January "Square Fancy-Folds" Techniques Class

If you're looking for a great way to start off your stamping year, this class is it!  I've got 3 very special card folds to show you that you'll want make many times over because they are so unique and yet easy to do.  Each one can also hold an extra gift card or currency/check if you wish, and with so much more style than the simple folders from the store. We'll  be using the new flower petal punch from the Occasions Mini and also some old favorite punches in some very new ways.  The January Accessory Kit includes the new ribbons and embellishments used in the projects, plus some 5 1/2" square envelopes so that your cards will be ready to go!

As with all my Techniques Classes, you'll get printed instructions with measurements and a mini sample so that you can reproduce these wonderful creations with ease.

Come on by to stamp with us, it's going to be such fun! 

Reply to pengwen@sbcglobal.net to save a spot, and invite a friend!
(I confirm all reservations).

• Friday, Jan. 14; 7:00-9:30pm
• Sunday, Jan. 16; 2:00-4:30pm (Note new day!)
• DEADLINE to respond: Tuesday, Jan. 11

Class fee = $12 or FREE with any $45 order
(Note: I am holding orders until Jan. 25 when SAB starts.  With each $50 order, you'll also get a free SAB set; ask to see the SAB mini catalog!)

Can't make it to class this month or want an extra set of cards?  Order a Card Kit and get the same pre-stamped card pieces, ready to assemble.  Deadline to order Kits = Jan. 16.

January Accessory Sampler Pack

• This Pack includes ribbons, embellishments, and papers that were used in this month's projects and match Stampin' Up exclusive colors. 
• Order one or more for your future stamping/scrapbooking projects, and have a huge selection of all the colors on hand to use when you need it without buying full reels or packages!

(See the main SU catalog plus the Occasions Mini for info.)

14 yards of 1/2" seam binding ribbons: 2 yds each of all 7 colors

12 Vintage Flower Adornments: 4 each of all 3 colors

6 sheets of Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper: 1 -12"x12" sheet of all 6 designs (2x sided)

55 pieces of Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware: 5 pieces of each item

20 Half-sheets of Brights Designer Series Paper: 1 each of 2 designs in all 10 colors, 6"x12" (2x sided)

16 Mini Clips: 4 each in all 4 colors

5 - 5 1/2" premium SU square envelopes for your square cards!

• Cost = $43.61 (plus tax and shipping) 

Deadline to order = Jan. 17

Sampler Packs are applicable towards Free Stamp Class minimum and also SAB free goodies!!

What a deal! Be sure to order yours!





To Knot or not...?

Whenever you see a ribbon tied around some element on a card, don't you just love the hand-made look it gives? Very simple and yet elegant, you can choose from at least three ways to tie a ribbon knot even if you are all thumbs! Each has a slightly different look and feel but will give that special dimensional touch to your cards and projects.

I made a couple of quick cards to show you some tips about tying the knots with the Love You Much stamp set from the same bundle promotion and they are just too cute! (It's still on until Jan. 31; save 20% on the Stamp Set, new double-sided Designer Paper, and coordinating Heart to Heart Punch that matches the 3 little heart stamps in the set. How can you resist?!)

The most obvious way to tie a ribbon is to simply wrap it around the card and tie a knot or two. This is fine for smaller pieces to be tied, when you see the back of the ribbon (like on the inside of a card), or the ribbon is not too heavy or expensive. But if you would like to save some thickness and a few inches where the ribbon is not seen from the back, here are two ways to do that:

Faux Knot #1: Cut a piece of ribbon measuring across the area plus about 1" to be the base piece. Wrap the ends around to the back and adhere them there. Now cut another piece of ribbon about 3 1/2 ' long and tie a knot around the first base piece; you may need more if your ribbon is wider than 3/8". Trim the ends at an angle. You have the look of a wrapped and knotted ribbon but it is much simpler to do and saves weight/thickness and a few inches of ribbon for another time! Note how the knot will sit at a slant, with one end above and the other below the base piece as in my Kindness card.

Faux Knot #2: Again measure the area to be covered and add about 1". Find something that has the same circumference (distance around) to tie around. The Stampin' Up Mister bottle is 4 1/4" around and perfect for something around ~3 1/2" or less; its knurled cap is 3 1/2" around and good for ~2 3/4" span. Look around for something convenient that you can easily tie your ribbon into a double knot and then slip off.

Then cut the large loop of your ribbon: cutting in half will center it on your card while cutting at one side will make the knot sit that way. Adhere the cut ends to the back and trim the hanging ends at an angle. Wow, you have a great looking knot that will sit evenly on your card, was very easy to tie, didn't crimp up your paper, and saved you a few inches for next time! I love ribbons and use this trick for many of my cards because it just looks great and saves me time, effort, and a little money!


Stamps: Heard from the Heart (111644), Love You Much (113756), Bundle Package (115405); Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red

Tips to order SU online; getting the most for your $$

Okay, so now you’ve found some stuff that you’d like to order from Stampin’ Up, and it’s so easy now that you can also do it 24/7 in your pj’s from home! To get the most with your stamping dollar, here are a few hints:

1. Always check the latest promotions and sales. You can often get discounts on special bundle packages or seasonal/themed stamps and stuff, be sure to check my Specials and Dates to Remember section on the right, or click here: Stampin' Up Specials, or on the website at www.Stampinup.com, Online Store, Specials.

2. When you order online, you can get -10% off your order, already a good thing! If you specify me as your demo, I’ll still get credit for your order, thank you very much!

3. Have a “Catalog Party”: Stampin’ Up offers a free stamp set and free product awards when you order $150 or more when you have a workshop in your home and have guests order through you. But you can also do this with my help and without having to clean your house . Add up your items and check with your friends if they’d like to order also so that you can reach the $150 minimum. Check here on the Hostess Benefits chart and see that you earn a free stamp set and $15 (or 10%) in free merchandise, but at $300 you can choose a larger set (level 1 or 2) and get $35 (~12%) in freebies, and how each level goes up. You need to order through me to get your Hostess free sets and awards, arrange payment, etc. and I will ship your order directly to you. Contact me at pengwen@gmail.com about questions, which Hostess sets you can choose from, and what the details are. We all love freebies, and "free stamps" is what it's all about!

Why I love to use SU

It all goes together so well!!

Ever notice how nice a coordinated outfit looks when it's been made to go together? The style and color complement each and look great because they were designed to do so. I've found the same is true about rubber stamping. After more than 20 years of enjoying this fun craft, I've accumulated an impressive amount of stamps, inks, and papers, yet it seemed that I still sometimes struggled to make cards that were well-designed and "professional" looking. After attending a Stampin' Up workshop, I realized that much of my problem was that my colors of inks and papers didn't quite match, even though I had so many. Buying on sale doesn't save money if you can't use it. However, using stamps and supplies from one company who makes a complete line of everything stamping has quickly solved that. Now I no longer have to spend time searching my supplies looking for the right color pad or pen to match those papers and accessories I just bought, because it's all been designed to coordinate together perfectly!

SU makes 48 standing colors of coordinated marker pens, dye and pigment ink pads, solid cardstock, double-sided printed paper, ribbons, buttons, brads, pastels (chalks), watercolor crayons, ink refills, and other accessories to go with their complete line of stamps. There are also punches, brass stencils, and other goodies available that give me more time to actually create with less bother and fuss. Plus, there are 6 new In Colors introduced each year which allow additional trendy designing without sacrificing the basic colors that I can count on. Ever use up your favorite color of ink or paper, only to find that the store no longer carries it or the company just doesn't make it anymore? No longer a problem. Plus, now when I stamp an image there is often a coordinated punch or other accessory that I can use to easily embellish my project and the color and fit will be perfect!

For example, take a look at the card on the left. I stamped the flowery circle image twice in Chocolate Chip brown ink onto a pale Pink Pirouette cardstock scrap and also a Regal Rose Scrap. Then I punched the Rose image out with the coordinated Scallop Punch, and the pale Pink image with the 1 3/8" Circle punch and the middle hole with a 1/2 " Circle Punch. Because the stamps were designed to work with these punches, everything lines up easily. I used double- sided printed Designer Papers and the matching striped Pink Pirouette ribbon for accents; since all colors of inks, papers, cardstock, and ribbon are made to match each other I know everything will look perfect! Quick and easy, no searching through lots of inks and supplies looking for things that work together, I have more time to stamp and a better looking product when I'm done. Stampin' Up punches are among my favorite tools because I don't have to cut so many things out; they are infinately reuseable, time-saving, and neat. They are a must-have!
Stamps: Wanted (109395), Wonderful Favorites (109461). Cardstock: Pink Pirouette(113511) and Regal Rose(105130); Sweet Always Designer Series Paper(112468); Chocolate Chip Ink(100908); Punches: Scallop(109043), 1 3/8"(104401) and 1/2"(104390) Circle; Pink Pirouette 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon(111373).

Why am I doing this stampblog?

I've been trying to upgrade how I post my monthly stamping classes online as well as sales or promotions from Stampin' Up, and have decided to try using this blog to do that. I hope it will be a convenient place to check the schedule and attend a class if you are in the area, see what's on sale before it's too late (we all love bargains), learn a new tip, ask a stamping question, or just see what I've been up to these days. I'll give you a full background of why I choose to use this company's stamps and products even though I have tons of other stuff collected over the years, techniques and how-to's on what these gadgets and tools can really do for you, and just show you some of the fun I have when there's time to play with my stamping toys.

I often hear the comment "I'm not really crafty", yet when people finish a card or project with that look of joyful accomplishment, they discover that they can do far more than what they thought just a few minutes ago, and that is so satisfying. I'll try to cover the basics and also some more advanced projects, so don't be afraid to ask questions or make comments, that's how we all learn! Hang on, it will take me awhile to figure out how to best use this blog thing but I think we'll all learn a bit of everything as we explore in this new adventure together!