Click Here to View All Current Downloads Be sure to visit my ordering site: www.tarabazata.stampinup.net and click on "SHOP NOW"/Digital Crafting/Newest Downloads. There are new downloads available frequently and range in price from .95 and 9.95. For items that are alrealy included in the Basic Software, it will be noted as such, so look out for that. Enjoy!
Each year, the Top 100 are honored with a special trip, cash award, and recognition. I've earned this honor multiple times: 2001-2007, 2009, and 2011. I've also had the privilege of serving on the Advisory Board two times (2001-02 and 2009-10).
Incentive Trips
Stampin' Up! sends all trip achievers and a guest on an all-expense paid trip - wow! I've earned 14 consecutive trips for two and will be snuggling up to Mickey Mouse (and Doug, of course!) in April 2012!
We were able to bring our three teenage boys to Alaska in May, 2011. What a WONDERFUL trip that was!
Here's another Sneak Peek at the 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog! I made these cards for a swap at one of my team member's Holiday Team Event a couple of weeks ago. It's always nice going and not having to run the event! Marjie, I appreciate the invite!!!
I'll be sharing the projects we made at her place later, but here is the swap that I brought with me. I started this card by spritzing the front of the card with the Blushing Bride Smooch Spray. Honestly, I haven't had a lot of luck with the Smooch spray (I prefer to transfer the liquid to a different dispenser), but gave this one a try and it worked really well. Not sure if it was operator-change or an improved sprayer, but no globbing or clogging!
The detail on the laser image is spectacular. There are two designs in this package (saving that for another time!) and are PERFECT for quick cards. I added dimension to the heart by popping up the Blushing Bride Cardstock behind the heart (on the inside of the card).
I stamped the greeting in Chocolate Chip (You're a Gem stamp set from the main Idea Book & Catalog) then tied White Baker's Twine through the Twitterpated Designer Button (NEW!).
This was a fast and easy card, plus it comes with a Blushing Bride Envelope. Beautiful!!
Don't miss out on the first Card Cafe' Class! This is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11th from 6:30-9:30pm. You'll make 6 (that's SIX!) delightful cards...all different! Each card is wonderfully simple, yet lovely - so you likely finish with plenty of time to spare. The cost is only $15 (my team members may attend for $10) - and the $15 is refunded IF you make a purchase of $25 or more that evening. THIS IS NOT REQUIRED, but it's a wonderful way to get 6 beautiful cards FREE.
Pre-registration is required - please visit the link and click on the RSVP box. Or, you may call or e-mail me. When you bring an adult guest who is not on my current stamper list (she/he must pre-register, too), then you may make TWO sets of cards for the price of one!
We'll be using lots of new product from the Occasions Mini Catalog. I can't wait to share this with you!
Here's a (blurry!) sneak peek at the projects. Please pre-register by Tuesday the 10th (3pm). Hope to see you in January!
At my team event a couple of weeks ago I shared a project that featured new and upcoming product from the Occasions Mini Catalog as well as Sale-a-Bration. I LOVE this upcoming season as there is SO MUCH free stuff to be had by all!
I'm happy to share the project we made using Apothecary Art stamps, Labels Collection Framelits Dies (oh...my...goodness!!!), Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon, and new Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper. Can't wait to show you all of these goodies at my January/February/March events!!!
I was recently invited to a few of my team members' Holiday events. At one of these (thank you, Terry!!), we made a card mirroring the above layout, but using different colors. I love the changes!
Don't miss out on this AMAZING Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-a-Bration Catalog period - call me to schedule your own event and/or sign up for any of my upcoming events:
Card Cafe' - Wednesday, January 11th - $15 or FREE if you place a $25+ order
Spring Soiree' (replacing Spring Stamp Camp) - Saturday, February 25th - $40 if you pre-register/pre-pay by January 31st ($45 thereafter)
Join my Ink, Inc. Team during Sale-a-Bration for a special bonus!!!
*** SALE-A-BRATION SIGN-UP SPECIAL ***
Okay...here is the SPECIAL DEAL!! The Sale-a-Bration sign-up special is FANTABULOUS!
$125 Starter Kit (vs. $175 regularly) - total value of OVER $345!
Choice of Designer Paper Pack OR Digital Download for EACH MONTH OF 2012!!!! FREEEE!!!!! You choose each month and it's totally free!
BEGINNING JANUARY 24th, you may enjoy this special when you sign up via my website (for quickest service): http://www.tarabazata.stampinup.net and click on the Join the Fun button. This is a great time to join Ink, Inc. Team!!!
Each year with my step-family, we draw names (there are A LOT of us) for Christmas gift-giving. This year we combined the kids with the adults - those kids are all growing up so there aren't as many of them anymore! The beauty of this is I got lucky and drew Megan's name. Megan is my cousin's daughter and she's a young "tween". I LOVE buying for girls, especially a young lady of this age. It's FUN!
I used one of our Stampin' Card Keepers (these are AVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY 3rd ONLY!!!!) and decorated it in the same fashion that we did for the "Pimp My Card Box" Class earlier this winter. I chose the Flirtatious Designer Fabric and Designer Paper for her box and created special tags for the front (Megan, Mine!!!, Private, Stuff) so she can switch it up once in awhile. Inside I put a requested gift card plus some other goodies that I hope she enjoys.
The flower on top was created using the Big Shot, Flower Folds Die, and the Fun Flowers Die. Some layers are Designer Paper and some are the Fabric. For the fabric layers, I spritzed them with spray starch, crumpled them up, spread them back out (loosely) and let dry. You can speed up the process by using your Heat Tool. Attach the whole flower to the top using hot glue.
I hope that Megan finds a nice use for this box - I truly enjoyed making this for her. Chat soon!
I received a card from my friend Christy and loved it! It's been sitting in my office for a week just whispering to me to recreate it with "stamping stuff". So, I did just that!
I started with a piece of Baja Breeze Cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot using (one of my favorite folders!!) the Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder. I cut a piece of Pocket Full of Posies Designer Paper for the other side and adhered it with Mini Glue Dots. The texture from embossed cardstocks makes standard adhesive less effective, so I always use Mini Glue Dots for this part.
Next, I ran a piece of Silver Glimmer Paper (it's leaving us on January 3rd!!! - Shop at My Online Store to stock up before it's gone!) through the Big Shot using the Northern Frost Decorative Strip Die. Be sure to use a shim below the die to add a touch of extra thickness - the Glimmer Paper is thicker than standard cardstock, so it needs an extra "push". I attached tiny pieces of Dimensionals to the back of the snowflake and attached it to the front of the card.
Add Basic Rhinestones (bling!) and a greeting: Teeny Tiny Wishes stamped in Baja Breeze Ink onto Shimmery White Cardstock and punched out with the Word Window Punch. I added a Glimmer Brad to the center of the snowflake. If you wish, you may spritz the card (before or after the greeting) with the Champagne Shimmer Paint mixture.
I hope you like the comparison - save those cards you get from others to recreate on your own. Enjoy!!
It's a crazy time of year, isn't it?? I feel like I'm in one of those movies where a character in the scene is standing still and everything is whizzing around them super fast. I have SO much to do that I'm a bit paralyzed. Not a good pairing with the holidays!
I have resigned myself to the fact that I won't begin to get it all done, but I am going to aim for the majority getting accomplished. Part of this "formula" is to make time to create and stamp. Two weekends ago I stamped A LOT...A LOT!! My gosh that felt good!! In addition, I've had some ideas milling around in my head for awhile and I was able to put some of them together over the past couple of days. What awesome therapy!!
Today's offering starts with a brief story. Almost three months ago I started a new job. I REALLY enjoy this new job for so many reasons, but one of them is the absolute homey-ness of the office. It's so homey, in fact, that there is a basket of magazines and catalogs in the upstairs restroom. Seriously! I can honestly say I've never felt inclined to peruse these magazines (mostly home decorating store catalogs) while "otherwise occupied", but the top cover caught my eye one afternoon and I was instantly inspired. Yep!!! Inspired at work. In the bathroom. Who knew!!!?!!
The catalog was from Pendleton and I found this image online - it's exactly the picture that provided the inspiration. Now, this box is over $40 (for a BOX???) but it sure is lovely and I thought I could make something just as charming for a SMALL portion of that cost. If you only use the items I mention on these boxes once, then the cost of the boxes is more than $40 each (but not much!) - so don't do that! Use your stamping gear for multiple projects and it pays for itself very quickly.
Ready to see what I made? All boxes feature the Big Shot (still my favorite stamping tool) and the Silver Glimmer Paper. As far as we know at this time, GLIMMER PAPER IS AVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY 3rd ONLY!!! I used Sticky Strip and Mini Glue Dots to assemble the boxes - you need STRONG adhesive and these do the trick nicely.
The first box uses the Bitty Box & Envelope Die - it's an XL Die so you'll need the Extended Cutting Pads and Extended Crease Pad for best results. I made a satin bow out of Black Satin Ribbon, then spritzed it lightly with the Champagne Shimmer Paint mixture (mix about 5 drops with a spray hand-sanitizer atomizer - refill the atomizer with 65-70% ethyl alcohol). It's so simple but it's lovely.
The next box uses the Candy Wrapper Die, Standard Cutting Mats (these come with the Big Shot) as well as the Standard Crease Pad. TEASER: The Riding Hood Red Pleated Ribbon I used is from the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog. I love it!!! The stamp set is also something coming up in January (think Sale-a-Bration: Fresh Vintage Stamp Set). I wanted to make a border of color around the square image (stamped onto Shimmer Paper using Riding Hood Red ink punched out with the 1" Square Punch), so started playing with the Scallop Trim Border Punch. This is NOT the Corner Punch.
I simply punched one side of a scrap of Riding Hood Red Cardstock and held the stamped/punched square up to the edge. Two scallops fit perfectly along one side, so I trimmed off one side until the small "bump" (that's between the scallops) lined up properly and punched. I repeated this on all three remaining sides. Pretty cool, huh?!
The final box uses our Matchbox Die (it's an XL die) along with Elegant Eggplant Cardstock. I texturized the box base using the Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder and added some scallops to the top sleeve. WHERE on EARTH did that come from?? Another TEASER! This is a spectacular new Big Shot tool (Edgelits Dies) that's in the Occasions Mini Catalog.
I have a lot more to share, so do come back soon. BETTER YET, subscribe to my Blog so my posts come to YOU!!!
December marked my final EXPRESS Card Class. I'm so very excited for my NEW Card Cafe' beginning in January! Be sure to check out all of the details for the new class format...more cards for you! Visit My Calendar for full details - I hope to see you on January 11th!
Over the next week or so, I'll be featuring the cards we made in December. The first one is an idea from Tammie Morton. She's one of my fabulous Ink, Inc. team members and I LOVED the simplicity of this card!
It's so very simple, yet so pretty. Start with Cherry Cobbler Cardstock and Ink (LOVE this color!) - stamp all over the Cherry Cobbler Cardstock using the same color ink, then run it through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. Adds lovely texture to a simply stamped piece of cardstock.
Wrap some Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding around the layers and embellish with a medallion made from the Perfect Punches stamp set. Be careful of the Cherry Cobbler Ink on the Whisper White Cardstock! Until it's completely dry, it does smear. Add a Basic Rhinestone, some Dimensionals and voila'! You have a sensational Christmas card.
Today I'm sharing the gift I made for the gift-exchange with my Ink, Inc. Team Holiday Event that was held this past Sunday. It's "white elephant" style with numbers, stealing and total fun! Kim Bacon, one of my team members, picked this, lost it, then got it back later. :-)
I'd noticed this Chunky Frame when it was featured in the Decor Elements catalog (Decor Elements items are now included in the Idea Book & Catalog beginning on page 227) but had never actually seen one. Honestly, the price point of $19.95 was a bit steep for any project that I might offer in class form so I didn't purchase any.
Now...they are on the Clearance Rack for only $7.99 when you order through my site: www.tarabazata.stampinup.net! And "Oh My Goodness"!!! These are WONDERFUL frames! They are large (12x12") with a 4x4" square opening, plus the frame is thick, so it works great as a shadow-box frame (although the glass is in back, not in the front like a true shadow-box frame). Are you signing up for my NEW Spring Soiree' (replaces Stamp Camp)?? If so, you'll get to make a delightful project featuring this frame. I just snapped up a bunch of these, so hurry...before they are gone!
The quality of the frame is top-notch. It's heavier...not the light balsa wood that many "crafty" frames are made from. It comes white (made from MDF, not PDF as noted in description...that made me chuckle), ready to be decorated.
Here, I used my handy-dandy stencil paste (haven't used this in months!) along with the Kind Thoughts Brocade Stencil. I made a lollie with lots of dimension using the NEW (Sneak Peek!) Twitterpated Designer Paper from the Occasions Mini Catalog plus other coordinating cardstocks and Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon. To make all of the pleats, I used Simply Scored...simply a remarkable tool! I did hot-glue the layers together so they would be 100% secure. I removed the glass and placed it inside the back part of the frame in case the recipient ever wants to change out the image inside the frame.
I thoroughly enjoyed "creating" and plan on making more frames for Christmas gifts.
*** My December Sale ***
Make any e-mail/phone call purchase from now until December 31st (until 3pm) and receive the following:
$1-$49.99 = 10% Discount on your order!!! This will be given to you immediately (that's why this is called/e-mailed in)
$50+ - 10% Discount PLUS Free Shipping! So you'll save 20%!!!
Tell your hubby, mom, sister, dad, etc. about this special for your Wish List. You may order up through December 15th for Christmas delivery (shipping will likely be even quicker for those states around Utah, but no guarantees). Call me today!
Note: Clearance Rack and Digital Downloads may not be purchased with this special as these are online-purchases only.
*** SPECTACULAR SIGN-UP SPECIAL ***
Okay...here is the SPECIAL DEAL!! The Sale-a-Bration sign-up special is FANTABULOUS!
$125 Starter Kit (vs. $175 regularly) - total value of OVER $345!
Choice of Designer Paper Pack OR Digital Download for EACH MONTH OF 2012!!!! FREEEE!!!!! You choose each month and it's totally free!
Now, this sign-up special officially begins on January 24th (when Sale-a-Bration begins), but they are offering those who are attending Leadership in January (I'm going to San Antonio!) this special for new demonstrators on DECEMBER 13th and 14th ONLY.
You may sign up via my website: http://www.tarabazata.stampinup.net and click on the Join the Fun button. When you sign up on December 13th and 14th, I'll send you an package of card samples to use as ideas and/or share with others. Plus, you'll have access to our Team Site and lots of fun events for demonstrators only ~ not to mention all the perks Stampin' Up! provides its demonstrator family. This is a great time to join Ink, Inc. Team!!!
I've been a bit quiet on the blogging front but it's been anything but quiet around our home! Between family, work, more work, holiday events and day-to-day activies, my days are too short. Last Christmas, I asked Santa for more hours in the day. Clearly he couldn't pull that one off (either that or I was particularly naughty)!
I've spent the last few days STAMPING MY HEART OUT! And I've enjoyed every minute, too. What a treat! I finished up two sets of swaps, the m-n-t project for my Holiday Team Event (being held today!), the gift exchange project, and COOKIES plus great packaging for those cookies!
I've been wanting to show you these for awhile so I baked up a batch last night and this morning. These are great cookies! Doug made the first batch to help me out with the Holiday Stamp Camp back in September. We used the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps and they work so well.
I did some experimenting to see what worked best and determined that it depends on the type of cookie you're making. I used the Sugared Shortbread recipe - the Cookie Press Stamps come with two recipes (Sugar Cookies are the other) and here are my results:
The first image shows the cookie made per instructions: press the cookie BEFORE baking. I tried this with slightly chilled dough (about 1 hour) and overnight chilling and saw NO difference in the impression.
I'd heard about pressing the cookies immediately AFTER baking, so I gave this a try, too. Note: since the Shortbread recipe has A LOT of butter (Paula Dean would be so proud!), it kind of oozes when pressed. Although they taste fabulous, they look a bit anemic. This technique would work much better with the Sugar Cookie recipe since it has less butter (per dry ingredients).
Now that we have cookies, we need a beautiful package! Insert the Kraft Boxes. Stampin' Up! does an AMAZING job of coordinating products. I have never worked with any other company who is so forward-thinking in this way. Speaking of working with Stampin' Up!, I have a SUPER SPECIAL for you - see the end of this post for all of the details.
First, I used the Starburst Jumbo Wheel in Crumb Cake all over the box. Then I made a band using Early Espresso Cardstock, Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper, and (Sneak Peek!!) the NEW & UPCOMING Pleated Ribbon (Pear Pizzazz is used here - from the 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog) - it's pre-pleated!!!!! I created perfect score lines with the Simply Scored (my go-to tool for scoring paper/cardstock) and anchored the ends together using Sticky Strip - this ensures it won't fall apart.
The emblem uses the Sweet Season stamp set and a bit of bling with Basic Rhinestones. Don't forget to add Dimenionals for that finished look, plus it helps to add some space behind items that go over thicker layers (such as the pleated ribbon).
Give this as-is or insert a gift card for an extra treat. Voila'! A perfect holiday treat!
*** My December Sale ***
Make any e-mail/phone call purchase from now until December 31st (until 3pm) and receive the following:
$1-$49.99 = 10% Discount on your order!!! This will be given to you immediately (that's why this is called/e-mailed in)
$50+ - 10% Discount PLUS Free Shipping! So you'll save 20%!!!
Tell your hubby, mom, sister, dad, etc. about this special for your Wish List. You may order up through December 15th for Christmas delivery (shipping will likely be even quicker for those states around Utah, but no guarantees). Call me today!
Note: Clearance Rack and Digital Downloads may not be purchased with this special as these are online-purchases only.
*** SPECTACULAR SIGN-UP SPECIAL ***
Okay...here is the SPECIAL DEAL!! The Sale-a-Bration sign-up special is FANTABULOUS!
$125 Starter Kit (vs. $175 regularly) - total value of OVER $345!
Choice of Designer Paper Pack OR Digital Download for EACH MONTH OF 2012!!!! FREEEE!!!!! You choose each month and it's totally free!
Now, this sign-up special officially begins on January 24th (when Sale-a-Bration begins), but they are offering those who are attending Leadership in January (I'm going to San Antonio!) this special for new demonstrators on DECEMBER 13th and 14th ONLY.
You may sign up via my website: http://www.tarabazata.stampinup.net and click on the Join the Fun button. When you sign up on December 13th and 14th, I'll send you an package of card samples to use as ideas and/or share with others. Plus, you'll have access to our Team Site and lots of fun events for demonstrators only ~ not to mention all the perks Stampin' Up! provides its demonstrator family. This is a great time to join Ink, Inc. Team!!!
Stay tuned for more ideas coming your way - hope to see you soon!
