Apr 30, 2013 | Designer Series Paper, Scrapbook Pages, Stamp, Scrap, & Create Retreat |
At the Stamp, Scrap & Create Escape Retreat we had four Make&Take projects for everyone that attended. The groups rotated through the stamping sessions to complete the four projects. One of them was the fun mini scrapbook made with the Sent with Love Designer Paper and stamp set.
The front and back cover are made from the Natural Composition Specialty Paper (you’ll find it in the new catalog too).
The inside pages alternate between envelopes (that create pockets) and card stock. The binding is the Sent With Love Designer Paper. Decorate with the stamped images, punched images and card stock. Finish with some Baker’s Twine tied around the front.
The envelopes are pockets and inside each one is a piece of card stock that was embossed and cut to create a decorative edge. I cut the flaps off of the envelopes, but if you think you want to close the envelope with a closer and some twine then leave the flaps on. You can hide secrets in there 🙂
One more fun thing on these is the faux “tape” – I cut strips of Vellum card stock – stamped on them and then punched the edges with the postage stamp punch and it looks like tape. Adhere just one side and then you can took a photo under it and it will looked “taped” but won’t really be.
Today is the last day that you can order the Sent With Love items – either individually or as a bundle – so be sure to hurry before they are gone! These will be fun to have for scrapping some travels this year.
You can order on my website – www.monika.stampinup.net – click the SHOP NOW button on the side of my blog and it will take you to the store.
Apr 29, 2013 | Big Shot, Designer Series Paper, Pop 'n Cuts, Stamp, Scrap, & Create Retreat, SU Pillow Gifts |
Pillow Gifts are so much fun! What are pillow gifts? It is something that Stampin’ Up! does – not sure about other companies. On the incentive trips that the demonstrators earn Stampin’ Up! pampers them with little gifts that they normally leave in their room in the evening and often on the pillow – so I guess that is how they came to be called “pillow gifts”. When we go to convention and other events we usually bring gifts for our roommates and also leave them on the pillow. I finally earned my first incentive trip this year (the Hilton Head trip that I went to in September) and yes the pillow gifts were the most exciting part – after dinner everyone wanted to go back to their rooms and see what Stampin’ Up! had left. So of course for the Stamp, Scrap and Create retreat I wanted to pamper everyone and give them special “pillow gifts” – but since everyone wasn’t spending the night rather than leaving them on their pillow I left the gifts at their “spot” in the crafting room.
The retreat theme was focused around the Sent with Love Designer paper and stamp set – if you haven’t purchased these yet you better hurry – they are only available through April 30th!! One of our make&takes was also created out of these and I’ll share that tomorrow. It’s a great set and paper to use in your scrapbooking.
Well on to the pillow gifts – here they are:
When everyone arrived they had this little pail on their spot. Each one has a chalkboard vinyl cutout with the Oval Framelits. I added a banner that was made with the Sent With Love Designer Paper and then tied a piece of chalk to the bucket it has a little wrap of paper on it too. These worked out perfectly because everyone carried them around to the Make&Take stations throughout the weekend. Their adhesive and scissors fit inside and anything else they wanted to corral into one place.
Friday night after dinner they got this little treat.
A little tube filled with Jelly Beans and decorated with a tag made out of the Sent with Love Stamp set and matching designer paper. I stamped the images and punched them out with a 1″ circle punch and added them to the tag. A little treat that was “sent with love” to everyone that came to the retreat.
I got up early Saturday morning and got breakfast ready and then snuck downstairs to leave a new little pillow gift on everyone’s spot. This is what they got.
I used an empty button container and decorated the top with card stock and a flower – the stamp is from the A Round Array stamp set – and I stuck with the same colors that are in the Sent With Love designer paper. Inside the container was a roll of Washi Tape – each person got a roll from the Epic Day pack. The stamp set and Washi tape are both sneak peeks from the upcoming catalog. I added the “you make me smile” stamp because they all make me smile and I was so happy that everyone came to this retreat.
Saturday night was a special treat that I put out while everyone ate dinner –
I made a cute little box using the Pop ‘n Cuts base die and the Sent with Love Designer paper. I stamped some of the images from the matching stamp set, punched and cut out the pieces and added them to the front of the box. Inside was a three pack of Ferrero Rocher chocolates! A sweet treat “special delivery” to end a wonder Saturday of crafting.
And lastly on Sunday morning I left everyone a final “pillow gift” to say thank you for coming.
A cute little Petite Pocket made from the Sent with Love Designer Paper. Wrapped with some Baker’s Twine and some little tags from Tiny tags – I used “thanks so much”, “hand crafted”, and “friends”. Inside each pocket were some of the Jumbo Pearls. Just a fun little gift for everyone. I’m sad that the Petite Pocket Die, the Tiny Tags stamp set and the Jewelry Tag punch are all on the Stampin’ Up! retiring list – so hurry and order them now before they are gone! I love making these little pocket for so many things.
I know everyone loved all the little surprises and I loved make them and giving them! I can’t wait to plan the next retreat – I’ll have dates soon so you can mark your calendar and be sure to join us!
Apr 29, 2013 | Wildlife |
While going through all my Bluebird photos yesterday I did have a few of some of the other birds and animals that visit the yard so I wanted to share some of my favorites of those too.
We have lots of Chipmunks and lately I see one sitting on this rock under the Japanese Maple quite often. I wonder what he is thinking about.
Right now we have lots of Gold Finches around. I caught these two getting a drink from the fountain.
Mocking Bird at the feeder. I think they may have a nest somewhere nearby because I often see them chasing the squirrels away like they are protecting something.
Red-Bellied woodpecker getting some peanuts.
The Robins always find nice juicy worms in the yard.
I caught this squirrel sunbathing on the porch – he was there for a long time just laying on the post.
A little Tufted Titmouse at the feeder.
I hope you enjoy these photos. They are not always easy to get – you have to have the camera ready, and be willing to sit and watch. This is my quiet time – sitting outside on a rock or standing at the window looking out – just waiting on a good shot.
Have a great day!
Monika
Apr 28, 2013 | Wildlife |
Are you ready for a bluebird update? Since I last posted those babies grew up and last week they left the nest! My guess is that it was Wednesday. Monday I took a bunch of pictures and Tuesday they were still there in the afternoon – but Thursday afternoon they were gone. Once they leave the house needs to be cleaned but I was busy Friday so it didn’t get done and I was planning to do it this weekend (on Sunday actually). But Saturday morning before I left to go to a scrapbook crop I noticed the bluebirds going in and out of the house again. I watched for a few minutes and realized they were trying to clean it out. So I decided I need to go clean it out for them real quick and save them a couple of days worth of work. I grabbed a bag, some paper towels and some clorox wipes – opened the house and scooped out the old nest, wiped out the rest of the loose material and then scrubbed the inside of the house so it would be clean. I went to my crop and came back about 4 hours later – to find that the house was full again with pine straw – yep they were busy all day building a new nest!! So I’ll keep my eye for another set of eggs. In the meantime I have pictures to share that I took over the last couple of weeks.
Male Bluebird flying away from the bird house
Mama Bluebird with a yummy worm for her babies
hungry baby – see the wide open mouth in the hole of the bird house?
flying action bringing food to the babies
Bluebird Family – mom and dad on top of the house and one of the babies peeking out of the hole.
Even birds have to do house cleaning!
see the babies peeking out of the hole – looking for their food
You can just see three little beaks in the hole – everybody wants to be the next one to get the food.
Most of these photos were the ones I tool on April 22nd – just a couple of days before they left the nest. I’m sure it was crowded in that house with those 5 babies in there. I hope you enjoyed the pictures!
I’ll post more this week about the retreat so be sure to visit again.
Monika
Apr 25, 2013 | Big Shot, Retired List |
Well the time has come. Stampin’ Up! is preparing for the release of its new annual catalog and that means it is time to say Good-Bye to stamps and accessories in our current catalog.
If you would like to print the pdf files you can find them here:
Retired_List_stamps
Retired-List-Acessories
To see the items visit my online store HERE. You can order directly from my store 24-7 so the items don’t sell out. For orders with less than $150 in product use the HOSTESS CODE = J4UMF79Z if all orders combined earn hostess benefits I’ll draw a winner to be awarded the free shopping dollars! If your product order is more than $150 – don’t use the code – you qualify for benefits and can choose them right along with your order.
Stamp sets should be available through June 3 – after that they will no longer be available.
Accessories will be available while supplies last until June 3. Some items sell out quickly so get them before they are gone. And some items are on sale up to 60% off. If you are a My Digital Studio user the content discs are 60% off. If you love the fabric its 40% off.
Here are my top 10 favorite things that are on the retiring list – these I plan to keep because I use them all the time –
- #106959 Tabletop Paper Cutter – I use this everyday for all my paper cutting and class prep. You do need to know how to use it properly or you won’t get good cuts. The blade is still sharp.
- #101227 1/16″ Circle Handheld Punch – I use this a ton to make small holes for the Linen Thread, Baker’s Twine, and little brads.
- #107006 Color Spritzer Tool – love this little tool and it provides the perfect solution when you get a little smudge on your card, just add some spritz and it looks like it was all just meant to be!
- #120175 Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder – one of my go to folders for adding a nice embossed background.
- #115965 Fancy Favor Bigz XL die – such a great box die and easy to decorate and alter, perfect for 3×3 note cards too and a nice size for small gifts and candy.
- #115950 Scallop Square die – I used this one a lot, it was popular for the fabric crafts too.
- #117190 Jewelry Tag punch & #118091 Tiny Tags stamp set – I used these together a lot just to add a cute little tag here or there on a project or card – it was a go to combination when something seemed to be missing.
- #115030 Lovely Letters stamp set – this is a great set for anything monogram – pretty but not so frilly that you can’t use it for masculine too.
- #121878 First Edition Specialty paper – I used this on many things as a background, easy to work with because it was a little thinner and fun to add for an old fashioned look – this one is already sold out.
- #118761 Bitty Buttons – the tiny buttons were my favorite – although I did favor the heart and add used those up much faster than the others.
That’s my top ten things and the non-consumable ones I plan to keep as I would use them in my personal projects. And the consumables I’ll have to stock up on our find a replacement in the new things that are coming out.
One more fun thing on these is the faux “tape” – I cut strips of Vellum card stock – stamped on them and then punched the edges with the postage stamp punch and it looks like tape. Adhere just one side and then you can took a photo under it and it will looked “taped” but won’t really be.
You can order on my website – www.monika.stampinup.net – click the SHOP NOW button on the side of my blog and it will take you to the store.
