Stampin' & Scrappin' with Donna

WHEN THE SHOE IS ON THE OTHER FOOT

This afternoon I left my 'teaching' hat at home and attended Julie's Christmas Stamp-A-Stack event (you may have heard me mention my friend, & neighbour, & fellow demonstrator?)  ... well, it sure was weird to be on the "receiving end" of a card-making class! I soooo wanted to "pretend" to be a difficult customer and give Julie a bit of a hard time, but she had other "real stampers" there, so I really tried to behave myself all afternoon.

Ever since Julie showed me the cards for this class, I knew I wanted to make them - they are so beautiful, I couldn't pick just one to love ... each time we started another card, I would declare to anyone who would listen that "THIS ONE is my favourite" - until the next one came along! (Looking back, it's a wonder Julie didn't throw me out!)

Thanks for letting me join in, girlfriend; I had a great time today!

To see a close-up of these cards, just click on the photo to go to Julie's blog.

cheers,

Donna

HALLOWE'EN SPIDER TREATS

One of my club members Amanda showed me these adorable and easy-to-make Hallowe'en treats, using Stampin' Up!'s "Sweet Treat Cups" - check them out!

Punches used: 1-3/4" circle for the body, 1" circle, 3/4" circle and 1/4" circle for the eyes (googly eyes would be fun to use too) and the photo corners punch for the legs.

I thought they'd be a perfect project to make tomorrow (Saturday) at my "Mom & Me" Hallowe'en classes ... there's still room in both the 9-11am group and the 1-3pm group. Roy will have the yard all decorated early tomorrow so the kids can see, I have a couple of fun crafts lined up (including these spiders!), and of course there will be treats, too.

This is a good way to burn off some of the kids' energy while they wait for the main event tomorrow night! Call or email me today to reserve your spot - $25 for mom & one child; second child is only $5 more.

cheers,

Donna

DO IT YOURSELF BUTTONS!

OK, this might have been the best demo of the whole weekend at Stampin' Palooza ... well, maybe not THE best; there were SO MANY good ideas shared in Toronto ... but this sure is the best one as far as the FRUGAL STAMPER is concerned!

How many times have I wished that I had a button to embellish my card or layout, only to find that none of the buttons in my craft stash will go with the colours in my project? My creativity comes to a screeching halt until I have the time to hunt down a better match in the bottom of my sewing basket, or horrors - make a special trip to the store!

Well, with this super-easy trick I can make my own buttons using matching papers from my project, and I'll never have to sneak a button from my hubby's favourite shirt again! (Oops, did I type that out loud? Shhh, don't tell!)

Here's a quick photo tutorial: (click on the photos to see a close up)

STEP ONE: Punch five circles, all the same size (I used my 3/4" and 1" circle punches for this example).

STEP TWO: Glue them in a stack with your Tombo Multi Liquid Glue, bringing the glue as close to the outer edges as you can without having any gush out.

STEP THREE: Use your sanding block to smooth the edges and removed the "layered" look.

 

STEP FOUR: Punch two or four holes in the centre of each button with the 1/8" side of your Crop-O-Dile - it will punch through all five layers with NO problem!

STEP FIVE: Cover each button top with a coat of Crystal Effects to give them a shiny finish. Let dry.

And here's the finished card: (100% Stampin' Up!)

Frugal Stamper's tips:

     * Make up a bunch of buttons in one sitting, and store them in a clear container for future use.

     * This is a great way to use up your smaller scraps of card stock or Designer Series Paper

     * Try different shaped punches to make some really funky buttons!

     * Before you apply the Crystal effects, why not add some stamping or rub-ons to your buttons!

I hope you enjoyed this idea!

Donna

EASY BREEZY CHALLENGE

Feels like I've been doing laundry and packing for two straight days; but I really wanted to make a card for Julie's Easy Breezy Kewl Colour Challenge before we head off on our road trip - Hubby just called from work - now he wants to leave as soon as he gets home in the morning, so I actually had to drop everything and sneak down to my studio tonight to make my entry!

CHALLENGES MET:
EBKCC #4 - Ruby Red, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue & Crushed Curry

SUPPLIES USED: (100% Stampin' Up!)
INKS: Ruby Red, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue & Crushed Curry
PAPERS: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Crushed Curry & Bashful Blue card stock; The Write Stuff Designer Series Papers
STAMPS: Celebrate Everything (pg 144) & Trendy Trees (pg 112)
ACCESSORIES: Word Window punch, Slit punch, 1" Circle punch

NOTE: This card is designed to hold a gift card or certificate inside; I used the slit punch on the yellow strip on the right to make two tabs to hold the card closed.

cheers,

JUST UNDER THE WIRE ... WHEW!

I've been participating in my friend Julie's Easy Breezy Kewl Colour Challenge (EBKCC) since it's debut, and I'm determined not to miss a single week! Julie posts a new colour challenge every Friday, but since I didn't get to my stamping studio until Tuesday ... well, you know the rest. I managed to finish this card tonight, just under the wire!

CHALLENGES MET:

EBKCC -  Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, More Mustard & Old Olive
3 CLOVERS - use a photograph on your card
ABC - C is for Circles
PILE IT ON - Threes (3 blue circles, 3 green circles) + at least one other challenge

TODAY'S FRUGAL TIP: I really enjoyed the challenge of working a photo into the card design - what a great way to use up those random, leftover photos in my shoebox - I don't even know the people in this shot!

SUPPLIES USED: (100% STAMPIN' UP! unless otherwise stated)

PAPERS - Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, More Mustard & Old Olive card stock
INKS - Bashful Blue, Old Olive & Brilliant Blue
STAMPS - Itty Bitty Background (page 132), Seaside & Travel Post (both retired sets)
ACCESSORIES - GoGo Boots Alphabet Dies & Big Shot Die Cutting Machine; 1-1/4", 1-3/8", 1-1/2" & 1-3/4" Circle Punches, and chipboard word stickers by MemoryMakers (for the letter "u")

cheers

A NEW CHALLENGE ENTRY ... OR FIVE!

I've been neglecting my favourite card challenge sites for the last couple of weeks... it might have something to do with the arrival of Stampin' Up!'s new 2009-2010 catalogue and all the excitement and planning that goes with it ... but now it's time to stretch my creativity once again.

My fav challenge site is "Pile It On" because they encourage us to meet more than one challenge with a single card - so in their honour, today's entry covers FIVE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES (that's a new record for me!)

SUPPLIES USED: (100% Stampin' Up!©)
Wings of Friendship stamp set (Level 2 Hostess set)
Rose Red Patterns DSP
Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke & Very Vanilla card stock
Mellow Moss grosgrain ribbon
Heart to Heart, Large Oval, Scallop Oval & Corner Rounder punches
Rose Red, Mellow Moss & Always Artichoke markers
Always Artichoke & Rose Red Classic ink pads
Oval Scallop Frame die & Big Shot die cutter

TODAY'S TIP FROM THE FRUGAL STAMPER: I didn't have a small enough butterfly punch for this card, so I punched out some small hearts with Stampin' Up!'s Heart to Heart punch, and just glued them together in pairs!

CHALLENGES MET:
Pile It On (their sketch & at least one other challenge)
Makeesha's Inspiration Challenge (colours)
Creative Inspiration (stitching - faux or real)
Cupcake Crafts (Blossoms & Butterflies theme)

Our Creative Corner (pet theme - I'm stretching the theme a bit, but hey - I had a pet bird once!)

Have a great weekend everyone!

PAGE CORNER BOOKMARK: DIRECTIONS

I promised to show you just how easy it is to make those corner bookmarks from my Open House last Saturday, so here goes ... my first online tutorial!

Click on the photos for a close up view. You can also email me for printable PDF version.

STEP ONE: Cut a piece of card stock 5x5" square. Score @ 2-1/2" (middle), turn your card stock and score again at 2-1/2" - you've just divided the square into four smaller squares.

Cut off one corner at an angle - not too big, you don't want it to cut all the way up to the score lines.

STEP TWO:

Trim the angled edge with an edge punch of your choice (I used Stampin' Up!'s Eyelet Border punch)

STEP THREE:

Cut away the small square that's opposite the punched edge; then fold on all score lines (Using a bone folder makes a crisp clean fold.)

STEP FOUR: Fold the two remaining squares to the back and tape or glue in place. DON'T glue anything to the square with the punched edge - that's what makes the pocket to fit over the page in your book!

At this point, if your edges are uneven, you can trim them on your paper trimmer or with scissors. DON'T cut the folded edges, or you'll ruin your pocket.

STEP FIVE: Now you can decorate your bookmark any way you like, but keep the embellishments flat or you may dent the pages in your book when it's closed.

I used Stampin' Up!'s Small Oval punch and some Bermuda Bay© card stock - this piece will go behind my stamped message.

STEP SIX:

I stamped my message in Melon Mambo© ink on a scrap of Whisper White card stock and punched it out with Stampin' Up!'s Word Window ...

TIP:

When you want to punch out a stamped image, turn your punch upside down to position the image just right ... then punch it out! (Sorry for the blurry picture - sometimes two hands are not enough)

The finished project is on the left, and on the right is another version made by demonstrator Mary Mennie (this one is without the angled corner; if you want to make it this way, skip step two). Mary used the set "Lots of Bots" and Stampin' Up!'s Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, & 1-1/4" Circle punches.

HAPPY EASTER - PART DEUX

It's 11 pm on Easter Sunday and the last of my company just left - we had a great weekend visiting & spending time with the family - even if my sister woke me up waayyyyy too early every morning, groan.

Here's my fav Easter project this year - since I've been focusing a lot lately on my Punch Happy club, this little punch art basket was a natural to share at my team meeting and again at last week's "Just Cards" class. The original instructions came from fellow demonstrator Amy Celona, although I made a couple of minor changes during my classes. Here's the link to Amy's original instructions.

I hope you all are enjoying your long weekend, eating lots of chocolate, and getting lots of great pics for your scrapbooks! If you're one of the lucky ones who have another day off tomorrow, ENJOY (and be sure to take some time to create something with your stamps!)

"CONGRATS ON YOUR BIG NEWS"

First thing tomorrow morning I'm going to London to visit the Queen ... oops, sorry ... wrong London (Anyone else remember that particular nursery rhyme?) <grin>

I'm actually heading for London, ONTARIO for two days of visiting, restaurant meals, and of course ... STAMPING! Saturday is the big day with Stampin' Up!'s Regional Conference, but in true Donna fashion, I've lined up activities for all of my free time too, lol.

I hope to post on Saturday "live" from Regionals, especially if Shelli Gardner announces any BIG NEWS or we see a particulary AMAZING demonstration on stage ..  but just in case I don't have WiFi available I've lined up a couple of "scheduled" posts to keep you amused until I get back.

For now, let me show you one more of my Shoebox Swap projects ... the gals at my hotel will be making this tomorrow night.

To make this 4-1/4 x 4-1/4" card, I used one of my favourite word sets called "Absolutely Fabulous" (item #114914, $25.95, page 132) designed by kwerner (when she was still working as a Stampin' Up! designer). On the outside it says: "I just heard!" and inside: "congrats on your big news!"

Other supplies include:

• Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper (page 161, #113978, $11.75)
• 1-3/4" Circle punch (page 184, #112004, $19.95)
• Kraft, Basic Grey, Baja Breeze & Kiwi Kiss card stock
• Basic Grey & Sahara Sand Classic inks (the Sahara was sponged around the edges of the card & DSP)

Don't forget to sign up for "Wagon Load of Fun" class by tomorrow, March 13 so I can order your set in time for the class on March 25 ... it's gonna be a hum-dinger!

TIME TO GET PUNCH HAPPY!

It's here at last ... my first ONLINE CLUB is all set up and I'd LOVE it if you'd join us!

You've heard me mention my Stampers' Club ... a great bunch of gals who sign up for a seven month stretch and get all kinds of freebies along with their membership. They are the mainstay of my business, and I love them dearly. (FYI: new members are always welcome - if you live in the Guelph - Kitchener - Waterloo - Cambridge - Fergus - Rockwood or surrounding area, click here for more info).

Trouble is, many of my blog readers either do not live close enough OR do not have the time/transportation/childcare available in order to participate in Stampers' Club .. and that's not fair.

So, PUNCH HAPPY is my first On-line Club ... yep, now EVERYONE can join and reap the benefits right from the comfort of your own home at any time of day or night, even in your pj's!

WHY did I choose Punch Art? Well, punches are a bit of a passion with me - I already owned over 50 BEFORE I even heard of Stampin' Up! back in 2002, and I have steadily increased that number since then <grin> Thanks to fellow punch enthusiasts, I have collected a HUGE file of projects made with punched images, and I participate in Punch Art swaps as often as I can. Now it's time to share all of that with you!

The Club runs for two months starting April 1st, and by joining you will get tons of new project ideas for using your punches, plus ways to save $$ while you add new punches to your collection!

There are two ways to join, and there's a special bonus to Option One if you join during Sale-a-Bration, which ends March 31st. Membership includes password-restricted access to the PUNCH HAPPY website, where I will be posting new projects every day, along with a photo gallery and punch art contests!

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL THE DETAILS, then email me to join ... it's that EASY!

FRIDAY'S PROJECT: Magic Reindeer Food

Here's another quick project that makes a great pre-Christmas gift for all the little ones who will be waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve... Magic Reindeer Food! Sprinkling this stuff on the lawn became as important a part of our family's Christmas Eve traditions as was hanging the stockings and leaving a snack for Santa and his reindeer... Great Memories...

I mixed up some dry oatmeal with white sugar (the sugar makes it all glittery on the snow in the moonlight & it's healthier for the birds & critters who may be attracted by the oats!) I put a handful into a medium (4"x6") cellophane bag (page 167 of the Fall & Winter Catalogue), folded the top over & stapled it shut. I guess you could use a mini zippy bag from the craft isle in the dollar store too.

To make the topper, I repeated the verse several times onto a Word Document, then printed it out onto Close to Cocoa card stock. I cut the sheet into squares, then folded the top edge toward the back & stapled it onto the top of the cello bag.

Decorate the topper as you like .. I hid the staples with a piece of Real Red Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, sponged Chocolate Chip Classic ink around the edges, and added a punched decoration (stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock with the deer from Stampin' Up!'s "Merry & Bright" set, punched with the 1-3/8" Circle Punch & mounted on a Scallop Circle punch from Chocolate Chip card stock.

(all supplies © Stampin' Up!)

Here's the verse:
Just sprinkle on your lawn at night,
The moon will make it sparkle bright.
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam,
This treat will guide them to your home!

MORE FUN WITH THE SCALLOP CIRCLE PUNCH

Here's another kewl thing to make using your Stampin' Up! scallop circle punch ... a Christmas Tree!

I got the idea for the punched tree from Crazy Stamping Girl's blog and when I showed the tree idea to my very talented stamping friend Erica, she suggested a wintry scene with a snowman. That was all the encouragement I needed to play, lol.

The details: For each tree I punched two or three scalloped circles from green card stock scraps (I used old olive for two trees and kiwi kiss for the third). I cut the circles into wedges & stacked them to make the tree: the bottom layer has five scallops, the next has four, the second from the top has three and the top layer has two. (As always, you can click on the photo for a closer look). As I got better at it, I found I could make a whole tree with only two punched circles, but you might want to punch three just in case.

I edged each piece with Whisper White Craft Ink© and assembled. A scrap of chocolate chip for the trunks and my trees were done!

Stamp sets used to complete the card: Merry & Bright (snowman & flakes); All Holidays (greeting).

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Just popping in to wish you and yours a happy Thanksgiving Day!

We celebrated yesterday with turkey & all the trimmings, so today is a time to kick back, enjoy each others company (and the leftovers, lol). I'm even going to play a bit with my stamps this afternoon - wahoo!

Here's a quick punch project that can be used to decorate a card, scrapbook page, napkin ring, place setting cards, or even cupcakes (attach to a short skewer & stick it into the centre of the cupcake)...this one's easy so even the kids can help assemble....

Use the Stampin' Up!scallop circle punch twice with chocolate chip card stock, and once each from ruby red, more mustard and old olive card stock (all in the Earth Elements colour family. Save a scrap of more mustard card stock for the beak.

Set aside one of the chocolate chip circles, and cut the remaining four in half (you can save the other half to make a second turkey!)

Trim the last chocolate chip circle so that there are three scallops are at the bottom (feet) and only one scallop at the top (head). As always, you can click on the photo for a closer look. Assemble all with a little glue, add 2 white dots with the uni-ball© Signo Gel Pen (page 193 of the Fall & Winter Catalogue) for eyes and snip a small triangle from your more mustard scrap for a beak.

Happy Turkey Day!