Recent UStamp Projects

I designed 2 projects for the most recent session of UStamp with Dawn & Friends, Heatin Up the Holidays.  All of the projects have been posted, but you can still join and have access to all 40+ pdf tutorials, including mine!  Sign up now

The first project features the Season of Sweets Designer Printed Kit.  This kit was designed to be used for packaging cookies and other sweet treats.  However, since I don't do a lot of baking, I wanted to show an alternate use for this kit.  I created an accordian mini book with inserts that could be used for recipes, photos, or recording your favorite holiday memories.  I used the Scentsational Season stamp set to embellish the mini book and card.  Cute, huh?

The second project is a covered composition book transformed into a planner for the holidays.  I included tabs for keeping track of gift lists, cards, recipes, and more.  I used the Snow Festival Designer Series Paper for the book and coordinating card.

Tutorials for both of these projects are available exclusively by joining UStamp Heatin up the Holidays.  The cost is $19.95 and will give you access to over 40 great tutorials featuring products from the Holiday Mini catalog.

Thanks for stopping by!

Winter Memories Mojo 259

Yes, I know that Fall has just begun.  However, we stampers start thinking about Christmas this time of year.  Today was my first Christmas Card class and I'm so excited to share one of the cards we made.  There are 2 more that I will share later this week.

The card features the Winter Memories stamp set.  In the background, you'll see that I embossed the card stock with the Big Shot and the Lacy Brocade embossing folder.  I also used one half of a die cut doily and a panel of Candlelight Designer Series Paper.

For the main image, I sponged Champagne Mist shimmer paint onto Very Vanilla card stock.  Once it was dry, I stamped the skate image in Early Espresso ink and colored parts of it with Cherry Cobbler and Lucky Limeade markers.  It's hard to tell in the photo, but this panel has a shimmery, marbled, vintage look.

I used an Early Espresso marker to ink up the "Warm Winter Wishes" greeting, omitting the warm so that it would fit on the Bitty Banners framelit.  The card is tied up with Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon and a round designer ribbon slide.

STAMP SET:  Winter Memories

INK:  Early Espresso

PAPER:  Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Candlelight Designer Series Paper

ACCESSORIES:  Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Stampin' Sponges, Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler Marker, Early Espresso Marker, Lucky Limeade marker, Round Designer Ribbon Slide

BIG SHOT:  Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Doily Sizzlit, Bitty Banners Framelits

 

If you would like to purchase any of the items used for this card, please visit my Stampin' UP! website.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

Big Shot Class Reminder

Big Shot Tips & Tricks Class

Monday, September 17th at 7:00pm

 

 Tomorrow is the last day to REGISTER and I only have a few more spots available!!!

 

This is one of the three projects we'll be making at this month's Big
Shot Tips & Tricks class.  Cost is $15 or FREE with a purchase of $30 or more.

All supplies except adhesive will be provided.

 

RSVP by emailing me at melissa@thestampdoc.com

 

View more upcoming events

 

 

For my customers that are out of town or
unable to attend classes, you can get my class tutorials for FREE!



Each month, I will create a tutorial for the Big Shot class and the
Christmas Card Club.  Here is how you can get one or both tutorials:

• Purchase $30 or more (before tax & shipping) in my online store and receive your choice of tutorial


• Purchase $50 or more (before tax & shipping) in my online store and you'll receive both tutorials

Tutorials will be sent through email within 1 week following the local
class.  You will receive the tutorials for the month in which you make a
purchase.  If you have not received your tutorial by the end of the
month, please email me.

 

Playing Catch-Up

If you've been wondering where I've been......well, I pulled a good doozie!  When I returned home from the Scrapbooking Retreat at Michelle's Memory Loft, I realized that I left my power cord to my laptop there.....2 hours away!   So, I have been without my computer for over a week and I am WAYYYYY behind on everything.

Fortunately, Michelle kindly shipped it to me and I'm starting to play catch up.  My priorities are (1) finishing scrapbook club tutorials, (2) answering emails, (3) selecting a winner for the Christmas Tree Card, and (4)updating my events calendar.

If all goes well, I'll have those items completed by Wednesday evening.  Keep your fingers and toes crossed for me!

The one event that is already on my calendar is the new Stop-N-Stamp class.  This class is held every other Wednesday from noon-1pm at the Stamp Pad (1785 E. Lincoln Rd., Kokomo, IN).  Anyone can attend.  It's just $5 per person or FREE with any order.  There will be 2 simple Make & Take projects plus a product demonstration during the hour.  You are welcome to bring a lunch, hang out, and ask me questions. 

The projects I'm sharing today are the ones we did at the first Stop-N-Stamp class that was held 2 weeks ago. 

These adorable purses were created with the Petite Purse Bigz L Die and the Big Shot.  These were a huge hit and so simple to make!  I think I'll be making more of these for an upcoming birthday party.

I added a butterfly to the front of each purse as an accent.  One butterfly was punched from the Floral District Designer Series paper with the Elegant Butterfly punch.  A second butterfly was stamped with Black Staz-On ink onto the Designer Series Paper, then punched out.  By layering the two punched butterflies together, you get a more 3-dimensional look.

This was the matching card.  How cute would these be for any little girl?

For the product demonstration, I showed everyone how to make the flower below with Scallop Circle punches.  I think they were a little disappointed that they didn't get to make one of these, too!  These are so simple to make, that I'm sure they all went home to pull out those punches.

The "Happy Birthday" greeting is from the Perfectly Penned stamp set.

If you would like to purchase any of the products shown, be sure to visit my online store.  Orders can be shipped directly to you and orders or $150 or more qualify for Stampin' Rewards.....otherwise known as FREE product.

And I can't forget to mention this month's special offer:

Also, the Spooktacular Project Kit offer for new recruits has been extended until September 16th.  Contact me if you would like more information about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

Have a great week!

 

Scentsational Mojo

I'm really loving the Scentsational Season stamp set and the Holiday Collection framelits.  Oh, and I can't forget the Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper.  It's so easy to create cute holiday cards with these great new products!

Today's card design is based on this week's Mojo Monday sketch.

 



For the greeting, I stamped the "Season's Greetings" from the More Merry Messages stamp set in Cherry Cobbler ink onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock.  I then used the Big Shot and the Apothecary Accents framelits to cut out the greeting.  If you look closely, you'll see that I paper-pierced the edges of the greeting.  The Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack features a template that fits this label....how cool is that?

Here is a complete list of the supplies used:

STAMP SETS:  Scentsational Season, More Merry Messages

INK:  Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede

PAPER:  Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper

ACCESSORIES:  Big Shot, Holiday Collection Framelits, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Paper-Piercing Tool, White Gel Pen, Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details

All of these products can be ordered online on my Stampin' Up! website.

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Tree Card Video

After all the finalists were notified about the Artisan Award, we decided to have a card swap at convention.  If you've participated in a swap before, you know there is always a certain amount of anxiety involved.  Is my card good enough?  Will people like it?  Well, imagine having to swap with Artisan finalists! 

I decided to re-create my tree card with current Stampin' Up product for the swap.  So, I made 25 of these babies!  (19 for the finalists and a few for Shelli and the team from SU)  I actually liked the way this one turned out better than the one I submitted for the contest.

And here is some exciting news.....I created a video to show you how I made it!  I am hoping that I'll be able to do more videos now that the kids are in school.   I'll be giving away the card that I created in the video to one lucky viewer.  Simply leave a comment here, on YouTube, or on my Facebook page.  One person will be selected at random on August 31st to receive the card.

 

To make this card, you'll need the following supplies:

STAMP SETS:  Scentsational Season, Sweets for the Sweet

INK:  Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede

PAPER:  Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper, Very Vanilla card stock, Lucky Limeade Card stock, Early Espresso Card Stock, Silver Glimmer Paper

PUNCHES:  Scallop Edge Border Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, 1-3/4" Square Punch, 1" Circle Punch

DIE-CUTTING:  Big Shot, Holiday Collection Framelits, Perfect Pennants Bigz L Die

ADHESIVE:  SNAIL, Dimensionals

OTHER:  Stampin' sponge, Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details (did not use in video, but shown on gingerbread man's buttons)

PAPER MEASUREMENTS:

Very Vanilla Card Stock:  4" x 8", scored at 4"

Strips of Very Vanilla & Designer Series Paper:  4-1/2" x 1"

 

If you recreate this card, I would love to see it!  Happy Stampin'

 

Artisan Finalist Blog Hop Day 10

 I can't believe this is the final day for the blog hop!  It has been such a fun and inspiring 10 days.  I've absolutely loved reading about everyone's projects and learning all about the intricate details.  If you've come from Holly Van Dyne's blog, you know exactly what I mean.

It looks like all of us saved the best for last.  Hopefully, I'm no exception.  This project was my absolute FAVORITE by far!  It was so hard to pack it up and send it to Stampin' Up!  I really wanted to keep it and I DID NOT WANT TO MAKE ANOTHER ONE!

I know quite a few florists and I'm always inspired by their artistry.  I showed a paper flower to one of my florist friends and told her about the project I had in mind.  She informed me that I would need to make A LOT of flowers to create a full bouquet.  I didn't know exactly how many A LOT was, but I ended up making over 80 flowers!  There are several different styles of paper flowers in this bouquet---I punched, die cut, cut, and rolled flowers for an entire day.  After all of the flowers were made, I had to attach them to floral wire and arrange them.  Eighty flowers ended up being too many, so I think the bouquet ended up with 50-60 flowers total.

The underside of the bouquet was unattractive with the floral wires showing, so I added some light green tulle to cover it.  The handle was wrapped with Daffodil Delight Striped Grosgrain ribbon and I added some jumbo pearls to accent it.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog during the Artisan Finalist Blog Tour!  I really appreciate all of your kind comments and I hope that you'll continue to visit.

You are now ready to visit the blog of Amy O'Neill.

This blog hop will take you in a complete circle, but if you happen to lose your way, here is a list you can refer to.

1. Connie Collins


2. Holly VanDyne


3. Melissa Stout  (you are here!)


4. Amy O'Neill


5. Sandie Conner


6. Amy Rogers


7. Mercedes Weber


8. Tara (Murphy) Bourgoin


9. Mindy Bingamon

 

STAMPIN' SUPPLIES

PAPER:  Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzaz, Concord Crush, Poppy Parade

ACCESSORIES:  Blossom Punch, Fancy Flower Punch, 2-3/8” Scallop Punch, Big Shot, Flower Fusion Die, Daffodil Delight 1-1/4” Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Jumbo Pearls

NON-STAMPIN’ UP!:  Tulle, Floral Wire, Floral Tape, Hot Glue