Create With Paper, Sylvie Drader Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in Canada

Décor Elements: Create

Well, I tried to take pictures of the sunset the other day.... but you can't plan what the weather will be like... the sky was too clear, not enough clouds to make it worthwhile. So I won't show you the pictures because they are worse than "not so good."

On the other hand, I added the "Create" definition to my wall around the snack area in my basement where I hold classes. This is one of the new Décor Elements from Stampin' Up! Vinyl for your walls. Easy to apply, easy to remove when you want to change them. After deciding where to place the design, I had to rub the surface  and remove the grid/backing sheet. That was a bit tricky because there are so many individual pieces in this design and they wanted to stay attached to the  grid sheet... but I won. The next step of applying the image to the wall was VERY easy.

Taking Photos of Sunsets

I am always looking for ways to improve my photos. Sometimes you can use software after the fact to correct a few things... but sometimes the photo is just plain not good. Now you can still scrapbook "not so good" photos when they represent an important moment because the recording of the event is more important than the quality of the photo. However, it is very satisfying to have photos that turn out well.

Sunsets can have the prettiest colours in real life - but how do you capture that in a camera? I have tried sunset photos... well, they are in the "not so good" pile... Today I came across this article from Olympus, the makers of my camera. They have some very good and simple tips. I might just go out around 9:30 tonight and try some of those tips. Come back in a couple days and hopefully I will have a decent photo to post.
Read the article here.

Selected Accessories on Sale

25% OFF selected retiring accessories - WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

Item #	Pg. #	Description	Reg. Price	25% Off Price*
109117	167	Pocket Notes assortment	$12.04	$9.03
110479	168	Jersey Shore Designer Series paper	$12.04	$9.03
110699	168	East Coast Prep Designer Series paper	$12.04	$9.03
109159	169	Flowers For You  Designer Series paper	$12.04	$9.03
110273	169	Spring Fling Designer Series paper	$12.04	$9.03
110748	170	Notebook Designer Series paper	$12.04	$9.03
109153	170	Porcelain Prints Designer Series paper	$12.04	$9.03
110751	171	Azure Designer Series paper	$12.04	$9.03
109164	171	River Rock Prints Designer Series paper	$12.04	$9.03
109175	171	Almost Amethyst Prints Designer Series paper	$12.04	$9.03
109168	171	Groovy Guava Prints Designer Series paper	$12.04	$9.03
109169	171	Close to Cocoa Prints Designer Series paper	$12.04	$9.03
110284	182	Eastern Elegance Rub-Ons	$12.97	$9.73
110285	182	Urban West Rub-Ons	$12.97	$9.73
110281	182	Cherished Memories Rub-Ons	$12.97	$9.73
109185	190	Jersey Ribbon Originals	$15.76	$11.82
109187	190	District Ribbon Originals	$15.76	$11.82
109189	190	Beachfront Ribbon Originals	$15.76	$11.82
110716	191	Wild Wasabi striped grosgrain ribbon	$9.77	$7.32
109062	191	River Rock double-stitched grosgrain ribbon	$11.11	$8.34

*Discounted price reflects the seven percent price adjustment effective during the Spring-Summer 2008 catalogue sales period

 

First Time Offered! Empty Punch Box Tin $4.75; Item 114673 Use this punch box as storage for: Cards or Recipes Ribbons Ink Refills Glitter or Embossing Powders Beads, Buttons, Eyelets Markers, Blender Pens Hair Clips, Pony Tails Holders Nails and Screws

Don't wait too long--quantities are limited. TODAY to place your order!   

View more promotions on the Current Promotions page

Guest Stamper

Cathy, a great customer and stamper, sent me this card and I thought I would share it with you (with her permission). I really like the unusual way this card opens and the colouring is wonderful, don't you think? Leave a comment for Cathy in the comment section, she will appreciate it I'm sure.
Stamp used: Summer by the Sea (Stampin' Up!)

Special People Make our Life Beautiful

I am going to give this card to someone very special. Her birthday is next week and she deserves a special card. She is a beautiful person, keeps me accountable, prays for me and my family, and just plain makes my life a beautiful thing. I thought I would use Kristina's colour challenge as a springboard for inspiration. That means I had to use soft sky, certainly celery, pumpkin pie and very vanilla colours.
As a bonus, one of my granddaughters is visiting from far away and was being cute and playing happily while I was making this card. Maybe she helped the inspiration?

Greetings Galore Stamp Set and Crumpled Cardstock

I have used the "Greetings Galore" stamp set a lot! It covers just about any occasion you could think of. However, it is one of the retiring sets.

With this card, I used the markers to colour directly on the stamp. I like the fresh, clean look that it gives. I have demonstrated this card - or a variation - at many workshops. I loved showing people a simple way to add texture: crumple the cardstock. So many people hesitated doing that. Kids have no problem crumpling paper - even paper we'd rather they not crumple... but somehow we loose that freedom as adults. How about you, do you hesitate before crumpling cardstock, a nice smooth piece of cardstock? or can you do it with abandon? Leave a comment to let us know.

Colour Challenge

So we are still in summer, and these colours remind us of fall. However, I thought I would participate in Kristina Werner's colour inspiration challenge. We have to use chocolate chip, close to cocoa, certainly celery and whisper white. Using the tree from "Lovely as a Tree" stamp set came to mind. I decided to use the thumping method to colour the image. Thumping, you say??!!! What is that? That's when you have a marker in each hand and use them as you would drumsticks to put colour on your stamp. Don't forget to huff on the image to re-moisten the colours before you stamp it on  your cardstock. Try it, it's fun!

I typically don't use a lot of embellishments on my card, but I thought the three certainly celery brads would add to the card.

Need to get things done, but kids demanding attention?

During the summer, it is harder to get things done as the kids are home 24/7. If you are a Mom working from home, running your business becomes a real challenge. However, help is just around the corner with great ideas to keep the children occupied with worthwhile activities. Read more about Liz Sanpietro's new e-book "Mom Needs to Work." Don't forget to tell her I sent you!

And the winner is....

Marlene! Her name was drawn from all the cards I received in the month of June. Marlene wins a selection of cardstock and matching designer paper.
Thank you to everyone who participated.

This is the card she sent. Isn't it lovely?

Note: this contest was only open to newsletter subscribers. If you would like to receive my monthly newsletter with tips and exclusive offers, you can sign up at the top left corner of the page.

Ideas From the Catalogue

The Stampin' Up! catalogue is full of ideas - several hundreds of them in fact. There was a card back in the Fall-Winter 07 Collection that I really liked. I bought all I needed to make the card but only recently actually stamped it, with some modifications from the original of course. I used the Priceless and Hugs and Wishes stamp sets, more mustard, garden green, not quite navy, and very vanilla cardstock. I used Versamark to stamp the swirls. I used markers to ink each letter in "congratulations." The little flowers are punched with the boho blossom punch.

You can use the samples in the catalogue as a springboard for your own creativity. I have a few Spring-Summer 08 Catalogues left. if you would like to purchase one for $10. Also, let me know if you would like me to reserve you a Fall-Winter 08 Idea Book and Catalogue. It's coming on August 11 and I can pre-order one for you.