Saturday, May 14, 2011

VC ROCKS - Blog Hop #1 - Color my World

Home link for blog hop: www.vcrocks.blogspot.com

In case you don't know what VC is.... it stands for Virtual Convention and was established for those who were unable to attend Stampin' Up!'s annual Convention. Convention is when the new catalog is revealed, lots of cool classes, swaps, make and takes, tours and more take place. Unfortunately, not all of us can go, so back in the day, some enterprising souls got together and established VC Rocks! (and it does!)

We are a chatty, creative and cool group of SU demos, customers and friends. There is a very limited membership window, so if you miss it this year, watch your favorite stampin' lists for hints of it next year in late April and early May! Membership is open until the END OF MAY! (What are you waiting for? I'll still be here when you get back - get to Yahoogroups and search for VC_ROCKS or email vc_rocks-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

You should have arrived here from http://www.stampinldyglfr62.blogspot.com/, but if not, start hopping here and make your way back around - a complete list is provided at the bottom to help with that!

OK - 'nuff about that - for my share for our Color My World blog hop (gee, I remember that song well!):



This sample uses the Pretty Postage stamp set, blender pens, Watercolor Wonder crayons in Bravo Burgundy, Rose Red, Old Olive, Always Artichoke and Not Quite Navy, plus Mr. Big Shot and the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. The colors used are Old Olive, So Saffron and Whisper White. The SWEET stamp is stamped on Watercolor paper and punched with the new postage stamp punch in the Summer Mini Catalog. Satin ribbon and an antique brad complete the look (with supporting cast of Sticky Strip and Snail).

The blender pen was used to pick up color off the butt end of the watercolor crayons (a different one for each different color - I have mine labeled RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, and PURPLE) and then for the berries, I dabbed Burgundy, swiped my pen on my grid paper and then picked up Rose Red to brighten the color some as I dabbed it on in little dots.

I hope you enjoy my berry little attempt at coloring my world and yours.

Please continue on the blog hop by going to http://createdbyu.blogspot.com - please leave comments along the way, and have fun!

Here is a complete list of the blog hop as Blogger has had some issues this week -

Sunday, May 8, 2011

National Scrapbook Month, new summer mini - WIN/WIN!

Can you believe it is May already??? The new Summer Mini Catalog is out, and there are some AMAZING specials for National Scrapbook Month!!!!!

SUMMER MINI

Just in case you didn't get one of your own to drool over, you can click this picture to see the new Summer Mini catalog (and if you want, once it loads, you can right click and SAVE AS to have a copy to browse more quickly). Some of my favorites in this mini include the new Baker's Twine, NEW PUNCHES - including two triple layer punches(!) and a postage stamp punch with coordinating stamp set. If you are one of my customers (not another demonstrator, please) and didn't get your copy, email me and let me know!



May is also National Scrapbooking Month and Stampin' Up! has some great opportunities to save on scrapbooking supplies.


You can get 30% off of select stamp sets, selected professional print products for My Digital Studio and some special digital download bundles for My Digital Studio!

Click here to see the complete list of products being offered at 30 percent off!

Download the flyer

Download the My Digital Studio Price Guide

This is the perfect opportunity for digital scrappers to join the Stampin' Up! family. During National Scrapbooking Month, new recruits will get 30 percent off the Digital+ Starter Kit. In addition, new recruits can purchase the Stampin' Memories Add-On for 30 percent off, as well!

The Digital+ Starter kit, valued at more that $320 (US) is regularly $175. but during May, $122.50! The Stampin' Memories add-on is usually $50 more (valued at $75+), but during the merry, merry month of May - only $35!!!

Click here to Download the Starter Kit Flyer

Check out these specials and get started scrapbooking now!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

SUSTARS April 2011 Blog hop... Anything but a card! Make mine a scrapbook page!


Today the Stars are sharing anything but a card - mine, of course, is a scrapbook layout. You probably got here from Denise Foor's blog, but if not, more hop details are below the scrapbooking goodies shown here...

I have to start off by saying I am a collector - I collect scrapbook sketches and make up my own. This is from my collection of sketches - and is my take on it, although they are very similar. I created the mockup of the sketch in Powerpoint - I forgot to put the ribbons around the journaling card in between the two pictures... but I bet you can figure that out! Besides, I even put the dimensions of the cuts on there for ya!


So here is my take on it -
first - I created my quote in MyDigitalStudio - VERY easy to do - I used the MDS download of the Botanical Gazette DSP from the Occasions Mini which is going away SOOOOOOOON!!!!! I used a quote by Emily Dickinson, which says:

Hope is that thing with
feathers that perches
in the soul and sings
the tune without the
words and never stops...
at all.

I was able to print four of those to a page (in MDS - you go to the share button, pick JPG and save it and print it).

The H/Hope piece in mine below is stamped in Bashful Blue with the newly arriving Strength and Hope stamp set - orderable by customers May 1!

Hope you enjoyed the share - next stop on the hop is Shari's Stamp Pad - so hop on over to Shari's pad and check it out!

If you got here by another means and want to start the hop fro the top, go to the SU Stars blog to begin!

Happy Hopping!

PS - I am on my school's RELAY FOR LIFE TEAM - my mom is a breast cancer survivor, and my dad died on March 5 of a malignant brain tumor - if you would like to sponsor a luminaria in memory of my dad, Scott Scoggins, the donation is $5 (or more if you so choose) and the money goes to the American Cancer Society. Please email me at nancykayk@aol.com for more details about that!


Saturday, April 2, 2011

GRAB BAGS - Isn't that a fun way to start April?

Starting April 1 and until they run out, Stampin' Up! has put some grab bags in the Stampin' Up online store! Your best bet is to go to MY DEMO WEBSITE and click on SHOP NOW (red button upper right).

The bags come in three sizes - at $5, $10 or $15 per bag - you choose. Each bag has an assortment of discontinued product, such as ribbons, Accents & Elements, chipboard, Designer Series Papers and/or Simply Sent components. (NOTE: There are no grab bags containing stamp sets or tools. Also, not all grab bags are unique.)

As if that isn't enough fun - there are NEW CLEARANCE RACK ITEMS - including some Designer Series Paper and ribbon (did someone say RIBBON?)!!!!! Go to my website, check out the SHOP NOW button, then the navigation links on the left to find the Grab Bags, Clearance Rack and other fun.

There is no minimum purchase, but these can ONLY be ordered through the store - by going to my website to enter the store, you get preferred pricing, and can earn hostess benefits for orders of $150 or more, not to mention MY appreciation!

What are you waiting for? Go get yours before they are all gone!


Saturday, March 19, 2011

Time for another blog hop - the Stars are out!

Welcome to the March SU Blog Hop - I missed last month due to family issues - you should have arrived here from Mary Campbell's blog. As many of you know, the past months have been extremely difficult for my family. On top of all his other health issues, it was discovered about 4 weeks ago now that my dad had an inoperable "massive malignant brain tumor". He was ready to go Home to be with the Father, and did so on Saturday March 5 - two weeks ago today.

Am I sad? Well, YEAH! I'm human, yes? However I rejoice in knowing that I will be with him again in Heaven. Joy* lives in my heart and it IS well with my soul even though I really do miss my da!!! (and now I can really hear you thinking,"What on earth does this have to do with a blog hop???????", Well, really - not all that much with earthly things,... you know?)

Therefore, in spite of and because of all that, I bring to you a happy little, springy card,
using the Baby Blossoms stamp set from the Occasions Mini.
(*Don't confuse JOY with happiness - happiness is fleeting, joy is a state of soul.)

I actually did several versions of this happy, Spring-y card. These are the two I really like!

These cards use a technique called Faux Silk - I keep wanting to say Faux linen for some goofy reason, but really - it's silk!

This technique is oh, SO easy to do - and you probably have what you need to do it at home already!

Take a piece of plain white tissue paper - wrinkled is ok, so go check out those old gift bags and see if you hit a bonanza in one of them. This is the kind of tissue I buy at the end of Christmas sales when they are 90% off at the one B&M store I go to occasionally for fabric and such.

In this case, I used the rose stamps from the Baby Blossom set and stamped the background piece of the two step rose (the 3/4 inch rose) in Pretty in Pink all over the tissue, and then stamped the detail stamp of the same size rose in Regal Rose on top of the Pretty in Pink.

(HINT - use a really clean piece of grid paper - and turn it over onto the nongrid side to REALLY see where the PiP stamping was, lol!)

Finally, I stamped the little leaf in Pear Pizazz (LovE that color!). Then I crumpled up the tissue and carefully uncrumpled it. I used the Stampin' up! glue stick i had been hoarding and covered a 4 1/2x4 1/2 piece of Very Vanilla with it, then spread the stamped tissue over it. I rubbed it gently with my fingers, treasuring the little wrinkles, as they serve to silkify it.... and trimmed the piece to 4x4. How stinkin' easy was that!!!!!! This technique has been around a bit, and was recently featured in the Stampin' Success magazine, which is one of the perks of being a demonstrator for SU! I punched the edge of my Pear Pizazz cardstock (cut to 4x5 1/4, and trimmed after punching with the border punch). Then, I used the Decorative label punch (120907) to punch out the large punchie you see below, stamped the sentiment in Regal rose on a scrap of Vanilla and punched it out with the Modern Label punch. I applied a piece of Victoria crochet ribbon (118481) using Snail to secure the ends on the back. I used three Stampin' Dimensionals to pop it up on the green Decorative label and attached it to my card front. Finally, I added two teeny-tiny pearlets from the half pearls we sell, just to jazz up the "Just Because". Inside the cards I made, I stamped a few with baby sentiments and a few with birthday wishes.

TAKE ONE:

TAKE TWO:

Which is your favorite, ONE or TWO? Please leave me a comment and let me know!

Now - as this is part of the SU Stars group Blog Hop - you'll want to click this link to head to Raissa's place for her share: www.raissastamps.com.

You can continue from there to the next hop stop, or go to the group page and start at the very beginning! Thanks for looking - we'd love to see what you are inspired to make!

Monday, January 24, 2011

+1

Stampin' Up!'s global campaign this year is simple: plus one.

What one thing can we as demonstrators do to improve our business?

What a simple, yet awesome concept that we can carry over into our every day lives!!!!

What one thing can I do to show my husband how very much I love him, respect him, and, 32 years into this, would do it all again?

What one thing can I do to show my daughters and their fellas how much I believe in them, both as individuals, and as couples, and how much I am convinced that God has a special plan for their lives?

What one thing can I do to be a better mommy, daughter, wife, friend, employee, educator, counselor, pianist, Christian?

I think the first thing is this:

Hey, you - yeah - YOU - the one reading this blog!
God has a special plan for YOU. He loves you, and He wants you to know that! He wants you to know that you are not alone in whatever you do... you are a one-of-a-kind, uniquely created in the image of God, specially designed, wholly wonderful person - in the words of Dr. Seuss, there is NO one more "you-er" than you!

I don't know about you, but I need to be reminded of that frequently...

So... what's your +1? Whether you are a demo or not, you ought to think on that - and feel free to post a comment to share it - I'd love to see your ideas!

Hugs,
Nanc

Friday, January 14, 2011

SUSTARS January 2011 Blog hop... Love is in the air!


This has certainly been an eventful couple of months for me. I'll post more on that later, because this weekend is the first SUSTARS Blog Hop of 2011.

My thanks to our fearless Blog Hop coordinator, Loni!

You probably arrived here from Stamp With Jane. A complete listing of this blog hop may be found after my Valentine's shares, along with the next stop on the hop! If you are just starting here, there are only a dozen stops, and they will be worth your time, so get hopping, would ya? Our theme was a choice of Valentine or Thank you items.

My first item is a test tube holder. It is made of textured Real Red cardstock and decorated with Blushing Bride patterned paper, punchies, Real Red ink.


(ADDED 1/15 - Finally found the pattern on my desktop - thought I had filed it correctly - original pattern for this holder by Lisa Somerville, printable pattern and instructions by Marie at stampinginspiration.blogspot.com - do want to give credit where credit's due!)

My second (and last item for today) is my Valentine card for my honey. 32 years of marriage, 2 kids, 2 grandkids - and i'd do it all again -

Riding Hood Red cardstock and Love Letter DSP make a really cool Valentine card that you can give to a guy... add an antique brad, and look out! Enjoy!
(This card sketch was based on one by Robin Messenheimer)


Add the "three little words" stamp, and hit the bonus! You see, when we were in high school, our government teacher, Mr. Harper (who seemed much older than dirt to us as 17 year olds) had a lot of fun ways to teach us things. I'm not sure what those three little words had to do with anything in government, but one day he was talking about COBs (come over baby - curves that you drove fast to make your girl slide over closer to you) and those 3 little words.... and he admonished us to not forget to say those important three little words to one another... and that has stuck with us since the days of being high school sweethearts.

Bo never forgets to say those three little words, and he always finds special ways to show me that he loves me. Frequently we write notes on the bathroom mirrors with dry erase markers, and they are always signed with the number 3, for those three little words. It was really cool to walk into my grown daughter's bathroom one day and find that our tradition had become theirs, and to see the notes of love and affirmation she and her honey had written on their mirror.
(Note - dry erase markers can safely write on glass and be easily cleaned off - leave your honey a note on his car window, the window in the door leading to the garage or the mirror... you may start something wonderful!)

Hope you have a very happy Valentine's Day, and that these projects help inspire you!

next stop on the hop: Mimi to Jett

Full Lineup in case you missed anyone:

Monica Weaver - Add a Little Dazzle http://www.addalittledazzle.com
Denise Foor - Denise Foor Studio PA http://www.denisefoor.blogspot.com/

Raissan Spatola - RaissaStamps www.raissastamps.com
Jane Hignite - Stamp With Jane www.stampwithjane.com
Nancy Keithley - Scrapbook Kits & More by FancyNancyKay http://fancynancykay.blogspot.com/
Mary Campbell - Mimi To Jett http://www.mimitojett.blogspot.com
Veronica Miller - Bluegrass Stamper Studio http://bluegrassstamperstudio.blogspot.com/
Angela Walters - Life with a Wiener Dog www.lifewithawienerdog.com
Courtney Johnston - Brighten Your Day the Stampin' Up Way! www.letsubrightnurday.blogspot.com
Diana Soling - Stamping My Life Away http://handmadebydiana.typepad.com
Maria Nguyen - ScrapLoveCreate http://www.scraplovecreate.blogspot.com/
Loni Holt - Loni's Life www.loniholt.blogspot.com