The new Idea Book and Catalog is here!

Posted on June 1, 2012 by itsaninkinstampede

Good Morning Everyone

I hope you are able to take some time to enjoy the 2012-2013 Idea Book and Catalog today. There are some gorgeous new colors and products!

Dabbling into Mixed Media

Posted on May 31, 2012 by itsaninkinstampede

I tried my hand at combining scrapbooking, stamping , paint and modeling paste and created two 4″ x 4″ art canvases for my new wall collage. My theme was to include my husband, me and both our children in 3 life stages from childhood to adult. I used the Stampin’ Up! Decor Elements for the sentiment.

I have wanted to do this for a while but wasn’t sure if I could do it. I had so much fun that I am hooked!

I added some doodling and a few rub ons for texture and of course the Tissue Tape from Ranger made a great edge border!

I’ll be back soon with the new Stampin’ Up! catalog and some card designs using the new In Colors.

Retired List from Stampin’ Up!

Posted on April 27, 2012 by itsaninkinstampede

Stampin’ Up! is making a change to their annual catalog and many items are being refreshed and replaced. Don’t miss out on your favorite items and colors before they are gone. I am very sad to see my most favorite punch the BUTTERFLY PUNCH. is on this list. Click here and order your butterfly punch if you want to try a hand at making my paper pansies and petunias. Of course you can always make the basic butterflies with this punchy too…..they are gorgeous!

Paper Petunias

Posted on April 25, 2012 by itsaninkinstampede

I have just posted a new You Tube video demonstrating two styles of paper Petunias. These flowers are made with the use of the Butterfly punch. This punch is so versatile from butterflies to ………petals for flowers. Such a versatile punch!

*Update Note* The Butterfly Punch is on the just announced retired list! Order yours now before it is too late

I hope you enjoy my new flowers.

Below are the Stampin’ Up! products and colors I used in this video:

Cardstock: Lucky Limeade, Pool Party

Classic Ink: Old Olive, Pool Party

Punches: Butterfly, Boho Blossoms, Sizzlits Little Leaves

SMASH a.k.a. SMOOSH Book – Part 3

Posted on February 17, 2012 by itsaninkinstampede

Happy Friday!

This is the beginning page of my weight loss journey journal. I snapped a photo before my weight came up and that is why the OMG is my title. Unfortunately I have gained a lot more weight that I realized!

To make my title I die cut out 2 layers of letters, one layer from basic card stock and the other from the Designer Series Paper Paisley Petals. I added a layer of glue from the Glue Stick and adhered each respective letter to the card stock die cuts.

I trimmed some Stampin’ Dimensionals down to fit around each letter and attached them to the back side of the die cut letters.

I placed them on my page deliberately in a wonky order so as to make a statement on how I felt when I saw my weight. I also stamped and dated the first date of my weight loss program.

I am using all five designs from the paper collection and 7 coordinating plain card stock colors. I used the Color Coach to help be plan the pages “before” I cut the card stock just in case I do not like it.

I decided I wanted to make my information personal so I made a small manila envelope from the patterned paper. I cut, scored and rounded the corners of the envelope.

I made the closures by punching holes in plain card stock. I centered the circle shaped punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack around the holes.

I added a small piece of white crochet thread around the bottom eyelet before I secured it to the envelope pocket.

My hidden tag was stamped with Cajun Craze Classic Ink and the retired Bella Toile Stampin’ Up! background stamp.

By lightly wiping different areas of the inked stamp with paper towel you can get a nice subtle stamped background.

This is where I am journaling my weight. The reverse side will have the measurements listed. I will do the same pocket and journaling card throughout the album to log my new numbers onto.

I did a little doodling around the Club Scrap date stamp image. I used the Stampin’ Write Marker in Marina Mist to fill in the center area and heart.

I also added a touch of shine from my Glaze pen.

Well I got through the worst stage…..finding out the truth! Now I am truly hoping that I will see a reduction in numbers from my two-week weight ins.

Everyone have a super weekend!

If you are interested in any of the Stampin’ Up! products I am using in this project please click on the Order Here button in my sidebar.

Simply Stated

Posted on February 13, 2012 by itsaninkinstampede

Today’s card is simple and highlights an easy to make flower with 3 different punches from Stampin’ Up!

I used the Fancy Flower (Item #118073), 5-Petal Flower (Item #119880) and the Boho Blossoms (Item # 119858).

Layer three shapes from the Fancy Flower punch together and adhere. I lightly inked the edges on the front and back and alternated the petals for a fuller look. Using a toothpick, roll the tips of the petals up a bit. The top layer has the petals curled up, the middle layer is uncurled and the bottom layer is curled under.

For the leaves use one 5-Petal Flower shape and ink the tips on the front and back. I cut the shape apart as follows: two pieces having two petals and one single petal. Adhere the individual leaves to the underneath of the bottom flower layer.

The center has one of the large flower shapes from the Boho Blossoms punch. I used Whisper White Card Stock for this sample. Again I inked lightly the tips of the flower on the front only. I adhered this shape to the larger flower assembly, centering it within the five petals. I also added a Perfect Plum Designer Button from the Subtles collection (Item #119745). I threaded a small piece of white crochet cotton thread through the button holes, leaving the ends hanging out from under the button back.

I used my Spellbinders Fleur De Lis border die for the bottom edge design.

I used Perfect Plum and Wild Wasabi Classic Ink on the edges of the matching Patterns Designer Series Papers Pack (Item #117152)

I used Whisper White Craft Ink (Item #101731) to soften all the edges of the Perfect Plum Smooth Card Stock card base.

I felt this card needed just a simple sentiment in matching ink. I used the Posy Punch Hostess Stamp Set. I think this would be also very pretty by adding the 2mm Basic Pearl Jewels (Item #119247) on the little polka dots to highlight the sentiment. I love how it looks!

My SMASH a.k.a.SMOOSH Book – Part 2

Posted on February 11, 2012 by itsaninkinstampede

This is the next page of my book.

I like to use my Clear-Mount Guides on any stamps that are word stamps.

I decided to use the wonderful stamp set titled In a Word.

If you choose to also make this book, I suggest you use an archival ink so that you can hand down this book for generations to come. I just love the Basic Black Craft Ink.

I planned on adding a home made chipboard flower so I stamped some leaves using Old Olive Classic Ink and the Not Quite Navy Stampin’ Write Marker. The stamp image is from the Hostess stamp set Array of Sunshine.

I used two colors of ink for this leaf. First I stamped the entire image with Old Olive Classic Ink and then added the Not Quite Navy to the center of the image using the brush tip of the marker. The marker is helpful in getting into small detailed areas. I LOVE these markers and will be using them throughout this book.

This is how the image looks…..a subtle two tone effect.

I wanted a slight glimmer to the image so it did not look so flat. I chose to use the stardust glitter pen drawing around the open areas of the stamped image.

I took my hand made chipboard flower and dry brushed Shimmer Paint in Frost White roughly across it on the front and back.

I just think these greens are gorgeous. These are the Designer Buttons in “brights”. The largest pearl from the Basic Jewels Pearls fits perfectly in the center of the small button!

I layered the buttons on top of each other and also added some Basic Jewels Rhinestones around the outside edge of the largest button.

I added a touch of glitter to the edges of the flower too. This is how the book looks closed.

I wanted a little more glitz to balance out the chipboard flower so I attached this fun green rhinestone I had in my stash from years ago. Perfecto!

Here is a sneek peak of page 1 for the beginning of my journey. I hope you join me for my next post on making the first page!

My SMASH a.k.a.SMOOSH Book – Part 1

Posted on February 10, 2012 by itsaninkinstampede

Hello…Hello everyone! Today’s post was inspired by a fellow Stampin’ Up! demonstrator Karie Beglau. Her You Tube video helped me focus on the one thing I have wanted to improved on for a while….my DIET. I hope you all will watch her video. She has done a great job with her smash book.

I seem to always put myself last when it comes to important. I am a nurturer and I make sure family, pets and friends are all taken care of and then I never worry about ME. Geez when I think about it I realize that if I do not take care of me then I can not nurture anyone else because I will not be here….DUH That is a no-brainer to me!

I decided to scrapbook my own journey from bag food habits to great food habits. I am using Karie’s idea and making my own journal. Hopefully I will drop some pounds too since I did not like what I saw on the scale. I will include my specific measurements, feelings, food prep, recipes and exercise moments plus anything else that makes this process part of my journey.

This is my SMOOSH book…. I decided to use the Designer Series Paper Paisley Petals. The designs in this collection look so spring-like and reminded me of revitalization. The gorgeous greens and blue are so refreshing and of course I love the other colors too! I did not have a Stampin’ Up! On Board Journal so I made my own using my Cinch. I cut the inside pages from Whisper White card stock at 5 3/4″ x 5 3/4″. That sized match my AccuCut album dies. I covered all my chipboard pages using the a glue stick and brayer. I also inked the edges for a nice distressed look.

The inside pages will be perfect to journal all my thoughts during this journey. I made 15 pages (30 sides total) so that will give me enough space for some doodling and stamping too! I used the 1″ binding wires so there is room for expansion if I choose to use some bulky embellishments in some places. I mixed plain card stock and patterned paper on the chipboard pieces.