Stamps and Smiles

More Texturz Plates Fun!

Two videos and six projects all with Texture Plates in 3 days!  Yep, I'm addicted.  It reminds me of my addiction with RubOns in February of 2008. 

Since I have club next week and a presentation for my upline's meeting next weekend (and it's not using the Texturz Plates,) I best step away from the Texturz plate and continue to explore the other new products I purchased!

Anyway, while I was prepping for one of my clubs on Monday, I got sidetracked with my Texturz Plates and the brayer and I got it all on video!

Here is one of the cards on the video:

 

Stamps:  5th Avenue Floral

Ink:  Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss and Basic Gray

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Gray and Baja Breeze Cardstocks

Accessories: Soho Designer Hardware, 5/8" White Organza Ribbon

Two more days for the Grotto Gathering -- it was such a pleasure to meet new faces  and visit more the familiar faces.  It's not too late to join us -- I have over 100 retired stamp sets priced at 40% off!

 

Texturz Plates Video

I must admit, I'm hopelessly addicted to the new Texturz Plates and finding it very hard to NOT use them on my projects!

I thought I'd share my addiction is a video:

Here's the finished card from the video:

 

Lastly, here's a better photo (also in the video) comparing alcohol vs. no alcohol.  The texture is a bit difficult to get in a picture but I think this photo does a pretty good job:

 

Enjoy the video!  I had forgotten how much fun it was to make these... and how long it takes (especially when your computer crashes twice -- okay, once was my own fault.)  :)

Still Alive...

but barely.  :) 

I can't believe it's been 2 weeks.  I've wanted to post -- just ran out of time.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgivng -- we did, thanks to some new friends -- Laura, Shane and family. 

In the past two weeks we've painted a room in the house, suffered severe colds, participated in a HUGE and very fun crop and decorated the house for Christmas.  (Okay, still working on that last one -- 24 boxes of "stuff" from the attic, 9 Christmas Trees, 6 garlands and much more.)

I'll be back with some of the projects I've been working on -- although, truthfully, I have not stamped in 2 weeks -- there has just been no time. 

In the meantime, ready to be inspired for the holidays? 

      

 Don't miss the Holiday Helper!

You're invited to join my special 12-Day Holiday Helper. Once you sign-up you will begin to receive 12 days of holiday craft projects, tips to bring more joy into your holidays and great gift ideas. All my compliments as a special thank you for your support.

What does the Holiday Helper include?

• 12 step-by-step tutorials
• 11 complimentary gifts
• 10 easy and inexpensive Christmas gifts
• 9 handmade gift ideas
• 8 projects to decorate your home
• 7 tree ornament ideas
• 6 creative wrapping ideas
• 5 holiday card ideas
• 4 ways to involve your children, family and friends in the fun
• 3 different scrapbooking projects
• 2 planning documents to make your holiday smoother
• 2 different scrapbooking themes
• 1 creative consultant on standby to assist you (that's me)

If you like what you see and are inspired to bring some "craftyness" home for the holidays, as your Stampin' Up! demonstrator I'd be happy to answer and questions and of course, order any supplies you need to complete the ideas seen here.

I hope you will take me up on my offer. For most of us, this is the year to simplify. AND this is the year to be organized and create the handmade gifts we've always wanted to give. Join me as I plan and prepare for the month ahead and really accomplish the goals of having a simple and meaningful Christmas.

Just fill out the information below and the first email will be sent to you almost immediately!

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Quick and Simple Christmas Card

I'm seriously on a simple card kick!  I first saw the Winter Post stamp set from the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog at Stampin' Up!'s Home Office.  We all wondered and guessed that it would be from Mini -- and we were right!  I'm normally not into the vintage look but something about this set stirred my Kool-Aid.

I wanted to use something from the Holiday Mini for my team gathering last night so this seemed like the perfect fit -- throw in some of the new Alpine Ribbon Originals (can you say, "TO DIE FOR?!") and I think the result is a pretty sweet, simple card.  (If I do say so myself!)

Throw in a few minutes to play with Adobe Photoshop -- I'm such a novice with this software but have very lofty goals!  The photo of the card, the two people and the horse-drawn coach were taken at the same time and then the background is a stock photo and I merged the two after blurring everything but the card so that the card stood out.  (Okay, and to cover a few boo-boos -- like I said, I'm still learning!)  So I spend 15 minutes on the card... and well, a lot longer on the photo... but I must admit, while not perfect, I really like the way it turned out.

 

Stamps:  Winter Post, To You & Yours

Ink:  Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red Classic Inks

Paper:  Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip and Kraft Cardstocks

Accessories:  Alpine Ribbon Originals, Thread, Scallop Border Punch, My Way Punch and Stampin' Sponge.  (Yup -- more sponging!)

Do you like the little Sleigh Tag?  Here's how it's done:

 

Okay, so maybe not the most practical application of our punches but I think it's pretty cool.

Thanks for stopping by!    

A Long Overdue Video

It's been such a busy summer and I just haven't had the time or the inspiration to do a video tutorial -- until today. 

Enjoy a fun technique with one of Stampin' Up!'s exclusive dies and a brayer!

ETA:  It's 10:49pm EST there seems to be a problem with the video.  I'm working on it and will get it working ASAP.  Thanks for your patience! It's now 11:29pm EST and I think it's working now -- sorry for the technical difficulties!

Want your BIG SHOT?

Check out these convenient payment options -- whether you live in the Harrisburg area or beyond!  (US Only, sorry!)

Email me at DebKemp@stampsandsmiles.com!

Yesterday's Post... Today!

Finally!  Another video!  I actually had a handful of people email me to ask if I would be doing anymore -- I was flabergasted, to say the least! 

In a previous post, I mentioned my Inspiration File.  Instead of keeping stacks and stacks of magazines forever and ever, when my basket gets full, I'll sit down with a Sharpie and flip through circling the designs, layouts, ideas etc. that I like, would like to duplicate and/or would make a good class or club project.  That page is then torn out of the magazine and placed in an appropriate file folder. The magazine is either passed to a friend or donated to Ronald McDonald House's magazine recycling program.

This card was inspired from one of the clippings from my Inspiration File.  The original layout was by Lisa Johnson and I believe it was from either a Stamp It! or Papercrafts magazine.  I was inspired by the simplicity but also the scallops.  In the video, you'll see 3 different techniques using punches to create a scalloped border or edge -- each with a different punch.  (Corner Rounder, Scallop Circle and the Slit Punch.)  I did not originally come up with the uses for these punches but I'm happy for whoever did and glad I can pass the techniques along!

Enjoy!

Have a great day!

Carousel Notes Bowl

I put together a fun class with the Carousel Notes -- many of the projects were inspired by the gazillions of fabulous stampers out there... but this project was all me.  (I love it when that happens -- and embrace it when it does because it doesn't happen often enough!)

I think these would make fabulous wedding favors. I'll be adding some candy and 3x3 notes to one, wrapping it in cellophane and giving it to Bradleigh's teacher as a gift.  I think I'll use the Soft Sky one to hold business cards in the Grotto!

There are just many possibilities -- enjoy!

Stamps and smiles,

Deb

My First VIDEO Tutorial

I remember the first card I made? I was so proud.

I threw that card away years ago -- I should have kept it for the laugh factor.

Hopefully, today's post will not make you laugh -- it is a first, though so I know it will only get better! I'm thrilled to show you video tutorial on Polished Stone.

Polished stone is one of my favorite technques -- but one that I often forget to pull out of my arsenal.

I'm going to go to a few antique stores today -- but hopefully after the final PTO meeting for this school year, I'll do another video... and I have just the project in mind!

Enjoy!

As Promised...

No, it's not Deja-Vu!  These are two different cards than the one below!  I liked it so much I had to make another!  The 3x3 card is actually one guests of the "Post Convention Class" enjoyed making.  The tutorial is below!

It took a little longer to recover from the weekend than I thought. We enjoyed a couple of days of R&R camping with some good friends -- I did skip out on Saturday to speak at a Stampin' Up! function about the crop-a-dile. Great tool! Look for more information (and some of my samples) in the days to come.

I cannot believe school is starting in less than 2 weeks! Bradleigh is thrilled to be going back but not so enchanted with the thought of going all day. I think the part that excites her most is packing her lunch. My child and food .... I wonder where she gets that obsession? :) Regarldess, I definately see a scrapbook page involving her first lunch.

Well then... as promised, here is the tutorial from last week's post of the Sympathy Card for my friend. Download GildedLeafTutorialbyDebKemp.pdf I'd really like to do an actual tutorial on this page about the leaves but I've spent literally since 1pm trying to format the page and the pictures just cram together and it looks awful. Perhaps I need to get out my HTML books from college to figure it out .... nah, I'll just do it this way. But if anyone has any suggestions and/or experience on how to do this, I'd love to hear it! Just email me: DebKemp@stampsandsmiles.com. Stamps and smiles!

Fun Flowers

Hi, Stranger!

I know, it's been too long.  I'm a bad blogger with good intentions!  Hopefully this will make up for some of my time away.

These fun flowers were shown at Convention last week in Denver, CO.  This is just one of the many projects I felt I needed to come home and re-create! 

These flowers are surprisingly easy to create.  Shown in a galvinzed pot here, I think these would make great embellishments for gifts, party favors and decorations, too.

Below are sudo-step-by-step directions.

Download flower_tutorial.pdf