Stamp Maven

Summer Smooches Suite Available Today!

I had so much fun using my Summer Smooches Suite today. I got to order all these fun products a month early since I am a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator; if you are looking for a new job give me a shout. Getting to order new products a month early is only one of the awesome perks of my job!

My stamp club members will be getting to use all the products in the Summer Smooches Suite for one of our projects this month.  We will be making these adorable little mini purses:

These little gems are perfect for birthday party, wedding, and shower favors. If you're not in one of my clubs, let's plan a Girls' Night Out for you and your friends and we'll make them!

Anne Brown                        The Stamp Maven            contact me          972-234-9118

24 Hours Left To Sign Up For My Mailing List!

Just a quick reminder Blog Friends, tomorrow at 4:00 pm is when my newsletter with free gift will be coming out! You have to be on my mailing list to receive it. If you haven't signed up yet, just click the box on the left and remember to confirm when you get an email from my Service Provider!

I wanted to share a fun little 3D project I recently did at a workshop. This group is great fun and they wanted to learn how to use our Treat Cups so here's what I came up with.

  
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These clear cups are made to put whatever you like inside (M&M's work great!) so that the card recipient gets a little "treat surprise". In this example, I filled the cup with paper clips and then made the tab so that when the card is received, the person can just pull on the tab and get the "treat" out, but still have an intact card. I thought it would be a fun little "happy" for my co-workers!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Anne Brown The Stamp Maven anne@stampmaven.com  972-234-9118  Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Hello Blog Friends!

It has been a crazy few weeks so I haven't been able to post regularly....but I will make it up to you, I promise! First of all, anyone who places an online (or you can email me if you prefer) order before 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 31st (the end of Sale-a-Bration) will get an entry to win either a free stamp set from the Summer Smooches promotion that starts April 1, OR the Designer Series Paper and ribbon from this promotion. The stamp set is called Bright Blossom and of course the set and the DSP are fabulous! If you place more than one order you'll get a ticket for each. I will draw and notify the winner on April 1.

Our Retiring Stamp Set List is coming out in two weeks and of course that will be posted here on my blog. I will have my annual contest to guess your "top ten" list of sets you think will be retiring. The person who gets the most correct will get one of my personal "stash" of retired sets. More on that coming soon.

You will also want to make sure you are a subscriber to my newsletter by this coming Saturday at 4:00 pm. Why?  Everyone who is a subscriber by then will receive a free gift into their email box...a project using our I Dig You Stamp Set, AND a mini "Card Shoppe" class using some Sale-A-Bration and Occasions Mini products. (once you get your freebies, there will still be time to place a Sale-A-Bration online order!

Even if you don't own the stamp sets used in the projects,  you will have measurements, instructions, and pictures to use with your favorite set! ONLY my newsletter subscribers will receive this. I have other exclusive content and bennies that I offer my subscribers so you will definitely want to make sure you use the "Sign-up For Our Mailing List" form in the upper left corner of this page so you don't miss this freebie and others to come.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Anne Brown  The Stamp Maven  Stampin' Up! Demonstrator  anne@stampmaven.com  972-234-9118

Fun Gift Idea Thursday

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I created this notebook for one of my downline who recently achieved her first promotion with Stampin' Up! This would make a great gift for a cheerleader squad, a party favor for a teenager's birthday party, or as a gift for a favorite teacher! If you'd like to know how to make one, email me and I'll give you the scoop!

Scrappin' With Simply Scored

Did I mention yet this week how much I am in love with our Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334) and Diagonal Scoring Plate (125586)? You can you quickly create matching envelopes for your handmade cards and you can create the most adorable little envelope "pockets" for journaling on your scrapbook pages.

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Stampin' Up! has paid for several fun trips for Dave the Stamp Slave and me....and you can also earn these fun trips...email me and I'll tell you more! 

In 2008 we went to Bermuda and I have been a little behind in getting my pages done. I pulled out my Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper and Side Notes and created a great page...but, I was missing something...guess what? Yep, a little envelope for a journaling card.

I cut a 2 x 2" piece of Pool Party Card Stock and created a teensy envelope that added the perfect touch. You'll definitely want to get your Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334 $29.95) and Diagonal Plate (125586 - $11.95) during Sale-a-Bration and earn a free item. Add a packet of Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper (125407 $10.95) ato your scoring tools and you're there! Visit my online store to place your order before SAB ends!

Tuesday Tip - Scallop Border Punch

Did you know that you can make an adorable little frame using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch? It's a quick and easy way in your cardmaking to create a notecard or embellishment for a larger card or scrapbook page.

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I used the Easter Dove (125457 $7.95) stamp from the Occasions Mini Catalog, Concord Crush Card Stock (119792 $6.95), Perfect Plum Card Stock (101889 $6.95) and Perfect Plum Classic Ink (101437 $5.95). I used the teeny flower from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309 $16.95) and a few small pearls from the Basic Pearls Jewels (119247 $4.95).

Here are the steps:
1. Cut Concord Crush and Whisper White card stock at 3" x 3".
2. Center one side of the white card stock in the punch and press down. Repeat this step on remaining 3 sides.
3. Stamp "He Is Risen" with Perfect Plum Classic Ink in center of white frame and adhere to Concord Crush card stock with SNAIL.
4. Embellish corners with Perfect Plum punched flowers and Pearls.

Anne Borwn  The Stamp Maven  anne@stampmaven.com  Stampin' Up! Demo  972-234-9118

Coordinating Cards And Envelopes

I'm so on a roll creating matching envelopes for my cards. Tomorrow, I'll also show you a scrapbook page I made using a little envelope I created!

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I'm in a monthly swap with an amazing group of crafters so of course I am always thinking of new ways to "wow" them. Our upcoming theme is "spring cards" so I wanted to use one of my favorite dies, Fun Flowers, and create my card around that.

I used Pink Pirouette and Black for my basic colors. I used the largest 2 flowers from the die and then I crumpled and peeled apart the card stock on the flowers to create more dimension. The zigzag line in the middle is made using the Tasteful Trim 120893) Bigz XL Die. (Side note: I was at a retreat at Priceless Memories in Wylie and we all used this die for our cardmaking and scrapbooking...fun times! If you have a group that likes to go on scrapbooking retreats, check it out).

I used Designer Series Paper (this one is, sadly, retired) for the envelope and then made a little embellishment to seal the back of the envelope. I'll have to hand-deliver this one...USPS wouldn't like it!

The Stamp Maven  Anne Brown  anne@stampmaven.com  Stampin' Up! Demonstrator  972-234-9118

Diagonal Scoring Tool Is Amazing!

Easily and quickly create distinctive envelopes for your handmade cards, boxes, and more using the Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, created by and exclusively for Stampin' Up! This "must have" crafting tool is reasonably priced at $11.95.

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For this project, I created a standard sized card and envelope. Here's how I made the envelope:

• Cut the Lucky Limeade Card Stock to 7 3/4 x 7 3/4".
• Score the first two opposite corners at 4 1/8" using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool. (Don't forget to use the markers so it is easy to see exactly where to start your score line).
• Score the remaining two opposite corners  at 3 1/8".
• Crop the little triangle pieces using the Stampin' Up! 1 1/4" Square Punch or Paper Snips.
• Fold in sides. (if you fold in the two shorter flaps and then line up one of them with the bottom edge of your Paper Trimmer and then move the "point" on the longer flap sticking out to the right with the silver edge on your Paper Trimmer, you can cut off the perfect amount to make it look like a "purchased" envelope.
• Adhere the bottom flap (only put glue or SNAIL near the edges of the flaps so it won't stick to the inside of your envelope). Once you are ready to seal the envelope to mail, put on a little more adhesive and give the back of your envelope a few good swipes with a bone folder to help it stick securely.

Features of Diagonal Scoring Plate

• Sits on top of the Simply Scored base
• Held securely in place by rubber pads on the back of the plate 
• Has etched grooves every 1/8"
• Can score any size card stock up to 12" x 12"
• Includes instructions for creating common envelope sizes

I'll be showing more samples and cardmaking ideas this coming week so be sure to check back.

 Anne Brown  The Stamp Maven  Stampin' Up! Demo  anne@stampmaven.com  972-234-9118

Clingy IS Good!

Now I know those of you with young children are thinking...has she lost her mind?? Not this time anyway!

So many of my crafting buddies have switched over to our clear mount stamps. But, I get asked so many times how to keep the "clingy-ness" (new word I made up...but it works, don't you think?) Nothing is worse than having your rubber stamp fall off the block in the middle of creating your handmade cards or while using scrapbooking techniques on your layouts. Here are a few tips:

• Wash your Clear Blocks once a month (more often if you use them a lot) using your favorite dishwashing liquid.  I've been told that DAWN "Original" gets them totally clean, leaving no soap residue behind.
• Let them air dry; a dish drainer works perfectly.
• When stamping, be sure to hold them on the block for 3 seconds to make sure they fully attach.
• After using Stampin' Up! Clear-Mount stamps, give the blocks and image stickers a quick swipe with our Clear Block Cleaning Cloth.                                                                                   
Here is a fun little project using one of our Clear Mount Sale-a-Bration Stamp sets, Outlined Occasions (126016).

Stamps
• Outlined Occasions

Paper
• Blushing Bride Card Stock
• Pool Party Card Stock
• Poppy Parade Card Stock
• Whisper White Card Stock
• Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper

Ink
• Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad®
• Jet Black StazOn® Ink Pad
• Bluching Bride Stampin' Write® Marker
• Pool Party Stampin' Write Marker
• Poppy Parade Stampin' Write Marker

Accessories
• Silver Mini Brads
• 2011-2013 In Color Designer Printed Brads
• Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack
• Paper Piercing Tool
• Blossom Bouquet Punch
• Big Shot™
• Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

It's not too late to Sale-a-Brate!

Anne Brown  The Stamp Maven  Stampin' Up! Demonstrator  email me  972-234-9118

Leap Day Special Details And Stampin' Dimensionals Tips

As promised yesterday, I'm excited to give you all the details of my Leap Day Special. Since Leap Day only comes around every four years, I thought I should celebrate with something "four" you...my awesome customers! Click here: Leap Day Page.

AND, since it is Tuesday, the day I often share a new technique or tool tip, here's a little tidbit for today. My team of demos and I had one of our quarterly events on Saturday. All the attendees stamped and put together a card box with 10 handmade cards, 2 each of five designs. Many of the cards used Stampin' Dimensionals. I can't tell you how many ladies told me they use the Dimensionals as they come on the sheet and then when they've used all the little octagon pieces, they throw the rest of the sheet away. I jumped into teacher (aka thrifty, cheap...whatever word fits for you!) mode and gave them these tips:

1. Cut the dimensionals in half before you use them. For most projects, this will work just fine and your supply will last longer.

2. After you've used all the dimensionals on the sheet, there will be a border left all around the edges. Take your Paper Snips and make a little cut every 1/4" or so all the way around. You will end up with 40 or so more pieces that you can use and nothing is wasted.

Thanks for stopping by!

Anne Brown  The Stamp Maven  972-234-9118  contact me  Stampin' Up! Demonstrator