FUN WITH STAMPIN' UP! VINYL

I suppose there are people who don't know that Stampin' Up! sells decorative vinyl, and then there are others who are unsure what to do with it.  Me?  I am so excited about the vinyl and all of the color choices!  As I took this little jar out of the cabinet, it occurred to me that it needed to be decorated, so I chose Stampin' Up!'s "Bird on a Branch" Decorative Strip die.  I cut a snippet of white vinyl for the bird and Chocolate Chip for the branch, and then ran it through the Big Shot.  The thin die easily and perfectly cut the vinyl!  It probably didn't even take 10 minutes from the time I decided to decorate the jar!  In the other photo (Bee Happy), I used Stampin' Up!'s clear vinyl and LOVE how it mimics an etched design.  This vinyl is on my bathroom mirror, and it makes me smile every time I look at it!  You can view (and order) all of the color choices of Stampin' Up!'s vinyl HERE. 

IS IT SPRING YET?

I had one more of these images stamped and waiting for color, so I finished it today.  She looks cute on the hill with her foot in the air, huh?  Can you tell that I have Spring on my mind?????

KICKSTAND CARD

One more Mimosa, but she's dressed in pink and purple this time.  It's been a while since I made a kickstand card, and I wasn't sure this one would stand with the sentiment offset.  I was so happy to see that it stands alone perfectly!  If you visit my blog often, you're probably surprised to not see another square card.  Ha!

BUTTERFLY KITE

It's a kite!  It's a butterfly!  It's a butterfly-shaped kite!  It looks like Tilda and the puppy sat down to rest and tied the kite to the bench.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include Ballet Blue and Always Artichoke card stock, "Flight of the Butterfly" stamp set, butterfly punch, linen thread, ribbon, and button.  I used a punched scallop circle and Stampin' Sponge to create the clouds.

THOUGHTS & PRAYERS

This was one of my favorite new stamp sets in the current Stampin' Up! catalog, and it's one of the first sets that I reach for when I need to make a sympathy card.  I used markers to ink the tree image, and the designer paper is from the "Welcome Neighbor" Sale-a-Bration paper pad.

"SPRING CAN" KIT

Think Spring/Summer birthdays.

Think Mother's Day.

Order a "Spring Can" Kit

$15

The kit includes the paint can (with a smooth, matte white finish), die-cut daisy topper, designer paper, ribbon, card stock, rhinestone brad, and everything needed to assemble this adorable and unique gift.  What you will need is Sticky Strip or ModPodge and the adhesive of your choice.  The handle removes easily so you can decorate the paint can and then just as easily slips back into place to complete the gift.

Supplies are limited.

The price of the kit is for the contents to complete the project.  An additional charge will be incurred for shipping.

MIMOSA AT THE STUMP

Is that the sweetest face or what?  This is one of "those" stamps that just had to come live at my house!   Her name is Mimosa, and it looks like she found a fluttering friend while resting at the stump.  Unfortunately, the picture doesn't do a very good job of showing the glittery accents on her eyes and dress.  I think anyone who received this card in the mail would find happiness--if only for a little while.  :-)

OWL "LOVE YA" CARD

Shhh . . . I didn't use much Stampin' Up! product on this card, but I couldn't resist sharing this cute owl with you.  He will be in the mail tomorrow on his way to my grandmother's house, and I think she'll be glad to have him.

WITH A LITTLE DESIGNER PAPER & VINYL . . .

. . . you can decorate a glass door!  How cool is this????  This glass-door storage cube is the newest one I've purchased and, since I only have card stock scraps in it at the moment, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to decorate the door.  The designer paper (from the "Sweet Pea" pad) and vinyl are from Stampin' Up!  Best of all, the paper and the vinyl can both be removed when I decide to change the decor!

WATERCOLORED "BLOOMIN' BEAUTIFUL"

"Bloomin' Beautiful" . . . is this a timeless favorite (stamp set) or what????  My Stampin' Up! Watercolor Wonder Crayons were still on my desk, so I decided to whip up a card.  If you're thinking this pot of flowers is tricky to color, then you've fallen under the spell of deception.  It's oh-so-easy, and the crayon colors spread like butter with a blender pen or aqua painter!  I think I need to add a brad or two, but I haven't decided where.  By the way, I used a sentiment from one of the Sale-a-Bration freebies, "Whimsical Words." 

FLUFFY FLOWERS & "GARDEN FROM THE HEART" (AGAIN)

Yes, I'm still stamping and coloring this "Garden from the Heart" image.  I love this stamp set, but I'll try to put it on the shelf for a while and create with some others.  The sentiment on this card is from Stampin' Up!'s "Vintage Vogue" stamp set. 

"GARDEN FROM THE HEART"

Just wanted to share yet another "Garden from the Heart" creation.  Other Stampin' Up! products featured on this card include the Scallop Trim Border punch, "Whimsical Words" stamp set, and ribbon.  Watercolor Wonder Crayons and a blender pen were used to color the hat image.

CRUMPLED, CRUNCHED, CRUSHED

I'm not exactly sure that this flower has a name, but it's definitely crumpled, crunched, and crushed.  And oh, so pretty!  Most likely, this will be one of the projects for my Inkerbelles in March, so make plans now to attend the class on 3/19.  Of course, the design for that class will be for Easter and not Valentine's.  Stampin' Up! products used on this project include:  "Sending Love" designer paper, Matchbox die (the label is also from the die), taffeta ribbon, "Crazy for Cupcakes" stamp set, and Real Red and Pretty in Pink card stock.

BOYS WILL BE BOYS

Recently, I had my label maker out so I could label some new stamp sets.  My son  (18.5 y/o) enjoyed designing some "creative" labels and leaving them around the room for me to find.  While looking for a stamp set, I discovered yet another of Chad's labels.  I'll bet you can find it!

CRUMPLED & CRUSHED FLOWER

It's time to clean off my desk, but I decided to put some of Stampin' Up!'s "Cottage Wall" designer paper scraps to use and create the crushed flower for this card.  I punched three 1-3/4" circles, two 1-1/4" circles, and two 1" circles and then, literally, crumpled the circles.  All crumpled circles were layered and, after I put the rhinestone brad through all of them, I crumpled and crushed them a little more.  Other Stampin' Up! products featured on this card include the Finial Press embossing folder, dotted Rich Razzleberry ribbon, and "Well Scripted" stamp set.

A QUICK & EASY QUILT

Using strips of designer paper to create a quilt card is actually the first (paper) quilt technique that I learned, and it's such an easy and good one!  On this card (yes, it's square), I used Stampin' Up!'s "Cottage Wall" designer paper and three brand new punches . . . Two Step Bird, Scallop Trim Corner, and Scallop Trim Border.  I love that continuous scallop edge!  Is there anyone who loves square cards more than me?  I don't think so!

BASKET CASE

My guys are addicted to watching "The Office" so, while they were glued to the TV, I decided to make a basket using Stampin' Up!'s "Sweet Pea" designer paper, Taken with Teal, and Chocolate Chip card stock.  This is actually the second basket that I made today, but I haven't decorated the first one yet.  Two years ago, I made my first woven basket, and it is still being used and has held up really well!  It was considerably larger than today's basket and took considerably longer to make.  At the time, I thought I didn't ever want to make another one, but time changes things.  Ha!  My first basket is pictured here with the heart brads around the top.  Shortly after the picture was taken, I used hemp twine to tie on a tag with a strawberry image from Stampin' Up!'s "Tart & Tangy" stamp set.  It's still in perfect condition, too.

"CARD BOX" PURSE

This "purse" was so easy to make that I'm looking forward to making another one!  The structure for the purse is actually a clear card box that I cut in half and lined with Stampin' Up!'s "Welcome Home" designer paper, which is one of the Sale-a-Bration products.  This project also features hearts from Stampin' Up!'s Small Heart punch and a "Pinking Hearts" punched border on the Chocolate Chip card stock mat.  The good thing about this purse is that it's very sturdy and would easily hold a set of 4x4 greeting/note cards--or many other gift items.  I just naturally think of cards.  Ha!

SIMPLE "GOOD NEIGHBORS" CARD

After all the distressed projects I've shared lately, I decided to do something clean and simple.  This card features Stampin' Up!'s "Good Neighbors" stamp set, which is one of the Sale-a-Bration products.  The sentiment on this card is from "Bella's Bloom," a stamp set that I don't believe I've ever used.  I'm proving to myself that if I look closely at the shelves of stamps, I can still find some that need to be inked!

SHE-BEAR . . . WITH BLOOMERS & BLING

I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I can't remember if I've played with Stampin' Up!'s Build-a-Bear dies before.  I've had them for about two months, I think.  I had thought that I'd just put a cute outfit on my bear, but ideas just kept coming!  I can imagine a little girl would LOVE dressing these bears!  I'll bet you can't guess what's the last thing I noticed . . . after I'd gotten her all dressed up.  In true Regina fashion, I had not placed my narrow piece of card stock on the die correctly, and part of my bear's hand was missing.  Yikes!  I mean she had a skirt, shoes, shirt, flower in her hair, diamond earrings, eyelashes, and bloomers, for Heaven's sake!  How could I not have noticed part of her hand was missing?!?!  While the purse (created with punches) looks like a planned part of her ensemble, it's actually a distraction.  Poor little bear . . . part of her hand was never there, and still part of it had to be cut away so it would appear to be holding the purse handle.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this project include:  Build-a-Bear and Fancy Favor dies; Trio Flower, Eyelet Border, 1-1/4" Circle, Large Oval, and Small Oval punches; "Sweet Pea" designer paper; rhinestones from the "Eggcellent Eggs Kit"; Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White card stock.

FIRST (AND PROBABLY LAST) BRICK WALL DESIGN

As much as I L~O~V~E the way this card turned out (and I mean truly, madly, deeply love it), I probably won't make another one.  Can you say "time-consuming"?  One thing is for sure . . . the Brick Wall technique is certainly one where the end result seems to justify the time it takes to create it.  For my card, I used Stampin' Up!'s "Garden from the Heart" stamp set (yes, I'm still loving this set) and the brand new "Very Vintage" wheel to create the subtle background on the "brick."  All of the stamped images were embossed and then colored with markers.  Card stock colors are Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, and Old Olive.

PICKETS, SCALLOPS, AND TULIPS

Although it's sleeting outside, I  have tulips and Springtime in my stamp room!  How cute is this????  Yes, I know the card needs ribbon or something, but I haven't decided what to add.  Once again, I used Stampin' Up!'s "A Flower for all Seasons" stamp set, but that cute scalloped border is from "Eggcoutrements" (found in the "Occasions" mini catalog).  For the picket fence, I used the new Jewelry tag punch.  Don't you just love versatility in a product????  What you may not notice is that all of the layers (from the stamped basket to the Orchid Opulence mat) are adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals.  The image was colored with Watercolor Pencils and a blender pen.

"GARDEN FROM THE HEART" . . . AGAIN

Oh, how I wish this stamp set would stay around because I love it!  When I first saw Stampin' Up!'s "Occasions" mini catalog, I fell in love with this set, "Garden from the Heart."  By the time I placed my first preorder (the first of THREE preorders!!!!), I had second thoughts about this set--just wasn't sure how I would use the images.  It seemed tricky to me.  I finally had to have it, though, and I am so glad that I bought it.  What I have found and like about this set is that it can easily appeal to a person's desire to create vintage works of art, but I'm sure any color combo would be beautiful.  Also, this seems to be one of those chameleon sets . . . the kind that can be used for many occasions.  I can see the images going from "Hello" and "Thinking of You" to "Happy Birthday" or "Get Well."  You've got to love that! 

"VERY THANKFUL" TO HAVE NOTICED THIS STAMP SET

Believe me when I say that this picture does not do justice to the color or overall appearance of this card.  The card stock colors are Elegant Eggplant, Bermuda Bay, and Whisper White.  I was reminded of the Charlotte Hornets while working with these colors.  All products used to create this card are from Stampin' Up! and include:  Whisper White satin ribbon, Scallop Trim Border and Corner punches, rhinestone brad, "Very Thankful" stamp set, Dazzling Diamonds glitter (can you see it?????), and Finial Press embossing folder.  I recently selected this stamp set as a FREE Sale-a-Bration product but, for as long as the current Stampin' Up! catalog has been out, I have to admit that I hadn't really noticed this little gem which is located at the very back of the catalog--seriously!  It's on page 209 aka the back cover!  This is a darling stamp set, and you should put it on your list!  You can buy it OR earn it FREE during Sale-a-Bration.

SUNFLOWERS AND REASSURANCE

For what seems like a really long time, I have wanted Stampin' Up!'s "A Flower for all Seasons" stamp set, and it's finally mine!  So far, the sunflower image is the only one that's mounted and ready to use.  There are only four stamps in this set, but that seems like plenty . . . one for each season.  If you like to do all types of coloring (markers, watercolor crayons, watercolor pencils, etc.), this one little stamp set (coupled with a set of sentments) would serve you well.  Other Stampin' Up! products used on this card include the texture plate (Woven, I think), "FYI" stamp set, markers, Modern Label punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, and corduroy button (the one on this card is actually a brad).  Card stock colors are Whisper White, Certainly Celery, and Really Rust.

"GARDEN FROM THE HEART"

After getting my desk cleared, it just seemed right to open a brand new stamp set and create.  Let me just get this out of the way . . . I LOVE this card!  Several new Stampin' Up! products were used to create this card:  "Garden from the Heart" and "Tiny Tags" stamp sets, "Very Vintage" jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel, Naturals Ivory, Soft Suede, Old Olive, and Really Rust card stock, watercolor paper, Twill Tape, distressing tool, stampin' sponge, linen thread, Pinking Hearts Border punch, and markers.  I am super excited about the coloring of the garden hat because, for the first time ever, I created the shading and blending with Stampin' Up! markers and think it turned out really well!  This was the first time that I worked with "Garden from the Heart," and it's going to be a keeper for sure!  One thing that I want to mention is that Stampin' Up!'s clear acrylic blocks are AWESOME!!!!!!  I didn't order any of them initially because I already had quite a collection of acrylic blocks, but I got several of the new blocks in an order last week.  After finally getting a chance to work with them, I am impressed!  The blocks that I already had do not compare to the comfort and quality of Stampin' Up!'s blocks!  They are worth every cent!  If you don't believe me, order just one and then make room for the others! 

PACKAGING OF PRODUCT SAMPLERS

I recently offered product samplers from Stampin' Up!'s "Occasions" mini catalog and decided that I would thank my customers for their business by taking the time to provide creative packaging of the product samples they ordered.  Pictured here is a package of ribbon where I used Stampin' Up!'s "Flower Folds" XL die and "Sweet Pea" designer paper to adorn the band.  The gable boxes contain the embellishment products.  I bought the boxes a couple of years ago, but they are also decorated with "Sweet Pea" designer paper and a stamped image from the "Very Thankful" stamp set, which is one of the stamp sets that can be selected as a FREE Sale-a-Bration product.