Here's my table display for the craft fair that was held this weekend at my church. I had a nice time and all the vendors there had some really beautiful things. That's the problem with craft fairs - you make money and turn around and spend it! lol

I had fun sitting near the women that I did. We had fun looking at each other's crafts. I think I may have gotten them interested in the next craft fair I am doing. We joked that we would just work the craft fair circut. lol

I have created a new photo album with pictures of some of the projects I made. You can check out the album here:  Craft Fair Pictures.

I'm hoping to put up instructions on how to make the notepad holders. It should be up by week's end. Come back to check it out!

Happy crafting!

I am doing a craft fair this weekend and have been working on projects for awhile now.  Here is a look at one of the projects that I completed.  These are notepad holders.  The measure just under 3" X 5".

One thing I like about craft fairs is that it allows me to use up some of the retired supplies that I hoard - err, I mean, have.  (C'mon, you know what I'm talking about.  ROFL)

These were really easy to make (with the help of my Scor-Pal).  There is an inside pocket to hold receipts and such.  If you want to see the inside, click here.

Here's a listing of some of the supplies I used:
Stamps: Carte Postale, Short & Sweet, Warm Words
Cardstock: Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Rose Red, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Real Red
Ink: Real Red, Rosee Red, Perfet Plum, Always Artichoke
Designer Series Paper: Dashing, Enchante, Cutie Pie, Holiday Harmony (???)
Tools: Oval Punches, Scor-Pal

If you are in the San Diego area, come stop by the craft fair.  It is being held THIS Saturday (November 15)  from 9am - 3pm at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, 13541 Stoney Creek Rd, San Diego, CA 92129.

I'll be selling these notepad holders, nugget tins, cards, and a few stocking stuffer type things.  I'll also have a stash of retired stamp sets for sale.

Come by if you can, I'd be happy to see you!  *smile*

Shelli Gardner, Stampin' Up!'s CEO, appears on Studio 5 and shows us how to make some wonderful Holiday Place Settings.  Take a look at this video to learn how!

Here are the supplies needed to complete this project:

Stamp Sets:Cute & Curly Punch Label bundle , Everyday Flexible Phrases , Holiday Blitz , Simple Serif Mini Alphabet & Numbers, Wild West Alphabet

Stampin' Pads: Baja Breeze Classic, Chocolate Chip Classic, Old Olive Classic, Real Red Classic

Card Stock/Paper : Ski Slope Designer Series paper, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Naturals White, Old Olive, Real Red

Accessories

• Dies: Big Shot die cutting machine , Pillow Box die, Scallop Circle #2 die, Top Note Bigz die
• Accents: Pretties Kit , Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
• Adhesives: Anywhere Glue Stick , Stampin' Dimensionals, Two-Way Glue Pen
• Punches: 1/16" Circle punch , 3/4" Circle punch , Horizontal Slot punch
• Ribbon/Cord/Thread: Alpine Ribbon Originals, Baja Breeze 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon, Linen thread, Silver elastic cord
• Miscellaneous: Acetate (from office supply store; thick), Bone folder, Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter

Instructions

Napkin ring
Make card stock note using Top Note Bigz die. Adhere Designer Series paper on card stock, stamp (on New Year's napkin ring), fold, and smooth folds using bone folder. Stamp label image, punch out and/or cut, and adhere to napkin ring. Punch out slots and tie together with ribbon (Note: New Year's napkin ring is tied together with Silver elastic cord). Accent as seen on video.

Name plate
Make card stock note using Top Note Bigz die; stamp (on New Year's name plate), fold in half, and smooth fold with bone folder. Adhere Designer Series paper on card stock (Note: layer paper on Old Olive card stock first for Christmas name plate). Accent as seen on video.

Favor
Make favor box using Pillow Box die, and fill with treats. Create belly band out of Designer Series paper (Note: layer paper for New Year's favor), and adhere to favor. Stamp label image, and punch out. Accent as seen on video.

Confetti
Make several large and small scallop circles out of Designer Series paper. Stamp and cut out/punch smaller images (acorns for Thanksgiving, trees for Christmas, and snowflakes for New Year's) as seen on video. Glue glitter on snowflakes.

Video and written instructions courtesy of Studio 5.

If you have any questions about this project or would like to order the products needed to make the Holiday Place Settings, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com.

Enjoy!

I'm happy to finally a post a new card!

I am currently working on projects for a craft fair. Most of the stuff I am working on is for the Christmas season. Here is one that I produced for a swap.

I tried something a bit different (for me anyway) with this card.  I do a lot of water coloring, but this time I colored using rubbing alcohol.  I tried Copic Markers and really liked the way the ink looked on the paper.  Well, at $6 a marker and over 300 colors, I decided that I just shouldn't go down that road quite yet.  I read on various message boards that you could use alcohol and ink refills to get a similar result.

I filled an Aqua-painter with rubbing alcohol and proceeded to color by picking up ink that I smooshed onto the inkpad's cover.  To smoosh the color, take your Stampin' Up! classic ink pad and while the inkpad is closed smoosh the top cover into the ink pad.  This transfers a bit of color onto the inside of the cover.  Then open you pad and dip the aquapainter into the transferred ink.

I used versamark and black embossing powder to emboss the image, then I colored it in.  the embossing helped to keep the color were it was supposed to be.   It also gave it a bit of a more polished look.

It's hard to see in this picture (okay it's really non-existant in the picture), but there are glitter accents on each headpiece and on the lids of the jars.  I cut out the image and raised it with pop-dots.  I also stamped the image onto the base and adhered the image right over it.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Holy Triptych, Season of Simple Grace, Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Ink: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke, Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, Really Rust, Barely Banana, Basic Black, Versamark
Ribbon: Always Artichoke Grosgrain
Accessories: Pop-Dots
Tools: Aquapainter, Distresser Tool

When this set first came out about a year ago, I made a Triptych with it.  Check out this post to see the details.

I hope you enjoyed my two samples! If you have any questions about this card or the triptych, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!

All sets are prices as marked.  Shipping is at cost and is not included in the price.  I will try to fit as many stamp sets as possible into the same package if you buy more than one set.  I prefer to ship via Priority since the boxes are readily available at the post office.  If you choose not to ship via Priority mail, I will be collecting a materials fee of $1 per stamp set.

I am not including pictures at this time, but if you need one I will get one for you.  All stamps are in great condition unless noted.  Stamp sets marked NUM are new, unmounted.

If you would like to buy any of these sets, please contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com.  I will be posting this list on various stamping message boards so if you see something you like, contact me asap.  Stamp sets are sold first come, first served.

I will take PayPal and money orders only.  PayPal gets immediate shipping once the payment arrives.  Stamps purchased via money order will not be shipped until the money order arrives.

Thanks for looking!

$3 Stamp Sets

• Basket of Blossoms - Stained
• Birthday Whimsy - NUM
• Let's Party - 1 block stained
• Made from Scratch
• Thank You Blocks
• Quick Thinking

$5 Stamp Sets

• A to Z Accents
• All in a Row - 1 stamp mounted, others NUM
• Alphabits
• Background Basics
• Birthday Balloons - slightly stained on 2 wood blocks
• Little Love, A
• Merci - NUM
• Merci
• Mini Messages
• Remembering You - stained rubber
• Very Punny - NUM

$7 Stamp Sets

• Bunch O' Bugs -slight staining, adhesive on wood
• Crayon Cuties - partially mounted
• Delight in Life - NUM
• Eat Cake
• Fanciful Flowers - slight stain on 1 block
• Flowers for a Friend
• Light Heart, A - 1 stamp more loved than others
• Painted Posies - NUM
• Polka Dots & Paisley
• Rose Rhapsody
• Simple Sayings II
• Smorgasborders
• Small Script - NUM
• Tagger's Dozen - 1 stamp mounted, others NUM
• Tags & More

$10 Stamp Sets

• Be Happy
• Cause for Celebration
• Circle of Friendship
• Friendship Blooms - NUM
• Gift Labels
• Just Like You
• Little Bit of Happiness, A - NUM
• Petal Prints - partially mounted, some staining
• So Many Sayings - NUM
• So Many Scallops - 1 stamp mounted, others NUM
• So Many Scallops - NUM
• Warmest Regards - NUM
• Wedding Elegance

$15 Stamp Sets

• French Script - NUM
• Greetings Galore - NUM
• Happy Harmony - NUM
• Old Glory
• Sheltering Tree
• So Much
• Tags So Much - NUM

$20 Stamp Set - I Love Soccer - NUM

I admit it.  I can't do it all.  I am a busy Mom trying to juggle my time between two home based businesses, holding on to my bookkeeping clients, running a household, volunteering with Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, being a PTA Board member and the Treasurer for the school Foundation, driving the kids around and having time for my darling husband and don't forget ME time!  I need help!

I am looking for a handful of people to design Stampin' Up! projects for publication to this blog.

Here's how it'll work.  As a designer for this blog, you will submit your artwork to me (electronically), and it will be posted here at StampWorkshop.com.  Projects will include a combination of 4 cards and/or scrapbook pages, a 3-D item and one tutorial/how-to tip sheet every month.  You will be compensated based on your submissions for the month with free Stampin' Up! products of your choice.  If you are interested, please contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com for more details.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

In yesterday's post, I said I post another card using Love Owl-lways.  Here it is!

I used Stampin' Up!'s paper piercing template from the Mat Pack to make the dots in the corners.  I again used the designer series paper from the Holiday Happenings Bundle.  The heart is colored using Pink Pirouette ink and an aqua painter.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Love Owl-lways
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Jet Black StazOn
Designer Series Paper: Holiday Happenings
Accessories: Silver Brads
Tools: Paper Piercer, Paper Piercing Template, Oval Punches (Small, Large, Wide)

Enjoy!

I know it isn't even Halloween yet, but here is a Valentine's card for you!  This Owl is from a set in the new Holiday Mini called Love Owl-lways.  There are six stamps in this set.

I watercolored this Owl using an aquapainter (which by the way are on sale for $7.95).  With your stamp pad closed, smoosh the top in a few times.  This will transfer some ink onto the inside cover.  Open your stamp pad.  Use your aquapainter to lift some ink and then apply it to your paper.  Then, paint away!  Be sure to use a permanent ink like StazOn for your stamp.  This will keep the image from running.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Love Owl-lways
Cardstock: CLose to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Basic Black, StazOn Jet Black
Designer Series Paper: Holiday Happenings
Ribbon: Caramel Gingham Ribbon

I have another card using a stamp in this same set that I will post tomorrow, so be sure to come back to visit.  *smile*

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!

So here is the snowman that I have fallen in love with!  I feel kind of funny posting this today though.   It's what, Oct 1st.  It's supposed to be nice and cool out. Well, not in SoCal!  Can you believe it's 96 degrees right now???  96!  We are having a scorcher today.  Luckily it's supposed to be about 15 degrees cooler tomorrow.

Here is a card that uses some of the new Alpine Ribbon Originals.  You can find this ribbon in the 2008 Holiday Mini that debuted today.  It's really neat ribbon!  It's felt and a bit thick.  It's stitched with white.  It comes in two 4 yard spools, for a total of 8 yards.  It also comes with another roll of ribbon with another design.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Two Cool Dudes
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa, Glossy White
Ink: Night of Navy, Tangerine Tango
Ribbon: Alpine Ribbon Originals
Accessories: Silver Brads
Tools: Blender pen (to apply Tangerine Tango to nose and dots), Ticket Punch, Paper Piercer, Paper Distresser

Trying to stay cool!

	2008 Holiday Mini Catalog - Filled with holiday stamps, you will be amazed at the wonderful artwork and accessories available in this year's mini catalog.  You'll find the entire Big Shot product line, including exclusive dies and machines.  To view the Holiday Mini, click here or on the Holiday Mini cover on the right hand side.
	Decor Elements Phase 2 - A brand new phase of decor elements include new colors and images.  You'll find some great multi-layered elements.  Decorate your home for the holidays, your special occasions or just to suit your fancy!  To view the new phase 2 decor elements, click here or on the Decor Elements cover on the right hand side.
	Birthday Promotion - Get select birthday themed stamp sets at 20% off with a qualifying purchase of $20.  Check out my Birthday Promotion page for full details.  Click here.
	Aqua Painters - Purchase the large-tip Aqua Painter (item 114617) for $7.25. No minimum purchase, no limits, while supplies last.  Offer good through October 31.
	Hostess Incentive - Host a workshop of $350 and receive any stamp set from the Fall-Winter Sampler for free!  To see the sampler, click here or click on the Fall-Winter Preview cover on the right hand side.  This offer is good through November 30.  Host a workshop in the Stamp Workshop, your home or simply host a catalog workshop.

Don't forget!  You have until October 11 to sign up to become a Demonstrator for only $99!  A great price to join a great company!

Looks like a great promo month, doesn't it?!?

As always, if you'd like to take advantage of any of these promotions, please contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com.  Don't forget, you can now order online.  Click the Order Now button to the right.

Go stamp!

In the Fall Winter 08 Idea Book & Catalog, there are a lot of "silhouette" stamps.  This stamp here is from the set Upsy Daisy.  I won this set at Convention.  Here's a picture of Missi and me during that happy moment!  (Click)

I made this card for, yeah, you guessed it, a swap.  I did up 16 of these.

First I stamped the Daisy image in Pacific point then inked the image with Bashful Blue and stamped again just to the right.  I didn't use a Stamp-a-ma-jig, but it came out pretty good!  This technique is called Shadowing.  So basically what you do with Shadowing is take your image and stamp in a darker color first.  Then take a lighter color and stamp the same image off to the side just a bit.  It makes a "shadow".  Very easy!  This technique works best with solid images as opposed to line art images.

Notice the big oval in the corner.  That's the new Wide Oval punch.  It doesn't have a "mate" so, I just punched the same oval, but in a different color and then layered it offset.  I think it does the job.  lol

I stamped on Glossy White.  I think it's the best cardstock for bold images.  The image doesn't come out with white splotches.  It's a nice even image.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Sanded
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Glossy White
Ink: Pacific Point, Bashful Blue
Ribbon: Light Blue Gingham
Accessories: Dimensionals
Tools: Wide Oval Punch, paper piercer

If you have any questions about this card or need more specific directions, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Go Stamp!

Here's yesterday's card jazzed up just a bit.  And yes, I know it should be "Too" Cool in Ten and not "Two".  *wink*

So do you think it's a bit WOWed?  I made 7 additions to the card and it completely changed it.  The changes weren't all that difficult either!

Here's what I did:

• Added a Riding Hood Red layer
• Stamped Baja Breeze layer with Canvas background stamp inked with VersaMark
• Used a blender pen to pick up Riding Hood Red ink to color in the snowman's nose and the dots in the word background
• Distressed the edges of the Night of Navy cardstock framing the image
• Used dimensionals to pop up the main image
• Added a Riding Hood Red Felt Snowflake
• Added three silver brads to the corner

I like how the Riding Hood red gives the card a little but of pop.  That small accent helps to break up the monotone of the card.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Two Cool Dudes, Canvas
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Glossy White, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Night of Navy, Versamark
Accessories: Riding Hood Red Felt Snowflake, Silver Brads, Dimensionals
Tools: Paper Piercer, Distresser Tool

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.  Hope you like it!

Happy Stampin'!

This is a card done by Sharon (TexasStampin) on Splitcoaststampers. I hosted a Fall Winter 08 New stamp Set swap and this was one of the cards. There was a pretty good turn out. I had 5 groups with 10 people in each group. The level of the cards that were submitted were amazing!

I wanted to share these wonderful cards, so I created an album to showcase them. You can check out the entire album here.

Have a look at these wonderful cards! I have indicated the creator's SCS user name next to the name of the stamp set they used. When you are done looking, come back here and post a few comments about your favorites!

Enjoy!

It's Ten Minute Tuesday!  But first off, yes, I know it should be "Too" Cool in Ten and not "Two".  But, I titled this post as it is because the stamp set I used is called Two Cool Dudes.

This set is one that I came home from Convention with.  I got it as a Thank You for some work I did at Convention.  It's really a cute set.  There are two snowmen in this set.  This is the bigger of the two.   Don't you think he's cute?

Anyway, this card took me all of about 5 minutes to do.   Sweet, simple, no embellishments.

Here's a hint when stamping images that are bolder/solid.  Use glossy paper!  Solid images just seem to be more crisp on glossy paper.  The ink evens out more so than on regular cardstock.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Two Cool Dudes
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Glossy White
Ink: Night of Navy

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. And don't forget to come back on Wednesday for WOW-It Wednesday.

Stay cool!

I've finally gotten back into the groove of making cards.  I thought with the kids back in school, that I'd have more time to create.  Boy, was I totally wrong!  I am busier than ever.  I hate to admit it, but I may have volunteered for one too many programs at the school, scouts and all the other things we have going on.

Anyway, here's a card a made for a swap (of course).  It was supposed to be a multi-layered WOW swap.  I hope this is WOW enough for the swap.  What I might think is WOW, might be ho hum to others.

I used the paper from the Level 3 hostess bundle, Holiday Happenings.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Say it with Scallops
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Glossy White, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Designer Series Paper: Holiday Happenings
Ribbon: 5/8" Chocolate Chip Gorsgrain
Accessories: White Gel Pen, Silver Brads
Tools: Scallop Border Punch, Paper Piercer, Scallop Square Punch

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for Ten Minute Tuesday.

Enjoy!