. . . In case you missed it -- Part 2

You can't have Valentine's Day without a little *bling* -- This card sparkles in real life. Some of it comes through on this photo. To get this effect we used the Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing folder (see page 219 in the annual Idea Book and Catalog) and then we hit the tops of the embossed image with the Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details that Stampin' Up will have available in the upcoming Occasions mini catty. (The card stock used on this card is Cherry Cobbler, then I used Blushing Bride for the punched Lace Ribbon Border behind the sentiment. We cut the lace border horizontally so that we could use it for the top and the bottom of the sentiment -- just cut the lace in half (horizontally) and adhere to the edges of the sentiment tag!  The sentiment is from the Hand-Penned Holidays set which is in the soon-to-be-gone Holiday mini catalog (it will be gone come Jan 3rd). Some of my guests chose to use different sentiments, thus changing the card from a Valentine's Day card to a birthday card, to a thinking of you card.

The third card we made was a bit non-traditional for Valentine's Day -- afterall, it is blue. But I wanted to do something completely different from the other two. For one thing, I wanted to create a card that did not use my beloved Sizzix machine. Not all my customers have the Sizzix machine, nor are they ready to purchase one (but I'm working on that). So I wanted to create a card that used punches instead.

See that large blossom? That is the lovely newest punch that will be available in the Occasions Mini. Just when I thought I didn't need "one more flower punch" -- HA! This one has such a delicate blossom shape. I love, love, love it! I can't wait to use it more! And the ribbon that we used is from the Holiday Mini, so if you want some of that beautiful cream velvet ribbon, better not wait too much longer! It will be going away come January 3rd.

I hope that you enjoy these two cards. My next stamp camp will be a 8x8 calendar -- I need to get creating! I am not exactly sure how this will develop, but I need 12 designs by next Friday! HeeHeeHee. I'll get there... I have a few more days without work. :-)

Thanks for stopping by today. It might be a few days before you hear from me again.

Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe that today is the last day of 2011...
~Lisa

In case you missed it . . .

It is time to start thinking about holidays other than Christmas, isn't it? Although I have decided to make Christmas cards all year long so that I have enough to mail out in 2012 (I used up ALL of my pre-made cards this last go-around -- they sure came in handy during my last minute scramble to get cards out this year!)

Anyway, Valentine's day was on my mind this week. Last night I had 11 amazing women over for a Love Themed Stamp Camp! This is one of the three cards that we made last night. This was my favorite -- it is using my favorite flocked DSP (Mocha Morning Specialty -- see page 183 of the annual Idea Book and Catty). PLUS it is using four new products that will be available in the 2012 Occasions Mini (which becomes available on January 4th -- you should have your copy of this mini catalog already; if you don't, drop me an email!)

The Adorning Accent edgelet die gave us that beautiful card edge -- it was tricky to use when cutting over 33 cards in one sitting (it just barely fits through my Sizzix machine and I kept catching the edge of it so that it would slip off my paper, even WHEN I had it taped down). But the effect is SOOOO worth the added effort. Grab your Dotto girls, this baby needs a bit of adherence-assistance, but WOW! It makes a beautiful edge. Here is another view of this card -- I opened the card up fully so that you can see the actual cut edge:

After using that edgelet die to cut your card edge, you then run your paper through the Sizzix machine one more time using the new Textured Impressions Embossing Folder -- this is what gives you the raised impression with the same shape as the cut edge. This folder is very very easy to use. Just place it where you want it and send it on through.

And check out that new stamped image! You will find this beautiful set, Apothecary Art, in the new Occasions mini. And don't you worry -- there are so many other beautiful images that you will have available to you! This stamp set, however, coordinates so beautifully with the last new product I used on this card: the new Framelit Die, the Labels Collection. You actually receive 6 sizes in this label shape (each fitting inside the other). I am SO EXCITED that Stampin' Up has moved in this direction with their die cutting tools. Again, use some Dotto to keep your frame in place while cutting -- then just move it on through. It is a beautiful label maker!

Are you excited for this new mini catty? Stampin' Up just keeps bringing us such wonderful images and tools! It is so much fun and so creative!

Stay tuned -- I have two more cards to share with you from last night's class. Check back in tomorrow!
Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Stampin'
~Lisa

Card Keeper

Stampin' Up offers these wonderful Card Keeper boxes -- they are so easy to put together, and they are incredibly sturdy! And they are so much fun to decorate. Stampin' Up also includes templates so that you can actually cover the box completely with the DSP of your choice.

This is my first attempt decorating one. I made this one for my Secret Stamping Sister (Karen O) for her Christmas gift. She is a fan of lavender so I wanted to make sure to use it in my design. And I wanted her to use it all year long, so I purposely did not make it Christmas-y.  I hope that Karen finds a way to utilize this card keeper all year long!  (She IS coming to my next stamp camp where we are going to make Valentine Cards -- now she will have some place to hold them until she decides to send them out!).

Happy Stamping Everyone!
~Lisa

Paper Piecing Advent Calendar

Look at this beautiful gift that I received this year! I was lucky enough to have Maria creating Secret Stamping Sister gifts for me! Check out her blog here! This entire project was done with paper piecing!! It is amazing! Thank you so much Maria! I love it!

Autumn Flowers

Hi blogging friends!  I am sneaking back into the blogging world. I will be playing catch up for a bit, posting pictures of items that I made over the last few months for my secret stamping sister (Karen O.) of the CSLs. I had so much fun creating items for her, but I haven't been able to share these creations online (obviously) without giving myself away. Here are the autumn flower arrangement that I made for her in September. These flowers are completely made out of Stampin' Up card stock using the Sizzix Daisy die.

Paper Daisies using a variety of autumn colors.

The flower arrangement is placed in a paper mache pumpkin that I purchased in a local craft store.

I hope that Karen enjoyed these flowers! I sure had a lot of fun creating them for her.
Happy Stamping!
~Lisa

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!
~Lisa

July Class -- Altered Journal

My next class will create this altered journal:

I finally pulled out my Zutter machine -- I have had it for quite some time but I haven't used it before. It made altering this journal a breeze! I took a typical plastic covered notebook (4.12" x 5.67") and sandwiched the plastic cover (both front and back covers) between Espresso card stock.

I used the following items for this journal:

• Old Olive Cardstock
• Paisley Petals DSP
• Old Olive Patterns DSP (now available as part of the Brights Collection) -- punched with eyelits border
• Whisper White CS cut with Sizzix Top Note
• Glossy White CS stamped with French Filigree in Versa Mark ink and then sponged over with Old Olive Classic Ink
• Not Quite Navy CS and Marina Mist CS cut with Sizzix Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die

You too can create this journal. My class is scheduled for Sunday, July 10 in the afternoon. Visit my website to RSVP: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/lisaputnam/

Thanks for stopping by today!
Happy Stamping!
~Lisa

Great Offer! You TOO can be a Stampin' Up Demonstrator

Order your Starter Kit Now
Dates: July 1-31, 2011

Promotion Details: A limited-time $99 Starter Kit ($180 Value--See Kit Contents below!) is the perfect choice for the hobby stamper and lover of Stampin' Up! products.
• SAVE!!! Enjoy the new Stampin' Up! 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog using a one-time 30% Off Start Up Discount on product orders of $150 or more (placed within 45 days of start).
• Get 20% off future Stampin' Up! orders, wonderful exclusive resources and the opportunity to pre-order new products.
• Receive Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Discounts and Benefits through Dec. 31, 2011 with NO obligation to to purchase anything further or hold a workshop.
• All types of stampers are welcome!

• There's no penalty to drop. You keep everything.

• PLUS Get a Christmas Keepsake project kit (example below) absolutely FREE--a $40 value! This exclusive kit contains everything you need to create a beautiful Christmas Keepsake Box to hold your most treasured Christmas memories. It will be available with your first demonstrator order in August and must be redeemed by Sept. 30th. The Christmas Keepsake Box Project Kit--a $40 value--contains the following products (quantities are 1 unless otherwise noted). It's included with any $99 Stampin' Up! Starter Kit purchase (only available July 1 - July 30). Keepsake Box Project Kit will be included in the first demonstrator order placed between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30, 2011.

•Pines & Poinsettias Set (wood-mount)
•Keepsake box
•Scallop borders (cut from Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die)
◦First Edition Designer Series Paper (3)
◦Holly Berry Designer Series Paper (6)
•First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper strip (2)
•Holly Berry Designer Series Paper piece*
•Real Red Top Note (cut from Top Note Bigz Die)
•Real Red Decorative Label (cut from Matchbook Bigz XL Die)
•Wild Wasabi Card Stock strips (3)
•Naturals Ivory Card Stock piece
•Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Fabric*
•Real Red 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
•Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
•Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim
•Linen Thread
•Champagne Fine Galaxy Stampin' Glitter
•Vanilla Pearl 1/2" Simply Adorned Bauble
•Pearl Basic Jewels (1 pkg.)
•Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Buttons*
◦Large Wild Wasabi
◦Small Real Red
•Mini Vintage Tags

Additional Supplies Needed•Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker
•Real Red Stampin' Write Marker
•Wild Wasabi Stampin' Write Marker
•Adhesives
•3/16" Corner Punch
•Scallop Circle Punch
•Paper Cutter
•Paper Snips
•Needle
•Glue gun
*From the 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog!

$99 Starter Kit ContentsContains over $180 in products and business supplies--including new products from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog! You CAN substitute a similar item of equal or lesser value.

123225 Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*

122740 Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*

102277 Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

105216 Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
103133 Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
119706 Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
101179 Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
107311 Whisper White Note Cards (20)
124339 Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
124142 Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*
122129 Blender Pen (1)
118486 Clear-Mount Block C
104332 SNAIL Adhesive
*New to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

Business SuppliesThe business supplies in these promotional mini kits will be the same business supplies that are in existing starter kits; no alternative selections can be made for business items.

•Getting Started DVD
•Getting Started Guide
•Guest Invitation Postcards (100)
•2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog (8)
•2011 Summer Mini Catalog (8)
•Stampin' Up! logo vinyl
•Décor Elements applicator
•To My Hostess Envelopes (10)
•My Digital Studio Marketing DVD
•Recruit Folders (5)
•Recruit Brochures (20)
•Customer Order Forms (50)
 

Join Us! IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FUN!!

Swing Card

Reason #105 of why I love being a Stampin' Up demonstrator --

The CSLs that directly "report" to THE Crazy Stampin Lady -- Maureen -- meet monthly, and then once a quarter all of OUR downline demonstrators join us! There is a possibility of 24+ Stampin' Up demonstrators in one room -- can you imagine the energy in THAT room! It is sooo much fun! 

This last meeting (June's meeting) was my opportunity, alongside one of my wonderful downline, Virginia, to lead the project. We opted to create a "swing card" -- it was new to just about everyone in the room! That was fun! It is not too often that I can find something new for this group!

The DSP that we used came from the Build-A-Bear DSP set -- it made a fun birthday card. We then used the Pretty Postage Stamp Set and the new Postage Punch, along with the Pinking Heart Border punch.

It was fun!

Want to join a supportive group of stampers like the CSLs? Simply contact me for more information. I have been a part of this group for over 6 years now -- and these women have become such wonderful friends. We share great ideas, both creative and business-based.


Thanks for stopping in today!  Happy Stamping Everyone!
~Lisa

Summertime Strawberries!

Summer is here -- and my favorite, favorite thing about summer is STRAWBERRIES! Oh-yum! We have the best strawberries near by. A near-by city is famous for their strawberries. And so in honor of my favorite summertime fruit, I made the following card-fronts (for an online card swap that I am participating in).  The idea is NOT my own -- thank you Maureen, the Crazy Stamping Lady herself, for this oh-so-fun idea!

The base of the strawberry is the SU Embosslit Scalloped Heart. I love the little dimples in the heart -- they look just like the seeds on a strawberry. You then use the 5-petal flower punch for the large leaves (cut off two petals), and the branch from the Build-A-Bird punch. Finally, the white flower is from the Boho Blossoms punch and the yellow center is the Itty Bitty Flower punch. Cute - cute - cute! Just one of benefits of being part of the CSLs -- Maureen shares wonderful project ideas at each of our monthly downline meetings! 

The card-swap that I am participating in calls for 10 card-fronts. So 10 there are! They get mailed in to a SU Demonstrator that graciously coordinated a mail-in card-swap!  I will mail these to her this week and she will then mail me 10 others in exchange. I have no idea what I will receive, or who they will come from! We were asked to place our contact information on the back of the card, so I hope to meet some new online friends through this activity. Very fun! I can't wait to see the ideas -- they are due to be in shortly after July 1st.  I'll keep you posted!

Enjoy the sunshine!
~Lisa

Father's Day Cards

Father's Day sure snuck up on me this year. There has been a lot going on around our house (thus, no posts for over two months -- yikes!). Apparently teenage children need taxi-cab service all-the-time! And the two kids are never traveling in the same direction. But more on that later...  Here are the two father's day cards that I made this year.

I wish I had a close-up for you but my camera was not cooperating! I think it was the paper I was using; I kept getting a horrible glare in my photo.

To create this look I started with SU's Glossy White paper (LOVE IT!). I then started playing around with some (uh-hum) alcohol inks that are out there with a blending solution. I stamped a couple of images on the paper and smeared them a bit (see the anchor). I embossed both the ship and sentiment in black and then the  world image in gold (only on the card on the black frame). I do love this new stamp set from Stampin' Up -- it is called The Open Sea and it can be found in our current Summer Mini (see link on the right hand side of this page).

The card with the grommet and brads was for my dear husband -- the one who just doesn't "get-it" when I spend a ton of time creating a card. However, he actually said that he really liked the hardware on this card. He really is a hardware kind of guy. He either really liked these elements or he was being very kind, finding something nice to say about my work (and for those of you who know my husband, he isn't one to say something that wasn't true just to be kind -- LOL). 

The card that is on the black frame was for my father. Poor man is getting his card in the next couple of days because I only mailed it this morning. I made the card on Saturday (again, due to everything that has been going on) and mailed it today. I did call Dad to let him know that it is on its way. He will very much appreciate a home-made card. My Dad IS a man who appreciates home-made items more than store-bought. He likes the fact that so much individualized attention goes into the creation. He has been that way since I was a kid. I hope that he likes it enough to forgive me for the lateness of the card. (I blamed it on my mother -- she is ALWAYS late in mailing out birthday cards -- so I will say that it is a hereditary lateness!) Dad laughed at that one and said he will be sure to share my theory with Mom. She will laugh! (At least I hope she will!)

I hope all of you enjoyed your Father's Day weekend with family and loved ones!

Thanks for stopping in today. Maybe I will be able to post a bit more frequently now that it is summertime!

A-Choo... Got it covered!

I promised you that I would post the project from our February stamp club -- and what a project it was!! Virginia (one of my lovely stamping-friends who happens to also be part of the Paper Art Muses team) lead the morning session last Saturday. She designed a beautiful tissue-box cover!

We used the beautiful new flower punch to create this lovely look!  What a wonderful punch!  And such a great way to hide those tissue boxes!!!  I think I need about 4 more to strategically place around my home!

Happy Happy Stamping!!!  I have some designing to do myself this weekend! I have a stamp class on Friday, and I think I have quite a few gals coming to play!  Let me know if you would like to join us!

Lucky You

Balance -- this is my new motto. I need to keep balance in my life. With starting my stamping business a few years back, I started to only stamp when I was designing a project for others to make in a class. That IS fun, and I really do enjoy designing cards. However, I have found that I don't get to really "play" all that much when I am only prepping for class projects.

To counteract this, I vowed last year to participate more in other demonstrators' card classes. It was the best thing I did! Not only do I get to play (without all the prep work, I might add), I also get to experiment with designs that I would never ever come up with on my own.  And, I gotta say, these designs are so much fun!

 

How stinkin' cute is this???

 

Annette designed this card for our monthly stamp club that met a couple Saturday mornings ago. Lots of punching -- look at all those wonderful hearts! We ran some paper through a dry emboss folder before punching out some hearts -- clever huh?

And I can't wait for Saturday, February 12th -- my other good friend, Virginia will be demonstrating for our monthly stamp club. I can't wait to see her design! Watch for the post -- I promise to have it up by the end of the weekend.

Have you joined a stamp club yet? If not, I encourage you to do so! It is so nice to have stamping time scheduled into your calendar on a regular basis. We make a commitment to spend 2 hours a month together and we have so much fun! 

Another great opportunity: Annette and Virginia joined my downline a few years back. We are officially known as the Paper Art Muses -- and we are always looking for stampers who would like to join our team! We get together on a regular basis to share ideas with one another. And we plan joint events (like our Shoebox Swap events that we have had -- see previous posts for the great cards that come out of those events). 

These women have become more than just "downline" -- they have become dear friends who share in our passion for stamping! And this year's goal is to tackle the new world of digital scrapbooking! Stampin' Up has a whole line of digital art that mirrors their rubber stamp art! And it is my task to learn the program so that I can share it with the team. (I love to scrapbook, so this task was truly a way to squeeze in some scrapbooking time! heehee). 

We would love to have you join us! Visit my SU Website to shoot me an email -- 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Have a beautiful day....

~Lisa

Life is Beautiful

I am loving this look. My dear friend Annette (who happens to also be part of the Paper Art Muses with me) designed this card for one of her classes. I attended the class so that I could get some stamping time in -- what a great night to join her!

This look was created by using DSP in an embossing folder (the vintage wallpaper) and then lightly sanding the tops of the embossed image.





You see, Stampin' Up's cardstock is colored all the way through, however, the DSP has a white core. So you can gently sand the tops of the raised image and get this beautiful worn look. It truly adds a beautiful elegance to this card.

We used Daffodil Delight (I believe) and black on this card.

Great card Annette!

Thanks for stopping by today!
Have a beautiful day.
~Lisa

Beautiful Wings

Dry Embossing

This is a 5x5 card -- I love this size card! The colors for this card are Sahara Sand and Pink Pirouette.

Not a lot of stamping for this card -- but I got to use the new Pearl embellishments, Very Vanilla ribbon, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, and then the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.

I have to say -- my Sizzix machine is well loved and well used!!



I have recently purchased the Cricut, and I am looking forward to cutting some paper doilies and other intricate items, but nothing beats my Sizzix. It is just so nice to be able to pull it off the shelf and run the paper through it. For some reason the Cricut intimidates me.  However, the main reason for the Cricut purchase was so I could begin building some 3-D projects from templates that I found online. If you like to wrap items in beautiful packaging, you have to check out this blog -- she designs her own packaging and I can't wait to try some of her templates that I purchased. Her work is beautiful!

 This link should take you to her 2010 in Review post -- My Time, My Creations, My Stampendous.  Lauren is quite talented!  Enjoy touring her site!

Have a beautiful day!
~Lisa

Elements of Style

Stamp Set: Elements of Style and Bella Toile
I clear embossed Bella Toile on glossy white paper.
Next, I stamped the images in Basic Brown using stamps from the Elements of Style set.
Then I sponged over the glossy white paper with Certainly Celery.
Finally, I colored in a few leaves with Certainly Celery (it is hard to see in this photo).
The mat is Always Artichoke, and the card base is Black. (I love dark cards)

This card was actually made a few months ago -- I completely cased it from one of the blogs I visit (unfortunately, I did not keep the information on where I found it). I modified it just a bit and then used it in one of my stamp classes.

Have a beautiful week -- Thanks for stopping by!
~Lisa

An Honor . . .

One of my favorite Stampers (who happens to be my upline -- Lucky Me!) Maureen Rauchfuss has nominated me, along with my sister stampers, for the Stylish Blogger Award.  How very sweet!!!  So I guess I probably should add a few current posts, huh?  LOL

As part of this honor, I am to write 8 Random Things about me.... Here I go:
(1)  I currently have a cold and so I am home for the day rather than at work. This has made it a bit easier to add a current post. (Unfortunately, I can't breathe well.)  I so wish that I took more time to stamp and blog; I seem to fill my down-time with mindless Facebook games!!! No bueno!

(2) I don't get to stamp as often as I would like. Truth-be-told, when I DO have some time to stamp, I usually begin the process by cleaning my stamp area, or re-organizing my supplies and stamps. I am not quite certain why I start this way -- maybe I just need to touch everything before I am inspired to create anything.

(3) I have been married for 18 years to a wonderful, patient man who loves me for who I am, faults and all. And I can't imagine that I'm all that easy to live with. He and I "balance" each other very nicely actually -- he is very practical and I am very optimistic and "dreamy". He procrastinates and I nag... hehehehee.

(4) I have two teenage children -- again, thank goodness for some balance in the marriage! I tend to over-indulge my kids, but as far as I am concerned, they ARE my kids!!  We are going through those rough teenage kids, and yes, times can be tough. Yet my kids are good-hearted, loving kids. I know we are going to see great things come from these kids of ours. We certainly raised independent, strong-willed individuals!  (My daughter currently would like her belly-button pierced, so I'm kind of questioning that independent thinker in her.... LOL.)

(5) I have been so incredibly blessed to have wonderful people placed into my life -- my Lord and Savior has strategically dropped people into my life (since I was a child); people who have shaped me into who I am today. I keep toying with the idea of devoting a blog post to these people, something like a chronicle of the path laid before me that led me to become a true Christian. Come back and check on me.... I really am considering this!

(6) The friends that I stamp with have brightened my life in so so many ways! There have been some moments that I wish I could just pull the covers up over my head and hide (see #4 above --- heehee). My stamping friends, God bless them, have consistently pulled me out of these funks -- we laugh and laugh while we make whatever it is we are making. I am convinced that stamping, although it is important, it is secondary to our events!!!  THANK YOU!!!

(7) I was born and raised in Ventura County, and there I continue to live. We have a little bit of paradise going on here (I mean, come on -- January 31 and it is 72 degrees and sunny!! Can't beat that!). I can't imagine living anywhere else.

(8)  Finally, I always wanted to become a writer. One of these days (again, see #5 above) I really would like to write. I have a few things to say -- I just am afraid that I won't do it justice. My next project that I have tumbling around in my mind is a journal creation. And this journal will be the start of my writing!!!

Now, I get to nominate a Stylish Blogger -- and I have to nominate two women who I admire so much. These two women, whom I have never met, and they won't even know my name, are the most courageous women facing difficulties I cannot even imagine. They are such a blessing, I am sure, to many many readers -- I truly hope that they remain strong in their relationship with our Lord, and I pray that they find happiness and comfort this year.

Paper Pleasing Ideas
Amazing Paper Grace

Thanks for stopping by today. And thank you Maureen for bestowing such a kind honor!
~Lisa