Rub On the Thursday!

We are coming to the tail end of Sale-a-Bration. There are only 4 days left to get your hands on FREE sets, so hurry and place your order with your favorite Diva demonstrator to get the FREE rub-ons featured in Selene's project.


We were first introduced to Selene a few weeks back when she featured rub-ons on her beautiful card. Well, she's at it again! This lovely card was made with SAB rub-ons, Love and Happiness.
Selene has also put together a GREAT inspiration sheet full of awesome tips on rub-ons. To go see it, click here.

Selene, Thank you for sharing such useful tips! I for one am new to rub-ons, so I know your tips were especially helpful to me! I have to admit it, I am hooked! Rub-ons are super easy to use and you can use them almost anywhere!!

Sunshine and smiles until I write again......
~~Maria~~

Inkers away!

Welcome to another Wednesday!

Today I have great pleasure in introducing my dear friend (and upline) Tracey Eaton. Since signing with Tracey in August 2006 we have not only shared our Stampin' Up! journey but have become great friends too.

I love this faux metal card of Tracey's and the simplicity of it - its just stunning. Its made using paper from the Recollections Designer Series Pack and the Riveting Stamp Set - both of these will be retiring at the end of March so you will need to be quick to grab these for the last time!

This what Tracey has to say ....

I have been a demo since May 2006, I joined just 6 weeks after Stampin' Up! arrived on our shores here in Australia. I only signed up for the discount on products (cause I knew I'd come close to spending the minimum by myself - well if truth be known, it was never going to be a problem!), but now nearly 2 years later I have a team of 75 demos, including my very first recruit, whom has become a dear dear friend to me (yes you have really Leonie!).

I never imagined that this would be my life now, my Stampin' Up! business is my only source of income now, it has allowed me to leave my part-time job that I was really starting to resent.... and I never imagined that I'd be able to earn an income having this much FUN! I'm also about to do my first ever stage walk too, next month at convention.... and hopefully we will still be small enough this year to all still get a hug from Shelli! Stampin' Up! has really enriched my life in many ways - but probably the most surprising, but rewarding, has been the friendships and relationships I have made. I already knew many of my girls pre-SU, but since SU our lives have just become more entwined and fun - some of my BEST girlfriends are now from here. These relationships have been so invaluable to me over the past 18months, as not long after joining, I started on one of the longest and most frustrating personal battles that I've ever had to face - depression had reared its ugly head once again, but this time it hasn't been letting me go so easily. I can honestly say if it hadn't been for the support and friendship that people like Leonie, Maggie, Kerri and Jenni had shown me, I wouldn't be here today. And this is still ongoing - and I love that the relationships I have with these girls in one of such love and honesty and openess that they all recognise when I'm "not quite there" and they just know what to say and do to help me through it. They haven't judged me in any way, and they have just let me be me, but have also pulled me right along when I've needed it. I have been truly blessed to have found such gorgeous caring women, and I have to thank Stampin' Up! for giving me this opportunity to be part of their lives. I love you girls, and my family thanks you from the bottom of their hearts for your help too.

This gorgeous layout was made featuring tracey's very cute and innocent little girl and I just love this layout.

It features the Winged Things stamp set along with a few of our alphabets, and highlights our lovely Water Color Wonder Crayons on the butterfly.

Tracey has only been a member of UDI for a short time and I know in time that it will bless her as much as it ha blessed me!

Terrific Tuesday

I want to introduce you to a talented stamper and fellow UDI member, Brenda Weaver. I haven't had a chance to get to know Brenda yet (we must remedy that!) so I will let her introduce herself to you.


"My name is Brenda Weaver. I’m from Robesonia, Pennsylvania which is about an hour North of Philadelphia. My husband Eric and I have been married almost 12 years and have three precious kiddos- Nathaniel 8, Isaiah 6, and Chloe 2. In addition to stamping and scrapbooking I enjoy antiques, shopping, spending time with my family, reading, and decorating.


I was first introduced to Stampin’ Up! about 6 years ago when my sister invited me to a workshop. I was fascinated by all the fabulous products and beautiful projects I saw in the catalog. A few years later my sister had another workshop and, of course, invited me again. I took a catalog home with me and drooled over it for days until my husband casually mentioned that if I liked it so much maybe I should become a demonstrator. He didn’t have to say it twice! I signed up as a demonstrator a few days later. That was 4 years ago and Stampin’ Up! has been such a wonderful thing for me. I have made so many wonderful friends and have learned so much about paper crafting and about myself and what I could do. Soon after becoming a demonstrator I met another demonstrator who introduced me to Utah Divas. The Divas have been, and continue to be, a source of inspiration and friendship for me.

I love making cards, gifts and home décor items, but my passion is scrapbooking. It is amazing how happy scrapbooking makes me! Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than completing a scrapbook page and placing it in an album knowing that it will be enjoyed for years to come. I love to use Stampin’ Up! Products for my pages because I know the quality of the products is outstanding and I can coordinate my paper, inks, stamps and embellishments."


Here are a few of Brenda's terrific projects:

I got the title inspiration for this page while I was shopping at Gap Kids. I happened to see the phrase "Fun To Be Me" on the front of a little girls shirt. I immediately thought of doing a scrapbook page with that title. I was originally going to do a page about myself, but I couldn't find any pictures I thought were "fun" enough to fit the title so I ended up doing the page for my daughter. My scrapbook inspiration most often comes to me at night just before I fall asleep or when I lay down for a quick mid-afternoon nap. That is what happened with this layout. I was resting one afternoon and this color scheme kept going around in my head. By the time I got up I had this page pretty much planned out.

Supplies used:

Paper: Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, Basic Grey, So Saffron

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink prints designer series paper (hostess pack)

Stamps: Dots are Hot, So Much

Ink: Pretty in Pink Classic ink, black Stazon

Accessories: 1" circle punch, 3/4" circle punch, My way Punch, 1/2" circle punch, 1/4" circle punch. Pretties Kit, On board lots of letters, Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

Acrylic wall hanging

This is not my original idea, but one I thought was super cute! This uses clear acrylic blocks used to mount clear acrylic stamps. I found these at the dollar spot at Michael's. Mine are about two inches square, but I have done this same thing with some that were about 1"x 2 1/2". These are so easy to make. Just cut your patterned paper in a 2" square for each block you are going to use. Attach it to the back of your block using crystal effects or Tombow Multi Purpose adhesive brushed onto the side of the cardstock you want showing through the front. Adhere sticky strip to the edges of your blocks to attach the beads. I used pink Bead Duos for mine using the large pink beads first and filling in with the clear micro beads. Now you can stamp anything you want on the front of your block. Be sure to use Stazon ink since you are stamping on a non porous surface. I chose flowers with a half pearl from the pretties kit for mine, but letters or other images would work well too. Now you can attach your ribbon to the back of the blocks. I used sticky strip to attach the ribbon and I folded the ribbon over on the top and then tied my bow around the loop.

Supplies used:

Berry Bliss Designer paper, Pink Bead Duo, Fabulous Flowers stamp set, white Stazon, Sticky strip, Chocolate satin ribbon (Theater ribbon originals), white half pearls (Pretties Kit), Tombow multi purpose adhesive or Crystal Effects.

Thanks for telling us about yourself, Brenda, and for sharing your artistic projects with us!

Have fun stampin' and creatin'!

Manic Monday

Happy Monday Everyone!

I am happy to introduce "Becky Teusink" to you today. Check out this cute scrapbook page and the even cuter 'Anna'. Becky is a very creative stamper and DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....has been chosen to be one of our Display Stampers at Convention. When I saw the list of stampers chosen, I was so thrilled to see Becky's name on there. A DIVA chosen as a Display Stamper WOOHOO! Well Done Becky!
Becky has brought so much creativity to UDI and I am so glad she is a DIVA.


The page shown uses the following products:Stamps - Live Your Dream, Taffy Alphabet. Paper - Afternoon Tea Designer Series Paper, Confetti White, Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava Textured and Carousel noteInk - Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate ChipAccessories - Pick a Petal Classy Brass Template, Empressor Stylus, Paper Piercing Tool, Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals

Here is what Becky wrote about herself:

I started stamping in college - just decorating the envelopes of letters to my boyfriend (who is now my husband) - I laugh when I think of how simple I started! I first was introduced to Stampin' Up! in 2000 at a party at my neighbors house. I loved the products and was hooked! I made all my own Christmas cards that year and have done that ever since. I signed up to be a demonstrator in 2004 so that I could earn some extra income and for the discount. My favorite part of my business is getting to see the products early, holding classes in my home, and the discount! I was a high school science teacher before my children were born and I still love to teach, now it is stamping instead of biology! I have 2 children and I work part-time on my family's farm where we run school field trips and family events.

I was introduced to UDI by Kathy B and have enjoyed being a member. I have made new friends and find a lot of support from a great group of stampers!

I love the new carousel notes in the Occasions Mini catalog this spring. One thing that I did not know about them (even though is says it right by its picture) is that they are the same size as Stampin' Up!s Pick a Petal dry embossing template. I used the empressor stylus to add raised dots to each scallop around the circle. Then I used the paper piercing tool to poke holes around the circle as well. It was so easy and it adds so much interest and dimension to the page. The carousel notes can be used as a card since they come with envelopes but I have been using them on my scrapbook pages too.


Here is an idea of how to use the envelopes that are left over after you put the scallop circle on your page, make an envelope pouch! This technique was demonstrated at one of the Stampin' Up! regional meetings. You first seal your envelope. Then, using your tag punch upside down, slide it all the way in and along the edge to punch. Punch out 2 of these on each side of the envelope, leaving a strip of envelope behind. Then, trim off the extra paper and decorate! Here I used Eastern Elegance Rub-ons, Regal Rose wide grosgrain ribbon and classic ink, So Many Scallops (from the Sale-A-Bration catalog) and the scallop punch. Enjoy!

Thanks Becky. No wonder you were chosen as a Display Stamper for Convention. :)

Have a great day
Max

Sticky Saturday

I am happy to introduce my buddy, Jill S, to you all today. Although we live far apart, we have become friends through UDI.

Here is what Jill wanted to share with you all....

I was introduced to Stampin’ Up! from a friend that was trying to get her business started. I thought it (SU!) was a pretty cool thing to do, but “I” would never do it, let along become a demonstrator. Well, guess what…I just had my 3rd year anniversary last month of being a SU! demonstrator, and was invited by Max to become member of UDI a year ago after meeting her in another online group that was trying to form. These 2 decisions have been fantastic decisions for me. Since I have been with SU! and UDI, I have met many wonderful people and have made so many new friends. I have really enjoyed working with and getting to know all the wonderful UDI members. I am excited about where my stamping business is heading, one of the things is that I have recently started a technique class, and we are having so much fun in these classes.

I live in Cairo , Georgia , but my full-time “day” life consists of work at Florida State University in Tallahassee , Florida . I hope to have the opportunity (my wish would be soon) to run my stamping business on a full-time basis rather than working for someone else. I have been married going on 11 years to my husband Ken, who puts up with all my stamping and stamping supplies…he sends me to my stamping room when I misbehave (I try to misbehave as often as I can). I am mother to Harley (our cat), Zeus and Ginger (our Basset Hounds) and Grandmother to Bigboy (Zeus and Ginger’s son).

In my “spare time” I enjoy stamping “of course”, as well as other crafts, reading, watching movies, spending time outside, and most importantly spending time with my family and friends.

Jill has two amazing projects to share with us today. The first is the sticky note holder shown above. Below are the supplies used and a close-up picture of the flower.

Stamp Set:
SAB Friendship Blooms

Ink:
Elegant Eggplant

Cardstock:
Whisper White
Elegant Eggplant
Lovely Lilac
Old Olive

Accessories:
Old Olive Prints Designer Series Paper
Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen
Small Oval Punch
Corner Rounder
Stamping Sponge

5" x 7" plastic picture frame
3" x 3" Post-it Note pad

And...here's the second project and supplies used:

Stamp Set:
SAB Friendship Blooms

Ink:
Elegant Eggplant
Lovely Lilac

Cardstock:
Whisper White
Elegant Eggplant
Lovely Lilac
Old Olive

Accessories:
Old Olive Prints Designer Series Paper
Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen
Large Oval Punch
Corner Rounder
1/16" Handheld Punch
1/8" Handheld Punch
Boho Blossoms
Designer Label
Old Olive Eyelets
Puter Brad
Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter
Elegant Eggplant 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
Stamping Sponge

Thanks to Jill for sharing with us today. Looking forward to seeing more of your creations. :) Take some time and check out Jill's blog when you get a chance jillsstampingcorner.com

Have a great weekend.

Alicia :)

TGIF!

This Friday I would like to introduce Adrian Gentilcore. We have become great friends becuase we have been supporting each other in our attempts to lose weight...ugh! She has been an inspiration to me, and I believe you will like her cute project too! Here is a blurb from Adrian:

I've been a demo for about four years and I've been a member of Divas from the beginning. I'm lucky enough to live in Salt Lake, so I get to go and hang out with Max and the other Divas every month or so. The thing I value most about Stampin' Up! is all the wonderful friendships, I've made over the years, Divas, other demos, and customers. It's all been great. I've just celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary with a Caribbean cruise with my husband Tony and we have 3 fantastic boys - Ryan 26, Matt 19, and Blake 9. They are the loves of my life!

This project is so cute, and so simple that we dont even really need a recipe! Just add some rub-ons, a tag and some ribbon, and you have an instant gift...oh, dont forget the chocolate! If anyone decides to make one of these for me, can you try using a BIG jar! LOL

Thanks for sharing Adrian! I look forward to being able to feature you here again!
Jennifer

PS Adrian has a great blog...http://www.AdriansCrazyLife.blogspot.com Check it out!

Always

Happy Thursday Everyone!

Today's Diva I have had the opportunity to receive her beautiful work in one of the SCIAB swaps I participated in. (SCIAB - Stamp Camp In A Box ~ one will be coming up real soon...)
Here's what Charmaine wrote :

"I just celebrated my sixth year with Stampin Up last month. I met many of the members of Divas in another web group, and joined up with our current group shortly after they formed this site. In my normal life I am the Vice President of a growing engineering firm and have just gone back to school to earn my engineering license. I have two regular stamping groups that keep my business going and force me to stay creative when sometimes it gets difficult. I am the mother of one grown son, Alex and a Scottish Terrier, Duncan. I recently traveled to Egypt and completely fell in love with the country, culture, and people. I am trying to go back later this year. "


"This is a simple basket Shelly demonstrated at the Anaheim regionals. I used Real Red and White card stocks, Basic black Classic ink and the Always stamp set. The white heart is stamped, embossed in black, cut out and mounted with dimensionals."

How wonderful to be able to travel and visit new places and see a different culture!! Thanks for sharing with us today Charmaine!!

Until next Thursday, I wish sunny days on all of you no matter where on the globe you are! ;)
~Maria :)