C'mon over to my new blog at www.stampjourney.com.

I will no longer be updating posts on this blog. Thank you for your kind attention and your cheery posts! See you at www.stampjourney.com!

Moving Day!

I'm moving, and I hope you'll move with me!

My new blogsite is www.stampjourney.com -- please come visit. You may also reach my blog at http://stampjourney.typepad.com.

Hope to see you there!

Heartfelt Wishes for My Friend

My good buddy and "partner in paper crime" is the lovely Theresa Matthews.

Theresa celebrated her birthday on Sunday... and I sent her an email to wish her a Happy Birthday. How lame is that???

So... until I hand you a REAL card when I next see you, Miss Theresa, here's a virtual card just for you!

I promise to be better next year. Really.

Share the Hardware

We've all seen oodles of flowers... we all love lots of flowers... here's one that's a little out of the ordinary. Using Hodgepodge Hardware to form the center gives this flower a unique look.

Hardware gives any project instant texture. There are so many different pieces in the Hardware kit -- such a good value!

Share your scan or photo of your favorite project using Hodgepodge Hardware, and I'll enter you in a drawing for a kit of your own. Email me at maccreative@mac.com.

If You Build It, They Will Come

Three different looks with just one accent -- that's versatility!

This is the Build-a-Flower kit from the Accents & Elements line. Each tin contains three design sheets in each color...including the great flower shown on these examples. The colors are Rose Red, Lovely Lilac, Wild Wasabi and Bashful Blue.

Got a sample using the Build-a-Flower kit you'd like to share? Email a scan or photo to maccreative@mac.com and we'll showcase your work with this great kit.


And when you've finished using up all the great pieces in this kit, you can transform the tin itself into a lovely gift item!

Did you know that you can now order the fabulous Build-a-Brad? That's a Build-a-Brad in the center of the flower on the tin above -- it's so easy to customize! Punch out a 1/2 inch circle of any of our terrific designer papers, or stamp a custom image...maybe even use a tiny photo. Build-a-Brad comes in pewter and antique brass, matching the finishes of our Hodgepodge Hardware. Each Build-a-Brad kit comes in a great little tin with 24 brad bases and acrylic bubbles. Email or call me today to order your very own Build-a-Brad tin!

Howdy, Pardners!

Today I wanted to show you some of the amazing things you can create with the Wanted stamp set.

This Welcome sign says "Y'all come in and set a spell."...



...while this gift box daintily suggests we're city folk, after all!










This boot is about as Western as you can get...


...yet this card has a more bohemian feel to it.







Stampin' Up! stamps allow us to create different projects and looks with just one set. I challenge you this week to make 3 items using one stamp set for your principal images. Email me a photo or scan and you may be a guest artist featured here on Stamp Journey!

Almost at 2000!

It took a month to hit the 1000th visitor on this blog...fourteen days later and we're just 4 people away from 2000!

Do I hear the sound of approaching blog candy....why, yes....yes, I do!

So, to enter for a chance at some blog candy -- I'll draw a couple of names from those entered -- just leave me a comment about what you'd like to see on the site, what you like -- even what you don't. Include your first name and email address. Comments left without name and email address will not be included in the drawing. (I'm tough, huh?)

The picture candy above was one of the displays at our World Card Making Day last Saturday. The gorgeous child belongs to fellow demonstrator, Aniko. The gorgeous card samples made with the Solemn Stillness stamp set belong to another demo chum, Olivia. She has made that stamp set sing, honey!

A Boo-tiful Tree

How cute is this???

My pal Theresa Matthews put this display together at our World Card Making Day event Oct. 6th. Theresa is a talented paper artist, whose specialty is 3D creations.

Theresa is also a master at recycling everyday items into works of art. The stacks you see in the lower right of this photo are the plastic tubes our embossing stacks come in. Theresa's filled them with colorfully decorated candles, using the Creepy Crawly designer paper.

This spooky tree was the hit of the event!


Theresa started making this ornament by stamping the image from the Batty for You stamp set twice...once in orange and again in black.

She punched out the black image and added Versamark and glitter, then punched out the orange stamped image with a larger circle punch. Dimensionals were used to adhere the glitzy cat on the larger circle, and then it was layered on top of a scallop-punched circle.

A little ribbon and some beads from the Pretties Kit finishes up these spooky ornaments.

One of Theresa's customers won a drawing for this fantastic tree, and will be proudly displaying it for Halloween. Lucky lady!

To see more of Theresa's fabulous work and check out her class schedule, visit her StampinScrappinBuzz blog.

World Card Making Day

Thanks to all the people who came out for our special event Saturday. It was great to see y'all!

Left: Aniko demonstrates to an appreciative audience
Below: Christine displays the make 'n take she just completed


Right: There are oohs and aaahs over the Cropadile Donna is demonstrating

If you didn't make it to our World Card Making Day event, you have until 6:00 p.m. Monday to place an order for the special 20% sale on Simply Sent kits. What great Christmas gifts these kits are for someone you think would enjoy easy cardmaking! All the supplies are included, the papers are cut to size, and creative fun is waiting in these terrific card packages.

But hurry -- this special expires at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time Monday, Oct. 8!

Wanted....

...You!

If you live in the Atlanta metro area, please drop in Saturday, Oct. 6 from 1-6 at our special World Card Making Day event.

Lots of door prizes, giveaways, demonstrations, displays...and a make 'n take just for you featuring the Simply Sent Three Thoughts kit. (Click here for details and a map.)

And it's on a special 20% off sale until Oct. 8 in honor of World Card Making Day! This is a great chance to get any one of the five Simply Sent kits. But hurry -- I have to have your order no later than 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 8. Don't miss it!

I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

I did this card earlier this week to swap at a meeting. It was fun to do!

The technique used is Brayer Resist. I inked up a great new jumbo wheel called All About Christmas with Versamark, and rolled it on glossy white stock. Once it dried a bit, I used a brayer to roll Cotton Candy Spectrum ink over the glossy piece. I stamped the tree from the Year to Year stamp set in Black Stazon ink and punched a few holes using my 1/8 inch punch.

I then tied a piece of luscious Pomegranate satin ribbon from the Holiday Mini Catalog and layered the main piece with Purely Pomegranate cardstock. I used the Crop-a-dile to punch three more holes and added a scrap of Rose Red designer paper behind.

To finish, I mounted the whole thing on a card of Pretty in Pink cardstock and added the "Merry Christmas" greeting from the Season of Joy set in Black Stazon.

Now, can anyone figure out where the scrap piece of Rose Red Designer Print paper came from? Check yesterday's post on making stars!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

These stars are not original...I remember doing them in construction paper waaaaaay back in elementary school! I was inspired to recreate them with Stampin' Up!'s fabulous double-sided designer paper by some of the star patterns I've seen on blogs lately.

These are easy!

For a downloadable tutorial in Word format, see the Tutorials list on the right.











Start with a 6 inch by 6 inch piece of double-sided paper.

Score at 1 inch intervals.











Accordian fold along the score lines.











Make a small pencil mark at the 3 inch point on the folded paper. Staple on the mark.








See the staple?




With the folded edges away from you, mark ½ inch on either side of the staple (i.e. the center).

Cut from this mark on the bottom edge to the top corner.

Do the same with the other side.

Note: The angle of this cut determines the spread of the points. The Rose Red star was marked at ½ inch.

The Certainly Celery star is a little wider, and was marked at 1 inch. The So Saffron star is the widest, and was marked at 2 inches.

Put a piece of sticky strip on the horizontal small edge.

Remove red liner and press the two edges together to meet evenly. Repeat with other side.

Use a dauber to shade folds and edges on both sides.

Punch two circles with each punch from the scraps.

Use snail adhesive to attach each ¼ inch circle in the center of the ½ inch punchouts, alternating the patterns.

Attach one circle to each side of the star, using mini glue dots.

Alternative: Use a drop of Crystal Effects to attach half pearls.

Punch a small hole in one star point with a needle piercer or 1/8 inch punch. String with gold elastic cord.

Finished stars in three variations. Certainly Celery, Rose Red and So Saffron designer paper.

For All the Tool Guys Out There

This may be the most hilarious video on the web today...for a manly man's approach to cardmaking, go see this video from the nice folks at stampingschool.com. Too funny!

Glitz for the Holidays

While Supplies Last...
A Glitzy Special!

Make your holiday cards glitzy this year with a little help from the Holiday Glitz card kit. With our precut card stock and Designer Series paper, festive zigzag ribbon, and Rhinestone brads, spreading handmade holiday cheer has never been this easy.

Each Holiday Glitz card kit makes 15 handmade cards and includes:

• Precut card stock and Designer Series paper (15)
• Whisper White Envelopes (15)
• Rhinestone brads (15)
• Real Red zigzag ribbon (15)
• Full-color instruction sheet (1)

There are two ways to take advantage of this fantastic kit while supplies last:

1. Purchase one of the holiday stamp sets (below) and get the Holiday Glitz card kit for the special price of $24.95, or
2. Purchase the Holiday Glitz card kit for $28.95 with no additional purchase required.

Qualifying stamp sets include:

Item	Stamp Set	Price
109234	Snowfall	$23.95
106786	The Snowflake Spot	$20.95
109266	Big on Christmas	$18.95
110359	Love & Joy*	$23.95

* Holiday Mini Collection 2007

Call me at 678-467-1330 or email me to order today!

Mounting the Holy Triptych stamp set

At Stampin' Up!'s Convention in July, Jen Bailey mentioned using the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to mount two-step stamp sets. I filed that away in my head (I thought) and promptly forgot about it.

Fellow demonstrator and SUDSOL member, Maggie Fellow, didn't forget. She posted a tutorial yesterday on her blog demonstrating the technique using the two-step stamp set Heartfelt Thanks. Then she wondered if anyone had tried using Jen's mounting technique for the beautiful holiday stamp set, Holy Triptych.

So I did. (Ain't sharing grand??!)

Mount the tag image normally.

Stamp the tag image. Do not lift the stamp back up immediately – carefully fit the positioner into place at the top left of the wood block before moving the block away.

Pull the block away without moving the positioner.

Strip off the paper covering from the unmounted Holy Family rubber, exposing the adhesive. Place the piece rubber side down to fit as you want it to inside the stamped tag image. (Be careful not to move the positioner.)

Tip: Use a pencil to nudge the rubber into place.

Holding on to the positioner with one hand, place the Holy Family wood block on top of the adhesive-topped rubber, bringing the wood block to fit snugly against the positioner. Press down firmly when it is in place to adhere the rubber.

Now you can turn the block over and see where the rubber is placed on the block. Attach the label on the other side. Repeat the process with the remaining two figure images. The mounting is complete.

When you’re ready to stamp your images, start by stamping the tag image. Bring the positioner into place before removing the tag image wood block. Without moving the positioner, ink up the figure image and stamp it by aligning with the positioner. It fits!

A Sneak Peek

Here's a little peek at the tutorial coming your way this weekend. These stars are fun, fast and festive! (How's that for alliteration?)

Made from double-sided designer paper, you can decorate a whole tree with these babies!

More to come....

We have a winner...or two...or three....or.....

Let's give a big round of virtual applause to the 1000th Stamp Journey visitor....Ms. Allison of Calgary, Alberta!

I'm originally from Canada, so it pleases me that Allison lives in the same town as my brother. :-)

And because I live in the gracious South, it also pleases me to announce that I'm sending blog candy to...

• Ms. Cheryl of Sun Prairie, WI
• Ms. Krystie of Bellvue, WA
• Ms. Phyllis of Goodville, PA

Thank you to all of you who left comments or emailed me congratulations. This was fun!

Are you visitor 1000?

The very next person who visits will be my 1000th visitor since I started this blog 29 days ago. Wow! I'm impressed...and grateful!

So the next person who logs in and sends me an email stating this exact phrase "I am your 1000th visitor. May I have some blog candy, please?" will get a small gift from me.

Remember to include your full name and address so I can send you some goodies!

World Card Making Day Celebration Oct. 6

Join me and my favorite fellow demonstrators for FREE giveaways, door prizes, make-'n-takes, refreshments, demonstrations, and displays to inspire the paper artist in you. Enjoy special sale prices on new and used Stampin' Up! stamp and scrapbooking products.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 6/07

Time: Anytime between 1 - 6 p.m.

Where: Rivermoore Clubhouse
4720 Meadow Park Lane, Suwanee GA, 30024
Click here for a map.

Cost: Free!

Contact if you have need directions: 678-467-1330 (Kathleen's cell phone)

No children under 12, please.

More Fun and Fast Notes

A few more samples using Fun and Fast Notes -- there's a stamp for nearly every occasion!




Mini notes are not the only possibility for this stamp set...




These images make great focal points, too.

One of the nice things about mounting your own stamps is you get to determine exactly how the stamp goes together. My personal preference is to cut away the words appearing at the bottom of the image and mount those words on the end of the block.

Total control -- YES!

All of you out there reading this, wave at me if you're a bit of a control freak, too....c'mon....I know you're out there. Ah, I see Joy and Mikelle and Missy... Kate, Donna, Daryl, Shel, Andrea... [waving back]

Fun and Fast Notes

I love to watercolor, and the Fun and Fast Notes set gives me plenty of opportunities to get out my beloved watercolor crayons and aqua painter.







This stamp set is such a good value -- eight images just crying out to be watercolored. The words below each image can be cut away and mounted on the end of each wood block to give you even more flexibility.






The watercolor crayons are my personal fav way to color...but they're certainly not the only way to go. You can use watercolor pencils, blenders, artist brushes, markers, reinkers, and stamp pads. So many choices!