Saw this card when I went looking for a sympathy card I needed a few weeks ago. Other than getting the right position of the circle flower it was pretty straight forward.


Supplies
Stamps: Circle Circus
Ink: Soft Suede
Paper: Old Olive, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, button

~A

Interested in attending some classes or a workshop? Check out this page to browse over the next few months to see if you can attend one of my planned events. If the dates will not work for you, we can pick one for you to host at your home or mine! There are quite a few different things planned, especially to get ready for Christmas! I am also setting aside time to scrapbook, mostly on Saturday or Sunday afternoons while my husband is away working. If you would like to join me just drop me a line!

Supplies
Stamps: Short and Sweet
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Night of Navy, Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper, Kraft, Mellow Moss, Real Red
Accessories: Little Leaves Sizzlet die, hole punch, Heart to Heart punch
~A

These ice cream cones are very simple to make. Punch out 2 "flavors" of ice cream, in this case it's pumkin and curry (interesting if they were real eh?) and you want to cut at least 4 to 5 bumps off each scallop circle to create the bottom of the scoop. Then I used the Square 1-3/8" punch for the cone, but remember to clip each side to create the cone shape! On the right cone I used a white gel pen and the other cone I used the texturz plates with the big shot to create a realistic pattern.

Just had to make a cherry cone! I spiced this one up a bit with some embossing (although you could just use white craft ink instead). What flavours would this one be? Cherry chip and Strawberry maybe? Sounds good.

Supplies
Stamps: Tart and Tangy, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Short and Sweet, 2nd card also uses Itty Bitty Backgrounds and Sanded Background
Ink: 1st card: Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Basic Black. 2nd card: Versamark, Ruby Red, Basic Black
Paper: 1st card: Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Basic Black, Close to Cocoa. 2nd card: Whisper White, Basic Black, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Scallop edge punch, scallop circle punch, white gel pen, Texturz Plates + Big Shot, 2nd card: white embossing powder + heat gun

~A

I like many others have mountains of printed photos and space taken up on hard drives or flash drives (both in my case) by digital photos. Most of these photos need a permanent home in a scrapbook of some kind or another.

These photos in today's finished page date back to our first apartment, well over 8 years ago. Man was it that long now? In order to accomplish this daunting task (remember all the photos I talked about) I have been trying to keep the layouts simple and clean. Stampin' Up!'s Simply Scrappin' Kits are awesome for that reason. They include designer paper, textured card stock and self adhesive die-cuts. You can whip out a few layouts without much fuss. I'm headed back to do more scrapping!

Supplies
Accessories: Summer Home Simply Scrappin' Kit (retired)

~A

Do you like the new In Colors? I have been playing with colour combinations for the last few weeks. The next few days I will be searching for some good combos for Christmas Cards. This year the 6 new colours are missing a green and a red. But that makes it a good challenge!

Today's card is a case. But I cannot remember which card I saw on Splitcoaststampers that inspired me! It could be either this one, or this or another one I haven't found as of yet!

There is a list of about 50 some odd things you can use in the Big Shot and aluminum foil is one of them (although the list says only for Bigz and Originals Dies but I figured that aluminum might work well with the texturz plates since it is similiar to cardstock in thickness). You still need to do some trial and error, because I tried a different plae - damask and it ripped the aluminum foil at a few places.

Supplies
Stamps: Party Hearty, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Tempting Turquoise, Crushed Curry, Basic Black
Paper: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Crushed Curry, heavy duty aluminum foil
Accessories: Big Shot texturz plates, stampin' dimensionals
~A

I'd class this card in the clean and simple category. If I make this card again I think I will make the scalloped edge even with the back. The uneven front-to-back makes the card look weird when you try to stand it up. Oh well.

To celebrate Stampin' Up!'s new 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalogue I am hosting a Get the Scoop party! More details here. Peruse through the new catty, get your chance to check out the new In Colors and create your own masterpiece with paper and with ice cream!

Using my new Big Shot and a brand new exclusive die from Stampin' Up! I created this card to show case off the new Falling Leaves stamp set. The ribbon is the reverse side of the polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, I love how it is reversible!


Supplies
Stamps: Falling Leaves
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Soft Suede, Versamark, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Kraft, Soft Suede, Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Soft Suede polka dot grosgrain ribbon, sticky strip, stampin' dimensional, word window punch, Hearts and Brackets Original Die

My upcoming event had to be pushed back by 1 week, so circle August 8th for 2pm so that you can Get the Scoop! More details will be posted Tuesday night (tomorrow)!

Wow! It's almost the end of July, when did we get here? I recently got my order of new product and catalogues this week. And I cannot wait to break out the new goodies and show you my work!

Today's card is one of my new fav colour combos. I really like chocolate! mm, chocolate. The centre Very Vanilla strip is up on dimensionals with a little twig of ribbon up in the top right corner. Did you miss it? It is kinda hard to see in the photo. The chocolate chip layer underneath is stamped with versamark to create a hint of a pattern.

You'll have to come back and check later this week for an updated workshop and classes post. I will have 2 different ones to choose from and I cannot wait to share all the cool items from the new 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue. If you are interested in laying your hands on a physical copy please let me know so I can get one to you. Or you can always download it from the bar on the right side of the screen.

Supplies
Stamps: Close as A Memory, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versamark
Paper: Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Mellow Moss stampin' write marker, Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, linen thread, stampin' dimensional, Designer Button Latte, glue dot

The current Spring/Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalogue retires at the end of June. For the next while I'll be trying to use up my stash - therefore you might be seeing a lot of the Tangerine Tango. It's not a colour I have used much of at all!

Make sure that you get hold of the Last Chance List. Check out the links on the left side of the screen at the top. These stamps and Decor Elements are disappearing the end of June, this is your last chance to get your hands on them!

Supplies
Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, All Holidays
Ink: Handsome Hunter, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss
Paper: Whisper White, Handsome Hunter, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Whisper White taffeta ribbon, blender pens, Stampin' Dimensionals

Is your birthday coming up? My husband just reminded me today that June is just around the corner, as in next week! Ack! That means my birthday is even closer than I thought!!!

Anywho enough with the exclamation marks! These colours are great together, but it makes it hard to take a great picture of them.

Stamps: Party Hearty, Happy Happy Birthday Jumbo wheel
Ink: Baja Breeze, Taken with Teal, Sage Shadow, Versamark
Paper: Baja Breeze, Taken with Teal, Sage Shadow, Whisper White
Accessories: Baja Breeze wide ribbon, stampin dimensionals

This is my second attempt at the emerging colour technique (check out my journal cover here)and another card over here. It's a great technique, I used Whisper White card stock but you could use designer series paper or perhaps a different colour other than white. Stamp on your base colour, let it dry then pass your embossing buddy over the whole piece and then stamp in versamark your images where you want your colour to emerge! Next clear emboss those versamarked images and once cooled coat the whole piece in a darker colour. Viola!

Stamps: Nursery Necessities
Ink: Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette, Almost Amethyst, Versamark
Paper: Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Accessories: Button Bouquet, glue dot, sponge dauber, clear embossing powder, embossing buddy

These are so easy to make! I've made three of these now and they will make great gifts! Check out my other Card Purse from my March Class to see those cards. The next 2 cards complete the set, along with these 2 cards I posted last week. And isn't the center piece of the purse darling? I used my new Watercolour wonder crayons to colour directly onto the stamp and them spritz lightly with water and then stamped on watercolour paper. It took a bit of experimenting to get the right amount of water, but it's a really cool effect!

The above card purse above supplies are:
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Basic Grey, Going Gray, Watercolour paper, Urban Garden Designer Series Paper, Whisper White
Accessories: word window punch, photo corners punch, Button Bouquet Designer Button, Linen thread, glue dot, Jumbo brads, Basic Grey taffeta ribbon, Watercolour Wonder crayons


Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, All Holidays

For National Scrapbook Month Stampin' Up! is offering these three specials.

1. Free Designer Paper: when you buy 3 you get 1 free!

2. Become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for $99.00 with the Scrapbooking Starter Kit!

3. A sneak peak Jumble Alphabet stamp set at 20% off! Check out the stamp set here. Purchase for $46.36+taxes and shipping.

More details over at Stampin' Up!'s website.

I'm in love with the Urban Garden Designer Series Paper. But I realize that I'm hoarding it, just like I've been hoarding all my paper! So my challenge for May is to get a whole whack of scrapbook pages completed and use up my stash! May is a great month to start your own scrapbooking project too. Especially if you like Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Paper or the 12x12 Textured card stock (great by the way for either cards or scrapbooking). Buy any 3 pack of Designer Series papers or 12x12 Textured card stock and get 1 free until the end of May!

1st card:
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Ink: Always Artichoke, Not Quite Navy (both Stampin' Write Markers)
Paper: Urban Garden Designer Series Paper, Whisper White, Basic Black
Accessories: Basic Black grosgrain ribbon, Filigree brads, stampin' dimensionals, Button Latte Designer Buttons, glue dots, sticky strip

2nd card:
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Short and Sweet
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Versamark
Paper: Urban Garden Designer Series Paper, Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, Basic Grey, Whisper White
Accessories: Word Window punch, Glassy Glaze Enamel Embossing powde, Vintage Brads, scallop cricle punch, stampin dimensionals

Last month I held a Card Purse stamp camp. Each person made a card purse, 4 cards and decorated matching envelopes.


I found a simple flower card made by alliohran and fell in love with the colour combo! Generally I dislike Groovy Guava, but these colours really work well together. Oh and did you notice the new jumbo brads in the centre of the flower?


Stamps: Polka Dot Punches (Sale-A-Bration), Sweet Little Sentiments (Hostess)
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Chocolate Chip 5/16" Jumbo brad, Stampin' Dimensionals, 5 petal punch

I get a lot of inspiration from splitcoaststampers. It has a great section to search on any Stampin' Up! stamp to get a variety of styles and ideas to use. I love it! This next card's idea and colours came from trishastamps.

Stamps: Polka Dot Punches (Sale-A-Bration), Sweet Little Sentiments (Hostess)
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Certaintly Celery, Pink Passion, Versamark, Basic Black
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Whisper White
Accessories: Certaintly Celery ribbon (Sale-A-Bration), Stampin' Dimensionals, white embossing powder, Large Heart Punch

I designed the next card so that each person could choose which image she liked from the Wild About You set. The white area is just wide enough for the elephant and tall enough if the giraffe stamp was used.

Stamps: Wild About You, Sanded background stamp
Ink: Old Olive, More Mustard, Basic Black
Paper: More Mustard, Old Olive, Whisper White, Basic Black
Accessories: Pumpkin Pie Ribbon, More Mustard Stampin' Write marker

And lastly my favourite of all of them! Such a mellow colour pallet.

Stamps: Best Wishes and More
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette
Paper: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Urban Garden Designer Series Paper, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Flower Fusion, silver brad, Stampin' Dimensionals, Chocolate Chip ribbon, sticky strip

Ahh, memories. That is why I scrapbook, to look back at all the stuff that has happened to me and my family over the years. I've done the important scrapbooks, our wedding, buying our 1st home, building our 2nd home, and our big trip to Western Canada. Now I'm trying to move onto the everyday stuff, I have piles and stacks of photos that desperately need a home.

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Parisian Breeze Speciality Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Wide Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, Neutrals button, 1" circle punch, corner rounder, Greatest Moments rub-ons

I've case'd this card I saw over at Splitcoaststampers. I used water colour paper and Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink , then spritzed water on the flower to make the colour run a bit, a little heat from the heat gun and some markers to add accent to the centre of the flower and voila! Oh and don't forget to add the little brad to the centre too!

Take a chance to play around with stamping on watercolour paper! There are so many techniques that can be experimented with: watercolour wonder crayons, ink and blender pens, markers, watercolour pencils, or just stamp in a colour and spritz with water!

Stamps: Embrace Life
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, Lovely Lilac
Paper: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, Lovely Lilac, watercolour paper
Accessories: Vintage brad, 1-3/4" circle punch, Greatest Moments rub-ons, various Stampin' Write markers to colour in centre of flowers

April sure does have a lot of birthdays around here! Does your family have one month that has a lot of birthdays all lumped together? It's months like these that I'm glad I've stashed away some birthday cards, but I know that I need to get started on more!

I really liked this card I made for a friend's daughter's birthday just after I started as a demonstrator. I really like the colours and the background of the card. And the paper piercing, okay well I really like all of it! I've just changed up the flower colours and used a different stamp set too.

Stamp Sets: Petal Pizzazz, Short and Sweet
Inks: So Saffron, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive
Paper: So Saffron, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals, glitter, scallop circle punch

Spend $50 on Occasions Mini Catalogue products and choose any one item from the "Under $12" page in the Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalogue for free.

Hostesses: Hold a workshop of $200 or more and choose any one item from the "Under $12" page in the Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalogue for free. For every $200 spent at a workshop, the hostess will receive another "Under $12" item free.

Make sure to place your order before April 30th!

Have you ever tried using regular everyday household bleach with your stamping projects? I have yet to try putting my stamp into bleach (you can do without harming your stamps!), but I do like the effect you can achieve using the aqua painters and bleach, or just a small cup of bleach with a paintbrush. Especially when you are using darker papers.

On the large circle the flowers are embossed in white on Elegant Eggplant and then I've bleached the petals.

Stamps: Botanical Blooms (Sale-A-Bration)
Ink: Versamark, Pale Plum
Paper: Sahara Sand, Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla, Perfect Plum
Accessories: White and Black embossing powder, Filigree brads, Certainly Celery Sale-A-Bration ribbon, sticky strip, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" and 1-3/4" circle punches, Mellow Moss Stampin' Write marker, stampin' dimensionals, household bleach, aqua painter

I've done the same thing on this card, embossing the flower in white and then used the aqua painter with bleach to colour in some of the petals.

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral
Ink: Versamark, Perfect Plum, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White, Perfect Plum
Accessories: White taffeta ribbon, white embossing powder, household bleach, aqua painter

The Ocassions Mini catalogue products are now avaliable! Click here to download from Stampin' Up!'s website. Make sure you check out the new scallop oval punch on page 8, window sheets on page 10 and there is just too much new stuff to list it all, you'll just have to check it all out!!

Interested in placing an order? You can order online order if you live in Canada from my website here, just click on the SHOP NOW button on the top right corner of the webpage. Or check out my upcoming events or host your own!

Yup, you read it right! Because of the timing of Easter and the release of the Occasions mini catalogue Stampin' Up! has released the Easter stamps early! For the month of March you can have the chance to pre-order the following Easter stamps:

Item 113822: Eight Great Greetings ($37.95)

Item 113196: An Egg-cellent Easter ($27.95)
Item 113262: Wagon Full of Fun ($46.95)

Item 113833: Egg Hunt Wheel ($7.75)


Email me if you would like to place an order. And don't forget about Sale-A-Bration! With every $60 order you qualify for free Sale-A-Bration product until March 31, 2009.

You can also order these and many more products from the Occasions Mini starting April 1, 2009.

Hi all! Yup, I've been away for over a month now. That silly cold/flu has finally let me have energy to stamp. The worse part of it all was that I was just starting to feel horrible just as I was planning my last workshop! Thanks to all who came, I hope you enjoyed yourself. It was so much fun. Check back for the next few dates for workshops and classes.

So for now I'll show off a few cards I demonstrated at the workshop:

The water coloured card, I love using our watercolour wonder crayons! Have you ever tried using the blender pen to capture the colour off the end of the crayon and then colouring in your image? It creates a different effect instead of just colouring in. Try it!

Stamps: Fun and Fast Notes
Ink: Black Stazon
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Watercolour paper, Sale-A-Bration Delicate Dots DSP
Accessories: Kiwi Kiss striped grosgrain ribbon, Word window punch, Watercolour Wonder Crayons, Stampin' Dimensionals, Vintage brads, corner rounder, blender pens

The next card is our make-n-take. Can you notice I've taken to clipping the ribbon? I think the left card needs the ribbon dressed up a bit before I send it out for Mother's Day.

Stamps: Petal Pizazz, All Holidays
Ink: Apricot Appeal, More Mustard, Basic Black, Certainly Celery
Paper: Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Vellum
Accessories: Sale-A-Bration So Saffron grosgrain ribbon

My new box of supplies arrived earlier today. Unfortunately with being at work all day and my dear husband down with a bad cold, that box has been tormenting me! Finally about an hour ago I was able to take everything out of the box and ooh and awe over some of Stampin' Up!'s new products ( I wish I could own everything!).

Just a reminder, I'm having a Sale-A-Bration / Mystery Hostess workshop this Sunday. Check out my Classes and Workshop page for all the details. You will have the chance to see some of the new product in action and have the chance to earn or win some of it for yourself!

These colours were inspired from then ones I tend to use a lot at my daytime away from home job, highlighting the most important need-my-attention-right-away tasks. I'm not one for bright colour combos, but I might have to try this one again!

The Pumpkin Pie strip is dry embossed using Stampin' Up!'s classy brass seeing dots template. Dry embossing is a great way to add a little dimension to your card. You could even use the new texturz plates with the Bigshot to create the same effect!

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, All Holidays
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Basic Black
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, clips assortment, Seeing Spots Classy Brass Template

Welcome to Friday! A quick birthday card for you today, made for my brother-in-law's birthday later this month. Oh and I used a challenge for inspiration! CC200 - Colour Combination over at Splitcoast stampers.

Stamps: Party Hearty, Stripes Background
Ink: Brilliant Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green
Paper: Brilliant Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green
Accessories: Clear button, hemp twine, scallop circle punch

Made time today to try out the only new stamp set I have from the new catalogue so far. I'm trying to pare down my want list to a must-have list. Do you have a long list too? I've been checking out this page at splitcoaststampers to check out my new must have stamp sets to see what others are creating with them. Trying and failing to choose just 2 new ones to get for now. The gallery over at splitcoaststampers is very inspiring, lots of great designs, new colour combos and wonderful talent! You can check out my gallery too!

Head over to my Workshop and Events page, I've updated it with an upcoming event in February. And check back soon for March dates. Great events to take advantage of Sale-A-Bration (February 1st to March 31). Can't make my events? You can host your own workshop if you live in the Kingston, Ontario area. My contact information is in the right hand side of the main page.

Stamps: Petal Pizzaz, Short and Sweet
Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Perfect Plum
Paper: Sahara Sand, Perfect Plum, Whisper White
Accessories: Baja Breeze ribbon, Fire circle brads, Button Bouquet, glue dots

Okay, the new catalogue is posted on Stampin' Up!'s website. Fair warning though, you will be downloading a pdf file, so it might take some time.

We are sitting here in the middle of a deep freeze in southeastern Ontario. It sure does remind me of living out in Manitoba! Except we haven't hit the minus 40 degrees Celsius here like it would out there.

Stampin' Up!'s new Spring/Summer Idea Book and Catalogue premiers on Monday! I've made my list at least 3 times of what my first order will look like, but I keep changing my mind every time I open the catalogue. You will be able to have your first peak at the catalogue on Stampin' Up!'s website starting Monday January 19th. Or contact me by email: amanda.farlinger@yahoo.ca today to find out how to get your own copy.

I case'd (copy and share everything!) this card from one I saw at splitcoaststampers made by mudflapmamma. I changed the colours to use what I had on hand.

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Ink: Old Olive, Regal Rose marker
Paper: Old Olive, Regal Rose, Whisper White, Maine Blueberry Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Regal Rose wide grosgrain ribbon, stamping dimensionals

A lot of excitement and deadlines looming around here lately! In with the old and out with the new. I've been checking ladies' blogs who have been attending the Leadership convention the past few days to hear about the new product that is in the new catalogue. My goodness there sounds like a lot of right up my alley products! I cannot wait to get my hands on my catalogue. How about you? Are your fingers itchin' for a new catalogue to peruse through? Are you imagining all that new product that you just have to have? Check back next week for upcoming dates for my events or contact me to find out how you can get a catalogue!

Click here to be taken to my demo website. Once there click on the SHOP NOW button on the top right corner of the page. This will take you to the online ordering page and from here it will let you navigate through the Inventory Blowout sale and the Retired Items, just click on the picture on the pop up page to see what's still available.

One of the retiring sets is Ahoy Matey! Such a cute set that I really haven't used that much unfortunately! See the waves? They are made by ripping blue paper for the waves and then on the ripped/jagged edges you add your adhesive and then glitter away! I strongly suggest that you let the waves dry completely before adhering 3 layers of them together to get the desired effect.

The sails and boat are stamped on white paper and then sponged to get the linen look of sails. I stamped Ahoy Matey on the inside of the card and used a 1-1/4" circle punch on the top to create the window.

Stamps: Ahoy Matey!
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Basic Black
Paper: Yoyo Yellow, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Sage Shadow (the picture throws this colour for a loop for some reason!)
Accessories: White gel pen, dazzling diamonds glitter, 1-1/4" circle punch, sponge dauber

Today marks my 50th post, and a card for my Dad's 50th b-day! What a coincidence!

Anywho I hope everyone had a nice break over the holidays. My family's business was closed for a good break both over Christmas and New Years. It was so nice to have time to burn! Unfortunately between travel and merry making there wasn't much time for stamping or creating. But looking forward I see my desk getting very messy!

To start off the New Year on the right foot I made my Dad a birthday card, a little late, but it was so easy to make! The circle punches made it nice and easy to create this one.

Stamps: Party Hearty
Ink: Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Taken with Teal
Paper: Basic Grey, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Taken with Teal, Urban Garden DSP
Accessories: 1-3/8" circle punch, word window punch