Farewell Sale-a-bration: All Good Things Must Come to an End

Hello Everyone,
Well, it has been a crazy busy kind of a day so I am running behind with my post today. It is with some sadness that I contemplate the end of Sale-a-bration. It has been fun working with this year's Sale-a-bration stamp sets and seeing all the possibilities they have to offer and I love the new Scallop Trim Border punch. Not to mention the wonderful DSP Welcome Neighbor and all the great stamp sets from the 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog that we had to choose from. I really think this was the best Sale-a-bration but now it's time to say goodbye for another year.
For those of you who are still sitting on the fence about placing an order and taking advantage of the Sale-a-bration free products, then my advice is to navigate your way to my website and visit my Online Store to place your order before 11:50pm Mountain to qualify for this promotion. It's as simple as creating an account and placing your order. The website walks you through the steps to help.
If you would like to look through any of the current catalogs, you can download a digital copy from my sidebar of my blog to peruse and make your wishlist.
I always tell my customers that a wishlist is a very important thing to have. It helps you to remember items that you have seen and where you found them so that when you are looking for them next time, you have the information right at your finger tips. It also helps you in that you can write something down and think about it awhile and see if it is something you still want in the future. It also makes a great list to give to someone who maybe would like to buy you a gift for your birthday or other special occasion.
Tomorrow is the start of a whole new month and a whole new promotion to get excited about. We will be entering the world of two step stamping with some great special offers that I think you will enjoy.
Hope you all have a wonderful evening.
Until Next Time.
Stampin' Hugs,
Tricia Butts

Tuesday Share: A Note of Thanks

Hello Everyone,
Today I thought I would share with you a project that I came up with by accident. I was playing around with my Big Shot and the Box #2 die one afternoon and started thinking that it would make a great Note Card Holder. My husband when he saw it, thought it would be a great Business Card Holder (but that's a story for another day).
So, I decided to create some Thank You notes that are quick and easy to create while still providing variety (if you are like me and don't like to make a lot of things exactly the same). The Thank You cards are inspired by Dawn Griffith, a wonderful, creative demonstrator.
You can customize your Thank You notes by varying the colors used as well as the stamps to create your design.

I chose my colors from the Soft Subtles color family from Stampin' Up and used the large flower from the Vintage Vogue stamp set (from the Occasions Mini catalog) to create the background on the note card and I created the border by using the Scallop Trim Border Punch (Free Sale-a-bration Product with $50 purchase of Stampin' Up products) on a scrap of cardstock to make a stencil.  The sentiment is from my faithful favorite stamp set, Teeny Tiny Wishes. I used Whisper White cardstock for the base for a crisp, clean look and I chose Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink and Barely Banana Classic inks to create the card variations.
For the Note Card Holder I chose Barely Banana cardstock and cut out the box shape with my Big Shot and the Box #2 die. I then decorated one side of the cardstock with the Sweet Swirls wheel and Melon Mambo Classic ink for the inside of the box and on the other side I used the vine stamp from Vintage Vogue stamp set with Barely Banana for a tone on tone pattern for the outside of the box.

I put the box together using Sticky Strip adhesive to give the Note Card Holder extra strength and stability. I decorated the front of the box by stamping the fabulous friend stamp from the Oval All stamp set in Barely Banana Classic ink on Whisper White cardstock. I then punched it out using the Large Oval punch and then matted it onto a piece of Barely Banana cardstock punched with the Scallop Oval punch. Using Stampin' Dimensionals, I attached it to the front of the box.
Now wouldn't this look cute sitting on your desk,  full of note cards just ready for when you need them? It would be a great gift idea too (I am thinking it would be a great Teacher Gift for the end of the school year).
Hope you enjoyed today's project share and hope it inspires you to get crafty in your craft room.
Until Next Time.
Stampin' Hugs,
Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up!):
Stamp Sets: Vintage Vogue, Teeny, Tiny Wishes, Oval All, Sweet Swirls wheel
Cardstock: Whisper White, Barely Banana
Inks: Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Big Shot, Sizzix Box #2 Die, Scallop Trim Border Punch (Sale-a-bration Free Product with $50 purchase of Stampin' Up Merchandise - ends March 31st), Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Sponge Daubers, Sticky Strip, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals

Blissful Birthday in Blue

Happy Monday Everyone,
Well, the morning has been pure chaos but I finally have a moment to sit down and add today's card share. This card was another card from Saturday's card class and I like to have at least one of my cards for my classes have a masculine theme, because, let's face it, males have birthdays too.
Most people, myself included, struggle with what to create when it comes to a card for the men in their lives. So, I took the challenge when creating this card, hoping to come up with a design that not only would work as a masculine card but that would also work for various age groups.
Now, besides being my favorite color, blue tends to be a safe bet when it comes to guys. After all, aren't we told "blue for boys, pink for girls". So with that in mind, I chose my new favorite combination from Stampin' Up's Bold Brights color family, Brilliant Blue and Tempting Turquoise to create my card.

I also decided to incorporate two of Stampin' Up's birthday stamp sets that can also be found on the Sale-a-bration free product list that expires March 31st, Starring You and Birthday Bliss.

I created the card base from a piece of Tempting Turquoise cardstock cut at 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2" to create a top fold card. Next, I took a piece of Brilliant Blue cardstock and stamped the image from the Starring You stamp set randomly over it with Brilliant Blue Classic ink to create a tone on tone pattern.

Then I decided to add a little texture using the faux suede technique. I punched out two circles in Tempting Turquoise cardstock, one 1"and one 3/4", and then did the same from Brilliant Blue cardstock. I then used my bone folder to break down the fibers in the cardstock by rubbing the bone folder across the cardstock on both sides of the circles until the cardstock begins to separate around the edges.

Next, I carefully peel the two layers apart until I have two circles, with each circle having a smooth side and a rough or faux suede side. Repeat this for all your circles and you will have a total of 8 circle. Taking the 3/4" circles, scrunch them up and then flatten them out again. Then apply ink to them with a sponge dauber or lightly rub them accross the ink pad  of the corresponding color (i.e. Tempting Turquoise Classic ink on Tempting Turquoise cardstock).

Using glue dots to attach the smaller circles to the larger circles, I paired up the Tempting Turquoise circles with the corresponding Brilliant Blue circles. I arranged them on the front of my card until I was happy with how it looked (making sure to leave a space large enough to fit my sentiment). I applied a small amount of adhesive to the back of each of the large circles and adhered them to the card front.

To complete the card, I stamped the sentiment using the Birthday Bliss stamp (from the stamp set of the same name) in Tempting Turquoise Classic ink onto Whisper White cardstock and then punched it out using the Wide Oval punch. I attached it to the card using dimensionals.

So there you have it. A male birthday card that works for most age groups and comes together relatively quickly so that you could make several at a time to have on hand for birthdays through out the year. Change the colors for variety (I think this card would look great in varying shades of brown or combine shades of red and orange for a bold look).

I hope you have enjoyed today's card and please, don't forget to take advantage of Sale-a-bration and the opportunity to earn free Sale-a-bration products. Contact me today learn mor or to place your order. Plus, you can place your order online through my Stampin' Up Online Store by clicking Shop Now.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin,

Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up):

Stamp Sets: 

Birthday Bliss 115442   Price: $15.95  Set Quantity: 4 *

Starring You  111696    Price: $13.95  Set Quantity: 4  *

* Earn either Stamp Set Free during Sale-a-bration with the purchase of $50 in Stampin' Up products. Purchase $100 in Stampin' Up products and earn both sets free. (Excludes S&H and Taxes) 

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue

Accessories: Wide Oval Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Bone Folder, mini Glue dots, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals

Spring Fever Card Class

Happy Monday Everyone,
I hope you all had a great weekend. The weather here in Northglenn was beautiful and very Spring like, which has me in the mood to make cards with pretty pastels and Spring themes.
Today's card share is another card from my Creative Card Class - Spring Fever that I am holding this Saturday, March 13th, in my home studio. Just click Events details about this class.

This butterfly card just makes you think of warm Spring days when the flowers are just starting to bloom and the butterflies return to our gardens.

I hope you will join me this Saturday for a fun and relaxing class making 5 pretty Spring cards that will be perfect for any occasion.

Contact me today to save your spot.

Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up):
Stamp Set: Well Scripted (p19 Occasions Mini Catalog)
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Big Shot, Sizzix SU Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Sizzix SU Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch (Sale-a-bration Free Product with purchase of $50 in Stampin' Up products), Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads, sponge daubers, dimensionals, snail adhesive.