbean days on the SU! incentive trip! WWAAAAHOOOOOOOOOO!!! Can’t wait…I’m ready to go now! 

But, I do have some things I can share with you today since I have been neglecting you! Recently had my Crop n’ Cards class where we made:

CUTIE PATOOTIE! Don’t you just love that lil’ monkey guy hanging down? Even cuter is the coordinating scrapbook page created with the same AWESOME stamp set, Fox & Friends:

This is one my favorite scrapbook pages I’ve done in awhile. I just love that turtle trying to drag that Zoo wagon. Here’s a close up:

I really hope this Occasions Mini stamp set makes the new Stampin’ Up! catalog. It is so cute and I haven’t worked with it as much as I would have liked. Last night I demonstrated with it at a workshop and created an adorable baby shower gift card holder made with an envelope and it was stinkin’ cute. I stamped the giraffe in Bashful Blue and added a saffron button under each of the sets of legs. Adorable! I kinda demo’d it off the cuff so I didn’t have my camera with me to take a picture! There’s just so much potential with this stamp set and it’s going away at the end of this month! 

SO, if you want to purchase this fabulous set, give me a buzz or e-mail and I put it on the order I’m placing this Saturday before I leave on vacation. Or, don’t forget, you can always order online: http://amanda.stampinup.net . BUT–THE LAST DAY TO ORDER FROM THIS MINI CATALOG is APRIL 30!!

Here’s the recipe for the above projects:

• Fox and Friends Stamp Set (117020 $18.95 Wood  or 118565 $14.95 Unmounted)
• 115678 Tall Tales Designer paper $9.95
• 115951 Stampin’ Up! Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzlit dies  (exclusive to SU!) $74.95
• 113463 Stampin’ Up! Top Note die $21.95
• 107217 3/4" Circle punch for Wagon Wheels $10.95
• 104390 1/2" Circle punch for Wagon Wheel hubcaps $5.95
• Card stock colors: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Whisper White ($5.50 for 24 8 1/2 x 11 sheets)
• Classic ink colors: Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Dusty Durango, So Saffron ($5.95 ea)

Thanks bunches! I’ll post another layout and card tomorrow! Caio!

In a couple weeks, I have a class that includes a tote, a couple cards and a beautiful envelope photo book. All of them use the gorgeous Shades of Spring Designer paper. I just love the color scheme of that paper!

Here’s the envelope photo book: 

Isn’t it gorgeous! The class will include the step-by-step instructions to make the tote. And you’ll get all the suppllies, including the silk flowers, hat pin & beads, ribbon and flat pearl to make this project along with a 1/2 pack of the Shades of Spring paper and the Garden from the Heart stamp set (unmounted) for only $35! It is a stunning ensemble that would make a fabulous gift for mom, a teacher or loved one!

This project has six pull outs for photos topped with tabs to make it easy to pull out and view your photographic creations.

Registration for this class ends Sunday, April 4! To register, go to http://springtoteclass.eventbrite.com

Want to hear a funny story about the shenanigans surrounding the development of this class?

Around convention time (early July) last year, my friend Amy Celona, said "Do you want to be in my WOW swaps again this year? I said, "Sure!" Her swaps are the bomb! She was particularly excited about one of the swaps in which we were going to swap a whole planned out class with an elite group of stampers. So, the time came up on me VERY fast and she signed me up for a GAZILLION (can you hear the dripping sarcasm here? I love to tease Amy!)  swaps and I was stamping until I was cramping so I could get them all done.

This particular swap of a WHOLE class was a daunting one. I kept searching for ideas until I remembered one I hadn’t tried yet. I  had purchased a pattern for this really cool tote about a year before and thought, "THIS IS IT!" So I used the instructions to create this gorgeous tote  along with the card (that was part of the instructions) and I added in the above envelope album creation for good measure.

I couldn’t wait to tell my friend Amy all about it! So, a few days before leaving for convention, Amy & I were talking (or Amy was talking and I was just listening…ha ha ha! Love you Amy!) and she was looking forward to this swap and proceeded too rattle off the names of the swap participants and how we were going to get such AWESOME swaps back. And one name caught my ear IMMEDIATELY….and I said…"Wait…who did you just say was in this swap?"

She said, "Becky Roberts, Why?"

My mouth dropped to the floor.

A few curse words may have slipped out. )

Becky Roberts is the girl I purchased the pattern from over a year ago!! SHE WAS GETTING HER OWN SWAP BACK!! I was mortified. But it was way too late to change it and I went through a lot of work to do all of them.

So, the day of swap came and I sheepishly approached Becky and told her the story and said that I was so sorry that I didn’t know she was in the swap or i would have created something different. She was so sweet and understanding about it. I mean, I was actually nervous talking to her as she is the GODDESS of paper crafting. And, a few weeks ago, she even posted my Tote project on her blog here. Wow…what an honor! And she didn’t even mention my embarrassing story. A true class act! Now..I’m even more of a fan! I’d be president of her fan club if she’d let me!

Then, she actually CASE’d one of my projects and posted it recently! Wow! Holy snikey…Talk about flattered! Here’s her version of my Milk Carton Watering Can without using the Eggscellent Eggs kit.

So, Becky…thanks for being so sweet. And..for linking to my site. I think all your traffic drove mine over the bandwidth. ) Thanks bunches!

Gotta run and finish my prep for the final Eggscellent Eggs class that’s tomorrow. Look for a post on how to create the cute Milk Carton Easter basket  tomorrow! Hasta manana!

Looking at this cutie patootie Easter layout I finished on Wed. for my Crop N’ Cards class next Tues. and Sat., I wish I had time to print out my Easter photos from last year! I’ve got the cutest photos of my nieces and nephews looking for Easter eggs! Ranging in ages from 1 1/2 to 15 years old at the time, it was so fun helping the little ones and playing the "hot/cold" game with the older ones! And the colors would be perfect for the photos!

Why can’t we have four more hours in our day? )

 Here’s the left page of the 2-page spread. I used the Baskets and Blooms die for the bag die cut and the wide oval punch for the Easter eggs in the basket.

Below is a close up of the page’s adorable basket focal point!

 Here’s the right side of the 2-page spread.

 Here’s a close up of the flower accents. The white flower accents came as part of the Baskets and Blooms die. Just the colored layers are punched out with the XL Fancy Flower punch. I accessorized with pieces from the Sweet Peat Stitched felt and an pumpkin corduroy button.

Sorry, but the center of the right flower slipped some. I did fix it. …I promise I’m not losing it! ) ha ha! Below is the card option forthe Crop n’ Cards class. I LOVE the Chocolate Bunny stamp that’s in our Occasions mini. So cute!

Okay–I’ve gotta go to bed. Just finished my Fri. night workshop and have to get up in the morning and clean up and set up FINALLY for my Eggcoutrements class with the Eggscellent Eggs kit at 10 am tomorrow morning. After class, I get to head on over to the BIG executive meeting at 4 ish. So, another busy day ahead.

Going to get my beauty sleep. Night!

 Doesn’t sound very lucky does it? Ahh…but it is! At least when you’re getting creative with Stampin’ Up! punches! This creation is a close up of a topper I created for one of the layouts at my Crop ‘n Cards class this week. So cute!

BLOG CANDY ALERT!

Ten punches in all were used to create this cute symbol of luck. Will you get lucky guessing them all? If you can, I’ll send you a project kit for my recent Shades of Spring Glassine Bag Book posted here! First one to get it right, gets the FREE kit! But hurry, you only have until this Wed. when I’ll post the list of punches! )

And for you die hard scrapbookers or just curious onlookers, here’s the photo of the whole Luky Leprechaun Layout:

Have a great week!

I love this stamp set "With All My Heart"! There are so many possibilities, so little time! ) Just by changing the inks and layering with coordinating punches, you could have endless gardens in a spectrum of colors. I purposely chose this color scheme to make it easy to choose masculine or feminine photos. If anyone is attending the Incarnation Crop benefit this Sat., you’ll be creating the upper left 6×6 as a free make & take! This layout will be worn out by the time I’m done as it also was a project at my Stamp Vamps meeting this past Monday!

And, this layout and the card below will be a part of my Crop N’ Cards class next Tues. and Saturday and Maggie’s workshop next Friday night (Hi Maggie!) ! It’s not too late to register for this $20 class! I’ll be posting the other two page and card creations over the weekend so you can still register to join us either 10 am to 1 pm, Tues, Feb. 23 or 4 to 7 pm, Sat. Feb. 27!  Click here to REGISTER NOW or get more info!!  Last day to get your name on the list is Sunday, Feb. 21!

Did you know that if you order three punches or two punches and the With All My Heart stamp set from this card, you could get the beautiful Scallop Border punch in the brown border for FREE!!!?

You may want to consider:

Scallop Circle punch (109043) $15.95

1 1/4 Circle punch (104403) $15.95

Boho Blossoms punch (110711) $15.95

FREE! Scallop Trim Border punch or Vintage Vogue stamp set (ornage chocolate flower)

With All My Heart stamp set (118134 = wood $17.95 or 118623 = unmounted $13.95)

Glassine envelopes are all the rage right now and Stampin’ Up! has three different sizes! The first size I’m going to focus on is our Glassine Bag. The following project uses these bags to make a little photograph bag book with pull out pages! Isn’t it beautiful?

1. I took too Glassine bags, cut or punched both edges to creat openings and folded them in half. This is the center pages of the book.
2. I then measured the folded bags and doubled those measurements to create the "cover" of my book. I did add a 1/4" all the way around to make sure I’d cover myself if I slipped on the hole punching in the next step.
3. I punched two holes close together in the glassine pages and cover and threaded a piece of celery grosgrain ribbon through the cover and bags and tied a bow to bind the book.

4.    I then cut card stock to the size that could slide into my glassine pages and attached tabs punched from the tab punch staggered down the pages in the book interior.

5.    I decorated each of the pages and stamped an outside design using theWith All My Heart stamp set an dpunched a flower for the cover. The wings of the bird punch made the flower leaves and the stem was free-hand.

Above is a close-up of the flower. the bottom layer is just the Extra Large flower punch from the mini punched out in Lavendar Lace and edged with the glue pen and the Orchid glitter from the Fine Cosmo Stampin’ glitter (Item #108796). I then stamped the white flower with the With All My Heart stamp set in Lavendar Lace and topped it with a So Saffron flower punched from the Boho Blossoms punch. The little tag hanging on the step comes from the Tiny Tags stamp set #118091 (p. 28 of the mini) and punched out with the Medium Jewelry tag punch (p. 11 of the mini Item #117190). I tied it on with our Linen thread.

Our Glassine bags (Item #117228 in our mini catalog, p. 19), sized 4 3/4" x 6 3/4", come in a pack of 25 for only $6.50. That will make 12 of these cute little books!

Well, I’ve run out of time! I’ll have to post my last project for the With All My Heart class tomorrow. Don’t forget, today’s the last day to register!

Click here and register now!