Christmas in July

I love making these acorn ornaments! They are really simple to put together, just quite time consuming.

I made 12 of these for my Convention 2012 friend gift swap. I recieved some really lovely gifts in return and I will post pics of those soon.

Happy Stampin',

Gigi

Ingredients: Be of Good Cheer DSP, Gumball Green Stitched Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler Scallop dots ribbon, Very Vanilla seam binding, foam shape and straight pins

Katie's Birthday Card

My sweet Katie celebrated her 9th birthday last month! This is the card I made for her.

How it came about:

I wanted a square card;
I wanted to watercolor;
I wanted to use brown which is currently Katie's favorite color.

I was concerned she may think it was too "babyish" but she loved it!

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Watercolor paper

Ink: Staz On Black, Pink Pirouette and Real Red

Other: Chocolate Chip Wide Satin Ribbon (retired), Blender pens, Blushing Bride Big Button, Dazzling Diamonds, Scallop Edge Punch, Playdate DSP and nestabilities.

Happy Stamping!

Gisele

3x3 Set

I love 3x3 cards! I saw this cute little box someplace online but can't recall where. And I think I just scribbled the measurements on a scrap and who knows where that has ended up. So I cannot tell you how I made it, but isn't it cute?

Happy Stamping!

Gigi


Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Real Red, Whisper White

Stamp Set(s): Fabulous Phrases

Classic Ink: Chocolate Chip

Other: Playdate DSP, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-5/8" Circle Punch

Merry Christmas Great Granny

This is our Christmas card for Glenn's Granny. I got this pocket quad fold (that is what I am calling it) project idea from Stampin' Success magazine (a magazine for Stampin' Up demonstrators) It totally satisfied my need to include a gift card and some school photos of her great grandchildren. The photos are on tags that can be put up on her bulletin board so she can enjoy them year round. I made a little pocket insert for the gift card.

Deck the Halls DSP set the tone for the project's colors and theme. I love the Antique Brads and Victoria Trim ribbon!

I may have to make another because I am certain that once my Mother-in-Law sees it at her Mom's, she'll be wondering where hers is!

Happy Stamping!

Gigi

That Convention Flower

OK, I promised you instructions for that cool ribbon flower from Convention and I never posted them! So rather than keep you waiting until I actually take pics of the process, I have found someone else who has already done that! Click here for a great little tutorial for making these flowers.

Happy Stamping!

Gigi

That Convention Slider Card

Ohhh easy peasy! See here's another one!

Here's how: trim the flap off an envelope and decorate the front to the envelope. Cut (and decorate or not) a piece of cardstock to slide in and out of the opening of the envelope.

Thats it. Really! Try it for yourself.

Happy Stamping!

Gigi

Things I Learnt at Convention

My favorite part of Convention was the Main Stage Sessions. Most of these were sessions where various Stampin' Up! staff and even a few demonstrators shared project ideas and ways to use Stampin' Up!'s fabulous product. Various presenters included Shelli Gardner, founder of SU, Brent Steele (this guy is awesome! so funny and talented!), Sara Douglas, and Carrie Cudney to name but a few. This creative ensemble showed us some really, really neat things and I loved every minute of these sessions!

Today I am sharing a few photos that use ideas and techniques I learned from Main Stage sessions. You'll see the instructions in upcoming posts.

One is that fabulous flower! Simple stunning and the crowd definitely "ohhhed and ahhhhed" when that one was shared!

The second is a slider card. You may be thinking (a little sarcastically) "Whoopdedoo"...well just wait until I should you how simple that slider card is to make!

Happy Stamping!

Gigi

Convention Pics

Its been 4 weeks since Convention but I just finally had time to go through all of our photos (over 1200 of them between 4 of us). Wow! I saw some amazing projects and it seems I took a photo of every single one! I won't share those with you today, but I will share people pictures.

I went to Convention with my good friend Andra. We met up with her upline and sideline, Catherine and Lesley, who are both from Ontario. Catherine used to be my demonstrator way back in 2002 until she moved to Ontario.

A few things I know for sure....

• Convention was awesome and I can't wait until I can go again.
  
• Do not bring beef jerky snack packages on the airplane. Long story, just take my word for it.
  
• I love Stampin' Up!
  
• Awards night is inspiring, but much too long.
  
• Momento Mall does serious damage to one's credit limit on a Mastercard.
  
• Do not ask the cab driver if those are "mountains or hills"...he will become offended and reply with something like "Well I don't know where you come from lady, but those are mountains."
  
• PF Changs is really yummy.
  
• Stampin' Up!'s corporate office is a really cool place. The warehouse and shipping department was really, really neat to see.

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Love Birds Mini Album

I am back from Convention - what a great opportunity! It was so much fun and I actually learned a thing or two and I saw some amazing projects that I will soon be case'ing. I also came home with a few gifts from SU. Once I've had time to organize my thoughts I will post a detailed review of my time in Salt Lake City.


Today's project is a mini album created with Love Birds Simply Scrappin' Kit. I got the tutorial from Dawn Olchefske (I also had the pleasure of meeting Dawn at convention!).

My 'Aha' moment - the photo corners were actually punched from one of the bird stickers. I am not much of a bird girl, but these bird stickers are quite large and can be used for punching other pieces.

I still have a few family photos to add and a bit of journaling to write. If you have any questions please email me.

Happy Stamping!

Gigi

Convention Roomate Gifts

It is tradition to bring gifts for your roomates at convention. Karrie came up with one idea and I came up with the other and hopefully my roomates enjoy them!

First up is a purse calendar a la Karrie. Karrie designs a new one every year. I simplied the design a little bit since I was running out of time. I love these calendars and always have mine with me! Watch for a class in the Fall!

The second gift is a little package of convention survival goodies. The packaging is simply cardstock, Greenhouse Carden DSP and a 6x6 Page Protector. I saw this packaging project a few years ago and saved the idea knowing one day I would put it to good use! The survival kit includes earplugs, microwave popcorn (yes, I checked and we have a microwave in our room), little candy bars, Tic Tacs, ice tea mixes for water bottles and lip balm.

I also made bag tags for our convention bags. I forgot to take a photo and they are now packed up so I will post a pic once I return.

Happy Stamping.


Gigi

Convention Swap - Wedding Card

Hi,

My wedding swap card is a remake of these cards.

Stamp Sets: Elements of Style and Occasional Quotes (Hostess Level 3)

• Cardstock: Basic Black, Basic Grey, Whisper White
  
  Other: Scoring tool, Basic Black Satin Ribbon and SU Basic Rhinestones
  
  Happy Stamping!
  
  Gigi

Convention Swap - Christmas Card

Christmas in July! You may see this one at my Christmas Card Event later this Fall. I love, love, love these colors together - Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Very Vanilla.

• Stamp Set: Christmas Greetings
• Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler
• Classic Ink: Cherry Cobbler
• Other: Jolly Holiday DSP, Scallop Edge Punch, Corner Rounder Punch and Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon

Happy Stamping!

Gigi

Convention Swap - Hostess Set

Hi! I am part of a (tiny) organized swap at convention. The swap group is only 7 people - my roomates and a few others. We had to do a wedding card, a fancy fold card, a Christmas card and a card using a Hostess set.

Here is my Hostess set swap. It is difficult to see in the photo but the image is cut out and popped up on dimensionals. And you can barely see it, but there is Dazzling Diamonds on the heart.

• Birthday Bakery (Hostess Level 1)


• Cardstock: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz and Blushing Bride


• Classic Ink: Black Staz On, Early Espresso (used with a Blender pen to color since I haven't ordered this marker yet)


• Markers: Pear Pizzazz and Blusing Bride


• Other: Glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch and Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon

Happy Stamping!

Gigi

Reed's Baptism

It was Reed's baptism this weekend. Reed is my nephew, but also an honorary member of my Stampers 8 Club since his Mom was pregnant throughout most of our club and Reed joined us for our Club nights soon after he arrived. He is such a quiet little guy and true to form, he didn't cry once during his baptism!

His card came together pretty quick. I decided on Night of Navy since that was the one of the colors from his Parents' wedding. I used the new (available in the new catalogue July 1, 2010) Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder on the top half of the Whisper White layer. The image and sentiment are from Special Blessing set and were stamped with Night of Navy classic ink. The cross was stamped a second time on a scrap, cut out and popped up on dimensionals. The ovals were cut using my nestabilities.

Night of Navy narrow grosgrain with a little bow finish this card off perfectly!

Happy Stamping!

Gigi

Katie's 1st Communion

We celebrated Katie's 1st Communion a few weeks ago. Of course, she had a fancy new dress and even got her hair done for the occasion (her cousin is a hair stylist so it makes that part easy). It was a special day for her.

I had a really difficult time coming up with her card. As a matter of fact, my nephew also celebrated his 1st Communion the same weekend and I bought his card! Seriously, I had no creative mojo whatsoever that week! None. Once I finally got Katie's done, there was nothing left to try for Zack. I also ended up mostly case'ing a card from SCS.

A few embossing folders, some ribbon, a few tiny black self-adhesive pearls and a sentiment from "Special Blessing" stamp set.

Happy Stamping!


Gigi

More Elements of Style

I tell you, this set is awesome! This card with a detachable bookmark was another of May's club projects.

The toile style is a common one created with this stamp. I did this one with Chocolate Chip on Very Vanilla. On the main top image I added very, very soft color with classic ink and blender pens (Pretty in Pink and Old Olive). The color was also added on the bookmark panel. The edges of all of the Very Vanilla pieces are lightly sponged with Chocolate Chip.

The sentiment is from Watercolor Trio, also in the Summer Mini.

Instructions for a bookmark card can be found here. I used my Stampin' Up! Cutter Kit perforating tool for this project; worked great!

Happy Stamping!

Gigi

Island Oasis Mini Album

This cute album was one of May's club projects. I used the Island Oasis DSP and a few other embellishments and punches. It ends up folding to a 5-1/4" aquare so it fits in SU Medium Square envelopes.

I found the instructions here. Many thanks to this demonstrator for sharing the measurements and instructions for this project. I have made a few others and find it is a great little gift.

Happy Stamping!

Gigi

Delinquent Blogger

Yeah, that's what I am. It's not that I am not stamping, I am, lots! I just don't blog about it as often as I'd like to.

Here's a card. A bad photo of a card. Don't know what happened, sorry about the quality.

This is actually a Basic Grey base. Then a textured Pink Pirouette layer and a piece of DSP from an old retired Simply Scrappin Kit. A piece of wide Regal Rose grosgrain hides the seam nicely.

A Basic Grey base holds a the image that is stamped with Regal Rose and Wild Wasabi Classic ink on Whisper White. I stamped the centre of the flowers a second time, punched them out with the circle from the new SU Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack. Then the centres got a little bit of bling from a glue pen and Dazzling Diamonds.

The sentiment is a retired rubon from the Occasions Mini.

I made this card for my God-daughter: happy 13th birthday to Kelsey!!

Happy Stamping!

Gigi

Guess What?

I AM GOING TO STAMPIN' UP!'s ANNUAL CONVENTION!!

Watch out Salt Lake City, here I come!!

I am seriously excited. Can you tell?

Sorry no stamping, but I had to share my news.

Gigi

Happy Anniversary

We celebrated my in-laws wedding anniversary this weekend. This is the card I made for them.

Knowing I wanted to use my Vintage Vogue stamp set, I then chose my color combo. I wanted Old Olive for the vines, so I choose Pink Pirouette and Rose Red to accompany the Olive. Each flower was hand cut and embellished with a half back white pearl from the Pretties kit.

I do not own a stamp with "Happy Anniversary". How is that? This one is okay, but a little too "beginning of the relationship" rather than "married a really long time" type of sentiment. Oh well, couldn't be helped when I was making this card an hour before the celebration. {Have I ever mentioned I am a last minute kind of gal?}.

Since I was using some of my hoard of pretties, I also used some Hodge Podge hardware. I hoard this stuff. Why, I don't know since I can buy more if I need it. Seriously, its ridiculous, but I do know I am not alone hoarding embellishments!

Happy Stamping!

Gigi