SNEAK PEEKS FROM CHA

Of course I'm not actually AT CHA - but I've been collecting sneak peeks from the various blogs I visit and wanted to share a few items I'm very excited about. The first one is a gadget. I LOVE gadgets - they just seem to make things so much easier don't they.

Welcome the "i-Top" tool from IMAGINISCE. This handy little gadget makes covered button-brads in three different sizes from a variety of materials - e.g. paper, fabric, felt, lace, velour, velvet, etc. I'm sure it will be much more economical to make my own than buying the premades. I have a covered button maker from the sewing shop but this makes the buttons into brads - making placement a breeze! Lovin' it.

WooHoo! and look at these adorable storage units from DOODLEBUG DESIGN INC. There's a 9-drawer cabinet that you can customize with papers, fabric, etc., cute little scalloped shelves and coordinating white shadow boxes in two different sizes. I can see these things in my stamp room - of course a few things would have to go out before these things could come in!

The last item I want to share with you was voted the most innovative scrapbooking & paper arts product at the show. It is THE ULTIMATE TOOL by CRAFTER'S COMPANION. Make sure to click on the link to see what you can do with this little case of goodies. The all-in-one, compact carry-case allows you to score, measure, trim, embellish, create boxes, shaped cards, envelopes, bows and so much more. It includes a 24 full page instruction booklet and a 2 1/2 Hour Project & Instructional DVD which takes you step by step through 12 differenct projects and detailed instructions.

Don't forget Stampin'Up! is having a Deal of the Week promotion through the month of July. This week's deal is the HEART TO HEART punch for $10.99. That's almost a 30% savings. If you need this one - order fast. This promotion ends tomorrow - July 31st.

Thanks for stopping by today. Don't forget to take a peek at the manufacturer's websites. They each have some phenomenal products and information.

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping!
Jill

RYLEIGH'S COMIN' (sung to the tune of "Eli's Comin"

Probably dating myself with the reference to the tune - but oh well. I am almost officially OLD! Just a little over a week away to the half century mark. I can't believe it!

Anyhoo - who is Ryleigh? My great-niece who is due to arrive in our world on December 2, 2009. Of course don't hold me to the name because mom and dad can't seem to agree yet. One of the other choices is EVELYN - which reminds me NOT of a sweet little baby but of an older, adult woman. (No offense to those of you with that name - I realize that at some point you were all sweet little babies!) but Aunt Jill is hoping for Ryleigh!

My sis that lives in South Africa (until October) and I are planning the baby shower and I was allowed to be in charge of the invitations - because - well THAT'S what I do! LOL! I saw a cute diaper made from cardstock a while back on Splitcoaststampers and tucked the idea away for future use. Mine is made a little differently than the others - but the idea is the same. The baby is a Jill Haddad original because I couldn't find a stamp that was cute and fat cheeked enough to suit. On most of the invitations the baby is just in a diaper - but for this one I put her in a footed jammies set. The "fabric" matches the nursery bedding and decor - so this invitation was made special for my niece (but since it was stamped crooked this was my "sample".) And of course since we're having a girl, there HAD to be a floral headband! The flower is from a length of ribbon from Hobby Lobby (where else????) and the "band" is colored in with an SU!Old Olive Marker. I've also decided that I am not making diapers for all the invitations. Just for a special few that I know will keep the cards. Katie and Alanna you know I mean you!!!!!

Lots going on in my life recently that has kept me very busy and away from my beloved computer. I'm hoping to remedy that in August so be prepared for more posts.

Have a great rest of your day -
and until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

PINK POINSETTIA & VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS

I'm a big fan of the color pink - I like it in nature, I like it in clothing, I even like it in accessories. For example my daily planner is pink and I have a pink hammer & screwdriver set. But when it comes to Christmas, I'm a pretty traditional kind of girl. Give me the Forest Greens and the deep rich reds with a touch of mettallic golds and silvers for a bit of bling.

SO WHAT HAPPENED HERE?????

I was trying out another new technique - new in that I hadn't tried it yet not new to the stamping world - and I was in a pastel kind of mood so I chose Mellow Moss and Regal Rose reinkers to create a baby wipe background. On my first attempt I simply dragged the wipe in a straight line across the glossy paper and the striping reminded me of candy stripes - DON'T ASK ME WHY? I was probably feeling sugar deprived at the time - and then from there my mind began wandering. Striped candy, peppermint, candy canes . . . can you see where I'm going here??? So I pulled out my Christmas stamps and found this beautiful little poinsettia which I thought would be a nice little corner accent for my background piece - but it needed some glitz. So out came the gold embossing powder and watercolor crayons. I stamped two images, heat embossed and colored both then cut away the outer petals on one so that I could create a dimensional image.

Once I did that I couldn't very well cover up the background with some other image so the only thing for it was to make the greeting my focal point. (NOTE: I did not like the stripes so had to remake my background). Had I known I was going to emboss on the background I would have done the embossing FIRST because as you can see the background wasn't quite dry and some of the powder stuck where I didn't want it - but I didn't have a plan and the embossed greeting was an afterthought.

A little gold matting on a Pretty in Pink card base, a pink and mettallic ribbon (which looks a little less silver IRL) and some tiny amber gemstones to the center of the poinsettia almost finish the card. Now that I've walked away for a while I think it needs three little amber gemstones on the ribbon directly under the corner of the greeting on the right hand side. What do you think???? (This is my BEST attempt at painting gemstones - please don't be TOO critical. The ACTUAL gemstones are at home where there is no computer because it caught a NASTY cold and had to go to the doctor!)

That's it for the pink Christmas - I think anyway. Who know - I actually like it well enough it might become this years Christmas card.

Have a great rest of your day

and until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

HYDRANGEAS UNDER GLASS

Have you tried the cracked glass technique yet? I love the look - like something from another era- and found the perfect stamp to use with it at Hobby Lobby.

To create the main image of this piece I stamped the collage image on SU! Very Vanilla using a Memento Brown ink. Then lightly colored the image with Koh-I-Noor pencils. These pencils are fairly bright colors so I toned them down using a brown pencil to lightly color over areas of the image. I used SU! Creamy Caramel to sponge around the edges and very lightly in and around the image then applied 3 coats of UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel). The trick to getting the cracked glass effect is to put the finished piece in the freezer for about 5 minutes then CARFULLY bend areas of the cardstock so that it cracks. I dotted 3 drops of Close to Cocoa refill on the piece then smeared it over the entire surface with a sponge dauber so that it would permeate the cracks then I wiped the excess off with a paper towel. A mat of Perfect Plum, some piercing and sponging, and a simple greeting finish off the vintage feel.

If you haven't tried this technique yet - give it a go. I'd love to see what you "see" as you're being creative.

Don't forget the Stampin'Up! Deal of the Week.

The Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware kit for just $18.99. It's a great deal and the pieces look so beautiful on cards.

I'm off to work now and then later off to the car dealership to purchase ANOTHER vehicle. Remember this post: I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU from May? It was the starting point of my "new van" saga. They STILL can't diagnose and correct the problem and after being stranded roadside 4 times in 21 days they are making me a "deal" on a different vehicle. I'm actually GETTING $300 MORE than what I originally paid for the defective vehicle but of course the vehicle we're purchasing is about $900 more than the one we purchased in April and THIS time we are getting a 2 year - 24,000 mile extended warranty! but I am still gun-shy. When you say your prayers today say one for me that this vehicle will run until we get her paid for (and then some) and that she won't be in and out of the shop with "nickel and dime" repairs. This is the "new" new vehicle!

Thanks so much for stopping by -

Have a great day and

Until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

DEAL OF THE WEEK: HODGE PODGE HARDWARE

Good morning everyone!!! I'm sorry I don't have a project to share with you today - but I do have some wonderful product information to share.

Stampin'Up! has been offering a Deal of the Week throughout the month of July and this weeks deal is FANTASTIC!!!

CURRENT STAMPIN'UP! DEAL OF THE WEEK

112454
Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware
Sale Price:$18.99 Regular Price: $29.95



This is a GREAT deal on this product - over 200 pieces of hardware for $18.99! That's a savings of almost $11.



There are some other newsworthy products being released this month from other companies as well. Check out the new line of CUTTLEBUG Embossing Folders. I love the Victoria and Fleur de Lisa which coordinate so well with the new SPELLBINDERS pendants and borderabilities line. I have a feeling they will be arriving soon at my house. :)


Make sure to check out the Spellbinders Blog for a chance to win some great new Nestabilities sets. It's a progressive prize - e.g. day 8 winner wins the set from day one, day two, day three etc clear through the day 8 prize. All you have to do is start at the spellbinders blog, click the link to view the guest designer's project and find out what set is being featured then click the email link and enter the die set name in the subject line. VERY easy!



Thanks for visiting today -
and until next time -

Happy Stamping!
Jill
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LATTICE WORK AND FLOWERS

STAMPIN'UP! DEAL OF THE WEEK

Square Fire Rhinestone Brads
109112
Regular Price: $12.17
Preferred Price: $10.95

Brads are a fun addition to any project, (as you can see by the card below) and these Rhinestone brads add extra fun and sparkle. Rhinestone brads coordinate with Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colors, so there's no need to guess about what colors to use your brads with.

■ Square brads: Approximately 80 per package (4 colors in 2 sizes)
■ Fire assortment (Pink, Red, Pumpkin, and Yellow) coordinates with Stampin’ Up!'s exclusive colors


Now, on to the card!!!! I'm so excited about these new Spellbinders Pendants. I brought home my first one last night and couldn't go to bed until I experimented just a little. I love these things. They are so - VICTORIAN?.


The one I used on this card is the LATTICE PENDANT (I have others coming in next week!). The cutwork reminds me of cards by Jerri Kay Jimenez - only Spellbinders has taken the work out of it. Jerri cuts hers by hand!!!! The Lattice set comes with 4 dies. The large square, the middle insert piece, a small square and a corner die. Very versatile and very elegant. The large square not only produces such nice cut-work detail but has lovely embossing patterns as well. However, you can't see the embossing because the photo is AWFUL!!! My apologies - I bought a new little point and shoot digital and am NOT loving it. But that's what happens when you try to go cheap - I'll be back to using my DSLR soon I think - I just thought this would be easier for taking shots of cards and quick snapshots.

I layered the pendant and the center piece popping both layers up on dimensionals against a piece of this year's SU! Sale-a-bration Designer Paper then placed these against a backdrop of Elegant Eggplant (or Eggplant Envy. I can never remember which one is current! The purple/blue flowers are from Making Memories as are the gemstones on the corners. The center brad is from Stampin'Up! The lattice border is from the Martha Stewart line and the corner punch is one I purchased from Hobby Lobby. (Sorry but I can't remember the maker.)

It's not a very difficult card to put together - but I do have A TIP: I have had a few comments from people who have tried to use the pendants that they are having difficulty removing the paper from the die without tearing it due to the detail. I use the metal tip (not the lead) of a fine-point pencil to gently push the paper out from the non-cutting side. Once I've loosened it with the pencil tip then I am able to gently remove it from the die without tearing.

Thanks for visiting today.
Until next time -
Have an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE, (thanks Lynn Mercurio!)
be happy,
and
Happy Stamping!!!!
Jill

BACK TO BASICS

THE NEW HOLIDAY MINI is posted on my sidebar. The product is not available for purchase until September 1st, but it never hurts to get an early peek so you can start planning those holidays cards, table settings and decorations. Just click on the photo and it will open the catalog - ALL 40 PAGES!!!!

With today's post, I'm going back to the basics - or should I say, back to the beginning. When I first started papercrafting I wasn't a stamper, I was a scrapbooker. Waaaaaaay back when I was a child I would cut photos out of magazines, paste them in notebooks, doodle designs and drawings around them and write down whatever thoughts about it came to mind. Sometimes it was about a beautiful sunset, sometimes a movie star and sometimes it might be an actual photograph of the cute neighbor boy - his photo of course was ALWAYS adorned with hearts and doodles with "Mr. and Mrs. So and So" scribbled in the margin...( his actual name is witheld to protect the unsuspecting!)

So, it's hard for me to believe I haven't done any real scrapbooking in almost a year - (Yes the photos are filling my harddrive) but I have a workshop coming up where the participants are mostly scrapbookers NOT stampers - which gave me an opportunity to play a little. I scrap 12x12 as most of us do I think - but I selfishly didn't want to use 12x12 sheets of DP and/or cardstock for make n takes so for our project we are making 6x6 size inserts. They can always incorporate it onto a 12x12 layout later.

The pumpkin was made using the small oval punch and then lightly sponging Pumpkin Pie ink around the edges. I also used:
Sizzix Alphabet in Always Artichoke
SU! Sizzix Little Leaves in Always Artichoke
SU! Bella Bleu Designer Paper
Chocolate Chip Cardstock
Pumpkin Pie Cardstock
White Gel Pen
SU! Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon

I searched the internet for a "pumpkin" greeting - they are difficult to find btw - and found this quote by Henry David Thoreau. I think somewhere I have the perfect photo for this - when my son was small we would go to a nearby orchard/farm each fall to purchase apple cides, apples and our pumpkin for a Jack-o-lantern. I have a photo of him carrying the largest pumpkin he could carry at the time. I could also leave it empty until this fall and take him back there. Then I could get a photo of him actually sitting on one of the huge pumpkins they have on display. Hmmmmmm! What to do?

That's all for today. Make sure to take a peek at the new Holiday Mini catalog. It's 40 pages of goodies.

Until next time -
Happy Stamping (or if you prefer - Happy Scrapping!)
Jill

BEST LAID PLANS

Happy Saturday to all of you. It' been a nice, restful day here at my house and I've been able to spend much of the morning in my studio. Unfortunately I wasn't stamping. I was cleaning and reorganizing after a week of not putting anything away! I still have a HUGE stack of scrap papers to sort. One would think I'd have learned to file as I go - but apparently I'm not there yet!



Anyhoo - the reason for the title of my post today: The Best Laid Plans is because I designed and sketched this card yesterday afternoon during my lunch break and it looked sooooo great I couldn't wait to come home and put it all together. But guess what - it didn't "work" the way I sketched it. It started out a 4.25"x5.5" card NOT square but I didn't like the "extra" card stock exposed at the bottom of the card - it just detracted from the punched medallions and frames - so it became square. The original sketch called for brown & pink with only the center circle in white. Too much brown. I planned to use my Martha Stewart Scalloped Eyelet Border Punch - it's NOT WORKING (Waaaaaaaa!) so instead I used the Martha Stewart Lattice Border punch. In the end though - I liked the finished version BETTER than the original sketch.


SUPPLY LIST:
Bloomin'Beautiful Stamp
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
Markers: Pretty in Pink, Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue
Punches: SU! Scalloped Border, MS Lattice Border, MS Triple Butterfly, SU!Ticket Corner
Embellishments: Mini Half Pearls


FINISHED CARD SIZE: 4.25"X4.25"

Just one more thing: Anyone interested in winning a BigShot, Doctor's Bag and 2 embossing folders? Check out THIS LINK.


Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!
Jill

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Are you asking yourself why I'm making Christmas cards in July? I could say I'm trying to get an early start - but really I was simply trying out a new technique - a tag punch star - and it makes me think of snowflakes and winter.

I was inspired by a card I saw on SCS - it was so elegant in all white. I changed up a few things - added the snowflake CB background, the snowflake center, a single pearl in the center, stardust Stickles and the white organdy ribbon. I loved the original version and I am pleased to say I like mine just as much. After punching the hole for the ribbon however, I've decided I like it better without. Any that I make in the future will have only the star - no distractions.

That't it for today. Short and sweet.

Hope you enjoyed the tag punch star.

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping.
Jill

BIG SHOT PROJECT - REVISION

The consensus regarding my earlier post is that my yellow BigShot project sample card stinks! Let this be a lesson to all of you - stick with what you love. I HATE the color yellow. I DON'T LIKE to use bright colors when I make my cards. I DON'T LIKE alot of white space. So what happened with my card this morning? I used someone else's layout (it's in the catalog) and tried to get out of my 'comfort zone' and use colors that I DON'T LIKE. You SAW how that turned out!!!

So, tonight when I got home from work, the house was quiet and I set to work to revise that disastrous attempt. It was time to create from my heart and not my head. I had to use the same die because I was one of the last to sign up for the BigShot project and all the other dies I own were already spoken for. So knowing that I was cutting a flower containing layers I looked through my DP stash and the only other DP paper pack I have that is still in the current catalog was Bella Bleu. I LOVE that paper. So I picked two of the pieces and die cut my flower layers. Next I cut deep into the petal of each layer so that I could form them into a softer, 3-D shape. I used one of my FAVORITE techniques and sponged the edges of each flower in Not Quite Navy Ink. I connected the three larger layers with dimensionals then pierced the center with a piercing tool and stuck a Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button/Brad through the hole. Okay. I LIKE the flower! So far so good.

Next step: Choosing the Cardstock. I knew I wanted to use the new Soft Suede ribbon on the card in some fashion so I chose Kraft cardstock for the cardbase. I LOVE that color!!! and it blends so nicely with both the Soft Suede and the touch of Sahara Sand that is in the DP. Then I pulled out a stamp set that I also LOVE - Itty Bitty Backgrounds - and used my FAVORITE of the four stamps to create little specks on the Kraft cardstock in Chocolate Chip ink. Another look that I LOVE. I knew that I wanted to use Soft Suede cardstock behind the flower to really make the flower "pop" so I needed a third color to make my browns seperate. I chose Not Quite Navy as a mat and sponged the edges in the same color. The Soft Suede background is stamped using the Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp in Chocolate Chip then sponged around the edges in the same color. I used mini copper brads in the 4 corners of the flower mat then cut and adhered two strips of trimmed ribbon to finish.

So what do you think of the revision? I stuck with the things I LOVE - muted, earthy colors; edge sponging; a touch of distressing and a few small embellishments - and created something that I like. That's the key you know: STICK WITH THE THINGS YOU LOVE!

It's okay to step out of your comfort zone now and then - just don't plan on LOVING the result! LOL!!!!!

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!
Jill

BIG SHOT PROJECT

I have a couple of different items to share with you today. Both exclusively use Stampin'Up! product because they were made for a make n' take and a demonstrator project that I'm VERY excited about.

The first item is a 6x6 scrapbook page that is going to serve as the make n' take project at a workshop at the end of the month. The majority of the women attending this workshop are scrapbookers not card makers so I wanted to let them make something they could incorporate into their 12x12 scrapbook pages.

Recipe:
Crushed Curry, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Whisper White Cardstocks
Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper
Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon
Piercing Tool
Mat Pack with piercing guide
Stamp Set: Inspired by Nature
3x5" photo of my sister serving in South Africa
Oh - and I apparently lied - because the flower is NOT Stampin'Up but I'm using it anyway!

The next item is for a BigShot Album that the demonstrator group I'm in is making. To date there are 29 of us participating. Each one of us chooses a current BigShot die from the catalog. Then we diecut the object from whisper white and adhere it to a 6x6" piece of black cardstock. This will be placed in a 6x6 album so that when the album is open the black & white sample is on the left and then on the facing page (the right hand page) there will be a sample card or scrapbook page made using the die. I chose "Flower Layers" on page 202 because I already owned the die.

Because I have to make at least 30 samples I tried to design a fairly easy but not boring cardfront. I cut a piece of Rich Razzleberry cardstock then cut a piece of Barely Banana cardstock 1/4" smaller and then embossed 2/3 of the Barely Banana layer using one of the Stampin'Up! Backgrounds I Texture Plates. Next I cut a 3/4" strip of Rich Razzleberry Cardstock and overlayed it with a piece of Crushed Curry "Ribbon". It's not really ribbon - I haven't ordered it yet - so it's just Crushed Curry cardstock that I added dots to for effect. You have to "imagine" that it's ribbon. After gluing the "ribbon" to the Razzleberry strip I adhered it to the card face and then stamped a portion of a stamp from the "WITH SYMPATHY" stamp set in Rich Razzleberry. I underscored the greeting by piercing a line of holes beneath it.

The flower layers were cut from Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper. The second and third layers are popped up using dimensionals. The 4th and smallest layer was covered with Crystal Chunky Glitter then glued to the center of the flower.

Now it's your turn. I really need some feedback on this card because I don't "LOVE" it. Do you like it or not? I'm not a big fan of this particular die shape. It's too contemporary (my 20 something year old nieces love it) and I'm very traditional (perhaps boring). I also don't generally choose bright colors and definitely not YELLOW (my least favorite color) very often so overall - this card front is just "not me". I'm really having a hard time deciding if it's a "keeper" or not. Feedback would be GREATLY appreciated on this one.

That's a wrap for today. Hope it's a good for you whatever you're doing.

A note to a few of my friends:
- to the one who is sick with a terrible cold - I hope you're feeling "unstuffed" soon.
- to the one getting the results of tests today - I'm here for you whatever the outcome. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
- to the one who received an upsetting photo in the mail yesterday - please forgive my scattered thoughts when you told me about it and know that you are in my prayers and in my heart.
I love you all.


Until next time -
Happy Stamping!
Jill

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

So how was everyone's holiday weekend here in the U.S.???

DH and I, along with my brother & sister-in-law took 6 of our nieces and nephews hiking in Matthiessen State Park in Utica, IL. Absolutely gorgeous!!! It wasn't until last year that I knew we had anything like this in Central Illinois. And anyone who has traveled through our area knows what I mean - my Kentucky relatives say Illinois is just flatland with corn on one side of the road and soy beans on the other! Let this be a lesson to you. You just need to know where to look.

I have been so busy recently that I haven't been able to play in my studio at all. I finally had the chance Saturday and was looking forward to it. But guess what - I was so worn out by all the hiking on Friday that I didn't make one card! I cleaned the house very quickly in the morning then had my own personal NCIS marthon (Season One on DVD) on my laptop while I sat in my recliner. So the card you are seeing today is one that I made a couple of weeks ago and just haven't had the time (or energy) to post until today.

I love this new Designer Paper from Stampin'Up! It's so fresh and feminine - and EXCLUSIVE TO HOSTESSES so if you're lovin' this paper too it's time to call your SU! demonstrator and host a workshop.

To make this card, I began by cutting a piece of DP 1/4" smaller than an A2 size card then using my BigShot and a Spellbinder's circle Nestie to cut a circle in the upper half of the DP. I also cut the same size circle from a piece of white cardstock and stamped the greeting and small flowers using Crushed Curry and Razzleberry markers. I then glued the DP to the front of the cardbase (which is in the new SU! In-color: Razzleberry. Next I applied glue to the back of the stamped circle and fit it into the hole on the front of the card, gluing it to the inside of the cardbase. Once that was complete, I used the next size smaller Nestie to cut out the center of the circle on the cardfront leaving just a rim of the Razzleberry cardbase exposed.

I tied knots evenly spaced down a length of matching organdy ribbon - it's from my stash and not part of the In-Color line - and tied it around the bottom, front of the card. I then added a small yellow Prima and a few raspberry dew drops to finish.

That's it for today. Hope you enjoyed the card and the photo from my holiday weekend exploration.

Until next time,
Happy Stamping!
Jill