In an Octopus's Garden

I'd like to be....under the sea...in an octopus's garden with you!

 

Surely you didn't think I could go another day without my octopus friend, did you?  I thought he needed an octopus garden made with lots of rocks and seaweed, so I made one using the retired flower builder punch.  I hope this inspires you to think how you can use your punches in so many unexpected ways!

 

The shaker card filled with sequins and glitter was a snap using the Shaker Frames and a Window Sheet.  If you would like a tutorial, post a comment and let me know.  I mean a comment from someone other than my Dad, whose curiosity knows no bounds :)

 

This card is one in a series to say thank you to my mom- we are celebrating her birthday in true beach style!  The images are from the Sea Street Stamp Set.  Click here to shop now.

 

Slide over, Crab!

Well, the octopus stamp had to have a rest for a day...but the crab was obliging!

Cards that move are the most fun of all...pull the ribbon...Don't let the crab pinch you!

 This card is one in a series to say thanks to my Mom- we are looking forward to spending some good time celebrating her birthday together on the beach :)

 

All of the underwater images on this card come from the Sea Street Stamp Set. 

The sentiments were created with the Rotary Alphabet stamp.

 

Click here to shop now.

Love that Octopus!

Well, I couldn't stay away from my octopus friend from the Sea Street Stamp Set.

Today he is holding up a big Thank You to my Mom, who has invited us to celebrate her birthday together.  The waves are created with the scallop edge punch, and the ombre effect helps us to remember that the octopus wants to hide down at the bottom- but I will find him and play with him anyway :)

...and when you open the card...POP! out comes the crab with a little flag of his own. 

The sentiment is from Another Thank You, a photopolymer stamp set.  Click here to shop now.

Big deal on the Big Shot

Have you heard the BIG news from Stampin' Up!? A fabulous deal on the Big Shot! Buy a Big Shot and choose from a selection of a free bundle of stamps and framelits to cut them out, or buy a bundle at 15% discount if you already own a Big Shot. There really is no better tool than the Big Shot for cutting out images and embossing to add dimension and texture to your creations.

Click here to learn more about this special deal, available through August, or to order yours now.


Click here to shop the weekly deals, available through Monday, August 11



Blendabilities are now available in all selected colors!  If you love to color, this is the tool for you!  Blend your colors to add depth with highlights and shadows with no streaking.  Click here to watch a quick video from Stampin' Up!  Click here to order your favorite colors.

Hooray for Sea Street!

I fell in love with this octopus from the Sea Street Stamp Set the minute I laid eyes on him.

I thought he needed to twirl and whirl across a card.

And I thought he needed some coral and kelp for his home, courtesy of Flower Patch stamp set and Flower Fair framelits.  The water for his sea came from the Confetti Celebration Designer Series Paper.

 The word Bubble Framelit perfectly cropped the word bubble from the Project Life Point & Click Stamp Set, but where did the word come from?  It is the new Rotary Alphabet stamp- fabulous flexibility to say whatever you want!

 

So, Hooray to you, little octopus, and hope to see you soon- I will be the one with the scuba tank on! 

 

This card is one in a series of thank you cards for my mom for getting us all together to celebrate her birthday :)

 

 



Wanderlust

I have had a serious case of wanderlust for some time now.  Thanks to my Mom, we are all going to travel a bit!  Here is the first in a series of thank you cards I have made for her.

 

Pull the tab...

Waterfall cards are so much fun!  This one features the Wanderlust stamp set

and the Confetti Celebration Designer Series Paper

Click here to shop now

Thank you, Ruth!

This card goes out to Ruth at West Hartford LifeLearn.  I teach classes through them, which works out very well for me because I can teach classes at the middle school art room without having to clean my house and without having to work around nap times and bedtimes.  Each quarter when I am supposed to turn in my requests for classes to be published in the course catalog, Ruth makes sure I get all my paperwork done- she reminds me to turn it in...then reminds me again... then again...

So thanks, Ruth, for taking care of me :)

• Stamping the layers in the Flower Patch stamp set was easy as pie- the photoploymer stamps allow you to see right through to your paper. 
• The coordinating Flower Fair framelits make cutting out the images a snap
• Confetti Designer series paper gives just enough texture and design to the background layer
• Click here to shop now

 

Deals you don't want to miss!

Here are some of the fabulous deals cooked up for you by Stampin' Up!


Stock up on your favorite patterns, or try something new!  Offer good through the month of July.
Click here to shop now.


Give My Paper Pumpkin a try- at half off!  Great value!
Sign up for My Paper Pumpkin here.  Thanks for selecting me as your demonstrator (Alison Appel)


Weekly deals special pricing good through Aug 4, 2014.
Shop weekly deals now

Pinwheels for PanCAN on Display

How cute is this display?!

This is the front window of A Little Something Bakery, over on Park Road in West Hartford.  Don't the pinwheels look fantastic?  Remember, they are available there as part of the PanCAN fundraiser  (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network) through July Fourth to honor my stepdad, born on The Fourth of July.

This morning, I spoke with Jennifer over at Blaze and Bloom, which features vintage and repurposed furniture and accessories.  She also speaks out for PanCAN.   She has invited me to sell the Pinwheels for PanCAN at the Red White and Blue sale at Blaze and Bloom this Saturday in Hartford.  Hurry on over :) 

If you don't live nearby and can't buy a pinwheel, know that I am donating all of my profits from sales through my Stampin' Up! website through midnight July 6th, in order to accommodate shoppers at Blaze and Bloom this weekend.  Shop the website by clicking here.

Visit the PanCAN website by clicking here.

Pinwheels for PanCAN

My stepdad, Dick King, was born on The Fourth of July.  We celebrated his birthdays with picnics and parties, fireworks, friends and family. His life was lost to pancreatic cancer.  This year, to honor him and to support the  Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (Pan CAN), I am having a quick fundraiser.  The pinwheels are being sold at A Little Something Bakery on Park Road in West Hartford, where Beth has been wonderfully supportive of my creative endeavors.  All proceeds from the sales of pinwheels will be donated to PanCAN. 

 

In addition, all profits from my Satmpin' Up! sales through July 4 will be donated to PanCAN. 

Click here to shop my Stampin' Up! website

Click here to go to the PanCAN website

Happy Fathers' Day, Brucie Moosey!

This Fathers' Day card may not be right for everyone, but I think it is just right for my Dad.

 

 

Love you, Dad!

Fathers' Day on the Open Sea

My husband and his father like to sail.  I think these cards are just right for Fathers' Day for them... but , really, they would be great for anybody, anytime!

 

Happy Fathers' Day, Pop Pop! Happy Fathers' Day, Jonathan!

Quatrefancy Stripes

As the Stampin' Up! catalog year draws to a close, you may find yourself with some very small pieces of  patterned paper.  Don't throw them in the trash! Use them up... so you can justify buying NEW patterned paper when the new catalog is available :)

 

This card uses some very small strips of Quatrefancy Designer Series Paper.

Here is how to make a similar piece to be used on a card or embellish a scrapbook page.  Simply gather your scraps- strips of varying width look nice.  Maybe add a coordinating solid color of cardstock and use the scallop edge punch on one side.  Use a scrap piece of cardstock about 4 by 5 1/4 inches as your base.  Adhere your strips to your base in a pleasing manner.  Run this through the Big Shot using the Top Note die.  Trim the edge where it looks perforated all around.  Cut a piece of cardstock using the Top Note Die (I used Strawberry Slush), and layer the two pieces together.

 

The base of the card uses the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folder for a bit of fun.  The sentiment is from the Express Yourself Hostess set, and is already sold out.

 

Remember, the Quatrefancy paper is available through June 1, or when supplies run out...

 

-A

Moving Box Card

A card should be fun to open...

 

 

This one opens like a moving box, but it is more fun than moving :)

 

To make this card, cut one piece of paper in half top to bottom, and another in half side to side. Then trim 1/8 inch more from where you just cut.  Score the skinnier piece 2 3/4 from each end, score the thicker piece 2 1/8 from each end.  Layer them in the center and fold them in.

 

 

 

The Quatrefancy Designer Series Paper is a colorful burst of energy on this card.  It coordinates with the Mosaic Madness stamp set and Mosaic Punch.  The stamps and paper will be available in the next catalog- the paper will not!  Don't miss out :) Retiring items are available through June 1, or when supplies run out...

 

The "hello" sentiment from the Perfect Pennants and the layer of cardstock under it are cut out in a snap using the Banners Framelits dies.

 

-A

Twin Starburst Cards

Don't throw out your scraps! These cards were made from leftover strips of Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper from yesterday's card.  When I teach a class I often have extras just in case, and I like to challenge myself to find a new way to use the pieces I have already cut.

 

The card with the window hole created by the Starburst Framelits leaves you with a cool piece you can add to another card!  Someone in the class left their pieces behind, so don't be surprised if I use them as accents on a scrapbook page...

 

-A

 

Good Thoughts

Here is a card that you could use for almost anything!

                                                                Cute on the outside...

                                                                   ...fun to open!

 

Love that Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper- get it before it is gone!  Retiring items are available through June 1, or when supplies run out.  The ruffled ribbon is already gone, but the stamp set Perfect Pennants will be contiunue to be available in the next catalog.

I have used this card layout before- in this card for my niece:

 

When you find something you like, run with it! It may be a card layout, color combination or technique. Be inspired by these things and put your own twist on an original creation- even if you are inspired by something you made yourself :)

 

Check out the new Weekly Deals- alweays something exciting...

 

-A

Amazing new deals!

This is the shopping spree you have been waiting for! Three amazing new deals...
Paper Pumpkin Deal-Get 50% Off June's Kit (posted by Stampin' Up! may 21)
Yesterday afternoon we sent an e-mail to demonstrators who aren't currently Paper Pumpkin subscribers offering them half off of June's kit if they subscribe before May 23. Because of an innocent miscommunication here at the home office, some demonstrators were told that the deal was intended for customers as well. While that wasn't our original intention, we are happy to share the deal with all of you and any customers you want to tell about it. Check out Shelli's invitation below, and make sure to sign up by this Friday!
What: 50% off June's kit
When: Subscribe by Friday, May 23
Where: MyPaperPumpkin.com/signup or call 1-800-STAMPUP
How: Enter the promo code SHELLIDEAL





Retired List Blowout Sale (posted May 20, 2014)
Get excited! We are currently offering a 25%-50% discount on many of the retiring products. This will be live on May 22, but you have to act fast, as this special offer is only available for the until June 4, 2014. If you missed out on a product the first time, this is your last chance to get it before it's gone for good!

A-Z A-ZZ-A< Price> PriceNEWESTOLDEST

1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon Price: $7.95$5.96 Basic Gray 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Price: $4.95$3.71 Blushing Bride 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Price: $4.95$3.71 Early Espresso 1/8 Inch Taffeta Ribbon Price: $5.95$4.46 International Bazaar Photobook Template - Digital Download Price: $14.95$8.97 Made From Scratch Recipes Designer Template - Digital Download Price: $17.95$10.77 Pear Pizzazz 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon Price: $6.95$5.21 Whisper White 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Price: $4.95$3.71 Wild Wasabi 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Price: $4.95$3.71