Hello Stampers!
If any of my readers out there in Blogville haven't heard the BIG NEWS from Stampin'Up!, here it is! The Clearance Rack has been loaded up with over 200 new discounted goodies for stampers. There are tons of punches at 9.59, rolls of ribbon, many in current colors for $3-$4, Simply Sent Card Kits for $4.79 (these make a great gift) and many pretty packages of Designer Paper, including Greenhouse Gala, Love Letters, and Botanical Gazette--- three of my favorites from last year. Then there are buttons, rub-ons, hardware, and too many other accessories to list here.
I know you are all terribly busy with Christmas coming up in just one week, but you really need to take a break from all that and take a look at the Clearance Rack. You will be amazed, I promise.
Wouldn't you like to win a stamp set of your choice, priced at $15.95 or less? Here's how you can enter:
Simply go to my personal business web site at http://www.susanrodgers.stampinup.net/ and place an order of $15 or more to be entered into the drawing. This Clearance Blitz is over on January 5th, so we'll keep the contest going until then. But items are selling out quickly, so the sooner you order, the better your chance of getting what you'd like.
If you have trouble placing your order, email me or give me a call and I'll walk you through the process.
Good luck, everyone!
Susan
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
That's All She Wrote
Hello Stamping Friends!
It's Wednesday and as I check out the weather from my stamping room window, I see sunshine again today! Sunshine always makes me feel happy and energetic and since I have a lot to do today, I'm glad to see old Mr. Sun. How are you coming with your Christmas preparations? Do you have your tree up? House decorated? Cards sent? Gifts purchased and wrapped? Baking finished? I've checked off most of those items but haven't even made one cookie yet. I'm waiting until next week to do that, because if I make them now, I'll just eat them and then I'll have to make more. Sigh! I can't resist a yummy cookie!
OK, enough chatter... let's get to the project. This little mini-scrapbook has been made at several stamping workshops and parties. I like it because it can be made for just about any occasion. It makes a perfect little memento of an engagement, wedding or special anniversary. It also makes a great birthday card, baby announcement, or thank you card. The possibilities are limitless! Check it out...
The first photo shows the mini-album closed and the second one shows the inside where you can add photos and journaling. I used Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeaid, and Crumb Cake card stock. The stamped stockings are from the Holiday Mini-catalog (p. 34) and then they're punched out with the matching Stocking Builder Punch, also on page 34. The toe, heel, and cuff of the stocking are punched from the new Silver Glimmer Paper, page 41 of the Holiday Mini-catalog. The little loops on the stockings are Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine (p. 194 of the big catalog) and the ribbon on the front of the card which ties the whole thing closed is the Scalloped Dots Ribbon in Cherry Cobbler (p. 195). The "Merry Christmas" sentiment on the front is from Teeny Tiny Wishes (p. 157).
If you would like the easy instructions on making this little mini-scrapbook, please email me and I'll send them to you. Then you can make some of these fun mini-books to amaze and delight your friends and relatives.
Well, stampers, I think I've come to the end of my Christmas posts. I'll be taking a break for a while... probably until after Christmas. Hopefully you'll be so busy with your own Christmas activities that you won't even miss coming here! I'm now turning my attention to all of the new stamp sets I purchased from the new Occasions Mini-catalog. I'm going to be dreaming up new cards and projects as well as focusing on Valentines... which I'll start showing you in January. Make sure you mark your calendar for the big Stampin'Up! open house on Saturday, January 28th at New Hope Community Church in Clackamas. I'll be sending more info on that after Christmas. Meanwhile, I hope each of you will have a wonderful Christmas surrounded by those you love. Thanks for stopping by today. I appreciate each and every one of you!
Merry Christmas!
Susan
It's Wednesday and as I check out the weather from my stamping room window, I see sunshine again today! Sunshine always makes me feel happy and energetic and since I have a lot to do today, I'm glad to see old Mr. Sun. How are you coming with your Christmas preparations? Do you have your tree up? House decorated? Cards sent? Gifts purchased and wrapped? Baking finished? I've checked off most of those items but haven't even made one cookie yet. I'm waiting until next week to do that, because if I make them now, I'll just eat them and then I'll have to make more. Sigh! I can't resist a yummy cookie!
OK, enough chatter... let's get to the project. This little mini-scrapbook has been made at several stamping workshops and parties. I like it because it can be made for just about any occasion. It makes a perfect little memento of an engagement, wedding or special anniversary. It also makes a great birthday card, baby announcement, or thank you card. The possibilities are limitless! Check it out...
If you would like the easy instructions on making this little mini-scrapbook, please email me and I'll send them to you. Then you can make some of these fun mini-books to amaze and delight your friends and relatives.
Well, stampers, I think I've come to the end of my Christmas posts. I'll be taking a break for a while... probably until after Christmas. Hopefully you'll be so busy with your own Christmas activities that you won't even miss coming here! I'm now turning my attention to all of the new stamp sets I purchased from the new Occasions Mini-catalog. I'm going to be dreaming up new cards and projects as well as focusing on Valentines... which I'll start showing you in January. Make sure you mark your calendar for the big Stampin'Up! open house on Saturday, January 28th at New Hope Community Church in Clackamas. I'll be sending more info on that after Christmas. Meanwhile, I hope each of you will have a wonderful Christmas surrounded by those you love. Thanks for stopping by today. I appreciate each and every one of you!
Merry Christmas!
Susan
Monday, December 12, 2011
Ho, Hum... feeling a bit bored
Hello Stampers!
Welcome back to The Classic Card and welcome to Monday! It looks like a sunny day out there, so hopefully you'll be able to bundle up against the cold and get out into the sunshine at some point during the day. I don't know about you, but I'm getting a bit bored with Christmas cards. I've been showing them for so many posts that I have to admit I'm looking forward to a change of scenery. Are you there with me? I think that most of you-- if not all of you-- have either finished your cards for this year or are almost finished, so I'm not sure there's much point in continuing to post Christmas cards on the ol' blog. So this week I'll be winding down with the Christmas projects.
Today I've got a fun card for you that is anything but boring. This great card is the work of one of my talented downline members, Janet Jones. I love how Janet's cards are always clean and classic and she's very good at using her stamp sets in ways I never would have thought of. Check out this beauty!
Isn't this a great card?! The colors Janet used are Always Artichoke, Whisper White, and Real Red. The stamp set is called Pendant Park and you can find it on page 79 of the big catalog. This is not a Christmas set, but Janet figured out how to make it Christmas-y. The tree on the focal panel is stamped in Always Artichoke and then that panel is backed with a panel of Real Red card stock. Janet has punched holes in the top panel, so that the Real Red behind it shows through. So now the tree has little red berries on it... such genius! The sentiment on the card is from Teeny Tiny Wishes (p. 157) and the bird is from Season of Friendship (p. 102). A scalloped strip of Designer Paper (Designer Paper Stack, Regals Collection, p. 186) and some Real Red grosgrain (p. 195) complete this beautiful card. Thanks, Janet, for allowing me to share this card on my blog!
Well, stampers, today's going to be a busy one, so I'm off to tackle my "to-do" list! I'll be absent on Tuesday, but will be back on Wednesday with a fun project that is adaptable for any season. Thanks for stopping by today and I'll hope to see you back here on Wednesday.
Susan
Welcome back to The Classic Card and welcome to Monday! It looks like a sunny day out there, so hopefully you'll be able to bundle up against the cold and get out into the sunshine at some point during the day. I don't know about you, but I'm getting a bit bored with Christmas cards. I've been showing them for so many posts that I have to admit I'm looking forward to a change of scenery. Are you there with me? I think that most of you-- if not all of you-- have either finished your cards for this year or are almost finished, so I'm not sure there's much point in continuing to post Christmas cards on the ol' blog. So this week I'll be winding down with the Christmas projects.
Today I've got a fun card for you that is anything but boring. This great card is the work of one of my talented downline members, Janet Jones. I love how Janet's cards are always clean and classic and she's very good at using her stamp sets in ways I never would have thought of. Check out this beauty!
Well, stampers, today's going to be a busy one, so I'm off to tackle my "to-do" list! I'll be absent on Tuesday, but will be back on Wednesday with a fun project that is adaptable for any season. Thanks for stopping by today and I'll hope to see you back here on Wednesday.
Susan
Thursday, December 8, 2011
It's Not Too Late!
Hello stampers and welcome to a sunny Thursday in the Northwest! I love it when the sun comes up into a clear sky... how about you? There's just nothing like a little sunshine to recharge my batteries. I guess you could say that those of us who come from sunnier climates are "solar-powered," so no wonder we get a little run-down and grumpy when we don't see the sun regularly!
Today is the 8th of December and while Christmas is sneaking up on us, there's still time to make a few hand-stamped cards if you haven't done so already. It isn't too late if you keep the cards simple. And you don't have to make hundreds. Just make a few for the very special people in your life--- the people who will appreciate and value the time and effort that went into making a hand-crafted card.
Today's card is one that we made at a stamping party or two in October or November. The stamping is pretty quick and simple and a couple of punches speed things along. If you don't own this set, you might want to get it quickly as the Holiday Mini-catalog expires on January 3rd. Here's the card...
The stamp set I used on this card is called Pines and Poinsettias and you can find it on page 21 of the Holiday Mini. I used markers to color directly on the stamp... Early Epresso, Old Olive, and Cherry Cobbler. I punched it out with the smaller Scallop Circle Punch and then layered it onto the larger scalloped circle punched with the 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch in Cherry Cobbler. Both of these punches are on page 210 of the big catalog. I embossed the top section of a Very Vanilla panel with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder (p. 219), then stamped the sentiment on the un-embossed area at the bottom of the panel in Cherry Cobbler. This elegant greeeting is from the Hand-Penned Holidays set on page 15 of the Holiday Mini-catalog. I've used this set over and over again this fall and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be in the new 2012 Idea Book and Catalog when it comes out in July. I used some Scallop Dots Ribbon in Cherry Cobbler (p. 195), turned over so the dots don't show. Then simply adhere the Very Vanilla panel to a Cherry Cobbler panel, to a folded Very Vanilla card and you are finished! This is a quick but elegant card that someone would love to find in their mailbox!
I must run now, stampers! I've got a lot to do today and I'm sure you do too. Oh, and I wanted to mention that my posting is going to become a little more sporadic as we get closer to Christmas. I'm going to running be in and out all weekend and then next week things get even crazier, so I won't be posting as often. Hopefully you'll be just as busy and won't even notice that I'm not here every day!
Get outside and enjoy the sunshine!
Susan
Today is the 8th of December and while Christmas is sneaking up on us, there's still time to make a few hand-stamped cards if you haven't done so already. It isn't too late if you keep the cards simple. And you don't have to make hundreds. Just make a few for the very special people in your life--- the people who will appreciate and value the time and effort that went into making a hand-crafted card.
Today's card is one that we made at a stamping party or two in October or November. The stamping is pretty quick and simple and a couple of punches speed things along. If you don't own this set, you might want to get it quickly as the Holiday Mini-catalog expires on January 3rd. Here's the card...
I must run now, stampers! I've got a lot to do today and I'm sure you do too. Oh, and I wanted to mention that my posting is going to become a little more sporadic as we get closer to Christmas. I'm going to running be in and out all weekend and then next week things get even crazier, so I won't be posting as often. Hopefully you'll be just as busy and won't even notice that I'm not here every day!
Get outside and enjoy the sunshine!
Susan
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
No Coal in Your Stocking!
Hello Stamping Friends and welcome to The Classic Card!
Where do you fall on Santa's list? Are you on the Naughty list, or the Nice list? If you're a stamper (and I'm sure you are since you are reading a stamping blog) you are definitely on the Nice list! I've met so many nice people in my 11 years as a Stampin'Up! demonstrator. Without all of you, my loyal customers, I wouldn't be able to be a demonstrator! So I'm extremely grateful to all of you for allowing me to continue.
I've got a fun stocking for you today--- one that won't hold a lump of coal! But it will hold a candy treat, theatre tickets, a gift card, cash, and even jewelry. If you have the Holiday Stocking die (p. 24 of the Holiday Mini-catalog) for the Big Shot, you can make multiples of this cute stocking and be Santa for all your friends and relatives. Here it is...
In case you haven't seen one of these, it is 6 inches tall and 5 1/2 inches wide, so it will not fit into one of the standard envelopes. For this stocking I used Cherry Cobbler cardstock and embossed it with the new Snow Burst embossing folder (p. 33 of the Holiday Mini-catalog). The cuff, heel, and toe of the stocking are cut from Soft Suede card stock. The bow is the Cherry Cobbler striped grosgrain (p. 195 of the big catalog)
and the hanging loop is Cherry Cobbler Scallop Dots ribbon (also on page 195). I sewed around the edge of my stocking to adhere the two sides, then stuffed some paper shreds inside. The button, alas, is non-SU.
I was amazed how quickly these stockings go together! If you don't have a sewing machine, or just don't like that look, you can use another adhesive, such as Sticky Strip (p. 206) to glue it together. These would also be adorable using Designer Paper for the stocking body and then solid card stock for the cuff, heel, and toe. With all the Designer Paper and card stock available, there's an almost unlimited number of combinations you could use.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Please let all of your stamping friends know about my blog. I need more readers! I'll be back tomorrow with another card to inspire your creativity. Meanwhile, I hope you'll be able to take a few minutes out of your busy day to stamp something. We all need a little stress-relief at this crazy time of year, and nothing beats stress like a little stamping! It looks like another brrrr-y day out there, so stay warm!
Susan
Where do you fall on Santa's list? Are you on the Naughty list, or the Nice list? If you're a stamper (and I'm sure you are since you are reading a stamping blog) you are definitely on the Nice list! I've met so many nice people in my 11 years as a Stampin'Up! demonstrator. Without all of you, my loyal customers, I wouldn't be able to be a demonstrator! So I'm extremely grateful to all of you for allowing me to continue.
I've got a fun stocking for you today--- one that won't hold a lump of coal! But it will hold a candy treat, theatre tickets, a gift card, cash, and even jewelry. If you have the Holiday Stocking die (p. 24 of the Holiday Mini-catalog) for the Big Shot, you can make multiples of this cute stocking and be Santa for all your friends and relatives. Here it is...
and the hanging loop is Cherry Cobbler Scallop Dots ribbon (also on page 195). I sewed around the edge of my stocking to adhere the two sides, then stuffed some paper shreds inside. The button, alas, is non-SU.
I was amazed how quickly these stockings go together! If you don't have a sewing machine, or just don't like that look, you can use another adhesive, such as Sticky Strip (p. 206) to glue it together. These would also be adorable using Designer Paper for the stocking body and then solid card stock for the cuff, heel, and toe. With all the Designer Paper and card stock available, there's an almost unlimited number of combinations you could use.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Please let all of your stamping friends know about my blog. I need more readers! I'll be back tomorrow with another card to inspire your creativity. Meanwhile, I hope you'll be able to take a few minutes out of your busy day to stamp something. We all need a little stress-relief at this crazy time of year, and nothing beats stress like a little stamping! It looks like another brrrr-y day out there, so stay warm!
Susan
Monday, December 5, 2011
BRRR! It's Cold Out There!
Hello Stampers and welcome back to The Classic Card!
It's a frosty morning in Sherwood and no doubt everywhere else around the great Pacific Northwest. But the sun is shining and I'm a happy camper! I checked the temperature on my front porch and the thermometer reads 21 degrees. I'm sure Mr. Sun will be warming things up soon. Meanwhile I have a frosty card for you, made by another member of my talented downline. Today's card is by Mary Colvin, who likes to surprise our group of demonstrators with different techniques on her swap cards. I received this great card at one of our recent Stamp2gethers, where demos gather for dinner, stamping, and swapping cards. (It is great fun to be a Stampin'Up! demonstrator! If it sounds fun to you, I'd love to take you out for coffee and discuss the benefits and enjoyment of being a demonstrator).
Here's the card...
It's a frosty morning in Sherwood and no doubt everywhere else around the great Pacific Northwest. But the sun is shining and I'm a happy camper! I checked the temperature on my front porch and the thermometer reads 21 degrees. I'm sure Mr. Sun will be warming things up soon. Meanwhile I have a frosty card for you, made by another member of my talented downline. Today's card is by Mary Colvin, who likes to surprise our group of demonstrators with different techniques on her swap cards. I received this great card at one of our recent Stamp2gethers, where demos gather for dinner, stamping, and swapping cards. (It is great fun to be a Stampin'Up! demonstrator! If it sounds fun to you, I'd love to take you out for coffee and discuss the benefits and enjoyment of being a demonstrator).
Here's the card...
Isn't it beautiful? Here's what Mary used to create this card:
Stamps: Season of Friendship ( p. 102), Hand-Penned Holidays (p. 15, Holiday Mini-catalog)
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Crumb Cake
Whisper White Craft ink ( for the snow and snowflakes)
Paper: Cherry Cobbler
Crumb Cake
White Signo Gel Pen, p. 203 (for the snow on the branches)
To create the snow at the bottom of the card, mask with a torn piece of paper, then sponge on the Whisper White Craft Ink. Don't forget that craft ink doesn't dry immediately the way regular dye-based ink does, so you'll need to use your heat gun to set the white ink. To soften the look of the card, Mary sponged on some Soft Suede.
This would be a perfectly mailable card, as there are no baubles, ribbon knots, or other embellishments to give the Postal Service grief. I often wonder what some of my cards look like when they arrive at their destinations. I hope the recipient is not faced with a ripped envelope, a loose pearl, or a mangled card, but I have a feeling that it might be the case, based on some sad-looking cards I've received.
OK stampers, that's it for today! I've got a lot on my plate today, as I'm sure we all do. I will miss seeing you here at the ol' blog tomorrow, as it is my day to take care of my granddaughter. But I'll be back Wednesday with another classic card. Meanwhile, put on a sweater, some sweatpants, a hoodie, mittens, a hat... whatever it takes to stay warm!
Cozy stamping!
Susan
Friday, December 2, 2011
Tree Time Again!
Hello Stampers and welcome back to The Classic Card!
I had a fun day babysitting Allie yesterday, and now I'm back to share a very fun card with you. As promised on Wednesday, it is another folded tree card. Unlike the first card I showed you, this one doesn't appear to be simple. But please don't be intimidated by all the folds. It really isn't difficult.
This adorable card was designed by Kathy Milano, one of the talented demonstrators in my downline. Kathy is known for coming up with cards that everyone in our demonstrator group loves, and this one is no exception. I think you'll love it too. Check it out...
Here's what Kathy used to create this card:
The Sentiment is from the Christmas Lodge stamp set, page 29 of the Holiday Mini catalog. If you didn't purchase this set yet, you might want to make sure you get it before the Holiday Mini expires on January 3rd. It is stamped in Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green on Whisper White cardstock. The panel is then backed with Garden Green and Crumb Cake card stock. The base of the card is also Crumb Cake, topped with a Cherry Cobbler panel which has been embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.
And now for the tree... isn't it cool? It is made with the Frostwood Lodge Designer Paper on page 28 of the Holiday Mini catalog. You'll need to cut 4 squares of Designer Paper in the following sizes:
3" square, 2 1/2 " square, 2 inch square, and 1 1/2 inch square. Then fold each square like this...
Fold the square in half, then open. Fold in half the other direction, open. Fold the square diagonally, open. Fold diagonally the other way, open up and lay the square flat. Fold in the sides so you have a triangle. Fold the left and right sides of the triangle to meet in the middle. Fold all the squares like this, then stack one on top of the other to form the tree. A Fire Rhinestone Brad, p. 198 of the big catalog adds the perfect touch to the top of the tree. If you try folding the squares and just can't "get it," email me and I'll send you an actual folded square so you can see exactly how it is done. Thanks to Kathy for allowing me to share her great card with you.
Well, that's it for today, stampers! I'm sure we all have a busy weekend ahead of us as we prepare for Christmas. Putting up the tree, baking, stamping Christmas cards, shopping, wrapping-- whatever this weekend finds you doing, don't forget to step back and take a minute to feel the joy of the season.
Have a great weekend and I'll meet you back here on Monday for another classic card.
Susan
I had a fun day babysitting Allie yesterday, and now I'm back to share a very fun card with you. As promised on Wednesday, it is another folded tree card. Unlike the first card I showed you, this one doesn't appear to be simple. But please don't be intimidated by all the folds. It really isn't difficult.
This adorable card was designed by Kathy Milano, one of the talented demonstrators in my downline. Kathy is known for coming up with cards that everyone in our demonstrator group loves, and this one is no exception. I think you'll love it too. Check it out...
The Sentiment is from the Christmas Lodge stamp set, page 29 of the Holiday Mini catalog. If you didn't purchase this set yet, you might want to make sure you get it before the Holiday Mini expires on January 3rd. It is stamped in Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green on Whisper White cardstock. The panel is then backed with Garden Green and Crumb Cake card stock. The base of the card is also Crumb Cake, topped with a Cherry Cobbler panel which has been embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.
And now for the tree... isn't it cool? It is made with the Frostwood Lodge Designer Paper on page 28 of the Holiday Mini catalog. You'll need to cut 4 squares of Designer Paper in the following sizes:
3" square, 2 1/2 " square, 2 inch square, and 1 1/2 inch square. Then fold each square like this...
Fold the square in half, then open. Fold in half the other direction, open. Fold the square diagonally, open. Fold diagonally the other way, open up and lay the square flat. Fold in the sides so you have a triangle. Fold the left and right sides of the triangle to meet in the middle. Fold all the squares like this, then stack one on top of the other to form the tree. A Fire Rhinestone Brad, p. 198 of the big catalog adds the perfect touch to the top of the tree. If you try folding the squares and just can't "get it," email me and I'll send you an actual folded square so you can see exactly how it is done. Thanks to Kathy for allowing me to share her great card with you.
Well, that's it for today, stampers! I'm sure we all have a busy weekend ahead of us as we prepare for Christmas. Putting up the tree, baking, stamping Christmas cards, shopping, wrapping-- whatever this weekend finds you doing, don't forget to step back and take a minute to feel the joy of the season.
Have a great weekend and I'll meet you back here on Monday for another classic card.
Susan