Big Shot Die Storage

For those of you that know me know I love my Big Shot machine and use it all the time in monthly classes, workshops and at school for projects with the students. This is a storage system I dreamed up to help organize the dies (they seem to multiply so quickly LOL!)I used some scrap wood and completed this in one afternoon. I have a 6 foot counter in my stamp room so made this storage rack to fit that space. The columns allow me to stack different sizes of dies in rows going up and by original or bigz sizes....2 rows fit in each area. I found some old drawers out in the garage so incorporated those in this to hold embosslits and sizzlits. The far right side holds the extra long sizzlits, adapters etc. I have a shelf in the paper rack above that hold all my XL Bigz dies. This has really helps me keep my dies more organized....but I'll be honest the rest of my stamp room needs my attention! Here's a picture with it full of dies.

Audrey's Valentines Box

Last year my niece Audrey asked for help making a Valentine Box for her school party. So we made a stand up mailbox complete with an opening door to let the valentines fall to the bottom of the mail box just like the mail boxes outside the post offices. This year she wanted help again and we decided to do a grand piano as she started taking piano lessons this year and loves it. We started out with a Stampin' Up! box and ended up with a cool looking piano. The lid is hindged so that you can put it down flat on the piano or place it up with the small wooden stick. The valentines go in the opening in the body of the piano so you just slip them in under the piano lid when it is propped up. I hope Audrey had a great time at her school Valentine's party today!
Happy Valentine's Day!

Jennifer

Patchwork pieces of DSP

Squares of designer papers help you easily create a quilt inspired layout. Once again fabulous ribbon from the Clearance Rack at Stampin' Up! (see that on my website). You will need 3 different pieces of Stampin' Up! designer paper, which is double sided, so you can cut 2 pieces from each paper and then flip and flop those until you get 6 different coordinating designs.

Makes for a cozy little greeting card,
Jennifer

Heart Embosslit

Embosslits cut and emboss the design at the same time, so you run it through your Big Shot once and get this fun little heart cut out complete with a fun scalloped edge and dotted swiss raised dots.
I used a 2 x 3" piece of designer paper on this design and you can easily change this card to a masculine card just by changing the designer paper and the color scheme! Some Glassy Glitter adds that extra special flair to your card (use the Sticky Strip to adhere this with ease!) Ribbon was a fabulous bargain from the Clearance Rack at Stampin' Up!

Happy Valentine's Day!
Jennifer

Simple Textured Hearts Card

I love the look of the background on this card and for those of you that know me know that I love my "BIG SHOT". I used the Square Lattice Textured Embossing folder on this project. Just punch the hearts out and adhere to the white cardstock. Run this piece through the Big Shot machine and it will texture the hearts and the white paper....reminds me of the fun textured on a high end paper towel! :) I also like the way the hearts look distressed due to the embossing pattern. Of course you can use any of the wonderful Stampin' Up! embossing folders for cards like this. Have fun trying some designs of your own!
Happy stamping,
Jennifer

Two at a time Snowman Cards

I love snowmen and winter for that fact....I'm always praying for a snow day at school, tee hee! These snowmen cards are super easy to make and I like the fact that you can just as easily make 2 of them as you are running dies through your Big Shot machine. Use the TOP NOTE die and layer both the designer paper and a piece of white paper on the die at the same time. Run those through the Big Shot and then cut both in half the long way. Now you have a white piece for the snowman's face and a patterned piece for the top of the hat. Stampin' Up!'s designer paper is 2 sided so you can flip & flop those pieces so you have a different design for each card.
This card is also a fun way to use up those odds and ends of designer papers & old buttons because nothing has to really match for a snowman...they will be loveable with any color combination and any expression.
Happy stamping,
Jennifer

Back to Stamping! Finally :-)

After recovering from surgery back in November I am finally back in my stamping room and back to teaching. Here is a fun greeting my students had hanging in my Art room when I returned from 2 month of sick leave. So that was really nice...I have the nicest students in the world...and a great sub too! I'm happy to say I have prepped and completed 2 stamping events in the last week so finally feel like I might be getting back to normal in that aspect.

Here is a cute and easy snowman card from class this month. What a great way to use our circle punches! I used dimensionals in 2 places in the layers between the snowman circles.
Another fun snowman project will be in tomorrow's post. Yes, it's really cold here in Nebraska and we have had snow on the ground off and on this past month.
Happy Stamping,
Jennifer

October 1st!

Wow, it is October 1st already. Due to the uncommonly warm weather we have been having lately it really doesn't seem like fall but since tomorrow is Oktoberfest in Sidney I know it is that time of year.
Here is a cute little vampire card make with several items in the Holiday Mini Catalog. The web background is the Spider Web embossing folder #120889, $7.95. Just run your black paper through the Big Shot machine, then sponge over the raised up areas with white craft ink and a sponge. The cute little vampire boy is from the set "Fang-tastic" #120853 $24.95 for woodmount (also available in clear mount). Cardstock colors include Concord Crush and Pumpkin Pie and Rhinestone embellishments add a little "bling" to the oval punched shape message. I used Stampin' Dimensionals to pop up the oval image.
Enjoy fall,
Jennifer

Gorgeous GLASS GLITTER!

Here is a make and take we did at a class last weekend in Sterling, Colorado. I just love this glass glitter, really adds some "wow" to any card project.

Use the "sticky strip" to apply the glass glitter and it is super easy! This Glass Glitter can be found on pg. 21 of the Holiday Mini Catalog.
#120997 Champagne
#120995 Silver
only $3.95 (1 oz. bottle)
Please remember that you can order online anytime through my website. You can access online ordering by clicking on the shopping logo on the right of this page.

Let me know if you need a holiday mini catalog!

Pink & Black Vintage Wallpaper

This pink and black card uses the new Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder as well as other new product like Antique Brads, Basic Pearls, Blushing Bride cardstock and an adorable new set called Birthday Bakery (Hostess Level 1 set). I really like the pink and black color combination and this Birthday Bakery set is so cute. One image reads: If you are what you eat, eat something cute!
Fun stuff!
Have a great weekend,
Jennifer

Punch Potpourri & matching punch

Have you noticed in the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog the any image that has a coordinating punch will have a thin outline around the image? Have your noticed that? I think that is a great resource. I used the Level 1 Hostess set Punch Potpourri for this card. The butterfly image was stamped on Whisper White cardstock in So Saffron, Bashful Blue and Riding Hood Red, then punched out with the matching punch. I also used Basic Rhinestones, Tasteful Trim XL die for the white small paper ric-rac trim (Love that DIE!) Stampin' Dimensionals pop up some of the butterfly wings and the main large piece on the front.

Happy Friday!
TGIF! Yeah Coyote Football Season starts tonight! Go Kaleb! Go Coyotes!

Jennifer

On the road again....

Here are 2 of the card projects for the monthly stamp workshop I do for a group of gals in Mitchell, Nebraska (75 mile drive and where I am headed tonight). Both card use new sets, new cardstock, new big shot dies and much more. The birthday card is Crumb Cake cardstock with Play Date dsp. The red card is Poppy Parade cardstock and ribbon, The Best Things stamp set and the new die in the fabulous Holiday Mini catalog: Tasteful Trims.....it is a 12" long die of 4 different fun shapes of small and large ric-rac, the scallop on this card and another bubble like trim embellishment. I can't wait to use that die on scrapbook pages.
Contact me to get on the email list for upcoming classes in this and any area.
Have a great day, hope you find time to stamp something!
Jennifer

Anniversary Card

Here is a card I made for some friends for a 50th Wedding anniversary. Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder was used on the background piece. Cardstock colors are Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler. The punched piece that says "Happy Anniversary" is a new punch found the in the holiday mini catalog...I'll be passing those out at classes this week if you haven't already received one in the mail. This mini catalog is the best one yet, my wish list is very long. This mini includes Fabric!, new dies with a long jumbo ric rac as my absolute favorite, awesome holiday sets, gorgeous fall designer paper and so much more...you just need to get your hands on a copy. Let me know if you need a holiday mini catalog or want to place an order after Sept. 1 for any of these items.
Oh, back to the card. The rhinestone embellishments are in the new Idea Book & Catalog on pg. 188 and they come in pearls too. They are self adhesive and really add some "bling" to your cards.

My inspiration for this card was a card done by Rochelle Gould. Just click her name to go to her blog. I just realized that Rochelle is also an Artisan Award Finalist for this year. Here's the complete list of the runners up to the Artisan Award for this year. Stampin' Up! picks the top 10 winners and announces that back in June...then at convention they announce the finalists so we are happy if we see our names on that list. So we are the ones that came really close to winning...but didn't :-(. I'm sure it was a 21 way tie for 11th place! LOL
Deborah Paise
Cindy Beach
Heidi King
Melissa Riker
Sandra Farrell
Lynsay Mahon
Beth Prout
Ellen Raymond
Amy O'Neill
Jennifer Thomas
Ilina Crouse
Ashley Van Camp
Ann M. Fitton
Jan Tinklenberg
Deborah Pippin
Rochelle Gould
Staci Lynch
Amy Bollman
Mary Bieber
Lynn Pratt
Jennifer Picard
Jennifer Diercks

Wow, three Jennifer's on the list! :-)
Congrats to all my fellow demo finalists. This is my second year of being a finalist and I know Jan Tinklenberg is also a repeat finalist. Might just have to try again next year but will have to wait and see if I have the time, $ and inspiration. My contest entries were blog post back in June, Juen 6-16.
Have a great day, Jennifer

Cute Cards

I saw these cute cards at convention and just had to photograph them. I wish I knew the creator's name so I could give them the credit. If you come to my monthly stamp classes and like these cards let me know and I can figure out how to make them and use them as a class project.
Happy stamping,
Jennifer

Have you ever stamped in a parking lot?

It's high noon in western Nebraska on a hot summer day. I met my friend Jennifer at the local Walmart parking lot which is 20 miles from each of our houses. She wants to borrow some Big Shot dies for her daughters upcoming wedding so we meet here to make the switch. Besides just giving her the dies and letting her go on her merry way I wanted to show her the cool new embossing folders in the new Stampin' Up!Idea Book & Catalog. The aroma of the nearby feedyard fills the air in Sidney, Nebraska, it's a hot summer day and we pop open the back of my Sante Fe so we have room to use the Big Shot. Jennifer tries out the new embossing folders and makes all the parts to put this card together at home. We giggled of course, worked up a sweat and got a few odd stares from the cart boys but other than that no one thought we were too crazy...it was really too hot to stop and pay too close attention! :-) So now I can say I had my customers stamp in a busy parking lot. Have stamps will travel!!!!

Convention thoughts......part 1:

Going to Stampin' Up! annual convention is one of the highlights of my summer. This was convention #14 for me. I always enjoy seeing stamping friends I have met over the years and rooming with friends in my upline and downline, we always seem to have so much fun.


Me, upline Kim, downline Joanne.



Highlights of convention for me this year was going early on check in day and having the entire sample display area almost to myself (everyone else was in line for Momento Mall). It was fun to take samples of everything that caught my eye and not have to wait for masses of people to get out of my road so I could take pictures. I was in this area for about 30 minutes and took tons of pictures.
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Our annual lunch time swap with Sue Hyer and Deb Valder's group proved once again to be an awesome swap with very talented stampers.

Another thing I like to do at convention each year is find a new restaurant to try. This year I went to Dear Lizzie's with Deb Valder and Kathy and Amy in her downline. We enjoyed shopping in this adorable little shop and then sat down in the bistro for a little lunch. Amy purchased a gorgeous necklace to wear at awards night...Congrats Amy for placing high in the Rising Star Award! Here's a picture of my table while I was waiting for my sandwich to arrive. The place was decorated very fun with antiques, lace,& alot of shabby chic style deco. Lunch was delicious and I enjoyed a chocolate cupcake for dessert! YUM! Next time I go I would like to go for afternoon tea.

Decor' Elements Cheer & Dance Fundraiser

I recently did a fundraiser for our Cheer & Dance squads. We met at one of their houses and I showed off the vinyl wall art items. I put a few samples on some glass jars and gave those away as doorprizes. I also gave away vinyl images as doorprizes. Then the host mom got a special treat my having me apply the image of her choice (that she picked out a few weeks in advance so I had time to order it) to the wall of her choice. Lori picked this "Many Welcomes" and we applied it above some cupboards that sit above a bar counter in her kitchen. The wall was extremely rough but with a little extra rubbing I managed to get there on there. I like the way this image looks, espeically the white on the dark green walls.
These would make great Christmas presents so if you are in the mood to think about your Christmas gift giving keep these Decor' Elements in mind.

Open House

My Open House was fun. Thanks to everyone who came to see me that day, many of you drove from Colorado & Wyoming! Here's a pictures of my sample table showing the scrapbook layouts and also the candy dish with some of the fun salt water taffy I bought at convention. Info about fall classes will be coming soon. School starts for teachers tomorrow here at Potter-Dix H.S......I'm not sure where my summer went :-).

Open House Make and Take

My stamp open house is this coming Thursday August 5, at the Potter Fire Hall on Front Street. Time: 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
I will be showing off my swaps from convention, make and takes from convention, new color chart samples and this cute owl card is the free make and take project. You can create your card from the variety of cardstock and designer papers provided. Yes, this is a discontinued color but I really need to get the retired colors out of my stamp room and make more room for the new colors (which are fabulous!).

Also available:

*Garage sale items - two tubs full of goodies with most sets being $5 or $10.

*Scrapbook page kits and card class kits for $5. Sit and enjoy scrapbooking or cardmaking for a few hours (air conditioned room!)

*Big Shot machine and tons of dies will be available for your use. Bring your favorite paper to cut out shapes of your choice from the dies I have there that day.

*You may also come work on projects for the day. Bring your scrapbooking or card making projects and come craft the day away!
RSVP for this so I save a table for you.

Artistic Etching convention swaps

Aren't these gorgeous cards made with the new "Artistic Etching" set from Stampin' Up!? This set is still on my wish list and the more I see such fun designs with it of course the more I want it! This set goes so well with the new Newsprint DSP and look great in any color scheme. These are more swaps I received at convention last week. Valerie Mayer from CA made this black/yellow card.


Jolene Harms from MN made this black/blue/red card. Great work gals. Thanks for swapping with me!
Stay tuned for more samples coming soon,
Jennifer