Wednesday, September 23, 2009

I played around with the "Falling Leaves" set (p. 27) this evening and I really love it. I even had Sami helping out and stamped some of the leaves (no worries, no ink on the block Charlie LOL). I think it is such a great set. There is so much that can be done with it. Here is what we came up with:


Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Sunday, September 20, 2009

It’s getting very close to the time when cardmakers around the world are starting to think about making Christmas cards. Some of us have already started making them, while others are busy gathering their supplies. One thing I’ve noticed is that while cardmakers love to send out handmade Christmas cards, they also want to make them ‘time efficient’ in order to be able to make lots of cards and spread the love around. Here are 10 Tips to make your Christmas cards faster:

1. Use a scrapbooking kit
Scrapbooking Kits are great for cardmaking because everything comes coordinated in one neat package. Choose a Christmas themed scrapbooking kit such as Stampin’ Up!’s “I Wish” kit and whip up 30 cards from the one kit in no time. (see photo at the end of this post)

2. Start with a card sketch
Like to make your cards individually rather than production line? You can start with a card sketch or two and base all your Christmas cards around that sketch while changing the colours of your cardstock and using a variety of rubber stamps. Having a couple of sketches to base all your Christmas cards on will speed up the process while still enjoying the creative process. Not great at making your own sketches? just find a card you like the look of from a magazine or a blog (like mine!) and copy the layout of the card to make your own.

3. Add Glitter
Even a simple Christmas card will attract attention with a bit of sparkle & shine. Use a glue pen to add glue to appropriate spots on your Christmas card then sprinkle on some sparkly glitter for extra pizazz in a hurry with no drying time.

4. Use punches
You can make a quick Christmas Tree for your card using punches. Try punching out some small star shapes out of some scrap patterned paper or metallic cardstock then arrange them into a triangle shape onto your card to form a Christmas tree. A bow made from some scrap ribbon can be placed at the bottom of the tree in place of a pot.


5. Use a Wheel Stamp
Wheel stamps are awesome for creating quick cards. A wheel stamp such as “Soft Holly” by Stampin’ Up! (page 33 of the catalogue) will give you a lovely quick background or secondary image for your Christmas cards. If you don’t mind doing production line, you can speed up the stamping by laying out all the cardstock pieces or card bases on your table and wheeling each one in turn. Use an ink cartridge in your wheel handle to stamp all your cards without reinking!

6. Use stamps with solid images.
Unless you enjoy the relaxation of colouring in images, save those stamps that require lots of colouring for making Christmas cards for those select special people in your life. To make quick cards for everyone else that you’d like to share some Christmas spirit with, use stamps with solid images that do not require colouring.

7 . Use patterned paper
While making interesting backgrounds with a variety of techniques is huge fun, it does take some time. To speed up your Christmas card making, use patterned paper to add backgrounds or strips of scrap patterned paper for a fun background.

8. Go monochromatic
Gather your supplies in one colour that you’d like to use and add a neutral colour to make your Christmas cards elegant yet fast. Choose cardstock, ribbon and an inkpad in one colour, add white/vanilla/kraft plus some metal brads. Going monochromatic means you won’t have to keep cleaning your stamp to change ink colours and you will have all your supplies ready to go without having to think about colour schemes.

9. Wide Ribbons
Choose a wide ribbon and tie it around your card into a big bow. Wide ribbons add a bit of lavishness to your card and make a great focal point. And because they take up a lot of space, you only need to add a Christmas sentiment to complete your card.

10. Enlist some help

Have your children help you punch out some simple shapes that they can add to your card using Dimensionals (foam dots). Crafting with children is an excellent activity to share some special time together. If you don’t have children or they are much too young to help, then get together with a friend for a relaxing and social day of stamping. Making Christmas cards with a friend or a group of friends is a great way to socialise while sharing ideas and tools and gets those Christmas cards made in no time.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

My Upline gave us a challenge. We were to CASE a card from the current catalog. I chose to CASE the card shown for "Look Who's Turning" on p. 72.
I posted some pictures last week of some badges that I had come up with. Last night, I stitched up a few more examples. Here they are:

Sami lost her first tooth on Wednesday. I swear that it was loose for over a month so she was pretty excited when it finally fell out. She was determined to stay up and meet the tooth fairy, catch her and then fly around with her. LOL She ended up staying up until almost 1 o'clock in the morning! She woke up the next morning at 7:50am and checked her tooth fairy pillow to see what the tooth fairy left her. She was very happy to find a toonie, which she carried in her pocket all day. =) Here is a picture of my toothless girl:

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Check out the new items in the Holiday Mini Catalog! Just click on the image of the Catalog to the right and it will take you right to it. You can order from it until January 4, 2010. If you would like your own copy of the catlog, e-mail me at JodiStilwell@yahoo.com or leave me a comment and I'll send one to you. =)

Friday, September 4, 2009

A few months ago, I discovered an amazing scrapbook store in Fredericton called A Pile of Scrap. As part of their new endevor, they are going to be opening up an on-line shop. For their grand opening, they are offering 10% off your total bill!!! If you would like a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the store, visit this link. If this on-line shop is anything like the actual store, it is going to rock!!!