Filled With Love

Wow! I have really slacked on keeping up with you all. Let me just begin by apologizing. I promised you lots of Christmas inspiration and I failed to come through. The past two months my husband and I have been fighting off colds, flu, strep throat, you name it. I did not even get my own Christmas cards mailed out this year, let alone work on extra projects for the blog. I do have a few smaller projects ready and waiting to show you, but our card reader (to download all our pictures off my camera) is not working. Boo! Hopefully that will be resolved quickly and the new year can start better than it ended.

I am starting a monthly stamping club, where women get together once a month to make cards and other fun projects. So rest assured, I will have a least 2-3 projects a month to show you, but I will try to make it more like one a week. I would love to post a new inspiration or helpful article every day, but that's not entirely realistic.

So for now while we wait, let me show you a great promotion going on for Valentine's Day! It's just around the corner! Go to http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/adrienneadams/promotions to learn more!

New Toys

Happy Monday everyone! I just got another Stampin' Up! package in the mail today with lots of fun new toys! I am in the holiday spirit trying to get ready for Saturday. So be on the lookout in the new next couple weeks for how to use non-Christmas stamps for your Christmas cards, and how to use your Christmas stamps outside of the holiday season. I'm all about getting more bang for your buck so I love finding new ways to use the same thing. Getting bored with your stamp set? Leave a comment with the name of your stamp set and let's see if we can't find some new ways to use it!

Online Spectacular!

I just wanted to let everyone know about an amazing shopping opportunity coming up! Each year, Stampin' Up! has what the call their Online Spectacular! To be honest, I haven't exactly heard a lot about it. Apparently they have some amazing sales and deals online for one day only. Nobody knows (not even us demonstrators) what is going to happen until that day. So prepare yourselves for November 22 and go check out what all the buzz is about!

Christmas Shopping Party

One of the challenges of living on a small base overseas is the lack of merchandise available. Other than a small selection at our BX, the majority of our shopping is done online. That is especially true come Christmas time. Some very clever ladies here on base though have put together a wonderful event that I am so glad I get to be a part of! Check out a clipping of our invite below:

Tired of doing all your Christmas shopping online and not being able to touch anything or ask any questions?  Come check out our party where we’ll have seven different vendors set up with sample merchandise and available to provide answers.  We will even have wish lists for you to fill out complete with ordering instructions you can take home to make Christmas shopping easier for your spouse.   Enter your name into our drawing and be one of our lucky prize winners.  We’ll be drawing a winner every 15 minutes!!! 

This is going to be a great event. So if you are in the Incirlik area, come on by! It will be
Saturday, November 13th from 2:30-5:00 at the Community Center.

At my table you will not only be able to look through catalogs and products, but you will also be able to sit down and make a quick and easy project like one of these three cards below!

 

If you're lucky enough to win one my door prize drawings your can expect to win a couple of the goodies below plus more!

Place an order as part of my Holiday Shopping Spree Workshop and get a free goody bag, perfect for stocking stuffers! Can't make it to workshop but still want to place an order? Contact me at adrienneadams@ymail.com and I'll walk you through the process! Happy Holidays everyone!!

Tempting Turquoise Trio

I love this color so much that I wanted to make a couple cards that really featured it well. I love using black and white or other neutral colors to really make my solo color pop.  Have a favorite color? Try letting it be the star like this Tempting Turquoise Trio below.

Supplies Used:
Paper: basic black, whisper white, and tempting turquoise cardstock,
            tempting turquoise designer series paper

Stamp Sets: Always, Afterthoughts

Ink: basic black, tempting turquoise

Other: Two Step Bird Punch, tempting turquoise brads (black brad from my own stash),
             basic black 3/8" taffeta ribbon

What Inspires You

One of the comments I hear the most in my classes is "I'm just not creative enough." Well I just don't believe it. We all have areas of creativity. For some it is painting; for others it is gardening. You may be a creative baker or have a creative parenting style. We are each inspired by different things. So if card-making or scrapbooking is something you'd like to do, but you fear you're not creative enough....go ahead and try it. You may surprise yourself. Just channel what inspires you into your project. If you love to paint, you may love to try filling in our stamped images with our watercolor crayons. If nature inspires you, play around with the colors of your garden or the fall foliage of the trees. If the kitchen is where your creativity flies, try creating some cute little boxes and bags to hand out your cookies and cupcakes in. Let your kids be your inspiration by scarpbooking that cherished photo of them. Inspiration is all around us, let that guide your creativity. And if all else fails, then do what I do when I hit a creative block.....CASE a project! CASE stands for Copy And Share Everything! There are so many talented artists out there who love to share what they do as much as I do. If you see a project you like, go ahead and copy it! Tweak it to fit your personal style. Use your favorite colors or go with a cupcake theme instead of flowers. It's up to you! Just don't let your fear keep you from trying something new that you may end up loving! And for all my personal customers out there, I'm here to help you too! Can only think of one way to use that favorite stamp set or punch you have? Let me know and I'll send you more ideas and help you find some inspirations of your own. So what inspires you? I want to know!

Two-Step, Too Easy!

Here's a little something I made long ago at one of my mom's clubs. It features a little of that two-step stampin' I showed you yesterday. 

 

And in case you need a little more inspirations check out these cards by some very talented stampers.

by Carrie Arsenault

by Lisa Martz

Let me know what your favorite stamp set for two-step stampin' is in the comment section below!

Two-Step Stampin'

 No, that's not a dance. 

It's what's going to be featured today in my first ever

Technique Tuesday! 

For the first Tuesday of every month I will show you a new technique. 

Eventually I these will be video techniques, but baby steps people....baby steps. 

So for today I will show you one of the first techniques I learned many many years ago. It is so simple! 

I lifted the instructions and pictures for this right off the Stampin' Up! website. Maybe tomorrow I will show you a project that I made myself using this same technique, but I ran out of time today.

So here it goes: Two-Step Stampin'

Technique A: Two-Step Stampin'
1]   Stamp the base image.
2]   Position and stamp the overlay or adjoining image.

 Technique B: Repetition (Stamping Off)
1]   Ink a stamp.
2]   Stamp the image.
3]   Restamp the image one or more times without re-inking it. This technique is a great way to get several shades of color from a single ink pad.


 


 QUICK TIP
Use lighter ink for the base image and darker ink for the overlying image.

NaBloPoMo

So apparently November is National Blog Posting Month. I am going to do my best to post a little something everyday, even if it is just to say hi. I do have some exciting things planed for this month, like video technique demonstrations, a top 5 or top 10 list every Thursday, and Friday's Feature where I show off, answer questions, and demonstrate one particular tool, stamp set, accessory, etc.  (Wow, that was a very long run-on.) So keep checking back in! I'll be showcasing lots of cards and decor to get us ready for the holidays!

Spook-tacular Ink-spirations

Yesterday I shared with you some super cute candy corn treat boxes. Today I want to share with you some other ideas from fellow demonstrators.

Did you know that our Big Shot machine not only does die cutting, but embossing too! Check out this cute card made with our spider web embossing template!

by Julie Pitta

Or how about this adorable banner!

by Angela Hilbig

Remember those candy bar sliders I showed you HERE? Well here is a smaller version of that, perfect for a pack of gum. Cute, right?

by Brenda Miller

Here's another way to dress up a candy bar for a special occasion.

by Susan Martin.

Have a Halloween project you want to share? Email me at adrienneadams@ymail.com. 

Happy Haunting everyone!

Candy Corn Treat Box!

Halloween is just around the corner, but it's not too late to get in the holiday spirit! Check out these super cute candy corn treat boxes!

 Here's how to make these sweet treat bags.

Start with a 4 1/2 by 3 inch rectangle.

Color, ink, or stamp your colors  like so:

 

I used Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie on Whisper White card stock.

Next, fill your paper over and put glue on one short and one long side.

 

Bring your short side with the glue over to meet the other short side (colored side) and press together to make a tube.

Then press the side with the glue together.

 Fill with your choice of candies, then with a little glue inside the rim, press together in the opposite direction of the fist side. Add a little detail by crimping the ends.

 And voila! A fun and fast way to dress up those Trick-or-Treat goodies!

Check in tomorrow for more Halloween inspirations!

OWL you need is a little creativity

Blogging is still pretty new to me, so please bear with me as I experiment with different photo programs, settings, etc. I hope regardless of my poor photo quality or layout, you will find some useful and inspiring ideas here.

When I first bought the owl punch from Stampin' Up! I had no idea how versatile it would be. I just fell in love with these adorable owls!

 

There is so much more to do with these. Take a look at these tulips (my favorite flower by the way)!

And how about this little girl?

I recently made some ghosts for my nephews' Halloween cards, but check out these other creepies you can make!

 

 Owls aren't just for fall you know! Here are a few winter ideas!

All these characters were made with the owl punch, 

 

which can be found at my online store! Just follow the link on the right!

Publish Post

Makeover Monday

Welcome to my first Makeover Monday!! What is Makeover Monday you ask? It is a day when I find inspiration from other sources, mainly non-Stampin' Up! sources, and give them a makeover! I recreate the project using Stampin' Up! products instead. Let me show you what I mean. 

Here is the before card, taken from my Paper Creations magazine, Spring 2010.

 

And here is my version!

It's that easy!

Submit your own Makeover Project and check back in to see if your project was selected to be featured on my next Makeover Monday!

Products used today:

Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Blushing Bride, Old Olive, Whisper White, and Old Olive Designer Series

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Rich Razzleberry, Lavender Lace

Two-Step Bird Extra-Large Punch

Fall Festival

Hi everyone! I had my first exhibit on Saturday and I thought I'd show you just a few of the projects I took with me. I thought a pumpkin craft would be appropriate for October. I made a smaller version of this years ago and thought I'd attempt a larger one for display. It's starting to get a little smooshed from it's travels, but I still think it's cute!

Here is a vase I dresses up a bit with some paper flowers I made out of the Tangerine Tango and Daffodil Delight Designer Series Paper.

 

Here are some of the cards that were on display. Isn't the owl adorable?!! He's new and one of my favorite punches. Later this week I will be showing you at least five other things to do make with the owl punch, besides owls! You won't believe how versatile it is.

 

Lastly, here is a candy bar slider that I made. It was super easy!

I had such a great time meeting other women who love to craft and making these fun little projects. Tune in later this week for more on the owl punch and check in tomorrow for my first Makeover Monday!

Handmade Holiday

Now is your chance to get ready for the holidays with our special Handmade Holiday Promotion! From October 19th - December 16th  you can purchase select products--perfect for Amazing cards, Beautiful packaging, and Cherished gifts--at a 20 percent discount! Be sure to use bundle item codes provided. The 20 percent discount will not be applied if individual bundle item numbers are entered separately. 

Comming Soon!!

Under construction and coming soon….a blog full of inspiration, ideas, and products to help you with all your stamping, card-making, scrapbooking, and home decor needs.