Sunshine Garden in Palm Springs

Boy am I sad to see that the Simply Scrappin' Kit Sunshine Garden is gone. It was on the Last Chance List and now it's sold out. I'm really happy that I stocked up though, and I will be able to offer this layout in an upcoming class. This particular layout is from our trip to Palm Springs. It was super easy to make. I just cropped al the photos the same size and laid them down on a piece of 12 x12 DSP and then made sure the borders were even, and glued them down and cropped the paper. Then I decided that the top right corner needed "something" so I enlarged the picture of myself and Teagan and cropped it to only show the fantastic smile on her face. The flowers are all stickers from the kit and I popped them up with dimensionals. The rhinestone stickers in the flowers are from Mike's.

Paper: Sunshine Garden and Sale-a-bration DSP. Baja Breeze Accesories: Stickers from Sunshine Garden bulk buy, and ribbon from Sale-a-bration.

Little Rory's Card

So here it is as promised. My newest nephew's welcome card! I decided to use chocolate chip as the basis of this card, so I needed to insert a scallop note inside for something to write on.
I played around a lot with this card until I was happy. I knew that I wanted to use the scallop sentiment, but then I stamped, I cut, I layered... until the final result was done. I decided to make the mounted borders small to emphasize the polka dot DSP

Stamps: So Many Scallops, Ink: Chocolate Chip, Barely Banana, Bashful Blue. Paper: Bashful blue DSP, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, and Bashful Blue cardstock. Accessories: Scallop circle, 1 1/4' circle and 1 3/8' circle punches. Satin Ribbon from Occasions Mini, Scallop Note in Wild Wasabi

Have you ever????

Have you ever simply fallen in love with a card or scrapbook page? Maybe I'm a bit of a freak, but I am completely addicted y'know. Anyway, when I first found this card on splitcoast, I was completely enamoured. I didn't have the grommets or the circle tag to copy the card exactly and I decided to see what I could come up with. Above you see the final product. You've probably noticed it on the header of my blog. I put this card up on display in my craft room and I just can't stop looking at it. (Is is narcissistic to love something you made?) I will be soooooooooo sad when these In Colours are gone. But yet, I can't wait to make this card again with the new In Colours when they arrive. Stamps: Best Wishes & More. Ink: Riding Hood Red, Baja Blue, Kiwi Kiss. Paper: Riding Hood Red, Baja Blue, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White. Accessories: Circle punches and half pearls

Simply Striking

Isn't this card great? It's very simple to make and the colour contrast makes it very striking. I got the inspiration for this card from my upline Angela. You can find her blog here. This card was made for a colleague of mine who is ending her position at my school and doesn't know where she will be in September yet. Thus I felt the quote from Theroux was appropriate. I chose 2 types of purple to make this card. It's a 5 1/2 by 5 1/2 inch square.
Stamps: Live Your Dream, Oval All. Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Chocolate Chip. Accessories: Tulipe Bigz Die, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch and 1/2 pearl.

Much Mojo-ness

This card was made for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch #89. I was so excited to try this sketch, and just couldn't find the time on Monday. BUT!!!! yesterday was not only my brother's birthday, but yesterday morning my brother's newest son, Rory, was born. We were soooo excited to meet the new baby, who looks exactly like his older brother. Anyway, I digress...When we all got home from the hospital last night, I sat down to make my brother's birthday card and decided to combine it with this week's Mojo sketch. Scroll down for the sketch and supplies. This is a Stampin' Up! only card. Rory's card will be posted later this week.

Stamps: Wonderful Favourite, Congrats, So Many Scallops. Ink: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Summer Sun. Paper: It's a Loop Thing DSP, Scallop Note in Soft Sky, Cardstock in Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, & Whisper White. Accesories: 1/2" Certainly Celery Ribbon from SAB. Scallop Circle punch and 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" circle punches

Tuesday Tutorial #4

Today's Tutorial involves following a sketch and making a complimentary page to create a 2 page layout.

This sketch is from a challenge on Lotus Papiere. You can find the website here. I used the Sweet Always DSP as the paper in my layout. I wanted to use these 3 pictures of my daughter. I think that for me the colours I chose are not the best for these photos. I pulled the colours from my daughter's dress, but the green grass in the photos is so overwhelming that I don't think the colours work perfectly. But considering the effort that went in to creating this layout, I will keep it as is for now.

I found this sketch very simple and struggled with it until I tilted it around a bit. The flowers were created using the cherry blossom embosslit in the Big Shot. So after I decided that this layout wasn't worth entering the contest, I decided to try to make it into a 2 page layout for our family scrapbook. One of the nice things about Stampin' Up's DSP is that it all matches with their cardstock and inks. So I collected a few photos from the same day and mounted them on more DSP and cardstock from this palette.

Although this second page is very simple, I felt it was the perfect compliment to the busy-ness of the original layout. Here's the 2 page layout.

Last Chance (Retirement List) is HERE!!!!

OK Ladies, you just have to check out the deals on the Last Chance list. These are things that are no longer available as of July 1st, or when they sell out. And believe me, those discounted items are SELLING FAST!!! I can't believe the deals. 50% off a lot of the regular priced items. Yes that's right -- HALF PRICE!!!! Click here for the link to my Stampin Up! page where you click SHOP NOW in the top right corner, to get to the list. Or click on the picture above if you don't want to order yet.

OH and BTW I got to see the upcoming In Colours and a Sneak Peek at the new catty and I AM IN LOVE!!!!!! I'll give you a little hint - purple is my favourite colour.

Absolutely Unexpected

Remember a while back I had a blog candy contest? Well the winner (Go Canucks Go!) took a while to get back to me. Turns out she had computer problems. Well I finally got her blog candy to her, and she sent me back this little package. Isn't that completely adorable??? And also completely unexpected. When you hand out a prize, you don't expect to get one yourself too.

Who is this wonderful blog stalker? Her name is Ginette Wong and she made me this cute circle card and also folded the paper ornament in the foreground. I would love to find out how to make that! She also included the ribbon and stickers. And then she packaged it all up in that great little box in the background. Wow, I feel so lucky to have such thoughtful followers.

I just can't wait!!!!!

Monday I will get the opportunity for a sneak peek at the new catalogue. I am so excited I can hardly wait - it's just like Christmas Eve - I'll hardly be able to sleep tomorrow night I bet.

Also, on Stampin' Up! will be releasing their "Last Chance" list, formerly known as the "Retiring List". As a demonstrator, I also get the privilege of knowing the list of stamp sets that will no longer be available for sale as of July 1st. This will include the In Colours as well.

Remember that you have until tomorrow evening to sign up as a new demonstrator for only $99!!!!!! It's an incredible deal. But tomorrow is the last day. Here’s all the things you get: Schoolbook Serif Alphabet stamp set (Value $50.95) Petal Party Simply Scrappin’ Kit (Value $23.95) Whisper White Craft Stamp Pad (Value $8.95) Earth Elements textured 12” x 12” card stock (Value $13.95) Business Forms (Value $39.15) Catalogues (Value $37.60) That’s a $175.75 value for $99.00! And there is no shipping or GST either!

***You have the option of changing the contents to suit your need, by swapping out the alphabet stamp set for any stamp set valued up to $51.95, choosing a different Simply Scrappin’ Kit and a different card stock colour.***And that’s not all!

By purchasing this Starter Kit you would receive 20% off any orders you choose to place until Dec 31, 2009 (5 months minimum).You would get the Stampin’ Up! magazine for the next 5 months (minimum) too! And you have peace of mind knowing that should your current situation unexpectedly change at any time during the next six months you could use your Demonstrator status to earn extra money through your very own business. This offer ends in 5 days, so please contact me to get your order in by the deadline. Time is running out! If you are interested contact me today at slfarrell@shaw.ca or sign up at my Stampin Up! website - linked on the sidebar - and on the upper right hand corner you will find the link "join". Follow the directions and type in my demonstrator code "stamperontheshore"

Congrats

I made this card for a coleague's retirement. Up until saleabration this year, I did not have any apropriate retirement stamps. This card was based on one I did for Mojo Challenge earlier this month, but instead, I turned it on its side and added the sentiments.

Stamps: Congrats. Paper: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Walk in the Park DSP, Summer Home DSP. Ink: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss. Accessories: Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon

Regional Swaps

I felt really lucky last month, when I went to Seattle Regionals. Especially while I sat in the car on the way home and checked out all the awesome swaps that I managed to get. These are a selection of some of my favourite swaps. I went down with 2 different swaps - 30 of each, and so I came home with almost 60 new cards! Again, this is a small selection of some of my favourite swaps.

This card is truly beautiful and elegant. Unfortunately I cannot credit the maker as they did not put their name on their swap. Stamps: Friends 24-7, Friends jumbo Wheel. Ink: Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette, Basic Grey. Paper: Shimmery White, Basic Grey, Pink Pirouette. Accessories: Grosgrain Ribbon, 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 inch circle punches, scallop circle punch, mat pack.

This card was made by Susan Roberts-Huffman

And finally this card was made by my fellow West Coast Creator, Heather Johnston. You can find her blog linked in my sidebar. Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks. Paper: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Bella Rose DSP. Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals

Ipod Rock Star

This card was made for this weeks Splitcoast Sketch Challenge. Look below for the sketch. I turned the sketch sideways and immediately thought of an ipod. I gathered some DSP I had lying around and this card was born. Can you see the glittery cardstock?

Stamps: Somethin' Somethin' Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versa Mark. Paper: from DCWV. Accessories: Star, Circles, Scallop Circle punches

Summer Love Card Class

Here's an exciting new card class. In this class you will make 8 beautiful cards and a beautiful card case. You will also get rub ons and paper to take home and make more cards with the techniques used in class.

PLUS

I am also offering you to chance to purchase the stamp set 'Great Friend' for only $25! When you add in shipping & tax that's a 20% savings. You can purchase this set when you sign up for the class. But if you are more cautious and would like to try it out, I will also offer this great deal during the class.

Tuesday Tutorial #3

Welcome to Tuesday Tutorial. Today I would like to discuss layouts with multiple photos. Much like the first Tuesday Tutorial, I would like to focus on a bunch of uninspiring photos. I'm sure you have tons of experiences where there's an important event that you would like to remember, but none of your photos are exceptional. What I try to do in those instances is create a page that is full of snapshots of the event. I feel that if you see a clever collage of photos, then the focus is on the page as a whole, instead a particular photo. The event that I wanted to remember here was my son's third birthday party. I really wanted to capture the fact that this day was full of family and lots of enjoyment.

STEP 1 - SORT and SELECT your PHOTOS

I went through all the photos and selected the "best" ones. I was looking for photos in focus, containing a large selection of family, and I wanted one of my son blowing out the candles on his cupcake. Also, I took a selection of photos of my daughter playing with a gift bag and I chose 4 that were in focus. I printed out a sheet of photos on 11x8.5 paper, a few photos on 6x4 paper and I enlarged the one of the birthday candles to 5x7. I couldn't enlarge it any more because it went out of focus. Originally I was thinking of cropping the 5x7 so I made it as large as I was comfortable. Then I cropped the photos as below.

STEP 2 - COLOUR

Next I focused on colour. I knew that I wanted to use primary colours as this was for a child's birthday party. So naturally I pulled a few out of the Bold Brights. I laid the pictures out on a few different colours until I found a few that I really liked. I used 4 different colours and black and white. You don't want to use too many colours in a busy layout.

I decided to matte a few on Glorious Green and a few on Tempting Turquoise. I knew that I wanted to use my new Choo Choo stamps from the Occasions Mini and the coordinating train track wheel. So I ran the train track wheel over Brilliant Blue cardstock, cut it out and laid it down on Real Red 12x12 cardstock.

STEP 3 - LAYOUT

I decided that I would start with a simple layout like below. I've used this layout before. I knew that a simple structure was needed as the basis of this layout. With so many photos, I knew that a basic background, with plain cardstock, was needed. Fancy DSP would overwhelm the pictures and make for a layout that was too busy.

I laid the matted photos out on the 8.5x11 cardstock and found a pleasing layout that filled most of the cardstock. You will see in the final layout below. I also popped up a few photos for emphasis and to hide flaws in other pictures. I wanted to focus on the photo of my son blowing out the candles and decided that this photo of him on the sofa with his cousins, grandmothers, and mother, captured the spirit of the day.

STEP 4 - JOURNALLING OR NOT?

I used the title "Connor Turns 3" and then I decided that was all the writing needed. All the photos are of family, and the date and year are obvious in the title, so in order to simplify the layout, I chose not to journal. After I decided not to journal, I decided to jazz up the title a bit. So I used a technique based on the scrapbook page we made at Regionals. I stamped some letters in Glorious Green, used sponge daubers and ink to colour some chipboard letters in Real Red and Brilliant Blue. I mounted them all on circles punched with my 1 3/8 inch and 1 1/4 inch circle punches. The trains were stamped in the various colours and then cut out with craft scissors. I popped out part of them with dimensionals.

I started with the title on the top of the first page and moved it to the bottom of the second page for interest. I put a few extra trains around the pictures to fill in the spaces.

Mojo 88

So here's my Mojo monday #88 entry. I've been using the Petal Party Simply Scrappin' Kit all weekend setting up another future Tuesday Tutorial - not tomorrow's but you'll see it soon I promise. Anyway, so I decided to use the kit as my colour choice basis for this challenge. I have to say that for some reason, I have been really stretching my comfort zone with the colours on Mojo Sketch challenges. It must be because the sketches are so AWESOME. This week I decided to stick right to the sketch - see it at the bottom of this post. Because the Simply Scrappin' kits are so coordinated, you don't need to spend time putting things together. This card took me 1/2 hour from start to finish. The pink and yellow flowers are stickers right out of the kit, and the orange flower is stamped from the Best Wishes & More stamp set.

Stamps: Best Wishes and More, Trendy Trees. Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive. Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive and So Saffron Cardstock. DSP from Petal Party simply scrappin. Accessories: Stampin Dimensionals, 1 3/4 inch circle punch, word window punch Brads from Making Memories

Mother In Law Monogram

So I was trying to use up my sale-a-bration DSP, and decided to make monogram cards for my MIL. The stamp is a monogram stamper from Just Rite. I have to say that the image was not as clear as a stamp from SU and I put the glitter over the letter to hide the 'flaws' in the image. I punched it out and inked the edges and then added a scallop from the #2 scallop die for the bigt shot. Stamps: Just Rite Monogram Stamper. Ink: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip. Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, DSP from Sale-a-bration. Accessories: So Saffron Grosgrain from Sale-a-bration, Scallop #2 die for the Big Shot, Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

Swaps Again!

I love, love LOVE purple and green. It was natural that this swap caught my eye. It was made by Lindsay Langseth. She used Great Friend Stamps, Perfect Plum, Gable Green and Iridescent Ice EP.

This swap was made by Monica Chan. You can find her blog here. She used: Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, Sincere Salutations. Paper: Riding Hood Red, Cameo Coral, Whisper White. Accessories: Eyelet Border punch.

This cute card was made by Grenda Gilhooly of Langley BC.

And finally this simple, yet effective card was made by Wanda Clasen from Franktown CO.

Sweet Birthday

These cards were made with clear stamps I bought at Michael's. The base of the layout came from Mojo Monday sketch #86. I used my Aqua Painters to colour the sweets. Paper: DSP from K&Co. Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Watercolour Paper. Ink: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral. Stamps: from Sudio G. Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Many, Many, Many Mojo's

I sat down this week with Mojo Monday's sketch and knew exactly which paper and colour combinations I wanted to use. BUT then I really struggled with this layout. (see bottom of post) I really thought that a detailed sketch like this would be simple to follow, but what I struggled with was how to make this sketch 'mine'. I couldn't quite see how to add my own creative touch to it. Anyway, I came up with four potential cards. The top one is my entry into Mojo Monday's Challenge this week, but I think the second card was my best one.

The DSP is from K&Co. (Have I mentioned before that I LOVE K&Co's paper!) Anyway everything else is from SU. Stamps: Four Square Paper: K&CO DSP, Always Artichoke, Rose Red, Groovy Guava, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White. Ink: Baja Breeze, Rose Red. Accessories: Scallop Edge, 1 1/4 inch square, 1 3/8 inch square, 1 1/4 inch circle, 1 3/8 inch circle, Scallop Circle punches, Stampin' Dimensionals

I'm So Lucky!

One of the most fabulous things about becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is the group of women that you get to meet. Most of my friends' eyes glaze over with boredom when I discuss cards or scrapbooking. So once I decided to become a demonstrator and went to a few meetings with my upline groups, I met a wonderful group of women with whom to share my addiction. I have to say that I am so lucky because my direct upline is an exciting, energetic and successful demonstrator who has offered me so much support and I belong to her West Coast Creators group. But also, her upline is so sucessful that she has won several awards including Rising Star - which is a big deal in the Stampin' Up! world, and I belong to her Sea To Sky Stampers group. And her upline has been around so long that she doesn't have an upline. Her group meets 6 times a year and there are over 200 women in her group - Colourful Impressions. So basically I belong to many groups of women who meet on a regular basis. When we meet we discuss techniques and ideas, we make a few fun things, we discuss business ideas, and we swap cards. But the best part is spending time with others who share my obsession. What's truly exciting is that if you would like to join, the starter kit is on sale for only $99!!!!! That's an incredible deal, and you get more than twice the value in product as part of your starter kit. Please check out promotions on my sidebar for the link.

I have featured some of the swaps that I received at Regionals on this blog. But as I ramble on here, I actually have a point. I went to a Sea to Sky Stampers meeting this week and, of course, we swapped cards. What I realized when I took a good look at these swaps, was just how talented the women in my groups are! I am so lucky!! Anyway, I thought that today I would feature a card made by my direct upline Angela. Her blog is linked on my sidebar. I will be featuring more of these swaps in the coming weeks.

Stamps: Wonderful You. Ink: Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze. Paper: Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Walk in the Park DSP. Accessories: Large Grommets, Scallop Edge Punch, Baja Breeze Satin Ribbon.