StampersPad

Faux Felt and Folding Fun

This soft faux-felt effect is so easy to achieve you'll want to try it right away!  It really suits butterflies and flowers.   I've been working on floral cards but below I've posted a card designed by my upline, Josee, which we made at our last INKY meeting.

Don't you just love the soft wings of the largest butterfly? Looking at the edges, you'll see the suede effect.  We created this soft look by rubbing the wings with a bone folder (both sides) until the paper split naturally.  This is actually one of two suede butterflies that came from the initial one.  Great eh?  Two for one technique!  The smaller houndstooth butterfly is actually covered with versamark and then embossed with Irridescent Ice embossing pouder.  The butterflies, and top note die are cut out using our Big Shot!  What a great tool that is!

Another neat way of creating a leather look is to totally soack cardstock and then crinkle it into a ball.  That's what we did with the chocolate brown strip in this card. Afterward you straighten it out and let it dry.  I finished drying my strip with a heat gun.  I think this makes a great masculine looking card.  Stamp Set:  Loads of Love (I hope this set never retires!

BIRTHDAY CARD CLASS:

Looking for new ideas for birthday cards?  Come join me for a stamp-A-Stack night.  You'll leave with 10 cards!  I'll provide 5 card designs (one masculine, one girl, one boy, one feminine, and one you can adapt), all the supplies, cut the materials, and provide instructions you just need to bring adhesive!  What a fun way to enjoy your hobby and stock up your cards for this spring!  We will also make one bonus Easter Card!

Register soon as seats are limited. 

Cost: $20.00 or free with an order of $50.00!

Date: Saturday March 27th - 9:00 to 12:00  There's plenty of time to complete projects and socialize with your friends so bring a friend who might like to learn a new hobby.

Call me at: 613-726-1776 if you are interested in joining me for a fun time this coming Saturday.

Enjoy the spring rain here in Ottawa.  More snow will be gone by the end of the day!!  Stay in and stamp if you must (giggle).

'till next time,

Linda
 

Workshop of a Lifetime Swap Cards

Many demonstrators swapped cards at Kim's Workshop last week.  Most are stamped with images and designer papers available in the current Mini and Sale-A-Bration Catalogues.  There's no way to know what may make it into next year's catalogue so don't miss out on the lovely stamps, papers, satin ribbons and designer brads from this mini and place your order before the end of this month to take advantage of Sale-A-Bration specials.

 
By Gloria Logtens

 
By Susan Maley

  
(beautiful but no name on the back - sorry)

By Lise-Anne Bonneville

By Suzanne Easton   

Inspired by these cards I'm off to stamp today!  

If you still haven't booked your private class and want to take advantage of Stampin' Up!'s amazing Sale-A-Bration, introduce your friends to a fantastic hobby and earn free product, give me a call at 613-726-1776 or email me to book your party before the end of this month. 

Thanks for popping by,

Linda

Party Time - Workshop of a Lifetime

If you're a Stampin' Up! fan, you'll have an idea of how exciting this week was for me.  I met Shelli Gardner the CEO and Cofounder of Stampin' Up!!!!   She is such a delightful, caring and giving person and a true joy to visit with.  This past week my friend and fellow demonstrator, Kim Assaly, was a winner of "The Workshop of a Lifetime" offered by Shelli and was soooo kind to share her good fortune with us, her SU family.  Thanks KIM!

Shelli was in top spirits even though she lost her luggage and had already travelled by car from the Ottawa Airport half-way to Montreal, presented a home workshop with Kim earlier in the day,  and lost her luggage.  Shelli shared with us how she started "Stampin' Up!" in her living room while her children were just litte.  The business has come a long way since then and so has Sara (one of her wee ones at the time of Stampin' Up!'s conception). This shot is so typical of Shelli's wonderful, warm and welcoming smile! 

 
The wondeful Kim with Sara and Shelli. 

Much later in the evening here I am with Shelli and her daughter Sara, talking while the photo was snapped. (as usual) 

Can you imagine about 130 very excited demonstrators eager to listen to Shelli, stamp, swap and just have a great time?  It was so enervating!  Kim had wonderful projects ready for all of us to make, lovely deserts, 4 huge prizes and of course... Shelli and her daugher Sara. 

Here are the projects Kim had prepared for us to make.

This chipboard bird is the cover of a booklet that I'll use for photographs or a journal.  (Not sure yet)  Still available in the mini catalogue 'till the end of this month it is super cute and a bargain too.  8 of these birds are in each package.  Covered in Sweet Pea designer paper.  Kim provided the kit and a 6x6 package of the Sweet Pea paper.

Love this Sweet Pea designer paper! 

This embossed chocolate bunny is hiding a gift card as this is a swinging card that pivets on the crystal brad.  Sorry I forgot to take a shot of the inside. 

This was one evening I won't soon forget.  

If you've been thinking of starting your own home business with Stampin' Up! and enjoying the benefits of sharing and creative fun we have as demonstrators then Sale-A-Bration is the time to join my team.   

Why join now?

1. Get 15% off the cost of your starter kit during Sale-A-Bration!  

Standard Starter kit - regular price $269. - Sale-A-Bration price - $225. 

Digital Starter Kit - Regular Price $239. - Sale-A-Bration Price - $199.

2. While Sale-a-Bration is on you can select any stamp set - a value of up to $56.00 - from our current catalogues when you sign up.

Other Benefits of starting a home business with Stampin' Up!  (True whenever you join.)

1. You'll enjoy the flexibility of setting your own hours and working from home; it provides part-time income and you are your own boss.

2. You'll be supported with a monthy magazine filled with project ideas and business training.

3. You will enjoy a web site dedicated to providing you with training and information for your business.

4. You'll become part of a friendly, enthusiastic team of fellow demonstrators who meet montly to share ideas, swap cards, and learn more about stamping techniques. 

5. You'll be able make new friends through sharing your love of stamping, exclusive artwork and quality products.

You can even sign up on line right now!  To find out more just send me an email and I'll get back to you immediately with answers to any questions and the password to joining my team. 

Have a great stamping day!

Linda
 
 

Renovation Ramblings - Things I've Learned from Living with Renovations

This post has not much to do with stamping inspiration unless you consider that I was inspired to reorganize my stamp room while the house was in renovation mode.  So, don't read on unless you are considering undergoing some home renovations in the near future. 

For those of you who were asking how it was all going: First of all I love my new Kitchen/Dining Room combo.  We wake up to more light than we've ever experienced in our South-West oriented kitchen.  It's spacious, open, has a lovely triangle and has tons of storage space.  We can both be cooks in this arena, without pushing or bumping into each other.  The island is an oasis for our two, almost adult girls to meet, eat and giggle at.  (Still minus two stools but that's another story.)  Though our renovation is officially over we're still unpacking endless boxes from our basement and deciding what goes where.  This is an exciting and ever changing job.  Ever changing as while we live in the space we change orientation of some things.  Our dining light is hanging but not properly as we just decided it was the right one and my hubby's got the flu.  Poor guy.  He's as excited to be formally "in" as I am.

Here's a before and after photo followed by a list of things I've learned.  Good to read before you start this process.

I only have this one shot of my kitchen taken before I really started unpacking "stuff" from the basement.  Once we're fininished unpacking I can post a couple more shots but right now our counters are cluttered with things we're not sure where to put and boxes of outgoing things litter the floor.
 
 

Things I Learned while undergoing renovations:

1.  Good things take time.  This should be your mantra while under renovations.  Everything was done in a timely fashion with only a few hiccups but still during the process you wish it were finished.  Our renovation including removing a wall and sanding and staining of the floors downstairs took 7 weeks. 

2. Get a POD for all your furniture.  This was one of our best decisions.  It's hard to live normally in a renovation area but I'm ever so glad we weren't having to live with all our furniture stored in our remaining space.

3.  There's no saving trees or recycling during a renovation.  We did keep 4 glases, mugs, plates and bowls out for ourselves and a variety of useful spices, cooking implements etc.  I was determined to eat healthy meals.  But with washing dishes in the basement I was glad some meals could be on paper plates. 

4.  A microwave is a fantastic tool.  Though we did keep the slow cooker and an electric frying pan out the main cooking and reheating was done in the microwave.  After Christmas we cooked and froze huge batches of stew, spagetti and hunter chicken so that we could reheat it. 

5. You can get very tired of stew, spagetti and chicken.  Purchased frozen meals are your friend.  Make peace with them and add a salad and you feel like you've eaten something healthy.  (A major compromise that I came to terms with.)

6. When you have only the dishes you need available to you the rest of the house remains cleaner.  Especially true with girls that eat upstairs and in the basement.  They had to collect those dishes if they wanted to eat or drink again.  I loved it so much that I now don't want to put everything back into my cupboards.  I see that minimalism is a wonderful thing but that's why its taking me so long to unpack my boxes.  I'm now a reformed hoarder.  (Actually I'm a daughter of an amazing cook and entertainer.  I therefore have enough dishes for four families.  I modelled myself after my Mom but I'm not a terrific cook and don't entertain even half as much as she and Dad did so...)

7.  You will want to redecorate other rooms afterwards.  We both want to do something with our fireplace and I want new furniture since I have a new colour scheme to play with. 

8.  It's worth it.  I would do it all again.  Forget those people who say it's easier to move.  If you love your neighbourhood go ahead and renovate. 

Now continuing on to the fun of discovering what is in all those boxes in the basement, I'm off.

'till next time,

Linda

5th Avenue Floral

I can't believe I woke up today with the sound of rain on our roof.  Well, not actually our roof but rain pouring off our roof hitting the ground with such force I hear it.  We still have a foot of snow on our grass so this is such a treat!   SPRING has arrived! 

With that announcement I have some 5th Avenue Floral cards to share with you.  I haven't played with this stamp set for a while now so I just thought I'd look for new colour combinations and I really like this first one.  Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip and So Saffron ink and paper. 

I have left off a greeting so that I can use it for the next occasion that arrises.  I used Watercolour Wonder crayons for the flower inside this card.
 

 Since I had the Chocolate Chip card stock out I used it as a starting point and love it in combination with Regal Rose.  Again, I used Watercolour Wonder Crayons for these flowers.

 
OK so this next card is a little WILD.  I couldn't help using up the scraps and combined the Taken with Teal, Regal Rose and Chocolate Chip.  A bit over the top but fun!

Have a fantastic spring day!  I'll be inside unpacking my kitchen and dining room boxes.  Yup, the renovations are complete.  Now.... I really am struck with the desire to downsize my collection.  I grew to liking our four cups, bowls, plates etc.  (ahh minimalism) Things in our tiny space were controlled but ... you should see the growing disaster in my lovely kitchen.  LOL!  Life is such fun!

Don't forget there's still time to book your private stamping class, earn Free Sale-a-bration stamps and have a fantastic night or afternoon with your friends.  Call me at 613-726-1776 or email linda@stamperspad.com to select a time and class that's right for you.

Till next time,

Linda

 

Can't Resist ...

With only a white crayon, sponge, ink and paper you can create your own beautiful designer papers.  The cards below were made using Crayon Resist techique.  Yup, you probably did this in elementary school but it's oh-so-beautiful in your card creations. 
 

 

These three cards were created stamping black Stazon ink on whisper white cardstock, then afterward selecting sections to colour in with white crayon and sponging over top with three ink colours. I used Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo inks.   After sponging you only need to rub the ink off the crayon with a kleenex to reveal the white. 

Here's a closer look at the end results.

 
The greeting is stamped in white craft ink and embossed in white ep.  Stamp Sets:  Sale-a-bration set "Happy Moments"  (Free with an order of $65.00!!!) and Well Scripted #117072 (0n wood) or 118601 (clear mount). 

I chose a different pallet for this card.  Can you tell I was talking to my daughter while colouring these flowers?  Inked with Soft Suede, Dusty Durango and Rich Razzleberry this is a more subdued colour scheme but I like it.

Hope you revisit this simple technique and create a unique card!

Don't forget to take advantage of our Sale-A-Bration to get your free stamp set this month.  Call me, drop me an email or order on line to place your order today.

Have a great day,

Linda