Spring is Blossoming!

Spring is here (so they say), and so is a sneak peek of a brand new stamp set and gorgeous new DSP (designer series paper) that will be in the next Stampin'Up! catalog coming out in July. So during the month of April, you will be able to buy these brand new products with a purchase of at least $20. Click on the link in the sidebar for full details, and then click on over to my website and the Shop Now section to place your order. Remember, this is only during the month of April, and then they will not be available again until July!

Also, check out the Clearance Rack (link in the sidebar) for some great online "Grab Bag" deals while supplies last!

Tons of Techniques

Our last "Tons of Techniques" class was a lot of fun. Here are the projects we made. We used sets from the Occasions Mini and Sale-a-bration Mini. The first card was made with the Create a Cupcake set and coordinating punch. The fun texture of the icing was created by embossing the Tombow multi-purpose glue!

The next card uses the Clearly for You set. The focal point uses the Faux Silk technique, and the background was made with a technique called Texture Plate Smoosh (from the Technique Junkie newsletter).
The next 2 cards are examples of Embedded Embossing. Class participants were given a choice between these cards.....no one could choose, so we made both! The first card uses images from the Sale-a-bration set, Punch Bunch. The technique used on the focal point of both cards is called Neutral Shadows (from the Technique Junkie newsletter).
The second card uses the Plane & Simple set from the Occasions Mini. Each card uses the same technique for the background just a little differently.

Be sure to sign up for the next Tons of Techniques class, scheduled for Thurs., April 28th, 6:30 p.m. or Fri., April 29th, 10 a.m. Space is limited, so contact me today at the e-mail address above to reserve your spot.

Sale-A-Bration.....only a few weeks left!

There are only a few weeks left to take advantage of all the Freebies you can get with our Sale-a-bration promotion. The deadline is March 31st. Contact me today to schedule a workshop or place an order. Or link to my website to shop online.

This card is made with the sets, "Sweet Summer" and "So Happy For You" (the greeting), and Ice Cream Parlor designer series paper, ribbon and button from the Sale-a-bration mini catalog.

Let's have cake.....cupcakes, that is!

Our next class, Create a cupcake, is this Thursday, March 10th, 6:30 p.m. and Friday, March 11th, 10 a.m. We will make cards that use the "Create a Cupcake" set and the coordinating Build a Cupcake punch from the Occasions Mini Catalog. We won't necessarily be making cupcakes! Rsvp by Wednesday, March 9th.

The following cards were projects from our last "Tons of Techniques" class which focused on watercoloring. The first card is from the Occasions Mini Hostess set "Slice of Life". We used Stampin'Up!'s Stampin-write markers scribbled on an acrylic block, and picked up the color w/ a blender pen to apply.

The next card is made using the "A Flower for All Seasons" set, which is one of the sets you can choose as your Sale-a-bration Freebie! It also uses the Ice Cream parlor DSP and a button from the Ice Cream Parlor ribbon and buttons pack; also SAB Freebies! We colored using SU's watercolor pencils and Sans Odor Oil w/ blending stumps.

Our 3rd project used the "Peace Within" set. We colored using SU's watercolor crayons and a mix of blender pens and aquapainter.

If you are interested in taking a class, but can't make the scheduled date, contact me to arrange a class at a time more convenient for you.

Nature Walk

Our last class was based on the Nature Walk stamp set available in the new Occasions Mini Catalog. Here are the cards we made...all inspired and/or CASEd (copy and share everything) from other SU demonstrators' ideas.

This card was inspired by a card created by demonstrator, Cherie Franklin. I made only minor changes, although the Designer Series Paper (DSP) I used for the stamped panel in the center of this project was actually printed from My Digital Studio (MDS) onto Whisper White cs. The advantage....everyone in the class can have the same piece of DSP. The maroonish piece of DSP, punched with the border punch was also printed on WWcs from MDS. The Framed Tulips embossing folder is available in the Occasions Mini Catalog.

I CASEd this card from a card by demonstrator, Kay Kalthoff. The shadow stamp behind the images in this card was actually made with a clear acrylic block.

This card was inspired by a card created by demonstrator, Holly Krautkremer, and posted on stampinaddicts.com/gallery. This card requires very little stamping and is accented with basic pearls (get 150 in a pkg for $4.95).

This card was CASEd from a card by demonstrator, Jodi Kutz. The first 3 projects went so quickly that we picked this card out and made it as a bonus. That's the advantage of coming to class...all your supplies are already cut a ready to stamp and assemble!

Check out my Stampin'Up! website for the schedule of future classes. (www.stampinwithmarge.stampinup.net)

Happy Stamping,

Marge

Tons of Techniques Class this Thursday and Friday!

This weeks Tons of Techniques class will be focusing on watercoloring techniques. Classes are Thursday, Feb. 24th, at 6:30-9:30 pm, or Friday, Feb. 25th, at 10 am - 1 pm, at my home in Morris Plains, NJ. The fee is $15. Please bring your favoriate adhesive to class, as well as a blender pen and aqua painter (water pen) if you have them to decrease sharing time.

Here's a sneak peak of one of our class projects. There's still room, but space is limited. Let me know if you can make it by Wednesday. If ever there's a class you would like to take, but you can't make my scheduled class, please feel free to contact me to schedule an additional class. There may be others in the same boat. Or I can schedule a class for you and your friends. Classes are usually scheduled the 2nd and 4th Thursday evening and Friday morning of the month.

Happy Stamping,

Marge

Petal Cone Bigz L Die

The Petal Cone Bigz L Die is new in the current Occasions Mini Catalog which you can see by clicking on the link on this page. I've seen many adorable samples created with this die used in so many different ways. This was my valentine to my husband (and a similar one for my daughter--filled, of course, with chocolate!), inspired by a number of different samples I found, but mostly, thank you to Andrea Walford and the Paper Crafters Library for your video tutorial with great tips on how to use this die.

The decorative band is embossed using the Big Shot and SU's Finial Press embossing folder, sponged with Cherry Cobler die ink, and then the pad was scraped across the top of the embossed image. Even the half scallop under the flap and the banner are part of this die. The LOVE note was created using My Digital Studio (MDS) with the "Filled with Love" download, and printed on my Brother inkjet printer on Whisper White cs.

As I get time, I will be playing with this die and posting some new projects.

Happy Stamping,

Marge