All Things Alicia

Elements of Style Card and Last Day of Current Catalog!

It's here!  The last day!  The stamp sets and accessories and decor elements listed in this post are gone after today! 

And on that list, sadly, are the hodgepodge hardware sets. :(  I love using these metal elements in my projects.  Like this one:

See that metal bookplate thingy with the "for you" inside?  That's hodgepodge hardware.  On this card it's the vanilla set (#112454) but we also carry it in styled silver.

The said news it that it's going.  The good news is that today is the last day you can get it for 40% off!!!  That makes it only $17.97!  This set literally has hundred of pieces!  Brads, ribbon slides, etc...It rocks!

 
 Several of each of these come in it!

And on to the card:

Stamps: Elements of Style

Papers: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla

Ink: Not Quite Navy

 Accessories and Tools:  Big Shot and Square Lattice Texture Folder and flower sizzlet, circle punch, basic pearls, vanilla 1/8" tafetta ribbon, very vanilla seam binding, beveled window panes, scallop border punch

By the way, the label punch that matches the hodgepodge hardware I used is also retiring. :(

Remember that you can get these items today from my Stampin' Up! online shop!

 
 
 

Woodland Walk Paper Is Perfect For Masculine Projects

The Woodland Walk Designer Series Paper is retiring.  Tomorrow is the last day to get it (if it doesn't sell out tonight).  I love this paper because a variety of wood grain designs make it a great choice for masculine projects, like these Father's Day projects I did.

See the woodgrain on the "sign" and along the bottom?  Those are both from Woodland Walk. And the Totally Tool stamp set also goes well with it.

I also made a matching envelope album:

 
 I decided this year to make an album where I asked each of the kids questions about their dad.  Hilarious!  And Easy!  After this project, I think I'm going to make it a yearly thing so we can see their answers change over the years.  (By the way, you can always click on my pictures to see a full size version of them).

I then put them together with pics of each kid with their dad.   

 

 

And finished with a page of all three kids tucked inside one of the envelopes.

 
 Remember that there are only HOURS left until the new catalog starts and these items are no longer available! 

Easy and Cheap 4th of July

I kid you not, these projects are so easy my 5 year old and 3 year old helped me with them.  And the best part, they were mostly made with scrap pieces of Designer Series Paper and stuff we had around the house.

The key when using stuff you already have, look for color.  You don't have to have patriotic paper, just red, white, and blue stuff.

Check this out:

I got inspiration for these straws from some I saw at Target that weren't nearly as cute and didn't work nearly as well when fanning out.  I used scraps of Blueberry Crisp DSP and Jolly Holiday DSP to make them(both are retiring in 2 days!).  They are meant to look like fireworks.   I think you could also cut the strips wider and shorter to look like flowers.

To make them I just took a scrap of paper and fringed it about 1/4" apart leaving a small part at the bottom unfridged for tape.  **Tip** Before you wrap it around a straw, wrap it around a pencil.  That helps the paper form correctly around the straw with less smashing. 

Put tape on the part you left unfrindged, then wrap it around the straw, below the bendy part, but not so low it will get wet in the drink.  Then use scissors to curl the ends like you do ribbon (did you know you can do that?!); or, if you would rather, curl each piece around the pencil to get the shape.

I finished it off with a scrap of ribbon too, tied just around the bottom.  Here's a closer look.

 

What about scrap paper luminarias? 

 
Again, Blueberry Crisp paper, just made a circle and punched it with the retiring star punch (sorry, sold out:().  Then I wrapped it around and taped the end where they joined.  Fit over a tea light or battery operated candle.  My 3 year old punched those stars.  And of course I had to use the parts we punched out, so I just sprinkled them around the  lanterns.  Imagine these lining your walk!

 Here's a whole trio for you:

 My 3 year old punched the stars.  They're from double sided paper (retiring blueberry crips again) so we turned one over for a different coordinating pattern.  My 5 year old used the tape runner to tape them onto the cup. 

Here's a better look at that licorice treat:

Again, just a piece of scrap blueberry crisp  wrapped and taped.  Then a scrap of ribbon.  It would look even cuter with a little tag tied on. 

 Most of these supplies are still available in my online shop, but only for two more days! 

Speaking of which, here's your updated retiring accessories list:

Download Lastchance-sort_en-US

Bye Bye Bella Toile and Stamping Yard Sale Coming Soon!

***Update - The watercolor paper is sold out!  No fear, it's being reconfigured.  You can still buy it in a new size after noon on July 1!

This card is much easier than it looks!

No really, it is!

I stamped the Bella Toile image and embossed it with black embossing powder on watercolor cardstock.

Sad fact, the Bella Toile stamp and watercolor paper are retiring in 3 days!!!

Then I used my aqua painter (love how that tool makes me look like an artist!) to just randomly color in some patches of Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz, and Elegant Eggplant. 

The modern label punch out in Basic gray wraps the side.  It's stamped with "for you" from the Clearly for You stamp set and has Ice Circle rhinestone brads in it.

Then I layered the front onto Elegant Eggplant cardstock, then Wild Wasabi, then Basic Gray.

The strip of elegant eggplant has the 5/8" basic black satin ribbon wrapping it with another of those beautiful brads. 

Viola!

Remember that you can get any of these on my Stampin' Up! website, but you can only get the retiring items for three more days!

Speaking of which, here's an updated list of retiring accessories so you know what's already sold out.

Download Lastchance-sort_en-US

 

And on to the yard sale!

Saturday, July 9th, 9 am - noon

At my home in Riverside, Ca

LOTS and LOTS of stamping and scrapbooking supplies as well as a few regular household yard sale items, even some baby stuff (not much, but a double stroller for sure).

 

And one more thing...

I've talked about this before and wasn't planning it as part of my blog post today, but I really feel like someone out there needs this message today.

If you love these materials but are feeling the budget cramp your shopping style, I have a few ideas for you:

1-Sign up as a demonstrator...just for the kit.  That's right, get the kit and then never do anything!  It's a FABULOUS deal and it's mostly customizable.  You can take advantage of that just to get some stuff you want at a steep discount.  Totally!  A one time deal! Really, no one is going to come after you and make you buy or sell stuff.  There are no repercussions. 

When I look back at the things I worried about as a new demonstrator I laugh now.  I thought if I stopped selling it would affect my credit or something.  HA!  Seriously, absolutely, positively no repercussions.

2-Sign up as a demonstrator...for the discount.  Did you know you're allowed to get the kit, then just buy what you want and use the demonstrator discount to keep getting what you want at discounted prices?!  I know because that's why I originally signed up!  You'll also love the access to tons of great ideas this way too.  And just like above, when you want to drop, you just stop buying.  No biggie. 

3- Sign up as a demonstrator...for money.  Want to eliminate one bill?  Just work enough to do that.  Want to replace a full time career?  Many have done it.  In fact, those who need to replace a full time career usually do best because they are so focused on making it work. 

I myself am a part time demo.  I do no more than 2 parties a month so that I can help pay family bills off faster, but still keep my priorities on spending time with my kids and keeping the family cohesive.

Also, when the new career plan takes effect on July 1, there'll be a new Stampin' Start program to help you get and stay motivated with easy to earn rewards!  Honestly, Stampin Up! is great at providing motivation!  It's a great time to get started!

Want to know more?  Email me at stampified@sbcglobal.net and I will happily answer anything you ask, honestly and openly.

Want to sign up?  You can do that here.  If the link doesn't work, go the my website  and click on the prompt near the upper right corner that says "Start Your Own Business."

Happy stamping everyone!

Very Hungry Caterpillar Thank You Card

This is a "thank you" card meant to be sent to the attendees of a Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday party.  It includes a pic of the birthday boy with the guest it's sent to. 

This is the front, how it arrives:

 And here's how it looks open:

I used the retired pom pom trim from the last mini to make the attennae and feet.  I used MDS to make that written insert easily.  The mail part of the caterpillar is the Big Shot scallop circle bigz die, and the brads are in color glimmer brads.

For that hair I shredded some pear pizzazz polly twill ribbon and sandwhiched it, the feet, and the antennae between two scallop circles.

The kids are holding caterpillar kabobs they made as a party activity and wearing caterpillar hats they made.

Of course you have to have a butterfly!  That's the beautiful wings embosslit on the end of the card.

I like this because it's a memory and thank you in one!

You can get all of these except for the pom trim on my Stampin' Up! website.  

And here is today's updated retiring accessories list.  Only 7 days left!  A lot of punches and wheels are going especially fast, so if you're on the fence about any of them, you might want to order them now!

Download Lastchance-sort_en-US

 

Friends Never Fade Card

I love the long skinny cards.  Maybe it's transferrence, I want to be long and skinny myself. :)

This was actually inspired by some bedding I saw on display at a department store and has now becoming somewhat of a favorite sketch of mine.

It's also a great way to use up scraps!

 For the focal part of the card I used scraps of Early Espresso and Old Olive to make the stripes on the Whisper White Background.  I also stamped the image from Friends Never Fade onto some scraps of Playdate DSP, cut it out, and mounted it with dimensionals.  You remember Playdate don't you?  From this post?  And it's retiring?  And it's 40% off!

For the stems and leaves I used the 1/8" tafetta in Early Espresso.  Tip, the leaves are quite difficult to get to stay in place when this small.  You could either cut the ribbon so you have leaves that are strips, are you could do what I ended up doing, which is using crystal effects and holding it in place with a clothespin until it dries.

Remember that you can get any of these supplies from My Stampin' Up! website!

Happy Stamping!  And stay tuned for info about my upcoming Stamp and Scrap yard sale!  It's gonna' be big!

Oh yeah!  I almost forgot...the updated retiring accessories list... I just noticed a lot of the wheels are selling out fast!

Download Lastchance-sort_en-US

End of the Year Gift for Teacher

I didn't really have a new and ingenious idea this year so I made one these backpack thingies. They've been around a while. I used the pattern from the template on splitcoast stampers.

 It's pretty simple. That Blueberry Crisp paper is retiring soon (June 30th if it lasts that long).

Having been a teacher, I know that teachers are given far too many apple knick knacks!  I put two little apple scented antibacterial things from Bath and Body Works inside instead.  A teacher needs germ protection!  I also slid a gift card for the local teacher supply store into it.

 
That little thank you tag was in the front pouch and is signed on the back.

Here's a side shot:

 
You can order these products (but not for much longer :)) at my Stampin' Up! website.

PS-It didn't occur to me until after I made this that I could have used the Playdate paper.  There's a page with numbers and letters.  Very kindergarten appropriate! 

Playdate Scrapbook Page

My middle daughter is very silly.  As evidenced by...

 

 I seriously had to capture this on paper, because while she's silly, she's also my biggest challenge.  I need pages like this to keep me smiling on days like today.  :)  Don't ask.

Anyway, this used the Playdate Designer Series Paper that is retiring in 10 short days!  And it's on sale!  You can get the whole pack for 40% off!  That's only $5.97!  And the matching quick accents, should you desire them, are also 40% off!

I kind of layered large pieces of different patterns from this pack.  I love the coordinating paper packs!  I kept the flower on the right side exposed for embellishing.

Here's a much closer look at it:

 You can see I added a button and one of those accordian paper flower things that are all the rage right now to spruce up the dimension of the page.  I also threaded very thin strips of left over pieces of paper from the pack through the buttons.

 Here's a closer look at the journaling block too:

It's kind of hard to tell, but I took another strip of leftover paper to make that little dotted saffron wavy piece on the bottom.  I then attached the title with a mini clip and scallop circle punch.

I'm really trying to get more personal scrapbooking in.  It helps me keep my sanity, not just because it's relaxing time for me, but because it connects my family and I to our happy memories with each other.

If you want any of today's supplies, you can get them on my Stampin' Up! website.  Don't forget that Playdate DSP is retiring soon.  In fact, here's an updates list:

Download Lastchance-sort_en-US

 
 

Petal Cone Bonnet Scrapbook Page

While I was making the petal cone bonnet and hat box from this post, my daughter was dying to wear it.  So I let her wear it and this is a picture I got.  I meant to add some hand written journaling bordering the upper right corner that said, "Stopping to smell the roses, March 2011" but I forgot, and the page is no longer in my possession to add to.  Oh well.

 I used some scraps of fabric from the hat to add embellishments to the page.  You can still get this fabric, by the way. :)  I also used the tope note die and the lattice die with my Big Shot to add some interest.

The background is rose red, and I used the vanilla craft ink with direct to paper technique.  That means I rubbed the stamp pad straight onto the paper. :)

 You can get these materials on my website.  Remember that I will be sending all my customers from the past year a free 2011-2012 catalog.  There are still 11 days to be my customer. :)

Strength and Hope Mini Card Set

I LOVE the Strength and Hope stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog!  And I LOVE that the sale of each set donates to the breast cancer research!  I'm going to plan a class around it this summer some time, but for now, I just have this little notecard set from my group meeting a few weeks ago.  It was a make and take.

 That gorgeous Lap of Luxury Paper is reitiring.  Get it before it's gone!

I love the combo of Basic Gray and Pretty in Pink.  <long drawn out sigh>

I have this one picture of the cards inside. I apologize now, seriously, I don't know what happened with the color.  I couldn't get it right.  I need to see my friends who are photographers for some advice.  <insert bright blush here>

 I made the box with the scallop envelope and my Sizzinx Big Shot.  The pink ribbon is the 5/8" satin. 

And here's the updates retiring accessories list.  More is getting sold out each day!

Download Lastchance-sort_en-US

Don't forget you can get any of these items on my Stampin' Up! website.