The Cards that Didn't Make it.....

Good morning friends!

Today I thought I would share with you some cards that I selected for my classes, but for one reason or another, they didn't make the cut.  (Maybe they will show up in future classes, you never know), and why.

When I'm designing a class I have to keep in mind the time factor, which means the cards either have to be fairly simple, or I have to do a lot of pre cutting.

I also have to take in consideration the "get Up" factor.  I have a small house and I don't want everyone having to get up 2 or 3 times per card to go use the Big Shot or Emboss or use the scoring buddy.  That would cause a big traffic jam.  So I usually try to make it worth their while at the Big Shot... they have to do several things, like emboss, then cut out with a framelitt, etc....

One last consideration is, is it a pretty card?  Some cards I see on Pinterest or on other blogs, look wonderful, and then I make it and find out it's not quite that pretty in person, or it's way more involved and wouldn't work in a class situation.   Or I don't have the card stock or embellishments
in stock.  That happens a lot where I don't have the right color of card stock and I have to change 'er up.

So here are the runner ups... I will share more with you tomorrow.

This one I had to use the scoring buddy and the in color ribbon is a tad expensive - only 5 yards on the roll!

There is no excuse for this card.... It's very pretty using the Sheltering Tree stamp set - I just never got around to adding it to a class.  I used Strawberry Slush as the card base, and it's springy looking.  This definitely will resurface next spring in one of my classes.  With a substitute for the Strawberry Slush - Rose Red perhaps?

Tomorrow I'll share with you some Christmas cards that I made last year and didn't make the cut either.

Class Pre-Instruction!

Here is a short video created by Stampin'Up! showing how the Christmas Shaker card kit goes together.  This is one of the cards that will be featured in my October class.  So get a leg up on how to put this really cute card together!

Until next time,

Sheryl

Making a Difference

Stampin'Up! has always been committed to making a difference.   One charity that is widely supported is the Ronald McDonald House Charity.  Stampin' Up!  dedicates one stamp set per year, that when sold they donate dollars to RMHC.  The stamp set this year is called "Sprinkles of Life", found on page 189 of the 2015-2016 Annual Catalog.  $3 is donated to RMHC for every set sold!  Stampin'Up! also supports this charity with demonstrators volunteering at the houses, and by collecting cards made by their demonstrators to send for the patients and their parents to use.  

In October, Stampin'Up! is supporting another charity;  Breast Cancer Research with their Paper Pumpkin kits.  Please read below....

Click on this image to sign up for Paper Pumpkin!

To show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Stampin’ Up! is going PINK . . . or at least the October Paper Pumpkin boxes are! And, Stampin’ Up! is excited to announce that they will make a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The best part—the amazing subscribers will determine the amount of the donation!

Stampin’ Up! will donate

• $1 for every active Paper Pumpkin subscriber.
• Plus, an additional $1 for every new subscriber who signs up by October 10.

Together, we will make a difference!

More About BCRF

BCRF is a world-class organization, dedicated to ending breast cancer and we are excited to be teaming up with them to make this happen. Their mission is to advance the world's most promising research to eradicate breast cancer. To learn about more ways to help, please visit www.bcrfcure.org.

Who doesn't know someone who has either had this disease or been affected by it?  Please consider subscribing to Paper Pumpkin by October 10th!  To subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, click on this link here:  My Paper Pumpkin

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Back Again

Sorry I've been off the radar.  I had stamping classes last week and big back problems.  When you are in a lot of pain, blogging isn't as exciting!  Plus, the church that I attend is moving to a new building!  And we are forming a new mission parish with another church.  Exciting times are ahead!  But lots of work to get this done.  I'm the church treasurer and it's my job to inform the utilities, post office, etc.  of our new address.  I also have to close out old bank accounts and open new ones.  Lots of details when moving. 

Chloe celebrated her birthday Friday at the Doggie Daycare.  They didn't take a still of her, but she was pretty decked out in a pretty pink baseball cap and snazzy looking scarf.  She had a bone shaped cake with cheese frosting on it.  She got to lick it before the other dogs.  They cut it up and everyone got to take a piece home!  For her birthday present we got her a dog toy with 3 rings hooked together.  She plays with that at daycare and it seems to be her favorite toy.  True to being a puppy and being Chole, she chewed up one of the rings to smitherens! 

Here's the cute Chole - a little damp - she loves to play in the water!


And here she is with her friends - don't they all look happy?

I'll be back tomorrow with actual stamping stuff!  At least I hope.  I have to camp out at the doctor's office tomorrow so he can take a look at my back and do something! 

Don't forget to check out the weekly specials in the right hand column.  Until later my friends,


Sheryl

A Stepped Up Card

Good Morning!  I'm digging this cooler weather.  Chloe, my puppy, is full of beans on these crisp mornings.  I just finished cleaning up chewed up bark under my dining room table.  We have an old tree stump out back and Chloe likes to peel off the bark and chew it up.  It was cold out this morning, so she sneaked it in.  Go figure.  The puppy mind is truly a mystery.

Today I'm going to show you a stepped up card.  What do I mean by stepped up?  Well, you take a card that's a bit plain and with a little help from Stampin' Up, you make it into a WOW card.  The original card was a butterfly stamped on a notecard from Stampin' Up and then the black detailed butterfly attached on top.  Very pretty in it's simplicity.

Well, I couldn't leave enough alone.  I made a full size card (4-1/4 x 5 -1/2 ) in Basic black.  I put a whisper white layer over it (4 x 5-1/4), and used the Fluttering embossing impressions folder to give me a back ground of many butterflies.  I then stamped the butterfly using the WaterColor Wings stamp set,

cut out the butterfly using the thinlitts, and attached to the card.

For antennas I used a black sharpie and colored a bit of linen thread.  I attached that to the back of the butterfly head with a dimensional.  I attached the detailed butterfly with glue dots, and then the entire butterfly with dimensional.  I scattered rhinestones on the background butterflies, and used a line of rhinestones on the back of the butterfly.  The sentiment is part of the Watercolor Wings stamp set and was just cut out and backed with basis black paper.  I thought it turned out pretty nifty.

I'm planning on filming two new videos this week.  We will have to see how that goes!  I have my classes this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, so I may be off the radar a couple of days.  It's Pumpkin Festival in Morton this week (yeah!) and Chloe's birthday on Saturday.  She's having a birthday party at Doggie Daycare.  Pictures WILL be posted.

Until later my friends, keep stamping and sharing!

Sheryl

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Stamping Class Room News

Good morning fellow stampers!  Today, as I promised I am revealing an addition to my Stamping Classroom card classes;

Finished Cards:  If you cannot attend my classes, but like the cards, I will make the projects for you.  The price is $12 you will receive 5 cards and envelopes, hand stamped by me!  Great to use or use as samples and inspiration.  Just let me know by email or phone, and I will get the cards to you after all classes have been completed for the week.

My big project today is to prep for the classes next week.  Cut the paper, get the card boxes together, make sure I've got everything.  Then I have to decide the order the cards will be made in and mark the boxes accordingly.  A lot of thought and preparation goes into my classes!  It's all worth it however, when all of you come to my house and we have 4 hours of creativity, laughter and fellowship.  You lift my spirits! And for that I am forever thankful.

Here is a video made by Stampin' Up! for using the Fine-Tip Pen that is found in the 2015 Holiday Catalog.  This is a WONDERFUL item to have.  I just got mine and have been using it on just about everything.  The best part is that the tip never clogs because of the needle in the lid.  Genius!

Have a wonderful weekend my friends - Create a card, Inspire someone to find delight in creativity and share what you love!


Sheryl

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Card #8 of the Shoe Box Swap

Good morning everyone!  You are getting a twofer this morning.  I just published my first talking video, which is not all that good, but I did put some new iMovie knowledge to good use.

Today's card is the #8 card that we made.  It's very simple to make, but stunning; 

This card was designed by Debbie Kramer.  The color palate she used was Lost Lagoon, Mint Macaron and Pear Pizzazz.  The stamp set is called Flurry of Wishes.  The card base was the thick Whisper White card stock, new in the Annual Catalog.  We stamped snowflakes randomly in 3 different colors on 1" strips of paper and then adhered them to Lost Lagoon strips.  The sentiment was stamped in Lost Lagoon and layered onto the Lost Lagoon circle.  To finish it, we used silver cording and a pretty Iced Rhinestone.  Simple, but elegant!

Hope you enjoyed seeing my 8 swap cards.  Until next time....

Sheryl

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Testing...1,2,3

I did a video this morning - very primitive... I created my own title page, I edited the movie and rendered it to YouTube.  Messing around with all this instead of cleaning the house, which I intended to do this morning.  Oh well.  I love technology and learning new things.  So here is the video.  It's pretty not so good....  I goofed up some of the product, but it is listed below.

So there you have it.  My first "talkie".  I do plan on doing another video showing how to get the saw tooth effect on a circle - and how to make the acorn card.  Be kind until later.

Sheryl

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Some more Shoebox cards....

Today I'm showing you 3 more cards that we made with the shoebox swap.

All cards were made with products from the 2015 Holiday Stampin' Up! Catalog.

Aren't they cute?  I especially love the little snowman.  Here are the cards close up:

This card used the new embossing folder called Woodland Textured (pg. 30 HC).  She also used the stamps "Acorny Thank you" with the acorn builder punch, and the "grateful" came from the Seasonal Frame Thinlits Dies (pg. 40 HC).  To add texture some burlap ribbon (AC) was used.  The saw tooth circle was actually a circle punched out with the scallop circle.  You adhere it to a large post it note, put it back in the scallop punch and turn it just slightly to get the sawtooth effect.  Punch and there you have it!  I'm thinking of making a video to show you how this is done.  Still just thinking about it.

Here is that cute snowman.  His hat, arms, and sentiment are from a stamp set called "Snow Place".  It has coordinating framelits which can be purchased in a bundle to save 15%.  The ribbon used on his scarf is on page 32 and you get both Garden Green and Real Red striped Ribbon - 5 yards of each.

This beguiling witch is stamped with the "Haunt ya Later" stamp set found on page 48 HC.  I colored her and cut her out.  The paper is "Happy Haunting Designer Series Paper"  - pg 47. That really cute spider web is also found on this page and is called "Spider web Doiles"  you get 24 in a pack and if you flip them over, they are white and can be used as snowflakes!  Really cool!


Hope you enjoyed seeing the cards today.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email.

Have a great day!

Sheryl

Cards from the Shoebox Swap

Good Morning!  It's another warm day in Central Illinois.  Big things happening next week.  First, Pumpkin Festival begins! The whole Morton year revolves around Pumpkin Fest.  We seasoned veterans know how to keep our heads low and off the radar.  We go and enjoy the Festival on Wednesday and Thursday night, then we crawl into our bunkers for the rest of it.  Unless you or someone you know is in the parade.  Then you gotta go see it.

Secondly, next week is my puppy Chloe's first birthday - on September 19th she will be one year old.  More about that later!

And last, but not least, my Stamping Classroom card classes are in session - on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.  The cards are all fall leaf themed.  Beautiful but easy to make.  Contact me if you would like to attend, but haven't registered yet.  There is still time!  $10 for 5 cards and envelopes.  Also, keep tuned in.  I'm going to make an exciting announcement on Friday regarding my card classes.


Todays cards are 3 samples of the cards we made on Sunday.  All of them used product from the 2015  Holiday Catalog.

This card was designed by Christ Thomas.  She used the Wonderland Stamp set (pg 23) and the Winter Wonderland Specialty Designer series paper.  The color palate was mossy meadow and very vanilla.  She also used the Lots of Labels Framelitts, found in the Annual Catalog.

The card designer was Lori Helvick.  She used Season of Cheer Designer series paper, and Flurry of Wishes stamp set, with the Snow Flurry Punch.  Her color palate was soft sky, night of navy and whisper white.  Silver ribbon and rhinestones added the special touches.

Mary Booker designed this card.  She used the Softly Falling textured impressions folder, Winter Wonderland Designer Series paper, Wonderland stamp set, and gold glimmer paper with the star framelitts.  The wow technique on this card, and you can't really see it in the photo, was that we stamped the trees on the glossy designer series paper using the new archival black ink, then heat embossed using Iridescent Ice.  Really beautiful and easy to do.

That's it for today!  Check out the weekly specials on the side column.  Some things you might need for your Christmas cards!

Keep on stamping!

Sheryl

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

The Reveal - My Shoebox Card

Good Morning!  I hope you are enjoying your Labor Day weekend.  Yesterday, I went to Sterling Illinois (yes, it's a long drive, but worth it!) with 3 of my fellow demonstrators from the Peoria area for the First Annual Demonstrators Holiday Catalog Shoebox Swap.  That's a lot of words!  Mary Booker was our host.

In case you don't know, a shoebox swap is where you design a card, and cut all the card stock, provide the stamps, ink and anything else you used to create the card.  Put all this in a "shoebox".  Then other people take your box, look at your card and make their own card following your design.  It's a great way of seeing other people's creativity and trying out new product.

Anywho, we arrived at Mary's house around 2 and met the 4 other demonstrators and we got right down to business.  Tomorrow I will share with you some of the cards that we made.  But for today, here it my card that I created for the swap.

Outside of card - I used the new Corrugated Paper and the BoHo impressions folder

This is the inside of the card.  Had a few strips of the corrugated paper and put them to good use!

It only took me 5 hours to create this card, along with the other one I showed you the other day.  I thought it turned out pretty good.  I was trying really hard to come up with something on my own.  I finally caved and went looking for inspiration.  I did get ideas from Linda Heller of Stamping School, and then a card I found on Pinterest, created by Leena Girsa.   However, the inside of the card is all mine!

The elements I used in my card were:
Paper:  Blackberry Bliss, whisper white, corrugated paper, In to the Woods Designer Series Paper
Ink:  Mossy Meadow, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey and Blackberry Bliss
Stamps:  Acorny Thank you
Accessories:  Acorn Builder Punch, 2 1/2" circle punch, Circle Framelits, Boho Chic Impressions Folder

All items either in the Annual Catalog or the Holiday Catalog.  If you would like the order any of these items, click on the links below....

Have a great day and go stamp something!

Sheryl

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up!

One of the best things about Stampin' UP! is their beautiful Designer Series Papers.  They are of fine quality, and they coordinate with all their colors.  It makes card making so much easier when all you have to do is pick the designer paper, then use the colors in it.  But do you know how they come up with the ideas for the paper?  Below is a video from Stampin' Up which tells you the thought and process of coming up with their delightful paper!

I hope you enjoy the video!  If you would like to order any of these three Designer Series Paper packs and their coordinating paper packs, click on the links below.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Have a great Saturday and safe holiday weekend!  Sheryl

A Little Bit of Fall

Even though the temperature is hovering around 95 degrees, I can tell it's starting to be Fall by the change in the color of the sunlight - it's softer and more golden.  Today's card was inspired by this and also it was my warm up card for the shoebox swap that I'm participating in this Sunday.  The challenge was to create a simple card, that could be made in 15 minuets or less, and use at least 3 elements from the new Stampin' Up! Holiday catalog.

Oh the agony of creating something from scratch!  I usually either CASE (copy and share everything) a card design from my favorite demonstrators, or I go to Pinterest.  Well, this time I thought I'd just do without all that.  Took me 5 hours to design this card, and many, many revisions.  In fact the final version looks absolutely nothing like the first version!  And it's nothing too exciting.  So enough discussion;  here it is;

This is a 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 finished card.  I used Soft Suede cardstock as my base.  The Designer Series paper is Into the Woods.  The cute acorn stamps and punch are a bundle found on page 45 of the new Holiday catalog.  The products are listed below.

Have a great day an make sure to stamp something!

Sheryl

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

A Spinning Star

Good Morning again!  Third day in a row I'm blogging.

Last night I was the entertainment for the Peoria Chapter of the PEO.  There were around 15 ladies at the meeting and we made this cute and fun card:

It is a Christmas card, but in the card making world, it's NEVER too early for Christmas cards.  The ladies had a lot of fun making this and everyone had a great time.  I want to thank the ladies of the PEO especially Roberta for making me their guest.

Now, for another first;  I've got a video showing you how the spinner card works!!

Thanks for dropping by today!  Now go stamp something!


Sheryl

A Guy Type Thank You Card

Good Morning!

Look at me.  Blogging for a second day in a row.  Will wonders ever cease?

Today I wanted to share with you a card that I made for my 12 year old grandson.  It's made with retired product, but I thought it turned out so well!  I used the crumb cake note cards and envelopes as my card base.  The note cards, both whisper white and crumb cake are the best deal in the annual catalog;  20 cards and envelopes for $6!  The card stock is heavy too.  They are perfect for the quick little card that you need to make.  They also go through regular mail without extra postage!  Last February I did a class where all we did was stamp and decorate notecards, and then we made a box to put them in.  Everyone loved it!

About my card:  I used the 2013-2015 InColors, other than the Blackberry Bliss (I couldn't find it at the time - Yikes!).  And I used Tuxedo Black for the skater.  Mossy Meadow was the frame and very vanilla for the front and inside of the card.  Here it is:

I'm off tonight doing a card make & take for the Peoria Chapter of the PEO.  Sunday I have my shoe box swap.  Lots of stamping going on in my world.

Until tomorrow,

Sheryl

2015 Stampin' Up Holiday Catlalog is NOW! Plus Peoria Stamp Fair News

Good morning fellow stampers.   Lots of great news this morning!

First of all, the 2015 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog is available for you to order from.  Click on the link in the side bar to view it on line.  If you are a customer of mine and have not yet received a catalog from me, please email me and I'll be sure you get one.

Secondly - You can now register for the 2nd Annual Peoria Area Stamp Fair!!  What is this you say?  A group of local Stampin' Up Demonstrators have gotten together to offer you, our customers a fun filled Saturday full of surprises, and of course stamping.
        When::  Saturday, November 7th, 2015
        Where:  - Northwest United Methodist Church
        Time;  there are two identical sessions - Session I is from 9 - 11:30
                                                                         Session II is from 12:30 - 3
There will be displays, hands on demonstrations, a retired stamp store, make and takes and lots more!

Click on this link to access my registration form:  2015 Peoria Area Stamp Fair

There is limited space so get your reservation in as soon as possible.  In order to guarentee your spot, I must receive both your resevation form and payment.  Last day to register for $20 is by midnight, October 16th. 

Lastly - my September 2015 Class is set.  Check out the beautiful cards we will be making!

Classes are Tuesday, Setpember 15th, - 10 am - 2 pm
                    Friday, September 18th - 10 am - 2 pm
                    Sunday, September 20th - 1 - 5 pm.

Call or email me - Sheryl Diemer to register. 

Well, that's about it for now.  Happy Stamping Everyone!

Sheryl

I'm Baaack! And New Stampin' Up Holiday Catalog is Live!

I'm finally back and I hope to be blogging on a regular basis from now on.   It's not that I haven't been stamping... I have, with a vengence!  I've been holding my regular monthly classes, I have recently done a workshop, I'm the program for the Peoria Chapter of the PEO this coming Wednesday and  I've got a shoe box swap with other demonstrators this Sunday.  I'm really looking forward the to swap on Sunday...all of us will be bringing a designed card from the new Stampin' Up!Holiday catalog (to go live on 9/1/15).  Out of that I will have some lovely samples to share with you, which I hope inspire you to make Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas cards!

Today I want to share with you a card that we made at a recent workshop.  Really easy, but I feel elegant and can be for guys. 

 

 

I used the new stamp set in the 2015-2016 Catalog, "I Think You're Great!"( pg. 130 AC, 138712).  It's a stamp set designed for the "kissing" technique.  This is where you take a solid stamp and "kiss" it against a stamp with a detailed design.  I also used several new products;  the new triple banner punch (pg. 165 AC, 138292) to create my 3 banners.  The striped paper is the new envelope paper (pg. 149 AC, 138312) in the 2015-2017 In Color. 

 

Want more?  I'll be doing another post later today regarding the New Holiday Catalog, my upcoming classes and some exciting news for November 7th!  See you in a bit!

 

 

Blessings,

 

Sheryl