Tips, Tips, and More Tips

The tips I learned at the Providence Regional were great.  There were several demonstrators from the east coast who made presentations.  They were wonderful.  I did not know you could stamp on cello bags.  The long thin bags look great stamped with black Stazon ink.  If you add a topper and some candy it would make a great Halloween treat.

I also did not know you can take ink directly from one of Stampin' Up!'s markers using a blender pen.  It gives a nice watercolor effect.  You should layer it on then use the marker directly on top of it.  Go back with the blender pen one last time and blend the color.

Deb Valder was one of the presenters.  I remember her name because she was fabulous.  She talked a mile a minute because she had so much to share and so little time.  Her first tip was to use dental floss between the layers of "Snailed" card stock if you placed them on crooked.  Place the dental floss between the layers and gently pull down.  Wow is that easy.  I usually take out my heat tool and heat up the back to loosen the adhesive.  Her way is easier!  Her other tips were to gently sand off stray ink with the sanding block.  I haven't tried that yet but you know I will.  And last but not least, use a parmesan cheese container to store your linen thread.  Place it in the jar and carefully find the beginning of the thread from the center and put it through one of the holes.  You know what I am buying on my next trip to WalMart?  Oh, her very last tip was if you are stamping away and it is lunchtime, you can use your heat tool to melt the cheese on your sandwich.  Instant panni sandwich!!

I am not going to try that!

Providence Regional

Yesterday, my friend Joni and I attended Stampin' Up!'s Regional in Providence.  We drove down the night before without a hitch.  Joni treated me to a lovely dinner at a steak house.  We spent the night at the Westin.  It was pricey but very nice.  The beds were very comfy and the staff very pleasant.  We got up and had a quick bite to eat then used the walkway to the Convention Center.

There were about 450 attendees- 300 demonstrators and 100 guests.  We were treated to a day of great demonstrations, make and takes, and of course "free stuff".  At first I was disappointed because a stamp set was not listed as part of the registration fee.  I should not have doubted Stampin' Up! We received the Merry Moments Simply Scrappin' kit and at the very end everyone also got the stamp set Seasonal Sayings.
I liked this way better.   The make and takes' stamp set- Clocksworks, is not one I would purchase for myself. 

We sat with two ladies, Patti from Vermont and Roselyn from Las Vegas.  They were so sweet and added to the fun of the day.  Patti was kind enough to send this picture since my camera malfunctioned as we went to shoot a picture.

Googly Ghouls and more

Stampin' Up!'s Regional for the northeast is this weekend in Providence.  Of course I have to go.  I decided to make a Halloween swap.  I CASED the background paper and made it using My Digital Studio.  I shrank it down in size...OK so my son did that part.  I was able to print it using my new HP printer.  I was pleasantly surprised it would take card stock.  I layered it on Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, and Elegant Eggplant.  I stamped 2 bats and Frankenstein and mounted them on with dimensionals.

Christmas Lodge

I still love this stamp set that was first introduced last year.  I experimented with a card sketch from Splitcoast Stampers.  For the textured background I used the Square Lattice Textured Expressions Embossing Folder.  This card was simple and fast.  It came out all right but is not one of my favorites.  For DSP I used the plaid from the Festival of Prints DSP Stack- a real bargain for 48 sheets of 4-1/2" X 6-1/2".

Supplies:
Stamp- Christmas Lodge
Paper- WW, Cherry Cobbler, Festival of Prints DSP Stack
Ink- Cherry Cobbler
Accessories- retired ribbon in Cherry Cobbler

Rejoicing with You

I wanted to use this stamp set for an upcoming class.  I made a beautiful card for a Convention swap but did not save any for myself.  I cannot remember what I did.  As hard as I tried nothing was coming out right.  Time to CASE.  This card I found on the Stampin' Up!'s website Stampin' Connection, a resource only for demonstrators.  It was done by Wendie Waldman from NM.  This was fast and easy to make.  It is hard to tell but I sprayed SmoochSPRITZ over the image for a little shimmer.
Supplies:
Stamp Set- Rejoicing with You
Paper- WW, Midnight Muse, Bashful Blue
Inks- Bashful Blue, Midnight Muse

Ornament Keepsakes

This ornament is on the cover of the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog.  The moment I saw it I had to make it!  When I first copy something, I make it as close as I can to the source.  After I have made one, I begin to experiment more and make it my own.  There are 3 layers.  The bottom and middle layers each consist of 20 stamped and cut out ornaments- thank goodness for the Framelit Ornament Dies.  They are glued together using a hot glue gun.  I did not use the new Silicone Craft Sheet (I did not have it yet), but wished I did.  I am sure my fingers would not have gotten toasty a couple of times!  Next time I make one, I will make the bottom layer first, add the linen thread loop, then add the Tulle Ribbon before placing layer two on top.

Ornament Keepsakes

I needed a card for an upcoming class and I just could not come up with anything I liked.  It was time to CASE!!! (Copy and Share Everything).  I found this card on Splitcoast Stampers by kathynruss.  It truly is a beautiful card and easy to make.  I changed the textured background to the new Fancy Fan Folder and voila!  a beautiful card.  You can find the original on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2237752?&cat=23323 P.S. My customers loved it.