Tool Tip: Sponge Daubers

Sponge daubers and stamping sponges make a great team for sponging any project. These are a staple supply that I use on a daily basis to ink edges of cardstock and make those extra special embellishments POP! Daubers slip right onto your fingers, giving you more precise application control. These are small sponges attached to plastic tubes. And with 12 to a package, you can have one for each color that you use frequently. I have a set for each color family!! Don't forget to order this fantastic tool (item# 102395) to add some detail to your projects!
Happy Spongin'

I'm The Queen Of The Castle.....

And you're the dirty rascal!!!! This card was made with two of my favorite colors, Melon Mambo & Soft Suede.
I think is pretty fun - what do you think?

The sentiment was from a new set from the Summer Mini called Favorite Thoughts. I masked off the word queen at the end of the sentiment and cut out the letters instead using the Big Shot and Timeless Type Letter Medium Sizzlett Dies, adhering them to the card using the glue pen. I used a strip of Melon Mambo DSP, and free handed the tear to expose the white in the paper. I inked the edges of the WW cardstock that I built the foundation of this card on as well, with MM ink.

Next I stamped out 5 little crowns from the Tiny Tags stamp set, alternating in Soft Suede & Melon Mambo. I punched these out using the 3/4' circle punch, then punched out opposite circles in 1' and layered them accordingly. I popped these all up along the top, alternating the colors!

And finally, I looked at this card and thought, for a Queen inspired card, it was missing some "blingy sparkly-ness" so I pulled out my Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz and iced it with a couple splashes of it. I might just have to keep this card for myself, unless you know any other Queen's out there in lala land?!?!

Vintage Elements of Style Butterfly...

So, I was in need of a couple cards and was itchin' to use my new Elements Of Style set. I stamped on the Butterfly that I cut out using the Big Shot, and gently shaded with Rich Razzleberrry & Old Olive. I wheeled the Rich Razzleberry cardstock (the base of my card) with the Very Vintage Wheel in the identical color for a watermarked look. I have been dying to use some Wild Wasabi (an old in color that I was saving a couple pieces of cardstock from because I loved it so, but now that it is returning....I can cut away!!!). So I wheeled with the Very Vintage Wheel in Versamark & heat embossed it with Whisper White Embossing Powder - that's what gives it that glossy look.

I also free handed a tear job on the one side of the Wild Wasabi, exposing the core of the paper. I really like this vintage, old look that it gives a project!
I then popped the butterfly with dimentionals, after I inked up the edges of it with Chocolate Chip.

And finally, the sentiment (popped too, again - me and my poppers!!) was cut out using the Lots of Tags Sizzletts for the Big Shot, stamped with Sincere Salutations & Teeny Tiny Tags added the floral that I thought was a pretty good match. I love the shape of this tag! One of my favorites!!

Hope you enjoyed tonight's card!
~MWAH!

My Digital Studio Add On Downloads

So since this wonderful program has launched, Stampin Up! has released a miriad of paper packs, stamp brush sets, punches, ribbon, rub-ons, overlays & more.
So in an attempt to bring them all together, I will be posting photos of each product, the product code, price and release date in this post. PLEASE NOTE* These are this listing of the files that DO NOT come with the MDS Software and are available to purchase for a small fee from my website here!
Check back frequently for updates!
~MWAH!

DESIGNER SERIES PAPER
DSP NIGHT & DAY - (118115) $6.95
DSP CAST A SPELL - (118114) $6.95
SPRING SHADES DSP - (120172) $6.95
SUMMER SPELDOR DSP - (121067) $6.95
GEOMETRIC LINES DSP - (121068) $6.95

CARDSTOCK
TEXTURED CARD STOCK - (120168) $6.95

OVERLAYS
PRESTO PATTERNS OVERLAYS - (122142) - $5.95
VINTAGE OVERLAYS - (121061) $7.95

EMBELLISHMENTS
SENDING LOVE BRADS - (120169) $2.95
SATIN RIBBON - (121063) $5.95

TEMPLATES
MINI PROJECT BOXES - (120171) $2.95

KITS
RECIPES BY DESIGN KIT - (118869) $13.95
YOU'RE INVITED INVITATION KIT - (120884) $5.95
MY SWEET PEA KIT - (119978) $13.25
CHRISTMAS COCOA II KIT - (120880) $13.25
MERRY MOMENTS PHOTOCARD KIT - (120883) $5.95
ICICLE PHOTOCARD KIT - (120882) $5.95
WRITE STUFF II KIT - (120881) $13.25

BRUSH/STAMP SETS
GO GRADUATE PLUS (121069) $7.95
JUMBO OUTLINE ALPHABET (122143) $13.95
CONTEMPO ALPHABET (122145) $13.95
CALENDAR BASICS KIT - (118120) $13.95
CALENDAR GRID BASICS KIT - (121423) $5.95
VINTAGE VOGUE BRUSH SET - (121062) $5.95
WELL SCRIPTED BRUSH SET - (121064) $5.95
ROUGH TYPE BRUSH SET - (121066) $13.95
CIRCLE CIRCUS - (118126) $7.95
MEDALLION - (118124) $2.98
PUMPKIN PATCH - (118122) $7.95
GREATEST MOMENTS II - (118121) $13.25
SCHOOL DAYS II - (118116) $13.25
FRIEND BY DEFINITION - (118118) $2.95
BERRY CHRISTMAS - (118117) $7.95
JUST PERFECT ALPHABET - (118119) $13.25
ATHLETIC DEPT. BRUSH SET - (121065) $9.95
JERSEY STAMP BRUSH SET - (122263) $13.25
SCOREBOARD STAMP BRUSH SET - (122264) $7.95

PUNCHES
TWO STEP BIRD PUNCH - (122131) $1.25
FANCY FLOWER PUNCH - (122132) $1.25
JEWELRY TAG PUNCH - (122133) $1.25
PINKING HEARTS BORDER PUNCH - (122134) $1.25
PINKING HEARTS CORNER PUNCH - (122135) $1.25
SCALLOP TRIM BORDER PUNCH - (122136) $1.25
SCALLOP TRIM CORNER PUNCH - (122137) $1.25

HOW TO ORDER THESE...
If you wish to purchase any of these, you will need to shop online on my website HERE (click SHOP NOW) and enter the item codes in your order. You are more than welcome to place other Stampin Up! items to your basket as well, then simply check out! Once you reach the Order Confirmation Page, click on the DOWNLOAD NOW link or the DOWNLOAD MANAGER LINK. Select which ever operating system that you are running your MDS on (MAC or Windows), then select either DOWNLOAD A FILE (to import them directly into your MDS software), or select FOR OTHER APPLICATIONS if you are wanting to use these in Photoshop or any other digital program. When prompted, select RUN. When you have completed downloading all your files that you purchased, simply open My Digital Studio and, voila - your new downloaded files will be waiting for you to use!!!

Tool Tip: Forget Me Not Keeper

Can't find what you are looking for when you need it? Unorganized, frustrated & forgetful? The "Forget Me Not Keeper" by Stampin Up! is what you need!
This versatile, archival container provides a convenient way to store & organize photos, or to use as a card organizer for remembering the important people in your life. The twelve dividers allow you to organize photos by theme, month, or occasion.
- White polypropylene with silver metal snaps
- 12 polypropylene dividers included
- 8.5/8" long x 6.5/8" wide x 5" high when assembled
- Ships flat
- Archival quality, assembles quickly & easily
- Holds approximately 720 photos

Don't forget to order this fantastic tool (item# 105525) to keep you organized!

King of The Flowers & Ice Cream!

So thought I should post this month's Stampers 10 Cards....
I think I am safe to say that ALL my ladies had fun making these three cards, playing with brand new sets, learning new techniques, and bidding farewell to some memorable colors!!!!
First up....

This card was spring inspired with colors -Brocade Blue, Pink Pirouette - cause it's coming back! & Certainly Celery round out this palate...Using the new, Awash With Flowers set (in clear mount - which was a great hit!!) we stamped 3 of the daisy solids in Pink Pirouette on Whisper White, one in the middle and two off to either side. Then we took Pretty In Pink and stamped the silhouette outline. Stems were all done in Certainly Celery, flipping the stamp upside down to get the two stems off the blue flowers.

Two more daisy flowers were stamped out on an additional piece of WW in Brocade Blue and then we simply cut them out, and popped them up offset to the other flowers, using dimentionals. Prior to assembling we took the Brocade Blue and the daisy silhouette outline and stamped around all the edges of our card. We then assembled the layers, and VOILA!!!! Sentiment is from the new In A Word set in the Summer Mini! Doesn't everyone need a card that screams..."So Sorry!!!"?

Next up - we got da King of da Grill Man!!!! I LOVE THIS SET!!!! I guess I am a little partial to it because my hubby cooks EVERYTHING on the Barbie, so when I saw this set - I knew I was getting it, just to make stuff for him!!! Oh yeah, did I mention - I LOVE THIS SET?!!!
Ok, so we used Basic Black, Crushed Curry & Perfect Plum for the base & the layers. We stamped the image on Whisper White - once again, super duper easy in the clear mount - in Black Stazon, as we were coloring the image and did not want any of the black to pull into the image!! Although I simply cannot stand the fumes of CHERRY CHERRY CHERRY sifting up into the air while using the Stazon, this is an absolute must have if you are coloring, in my humble opinion.

The sentiments in this set are AWESOME so we stamped one out and punched with the word window punch for shape. Then we punched out a modern Label Punch of Crushed Curry and adhered the two together. Finishing off with a Mini Library Clip for a little metal, we popped the sentiment label with dimentionals.
Card was texturized on the front panel with Sizzix Embossing Folder, for a manly-er feel!!
Isn't it BTUiful?

And once you've had your burger fix, we can move onto dessert....bwahahahah....sometimes I just amaze myself!! LOL! Ok, so this card is done with the Sweet Scoops set, once again, from the Summer Mini. I earned this set after regionals, and was really excited to use it! Cardstock is Melon Mambo & Chocolate Chip, with a slice of CC Designer Series Paper. A bow was made out of the Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon and adhered to the top and back of the DSP. Then we secured down our DSP onto the cardstock.
*NB* At this point it is very important that everyone knows that the whole point of this card was to demonstrate the difference between the clear mount and the wood mount to my groups of ladies!! I did not, nor did I allow any of the ladies to use the Stampamajig for this project - so that is why I am proudly displaying a NON-PERFECT project!!
We then stamped 4 cones in Melon Mambo on the Melon Mambo to give the watermarked look. We repeated with the tops of the ice cream. Oh god, was this ever off!!! The good news is you got to pick your WORST ice cream cone and cover it up with the tag that we made!! The tag was free-handed as well, simply due to the size we needed to stamp the ice cream cone on. We stamped the cone in Chocolate Chip on WW. Then on a separate piece of WW, we inked up the ice cream top with Melon Mambo and pressed the zebra looking stamp right up to it - I believe this is called the "Kissing" technique. This "removed" some of the Melon Mambo ink off the ice cream top stamp and left an image. We then stamped the image and cut out, added chocolate sprinkles, and popped it up over the chocolate cone. Once the tag was cut out in WW, we glued it to some Chocolate Chip cardstock and trimmed up the layer. We punched out a circle in MM, folded over the top of the tag, punched a tiny hole through it all, tacked a piece of ribbon behind and covered up our worst cone!
The "piece de la resistance" was the Crystal Effects that was added to the ice cream to make it look all shiny!!! Don't forget this take quite a while to dry!
I should also mention my girlfriend did this card which I thought I was casing off of her but apparently Nancy Riely designed it, and then she cased it from her - so her is the link to Nancy's card if you want to check out her blog!!!
Well, hope you enjoyed these three projects - if you have any questions - hollar!
~MWAH!

Tres Chic...Tres Patience!!!!

Well, today was D.E. Day (Decor Elements Day) at Bootybella's Stampin Pad!!!! I decided that I have been putting this off for way too long, knowing full well, that this was going to be one, big project. So this morning, I took the plunge at put up the Tres Chic Decor Elements in my half bath. Needless to say it was QUITE the experience, so I thought I would take photos and walk you all through it......

So for starters, here is what the wall looked like behind the "toilette" in our half bath...



So I removed the bamboo painting and cleaned the wall. Then I began cutting up all the letters into their grouping, there were small 'x's at the top and bottom of each word that you would line up to the one above, with the idea that if you get the first piece centered correctly, and always match up your 'x's, your whole application of 14 PIECES (yes, you read right!!) will be applied straight! So after much measuring and fancy footing over the "toilette", I managed to get this piece up on the wall....



BELIEVE ~ I believe this will be beautiful once it is completely up.
FRIENDSHIP ~ My friendship with the "toilette" is a special one right now, I am hoping and praying I don't slip and fall in while applying this vinyl!
LUCKY ~ I will be very lucky if I don't slip and fall in!!!



ADORE ~ I adore how these line up so beautifully with the 'x's, even a monkey could put this up!!!



TOGETHER~ This decor elements is going "together" like no body's business!
CLASSIC ~ If my husband saw me straddling the "toilette" like this he would think a photo of me would be classic!!!
IMAGINE ~ I am imagining what a nice glass of vino could do for me right about now...



LIFE ~ Life throws you challenges (like putting up this application!) just to see how committed you are. I will complete this, even though I am on my 3rd hour of application...



ENJOY ~ I really am enjoying this glass of Malbec right now...I am now pressing on my 4th hour of application...



FUNNY ~ Isn't it funny that I thought this would look soooo amazing over the "toilette", but never considered that I would need calf muscles of steel to stand this long on the rim of a pooper?????
HOPE ~ I hope I will finish this job soon!!!!



Ohhhh lookey....only 4 MORE PIECES TO APPLY!!!!!



HEARTFELT ~ I hope as people visit my loo, their find it in their heart to comment on what a fantastic job I did!!!



FAMILY ~ My family better love this half as much as I do - cause I WILL NOT be taking this down!!!!
INSPIRATIONAL ~ Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!! What can I say, I hope this "inspires" my bathroom guests to...do what they need to do!



LOVE ~ I would love another glass of vino right about now....how many pieces to go - 5 hours later... but doesn't it look amazing????



GENUINE ~ This is genuinely the most intricate looking piece of decor in my home!!! Oh yeah...this is also the most genuine Malbec I have drank in a long, long time!
CREATE ~ I can't believe that in 6 short hours, I have created this masterpiece!!!!



Oh, I thought NOW would be as good of time as ever...to show you how I got the vinyl off the paper onto the wall. So, you use the plastic decor elements applicator (it looks like a credit card without and credit on it! LOL!!) and rubbed each and every little piece of vinyl. Then you slowly start to peel it back and it should stick to the sticky side....



Sometimes it doesn't, especially the little intricate pieces, so you need to rub it a little bit more with the applicator, and slowly peel it back. Easy does it sailor.....



I used my gel nails that came in rather handy for this task!!!



When you peel the backing off, this is what you are left with on the sticky side - now run over to your wall, don't spill your wine, and line up the 'x's!!!!!



Use your applicator once again, and go over everything liberally. You will now need to set your wine glass down on the back of the "toilette", as you will need two hands to carefully pull back the sticky paper...revealing your perfectly applied swirls, swooshes & words!!!!



MEMORIES ~ Oh, the memories I will have, every time I look at this project, knowing the sweat equity that went into it!
JOY ~ This project brought me such "joy", reflecting on each word as I applied it, but the most joy this project brought me, was completing it!!!!
So here is the finally.....
6.25 hours in the making....



Please excuse the slanted photo...this is what happens after 4 glasses of Malbec!!!! In all honesty - it is on my wall completely straight and looks freaking fabulous!!!! I would love to hear your comments so post away!!!
I would also like your opinion - at the very top of the vinyl application, there is a straight line. This is NOT on the photo of the Tres Chic Application, but I am undecided if I want to leave it up there, or remove it. What would you do?
So to recap on this project:
~ Give yourself ample time to put this up - it is not a project that you can just "slap up"!
~ You will need sharp tweezers to remove the little 'x's from the wall after your project is complete.
~ Assess your access to where you are applying this vinyl, prior to starting to apply it!
~ In between each application, walk away, sip your wine & reflect on the experience. Then repeat till complete!
~ Applying this project while indulging in any wine or spirit, may impede your skill levels and decrease your chances of perfection!!!!!

MWAH~