Scrapbook in an Evening - Simply Scrappin' Samples

From left to right: Friends & Flowers (no longer available), He's Too Cool, Island Blossoms

You can click on the image to enlarge it.

SCRAPBOOK IN AN EVENING CLASS

I have finalized the plans for the Scrapbook in an Evening class. In an effort to keep the cost down, I have chosen to use the ring-bound albums and ½ of a retired Simply Scrappin’ Kit from my stock rather than require each attendee to purchase the post-bound album and a complete kit (which isn’t needed for a 6x6 album). Optional add-on’s are available for an additional cost.

Date: Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: My House
Cost: $35 *
RSVP: By Monday, Dec. 17th (to ensure delivery in time for the class)
Details: Make one complete 6x6 scrapbook, 20 pages. Cost includes a 6x6 linen ring album in the color of your choice (red, navy, moss, natural) and half of a Simply Scrappin’ Kit (your choice from my supply of retired Simply Scrappin’ Kits) and some accessories provided by me. The retired Simply Scrappin’ Kits will be on display on my blog later this evening. You may bring pictures to create that night or you can choose to just make the page layouts and add pictures later. I will have sample scrapbooks and a “scrap map” available for anyone that needs layout ideas or inspiration. I will also have my stamp pads, markers and a few other supplies available for use. Please bring your own adhesive, scissors and paper cutter (if you have one).
* Optional add-on’s: Post-bound album – add $3.00
Full Simply Scrappin’ Kit – add $10.00
Simply Scrappin’ Kit from current catalog – add $10.00

Remember, RSVP by this coming Monday, Dec. 17th. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Stamp Club 2008

I am currently setting up my Stamp Club for 2008. I have opening for one, possibly two, new members. This is a year-long commitment. We meet six times during the year to make projects focusing on new or challenging techniques. Each member is required to make a minimum $25 purchase at each club meeting. Each member is the hostess at one of the meetings so earns the hostess benefits. We meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the odd months. All meetings are held at my house at 6:00 p.m. The first meeting is on Tuesday, January 15, 2008. Contact me if you are interested!

Scrapbook in an Evening Workshop

I am planning a Scrapbook in an Evening workshop for the end of December. I am still working on the specifics so I haven't yet settled on a date but it will likely be on Thursday or Friday or either Christmas week of New Year's week. The class will likely cost $20-$25 dollars and we will make a smaller scrapbook using a Simply Scrappin' kit and the Bitty Board Book (page protectors are 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" - a regular post-it note id 3 x 3) from the SU catalog. Once I have my sample made, I will post pictures on my blog. ***If you are interested in attending this workshop, please e-mail me with your preference for a day/week. I will determine the best date based on the responses.

Holiday Stamp a Stack Samples

Check out my gallery at Split Coast Stampers (use the link on the left) to view all the cards that we made at the Holiday Stamp a Stacks. I have included a couple of designs here to show how you can take a design, change the colors and or direction and create a completely different look. Thanks to everyone that attended the events!

November Stamp Club Card Sample

I created this card for our November Stamp Club meeting. I wanted something that used colors that were completely non-traditional. I used Stickles on the background and the new rhinestone brads from Stampin' Up! for the stars on top of the trees. Who knew that pink and blue could make such a neat holiday card...

November Stamp Club Samples

These are two of the cards that we made in Stamp Club this month using the stamp sets Holy Triptych and The Snowflake Spot. The basic layouts and ideas were cased from cards I found on Split Coast Stampers. I changed some of the colors and accessories. For a detailed supply list and directions, click on the link to the left to MJ's Gallery at Split Coast Stampers.

Holiday Card Stamp Camp Schedule

Come to this event, held at my home, and make beautiful handmade holiday greetings. Cost is $10 for 10 cards. You can make more cards in increments of 10 and the cost is adjusted accordingly (i.e. $20 for 20, $30 for 30). Please bring your own adhesive. I will have adhesive on hand for purchase if you don’t have your own. RSVP is required by the Friday before the event.

You choose which night to attend. We will make the same cards on both nights.

Monday, November 19th at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 29th at 6:00 p.m.

There will also be retired Stampin’ Up! merchandise for sale (stamp sets, scrapbook kits, etc.) as well as some handmade items.

Swap Card Samples

These are a couple of the cards that I received from other stampers from one of the swaps I was in. I like the leaf card, it uses the Rock and Roll technique. Looks very colorful. I probably would have done some background stamping on the green. I don't care for the other card as much but I think it has a lot of potential. You can't tell from the scanned photo, but Stickles were used on the stars to make them shine. I would have definitely done some background stamping on the orange and then done something to add color to the actual image. It is a wheel so practically impossible to color before stamping. However, I would probably try other colors of Stickles, or chalking the individual images, or sponging the entire background in coordinating colors or something like that. I really like cards that pop. Basic has gone out of my vocabulary when it comes to stamping. I like to make things "pop"!

Swap Card Sample

This is sample from one of the swaps I participated in this month. I like the easy aspect of using paper with a design. You can't get much simpler than that! You can bring this card up a notch by using Stickles or some other glitter glue to outline the images. Can you tell I am addicted to Stickles now that I have discovered them? It is such a easy way to really make a card more dramatic. The artist also typed up a saying on the computer and put inside the card. It reads, "Wherever you go, whatever you do, may you have Halloween magic, right there with you".

Holiday Card Stamp Camp

It's getting close to the holidays again. I have scheduled two Holiday Card Stamp Camps, one on Monday, Nov. 19th and the second on Thursday, Nov. 29th. They are open for anyone to attend. For those of you unfamiliar with my Stamp Camps, I create 5 to 10 card designs and prep all the supplies. You attend, pay the fee, bring your own adhesive (I have some available for sale if you need it) and make ten cards (or more for the holiday events) with my instructions, using the items I have prepared. This is a great event for those of you that are new or newer to stamping or don't have the time, supplies, space, etc. to make cards at home. These events start at 6:00 p.m., although you can come later if 6:00 doesn't work for you. The cost is $10 for 10 cards. You can make more than ten cards, in increments of 10 and the cost will be adjusted accordingly (i.e. 10 for $10, 20 for $20, etc.). RSVP is required, by the Friday before the event so that I have enough time to prep all the supplies. Please use my new e-mail: mjstampscrap@charter.net Thanks!

Monogram Alphabet Card Sample

I was going through some cards that I have made and came across this one using the "S" Monogram Alphabet Stamp. I decided to post it to show a fun and simple way to use these background-sized monogram stamps. They are also great for scrapbook pages or altered projects such as tins, photo frame displays, etc.

Great New Stampin' Up! Product

Stampin' Up! has a great new product in the Fall catalog. It is Staz On All-Purpose Cleaner and comes in a small bottle with a cloth applicator on top. It works great at cleaning rubber stamps that have been used with Staz On ink. I have also used it to clean background stamps because the design makes it perfect for applying the cleaning fluid directly to the background stamp and wipe it off with a clean soft cloth. Anyone who has tried to clean a background stamp the traditional way (using the Stampin' Scrub or a similar product) knows that it is very difficult to actually get the background stamp clean. I have also used this stamp to clean other stamps that have residue on them from previous use. This product works great for that also. If you don't have a bottle of this cleaner, it is definitely a must have. You can find this product on the bottom of page 186 in the Fall Catalog. Use the link to the left to access the Stampin' Up! on-line catalogs.

First Scrapbook Layout

This is the first scrapbook page that I have loaded to this site. This layout is my favorite (and I have a lot of scrapbooks). I love the simple, balanced design and the black and white with just accent colors. I really wanted to focus on black and white because this layout is about pandas. I purchsed the patterned paper at a local craft store and the stamps are from Stampin' Up! (although it is now a retired set).

Alternate Autumn Harvest Card Sample

It was necessary for me to create a few more copies of this card but I ran out of the patterned paper and ribbon that I used on the original card (see my post from September 27th for a picture of the original). I thought I would post this image also because it shows how you can take an idea from one card and remake it into something else. You can do this with either the same theme or change the layout completely. I will post another image in a couple of days showing how I used the same layout and idea to create another different card.

Stamp Club Card Samples

These are a couple of cards that we made for our Stamp Club meeting last night. With the exception of the button on the monkey card, they are completely copied from other stamper's galleries on Split Coast Stampers. I absolutely loved the idea of a monkey on a Halloween card so just had to use that one and the other card was the last one I made so I wanted something quick and easy and didn't have the time to try to change it around. I think it's a great card but, since it triple-layered, did need to use sticky strip to keep the various layers on. They were too heavy for regular Snail adhesive. I'll have the supplies and instructions posted in my gallery on Split Coast Stampers next week sometime.

Bareback Stamp Set Card

This is a card that I threw together tonight with a set of unused, pre-cut cardstock from a stamp-a-stack. My daughter wanted to do some stamping with me so I thought we could be creative and just grabbed two sets of the same leftover cardstock and use a stamp set that I recently purchased but hadn't used yet. We embossed the horses and then sponged ink in the background. Not bad for creating with leftovers...

SU Color Combo Website

Oh my gosh! Check out this website I just found: http://www.scraptitude.com/colorcombo/ . You can click on any Stampin' Up! color(s) that you'd like to use for a project and the computer will display numerous color combinations. This is too cool!

Color Combination Inspiration

The color combination for this card was inspired by the ribbon which I picked up at a local craft store. I used the Print Pattern background stamp from Stampin' Up! and didn't realize until after I had assembled everything that the background stamp design mirrored the design on the ribbon. I used one of my favorite stamp sets, Travel Post, which was retired a year or so ago.

Saturday Morning Peace (when everyone else is still sleeping)

It is not so early on Saturday morning anymore but I've been crafting since about 7:00 this morning working on a project for Stamp Club on Monday. I also have a swap that is due to be mailed in the next couple of days so I decided to work on another card for the swap. I tend to have stacks of pre-cut cardstock from old Stamp Camps where I had extra supplies cut so I just grabbed on and went with the colors in it. I used the Autumn Harvest stamp set from the 2007 Holiday Mini again. I really love this stamp set. Check out the full details on how to make this card in my Split Coast Stampers gallery. The link is to the left.

Autumn Harvest Card Sample

I am participating in a monthly swap and this is one of the cards I am submitting. I had made a similar card for my Stamp Club but wanted to see if I could make it even better. The swap isn't limited to SU products so I used ribbon that I purchased at a local craft store. I wanted a different look for the background paper and wanted to use the leaf stamp from the Autumn Harvest set. I used versamark to stamp the image on the background paper and then sponged the images with coordinating chalk colors. I have also been experimenting with glitter glue to outline images and really like how it makes them so prominent. I love this card!

Stamp Club Update

Hi Ladies! I have been stamping like crazy this weekend working on projects for Stamp Club. I am having a blast with the fall theme. I love the fall colors! You are all such good stampers that even though I have a scrapbook project planned, I know we will fly through it so I am also preparing 3 or 4 other projects. I have finalized the schedule for the November meeting so we will meet on Monday, November 5th. If you can't make it on Monday, I will have another session on Thursday, November 8th. I look forward to seeing you next week!

New Die Cut Stamps

I just received a couple of stamp sets that I ordered from the 2007 Holiday Mini. Guess what? The rubber stamps are die cut. So, if you never seem to get around to assembling your rubber stamps, Stampin' Up! just made it easier for you. Personally, I will probably trim mine down a little more because I prefer mine cut very close to the image but it will still be less time-consuming than cutting them from scrap.

Welcome!

Welcome to my first blog! I decided to create it as a way to communicate with my Stampin' Up! customers. As my blog grows, I intend to add project photos and instructions as well as links to other great stamping and scrapbooking sites. Enjoy!