Q&A Where to Begin

	Q&A Q: I have a friend who would like to start stamping with me and I’d like to give her a gift to get her started. What are the best things for a beginner stamper to have? A: Sharing the fun of stamping with a friend is one of the things that Stampin’ Up! is all about. There is nothing like the joy of seeing the sense of accomplishment and joy that a new stamper feels when she first discovers the art of stamping. What a great thing for you to experience with your friend! Some of the basic supplies a new stamper needs are stamps, ink, card stock, and tools. Stamps As much as we may want it all, we have to start somewhere! For new stampers, I suggest a versatile set, like the Easy Events (#116958 wood-mount, #123225 clear-mount) stamp set. It includes images and greetings for a variety of occasions. Plus, the Easy Events stamp set is ideal for your friend to test out simple techniques like coloring, or stepped-up techniques like watercoloring. Ink New stampers don’t need the full spectrum of colors in order to get started. A couple of ink pads in versatile colors or favorite colors are a great place to start. One of the ink pads I recommend most is Jet Black StazOn (#101406). The quick-drying, permanent black ink is versatile for many images and perfect for a variety of techniques that new stampers will want to try. Another great ink pad to consider is the VersaMark pad (#102283). Since VersaMark is a clear ink, it creates a slightly darker watermark-type effect when stamped on most any color of card stock. A Color Collection of Stampin’ Spots is another budget-friendly option for beginning stampers who like a lot of color options. Each Stampin' Spot Color Collection includes anywhere from 8 to 11 ink pads that are 1” square in size. Card Stock Not all paper is created equal! Most of us have learned by trial and error that there is a difference. Help your new stamping friend avoid the frustration and expense of poor-quality card stock. She’ll appreciate the crisp images she can achieve with our ultra-smooth Whisper White (#100730) or Very Vanilla (#101650) card stock. Pair the Whisper White or Very Vanilla card stock with an assorted pack of card stock from one of the Color Collections and the Neutrals Collection, and your friend will have the basis for many beautiful creations! Tools It seems obvious, but it is important not to forget the basics like a Paper Cutter (#104152) and a SNAIL adhesive (#104332) along with a couple of refills (#104331). Once you have those basics, consider fun and functional tools like our great punches. A couple of circles that can be layered together are a great place to start because circles are a very pleasing and versatile shape that you can't cut by hand without making yourself crazy! (You know what I mean if you’ve tried it!) Got to have it all?! Do you know the best-kept secret deal in the Stampin’ Up! catalog? It’s the Starter Kit. Yep - with stamps, ink, card stock, and basic tools, the Starter Kit is valued at $345, but only costs $175, making it a steal-of-a-deal and an ideal way for new stampers to get all the basics in one affordable bundle. Plus, when new stampers join Stampin’ Up!, they’ll have a whole host of great online resources, including an amazing online community of demonstrators for training, ideas, and support. Talk about having it all! Contact me today to find out more about the Starter Kit, including the limited-time extras and discounts available only to new team members who join during Sale-A-Bration!
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33 Birthday cards on the wall...

33 Birthday Cards... Take one down, pass it around.... well. Something like that! :-)
My friend and I got cahrayzee in the craft room today while our kids played. It was fun, I am cleaning out all my folders and keepers, and came across these One Sheet Wonders that had all the DSP paper cut - just had to get some card bases, coordinating card stocks, and the white part to stamp. So I put my friend to work {LOL} and we stamped and assembled this fine group of cards! We had to break for husbands and dinner and that sort of thing, so I finished hand coloring the cards and doing the final assembly by my lonesome, but I am pleased!

Bam! Thats how you get a crafty year rolling! I believe this will take me halfway to my OWH goal for the month, and I still have time to get crackin' on the slew of Birthday cards I need for personal use!

It was a bit tricky finding ink and coordinating paper to match this retired Designer Series Paper, (I'm sure my friend thought I was bonkers) and then deciphering my notes on how all the pre-cut strips actually assembled into cards... well, thats what friends are for, right? They still like you, cahrayzee and all! 

Happy Crafting!
~angie

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Birthday Mojo

I've penned all the birthdays of my friends and family into our calendar this year with the intent of actuallymailing their cards this year! (we'll just forget about last year, now shall we...) Looking out just to June, that means I am in need of 40 cards so far. And... that doesn't even include the ones I'd planned to make for Operation Write Home! Or to just have on hand in my card stash!! -gulp-

Even ((ahem)) re-purposing some cards I may have on hand, that still leaves quit the pile of Birthday cards I need to make! So I think I will declare January to be Birthday month, and get to making!

For this card, to get the "mojo flowing" in the craft room, I played along with the Mojo Monday sketch. What do you think of the results?



Mojo Monday #222 - Fabulous Birthday

I used Daffodil Delight, Rose Red, Early Espresso, and Regal Rose card stocks; some Rose Red Designer Paper; and the sentiment and cupcake are from the Create a Cupcake stamp set #121982. A fun little set for birthdays. The sentiment reads "There's something fabulous about your birthday {must be you!}" Sweet, huh? The bling was from the kids stash. ((Hahaha - yes, my kids have a stash!)) This one is an OWH card, but I like the layout enough to try it again, so perhaps some lucky calendar date of mine will get a card just like this!

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #222

If you'd like to play along with the crowd at Mojo Monday, or just want to see what everyone else made of the sketch, go visit them at mojomonday.blogspot.com  Every Monday they offer a different challenge sketch, and the first Monday of the month they offer prizes for playing along!

Hope you're having a super start to the week,

Happy Crafting!

~angie

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Holiday Mini 2011 Last Minute Must Haves

Its about to disappear!!
That mini catalog we've loved since September!
The last day to order from the Holiday Mini Catalog 2011 will be tomorrow January 3rd, 2012!!!
There are a few awesome items that will carry over into the next mini catalog (the simply fabulous Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334 and accessories - see page 7) but for the most part, you need to get your order in STAT to get these items!
If you'd like to download a copy of the Holiday Mini, please click on the image in my left sidebar.
You can also see all the items in my online store, click on the Shop Now link at the bottom of this post and then click on the Holiday Mini link in the left column there.

My top 10 items to get before they're gone:

It's a Wrap Holidays (wood mount: #122770 or clear mount: #122772) page 14


Its A Wrap Holidays

A set of 7 adorable stamps to decorate your mini-chocolate candies, or to add borders to scrapbook pages or cards. Versatile, includes any-time "4 You" or "Love" - great for weddings, shower favors, or teachers gifts; as well as St Patricks Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Christmas. There are a dozen tutorials for cute candy gift boxes, baskets, and bags - these would add a great finishing touch to your project.

Mica Flakes (#124115) page 21

The Shaker Frames (124155 pg 38 - CARRYOVER!) will still be around, but the mica flakes may not be. These are delicate and shimmery, perfect for the ideal snow globe effect, and really a very optimal alternative to glitter ((you know how I am about glitter!! :-/ )) I suggest a little tub or two of these to keep on hand.




Holiday Damask



Decor Elements Holiday Damask (#125635)

and Happy Holidays (#124153) page 25
Tuck these pretties away and be ready to decorate next year. Easy to use vinyl pieces, and I think these are really beautiful designs. I would also like to point out the red of the Damask print would be amazing for Valentines Day, if you wanted to have a transitional piece to stage your decorating on. It would be beautiful on an old window, handing behind your entry table, or added to canvas - very mobile. It could be the backdrop for your Christmas, New Years, and Valentines displays.

Stampin' Card Keeper (#124107) page 35
This was a great gift idea for the holidays, for sure, but you know it would make your life easier through the New Year too! Perfect to get organized for the new year, or an amazing gift to make and keep on hand for birthdays, thank you gifts, or teachers gifts. Very customizable, you can dress it up or down according to your need. Also good to store cards wrapped with ribbon, or color samples, or scraps of paper.

Designer Printed 6x6 Ring album Cherry Trim (#124008)
and Simply Scrappin Kit Christmas Lane (#124008) page 26


Cherry Trim Album

Perfect time to grab a couple of these to save all those memories of the past holiday! You could also get a book ready for next year, and be ahead of the game on your scrapbook - or use it as a guest book for all those parties? Lots of options... Also to note, the Album would make a delightful Valentines offering, or to save those sweet memories of how you've celebrated over the years. Its a great color that works well for masculine gifts, but you could also dress it up to be a bit frilly and girly.

Mini Jingle Bells (#124116) page 30
Dashing all the way! How adorable and precious are these little jingles?!? A really special embellishment to any page or card, the bells really ring. Use them on paper crafts, or add them to your sewing projects or home decor crafts. Just unique, and so very tiny!



3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon (Cherry Cobbler #124105 or Early Espresso #124104 sorry - sold out!) page 30


Cherry Cobbler Quilted Satin Ribbon

 I love to get ribbon from the mini catalogs because it is so unique, this ribbon is just deluxe! Great colors for those masculine cards, and a really elegant finish make it definitely one of my favorites. Edited to add: The Early Espresso is gone already, grab some of the Cherry Cobbler - you won't be disappointed!

Hand-Penned Holidays (wood mounted: #124310 or clear-mounted: #124312) page 15
A set of four sentiments, with beautiful flourishes that will add elegance to any project. Great versatile set, it does include "With Love" and "Give Thanks" that you can use all year long for birthdays, anniversaries, thank you cards, and notes. A really stylized "Happy Halloween", and a sweet "Merry Christmas" round out the set and will work well on cards or scrapbook pages or gifts during the holiday seasons.


Hostess: Warmesst Of Wishes


Hostess Set Warmest of Wishes page 5
(with qualifying $150 purchase of Stampin' Up product,
see page 4 for details:
 #122670 wood mount or #122672 clear mount)
I hope you'll get the chance to get this adorable set, I love when the stamps coordinate with punches and this one is a set of 5, where 4 of the 5 stamps coordinate with a punch! Wheee!! The pennant is a perfect addition to the pennant collection, and the wreath is just adorable, and how on earth can you pass up the sweet little trick-or-treat owl!?! Great Hostess set, as usual, but it will be gone soon!

To get these products from the Holiday Mini Catalog, you must place your order before 11:50 PM Mountain Time, Tuesday January 3rd. If you are waiting till the VERY last minute, be aware that there is always a mad rush at the end... and possible sell-outs on some of these great products - don't say I didn't warn you! If you would feel more comfortable placing an order with me personally instead of using our easy online ordering, please don't hesitate to contact me - I am happy to help you, and we still have a little bit of time! My info is on my store page:

Shop Now  at my online store

Items that will carry over and be available in the future:

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Birthday Celebrations

New Years Day is actually my half-birthday (does anyone celebrate those?! I believe in celebrating :-) so my card today is a Birthday card. And really, there is always a need for Birthday cards, isnt there?

This card is easy, but full of texture and warmth. I used the Build a Cupcake punch to make the cupcake, candle, and "confetti". I also used the large Scallop Circle punch for tha background, and then used a technique called "Embedded Embossing". I layered all the punch pieces onto cardstock, and then used an embossing folder on the whole thing. I used the Square Lattice Embossing Folder for this card.
The sentiment is stamped before embossing, and is from the Upsy Daisy stamp set. I used Black, White, and Pool Party card stocks and Pool Party ink.

I hope the new year brings you many days to celebrate!
Happy New Year & Happy Crafting!
~angie

Linking up to Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge #102

and ColorQ Challenge #117 - thank you for the inspiration!

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Candy Cane Coffee Gift

Quick - need to make some little gifts to have on hand but don't want the usual Candy Canes? How about these darling coffee singles? My friend went to a craft show and bought some of these. I saw the wrapping paper in the dollar bin at the supermarket, and I could not resist making a few of these to hand out.

Sweet Treat - coffee single wrapped like a candy cane

Candy cane pattern wrapping paper

Coffee Single (Via or Folgers brand)

Tag

Ribbon

Tape

I made my tag, you could easily use a regular gift tag.

The stamp set used is retired, but you can use the current you could use the current stamp sets:

 Morning Cup 116988 or Every Little Bit 117096 or even Itty Bitty Bits 117056

I stamped, then punched that out with the Circle punch; and mounted it onto a red Scallop punch piece. 

Trim your wrapping paper to cover the coffee single, mine was about 2.75" x 7"

Wrap around coffee, and tape closed. Roll the bottom and tape, shake your coffee down to the bottom of one end, then roll the long end to form the curl of the "candy cane"

Punch hole in tag and tie onto middle with ribbon.

the hardest part will be finding the candy cane wrapping paper

Hand out to those deserving of a nice break from the holiday madness, or maybe in need of a little caffine to get them thru the madness :-) Regardless, I'm sure you can think of someone who would enjoy a cup!

stash a few for the office, drop some to the lunch ladies

Happy Crafting!

~angie 

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Q & A Quick Affordable Gifts

	Q&A Q: Do you have suggestions for quick and affordable gifts? A: People love getting handcrafted gifts. The saying about the thought being what counts is so true. You don't have to spend a fortune or eons of time making thoughtful gifts. Read on to find out about ideas for Food from the Heart, Inexpensive & Impressive, and Fast & Fabulous gifts you can create in the twinkle of an eye - but don't tell Santa he has competition! Food from the Heart We all love the comfort and thoughtfulness of homemade goodies around the holidays, and honestly, any other time, too! One of my favorite gifts to give (and receive) is the timeless Mason jar filled with a family cookie mix and recipe, soup mix, baked cookies, fudge, candies, cocoa mix, etc. This inexpensive gift is great because it's personal, it doesn't need to be dusted, it fits anyone, and it's a snap to create. Simply create a belly-band around the jar using Designer Series Paper or stamped card stock. Then add a bit of ribbon around the neck of the jar with a hand-stamped tag, fill with goodies, and you are done! I like using the From the Kitchen Of (#114964) stamp set to include the recipe for the treat included in the jar. Another great option is a big, oversized mug decorated with Decor Elements and filled with a special flavored coffee or tea bags. Add a Decor Element to the mug, then tie a ribbon with a hand-stamped tag around the handle and you have a great gift. The Letters to Santa Decor Elements (#124195) are a great option because they include lots of images that are perfect for the holidays, there is a coordinated stamp set for a tag, and they are a great value. Inexpensive & Impressive Gifts don't have to cost the world to be impressive. Purchase inexpensive scarves and/or gloves (sometimes even in $1 bins) and dress them up with fun embellishments. You can use Designer Fabric or ribbon to create a colorful ruffle. Add a whimsical flower using the Big Shot to die cut Designer Fabric, fleece, and felt. Create a coordinating brooch that can be pinned to a jacket for a fun, coordinating look! Quickly stitch on buttons in the recipient's favorite color for a stylish look, or a whole rainbow of colors for a fun and vibrant look. The Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die (#120893) is great for creating fabric accents and ruffles. The Flower Folds Bigz XL die (#115970) is one of many options for creating flower brooches and accents. Another thoughtful gift is a stack of hand-stamped cards. Make a whole set of cards with a monogram or an assortment of all-occasion cards. Tie them together with a ribbon and a hand-stamped tag and you have a fast and useful gift. Fast & Fabulous Simply Adorned Charm necklaces are one of my fast and fabulous gift items. They are ideal gifts to give to mothers, sisters, friends, daughters, etc. No worrying about sizes makes it easy, and the style can be customized to any preference, and can also be easily changed. It takes next to no time to create a couple of inserts customized for your friends and family. Create inserts with a monogram, simple floral images, seasonal inserts, or any of a huge variety of options. When you consider the nearly endless possibilities and the ease of changing the look, you'll appreciate the amazing value and thoughtful personalization that this gift offers! Because the Simply Adorned charms and chains come in gift boxes, just tie a ribbon and add a hand-stamped tag to enjoy stress-free gift wrapping! It’s not too late! These are just a few of the many possibilities for heartfelt, last-minute gifts that let you share your creativity and the true spirit of the season. Imagine how special your friends and family will feel when they receive the special gift you designed and created just for them! Contact me today for more ideas and to get any supplies you may need, and you'll have those last-minute gifts checked off your list in no time!
© CraftyPerson Production. Images © Stampin' Up! Q&A is a regular feature of my Monthly Newsletter - Sign up today to recieve ideas and inspiration, tips and tool information all directly to your email.

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