December 30 - Just Priceless Page

I'm filling up my album for the girls quickly this week! :)

Today's page is an example of how you can use a mistake to your advantage by just making the best of it. When I make a mistake or something doesn't go as planned on a page or card and I have to figure out a way to cover it up I usually end up liking it even more and today's page is no different.

The 1-1/2" stripes of patterned paper were put on the right side and I was going to zig zag stitch each one on the right side of the strip of paper. I got the pink one done fine but then on the green one my machine decided to un-thread without me realizing it so I had just holes down the whole strip and it looked pretty silly. So I covered it up with Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon. Well I liked how it looked on the green strip so I decided to do it on all of the strips of paper and love how it turned out. To me it looks better than I think it would have had I just kept stitching them with white thread.

Yay for mistakes and mess-ups!
As usual all supplies used are Stampin' Up! with most of them being sneak peeks of the new Sale-A-Bration and Occasions mini catalogs that will be available on January 5th.

Occasions Mini:
Sweet Pea Paper Stack
Chocolate Chip Epoxy Brads
Stitched Felt Flowers

2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalog:
Jumble Alphabet Stamp Set
Priceless Stamp Set
Chocolate Chip cardstock, ink and grosgrain ribbon

* also used sewing machine with white thread and a bunch of different zig zag stitches.

December 28 - a&n Scrapbook Page

Somebody stop me - I am on a roll! Last night I sat down at my desk to do this page, got the paper picked out then couldn't do a thing with it. So I went back downstairs and did something else. Over the years I've found that if the mojo isn't there it just isn't there. It's nothing I can force out of me. :) I just have to wait until an idea strikes. And fortunately I didn't have to wait long - when I went back up tonight (I was going to make a card!) I started playing around with the page again and managed to finish it.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! and again most of them are from the new Sale-A-Bration and Occasion Mini Catalogs available January 5th. I got my Sale-A-Bration catalog in the mail today so they should be hitting your mailbox shortly if you haven't already gotten a copy. Or if you need one just let me know.

One thing I absolutely love from the Occasions mini catalog are the Chat Room rubons. Yeah, yeah - I know they are supposed to be for cards but has that ever stopped me from using it on a scrapbook page? NO WAY! :) I wanted to set the photo apart and add a little bit of journaling to the page too so I thought I would kill two birds with one stone - so I cut apart the different words and sayings from the Chat Room rubons and placed them around my girls in the photo. I used the white rubons because the background was dark, but the rubons also include a sheet in Chocolate Chip so if my photo would have had a light background I could have used those. Then in between each "saying" to separate them out a bit I drew a quick little heart with my white Signo pen.

For my butterflies (made with the new Beautiful Wings Sizzix Embosslet) I folded them in half with the insides together and put a Stampin' Dimensional under each wing. Then attached it to my page in the middle with an epoxy brad. The dimensionals on the wings gave them a fun 3D look.

That's it for tonight ~ hope you had a fantastic Monday and are enjoying the final days of 2009!

{ holly }

Supplies:

Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack (Occasions mini catalog) - Item #117161

Chat Room Rubons (Occasions mini catalog) - Item #117199

Beautiful Wings Sizzix Embosslet (Occasions mini catalog) - Item #118138

Pretty In Pink Epoxy Brads (Occasions mini catalog) - Item #117271

Vintage Labels Stamp Set (Sale-A-Bration mini catalog) - Item #118392

Scallop Trim Border Punch (Sale-A-Bration mini catalog) - Item #118402

Jumble Alphabet Stamp Set (for "a" and "n") - Item #115119

Schoolbook Serif Alphabet Stamp Set (for "&") - Item #113510

Curly Label Punch - Item #112208

Wide Oval Punch - Item #112082

White Signo Pen - Item #105021

Soft Suede Designer Series Paper (Polka Dots) - Item #115688

Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla & So Saffron cardstocks

Soft Suede ink - Item #115657

Stampin' Dimensionals - Item #104430

December 27 - Polka Dot Birthday Card

Today was time to work on some cards for my January card night. All 6 cards will be using spankin' new sets from the new Sale-A-Bration mini catalog and the new Occasions mini catalog that both take effect January 5th. This is just one of the 6 cards we will be making during January's card night which will be held on Thursday, January 14th. Want to come? Just let me know!

And since it is the start of a new year I'm going to change the card night rules up just a bit - in 2010 you will no longer have to pay the $8 supply fee AND place a $25 order. You can come to card night and make the 6 cards without having to place an order your only cost will be the supply fee. Or if you'd rather place an order with a minimum of $25 you no longer will have to pay the supply fee. There will also be a goodie option available if you'd still like the free goodie bag that comes with the orders without having to place an order. With no goodie bag your supply fee will be the normal $8, and if you'd like to get the goodie bag without placing an order you can pay a $12 supply fee (instead of the $8) which will include the same bag of goodies that people placing an order will receive. And during Sale-A-Bration the goodie bags should be STOCKED FULL! Confused yet? I hope not! But if you are PLEASE let me know and I'll try to explain it. :)

And now - on to the card! This one uses the new Vintage Labels set that is one of the free sets included in the Sale-A-Bration mini catalog. Definitely one of my new favorites! It also uses the new polka dots Sizzix embossing folder which makes it SO easy to add some fun texture to your cards and projects.

Oh! And one last quick thing that I'll get into more detail in a later post - all stamp sets in the new Sale-A-Bration and Occasions mini catalog are also now available as CLEAR STAMPS! :)

Supplies:
Vintage Labels Stamp Set (Sale-A-Bration mini catalog) - Item #118392
Certainly Celery cardstock - Item #105125
Bermuda Bay cardstock - Item #115317
Very Vanilla cardstock - Item #101650
Brushed Silver cardstock - Item #100712
Soft Suede cardstock - Item #115318
Silver Embossing Powder - Item #109131
Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon - Item #115612
Chocolate Chip ink - Item #100908
Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (Occasions mini catalog) - Item #117335
Small Heart Punch (Occasions mini catalog) - Item #117193
Stampin' Dimensionals - Item #104430

December 26 - Friends Page

My New Year's Resolution (OK, one of them!) is to KEEP THIS BLOG UPDATED! And look - I'm even starting early! :)

If you've been following this blog or even just checking it every once in a while you know that during the past year I've kind of shifted from scrapbooking to cards. Cards were a great distraction for a while (quick & easy) but my heart really does belong to scrapbooking.

I'm a storyteller and the best way for me to tell a story is through a scrapbook page. Even if I don't have a lot of words I love letting the photos tell the story. And during the past few weeks it has been KILLING me not to go up to my little room and whip out a few pages. I've taken some fun pictures the past year that I've done basically nothing with yet so I have a lot of scrapbooking ammo for the next few months while I work on getting caught up. So from this point on I'll be having many more scrapbooking pages mixed in with the card ideas I post.

Tonight after I got all of the Christmas toys cleaned up and put away I finally had a chance to hole up in my room for a few hours and get back into the swing of the scrapbooking thing and BOY DID IT FEEL GOOD! I've really missed it so much! Of course it also helped that I had a bunch of cool new supplies to play with too. Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Mini Catalog that comes out on January 5th has so many cute new things in it that will help you make the coolest scrapbook pages and cards. Almost everything on this scrapbook page is from the new Occasions Mini Catalog - if you want a copy be sure to let me know. (And there are a few Sale-A-Bration items thrown in too - if you're thinking "what on earth is Sale-A-Bration?" it's a promotion with exclusive products and stamp sets that you can earn for FREE with every $50 order! Just contact me with any questions!) Until tomorrow...

Supplies:
Vintage Vogue Stamp Set (2010 Occasions Mini) - Item #117690

Chocolate Chip Ink - Item #100908

Chocolate Chip 12"x12" Cardstock - Item #107102

Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack (2010 Occasions Mini) - Item #117161

Welcome Neighbor Designer Series Paper Pack (2010 Sale-A-Bration Catalog) - Item #118401

Sweet Pea Stitched Felt (2010 Occasions Mini) - Item #117266

Scallop Trim Border Punch (2010 Sale-A-Bration Catalog) - Item #118402

Scallop Trim Corner Punch (2010 Occasions Mini) - Item #118870

Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker - Item #100071

Corner Rounder Punch - Item #109047

Small Heart Punch (2010 Occasions Mini) - Item #117193

Stampin' Dimensionals - Item #104430

and my sewing machine with some white thread. :)

{ holly }

November 18 - Simple Birthday Card

Just in case you haven't noticed, I'm a sucker for simple cards! And what I love about the Circle Circus Stamp Set is that it allows you to make simple cards without much skill! It is absolutely one of my favorite sets in the catalog and I use it a ton.

This one is just simple craft cardstock, circles and birthday sentiment are stamped in black and I used the flower buttons from the catalog to put in the middle. With the colors this could easily be a "guy" birthday card even with those flower buttons and the rhinestones in the middle!

Have a VERY happy Wednesday everyone! November card night is tomorrow night so let me know if you'd like to attend - I have WONDERFUL cards planned, it will be a lot of fun! :)

~ holly

November 1 - Transparency Card

Oooooh watch out! I have a new favorite! :)

These transparencies for cards from the Stampin' Up! catalog have been sitting in a box on my scrap desk for MONTHS. I kept thinking "I'll use them some day" and just haven't done it - until tonight. And now I'm in love.

There are 8 total (2 each of 4 designs) and fit A2 sized cards and they are only $5.95 which I think is a great deal since they are so fun to work with.

I had so much fun layering on top and underneath these (I attached them with super tape at the top to make a transparency "flap" over the front). And from now on I'm just going to be posting the supplies for my projects instead of the detailed instructions as well - most of my projects are pretty simple and I think the instructions are pretty much a given, but if you wonder how I did something and can't figure it out please just send me an email and I will try my hardest to get back to you in a timely manner on how I did it.

See you again tomorrow - hope you had a fantastic weekend! :)

Holly

Ingredients:

Transparency overlays

Gray Ribbon

Modern Label Punch

Hello Again Stamp Set

Frames with a Flourish Stamp Set (retired but images now in My Digital Studio)

Black ink

Designer Series Paper (Polka Dots)

October 24 - October Card Night Info!

Oh yes - it's time for October's Card Night!

OCTOBER SPECIAL - NO $8 SUPPLY COST!

This month Card Night will be held on Thursday, October 29th from 6pm to 8pm. If you would like to attend this month please call or email me to let me know you will be coming so I have enough supplies cut.
Just to recap for those of you who are new to my mailing list and may not be aware of how it works:

What: Make 6 pre-designed and pre-cut cards (2 of the cards are shown in the photo on the right), each card includes a matching envelope. Snacks and drinks are provided during the event.

Where: My house, directions are provided when you sign up.

When: Thursday, October 29th from 6-8pm

How Much: FREE and a $25 Stampin' Up! order

Extra Bonus: I combine all orders and use the hostess benefits earned that night to get goodies that I split up with everyone who placed an order. So with your order you will receive a FREE goodie bag with a variety of Stampin' Up! embellishments, stamps, paper, etc. - the goodies are different every month.

To Sign Up: Call me or email me at holly.vandyne@gmail.com to reserve your spot. Hope to see you there!

Holly

September 21 - My Digital Studio

It is completely embarrassing how long it has been since I've posted on the blog and I feel so badly about that! Since my last post kids have started school, I got a new job as the librarian/art teacher there among many other crazy things going on here!

However...today I came home to a UPS package with my new copy of Stampin' Up!'s new "My Digital Studio" and I installed it faster than you could say Digital Scrapbooking. I played around for a little bit with it and was surprised at how easy it was to use. Not to mention all of the fun elements, paper, stamps and everything else that it is.

Now I love digital scrapbooking, I just don't do it very often because I really love physically working with paper, ink. stamps, etc. But this was SO fun and I am glad I have a few different ways to scrapbook/make cards now (yes, it has cards you can make too!)

Well, here is my first attempt at using My Digital Studio and I am now in love. :) This page took me about 15-20 minutes to make. The program comes with a ton of stuff to use with it and I think it is a fantastic deal for the $79 price. I will be having a class/overview of the program in October and will post the date and details as soon as I have them worked out, or if you just can't wait let me know and I can give you a personal lesson. I will also be offering digital workshops as well so if that is something you think you'd be interested in trying just let me know and I'll get you on the schedule. The program is available for purchase October 1st, if you'd like to be one of the first to get it be sure to place your order with me before that date so I can get it entered first thing October 1st.

I have also added many new card images to my new Stampin' Up! project gallery on my personal website here: http://www.hollystamps.com/ - just click on Gallery. I'm going to try to add more cards soon as soon as I can get them scanned and I plan to try and post some hybrid projects using this program and some real products combined soon. Hope you have a FANTASTIC week! :)

July Card Night

It's that time of the month again - time to immerse yourself in CARD MAKING FUN by joining me for July's Card Night!

This month Card Night will be held on Thursday, July 23rd from 6pm to 8pm. If you would like to attend this month please call or email me to let me know you will be coming so I have enough supplies cut.

Just to recap for those of you who are new to my mailing list and may not be aware of how it works:

What: Make 6 pre-designed and pre-cut cards (all 6 you will be making this month are shown above), each card includes a matching envelope. I also provide snacks and drinks during the event.

Where: My house, directions are provided when you sign up.

When: Thursday July 23 from 6-8pm

How Much: $8 and a $25 Stampin' Up! order

Extra Bonus: I combine all orders and use the hostess benefits earned that night to get goodies that I split up with everyone who placed an order. So with your order you will receive a FREE goodie bag with a variety of Stampin' Up! embellishments, stamps, paper, etc. - the goodies are different every month.

To Sign Up: Call me or email me at holly.vandyne@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

Hope to see you there!

Holly

July 7 - Hello Card

Earlier this spring I got an email asking if I would stamp some samples for some new stamp sets for the upcoming Stampin' Up! convention in Utah in August and of course, I jumped at the chance! Of the 4 sets I got sent the "Hello Again" set was definitely my favorite.

So here is a quick cute little card made with that set and one of the new In Colors - Crushed Curry!

Hello Card

Ingredients:

• Craft Cardstock (cut 3-3/4" x 7-1/2")
• Close to Cocoa ink
• "Hello Again" stamp set
• Large Oval Punch
• Scalloped Oval Punch
• Close to Cocoa Stampin' Write Marker
• White and Crushed Curry cardstock
• Scalloped border punch
• Crushed Curry Polka Dotted ribbon
• Silver brads
• Button Bouquet

Instructions:

1. Fold your kraft cardstock in half to make a square card.
2. Cut your scalloped border from your white cardstock and adhere it to the bottom of your card.
3. Stamp 3 flowers in Close to Cocoa across the center of the card.
4. Adhere your yellow polka dotted ribbon across the bottom over the bottom of the stems and overlapping your scalloped border.
5. Put brads in the center of the first and third flowers. Adhere a yellow flower button to the center of the middle flower.
6. Stamp the HELLO greeting stamp in Close to Cocoa on white and punch it out with your large oval punch.
7. Punch the scalloped oval punch with Crushed Curry cardstock. Layer them together and adhere.
8. Draw Close to Cocoa dots with your Close to Cocoa pen around your white oval then add it to the top of your card.