Stamps and Smiles

My Digital Studio... the final months

Here's the final 3...

 

The finished calendar looks fabulous -- those glossy pages feel so good.  Bradleigh's teacher loved her calendar -- something practical and personalized for the year ahead.

Have a wonderful day!

  
  
  

My Digital Studio... Take 3

 
Here's three more months of My Digital Studio Calendar:

 
  

  

My Digital Studio Calendar

Teacher gifts can be a very difficulty thing to come up with.  For classroom gifts, I've tried to always make sure to include something specific about the class -- handprints on a quilt for an expecting teacher, an lunch apron for a new teacher, a scrapbook with photos and so on.  As Bradleigh gets older and parent-involvement isn't as frequent, I wasn't sure I'd have the opportunity to do something unique this year.  I was very wrong. 

Thanks to a very good friend and club member (Hi Barb!) who is a substitute teacher in Bradleigh's school, I was able to go into Bradleigh's classroom while her teacher was away prior to Thanksgiving.  The students got into groups and drew a photo for a specific month.  They had a blast brainstorming ideas and I was amazed at some of the artistic talent in her class.

When I got home, I scanned in the drawings and got to work on Stampin' Up's My Digital Studio.  This is such a great software for the beginner or intermediate digital artist.  Advanced users who use Photoshop CS3 or CS4, will appreciate the simplicity of the software but may get frustrated by the limitations, comparitvely.  That said, I have to say that software is incredibly intuitive and walks you through the process step by step.

Over the next few days, I'll post images from the calendar.  Enjoy!

 
 

 

 

 

 
  
   

Seriously?

Seriously embarassing, that is!  The last few months I've just not felt like blogging -- or stamping, for that matter.  I've loved creating for my club girls -- they truly have become the highlight of my month and I treasure their friendshships dearly.  Stamping beyond that has been really low on the priority list.  There are a number of factors that I won't get into here -- frankly, they'd bore you.  (They bore me!)  :)

So, while I'm making no promises to update on a regular schedule, I've made the commitment to myself to stamp more -- go back to doing something I enjoy and share it with you (if there's anyone out there!) when I do.

Okay -- all that said, I don't normally share Club projects on my blog because I hold these special projects just for my club members -- and when I think about it, ALL my projects of late have been for my Club friends.  However, I decided to share this one because, while it's not my typical style, I really liked the simplicty of it.  Next week my club girls will get to create this charmer and two other projects!

 

 

 

You can join us at club as a "Party Crasher" by RSVPing to me before Monday, March 8th.  A $35 order will be required to join us.  Club dates are March 11th, 12th or 15th either from 10am to Noon or 4:30pm to 8:00pm.  Guests that RSVP can drop in anytime in those hours.  Please keep in mind that projects usually take about an hour or so depending on how quickly you work.  Feel free to email me if you're interested in joining us.

  

When A Nut Knocks You In The Head

Okay, so hopefully the nut is an actual nut or an idea ... not a friend.  :)

I've spent minus the 5 hours I slept last night, the last 11 hours stamping... and I have about 4 more hours left to enjoy before I need to head home.  I've had an absolute blast creating at my friend Jan's house but she was sharing with me some magazine pages she pulled out for ideas.  Right beside the tree she was showing me was a card with 3 acorns.  All I could see was our ornament punch and after a squeal of delight, went straight to work.

This is what I came up with:

Alright -- so I totally apologize for the bad photo.  This came from my Blackberry and I promise I'll take another early next week with my camera.

This is the ornament punched out of Really Rust cardstock and then sponged with Soft Suede and Chocolate Chip.  The tops were punched with the Scallop Border punch and the Wide Oval Punch.

Okay... stinkin' cute!

To order this awesome punch (and why not throw in the Delightful Ornament Set that coordinates with this punch) please visit www.stampsandsmiles.com and click on "Shop Now" for preferred pricing and a discount on shipping.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!

Falling Leaves

We survived the couple of days of school, back to school night and the first sheet of of 64 math problems for homework.  Third Grade is so different! 

Indulge me as I share my beauty on her 1st Day of 3rd Grade:

Okay -- so here's what you're really here for... hopefully some inspiration!  As I mentioned, I had a couple more samples using Falling Leaves for you:

This one uses Soft Suede, Old Olive, So Saffron and Dusty Durango as the color scheme.  I CASE'd the layout from somewhere... I just can't remember where so thank you to the creative person for this idea!

Finally -- this is a box I made using the awesome new Treat Boxes from Stampin' Up!  The decoration was made using the Scallop Square die and The Big Shot.  The pumpkin was made by layering various Circle punches (the edges were first distressed and sponged) and if you look closely, the cirlces on the punmpkin and the background scalloped piece were textured.  The Falling Leaves stamp set and the coordinating Jumbo Wheel Bright Blessing were used.

As always, if you'd like to purchase any of the products used to create these projects, you can shop my online store 24/7 by visiting www.stampsandsmiles.com and click on SHOP NOW.  You'll receive preferred pricing and a reduced shipping rate.

Thanks for stopping by...

Great Swap Girls New Catalog Swap

  I had the privilege to participate in the Great Girls New Catalog Swap not once but twice.  The cards I received back were amazing -- as always.  I feel so lacking in talent when I swap with these ladies.  They have more talent in their pinky than I do in my entire body.

Anyway, here's what I created.

 

This one uses the Falling Leaves stamp set.  I totally love this set and I have another 2 projects to show you next week with this set.  I used Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, So Saffron cardstocks and Ink as well as Old Olive Classic Ink and Very Vanilla Cardstock.  And let's not forget the Old Olive grosgrain ribbon.

 

This one uses On A Pedestal.  While I love this set, the best part about it was I got it free from Stampin' Up! after attending a Regional Conference last year.  One of the great perks of being a demonstrator.

The background was created using the Perfect Details Texturz Plates and the Big Shot.  I used Chocolate Chip, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay and Whisper White cardstocks.  A Real Red brad mimics a cherry in the bon-bon.  The scalloped edge is created using the Curly Label Punch.  I was short on time getting these out during a very busy week so I recycled the layout used in this post.

As always, if you'd like to order any of the products used to create these cards, you can order 24-7 at www.mycreativeramblings.com for preferred pricing and discounted shipping.

That's it for today!  Time to soak my feet after a long day at Hershey Park!  Bradleigh, with some serious coaxing rode The Great Bear -- and LOVED it!

 

Wedding Party, Part Trois

 This is the last sample of the Specialty Paper Bride, Groom and Bridesmaid -- and it's my personal favorite.  In fact, I do believe this might very well be the Kemp Family Christmas Card this year -- as well as a Club Card for September.  I love the simplicity and elegance of it.

 

The ornament is made using the Ornament Punch and Delightful Decorations stamp set from the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog.  The "Joy Ornament" was embossed on Real Red cardstock with clear embossing powder and then a white gel pen was used to fill in the swirls and the word "joy."   The ribbon is from the Mistletoe Ribbon Originals collection -- also from the upcoming Holiday Mini.  Of course, this card also features both the Bride Specialty Paper and the Groom Specialty Paper.  Don't you just love it?!

If you'd like a copy of the Holiday Mini Catalog, please email me your address to DebKemp@stampsandsmiles.com and I'll get one in the mail to you immediately.  To order any of the products here and get preferred pricing and reduced shipping, please visit www.stampsandsmiles.com -- but keep in mind, products featured in the Holiday Mini are not available until September 1st but I'd be happy to add your products to my Preferred Clients order going in first thing on September 1st.

Have a wonderful day!  Tomorrow I'll share with you the swaps I did for the Great Girls Swap I participated in!

Wedding Party Part Deux

   As promised -- here are some more samples using this wonderful Specialty Paper -- "Bride, Groom and Bridesmaid."

 

Did you know that this Specialty Paper is very, very special?  You can make it any color you desire!  As you'll see from the projects below, the foil imprinting resists the ink leaving striped or filligree paper in any color -- or colors -- you desire!  Now really, how cool is that?!

 

The care above is brayered with Cameo Coral ink on the Bride Specialty Paper.  The flower is stamped using "Pick A Petal."

 

This scrapbook page (sized 8" x 8") uses the striped design from the Bride Specialty Paper brayered with Regal Rose and a non-brayered square of the filligree design from the same Specialty Paper.  The chipboard letters were given the same "irridescent" quality by first covering them with White Craft ink, letting it try and then using the fabulous new Frost White Shimmer Paint found in the upcoming fabulous Holiday Mini Catalog.  I used the same Shimmer Paint on the large flower from the Pretties Kit to add more sparkle.

 

This card uses the Sense of Time stamp set.  The Bride Specialty Paper was sponged with Soft Suede Classic Ink.

 

Finally, for this card I used a sponge dauber and Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy and Barely Banana Classic Inks to color the Bride Specialty Paper.

Tomorrow I'll post my absolute favorite card made with this paper!  In the meantime, to receive preferred pricing and reduced shipping on any of the products used for these projects, please visit www.stampsandsmiles.com and click on "Shop Now." 

Wedding Party? What Wedding Party?!

I was challenged by my upline to create samples that weren't wedding-related with the new Specialty Paper "Bridesmaid,"  "Groom" and "Bride" shown on page 158 of the Idea Book and Catalog.  Sometimes it's hard for me to think out of the box but I think I rose up for this challenge!

Sit back and enjoy!

 

So first I embossed on the striped groom paper.  The Embossing Buddy is an absolute must to do this as the Embossing Powder sticks to the foil.

 

This uses Eastern Elements Stamp Set and Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Sets and the Modern Label Punch.

   Sorry for the poor photo!  This one uses both the Bridesmaid and the Groom paper.  The sentiment "you are awesome" is from Three Little Words -- one of my favorite greeting sets!

The large flower is from the Pretties Kit and I used the new Shimmer Paint from the upcoming Holiday Mini to add some irridescent quality to it. 

 

The Groom Specialty Paper lends itself beautifully to Halloween projects, too!

   This one uses the Spooky Treats Rub Ons.  I think this could make a really cute bag topper for Halloween treats, too!

 

   

This tube is cut from a 5.5" x 6.5" piece of the Groom Specialty Paper.  The top and bottom lids are cut from the Basket and Blooms Bigz XL Die and features the Spooky Treats Rub Ons again -- I think you might see these again in my upcoming Haunts and Howls class!

So this is just the first couple of projects -- there are a few more ready to come your way so come back on Monday!

To order any of the products featured here and get preferred pricing and reduced shipping, please visit www.stampsandsmiles.com and click on "Shop Now" button.