Wednesday, February 29, 2012

My Digital Studio CARDS

Since we are in a great promotion right now where you can download a FREE version of My Digital Studio, I thought I would show you some great cards that come with the program.  These actually were a part of My Digital Studio package.  These can be modified to suit individual needs and tastes.  I love how easy these are to download and either print myself or have SU!'s printing service print.  The SU! quality is truly remarkable.  I've had pages and cards made up and they look so professional.
I love the colors on these cards and how bright and cheery they are.

Here's a card I made with My Digital Studio using the last card above as a template and modifying the papers, stamps, ribbons, and embellishments.  It's really great to use what SU! already gives me to go ahead and change a bit with some of the newer digital downloads for purchase.  Most of these downloads are from the latest mini catalog or saleabration catalog.
 I can't wait to print this card off and and send it to the next friend of mine who has a birthday!


With the FREE 30-day trial, you’ll get:
* Full access to the software at NO COST for 30 days.
* Full design functionality.
* Exclusive artwork that comes with My Digital Studio Express—that’s $50 worth of content!
* Opportunity to purchase additional downloads from designer templates to stamp brush sets--and everything in between.
* Access to our professional print services.

For use beyond 30 days, purchase My Digital Studio Express or My Digital Studio disc version.
You can purchase either on my website.



Tuesday, February 28, 2012

MY DIGITAL STUDIO

I just wanted to post this Stampin Up! video about My Digital Studio so that you know the difference between the full version and the express version.  SU! is offering a FREE trial through my website and it's really a great program to check out.  The express version has a lot in it if you are interested in trialing it.  Check out this video.



I've been using My Digital Studio for several years and I have made a lot of scrapbook pages and crafts and have done quite a few projects for work also. 

Monday, February 27, 2012

KATHY WINLAND'S MIXED BUNCH BUTTERFLY CARD

Have you seen the new SU! stamp set MIXED BUNCH?  It's a great floral set and it has a matching blossom punch.  If you look in the Occasions mini catalog (there is a link on my blog on the right hand side) you will see a great card in the catalog for this set (p 16).  Someone cleverly came up with cutting the stamped blossom and making it into a butterfly.  So very cool.  So, when the Stampin Sistah's got together this past December to preview the new sets, Kathy Winland came up with this great card that she demonstrated using the MIXED BUNCH stamp set.  Her butterfly looked exactly like the one in the mini catalog, however...my good friend Sandi cut hers just a little bit different (not sure if it was by accident or not) and I really liked her butterfly look.  I decided to go with that look on my card.  While the card below is what Kathy demonstrated, it is the card I actually made. 
Notice how I tried to dimensionalize my butterfly by curling the wings, and I also added some extra stamped wings on the bottom to try to simulate movement.  We used kraft card stock, pink pirouette card stock, soft suede and whisper white card stock.  The blossom, I mean butterfly - was stamped with soft suede, but I really think it looks gold in the picture.  We used SU! linen thread for the body and antennae for the butterfly.  The soft suede card stock is textured and we used the new SU! edglit to get the cool scalloped edges on the sides.  The ribbons are also SU!

This is a really great card and I must thank Kathy for demonstrating it.  I can't wait to make more butterflies with this set especially since Spring is coming soon.

MIXED BUNCH STAMP SET

Stamp beautiful, unique flowers or create an entire flower garden in no time with this intricately designed six-piece set. Makes a thoughtful gift! Coordinates with the Blossom, 3/4" Circle, and 1" Circle Punches.

THE BLOSSOM PUNCH 125603
Punch stamped images in the Mixed Bunch Set for beautiful, unique flowers in no time! Or punch an entire flower garden from card stock or Designer Series Paper.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

FIELD FLOWERS

I just recently purchased the SU! stamp set FIELD FLOWERS.  I love this set.  It's got amazing appeal.  I've had my eye on this set since it made it's debut in the main SU! idea book this past July.  I kept it on my wish list until just a few weeks ago.  What finally got me to move it to the purchase list was this awesome card that I CASED from my friend and co-demonstrator Ruth Murphy.  I'm not sure if she is the original designer of this card or not, but I have to say...it's amazing. 
Isn't this just an elegant card?  The colors are great together.  They are clean and they are neutral.  This could be an anniversary card, a sympathy card, a birthday card, anything.  The background stamp is the HELLO DOILY.  There are some neutral brads up in the top right hand corner and the entire stamped image on very vanilla card stock is offset and elevated with dimensionals onto very vanilla background. Really clever.  I didn't change this card at all.  I absolutely love it.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

MORE SALEABRATION CARDS!

Here are two more cards I made for saleabration.  One of the cards was one of my leadership swaps.  I wanted to use stamp sets and papers that I earned FREE for saleabration.
 The Stamp Set I used for both cards is ELEMENARY ELEGANCE.  It's gorgeous.  I love the elements in the stamp set.  The sentiment, the flourished frame, the crown, the swallow, the butterfly, the key.  Ahhh!  such beauty.  This is one of the best saleabration sets, SU! has released in years.  I usually like every set SU! puts out for saleabration.  This one I love.  And I love the dsp - Everyday Enchantment.  Notice how different the papers are that are in the package.  It's nice to have such a cool selection.  The card above has another Saleabration FREEBIE.  One of the selections for saleabration is a pack of brads and ribbons that match the dsp. Really neat!
This card is really clean and simple.  I love the little crown and I added a rhinestone jewel.  This is a great quick and easy card to make.

Friday, February 24, 2012

SU! SALEABRATION 2012 GIFT BAG - MDS STYLE

One of the gifts we had to make our secret sister at Leadership for SU! this year, was a decorated gift bag.  These bags, or as some call them - "sacks" - are widely available.  Most people give gifts and goodies in gift bags these days, so I thought it was a neat idea to consider decorating them.  Earlier in the week I showed you the kraft gift box I decorated.  Today, it's the gift bag.  I decided to use my NEW SALEABRATION MY DIGITAL STUDIO CD to make the decoration.  I earned the CD for FREE with a $50 SU! purchase.  You can do the same until March 31st.  I used EVERYDAY ENCHANTMENT for the background and Sprinkled Expressions Stamped Brush Set for the stamp.
If you notice, the decoration for the gift bag is attached to the bag with brads?  The reason I did this, is to show that you can actually change the look of the bag.  Just print off a different MDS front and attach it.  This comes right off the gift bag.  Isn't that cool?  It was my own idea, or at least I have never seen this done before.  I added the grosgrain ribbon and that can be changed out as well. 
To match the gift bag, I made this topper for a cello bag (we carry these cello bags) that holds chocolate.  Mmmm Mmmm!  This was also created with MDS and then I die cut the scalloped edge with the NEW EDGLITs from the mini catalog. 

This is a great idea also for gifts to give at the office, at school, to friends and family.  I have several birthdays coming up and then it will be Easter soon, so this idea is really going to come in handy!


Click on the Digital Designing above to download a FREE COPY OF MY DIGITAL STUDIO and to check out the fastest growing SU! website for digital crafting.  There are so many ideas there and you can experience the website for FREE.  You don't even have to be a demonstrator.

Then with a $50 SU! purchase from me, you can earn a CD with all of the SALEABRATION exclusive items on it.

I promise you will not be disappointed when you try out My Digital Studio.  And what have you got to lose?  Nothing!  Because it's FREE!  If you like it, you can purchase the full version or express version.  It uses all kinds of images and you can add your own or you can add SU! images. Each week SU! releases new digital artwork, papers and stamp brush sets!  There's something for everyone! It's so easy and so much fun!  Get yours today!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SISTER

Today is my baby sister Celena's Birthday!  She shares it with my mom.  I made this card 5.5 by 5.5 and then handmade an envelope to go with it.  SU! has just come out with a new ANGLER board for the Scoring Board and you can make boxes and envelopes and lots of other creative projects.  I am so excited about this tool.  It slips right over the scoring board and works like a charm. I'm not sure if it works with other boards, but you could give it a try or just get the SU! one.  SU! guarantees everything they sell.  Always a money back guarantee and they stand by their products.

This particular card uses the Happiest Birthday wish from Apothecary Art.  I love how elegant the font is.  I also added a satin ribbon that started out as white and I dyed it using pretty in pink reinker.  Love how it turned out.  I added SU! pearls in the largest size which is a new embellishment in our mini catalog and I also used the largest size from the multi-size pack that is in the idea book.


The butterflies were die cut with a SU! die for the SU! BIG SHOT.  I also embossed them.  The colors match perfectly!


Here's the inside of the card before I signed it.  I used my cricut to die cut the Happy Birthday. 

And here's my home made envelope using more SU! dsp.

I used more die cut SU! butterflies that I embossed and I added some SU! pearls and the happy birthday.  Inside the card is a Starbucks gift card which I know Celena will love.

Happy Birthday Mom and Celena!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

ARRAY OF SUNSHINE

Tomorrow is my mother's birthday.  I sent her a few cards and this is another one.  We actually made this card as one of our make and takes at Hsiao-hui's home earlier in the month for Chinese New Year saleabration.  I wanted to show how wonderful the SU! HOSTESS SET ARRAY OF SUNSHINE is.  It's really easy to stamp the flowers.  You can stamp them directly onto card stock and you can even cut them out and layer them.  Here I just stamped the main flower with calypso coral ink directly to whisper white card stock.  I love stamping directly onto this card stock.  It is so smooth and takes the ink incredibly well.  Try stamping on other papers and you will definitely notice a difference.  SU! ultrasmooth whisper white is the best paper to stamp on in my book!


The flower was stamped first and then masked so that the leaves could be stamped and have it look like the flower is in the forefront.  You can do this by taking a post it note and stamping the flower image onto it.  Cut the flower out and adhere it to the stamped flower on the white u/s card stock, then stamp the leaves. Pretty cool, I'd say!  I did the envelope the same way.  The white card stock was embossed using the FRAMED TULIPS embossing folder by SU! for the BIG SHOT.  I love that little extra detail on these cards.
You can click on this photo or the one above to see the embossing in even more detail.  The other thing I did was to add SU! dazzling diamonds glitter to the flower.  It really sparkles.  The sentiment is stamped with basic black SU! classic permanent ink.  The Celebrate Today comes from a great new set called PERFECTLY PENNED.  It is actually new to the 2011-12 idea book by SU! so some of you may have seen it used before.  Believe it or not, I waited until now to get this set.  What was I thinking?  It is classic and I could have been using it for months.

Here's another photo.  This one shows the envelope by itself.  The Happiest Birthday is from the new Occasions mini catalog stamp set Apothecary Art.


Tuesday, February 21, 2012

CONSIDER YOURSELF HUGGED - and PAT'S BIRTHDAY CARD

A dear friend of mine has been having a bit of a ruff (I mean rough!) time this past week and I wanted to send her a card to let her know that she is loved and cared about and hugged!  I got this stamp a few years ago at a local stamp show.  I put it on my stamp shelf since it wasn't a SU! stamp and left it there to admire.  However, this past weekend, it was time to dust it off the shelf and put it to good use.  I stamped the image with basic black ink and then colored it in.  The sentiment goes along with the image and I decided to stamp that and add it as an embellishment to the card.


The card stock I used was actually some really good white card stock that came with some printing I had done professionally with SU!  It was really heavy and took the coloring I added, really well.  I also used soft suede and real red from SU! as well.  The dsp is from a pack that I bought last year or the year before around valentine's day.  It goes really well with this card and I made it a little more interesting by embossing it with the SU! dots embossing folder. 

Here's another card using the same dsp.  A good friend of mine - Pat Nuckels - had a birthday last month and I never posted the card I made for her.


The Birthday Wishes sentiment is from SU! and embossed with SU! cherry cobbler embossing powder.  The hearts were die cut and embossed with the BRAND NEW SU! FASHIONABLE HEARTS embosslit in the new SU! OCCASIONS mini catalog.  Hope your birthday was great Pat!

Monday, February 20, 2012

GIFT BOX USING ROSETTE DIE AND NEW SU! SMOOCH SPRITZ AND BLOSSOM PUNCH

Have you seen the SU! Kraft Boxes?  They are in the new SU! Occasions Mini catalog sized 3.5 by 3.5 by 2.5 and are perfect to put little gifts or candies in.  I made this box for my secret sister at SU! Leadership 2012.  Her favorite color is Melon Mambo!

I used the NEW SU! ROSETTE die that I cut down to fit the box and added some punched blossoms, including the NEW BLOSSOM punch in the mini.   I spritzed everything with the NEW BLUSHING BRIDE smooch spritz.  Oh, I love this color. I put a large pearl in the center and then around the entire box.  The pearls on the side are adhered to designer paper that I die cut with the Tasteful Trim die for SU! BIG SHOT!
Inside the box I put some Baltimore home made Wockenfuss chocolate.  My secret sister really loved this.
You can get a package of these boxes (4) for only $2.95 and they are really cool to decorate.

Here's the card that I made to go with this gift box.

Again, used the BLUSHING BRIDE SU! SMOOCH SPRITZ inside and outside of this card.  The blossoms are punched out and embossed.  I also die cut a lace doiley from the NEW LARGE SIZZLET that SU! has in the Occasions Mini.  This one was actually die cut for me by Linda Kincaid before I owned the sizzlet, which I now have.  I spritzed the doiley as well.  The inside of the card is spritzed and the glimmer up close looks really neat.  Did you notice that the card back ground is embossed with the square lattice embossing folder, my favorite?
In a future post, I'll share what my secret sister gave me and also in another future post, I'll share more cards and crafts I made for Leadership.

KRAFT BOXES BY SU! 
Kraft Gift Box (set of 4) 124106

Personalize this box to make your holiday gifts and goodies the envy of the
neighborhood. Kraft color offers an ideal canvas for stamping or covering
with Designer Series Paper—for anyone, for any occasion. Add your own tag
or topper. Includes four (4) boxes. Approximate size: 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" x 2-1/2".

HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY!


Wishing everyone a happy holiday today.  It's President's day!  I'll have a post a little later, but in the meantime, for all of those who have a day off, be safe and enjoy it.  For all of us who have to work, we will be thinking of you enjoying it and of course giving our best at work!


Sunday, February 19, 2012

SALE-A-BRATION HYBRID MDS BIRTHDAY CARD

Thursday is my mother's birthday.  I love sending my mother cards, especially birthday wishes.  This is one of several cards that I made for my mother.  I was so excited to receive my Sale-a-Bration CD from SU! that I went right to work creating with it.  This paper is the same paper that you can earn for FREE as designer series paper.  I just printed it out from MDS to make it even more vibrant and added it to Very Vanilla and Calypso Coral In Color SU! card stock.  The elegant frame and sentiment were also part of the paper I printed using My Digital Studio (MDS).  I also die cut and embossed the butterflies to match with a SU! embosslit.  The rhinestones are also courtesy of SU!  They are just the best. I've tried other brands of rhinestones, but none sparkle and shine as much as the ones from SU!  The SU! ones adhere better also!
There's also a rhinestone adhered to the crown in the center of the card.  Everything is printed using My Digital Studio.  I really love this digital program.  And GUESS WHAT?  You can try My Digital Studio for FREE!  Just head on over to my website and you will be able to try it for FREE for 30 days.  Isn't that a cool idea?  I know you will love it as much as I do.  And I give personal lessons.  If you purchase SU! from me you can come over anytime and learn lots about using this wonderful program.

Friday, February 17, 2012

FABULOUS FLORETS-CARD I'M IN LOVE WITH

I had to have this set- FABULOUS FLORETS- when it first came out.  To this day, I'm incredibly happy to have this set, still!  It's probably my number one "go to" set when I need a floral set.  I've made birthday cards, sympathy cards, wedding cards, engagement cards, get well cards, thinking of you cards and more with this wonderful set.  Even though we are in the midst of saleabration, I had to pull this set out and create something with it.  The great thing about saleabration as a demonstrator is that I don't have to only create with saleabration products as much as I love to.  I can show you anything, and today, I just had to show this card.
I started out with whisper white card stock that I embossed with the dots embossing folder for the BIG SHOT.  I then tone on tone stamped some of the flowers onto the poppy parade card stock.  Look carefully to see it, or just click on the card above and you will see it enlarge.  I stamped the flowers with the poppy parade ink right onto the card stock.  Next I added complimentary poppy parade twill ribbon which matches perfectly.  This is exactly what I LOVE about Stampin Up!  Everything coordinates!  The flowers were stamped with basic black ink onto whisper white.  Our whisper white card stock is so smooth and is so nice to stamp on.  I took out my aquapainters and painted the flowers with ink to match the card.  The Just for You sentiment was stamped in basic black and punched out.  Everything was layered strategically onto the card to make visibly appealing. I added dazzling diamonds glitter so that this card really sparkles.

I haven't quite decided yet who will get this card.  I probably have to keep it on my craft table for awhile to really enjoy it for awhile and inspire me to make something else similar.  I think I was originally inspired by looking at one of the cards craft magazines I have a subscription to, but it looks nothing like any of the cards in the magazine.  Sometimes you just need to grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back with your feet up and just look at what's inside some of these magazines.  The other places I sometimes go for inspiration are to other friends blogs or to pinterest or just to some of the SU! websites.  Regular magazines often have great trendy color combinations to try.  My complimentary color  here is concord crush.  Both concord crush and poppy parade are in the in color groups for 2010-2012.  This June our new SU! Idea book comes out and we will have some new IN COLORS to try.  These 2 are part of the color group that is set to retire.  sigh!  If you like these colors, think about ordering them soon so you have them available to use on all of your favorite projects.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

ANOTHER TAKE IT TO HEART SALEABRATION SAMPLE

I've been so pleased with the Saleabration selections that SU! has offered us this year.  The stamp sets and the papers have been amazing.  I really love the Enchantment papers and used them again for this card.  These papers go really well with our IN COLORS for 2012-13 - in particular - lucky limeade, calypso coral, and pool party.  These are the colors I used here.  I embossed the bird in the heart using white embossing powder and did a heat emboss.  First ink the stamp with versamark or white craft ink (ink stays wet longer and holds the embossing powder), and then add white embossing powder.  Use of an embossing buddy helps keep stray powder off the image.  Next heat til the image "pops" of the card stock.  This stamped image is from Take it to Heart stamp set in the Occasions mini catalog.  I also distressed the edges of the dsp with my SU! distressing tool.  I'm going to send this card to my aunt today who is feeling just a little bit under the weather.  You may have heard me refer to her as the little songbird of the playgrounds.  Julie was a famous soprano from New Foundland in her day.  I hope she will like the card.



Tuesday, February 14, 2012

TODAY IS VALENTINE'S DAY!

After work last night I had a great valentine birthday with friends. My dear sweet friend Patty was born on valentines day. Her hubby-it turns out-was born 2/13. How is that for coincidence? Well he was out of town on business so Mary Jo and I took her to dinner! We had a wonderful time! When I got home my husband and son had some cards and gifts. They knew I had an early day today so they wanted to make sure I had them.

This am, I just saw a cool post from my crafty sister. She made a huge valentine box for her family and filled it with candies. So, since I have a busy am, thought I'd just share her photo.

Have a great valentines everyone! May it be filled with love!

Monday, February 13, 2012

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FRAME

As a SU! demonstrator, I receive a monthly magazine from Stampin Up! featuring great articles on stamping and crafting ideas, business tips, stamping techniques, ways to use different stamps, how to carry out great workshops and more.  The magazine called Stampin Success, has a feature project each month.  In anticipation of Valentine's day, Stampin Success featured this beautiful framed heart project that features come of the new SU! Occasions mini catalog stamp sets, some Big Shot dies (Timeless Type for the LOVE) and the new Heart framelits. 

Here's my version of the framed project just in time for this Valentine's Day.

This will be a framed project I will display for years.
Early Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!