So what stamp set is the FART in?

Two weeks ago, I had a stamp-a-stack that featured masculine cards.  The class was very well-attended, mostly because I think we all feel challenged to create a nice card for the men in our lives.  So, this week I'll be showing you the cards that we made at the class to inspire your Masculine creative side!

My rules for masculine cards are simple.....KEEP IT SIMPLE!  Men are not impressed with ribbons, eyelets, flowers, and such.  Save the goodies for your girlfriends!

You can click on each image to get a closer look.  So what stamp set is the FART in?  Happy Camper, of course!  It's on page 134 of the Idea Book & Catalog!

Happy Stampin'

Melissa

Back from hiatus....

I know it has been a LONG time since I last posted.  April is always a hectic month for me, and having a little one around doesn't make things any easier.  I'm sure many of you can relate!  I'm looking forward to getting away this evening for some stamping therapy.  Tonight is our April club meeting and we will be making a beautiful cork board and a Mother's Day card. 

The club meets each month and completes 1 or 2 stamping and/or scrapbooking projects.  The projects are a bit more advanced than what I usually demonstrate at a workshop, but the members always seem up for a challenge.  We also do a card swap, which everyone loves!  It's nice for all of the ladies to have a night out to do nothing but STAMP!!!

Additional clubs will be forming in July when the new catalog becomes available.  If you would like information, feel free to contact me anytime to learn more!

To make up for my absence, I thought we could have a bit of fun......the retirement list will be published on TUESDAY, MAY 1st.  Get out your catalog and make a list of the 30 stamp sets you feel are most likely to retire.  Submit all your answers to me by Monday night, April 30th.  The person with the most retired sets on their list will win a FREE STAMP SET!!!!

FINE PRINT:  Your guesses should only include stamp sets from the 2006-2007 Idea Book and Catalog.  Do NOT include hostess sets, the Ronald McDonald set, or any of the stamp sets listed on the Austrilain retirement list, wheels, kits, or other accessories.  In addition, the two word stamps that have already been announced as being retired, All Year Cheer II and Tiny Talk, can not be included in your guesses.  If for any reason the contents of Stampin' Up!'s retirement is announced, leaked, etc, prior to April 30, the contest will immediately end.

Have fun looking through the catalog!  And if you see something you can't live without, well....you know what to do!

Happy Stampin'

Melissa

And the winner is.....

I'm happy to announce that Vicky Merritt is the winner of my first blog contest.  She'll be receiving the Loves Me desinger series paper and Flirty ribbon.  Congratulations!                                          

Kim Norris (Verda's daughter) hosted a Stamp-a-Stack last night at her home in Noblesville.  We had a great time creating all of the cards you see above!  I'll be repeating this class on Friday, March 16th at the Stamp Shack.  There are still a few seats remaining, so if you would like to attend just let me know.

And remember if you see a class that you would like to attend, but have a scheduling conflict, I'm happy to teach any class to groups of 5 or more and we can schedule a time and location that is convenient for YOU!  Just ask!

Be sure to visit me at the Shine 99 Women's Fair at Johnanning Civic Center on Saturday, March 17th.  Mention this website and you'll also receive a free gift from me!

Happy Stampin'

Melissa

Around the House....Shaving Cream

Today I'll be featuring the first in a series of tutorials called "Around the House".  You'll be amazed at how many household items you can use to create wonderful stamped artwork!

It's time to steal your husband's shaving cream.  The best kind of shaving cream for this technique is fragrance-free and CHEAP.  I usually buy a $1 can at the dollar store to use in workshops and I buy "better" shaving cream for the hubby.  However, I think my hubby ran out of his brand and found my stash.  So, I had to "borrow" it for this tutorial....be prepared for some strange looks from the man in your life.

You'll need to gather the following items:  shaving cream, 1-3 classic ink re-inkers (I used regal rose and rose red), wax paper or a paper plate, small sheets of white cardstock, plastic knife, and paper towels.

Dispense a generous amount of the shaving cream onto wax paper or a paper plate.

                                                Place several drops of the re-inkers randomly over your pile of shaving cream.  Swirl it gently with your knife.  Do not mix completely or your cardstock will not have a swirled effect.

Push your cardstock straight down into the shaving cream.  Lift it up gently, then remove all excess shaving cream.  The little scrapers from Pampered Chef are great for this!  I use paper towels, but it's a little messy.  Allow your paper time to dry.  You can repeat this several times with the same pile of shaving cream.  Each time will produce a completely different look!

You can stamp directly on the shaving cream paper or simply use it as a background piece. 

Here is my completed shaving cream card (click on the image for a closer look).  I stamped "love" from the Wonderful Words stamp set in basic black ink directly on the shaving cream paper.  The hearts are from the Happy Hearts stamp set, and the saying "my heart is with you" is from the Small Sayings stamp set that is featured in the Winter Mini catalog.

I used Whisper White, Basic Black, Regal Rose, and Rose Red cardstock, and the coordinating classic ink pads.  Black gingham ribbon and dimensionals complete the look.

All images copywrite Stampin' UP! 2007

Now it's your turn! Kids love this technique, so why not try it together?  If you make something using this technique, be sure to send me a picture.  I may feature it on this site.

Happy Stampin'

Melissa

                                                      

I'm Back!!!!!

I know it's been quite awhile since I've posted anything.  It's been a wild month!  Two days before I left for Leadership Conference(January 11-13), I broke my little toe.  I thought, "Wow! What an awful thing to happen.....I can hardly walk and I'm going to be walking through airports and convention centers all week!".  Luckily, the pain was manageable by the time I left (read: I was on a bit of pain medication).

However, that wasn't the worst thing!  The day after we arrived in Houston, my eardrum ruptured.  Now, all of my medical books state that this is not a painful event.  Well, they are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!  It has taken 2 rounds of antibiotics and nearly 4 weeks for me to feel somewhat back to normal.  I definitely have some hearing loss, but it'll be a bit longer for us to know how much of it is permanent.

So, you know how bad things always come in threes?  I've been waiting patiently, not sure that I could handle anything else.  Well, yesterday it happened!  I was making tea and the glass pitcher it was in broke, spilling boiling water everywhere.  It could have been worse, but I burned a nice portion of my belly.  I've injured the top and bottom, so why not hit the middle now?

Now that my third affliction has occurred, I can finally share with you some of the fun things we did at Leadership conference.  We received a nice bag and the stamp set Doodle This at check-in.  The stamp set will be available beginning March 1st and is featured in the Spring 2007 mini catalog which many of you will be receiving in the mail shortly.  We were able to make 4 projects with our new stamp set.  Tiffany and I liked 3 of the projects so much, that we decided to offer a stamp camp to our customers in March so that you can make these adorable projects for yourself.

The stamp camp is scheduled for Saturday, March 24th.  More details can be found by clicking on My Events.

I'll be sharing a few more project ideas from Leadership with you later this week, so be sure to check in.

On a final note, I am modifying this month's contest.  To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment by clicking on the comments link at the bottom of this message.  Each commenter will receive 1 entry into a drawing to receive the Loves Me designer series paper and Flirty ribbon.  Drawing will be held on February 26th and the winner will be announced here.

Have a fantastic week!

Melissa

My Christmas Present

This year, Stampin' Up! sent us a nice surprise.....all demonstrators received the Polka Dots and Paisley stamp set.  It's very cute and will be featured in the upcoming Spring Mini Catalog, available March 1st.

I made this 4" square card to swap at Leadership Conference this week and used my new stamp set.  LOVE IT!!!

Stampin' Up! has also just announced that all new demonstrators that sign up in January or February will also receive this set in their kits!  If you'd like to find out more, I'll be having an Opportunity Night this Monday, January 15th from 7pm-8pm at the stamp shack.  Everyone is invited!  Feel free to contact me for more info or check my events calendar for future opportunity nights.

Happy Stampin'
Melissa

Here's what you missed......

If you didn't attend the open house this past weekend, here are pictures of the Make & Takes that we did.

Be sure to check my events page regularly.  There is always something fun to do!  You can also book an in-home workshop or class if my dates and times are not convenient for you!

Happy Stampin'

Melissa