Sunday, February 28, 2010

Reminder!!

Hi all!!
 Sorry you haven't heard from me much this week - it has been one of THOSE weeks.  I hope to do better this week.  Tonight before I go to bed, I wanted to remind you that March is the last month of Saleabration.  This year Stampin' Up! has offered the largest number and best choices EVER of free gifts for each $50 purchase.  Don't miss out on these great items ...such as the paper pack, the border punch, and wonderful stamp sets.  Remember too, if you are not able to make a purchase yourself, you can earn free rewards ...both hostess rewards and Saleabration rewards for hostessing a qualifying workshop.  Have your workshop in my stampin room and you don't even have to clean for company!!  Don't want to get your gals together....collect orders from your friends and it can be submitted as a workshop order. There are so many ways to earn rewards.  And if you are out there lurking, wishing you could get the demonstator discount on all you orders too (whether you ever hostess workshops or not) call me and let's help you get all the perks of being a SU demo with me! 

Peggy

Monday, February 22, 2010

Flash from the past - an old Stampin Up! convention trade

Hi stampers!!

Today I am posting a card that is from several years ago at the request of one of my stampin friends, Donna.  She emailed me, asking for a pic of this card (at least I hope I have found the right card!!!) because she wants to use the idea for a party invite.  I want to say that, if I was doing this card today, I would make the whole process much easier on myself and use the Build A Bear die cuts.  Now, in order to do that, the dementions of the card would have to be different.  This card is 3 x 6 - for BAB you would probably need to make it 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 or larger.i 
the inside...
  
The pillow on this card was made with the old key tag punch. The bear and the pj's were sizzlits.
Here is how I would do it today...

Of course, I would stamp words/greeting on the front.

Here is how I did the inside...


The white band across her chest is actually two parallel slits cut in the back of the card so that she can slide in there and stay put until you want to remove her. 
Hope that helps, Donna!!  If I have the wrong card, just let me know, and I'll search some more.
Peggy

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Another Valentine treat for coworkers

 
This was another variety I decided to try - it was a bit more cumbersome to make but I like to try my hand at different strategies.
Peggy

Friday, February 19, 2010

Another Valentine treat for coworkers

 
This treat was made using the new milk carton die from Stampin' Up!  fun!!!  I used another die from Sizzix that works with the Movers and Shapers die to cut the windows in the front.  The pink hearts are the piece that was left when I made the other window treats with the lollipops - I am a tree hugger and hate to throw away any scraps that are useful.  I think they worked great as a tag.  Here's another view



Hugs, Peggy
Peggy

Thursday, February 18, 2010

retired Stampin' Up! set for sale

 
  
This is the retired Stampin' Up! set called Pinch Proof which I have for sale.  Contact me if you are interested in purchasing it ..St Patrick's Day is just around the corner!!
Peggy

Friday update:  Tentatively this set is sold (pending payment by buyer).  Are you looking for a particular set or image?  contact me...I have lots of retired sets for sale!

Did you know about these Stampin' Up! products?

First, let me do a shout out to my newest follower, Bevybus119 - welcome!!  Please feel free to add a comment from time to time.   It is really nice for me to hear from the gals who stop by for some ideas!

Next, these products from the Holiday Mini Catalog are still available for purchase in OEX and Online Ordering.  Now is a great time to pick up these popular products (have you seen all the fabulous things you can do with the ornament punch? Amazing!!).   Grab a few of these items and you may also qualify for one or more Saleabration rewards.   Free is your favorite price, right?  Call me to place your order or access on line order through my website (peggyouten.stampinup.net)
 Item #  Description  Price
116794 Ornament punch $15.95
116806 Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint $5.95
116854  Frost White Shimmer Paint $5.95
116807  Platinum Shimmer Paint $5.95
116829 Décor Elements Blocks $9.95
116824  Stampin' Up! Textured Impressions Folder Petals-A-Plenty $7.95
116821 Stampin' Up! Holiday Windows Magnetic Movers & Shapers  $29.95
116819 Stampin' Up! Table Setting Bigz XL die $42.95
116820 Stampin' Up! Embosslits Merry die $11.95
116823 Stampin' Up! Sizzlits Merry Details die $5.50
116822 Stampin' Up! O Christmas Tree Pop-Up Bigz XL die $42.95
118140  Stampin' Up! Tree Decorations Sizzlits die $5.50
118108 My Digital Studio $79.95
116519 Charming stamp set  $19.95

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Co worker Valentine Treats

 
front

 
back 
Just a little sweet for my coworkers.  Only need to make about 80 treats!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Snow is over ..right?

Tonight I am preparing to return to school tomorrow.  We had flurries last night and early today but no real additional accumulation....good thing too, because look at how much we still have from the double blizzard - and showing no signs of going away.  Melt, baby, melt!
Peggy

Monday, February 15, 2010

A breath of spring...in the snow!

Hi all!
Well, as if 50 inches of snow wasn't enough, we got another evening of flurries tonight...and still no school tomorrow!!  AAAUUUGGGHHH!
I HAD to have a bit of spring and so I used a template I saw on Monika's blog to create this card.  I just love the way the colors and patterns worked together.
Did you contact me with your "free shipping"* order ($25 subtotal or greater))?  No? Since school is still closed tomorrow I am extending the offer through Tuesday 16th  at 7PM EST ....there is still time to get your order in...and don't forget to choose a free SAB reward for each $50 in your subtotal.  You say your subtotal isn't $50 - join with a friend and share the reward ...there are tons of choices!
Peggy

Sunday, February 14, 2010

A Stampin Up! Valentine!!

 
Sorry the color came out a bit faded....you know I am not a photographer, but I hope you get the idea.  This card was inspired by one made by Hope Keene.  This is the card I made for my husband for Valentine's Day - he will have already received it by the time you see it.  I like the vintage feel (although that is not usually my style) and felt the bordering blue and purely pomegranate colors are a bit more masculine.  You may not have noticed that there is quite a bit of creamy caramel sponging on this card and some distressing.  The crunching of the hearts and the petals of the flower also contribute to the distressed look.  Hope Dave likes it!
Happy Valentine's Day to you!  Hope you expressed your love for at least one person today..and every day!
Peggy

PS added to things I love card 2-12

I have added some instructions to the bottom of the "Things I love" card from 2-12-10   if you are interested in taking a peak!!  :-)  and  come back later today for a look at my husbands Valentine Card  -  PRO

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Stampin' Up! Petal Card die

Hi all

The other day I saw a nifty box on  Margaret Raburn's blog and I just had to give it a try.  Here is how I did it.  First you have to die cut four of the petal cards (113467).  The petal die cuts a piece like this:
 
When I cut my four cards, I eliminated one side which you would have to cut off.  
 
By only covering the center and the three side petals, you save yourself some cardstock.  When I cut mine, I cut a 3" x 12" piece of cardstock, covered the part of the die I wanted, die cut, flipped the remaining cardstock over, and cut again until I had all the pieces I needed. Actually, since my box is two toned, I cut both pieces of cardstock at the same time.


Then you overlap the side flaps, til you have a row of four.  The right end flap is then connected to the far left end to form the box.  The end petals are the top and bottom of the box.  Be sure to fold the flaps in one at at time in order to get the effect.
 The box on the left  has the curved flaps on the inside and the box on the right has the flaps on the outside.  I have another idea about how to use this idea and hope to make one up tomorrow ...probably while I watch the Opening of the Olympics.
Like it?  Leave me a comment!!
Shout out to my latest follower Nana Jo....welcome... Hope you will comment from time to time.  :-)
Peggy

Friday, February 12, 2010

Women!!!

 
This is one of the cards I made for the "All about Women" class that got snowed out.  Bummer!  It was such a fun card to whip up!  Perhaps when Mother Nature gets over her tantrum, we will be able to stamp together again.  Miss you gals!!
Peggy

PS on 2-14-10
When I made this card I used a non-Stampin Up movers and shapers insert of the three circles in a row (which I had purchased long before SU started carrying Sizzix!), but with a little premeasuring and a pencil mark, you surely could use a circle punch to get the same effect.  The color is Bermuda Bay, of course, and the So Saffron ribbon is from our free Saleabration give away last year – I have tons of it and it is one of my favorite ribbons to use!  I was dying to try tying the ribbon through a hole so it was the perfect way to add ribbon to this card.  When I finished, there was that big white area on the bottom left cover that did not look attractive to me at all.  I wanted to add something but I didn’t want to detract the eye from the circles, so I stamped the flower bunch there, monochromatically.  I neglected to snap a photo of the inside which says “and U”.

Hope that helps those of you who contacted me about this project.  Ta! 

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Stampin' Up! Cures Cabin Fever!!!

Hi Stampers!!!
Although we still have about 50 inches of snow on the ground, the sun is shining brightly and folks are beginning to move about again.  Did you survive the blizzard?  Of course, stampin is what got me through the "shut in" days - even though I didn't get to stamp as much as I wanted!  
I want to offer you something to look forward to as we wait for the snow to melt sooooo I am offering free shipping on any order ($25 subtotal or greater) placed directly through me between now and Monday, February 15th at 7 PM.  If your subtotal is greater than $70, the order can be shipped directly to you, otherwise the orders will be delivered here, and you can pick them up at your convenience.  Unfortunately, this offer cannot apply to orders placed through my website - if you want to do that, contact me for a thank you gift! 
Don't you deserve the Valentine gift you want?  Hint to your sweetie that there are some stampin goodies you NEED to have.  And remember, for each $50 (subtotal) you spend, you get to choose a FREE SaleABration reward...choices include stamps (4 special SAB sets or one of 77 sets from our current catalog), papers (72 double sided sheets in the pack!), or a fabulous punch!  These can all be viewed through my website (peggyouten.stampinup.net) or you can contact me and I will send you a pdf of the Saleabration catalog and/or the Occasions mini catalog.  Remember, if you haven't tried our new clear mount stamps, you are missing out on an economical and space saving way to stamp our deeply etched rubber stamps.  One more reminder....Stampin' Up! is donating $2 of the cost of the "I {heart} hearts" stamp set for Red Cross Haiti relief fund.  Please consider adding the stamp set to your order.   Stamp on!!
Peggy

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Bird Silhouette

 
Another bird card?  yep!  love the new bird punch!! and the flower punch! and my scallop circle die!  Makes me feel springy even with all the SNOW!
Peggy

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Birdcage card

 
This is a study in pink!! The birdcage is from a SAB set.  These stamps were all clear mounts - I am loving those clear  mounts!!  Easy to see where you want the image to be!  Got to use several punches and dies for this beauty!  Want details? contact me or leave a comment.  By the way,
 WELCOME to my new follower KYM, Hi KYM!  
Peggy

Monday, February 8, 2010

snow, Snow, SNOW, enough!!!

 
All I can say is "I should have buff upper arm muscles!" My guys did most of the shoveling, for sure, but between what I did last Wednesday (the entire driveway and 8 feet into the street in order to get out to work !!) and what I did yesterday and today, I should have muscles, I tell you!!!  Enough!!  I do not want to believe that they are predicting more snow for Tuesday - possibly another foot!  AAUUGGGHH! WAAAAAAAY past out usual 16 inches!!  They say we have already had 60" this season!  What is the worst part?  It keeps coinciding with my stampin playdates!  Waaaa!  Hope you all are getting a chance to stamp during this shut in time!!
Peggy

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Bird Project #6

 
Hi all
This card is a tweak of one made by Shelli Gardner (SU CEO) for a swap at Leadership.  Her's was quite lovely and I decided to try my hand at it - using the materials I had available.  For me, the little butterflies make the card ...so delicate.  Those butterflies are an embosslet and believe me, they are hugely popular!!!  If you are enjoying these bird projects, how about joining us on the 21st to make them yourself
Night all!!!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Bird Project #5

 
This little project is quite a  source of pride for me because it combines both the easel card with the slider box.  I neglected to take a picture of the box when the easel is collapsed (so sorry) but I hope you can see that the pop up part with the bird is anchored against the jeweled brad in the top of the box.  The actual box and its slider are made from two of the bitty boxes - one is the outside and the other is the drawer.  The big dilemma with these boxes is how to open them - I used a folded piece of ribbon that I attached inside the drawer along the bottom with sticky strip and another piece of sticky strip along the bottom of the drawer.   Worked great!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Bird Project #4

 
Now this stampin session is All About Birds, but clearly I still have a little bit of valentine's day on my brain.  I have been thinking about this project for a while - mostly because it is made using the square envelope with petals die cut that I used on yesterday's project. I knew there was a way to make two of those envelopes into a box and sure enough, here it is.  I realize this second picture is a bit of a perceptual challenge.  I hope it helps you to know that you are looking from above, into the container.  The hole in the middle is actually at the bottom of the hearts.  I attached a petal from each heart on the side using an eyelet.  Of course, the handle was made using our new border punch.  So dear!  Can't wait to use if for Easter projects!  And for those of you who hate your treats falling out of the container - I even made a little stand for the heart to sit in upright!
Special thanks to Terry for letting me use her stamp set ...she is a sweetie for sure...of course, we already knew that!
Peggy

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Bird Project #3

 
Isn't this sweet?  It was inspired by a valentine treat I saw on Julia Bettencourt's blog.  The base of the box is the square envelope with petals die cut.  I used portions of scallop circles behind each petal and tied the corners with gold cording.  The little bird is from the Sweetheart set.  I filled the container with one of my favorite (but very OFF limits) candies - cherry cordial Hershey kisses!  Ohh! they are delish!!  BUT a total nightmare for a diabetic.  Can I at least lick the wrapper please?  This makes a small treat - great if you have lots to make but can't afford to go broke filling the little bags. It woudl fit very nicely in a small mailbox in an office.  
Peggy

Monday, February 1, 2010

Lovely bird project #1

 Let me say that Mother Nature has - once again - gotten one over on me!!! All week they have been saying the the approaching winter storm was going to sweep south of us - nothing to worry about!  Well I woke up on Saturday to considerable snow and more fell all day long.  I was convinced we were not going to be able to have my stampin' session today so I called the ladies and postponed it til February 21st (the first date they were all available at the same time. Thanks ladies for your patience - you're the best!!)  Then I got up today and the skies were clear and the sun was shining.  So now I have to admit, we probably could have had the session... although parking would have been a bit dicey.  I bow to the power of Mother Nature.  Wouldn't have thought she woudl have messed with me when the topic of the class is birds!!!
 
So I will show you what we will be making on Feb 21st ...maybe a few more of you would like to join us.  Just give me a call or email!!
I saw a card like this on Mary Jo's blog and decide to try my hand at it.  Her's had birdseed inside the cup and was really lovely but I decided to go a bit more on the cute side and used gummy worms!  My bird is from Cheep Talk and seemed a bit more playful than her bird so I thought the gummy worms were an appropriate match.  Her's was on a stick with a base (not sure how she got it to stay upright) but I knew the weight of the worms would never permit that so I put a jumbo grommet in the top so mine could hang.  I think it would cheer the heart of any kid ( from 5 to 50) to receive this.  I always perforate the area behind my cups so the recipient can open the back and get the goodie without destroying the front of the card.
Hope it cheers you to see it too!