I'm the Hostess

Today is my first time as the Hostess at MDS Monday.  I created a page sketch and I hope that you will join us in the challenge.  With the new price of My Digital Studio, just $19.95, its a great time to purchase and be ready to scrap those summer vacation photos, beach photos, picnics, you name it!  You can still do the free 30 day trial too!   The trial is available as a download for those of you who like instant gratification, yippee, or I have some 30 day trail disk I could send you too.  To get the download trial go to my store (tab under the blog header) click shop now (right hand corner) and enter the item number #130910, it will not ask for any payment at check out because its FREE ! Yippee!!  Stampin' Up! also releases free downloads from time to time, so you could check those out too.  Last week it was a cute backpack template (#134687)!
Here is what I did with the sketch.  Go to MDS Monday to see what the other designers did.

Use the extra large photo box for the main event, then add smaller photos and some journaling underneath. I hope you like my sketch!
FYI, some of you have asked if you can join the challenge even if you don't have a blog to link to, and the answer is yes and please do!!   All you need to do is finish your page.  Then click the "project" button at the top of your MDS tool bar.  It will give you a few options, click "Share" and then that will give you a few more options, click "export pages".   If you don't already have one, create a folder to store your exported pages to.   I just call mine MDS Projects.  This is were I store MDS projects that I want to share on my blog, or email a picture of, or share on facebook or the mds.net site, etc.   Next, upload your creation to the Mydigitalstudio.net site.  This site is a great source of inspiration for everyone, and anyone can add projects to the gallery.  And it's free.  Join the site and add all your projects.  You can ask for opinions, get advice, and show of what you did with my sketch (that would make me happy).  If you  add something, let me know. I would love to go check it out.  And, if you play along with my sketch, link it to the MDS Monday blog.  There is a place to do that at the bottom of the challenge post. 
Thanks for stopping by!!

retired stamps

In getting ready for the new catalog, I have gone through some older stamp sets.  I updated my garage sale page with some sale stamps, some as low as $0.99.  These are older stamps, retired more than a year ago.  Take a look!   Once the new catalog comes out, I will update again with the newly retired stamps.  I have a "Garage Sale" planned for June 1st in Lombard Illinois!  check for more on that soon!

ripped paper and ink splatters

One of the fun perks, and there are many, about being a demonstrator with Stampin' Up! is the bi-monthly magazine we get called Stampin' Success.  There are always pretty projects to case in the magazine, and I always look forward to getting it.  The past issue had a really pretty cover that I thought was just lovely.  I kept looking at it, and so I finally decided to make something that was inspired by the cover.  Here is my first attempt. 

Here is the cover I am referring to.  Isn't it pretty?  Well, I didn't reproduce the projects exactly, I wanted my project to be a little simpler, and more mailable.

So that my petals were similar in size, I cut a scrap strip of paper in to even lengths.   I tried making them more random, but they just didn't look right.  Some were too long, some too short or wide.  This way the petals are all different, since I hand tore them, but they work nicely together.

This is the first one I made.  I made the splatters by inking up an Aqua Painter with Calypso Coral. I then squeezed the Aqua Painter so that the brush tip was saturated and about to drip.  I held the Aqua Painter over the paper and tapped it with my finger to make the little drops fall onto the paper.

Here is my second attempt.  Along with the random splatters I added some random rhinestones.  I love the shaped clips so I added those too.  These were really fun to make, not my usual style, but I like them for sure.  

Thanks for stopping by!!  

 

 

 

MDS Blog Hop Guest Designer!

Hi Everyone!! I am a Guest Designer at the MDS Blog Hop this month!!  YEA!  It's my first time being a part of a blog hop!!  So, even though this is my paper cuts blog, I would love it if you would hop on over to my Digital blog and check out the blog hop!!  I may just get you hooked on Digital crafting yet!!

Monograms

I decided to replenish my note cards this week.  I usually have some monogram note cards to use for thank you notes or just to send a note to fiends.  I make them by the dozen so I usually keep them somewhat simple.  They also make really nice gifts.  This one uses the new Strawberry Slush paper and Basic Grey.   I embossed the background with the Fancy Fan embossing folder, and used punches to highlight my initial, made with the Morning Post Alphabet Stamps. 

The flower is sponged around the edges to make it stand out a bit more.  The Rhinestone just gives it a touch of sparkle. 

Wrap some monogram note cards up in a cello bag with a pretty ribbon and you have a sweet gift in no time. 

Thanks for stopping by today!!

remember this post?

 

This fabulous flower petal punch is getting discontinued!!!  So Sad!!  I bought an extra one just in case mine jams or something.   The punch normally costs $16.95 but it's on the retiring list for just $10.17 (item #121808).   Here is the list of retiring products.  They are "while supplies last".    See if there is any thing else you wanted.  The Ornament punch is on the list too!!  I made the cute bunny candy bars with that one!!  The new catalog is just around the corner, so that is the good news, but, if you are a punch fan, you should jump at these punches while  you can!

 

You can make other flowers too.  Use the fat petals to make a posy or use the wide short ones to make a Christmas Poinsettia.  Add them to cards, scrapbooks, home decor or a hair clip!

 

 

Teacher Appreciation

I made this fun note card and holder set for my daughter's pre-school teacher.  I made the note cards in My Digital Studio.  I love that My Digital Studio allows me to make personalized gifts for the people in my life.  At $19.95 you should really check it out, if you haven't already!

Here are the note cards and envelopes that are inside.

I wanted to make the front panel of my box look like a chalk board.  I used Basic Black card stock and ran my Embossing Buddy over it a few times.  The Embossing Buddy is filled with a fine powder that helps keep static down when you are using embossing powders.  In this case, I just wanted it for the powdery dust it makes :)

I used the invoice proof sheet that comes with your print order to make this label.  Its like a smaller version of the cards.  Cute, huh?  I cut out a mat with the Apothecary Accents Framelit Die, and tied it to my box with some ribbon.

 Here is a close up of my box front.

I made a simple tag with a piece of 3 x 6 card stock, folden in half.  I made an apple with a heart punch and a leaf from the Bird Builder punch.  The tiny heart button is just for added cuteness :)   I wrote a thank you note in the card and tied it to my cello bag.  Let me just say a note about cello bags.  I love cello bags!  I make cookies, cards, tons of small gifts.  Having a variety of cello bags on hand is always a good idea for any crafter.  Stampin' Up! has a few sizes and I always make sure to  have them.  They also have craft boxes, another great thing to have on hand.  And, here's a hint, there are some new gift giving items in the new catalog, coming out soon!!

Thanks for stopping by!!