Today is the SUDSOL Blog Tour!  Our blog tour is featuring projects using the Sale-A-Bration and Occasions Mini stamp sets and products. 

Heart Framelit 3D Valentine Project

I am sharing a wonderful project from last weekend's Mom and Me Valentine's Day Stamp Camp.  I had three girls attend - who ranged in ages from 6 to 11.  This project was simple enough so the girls could easily recreate it for a Valentine's Day class handout.  All of the ladies loved it! 

The project features the new Heart Framelits from the Occasions Mini Catalog…it took me a while to open up this package and use it.  BUT I AM NOW HOOKED.  Oh, it is so much fun creating with these beauties! 

Here is the project we made:

For this version, here are the supplies needed:

• Pretty in Pink/Melon Mambo CS
• Heart Framelits/Big Shot
• Delightful Dozen Stamp Set
• Small Heart Punch/Designer Label Punch
• Sticky Strip/Adhesive
• Pretty in Pink Brads
• Whisper White Ribbon
• Basic Gems
• Melon Mambo Ink
• York Heart Peppermint Candy

Here are our proud stampers – thank you Erica, Heather, and Katie for stamping with me today.  You were so sweet!

Want to see a "Blinged Out" version of the project?  This one could be made for your child's teacher or maybe tucked in your sweetie's lunch on Valentine's Day. I embossed the back Pretty in Pink heart using the Polka Dots Embossing Folder – plus added some smaller Melon Mambo hearts before embossing the front Pretty in Pink heart.  I also added a backing to my phrase and colored the heart in with a Pretty in Pink marker and then topped it with Dazzling Details.

Heart Framelit-Quilted Heart Technique TUTORIAL

I teach a Technique Tuesday stamp class every month.  We did take December off, but I was ready to go tonight with a fabulous new technique. I taught my stampers how to do a Quilted Heart card.  Here is the finished card:

Supplies needed:

• Big Shot and Heart Framelit Set
• Designer Series Paper (I used Twitterpated)
• Copy Paper
• 1" Square Punch
• Adhesive
• Riding Hood Red Ink
• Blushing Bride CS/Whisper White CS
• Blushing Bride Pleated Satin Ribbon
• Large Pearls
• Sponge
• Small Heart Punch

Instructions

1. Cut the Scalloped Heart Framelit using your Big Shot and a piece of COPY PAPER.
2. Cut strips of DSP (1-1/4" is wide enough to punch with the 1" punch).
3. Center the first square in the center of the Scalloped Heart.
4. Continue adding squares – pattern or no pattern – it is up to you!
5. Add them to cover entire heart but be sure to adhere only the DSP to the heart - you don't want to squares to stick to your scrap paper.
6. Center the next largest heart over where you'd like to cut out.
7. Run it through the Big Shot.
8. Use on card and embellish!  The card shown above is a 5" x 5" card.

Hidden Treasures Technique

Another technique I taught my customers tonight was the Hidden Treasures technique.  SO SWEET!  We used lots of Sale-A-Bration items including the Everyday Enchantment DSP, Everyday Enchantment ribbon pack, and the Sprinkled Expressions stamp set.  Here is the card:

Supplies Needed:

• Lucky Limeade/Pool Party CS
• Pool Party Ink
• Everyday Enchantment DSP/Ribbon Pack
• Pool Party Ribbon
• Blossom Bouquet Triple Flower/1-1/4" Circle/Jewelry Tag Punches
• Mini Brads and Brads
• Adhesive and Sticky Strip
• Paper Piercing Tool and Mat

What is SUDSOL?

I've been a member of SUDSOL for over 10 years.  SUDSOL is a online business group with a huge demonstrator-only gallery…one of my secret weapons when planning my stamping events.  There are business resources, workshop ideas, templates, techniques, newsletter examples, and so much more.  This is a strictly BUSINESS group – if ever I have a question about my SU business, I ask this forum first.

Here is a link to my SUDSOL gallery – http://www.sudsol.org/members/gallery/showgallery.php?ppuser=63&username=hignitej .  Why not join with a 2-week trial?  Click on the icon on the top left side of my blog!

I hope you've enjoyed this stop of the SUDSOL blog tour.  

Today we are featuring holiday packaging ideas.  I've got two very simple but attractive ideas for your holiday giving.  The first is a tried and true candy holder using the sour cream container template.  Our beautiful Holly Bouquet Designer Series Paper and the stamp set Beautiful Season are featured here –

Here is a side view:

Inside these packets are three Hershey Kisses.  These are the perfect little goodies to hand out at school or adorn your holiday table.  You can really make them any size – but for mine I used a 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" piece of DSP. 

My next project is simple as it uses a simple A2 envelope!  It is a gift card holder.  You fold it in half, cut the top section at the fold line, and then trim off a small triangle on each flap end.  You only seal ONE end.  Stamp the inside of the envelope first.  I used Jolly Bingo Bits and Delightful Dozen stamp sets for this part.  I stamped with Real Red ink and Real Red and More Mustard markers.

I used the Holly Berry Bouquet DSP again (just LOVE that paper), as well as the Beautiful Season stamp set to decorate the front of the gift card holder.  Then I also used my punches and the new buttons along with our quilted Early Espresso ribbon to finish it off:

I didn't want to hide that beautiful paper!  Insert a gift card and this finished project is ready to for you to give!

I hope you have enjoyed this stop along the blog tour – the next stop is Jayne Stenson's blog . See you next time!

The 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog is full of fabulous products.  Some of my favorites are highlighted in my blog post today.

My first project is a workshop card my customers made last month.  They loved it!

I love the Peekaboo Frames die – you flip the bottom up, and put one of the snowman from Snow Much Fun on the inside!

Snow Much Fun Peekaboo Card Supply List

• Very Vanilla/Chocolate Chip/Real Red CS
• Holly Berry Bouquet DSP
• Peekaboo Frame Die/Big Shot
• Snow Much Fun Stamp Set
• Real Red/Chocolate Chip Ink
• Various Markers
• Decorative Label/Wide Oval/Modern Label/Snowflake Punches
• Basic Pearls/Velvet Ribbon

My second project for the Holiday Blog Tour uses one of the many wonderful templates/patterns from the SUDSOL library!  SUDSOL's creative library has instructions, patterns, templates, pictures, and videos.  What a wonderful resource!  Quick access to these patterns make my life so much simpler!  This is just one of the many reasons why I am a SUDSOL member.  Want some more reasons?  SUDSOL is a business-centered group – while it is great to share all of life's ups and downs on some groups, SUDSOL focuses on your BUSINESS.  Our gallery is only viewable to members.  Thousands of demo-only samples await you in the gallery!  There are also hundreds of business articles at your fingertips!!!! 

You can even join SUDSOL with a free two-week trial!   Join me on SUDSOL – Your 24/7 Upline! 

You can check out my SUDSOL samples HERE.

Nancy Morgan shared this pattern on SUDSOL – an Easy Gift Card Holder.  I updated with current supplies.  Here's my sample:

Easy Gift Card Holder Supplies

• Chocolate Chip/Real Red/Wild Wasabi/Very Vanilla CS
• Real Red/More Mustard Markers
• Jolly Bingo Bits Stamp Set
• Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper
• Very Vanilla Velvet Ribbon
• 1" Circle/1" Square/Curly Label/Corner Rounder Punches
• Big Shot/Buttons Embosslit
• Scoring Tool
• Mini Glue Dots

I made a few minor changes from the original pattern – I  used Mini Glue Dots to adhere the gift card to the holder rather than using the retired Slit Punch and I used the new luxurious Velvet Ribbon instead of the stretch ribbon.

I love using the Buttons Embosslit to make inexpensive buttons!  You could even put Crystal Effects on them if you wanted them to shine!

My final project is just adorable!  Our new Holiday Stocking die can be used to decorate in so many ways!  I created my Santa's Key Stocking to hang from the tree – but you could even hang it from a door handle!  I actually used two of the stocking dies back to back for a little more strength.  You could even use fabric or felt!

 Santa's Key Stocking Supplies

• Big Shot/Holiday Stocking Die/Stocking Accents Die
• Clear Circle Die/3-1/2" Circle Die
• Jolly Bingo Bits Stamp Set
• Real Red/Wild Wasabi/Very Vanilla CS
• Real Red Ink
• Red Glitter Paper
• Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper
• Hemp/Key/Velvet Ribbon/Vintage Button
• CropADile

I know the print is small on the hanging tag – here is the poem:

This cute little treat bag is filled with chocolates!  I used the brand-new Gently Falling stamp set and the gorgeous Early Espresso quilted ribbon.  I know this stamp set will become a new favorite – although it is going to be 90 degrees today, I think I can almost hear the crunch of the leaves underfoot!

Watch for my post later today for a ribbon share and a DSP share featuring items from the new Holiday Mini Catalog!

If you ever get lost along the way during the blog hop, you can go back to the main page – www.vcrocks.blogspot.com . 

The theme of this blog hop is anything but cards! 

At my downline meeting last month, we worked on creating hostess bags.  One of the preorder stamp sets was Snow Much Fun, and it was the perfect for using as a theme for my hostess bag as I am somewhat of a snowman addict!  Even my kitchen decor (including the curtains) is snowman themed!  I really wanted to use some of the new colors too.  I loved the new Chocolate Chip Scallop Polka Dot ribbon so I had to incorporate that too.  My color combination emerged – Wisteria Wonder and Chocolate Chip!  Not your everyday Christmas color combination!

My downline created this bag and tag to hold all the hostess goodies:

The tag and the trio of trees is embossed in silver.  I just love those little birdies!

Here are a few other items I like to include in my hostess goody bag:

This is a sampling of the new In Color Card Stock.  Love the new Polka Dot Brads!!!

A hostess can always use a little chocolate!

I know my hostesses love our ribbon!

Here is a close-up of the ribbon topper:

We also created a card using this fabulous new stamp set and some of the accessories.  You're going to have to come back later this month to see it as I am hosting a Christmas in July stamp camp later this month!

I hope you bookmark my site or subscribe to my blog. I've got some fabulous new programs I'm unveiling in the coming weeks. You can also find me on my Facebook page – Stamp With Jane!

What is VC Rocks…and why do I love it?? VC Rocks is an online community where members share their love of stamping before, during, and after the Stampin' Up! convention. If you can't go (or even if you can) to convention, you can get your "stampin' mojo fix" with challenges, swaps, and discussions! I have "met' many fabulous stamping demos and nondemos through this group.

 

 

The coupon book highlights two of the new In Colors – Pool Party and Island Indigo!  They are soo pretty!  These coupon books are a big hit with my customers – there are 12 coupons – some with specific redemption dates, some not.  All my customers have to do to get one is email or call me in the month of May to reserve their catalog!  If you'd like a coupon book next year – watch for my May 2012 posts!

Here is a card featuring a brayer technique and the Bride DSP (oh, how I loved that!):

Here is a mix of stamp sets – the Medallion background and the bird from Friends 24-7.  The bird is stamped on the wood sheets and punched out.

Wow!  What a great response to my Flag Day Giveaway!  I had over 40 entries!  Here is a picture of all the prize entries:

The winner will win two packs of my Card Sample Protector Packs!  Here is the winning entry:

Martha L – I'll be sending you an email to get your address – and I'll be shipping the packages this week! 

I was so happy to be part of this blog tour – if you are interested in purchasing my card sample protector packs, send me an email.

For my Flag Day Giveaway, I will be giving away a set of TWO Card Sample Protector Packs!!!  If you want to enter my drawing to win these card sample protector packs, please put your name and email in the comment section.   I will pick a random winner from all entries.  Only U.S. residents (or those living on a U.S. military base) are eligible to win this giveaway.

Want some information on these packs?

Sharing card samples with my customers is a great way to increase my business and jumpstart customer and personal creativity. I found this system and knew it was a perfect solution for showcasing and protecting my samples. Besides stamp set-specific packs, I usually have several packs dedicated to techniques (such as embossing or bleaching) or holiday themes. This is the card sampler sleeve pack system I use and sell to my sideline, downline, and customers. I have many happy demos on my customer list! These packs make great downline gifts too!

Even if you are not a demonstrator, these sleeves come in handy to protect your favorite samples!

The roomy and sturdy sleeves hold the most embellished cards and protect card samples from handling. When the new catalog comes out, it is a breeze to switch out cards and reuse the sleeves!  I continue to use packs I've had for over 10 years!

My youngest niece, Katie, is just ADORABLE!  She is extremely intelligent and fun to be around!  I've even had the chance to stamp with her.  We've made quite a few Sesame Street punch cards, and for her birthday, I gave her an Elmo mini scrapbook and her very own Elmo card kit!  I came across one of her birthday party pictures and knew I had to scrapbook it.  Here is what I came up with using My Digital Studio:

I purposely used one of the premade templates and then added a few pictures, more accessories, title, and journaling.  SUPER EASY!

In honor of National Scrapbooking Month, I am posting a customer special and scrapbook idea every Wednesday this month.  This week's special is:

20% off My Digital Studio (DVD or Downloadable) Software  (Regularly $79.95 – on special for $63.96)

20% off My Digital Studio Express Downloadable Software  (Regularly $39.95 - on special for $31.96)

20% off My Digital Studio Express Booster Pack (DVD or Downloadable) Software (Regularly $39.95 – on special for $31.96)

If you want more information on these products, you can check out the Stampin' Up! website:

My Digital Studio Overview     Video

My Digital Studio Features

My Digital Studio Catalog

Don't forget to check out the 30% specials on selected My Digital Studio products from Stampin' Up!  (See above in the right corner for the flyer.)

Please contact me if you would like to place an order!