Paper Pumpkin and Animal Expedition Go Wild!

Posted on December 12, 2018 by

Paper Pumpkin and Animal Expedition Go Wild!

Animal Expedition, Stampin' Up!, Paper Pumpkin

One of my favorite stamp sets in the 2018-19 Stampin’ Up!® Annual Catalog is Animal Outing, part of the Animal Expedition Suite. Here are a few of the projects I made with that set.

Animal Expedition, Stampin' Up!, Paper Pumpkin

Animal Expedition, Paper Pumpkin, Stampin' Up!Animal Expedition, Stampin' Up!, Paper PumpkinPaper Pumpkin, Animal Expedition, Stampin' Up!

It’s a very versatile set, and you can use it for so many occasions – birthday, thank you, thinking of you, new baby…the list can go on and on! If you bundle the stamp set with the Animal Friends Thinlits Dies, you can save 10%.

If you want to know more about how I created these cards, simply search my Animal Outing Projects.

Subscribe Now!

In January, Paper Pumpkin will be teaming up with the Animal Expedition Suite for cute Valentine projects! I can’t wait – and you can sign up now for a subscription to Paper Pumpkin and receive the January kit – just in time for Valentine’s Day. Be sure you start your subscription before January 10. And, just a little tip – you may want to start your subscription earlier than January 10. Because the kit idea is not a surprise and because this is a popular stamp set/bundle, the supplies may run out before January 10. So subscribe today!

Or Try a One-Month Prepaid

You can also try it out with a one-month (or three-, six- or twelve-month) prepaid subscription. Prepaid subscriptions can be ordered online, or you can add it to one of my classes or workshops. Again, just to be sure you aren’t disappointed and you do get a kit, order early.

If you’d like to add a one-month prepaid to a workshop I’m having, please be sure I have your order and payment information by Saturday, December 15.

My Thoughts on Kits

I was once a kit snob. “They’re too simple,” or “I don’t like stickers,” were my usual complaints. But, let me tell you (and if you’ve read my blog lately, you’ll understand), lately I’m a huge fan of simple. You can create beautiful and elegant – yet simple and quick! – cards with Stampin’ Up!® products. Don’t get me wrong, I love really complex and layered cards, and I love that I have the tools to do that. But sometimes, life gets in the way of crafting (oh, the horror!). Very few of us are “crafters only.” We’re moms and dads, grandparents, husbands and wives, and kids. We have jobs and responsibilities and holidays to prepare for. These days, kits are my friends! Most of my Christmas cards this year will be from the gorgeous Timeless Tidings Project Kit – and I know everyone who gets one will say, “Wait…did she actually make that card?” (Answer – Yes, I did!)

So whether you have kids who need Valentines for their classmates or you have kids and grands you give Valentines to, or you just like these adorable little critters, you’ll love this kit. Sign up  or order your prepaid subscription today!

Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy. Have a lovely day!

 

Posted in Animal Outing, My Paper Pumpkin | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas for a Musician

Posted on December 11, 2018 by

Christmas for a Musician

Christmas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But when you’re a musician, it’s also the most busy time of the year. (The exception to this may be Easter.) Schools, churches, community groups all have Christmas programs, and most include music, of course.

This past weekend, I had lots of performances. There were rehearsals on Thursday and Friday, followed by performances on Friday, Saturday, and (two on) Sunday. And my weekend was fairly easy compared to others. The conductor for the Oratorio Society I accompany conducted two cantatas, set up for an event the local university held at his church, then headed a half hour south for another performance. After that, he had a rehearsal with his children’s choir. When the last Christmas performance is over, musicians take a deep breath and enjoy the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Because, of course, after the new year, it all starts over in preparation for Easter.

So that’s probably why I’m doing very, very, very simple cards lately. That’s all I have time for. But the good news is, it doesn’t take very long to create a beautiful card for someone. Like this one.

Stampin' Up!, Floral Frames

This may be the simplest and quickest card I’ve ever created. I layered a 2″ x 5-1/2″ strip of Petal Promenade Designer Series Paper (DSP) to a Whisper White card base. Then I stamped the sentiment from the Floral Frames Stamp Set in Fresh Fig on a piece of Whisper White Cardstock. After punching with the 2-1/4″ Circle Punch, I covered the back with adhesive, then adhered Gold Metallic Thread to the back of the circle. Using a few Stampin’ Dimensionals helped hold the thread in place and popped the sentiment up on my card.

This is a very simple design, but it can be very elegant as well. If you want to add a little shimmer and sparkle, simple use your Stamparatus to stamp the sentiment, then stamp again with Versamark Ink. Add a clear or metallic embossing powder to the image and heat set for instant WOW! For a little more shimmer, mix a bit of Dazzling Diamonds Stampin’ Glitter with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder and use that to emboss over the sentiment. I love embossing because it adds a whole lot of gorgeous without a lot of extra work.

This design will work for so many things. You can use any DSP. Then add any image or sentiment to the Whisper White scrap and punch it out. If you don’t have the punch, you can stamp directly on the card front. And if you have a sentiment and image you like, simple stamp the image in a light ink, then stamp the sentiment in a darker ink over it. Easy! And it adds a lot of depth and gorgeousness to your card. (A little tip: Watch those rubber stamps. Sometimes they aren’t trimmed super close to the image, and if you’re not careful, you can get ink on the edges of the stamp that transfers to your cardstock. So just take a peek before you stamp and rub your finger along the edge of the stamp to remove any stray ink.)

I have a few weeks free before my final Christmas performance, so hopefully I can catch up on projects and posts. Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy. Have a lovely day!

Product List

Floral Frames Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$21.00

Floral Frames Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$29.00

Petal Promenade Designer Series Paper

$11.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$9.75

Fresh Fig Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

2-1/4" (5.7 Cm) Circle Punch

$18.00

Gold Metallic Thread

$3.50

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.00
Posted in Floral Frames | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Waterfront Christmas

Posted on December 7, 2018 by

Waterfront Christmas

Here’s an idea I got from Cindee Wilkinson, another Stampin’ Up!® demonstrator. I changed a few things – like the stamp set and embossing folder. I thought using the trees from the Waterfront Stamp Set would be perfect for this card.

Waterfront, Stampn' Up!, Winter Woods

First, die-cut an oval using the Layering Ovals Framelits Dies. Then, stamp the trees from the Waterfront Stamp Set two times in Lemon Lime Twist Classic Ink and once in Tranquil Tide Classic Ink. Then stamp the sentiment from the Winter Woods Stamp Set in Tranquil Tide Classic Ink.

Use the Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to emboss a 3-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Whisper White Cardstock. Adhere the embossed panel to a 4″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Tranquil Tide Cardstock. (Tip: To save cardstock, you can cut two 3/4″ x 5-1/2″ pieces of Tranquil Tide and adhere them to the back of the embossed Whisper White layer. No one will know, and you’ll save paper and add a little less bulk.) Adhere the two panels to a Whisper White card base, then add the oval layer to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

This is such a quick and easy card to make. I created it late at night. While I usually keep a pair of glasses in my stamp room, I must have left them in another room, because they weren’t there. I had already gone into bedroom once and didn’t want to bother my sleeping hubby again to find another pair, so I stamped this without glasses. That’s how easy it is – especially if you use the Stamparatus. I will add a little bow in Lemon Lime Twist before I send it. I forgot that last night – and I’m not at all sure I could tie a bow without glasses!

Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy. Hope you have a lovely day!

Product List

Winter Woods Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$23.00

Winter Woods Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$31.00

Waterfront Photopolymer Stamp Set

$17.00

Tranquil Tide Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$9.75

Tranquil Tide 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.50

Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$10.00

Big Shot

$110.00

Layering Ovals Framelits Dies

$35.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.00

Stamparatus

$49.00
Posted in Holiday Mini Catalog, Holidays, Waterfront | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

You Make Me Smile

Posted on December 6, 2018 by

You Make Me Smile

There are so many things that always make me smile. Flowers. Chocolate. My husband. My kids and granddaughter. My parents. Family and friends. My dog and cat. (Oh, these aren’t in any particular order, by the way. I’m not saying flowers and chocolate are before my husband. Well, maybe chocolate. Nooooo! Not saying that! He definitely comes before chocolate. Maybe because he brings the chocolate. But even if he didn’t, he’d be first. Because he makes the coffee. Love you, Sweetie!! <3)

This sentiment from the Sitting Here Stamp Set from the Stampin’ Up!® Annual Catalog is for a lot of people (and animals) in my life. I paired it with the Sitting Pretty Bundle (Sitting Pretty Stamp Set and Pretty Park Framelits Dies) and came up with this.

Stampin' Up!, Sitting Here, Sitting Pretty

How cute is that dog? He reminds me of our Max, even though Max isn’t a bulldog. He has the same colors, though, and the scrunchy nose.

With the Stamparatus, this card was super easy to create. First, I stamped the bench and floral outline in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on Whisper White Cardstock. I used the Stamparatus so I could restamp any images that weren’t perfect.

After I was happy with my images, I stamped the “filler” images for the plant in Mossy Meadow and the urn in Merry Merlot.  I also stamped the heart image on the bench in Merry Merlot. Thanks to the Stamparatus, I could do all this at one time! (Hint: Use Uninked Stampin’ Spots and Classic Stamping Ink Refills for easy stamping with the Stamparatus.)

I rounded the corners of the stamped panel with the Detailed Trio Punch. Then I placed the panel back into the Stamparatus with the sentiment from the Sitting Here Stamp Set and stamped using Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin’ Ink.

On a scrap piece of Whisper White Cardstock, I stamped the bulldog image in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, then stamped the “filler” in Crumb Cake Classic Ink. After die-cutting the dog with the Pretty Park Framelits Dies, I added him to the the bench with Stampin’ Dimensionals. If you bundle the Sitting Pretty Stamp Set and Pretty Park Framelits Dies, you can save 10% over the retail price. (Apologies to anyone who has a female dog. Our past five dogs have been males. And even though the previous five were females, I always think “he” now. In any case – male or female, dogs rock, right? Except if you have cats. Or both, as we do. I wake up in the pre-morning hours with a cat on my left and a dog on my right. And I’m at the age where I wake up really hot and then I am freezing. So I throw off covers – which is difficult because I have a cat on my left and a dog on my right. I moved the synthetic fiber covers off last night and totally shocked the cat with static electricity. She ran off with a wail after the shock. Then she was back and on top of the covers when I was chilly and wanted to cover back up. I don’t get a lot of sleep because of these two. That may explain a lot about the random thoughts on my blog. I don’t have Adult ADHD; I’m sleep deprived.)

The final touch on the Whisper White layer was to add a little grounding with a Light Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blend and Sky with Light Pool Party Stampin’ Blend and some Crumb Cake Classic Ink sponging on the edges. (I can’t wait for the Balmy Blue Stampin’ Blend Combo in the Occasions Catalog! I love Pool Party, but sometimes you need a real light blue.)

I added the stamped layer to strip of Nature’s Poem Designer Series Paper (DSP) then to a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Wood Textures DSP, and then to a Crumb Cake card base.

So what makes you smile? Flowers? Chocolate? Family & friends? Pets? Whatever it is – I hope you have a lovely day with them!

Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy! I hope your day is filled with smiles!
Product List

Sitting Here Photopolymer Stamp Set

$17.00

Sitting Pretty Photopolymer Stamp Set

$21.00

Sitting Pretty Photopolymer Bundle

$44.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$9.75

Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$8.50

Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack

$11.00

Nature's Poem Designer Series Paper

$11.00

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Merry Merlot Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Pool Party Light Stampin' Blends Marker

$4.50

Crumb Cake Light Stampin' Blends Marker

$4.50

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$6.00

Merry Merlot Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

$3.75

Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

$3.75

Uninked Stampin' Spots

$9.00

Stamping Sponges

$3.50

Pretty Park Framelits Dies

$28.00

Detailed Trio Punch

$20.00

Stamparatus

$49.00

Big Shot

$110.00
Posted in Sitting Here, Sitting Pretty, Stamparatus | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Year-End Closeout Sale

Posted on December 5, 2018 by

Year-End Closeout Sale

Year-End Closeout, Stampin' Up!

Get ready to shop today! Stampin’ Up! is having a year-end closeout sale on retired, retiring, and surplus items. Be sure your account is ready to go, and shop early because the sale ends January 2 (and it’s while supplies last!).

Head over to my web site to order. If you use the Host Code KHKV9TPQ and your order is $50 or more, I’ll send you a gift. If your order is $150 or more, do not use the host code; you’ll want to keep the stampin’ rewards for yourself.

Stamparatus Tote

 

Stamparatus, Stampin' Up!

You can also purchase the Stamparatus Craft & Carry Tote today! You’re going to love it! It’s a perfect size to carry your Stamparatus as well as some cardstock, a stamp set and some ink. Be sure to add it to your order.

Special Test Products

And — big new! Stampin’ Up! is testing a product (pre-cut and folded card bases) in the Southeast Region. No matter where you live in the United States, you can order these from my web site. There are two sets of 25 card bases (one for winter/Christmas and one for Valentine’s day) and they cost $4.95 each. Because it’s a test, the colors are retired, so if you’re missing Island Indigo, Soft Sky, Elegant Eggplant and more, check this out!

Stampin' Up!, Cut & Ready Card Bases

Aren’t those colors beautiful? But you only have until December 31 or while supplies last, so add these to your Year-End Closeout order! If this test goes well, they may add these to the line in current colors. The choice is up to you!

Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy. Have a lovely day!

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

You Say You Don’t Like Glitter?

Posted on December 4, 2018 by

You Say You Don’t Like Glitter?

Really? How can people not like glitter? It’s happy dust! It amazes me how many people are anti-glitter, and I can’t understand that kind of negative thinking.

Amelia and I absolutely love glitter. Her parents and grandfather? Not so much. We try to keep it contained to the craft room, but sometimes you just can’t help but spread the joy.

Stampin’ Up!® has answers for the anti-glitter problem. This is a card for one of my cousins who does not share my affection for all things glimmery.

Star of Light, Stampin' Up!

You can’t tell from the picture, but this is a very glittery card. The best thing (for my cousins and others) is that the glitter will totally stay put. So they get all the joy without having specks of glitter show up on their faces. (Really, though, that just adds to the festivity of the season, don’t you think?)

First – I die-cut the star from Sparkle Glimmer Paper using the Starlight Thinlits Dies. The Stampin’ Up!® Glimmer Paper comes in Gold, Rose, Silver, and Sparkle and the glimmer stays on the paper; it doesn’t rub off. So that’s a plus for some.

I stamped the swoosh from the Star of Light Stamp Set two times on Night of Navy Cardstock using Whisper White Craft Ink. Then I heat embossed with a mixture of Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. Gorgeous! And, again, the embossing powder holds the glitter to the paper.

The sentiment worked so well for this card. I didn’t plan ahead (as usual), so I needed something that would work around my stamped and embossed swoosh. This stamp. also from the Star of Light Stamp Set, worked perfectly. I stamped in Whisper White Craft Ink, then embossed with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder.

I love the look of the glitter and white against the Night of Navy Cardstock. I layered the 4″ x 5-1/2″ stamped layer to a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ card base.

I really think my friends will love this card, especially when they realize they won’t be glittered as well. And maybe it will bring them a step closer to loving our beautiful glitter!

Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy. Have a magical day!

Product List

Star Of Light Photopolymer Stamp Set

[142110]
$26.00

Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad

Whisper White Craft Stampin’ Pad
[101731]
$8.00

Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[100867]
$8.50

Sparkle Glimmer Paper

[146957]
$5.00

White Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109132]
$5.00

Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109130]
$5.00

Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter

[133751]
$5.00

Starlight Thinlits Dies

[141840]
$29.00

Heat Tool

[129053]
$30.00

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]
$4.00

Glue Dots

[103683]
$5.25

Big Shot

[143263]
$110.00

Stamparatus

[146276]
$49.00

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Incredible Like You

Posted on December 3, 2018 by

Incredible Like You

I’ve mentioned before that at Stampin’ Up!® events, they have “Prize Patrol.” When I first became a demonstrator, the Prize Patrol was a little chaotic. At least one year, Stampin’ Up!® employees tossed the prizes into the crowd. The luckiest, most athletic, and most aggressive demonstrators got as many prizes as they could catch. Sadly, I am not athletic or aggressive, so I didn’t go home with any prizes except “all attendee” ones. And, don’t get me wrong, those were amazing! The “tossed out” prizes were mostly small embellishment packs, because they didn’t want anyone to get knocked out by a big prize. I mean, seriously – can you imagine getting hit with a Big Shot or a paper trimmer? (Ok, I’m exaggerating a little. I don’t think they gave Big Shots as Prize Patrol gifts. And they definitely wouldn’t have thrown them. At least, I don’t think they would…)

These days, they are a little more controlled. Everyone gets a pin with a color or letter or number. When your pin design is pulled, you get that prize – and every pin is called at some point, so everyone goes home with lots of lovely gifts. They also have all attendee prizes, and that’s where today’s card comes in.

The Incredible Like You Stamp Set* was one of the all-attendee prizes.

Incredible Like You, Stampin' Up!

This card is one of my #simplestamping cards. Beginners probably wouldn’t have a Big Shot for the Layering Ovals Dies or the Lovely Floral Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (TIEF), but it’s perfect for a class for beginning stampers. It introduces them to the Big Shot, only uses a few colors (fewer, if you use the “stamp off” technique), and there is minimal layering. It’s also easy to replicate at home without the Big Shot. Here’s how to make it (and recreate it).

The card base is a 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ piece of Granny Apple Green Cardstock, scored at 4-1/4″ on the long side to form a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ card. Die cut the window and the Whisper White oval using the Layering Ovals Framelits. If you don’t have the framelits or a Big Shot, simply cut a rectangle (2-3/4″ x 3-1/3″) from Whisper White Cardstock and round the edges with the Detailed Trio Punch or the corner rounder in the Envelope Punch Board.

Stamp the flower detail from the Incredible Like You Stamp Set in Mango Melody Classic Ink on the Whisper White Cardstock, then stamp the flower inside with Daffodil Delight. (If you don’t have both ink pads you can use one color by stamping the outline in full strength, then stamp off the inside image one time on scrap paper, then stamp onto your card.)

Stamp the stem in Granny Apple Green. Then stamp the sentiment in Garden Green. Again, if you don’t have all the greens, you can stamp the stem and sentiment in the same color, maybe stamping off one time for the stem.

Emboss the bottom corner of the card using the Lovely Floral Dynamic TIEF from the 2018-19 Annual Catalog. Add the stamped oval inside the “window” with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

If you’re creating the alternate version, before adding your stamped image to the front of the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals, repeatedly stamp one of the leaf images in Granny Apple Green along the top and bottom corners of the card in the same color you used for the stem and sentiment. (To keep it a background, you might want to stamp off each time before stamping on the card.)

Here’s a look at the original card, a simpler version, and a slightly stepped up card.

Incredible Like You, Stampin' Up!

This is the original again.

Incredible Like You, Stampin' Up!, #simplestamping

Slightly simpler. I used two ink colors – Mango Melody and Garden Green, stamping off once for the lighter colors.

Incredible Like You, Stampin' Up!

This is slightly stepped up. I added some Lemon Lime Twist Ombre Ribbon and a few Share What You Love Artisan Pearls.

I would be thrilled to receive (and proud to send) any of these cards. And none took over 15 minutes to create.

Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy. Have an amazing day!

*Just a quick post script …The Incredible Like You Stamp Set is not listed in the Product List, because it’s not available yet – even to Stampin’ Up!® demonstrators! Demonstrators will be able to preorder it on December 5; it will be available to everyone on January 3. (Join my team now to be able to preorder!) And while you’re making your shopping list, be sure to add the Incredible Like You Project Kit. This kit coordinates with the Incredible Like You Stamp Set, and you only need two classic stampin’ pads (Coastal Cabana and Lovely Lipstick) and some adhesive to create 16 gorgeous cards. Everything else (including envelopes and embellishments) is included in the kit.

Better yet, schedule a class with friends and I’ll bring the ink and stamps. All you do is invite friends, collect the class fee (which includes the price of the kit), and get ready for fun! You can even hold the class at my studio so you don’t have to send significant others, kids, animals, or roommates away (or clean).

Product List

Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Mango Melody Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.50

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$9.75

Lemon Lime Twist 1/4" Ombre Ribbon

$7.00

Share What You Love Artisan Pearls

$6.00

Detailed Trio Punch

$20.00

Layering Ovals Framelits Dies

$35.00

Lovely Floral Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$9.00

Big Shot

$110.00

Stamparatus

$49.00
Posted in Occasions Mini Catalog, Sneak Peeks | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments