August 29 - You're the BEST

That first school bell of the year has rung which means Holly goes back to work! It's a good thing I love my job so much, otherwise three months off might be too hard to recover from.

As what happens to most of my cards, this was just a me-playing-around card. I wanted to experiment with making some flowers and it was fun! If I can figure out how to do it, I'll be posting a video in the next few days on how to make some like the blue one. That one flower is all one layer and was really fun to make.

But now its back to school for me - I think I can hear the bell already!

Don't forget - only a few more days to order the Clear Cards Kit. (Information is in the previous post!) Don't miss out!

August 18 - Clearly Creative Card Kit

Have you ever wanted to make the projects from a class or workshop but just don't have the time? I have the perfect solution for you - Project Kits! It's a workshop/class in an envelope!

Click here to see the Clearly Creative Cards Flyer!

The kit itself is $12 and includes the supplies below to make the 3 clear cards shown above:

• 3 clear cards (Cut & Embossed)
• 2 Polka Dotted Brads
• 1 Pear Pizzazz Glimmer Brad
• 2 Silver Mini Brads
• 2 Rhinesone Jewels
• 6" Whisper White Satin, Pear
• Pizzazz Seam Binding and Pool Party
• Ruffled Ribbon (cut with adhesive)
• 1 Sponge Dauber & 1 Sponge Wedge
• 4 Paper Flowers
• All Cardstock and Designer Series Paper (Cut, Embossed & Punched)
• 3 Matching Medium Envelopes
• Step-by-Step Instruction Sheet (PDF) will be emailed to you on September 10 when your kit ships.

The items below are NOT included in the kit, but are used to create the project cards. If you already have the items - GREAT! To order a kit just email holly@hollystamps.com requesting your kit and any additional items below you'd like to add. The kit and your additional items order will ship together. Kits may be ordered from any country for an additional shipping cost, but I am not able to ship ordered extras to any country outside of the USA. Local orders may be delivered. A Pay Pal invoice will be emailed to you within 24 hours and must be paid by August 31st for your kit to ship out on September 10th. Tax & shipping will be added to the item prices below but are already included in the kit price.

STAMPIN' UP! DEMONSTRATORS:

The Step-by-Step Instruction Sheet (a PDF file) can be purchased for $5 by emailing holly@hollystamps.com. The PDF file will be emailed to you on September 1, 2011. Please include a link to your profile on Stampin' Connection so I can verify that you are a demonstrator. Thank you!

August 17 - Meet CONNIE and a Ribbon Share!

Over the next few months I'll be introducing you to my wonderful, amazing and talented Funky Stampers team members.

Today I'd like to introduce you to Connie Kuhn!

Connie recently entered some cards and scrapbook pages in the Richland County Fair and won TWELVE prize ribbons! We're so proud of her, but not surprised - she has a talent with paper!

Connie has been a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in the Shelby, Ohio area for over a year and enjoys getting crafty and attending car shows and cruise-in's with her husband. She's also a HUGE Trace Adkins fan and recently met him for the first time (without passing out!).

We love her because she's always the first to pass along a link to a great new technique or a funny email, has an infectious laugh and has lovingly been given the nickname of "our fearless leader".

Connie has recently organized a fantastic ribbon share, you can click here for the details and sign up with her using the contact information included if you love ribbon as much as we do! It's a great way to try out some of the different Stampin' Up! ribbons without putting a huge dent in your craft budget.

August 13 - Thank You Petals

Time for another quicky post while I'm at Mimi's Getaway! This is one of the cards we made at last month's Ultimate Card Day.

We will be having another Ultimate Card Day in October featuring Holiday Cards - details for that event will be coming SOON so check back!

The colors used on this card were the new Pool Party, Baja Breeze, Whisper White and Crumb Cake.

"See" you tomorrow!

August 12 - Happy Birthday Card

Sorry for the quick drive-by post tonight, but I'm currently enjoying myself, being completely pampered by Mimi at Mimi's Getaway. Stamping and Scrapbooking to my heart's content.

That means I should have tons to share with you next week!

Hope you have a fantastic and creative weekend!

August 9 - "Hi" Embossing

It's workshop day!

My hostess and her friends will be making this card this afternoon so I thought today I would "sneak peek" one of my workshop cards for August.

I do 3 unique cards every month for workshops so if you'd like to have some friends over to make this card and two others just contact me and we can set up a date.

I actually did two versions of this card - the first version I stamped the Daffodil Delight cardstock with Daffodil Delight ink, and the Melon Mambo cardstock with Melon Mambo ink and it looked great, but once I embossed over top of it the flower outlines got lost. So I made the card again, this time with black ink and I think it looks much better. Sometimes I have to try a few times to get it right. :)

Hope you have a terrific Tuesday!

UPDATE - Technique Tuesday Card Club

The Technique Tuesday Club is now FULL!

If you're interested and didn't get in fast enough, email or comment below to let me know. If I hear from 5 or 6 more people I may set up a Technique Thursday Club too. (I could even make it during the afternoon) ♥

August 8 - 10-Minute Card #1

Yep, I'm one of those people. You know, the one who on the way out of the door to a birthday party remembers that I forgot a card. I can't tell you how many times I've been making cards in the front seat of my car on the way. It drives my husband NUTS, so much that now he reminds me the morning of such an event that I need to get a card made. :)

Because I know I'm not the only one - I'm going to be posting some VERY quick and easy 10-minute cards regularly, so be sure to check in. This is a quick card, ten minutes tops from start to finish. Fast cards rock!

I love the brushed silver cardstock Stampin' Up! carries, it's a dull silver but is somewhat shimmery and oh-so pretty! On this card I stamped the images with VersaMark ink and embossed the images with silver embossing powder. Then did the same with the five pointed flower and punched it out. Add some Stampin' Dimensionals and it gives your card a little POP! And don't forget the rhinestones in the centers of the flowers to finish it off. It's hard to show in a picture just how pretty this card is with all of the silver, photos just don't do it justice so you'll have to take my word for it.

Hope you had a fantastic weekend and hopefully I'll see you here again tomorrow!

Ingredients:

• Flower Fest Stamp Set (122280)
• Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess Set - 122615)
• Basic Black cardstock (121045)
• Brushed Silver cardstock (100712)
• VersaMark ink (102283)
• Silver Stampin' Emboss powder (109131)
• Scallop Trim border punch (118402)
• 5 Petal Flower Punch (119880)
• Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents (119246)
• Heat Tool (100005)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

August 7 - Technique Tuesday Card Club

I love card days and workshops, and the best part of them is that there is a wide range of experience levels - stampers who have been doing it for years, and some who are just beginning. For that reason, and the fact that there are always so many people I tend to stay away from techniques so that new stampers don't have to spend hours making one card.

HOWEVER, I know there are quite a few stampers who want the techniques, want a good challenge, and want to use the latest and greatest. So I'm starting my first "Stamp Club" that will do just that.

I'm so excited! The club will be small - 6 people. The club will meet once a month for six months. Listed below are the requirements and benefits to joining for the 6 months!

• Make 3 cards once a month for six months (August - January), on the last Tuesday of each month.
• YOU will be the hostess during one of these six months and get the hostess benefits from the orders placed during your month.
• Each month you will be required to place a $25 minimum order (before tax/shipping), even if you do not attend that month.
• You will receive a free current Idea Book & Catalog (or a $5 credit on your first month's order if you have already purchased one) and all mini catalogs during the span of the club.
• A dessert and refreshments during each club event.

The first club night is Tuesday, August 30th at my house and we will be making the three cards shown above. We'll be using the melted satin ribbon technique! Members will be added on a first-come, first-serve basis. If it fills quickly, I may open a second club.

To join please send an email to holly.vandyne@gmail.com!

Thank you and I hope to see you on the 30th!

August 6 - U Rock My World

I have a confession to make.

I've spent the past YEAR without a heat tool. For someone who heat embosses on a daily basis, what was I thinking? My former heat tool was at least ten years old and during a stamp event one Saturday it just died. My husband had to talk me out of burying it in the back yard. This time I wanted to get the Stampin' Up! one, but every time I added it to an order, I would convince myself I'd rather have something else with the $30 instead. Until last week.

It arrived last night, an hour before we got home from vacation and I spared no time this morning breaking it in. Oh, how I've missed heat embossing! I'll never go more an a week without a heat tool ever again - lesson learned. :)

I promised to share some projects using our Designer Series Paper that is on sale (Buy 3 packs, get one FREE) this month. Just let me know if you'd like to take advantage of the deal or you can place an online order here, each item listed below is a link that will tell more about the item.

Ingredients:

• Flower Fest Clear Mount Stamp Set
• Four Frames Clear Mount Stamp Set
• Perfect Words Hostess Set
• Brights Collection Designer Series Paper Stack (used Pacific Point and Old Olive)
• First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper
• Whisper White Cardstock
• Tempting Turquoise Cardstock
• Tempting Turquoise Embossing Powder
• Whisper White Embossing Powder
• Old Olive Classic Ink
• Pacific Point Classic Ink
• VersaMark Ink Pad
• Heat Tool
• Scallop Edge Border Punch
• Fancy Flower Punch
• Decorative Label Punch
• Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
• In-Color Designer Printed Brads
• Stampin' Dimensionals

August 1 - PAPER SALE!

I love, love, LOVE the Designer Series Paper sale!

During the month of August if you buy 3 packs of Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper, you get a pack for free!

I'm currently enjoying a wonderful and relaxing vacation with my family but will be posting lots of examples later this month from me and my fabulous team of Stampin' Up! stampers that use our favorite Designer Series paper.

To take advantage of this offer you can contact me at holly.vandyne@gmail.com or visit my online Stampin' Up! store at http://hollyvandyne.stampinup.net.