A Stamping Good Time

Some More Fresh Cuts!

I told you I would bring more shoebox swap samples to the blog and here's one.  I was surprised that there weren't more samples using this set last week, but both my upline and I used it for very different looks.  Today I am posting one, tomorrow another.  Guess which one is mine and win some fun blog candy!  To win you must be a new poster to this blog - he, he,he...those who already post know me kind of well....

Colors - Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White; Accessories - Small and Large Oval Punches, 5/8" olive grossgrain ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch.

I hope you had a great 4th of July, we sure did and I took lots of pictures~I am designing a 2 page spread for the Saco Scrapbooking Meetup Group & Stampin' Memories Club Night on Tuesday, so check back or email me to save your spot, there are two left!

Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

~Tara

More Swaps to Come Later....

First I have to share this scrapbook page I did last night of my daughter, McKenna...

My mother took this picture during a recent trip the girls had at their grandparent's house.  I am so lucky to have such helpful parents, even two states away!  Mom so loved this picture that as soon as I got it I had to scrap it.  I made the lego blocks using the spiral punch, and trimming parts of the punched piece off.  The designer paper is Cutie Pie, and while the colors are slightly different then the ones I used, they were hues of each other so I went with it...The journaling reflects how much McKenna loves using Uncle Jeff's legos from when he was a kid and maybe she'll be an engineer, too!

 

The next picture is of this month's special - Hodgepodge Hardware!

These fabulous kits are already a great value at 26.95, but this month they are on special at 25% off, NO LIMIT!  They are going to be retired, they told us Stampin' Up Demonstrators a while ago, but there are so many neat pieces, I have a project lined up for the July 22nd Stampin Good Time Club that is going to use a couple of these pieces - come join us to see if they are for you!  Information is on my upcoming classes and events link on this page.

Happy 4th of July, God Bless the USA!

~Tara

Shoebox Swap Samples...

Here are some samples of the Demonstrator ShoeBox Swap I attended last Sunday - there are three more to come tomorrow!  These were a lot of fun and truly reflected the different "faces" of demonstrators - some of us are business demonstrators, career demonstrators, and hobby demonstrators.  What's the difference?  Find out on July 23rd at the Demonstrator Night at the Stampin' Studio in Saco! 

The first card uses some rub-ons that were free with a purchase during Sale a Bration this year, Designer Series Paper from the Occasions Mini Catalog, and Soft Sky textured cardstock.

 

Card #2 features two challenges from www.splitcoaststampers.com- limited supply and layout. See, demonstrators use splitcoast ALL THE TIME to get ideas!  Some of my customers think I'm so creative, and as much as I appreciate the compiments and my creative juices certainly flow more freely after 5 years, I'm honest - I look all over the web for ideas and am grateful to everyone who posts them!

I love this last card because it uses the large and small tag punches - I've been wanting to use them but have been at a loss lately!  Baroque Motifs is one of my favorite stamp sets - it really makes me look good!

More samples tomorrow, thanks for visiting!!

Happy Stampin!

~Tara

Technique Tuesday - Emboss Resist!

Directions:

1) Stamp the image with a clear embossing or VersaMark ink pad.

2) Heat emboss the image using Stampin' Emboss® clear embossing powder. Allow image to cool.

3) Apply ink with a sponge directly to the paper over and around the embossed image.

4) Wipe the embossed image with a tissue to remove the excess ink.

Check back later today for Shoebox Swap samples and info about our new catalog and...DIE CUT STAMPS!

Happy Stampin'!

~Tara

Life's a Breeze.....

Would that it were always so!

Here is a birthday invite I created for one of my daughter's friends....her mom won a Stamping Good Time birthday party at the Fairfield School Auction last April!

The card features the Life's a Breeze stamp set, Positively Pink, YoYo Yellow, Tempting Turquoise and Lovely Lilac classic ink as well as Positively Pink and Lovely Lilac Cardstock.  The background is wheeled with one of our most likely retiring wheels - Petals.  I say most likely because the coordinating stamp sets are on the list, but they don't tell us what wheels will go until the end...  It's an overcast and cool day here in Southern Maine so I may get some stamping and scrapping in before the day is over,  tomorrow I'm off to a shoebox swap with other demonstrators so I will have lots to show next week!

Happy Stampin'

~Tara

Lookie what I did last night!

I love doing what I do, but even better is when I get to stamp with fellow Stampin Up Demonstrators and help others - that's what I did last night!  Stampin Up has a partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charities and we were there last night providing a cookout to the famililes staying there.  One of the other demonstrators prepared this cute make and take for the folks in the house and there were a couple of extra for us - thanks Kathie!  This is a 6x3 card, fashioned out of a piece of 12 x 12 textured cardstock, Pumpkin Pie.  The patterned strip is from the Summer Days Simply Scrappin' Kit.  The small flowers inside thePretties Silk Flower are from the Occasions Mini Collection 2008 - Die Cut Blooms.  So cute!

I have more to share tomorrow - some of my readers know that I also offer children's birthday parties - called of course A Stamping Good Time, and I am doing one in July, so the invitations are being delivered to the guest of honor today, but I took a picture first!

If you get a c hance, check out Joanne Lee's blog, the link is on the left - she has a funny contest going on this weekend - her portraits are amazing!

Happy Friday & Stampin'

~Tara

Technique Tuesday - Week 3!

I am so proud of myself - week three of Technique Tuesday!  This week is what I like to think of as an oldie but a goodie - Dry Embossing!

Directions:

1) Secure the Classy Brass template to a light source (a light table or window) with a small piece of tape.

2) Rub waxed paper on the surface of the card stock so the stylus will glide more smoothly and to help prevent tears in the paper.

3) Place the paper or card stock face down over the template, positioning it so that you'll have the image where you want it.

4) Using the large end of the stylus tool, press the paper through the open areas of the template. This will produce a raised image. Use the small end of the stylus to emboss small areas if needed.

Tips:

1) When dry embossing a large open area, press only around the edges of the template, not the entire open area.

2) If a colored raised image is desired, replace the brass template on the right side of the card. It will act as a mask to protect the unraised surfaces. Apply color with a small sponge or sponge daubers using our ink pads or Stampin' Pastels.

3) If you're having a hard time seeing the template through some of our darker colors of card stock, try dry embossing on our background papers instead. 

4) Classy Brass templates aren't the only product we carry that works great with dry embossing. Try any of  shape or journaling stencils, or even The Tearing Edge! 

Christmas in July!

Start your holiday cards with the Christmas in July Stamp A Stack - July 15th or 18th at 7pm, July 19th at 9:30 am!  Make 16 cards - four each of four different designs for $20...b.y.o. adhesive or let me know if you need to order some and we can include it in your class price.  Both retiring stamps and current stamps will be included in this class.  Sending photo cards this year?  Use these for thank yous after the holidays or give as a gift -who wouldn't love to get hand made cards to send themselves!!

Happy Stampin'!

~Tara

Fun With Fresh Cuts!

This sample was submitted to Stampers Showcase, a service for Stampin Up Demonstrators to get new ideas and see how other demos are using current promotions.  This demonstrator explained how she used the Stamp a ma Jig to ensure proper placement so everything lined up!

I used my Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to get placement of my Fresh Cut stamp on the note card. After stamping the card, I removed the white petals, curled them on my paper piercer tool from the tool kit and layered them on my Turquoise punched 5 petal flower (ends were also curled to give more dimension). Add the Green Galore and Pixie Pink punches from the 5 Petal Punch, then insert a rhinestone from the Pretties Kit and attach to flower as shown with a dimension. Stamp sentiment in Turquoise. Layer on 4-1/16" x 4-1/16" Turquoise base.

For more ideas featuring the Fresh Cuts Promotion - join us this Tuesday OR Friday night at 7pm for the Stampin' Summer Fun class!  

Happy Stampin'!

 ~Tara

Tuesday Technique....on Wednesday!

Spotlighting with Punches

Directions:

1. Stamp desired image on two pieces of card stock. Set one aside to serve as background for spotlighted image.

2. On the first piece of card stock, watercolor the area you wish to highlight.

3. Line up punch (1-3/8" Circle punch used in example) with watercolored spotlight area.

4. Remove punched piece.

5. Line up punched, spotlighted piece with the previously stamped image on second piece of card stock. Mount on coordinating card stock for completed project.

Try this at home, or join us Tuesday, June 24th for the Stampin' Summer Fun Retirement Class!  Cost to attend is $10 and seats are filling fast!  Same class is being offered on Friday, the 27th, let me know what works for your schedule...

Coming soon - Decor` Elements from Stampin' Up!  Check the blog tomorrow for more details!!!

Happy Stampin'!

~Tara

Retiring soon!

Good morning and Happy Father's Day!

The list of retiring stamp sets is out, and here it is...join us on June 24th or 27th at 7pm for a Retiring List Blow out - four projects featuring all retiring sets for only $10, plus there will be purchase specials that night, only to those who attend!!

A to Z Accents

All in a Row

All Through the Year

Amazing to Zany

Artfully Asian

Background Basics

Be Happy

Best Friends Alphabet Lower

Best Friends Alphabet Upper

Best Friends Numbers

Big Pieces

Block Party

Blossoms Abound

Bud Basics

Carte Postale

Check It Out

Circle of Friendship

Create a Coupon

Dare to Be Darling

Dilly-Dally

Dotted

Eat Cake

Elementary Essentials

Festive Favorites

Flannel Plaid

Flower Friend

Forever in My Heart

French Flair

Give Thanks

Glad Tidings

Greetings Galore

Happy Camper

Here, Kitty Kitty

It´s Your Birthday

Just Like You

Labelicious

Little Pieces

Monogram Lower A

Monogram Lower B

Monogram Lower C

Monogram Lower D

Monogram Lower E

Monogram Lower F

Monogram Lower G

Monogram Lower H

Monogram Lower I

Monogram Lower J

Monogram Lower K

Monogram Lower L

Monogram Lower M

Monogram Lower N

Monogram Lower O

Monogram Lower P

Monogram Lower Q

Monogram Lower R

Monogram Lower S

Monogram Lower T

Monogram Lower U

Monogram Lower V

Monogram Lower W

Monogram Lower X

Monogram Lower Y

Monogram Lower Z

Much Appreciated

Never-Ending Joy

Noble Deer

Office Accoutrement

Peace to the World

Peaceful Wishes

Perennial Favorites

Polka Dots & Paisley

Polka Dots & Petals

Print Pattern

Property Lines

Rough Edges Mini Alphabets

Sealed with a Kiss

Snowfall

Snow Flurries

Snowflake Spot, The

So Happy

So Much

Stamp of Authenticity

Sweet Shapes

Sweet Thing

Tagger´s Dozen

Touch of Nature

Trimtastic

Two Cute

Unfrogettable

Weathered

Whale Wishes

Wild Rose

Wildlife Reserve

Word Search

Yappy Day

Year after Year

Cause for Celebration

For a Friend

From the Garden

Infinite Goodness

Little Bit of Happiness, A

Make It Count

Older & Wiser

Spring Solitude

Sweet Dreams

Thanks Tons

Time Well Spent

Happy Stampin'!

~Tara