Tracey Stamps

Belated Halloween

Yes, yes.  The holiday has passed, but in case you want another idea for next year...

 

Or another...

 

TTFN!

Stamper's Showcase

On the demonstrator site of the Stampin' Up! website there are many wonderful tools... our ordering system, product & technique training, promotion details... so much more than I could list here.  One of my favorite bits is the Stamper's Showcase.  Each day SU! shares six creations that they have received.  They are often swaps from events or contest entries.  I've been in this showcase a few times... it seriously can make you giddy to see your art featured!  Here is a sample from Thursday's showcase.

I love this card!  It's so simple and uses a stamp set that I don't have, but have always though was elegant and "cozy".  This card is by Barbara Mann and uses the Home for Christmas stamp set.

Don't forget to share your creations... you never know who you will inspire!

ATC Gone Card

If you're one of those who have been around me much or have been following my blog for a while, you probably know that I am pretty into Artist Trading Cards (ATCs).  I love how they are a little sample of what is possible with stamping and papercrafting.  Also, when swapped you get a lot of bang for your buck.  You can make 10 ATC "bases" from one 8.5x11 sheet of cardstock.  That's 10 different looks, techniques, stamp sets... like I said, bang for your buck.  You will be surprised to hear that this is the first ATC I have converted to a card.  I know!  What took me so long?  I think I will be digging through my old swaps and making up a few more cards!

 

The ATC on this card (the 2.5x3.5 rectangle on the yellow base) was my swap from Convention.  I made a few extra because, let's face it, once you trim out those silly little butterflies you have to use them.  The trouble is I only need one for my sample book... so the near for cards arose.  I looked in the huge paper pile on my desk and found a half sheet of Old Olive and a scrap of Not Quite Navy.  A little stamping and some marker spritzing later, voila!

Stamp Sets: Best Wishes and More  Ink: So Saffron, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive marker  Paper: Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, So Saffron, Whisper White  Accessories: Elementary Ribbon Essentials

My First MDS Page

So, the moment my copy of My Digital Studio arrived I loaded it on to my computer and got to work.  The program is so easy I'm going to share the first page I made with it!

Here it is... my first MDS page.  I wanted to use a few of the different elements just to see how they worked, so I included ribbon, brads, a "stamp", a "die cut", patterned paper, and a photo of course!  It came together very fast.  The hardest part was lining up the brads... then I found the grid tool!  Woohoo!

My Digital Studio

In October Stampin' Up! released it's newest offering, My Digital Studio (MDS).  It's a digital craft space... scrapbooking and card making all on your computer!

I was anxious to get my hands on the program.  I was especially excited because SU! offered demos that attended Convention a special discount for achieving some goals they set out for us.  That was great, but even if they hadn't offered an extra discount it would still be on my computer!  I love that it comes with the digital versions of so many of the stamp sets I love, as well as the Stampin' Up! colors, including In Colors for this year AND last year.  I've already created a few of my own scrapbook pages as well as using one of the pre-designed templates to make a baby book for my youngest (who is *ahem* three).  I'll share some of my creations tomorrow!

One More

I know you have been longing to see another card featuring Serene Snowflakes and Shimmer Paint!  This card uses the same ink with paint technique I used in the last card.

The Champagne Mist shimmer paint is very sheer gold glitter and works wonderfully with brown tones.  I love how it adds to a very simple card.

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Season of Joy  Ink: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue  Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Bashful Blue  Accessories:  Champagne Mist shimmer paint, Whisper White embossing powder

Holiday Extravaganza 2009

Stampin' Up! is looking out for you this holiday season.  They've created a wonderful Gift Giving Guide to help you with your gift giving and making.

Click the image or go here to view the Gift Giving Guide (PDF).  As a bonus, from November 1st to January 4th, you will receive a free Decor Elements piece (up to a $16.95 value) when you spend $50 on products from the guide.

This is just the beginning!  Keep your eyes peeled for more specials this holiday season.

A Little Sparkle

Yesterday I gave you a little sample of the shimmer paint found in this year's holiday mini.  I have two of the three flavors and just love them!  I'm still finding all different ways of using them.  For this card I used the technique they showed us at Convention.  I inked the stamp with the color I wanted, then used a sponge dauber to lightly tap the paint on the stamp as well.  A little bit of the paint goes a long way.  (This technique will work with the Champagne Mist and Frost colors, but not with Platinum as it is opaque.)  It stamped as usual and the result is a shimmery color image.  It does slightly dilute the original color, but not so much that it doesn't match.

Here's a closer look at the shimmer.  This is the Frost White shimmer paint.  I used it on the snowflake images and I lightly rubbed it on the polka-dot embossed paper.  It is a sheer silvery white color.  As my 3-year-old would say, "Oooo... sparkly..."  ~:-D

Stamps:  Serene Snowflakes, Warm Words  Ink:  Elegant Eggplant  Paper:  Lavender Lace, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White  Accessories:  Frost White Shimmer Paint

A Little Song

♫ It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

In my stamping space

Ribbon casts its magical spell

And shimmering paint as well

Oh the lovely greeting cards we'll make! ♫

I just have to sing as I make Christmas cards... it's a sickness... or just years of programming.  You can't be in chorus all through high school and not start singing carols waaay too early each year.  The good thing about all that musical brainwashing is that it reminds me to get my cards started fairly early.

I finally ordered the Medallion stamp... I can't believe I have waited so long for this one.  It is great as the focus of your design or as an elegant background element.  For this card I stamped it in Soft Suede on Very Vanilla and again on Soft Suede.  For this layered look you don't have to worry about it lining up perfectly.  I did stamp Medallion on the opposite side of this Very Vanilla piece, just so I could chose which looked better.

A small detail that I love about this card is that I used Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint to edge each layer of cardstock.  There is just the tiniest bit of shimmer on this card. (You can always click on the photos for a closer look)  And the wide grosgrain ribbon... mmm.  Like a friend of mine once said, where else but a Stampin' Up! party can you get together with a bunch of other ladies and drool over a piece of ribbon?

Stamps:  Medallion, All Holidays  Ink: Real Red, Soft Suede  Paper:  Very Vanilla, Real Red, Soft Suede  Accessories:  Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Champagne Mist shimmer paint

You Can Do Anything

So this is a bit of non-stamping related business... but I had to share.  It's a partial brag, but mostly an encouragement to all of you out there.

This past Sunday I walked a half marathon.  That's 13.1 miles.  In 3 hours 59 minutes and 40 seconds.  My main goal was to finish.  I did!  My secondary goal was to finish in 4 hours.  I DID!!!!  Now don't go assuming that I am a slender, athletic type... quite the opposite.  Right now I am significantly overweight and now classify as "old" (hehe... totally tongue in cheek... I turned 30 the day of the half).  I simply signed up.  I didn't train as I planned, but I didn't back out.  I had strong support.  My hubby stayed with me and pushed me along (and suffered being the slowest in his age group... now that's love).

I just want to encourage you to do something hard.  This was the hardest, most challenging physical and mental thing I have ever done.  It was like having my children, but I could have chosen to stop.  I also didn't get to come home with a baby... just a swollen foot, sore muscles and a huge blister.  But, it was so very rewarding.

So today, chose to get out of your comfort zone.  Be adventurous.  You may find that you can do anything!