What 2 Stamp

Make Merry Page

This 8"x8" page is a fun example of how to use the Berry Christmas set on a scrapbook page. This one is about our annual tradition of making "snowball" cookies.

I hope you're seeing all the mileage you can get out of this one stamp set!
 

My First Digital Album

 

I'm busy creating my first album in the new My Digital Studio program, which becomes available to customers on Oct. 1--only 2 more days!

As I've said before, I really am a paper-loving gal. I spent much of my weekend creating traditional scrapbook pages, in fact. But I can see how a program like this would be a great time and creativity saver on occasion. For instance, my son and husband took a trip to NY last year; I was not able to go with them. My husband really wants me to scrapbook the photos he took, but I found it a challenge for many reasons. First, there are more than 150 photos to deal with! Second, I wasn't on the trip, so these memories aren't mine and that makes it difficult to judge which photos to use and how to journal these pages.

That's where MDS is coming to the rescue! We had my son type some journaling when he first came home from the trip and the memories were fresh (a great tip, no matter what type of scrapbooking you like!). I am able to take that journaling and plop it straight onto the pages I'm creating with MDS. I have chosen a Designer album that is pre-designed by Stampin' Up's own staff. There are background papers, brads, stamps and journaling blocks--all in SU's colors and all chosen to work together. All I have to do is add the photos and the journaling. I can handle that!

I really am having a great time putting together this album, and I know they will love looking at it for years to come. Keep checking back for more information on My Digital Studio and how we can get you using it!

My First Digital Page

 

Hold on to your punches and scissors, because this is a page created entirely with the new My Digital Studio software, Stampin' Up's new digital scrapbooking product. MDS, as it is becoming known, will sell for $79.95 and will be available on Oct. 1.

Now, for those of you paper diehards (and I'm one of you!), there are lots of advantages to MDS. Even if you never want to print a digital layout, you can use the software to plan what your page will look like with various colors and embellishments, before you get out your materials. MDS uses Stampin' Up's exclusive colors, stamps and embellishments. A nice selection of "stamps" comes with the program, and more will become available through downloads.

You can print your creations at home if you like, or have them professionally printed through our vendor. Scrapbook pages can be printed individually, or you can have an entire book printed and bound. In addition to scrapbook pages, you can print cards and calendars--perfect for gifts! If a printed page just isn't touchy-feely enough for you, you can add a few "real" embellishments of your own after the page is printed (this is called "hybrid scrapbooking").

As I said, I'm a paper kind of girl, but I will be having lots of fun with this program. For instance, my husband and son went on a short trip last summer, and I still haven't done anything with the photos. I wanted to do a small album, but I was daunted by the number of photos--and the fact that I wasn't even on the trip. I plan to use MDS to make a mini album, just popping photos into the pre-designed layouts and adding some already-typed journaling.

To help you learn your way through MDS, I will be going through Stampin' Up's certification program for demonstrators. I look forward to helping you into the digital age!

Go Team!

 

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, my son's All-Star team is headed to the World Series! I'm the Team Mom, and I made each boy a few goodies for the trip.

Using my Big Shot and the Top Note Die, I made mini scrapbooks, putting in photos of each individual boy, as well as some team shots. Having a scrapbooker for a mom, my son is used to seeing photos of himself in books that he can flip through at any time. But I realize that a lot of kids don't have that luxury, because many of us keep our photos on the computer and never print them out.

When I handed these out, each boy raced to see photos of himself. These were quick and easy to make with the Big Shot and it was worth every minute when I saw the looks on their faces.

Vacation Memory Planner

 

While on vacation, I always carry a plain, 2 pocket folder where I stuff all travel info--intineraries, maps, ticket stubs, etc. On occasion, I have also carried a notebook where I jotted down details I wanted to remember. The purpose of these items was to keep information in a central location.

Then it occurred to me: What if I combined the 2 items into 1 folder, where I could keep all sorts of information and memories, and come home ready to scrapbook my trip? From that was born this Vacation Memory Planner. In one place, I have a pocket for memorabilia, a notepad for musings, and pre-cut Top Note die cuts where I can journal my thoughts and have them ready to go on a scrapbook page as soon as I get home.

Here is how to start this project: I used 1 sheet of Sweet Slumber Textured Designer Series Paper. You can choose any pattern in this line, but I highly recommend the textured DSPs for their strong structure and durability--you are going to be traveling with this, after all!

Cut the DSP to 9 x 12. Score at the 6" line, so that it folds into a 6" x 9" folder. Take the strip of DSP you just cut off, and, with the long side parallel with the top of the trimmer, cut so that it is just short of the 6" mark, so that the piece is roughly 6" wide x 3" tall. I'm having you cut it just short (just a hair) of the 6" mark, to give a little extra ease in the fold.

You will make a pocket from this piece, so apply Sticky Strip on three sides of the piece (LEAVING THE TOP OPEN), and then mount it on in the inside of the folder, at the bottom left-hand side, right up against the fold.

Using the Enjoy Every Moment set and the Trio Flower punch, I decorated the outside of the pocket:

Next, you will create a pocket to hold the Top Note die cuts. To do this, take a clear envelope and cut the open end so that the envelope measures 5.25" long. Add small bits of sticky strip to the corners only. These are going to be covered in the next step, so you won't see them, if you keep the pieces small.

 

Mount this pocket on the inside of the folder, on the bottom right-hand side. Using the photo-corner punch, punch 4 sets of corners from scrap DSP. Mount these on top of the cello bag corners, covering the Sticky Strip underneath. Be careful not to adhere the corners over the opening, at the right-hand side.

 

Cut a few Top Note die cuts to go in the pocket. I chose Baja Breeze and So Saffron, because they were light-colored (perfect for journaling), and because they were neutral enough to coordinate with whatever layouts I might design after the trip.

I also wanted a small notepad to go in my planner. This is only a few sheets of paper, where I might make notes on layouts I want to do once I return. For instance, when we visited Paris a few years ago, I kept a running total of what we spent on various items, such as food and transportation. When we returned, I was able to do a layout describing what these items cost, but relating that the trip itself was "priceless." It was fun to have that perspective, but I couldn't have done it without keeping notes along the way.

To create the notepad, I cute a sheet of printer paper into 3.25 x 4" pieces. This gets you 6 pieces from one sheet of paper. Working along the long side, I perforated the sheets at the 1/2" mark, using the tool in our Cutter Kit, on page 189. This way, the sheets can be torn out if need be, just like in a regular notepad.

 

I stapled these pages to a piece of chipboard (which comes in all packs of DSP), and then wrapped a 1" x 4" strip of DSP around the top. Then I adhered the notepad to the inside of the folder, on the top, right-hand side.

 

On the outside of the folder, adhere a 1.5" x 6" strip of DSP. Stamp the flower circle from Enjoy Every Moment on a 2.5" square of Whisper White, then use the Ticket Corner Punch on all four corners. Mount onto a 2.75" square of Not Quite Navy, and add that to the strip. Finally, punch some Baja Breeze flowers, using the Trio Flower punch. Put brads through the center of the flowers, and then layer on top of the focal image, using Mini Glue Dots.

This is a fun planner to make, and if you use it consistently on your vacation, you can scrapbook the trip in a snap when you get home. Be sure to use the Top Note journaling dies for each leg of the trip. Consider letting each member fill one out--get different perspectives on the same visit. And always remember--you want to spend more time making your memories than scrapbooking them, and this planner just makes it that much easier!

Great Deals in May

   

The May specials are so exciting! Because May is National Scrapbooking Month, these specials are aimed at scrapbookers, but card makers and paper crafters of all kind will love them. To see a larger version of the flyer shown above, click here.

First, you can purchase the new Jumble Alphabet for 20% off. The sale price is $35.16, a great savings over the regular price of $43.95. To see the alphabet, click here.

Second, when you purchase any 3 packages of Designer Series Paper or Textured Cardstock, you can receive a package for free!

And last, but not least, SU! has designed a unique starter kit for those who would like to become demonstrators. This smaller kit includes just a few scrapbooking-related supplies, and includes the regular business supplies found in the full-size kit. This special kit is $75. Please note that as a full-scale demonstrator, you would need a wider range of supplies, like those found in the regular starter kit. But, for those who already own a lot of supplies and have thought about starting their own stamping business, this is a great option. Please email me if you would like to discuss it.

 

When looking for a quick and cute project to do with my downline, I came across this idea from the Leadership conference I attended in January. It is yet another idea of what you can do with the versatile Top Note Big Shot die.

First, adhere a square of 6 x 6 Designer Series Paper to the same size hipboard. I used Urban Oasis and Pink Flamingo. Use the Big Shot to cut the Top Note die from each of the three pieces. As my friend Linda pointed out, this leaves you with a nice frame you can use on another project, so don't throw it away!

Use Sticky Strip to attach the top notes to a strip of Certainly Celery ribbon, which featured in the Sale-a-Bration catalog. Don't forget that now through the end of March, you can earn this ribbon set and several other products when you place a $50 order. To see the SAB catalog, click here.

I used the Wide Oval punch to punch out my photos and the phrase, which is found in the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set. I then used the Coluzzle to cut out larger ovals for matting. Finally, I tied a bow and attached that to the ribbon strip with Sticky Strip (yeah, I'm all about the easy way out!). As a group, we completed this project in under 45 minutes, so it's a fun and fast project to give away or to make for yourself.

Scalloped Envelope Scrapbook--A Class Planner

    My new class planner, featuring the Scalloped Envelope die, holds up to 16 small photos. My instructions--and the Big Shot--make this project easy to complete during a class. I have used the Holiday Treasures Designer Paper to make the project, but any paper could be substituted, to match a theme or a particular home decor. This scrapbook is perfect for "people who don't scrapbook!" For more information on the planner, click here.

Artisan Fun, Part IV

As the title indicates, I crafted this scrapbook page for the Artisan Award contest, which I have mentioned in previous posts. But the idea for it came long before the contest. I suppose I wanted to post this today, especially, because this morning I sent Connor and Dan on a plane to NY, to watch the Rays play the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. See, Dan has always been a die-hard baseball fan and Connor is one in the making, and Dan decided that even though he really hates the Yankees (sorry NY fans), he must see Yankee Stadium before they tear it down this year. So, today, I sent my 2 boys off on a plane to NY, without me. Without them around, I am definitely a fish out of water, but I am doing my best to maintain.

Back to this scrapbook page: A couple of years ago, I began saying to my scrapbooking friends that I needed to do a page that talked about "Is it Enough?" In other words, do I do ENOUGH as a mother--and no, I'm not talking about laundry! The result of those thoughts was this page. The journaling reads:

Is it enough? Do I play with you enough? Do I read to you enough?

Do I answer enough of your questions?

Do I cherish you enough, drink you in enough, memorize your face enough?

Do I let you know how important you are, often enough?

If you catch me staring sometimes, I'm just trying to get ENOUGH of you!

Here are the technical details:

The page was created on a 12x12 piece of Always Artichoke. To create the title on the left-hand side, I used the On Board Simon Lower alphabet as a template. I traced the template onto Blue Bayou and Wild Wasabi Designer Paper and trimmed it out with snips.

I inked the Ginormous chipboard pieces with Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and Not Quite Navy Craft Ink. I stamped the flower stamp from Boho Backgrounds in Whisper White on the Chocolate Chip chipboard; and tied a small piece of Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon around the Not Quite Navy chipboard circle. The small detail flowers included on the journaling block were stamped with the Little Flowers set, using Real Red and Not Quite Navy markers.

Artisan Fun, Part III

As promised, I'm sharing with you some of the entries I prepared for SU's Artisan Award contest this year. This page is about when we took Connor to ride on Thomas the Train back in November. I love the expression on his face in the large photo--he couldn't have been any happier! I also love the shot of his too-short jeans; it just shows quite clearly how fast these kids grow.

The page uses a mixture of stamps, chipboard and Eastern Elegance rub-ons, as well as Designer Series Paper. Since I had to send in this page for the contest, I will definitely have to recreate it for my own scrapbook!

The journaling, in case you can't see it, reads:

Today, you rode Thomas the Tank Engine.

Today, we spent a beautiful day with some of our dearest friends.

Today, you were 5, going on 6.

Today, you were outgrowing last year's pants.

Today, you were pure kid--happy, excited, and eager to experience a dream come true.