Inspiration Ink

True Blue Friend

I love the sentiment in the World Treasures Set.  Enjoy!

Uses World Treasures Wood-Mount Set plus Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad, Pacific Point Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, International Bazaar Designer Series Paper, Whisper White 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, In Color Dahlias, Glue Dots, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer, Craft Scissors, 1-3/8" Square Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and Apothecary Accents Framelits.

Everything Eleanor to You

I like the simple elegance of this card.  Hope you enjoy it too!

Uses Everything Eleanor Clear-Mount Set and Friendly Phrases Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block C, Clear-Mount Block E, Midnight Muse Classic Stampin' Pad, Marina Mist Classic Stampin' Pad, 2012-2014 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (Gumball Green), Subtles Collection Stampin' Write Markers (Bashful Blue), Gumball Green Card Stock, Marina Mist Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, White uni-ball Signo Gel Pen, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Color Spritzer Tool, Stampin' Trimmer, Paper Snips, and Post-It Notes (for masking).

Pink Cheers for You

I used the same technique for punching one edge of long strip of card stock that I showed in my Weekly Inspiration post yesterday on this card.  It could easily be adapted for any occasion or person by changing the colors used to match a favorite color, team colors, or school colors.  Enjoy!

  Uses Happy Hour Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block H, Raspberry Ripple Classic Stampin' Pad, Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin' Pad, Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin' Pad, Raspberry Ripple Card Stock, Pretty in Pink Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Subtles Collection Designer Series Paper Stack, Pink Pirouette 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, 3/16" Metallic Brads, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Trimmer, Paper Snips, Craft Scissors, Paper-Piercing Tool, Stampin' Pierce Mat, and Modern Label Punch.

Weekly Inspiration

This will be the last Weekly Inspiration on a Wednesday.  With the start of the new fiscal year for Stampin' Up!, I am making a few changes to my business.  One of the changes will be to publish the Weekly Inspiration post on a Thursday from now on.  So, be sure to check in on Thursdays starting on Thursday, July 5 for future Weekly Inspiration posts.

Today's card is a fun, kid-friendly one.  Enjoy!

Supplies

- Happy Hour, page 36, Clear - $21.95, Wood - $29.95

- Moving Forward, page 209, Clear - $14.95, Wood - $19.95

- Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad, page 153, $5.95

- Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, page 155, $5.95

- Old Olive 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 153, $6.95

- Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 156, $8.50

- Regals Collection Designer Series Paper Stack, page 162, $21.95

- Old Olive 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon, page 172, $7.95

- 3/16" Neutrals Brads, page 174, $6.95

- SNAIL Adhesive, page 177, $6.95

- Sticky Strip, page 177, $6.95

- Stampin' Trimmer, page 180, $29.95 (available soon)

- Paper Snips, page 180, $9.95

- Craft Scissors, page 180, $29.95

- Paper-Piercing Tool, page 181, $3.95

- Stampin' Pierce Mat, page 181, $4.95

- Modern Label Punch, page 183, $16.95

Directions

1)  Cut a piece of Old Olive Card Stock to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" using the Stampin' Trimmer.

2)  Score the card stock along the 8 1/2" side at 4 1/4" using the Scoring Blade on the Stampin' Trimmer.  Fold in half to make card.

3)  Cut a piece of Whisper White Card Stock to 4 x 5 1/4".

4)  Stamp frog from Moving Forward Set three times in Old Olive Ink in the upper center of the white rectangle.

5)  Stamp the looping path image below each frog in Not Quite Navy Ink.

6)  Cut a piece of dotted Not Quite Navy Designer Series Paper to 2 x 5 1/4".

7)  Adhere the designer paper strip to the bottom of the white rectangle.

8)  Adhere a piece of Old Olive 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon to the white rectangle to hide the seam between the white card stock and designer paper.

9)  Cut a piece of Old Olive Card Stock to 1/2 x 4 1/2".

10)  Stamp the sentiment from the Happy Hour Set in Not Quite Navy Ink in the center of the olive strip.

11)  Insert one end of the strip into one edge of the Modern Label Punch as shown.  Line the card stock up so the edge will punch evenly in the center of the strip and punch.

12)  Repeat step 11 with the other side of the strip.

13)  Adhere the punched strip to the center of the designer paper strip.

14)  Use the Paper-Piercing Tool and Stampin' Pierce Mat to poke a hole in either end of the punched strip.

15)  Insert Whisper White Brads and secure on the back by folding the prongs flat.

16)  Adhere the white rectangle to the card front.

Tips

 The new, firm foam style of ink pads can be very, very juicy.  Use a very light touch to ink up and stamp your images so you don't pick up stray lines.  Also be careful to allow ink plenty of time to dry before touching it.

While you do have to be a little more careful inking up your stamps using the new firm foam ink pads, I love the coverage and clean, crisp images they provide.

I like to keep some scissors just for cutting Sticky Strip.  That way I don't get my good scissors all gummed up and dull.

Remember that the Moving Forward Set is this year's Ronald McDonald House Charities Set.  Every time this set is purchased, Stampin' Up! donates $3 to this wonderful charity.

Summer Smooches Pouches

Stampin' Up! packages the Framelits and Edgelits Dies in these really cool plastic pouches.  However, I prefer to store my Framelits and Edgelits in Clear-Mount Stamp Cases that I decorate inserts for with My Digital Studio.  I couldn't bear to throw the pouches away though!  I knew I'd find some way to use them and I did!

I made these decorated pouches as extra treats for my June Club Hostesses and the first ladies in the Clubs to get their complete orders to me in June.  I figure they can use the pouches to store scraps of Designer Series Paper, punched pieces of card stock, Paper Daisies, scraps of ribbon, etc.  Or, they can use them to carry their cards back and forth from Classes.  I just sanded the logos off the pouches, cleaned them up by rubbing them down with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol to remove any sanding residue, and then decorated them up.  Enjoy!

Uses Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper, Island Indigo 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Lucky Limeade 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, 3/8" Brights Glimmer Brads, 3/8" Designer Printed Brads, Paper Daisies, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Designer Sanding Blocks, Stampin' Trimmer, Craft Scissors, Paper-Piercing Tool, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, 1" Circle Punch, empty pouches that used to hold Framelits or Edgelits, cotton balls, and rubbing alcohol.

No Take It Tuesday Today

Please be aware that there will be no Take It Tuesday today or next week (July 3) as I am taking a little break from holding events as the Stampin' Up! fiscal year winds down.

I will not be holding events as I spend time with my family and make a few changes to my business as the new Stampin' Up! fiscal year begins.

One of the changes I will be making once I resume holding events, will be switching Take It Tuesdays to Walk In Wednesdays.  They will work the same way and the hours will be the same (2 to 7 p.m.), but the day will now be Wednesday.  The first Walk In Wednesday will be on Wednesday, July 11.

Blue Ribbon Winner Prize

During June, I held a contest for my customers who came to my house for events.  In honor of the new Gumball Green color, I filled a clear glass vase with gumballs.  I then let my customers guess the number of green gumballs in the vase.  The customer who guessed the closest without going over would win a prize.

One of my customers, Linda Baskette, is a really good guesser!  She correctly guessed the exact number of green gumballs, 56!

This is the prize I put together for Linda;  it's a sampler of retired and new embellishments for her to use on her projects.  Enjoy, Linda!

Uses Blue Ribbon Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block E, Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad, Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad, Daffodil Delight Card Stock, Pacific Point Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, 6" x 8" Cellophane Bags, 3/16" Metallic Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer, Paper Snips, Paper-Piercing Tool, Stampin' Pierce Mat, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Extended Cutting Pads, Adorning Accents Edgelits, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die, and miscellaneous retired and current embellishments.

Butterfly Dots

Here's a fun and very easy card using the new A Fitting Occasion Set.  Enjoy!

Uses A Fitting Occasion Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block A, Clear-Mount Block B, Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad, Real Red Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper, Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Trimmer, Craft Scissors, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

June Club Contest Winners

Each month, I challenge the members of my Stampin' Clubs to create a project for a contest and submit it to me.  I assign a theme for them each month.  Everyone in the Clubs then votes on their favorite 2 entries and the top entries win their creators a $5 coupon to use on their next order.

For June, I told them the theme was "Anything Goes!"  They could create any kind of project they wanted.  Products used don't have to be current, but they do have to be Stampin' Up!

As always, all the projects submitted were amazing.  Thanks to everyone who played along by submitting a project and voting.

We actually had a tie for most popular project this month, so both creators are getting a $5 coupon from me.

The first winning project is a wonderful origami dress card by Connie Gibbons:

  Uses Oval All Set (retired) plus Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Night of Navy Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Subtles Collection Designer Series Paper Stack, Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Vanilla Rosettes (retired), Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Trimmer, Paper Snips, Craft Scissors, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, Large Oval Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, and Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

The second winning project is a very cool little piece of artwork by Missy Gosson:

  Uses Language of Friendship Set and Snow Burst Set (retired, on the butterflies) plus Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad, Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad, Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad, So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad, River Rock Classic Stampin' Pad, Bashful Blue Stampin' Write Marker, Calypso Coral Card Stock, Pool Party Card Stock, Tempting Turquoise Card Stock, So Saffron Card Stock, River Rock Card Stock, Jet Black StazOn Ink Pad, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Glue Dots, Crystal Effects, Sponge Daubers, Paper Snips, Bird Builder Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Little Leaves Sizzlits Die, wood, canvas, and staples.

Connie and Missy will each receive a $5 Coupon from me to use on their next order.  Fabulous creations, ladies!  Congratulations!

Accented Friend Treasure

The adorable little In Color Dahlias are so easy to use and add the perfect finishing accent to your projects.  Unfortunately, they don't scan very well.  The one used here is actually the Primrose Petals color and is pinker than it appears in this scan. 

I inked up the whole stamp using Midnight Muse Ink and then used a Blender Pen to carefully remove the ink from the word "friend" and the little flowers.  I then re-inked them with the Rose Red Marker.

Enjoy!

Uses World Treasures Wood-Mount Set plus Midnight Muse Classic Stampin' Pad, Subtles Collection Stampin' Write Markers (Rose Red), Midnight Muse Card Stock, Rose Red Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Floral District Designer Series Paper, Rose Red 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, In Color Dahlias, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Blender Pens, Stampin' Trimmer, Craft Scissors, Paper-Piercing Tool, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, Adorning Accents Edgelits, and Apothecary Accents Framelits.