Did Someone Say "Free"?

Hi everyone!

Yep!   Free!

I'm offering several different retired Stampin' Up! catalogs for just the cost of mailing.  Naturally, no one needs "all" of these ... just like I don't need them all!  LOL   So of course, 'onesies' will be fine.   Long-time Stampin' Up! friends might need a particular one for their collection, and someone else might just looking for different ideas, colors, etc.

Except for my older demo label on the back of some of these ... they are new (even though they are old), i.e. not rampaged by lots of use at all.  Most are brand spankin' new.  They've been taking up space that is being reclaimed.   YKWIM ... surely you do.   ;)

    ICB&C 2002-2003 - Barely Banana cover - 2 available
    IDB&C 2003-2004 - (Perfect Plum cover) - 14 available
    IDB&C 2004-2005 - 10 available
    IDB&C 2005-2006 - 3 available
    IDB&C 2006-2007 - 3 available
    IDB&C Fall/Winter 2007 - 2 available
    and
    I have 4 Stampin' Memories catties, April 1, 2003 - Sept. 30, 2003 (scrapbooking focus)  

Please Note: I have not gone to the P.O. for mailing supplies as yet. I will need to go out to get the flat rate Priority 'cereal board' envies before I can begin to mail.

So glad you stopped by today!   Hope you're smiling!

February 2014 Paper Pumpkin Kit

Here it is, m'friends!   Take a look at the brand new Paper Pumpkin Kit for February, 2014!   (Arriving at subscribed members' doorways at any moment!)

 Watch to see how fun and simple this kit is to put together. Wonder what the surprise will be next month? Learn more at mypaperpumpkin.com.

  The Details:

New Paper Pumpkin subscribers who sign up at www.mypaperpumpkin.com/ between January 11 and March 31, 2014, will receive a FREE set of In Color Stampin' Write Markers -a $14.95  value-with their Welcome Kit.

The Fine Print

• This special offer is only valid for new subscribers.
• Customers must sign up at http://www.mypaperpumpkin.com/.
• The markers will be sent with the subscriber's Welcome Kit.  No coupon code is required. Anyone who signs up for a Paper Pumpkin membership during the promotion dates (through March 31) will get a FREE set of In Color Stampin' Write Markers.

Fancy Flower!

Happy Valentines Day!  
Yet ..... How in the world did we get to Friday, already?! 

It was my pleasure to create a card for the QFTD203 challenge today over at Splitcoaststampers.  Member Kathy LeDonne is being honored, and her Simply Sketched card was the inspiration for my sample below.

I really like the way the upper dsp from the Fresh Prints dsp pack seems to emulate the pattern of the Fancy Fans embossing folder.  In fact, all 3 dsp papers used for this card come from the Fresh Prints pack!  

Yeah ... I'm still in blossom-making mode here.    ;)   

For this hand-made blossom, I stamped one of the blooms from the Secret Garden stamp set with VersaMark ink.  SU's Black Stampin' Emboss Powder was  used to emboss the image before fussy cutting.  Four of those blossoms were layered for this dimensional bloom. 

And, for those who would like a listing of the additional items used ... ...

PAPERS:  Crumb Cake + Basic Black;  Fresh Prints dsp paper pack

ACCESSORIES:  Labels Collection framelits, Banners framelits, Black EP, Embossing Buddy, Fancy Fan embossing folder, Dazzling Details glitter glue, Dimensionals, Real Red grosgrain ribbon (retired), heat tool

   "LOCAL NOTES" 

To my local stampy peeps, I have a new class scheduled for Saturday, March 1 !  Details are posted on the Class Schedule at Texas Rubber & Ink! .... the store.  There, you will find class information & RSVP button.  Hope to see you there!

 ~
~

Red Hot Box!

How long has it been since you created something with a "window"?   Well, this little gifty came about via a challenge to create a window card using any SU punch or punches.

So that's what I did ...
... except I jumped from 'card' to 'box', as you can see.   ;)

Punches, punches ... which or how many punches?  Let's see:  1 3/8” Circle Punch on the inside, plus my 1 3/4” Scallop Circle Punch for the blossom top.   Finally, I had to toss in my frequent go-to Bitty Banners Framelits & Itty Bitty Banners stamp set for the sentiment .. ... of course!

I have a long-lived love affair with flowers, plus all things growing green.  Sometimes it insists on coming out when I'm papercrafting, as shown in this project.  My blossom is merely layers of scallop punched paper from the Polka Dot Parade designer papers, made with the 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch and held together with a cute little 1/8" Mini Brad.  And before I forget it .. you'll need SU's fabulously clear Window Sheets for the 'window'.

If you would like to create this little giftable box at your stampin' table, just follow this tutorial by Brenda Quintana, shared at Splitcoaststampers. 

I hope you've found a bit of stampin' inspiration here today!  Thanks for visiting, and for sharing your thoughts as well.

Date Extension!! Thanks, SU!

Hi everyone!  I had to pop in to give a happy shout out to Stampin' Up!   The date for earning a FREE set of In-Color Stampin' Write Markers when subscribing to My Paper Pumpkin has been extended!   New date:  March 31, 2014!  

 Thank you, Stampin' Up!

 

Last Chance for Free Markers!

Psssssssssssssst!  The countdown is on!

Monday, February 10 at 11:59 pm MST is the last chance to earn a Free Marker Set with your subscription to My Paper Pumpkin.

Get Me Now!   *Click here* to learn more.

All you need is your magic wand (credit card)

to sign up. (Get it now.)

I'm the total package:

• • I'm $19.95 (and shipping is covered). I'll arrive monthly.
• • I've got all the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create pinable projects. Projects like cards, journals, décor, and more!
• • I'm all cut, measured, and ready—with instructions included.
• • I'm a new and exciting surprise every month. 

*Of course, you're welcome to contact me if you have other questions!

New Classes Coming Up!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Just a little news to share before the weekend gets on a seriously good roll ...

1. I'm currently planning new classes to add to the schedule here in my home studio.  These new additions will begin either in late February or early March.  If you aren't already on my mailing list as a club member or class attendee, you're invited to join my e-mailing list if you are interested in upcoming classes or promotions.  Please just share your name & email addy with me by using the email addy seen in the "Contact Bev" button found in the left column of the blog.  In that way, your privacy is secured.   ;)
2. Although I've been on Facebook for a long time, Bev Gerard, and am likely FB 'friends' with some of you by now, I've just created a new business page on Facebook titled Texas Rubber & Ink!   My photo of Texas Longhorns is the header over at FB.   ;)    I'll be sharing on the new page as well as from here, and you're welcome to check it out next time your browsing FB. 

Now have a great weekend, enjoy catching some of the Winter Olympics, and find
reasons to smile every day!

Icemageddon 2013! * MDS

The invitation to join the SCS Creative Crew for the January - April, 2014 term came during the late Fall.  This inspired me to stretch myself in some way ... learn something new-to-me.

As a result, I purchased Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Software, lovingly called MDS in many stampy, crafty circles.  Even though I have only scrapped two, 6x6 pages during my stamping history, I took the scrapping 12x12 plunge for one of the first 2014 challenges ... and here is the result.

In all honesty, I had a lot of fun beginning the learning process with a goal already in mind.  The CCREW0114SF challenge included the 12x12 sketch to give me a starting point.  Due to the intense wintery weather we've been experiencing, the theme & idea fell right into place using the assigned winter colors!  

Everything used in the creation of this page was already included in the My Digital Software download .... except the one element I ordered:  MDS Winter Frost Dsp (item 135265).  Here are the digital supplies I've used:

• Joyful Times Designer Kit - blue flower
• Antique Brads
• Vintage Overlays
• Circle Punch
• Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch
• Snowflake Punch
• Timeless Type Alphabet
• Winter Frost Dsp

Today's weather here in North Texas is snowy.   But thankfully, we are not expecting the iciness that I've shared from our December "Icemaggadon"!!    

I hope you've found some inspiration today!  I'd love to hear a "Howdy!" if you're stoppin' by for a moment!

It's Wonderful!

If you're a "glass half-full" thinker, then life itself is often 'wonderful' for sure.  But the title of today's post actually comes more from the sentiment on my card.  It's just one of my favorites from the "Perfect Pennants" stamp set.

This wintery cool card features several fun items from the current "Occasions" catalog, including Silver Encore Metallic ink, Perfect Pennants stamp set, Silver Foil sheet, Silver Fancy Foil Designer Vellum, and Silver 1/8" ribbon.  I adore the fun 'splatters' on the sentiment from the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set, and the Labels Collection framelits are among my go-to choices when I'm looking for something beyond more traditional shapes.  Lastly, you'll spot the use of our Scallop Border punch, Northern Flurry embossing folder, and those fabulously sparkly Stampin' Up! Rhinestones!  Cardstocks are Soft Sky, Whisper White, and Brushed Silver.

My design was prompted by another Creative Crew challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.  We would love to have you join in with the challenge by uploading your challenge entry with the keyword  CCREW0114DF.  This challenge was to use the Fancy Foil Designer Vellum.  You don't have to be a demo to play along at all.  C'mon & play along!

I hope I've inspired your creativity in some way today!

New Personalized Stamp!

I've come to share the newest news of the day from Stampin' Up!

Stampin' Up! has added a brand new design to our already-available personalized stamps!  For now, you can see this latest design here, in my online SU store.  Our other personalized stamps are seen there, as well as in your personal copy of the Stampin' Up! catalog, page 135. 

What?  You don't have your own copy of the current Stampin' Up! catalog??  Please just send an email to me pronto, and you'll soon have your very own catalog in your hands .. free! 

You Make Me Happy!

Welcome to a brand spankin' new week, everyone!

Brrrrrrrrrrrr!  Another wintery blast of freezing rain & sleet moved in here on Sunday ... so I think I'll just plan some stamping and a class or two.  Neither of those require bundling up and schlepping around on slippery-slidey things.   In light of that freezy stuff that's working its way around the USA again this week, I'm sharing a rather "frosty" creation from one of the Creative Crew challenges! 

 

This all started off with the 'Northern Flurry' embossing folder and Pool Party cardstock.  For the added icy look, I used the Embossed Embossing technique, along with Heat & Stick powder and Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  The sentiment is from the 2014 Sale-A-Bration set, 'See Ya Later'.  It's layered atop a vellum snowflake from the 'Festive Flurry' framelits collection.  More Dazzling Diamonds for the snowflake edges and a few sparkly rhinestones to make someone happy when skies are gray!

I created an "Embossed Embossing" technique video a few years ago over at Splitcoaststampers just in case you would like to create some dazzle of your own.  I hope you enjoy this wintery project as well as the technique process!  

***Ooooops!  Gotta add this little notice!
The Stampin' Up! Weekly Specials (<< clickable link) for this upcoming week are online now!

February! * Fun or Flurries?

Can you believe it's already February, 2014?   
And to top it all off ... I'm a wee little bit 'behind' on my blogging as of this latest flip of the calendar. 
Solution?   Start correcting that issue ... right now!

One of the January Creative Crew challenges back at Splitcoaststampers was to creative something other than a card for the CCREW0114HF challenge.  "HF" refers to 'Holiday Focus' ... and the challenge theme notes that January was National Hobby month.   (See why I'm a bit 'behind' now?)

Well, I just couldn't resist jumping into these 3D snowflakes as my contribution:

The one above turned out to be approximately 7 3/4" diameter, which is a nice "medium" size for hanging here in my studio.  I did happen to explore the original size I had viewed on the internet, but felt it was too large for my purposes, so I experimented with sizes for the starting square shapes to bring down the sizing for myself.  Here are a couple of 7.75" snowflakes that I used for packaging over the holidays.  All of the flakes were sprayed with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz for close-up shimmer ... a very easy & fun addition!

Here's my video tutorial to "enable" your own snowflakes decorations.  The video was actually created before I had this new SU-Only blog ready for viewers ... so it still refers to my other blog, Savor the Journey.  Signs of the changing times!   I hope you enjoy it.     ;) 

If you have questions, I'm happy to try to help in replies right here, or via my contact button/email in the left blog column.   Happy day to y'all!

~Bev