Funky Wheel

When the new catalog came out in January, I instantly fell in love with the wheel "Funky Forest" used here to make the trees on this card. I just couldn't quite figure out on my own how to use it best. I got this idea from cards I saw on Splitcoaststampers.com. The trees are rolled on in Certainly Celery and then I colored over the trunk and branches in brown marker. Simple, why didn't I think of that?

This card is also a good example of how all the Stampin' Up! products go together. There are only two colors used here: Certainly Celery ink, ribbon, and cardstock along with Chocolate Chip ink and paper. Quick, effective and everything matches beautifully. I also used the 'thank you' from a discontinued set: Spring Solitude.

Inspiration

Lately I'm getting a lot of inspiration and instruction from various blogs and web videos on stamping techniques. I watched one at Stamp TV on emboss resist, a technique I've done before but thought I might learn something new. One thing the presenter suggested was trying this technique on pattern paper. The stamped image above is embossed in Close to Cocoa on a simple dot paper. Then I sponged So Saffron and Soft Sky (last year's in color) over it. I did two versions one with Saffron in the center and one with Sky in the center. I liked both. The effect is suble but enhances a simple image. I filled out the rest with scraps and some of that great So Saffron ribbon from this year's Sale-a-bration catalog. I hope they offer ribbon and paper every Sale-a-bration, this year's choices have been so versatile.

The "folding ribbon every which way" was from Kristina Werner's website where I get the color challenges. If only there was enough time to try out all the cool things people come up with...

Ingredients: Stamp Sets from Stampin' Up! Baroque Motifs, Define Your Life
Pattern Paper: My Mind's Eye
Cardstock: Off-white, source unknown; Baja Breeze , Very Vanilla
Ink: Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze
Brad: Oriental Trading
Ribbon: Stampin' Up! Sale-a-bration 2009

Laptop Decor

Stampin' Up!'s new line of Decor Elements aren't just for wall. Seeing this element on my laptop makes me smile. It is one of the elements of the Eastern Blooms set of Decor Elements I got to put on my bathroom wall. I plan to use all the others in the bath but I really thought this one looked great on the laptop.

I got the idea from my upline's upline who has added an element to her laptop to distinguish it from her husband's (they have exactly the same model.) Great idea, huh? Decor elements are self-adhesive vinyl art that coordinate with other Stampin' Up! designs. They can be removed but not reused. They are an inexpensive way to spice up a wall, a piece of furniture - all types of surfaces in many styles and colors.

Check out the on-line catalog --> http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/Decor_ElementsIII_US(1).pdf

Evening Smile

Last night I made 4 of these cards using one of the samples from the Stampin' Up! Spring 2009 catalog as inspiration. When I finished the first one, I had a big smile on my face. I love the color combination of turquise, Ruby Red and Cameo Coral. As I just wrote in an e-mail to my customers and friends, taking a few minutes to make a card at the end of the day brings such a feeling of accomplishment. No matter what else happened during the day, you have something tangible and beautiful that you have made.

Ingredients: Stamps by Stampin' Up! Petal Pizzazz for flower, Sweet Little Sentiments for message (Inside greeting is 'from thankful me')

Ink: Cameo Coral, Ruby Red

Paper: Whisper white and an assortment of paper from unknown sources.

Ribbon: From a fabric store grab bag, source unknown.

Wedding Invitation Samples

The color challenge colors this week are Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip and White. These are the perfect popular colors to show you how Stampin’ Up! products can be used to make your own wedding invitations or some for a friend or relative. These came together amazingly fast.

The invitation is printed on white velum with white and chocolate chip cardstock as background. The text is printed in a font color I worked out to match the chocolate chip paper. Then the flowers are stamped on. The double sided Kiwi and Vanilla ribbon makes a beautiful flat bow to complete the 6” square modern invitation.

Using the same stamps and colors allows you to match your invitations, reply cards, and envelopes. Of course the color choices could be customized for the wedding colors. This is just one example of how a stamp set and the coordinating inks and papers create unique, custom wedding stationery.

Plus, there are so many other paper crafts that can be coordinated using these same stamps and papers for favors, thank you cards, place cards. The bride or her family can save a great deal of money, plus get a more custom look for the wedding.

If you know of a couple getting married, please send them a link to this posting. Have them give me a call for more info on how to create their own stationery. I offer services anywhere from sales, to designing the stationery, to making the entire package.

Ingredients: Stamp Set - Fifth Avenue Floral by Stampin' Up!

Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White by Stampin' Up!

Velum: Translucent by Paper Company

Ribbon: Kiwi Kiss/vanilla by Stampin' Up!

Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss

May, June, July Classes

Try out Stamping and Card Making or increase your skills (and your stash) with one of these classes...

All Occasion Stamp-a-Stack $15 per person

Monday, May 11 5:30 - 8:00 (pre-register by May 1)

Have a fun night stamping with my supplies and leave with 10 complete cards and envelopes. You will make two each of 5 different designs. Everyone needs “Get Well,” “Thank You,” “Sympathy,” and “Congratulations” cards in their stash.

Kindred Spirits All Occasion Cards $40 per person

Thursday, June 18 5:30 - 8:00 (pre-register by June 3)

Cost includes Kindred Spirits stamp set (p. 86 in the catalog) and half pack of Urban Garden (p. 159) designer paper.
This class starts at the beginning of the card making process. You will mount your new stamp set, design a card, learn how to determine sizes for cutting papers, stamp, and assemble. We will take one card all the way though the process and then create 3 more items using pre-cut papers. This is a great class to get started in stamping or to pick up tips on design and construction. You will leave with at least 4 cards, a versatile stamp set, all-purpose designer paper, and many ideas for how to use your new stamp set!

High on Impact, Short on Time $15 per person

Tuesday, July 28 6:00 - 8:00 (pre-register by July 14)

Need a fast, easy recipe for creating cards? Each of the five cards in this class can be made in 12 minutes or less! For each card, you will get the recipe including a sketch that can reused with many different stamp sets. Many of the cards are multi-purpose. Just change the greeting and the “Thank You” card becomes a “Happy Birthday.” This is a great class for anyone who has ever needed to create a quick last minute card and spent way too much time figuring out what to do. (This differs from a Stamp-a-Stack in that it is more instructional and you make only one of each design - 5 cards total.)

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All classes will be held at my house. Please give me a call or e-mail to register.

Sheer Delight

A few weeks ago a customer called and asked for gold sheers. My first thought was the type of sheer on the far right of this photo, a plain voile fabric colored gold. Then I quickly thought of all the beautiful patterned sheers I have and our choices opened up extensively. We looked at other solids but with some texture to them in various shades of gold. Her final choice was the diamond printed sheer on the left. It has a little texture and shading in the fabric and the diamond print is embroidered. I'm working with this fabric now and it is just beautiful. I can't wait to see them installed.

One of the other benefits besides the beautiful pattern and texture is the weight. While the fabric is still technically a sheer and will be unlined, it is heavy enough to hang alone without draperies - just what she wanted.

When you have a sliding door, french door or large window to cover, consider using sheer panels rather than draperies. You can draw them to filter light or let them hang in panels on the side. Sheers come in a wide range of colors and patterns adding a light, finishing touch to the room.

Happy Anniversary to Me

Yesterday marked 12 years in the window treatment business! Wow! Even in this recession, I am so fortunate. I have great clients who I've come to know as friends. The projects keep coming always with new challenges. No two jobs are never alike - different kinds of windows, different fabrics, different treatment styles all add up to a new project each time. So the job never gets boring.

I'm very fortunate that I can work out of my home. This morning I cut fabric and pressed in hems, now I'm updating the blog, and in a few minutes I'll be fixing lunch for my husband and myself. It is a great luxury to have a meal together each day before we return to our tasks. I have a lot of flexibility in my hours yet I really try to meet my clients needs. I remember what it was like to work set hours and only have nights and weekends to get anything done. It is very frustrating to need something only to find the store closes at 5 or 6. I've always taken appointments in the evenings and weekends.

Also, I've been able to expand when I wanted or needed to and to pull back and do other types of work as they came along. When I started 12 years ago, I was a full-time corporate employee, then a contract trainer. I also worked for Pro-Tint as a sales rep. Then I went to design school. The constant has been this business.

One of the best things is being creative every day. I love to create beautiful things. While I might get frustrated sometimes trying to figure something out, I do like to solve problems. It is so gratifying knowing that there is a way to make whatever we need to do work.

And of course I could not do this business without my husband, Lenny. He staples, he helps install on the big jobs, he lugs bolts of fabric to the basement. He helps me figure out some of those seemingly impossible situations. He is great!

It feels good to count my blessings. I really have a great job! There are trade-offs of course. There is more lucrative work out there, but I love doing what I do. Thank you all for helping the business grow over the last 12 years. I look forward to continuing all my creative projects with you.