You're Invited ... to a My Digital Studio blog party!

We're trying something a little new and different for this upcoming event.  Starting at noon EST on Saturday, October 3, Stampin’ Addicts will be hosting a Blog Party that will be done carnival style.  I will be posting links to ALL of the party participants creations in this post.  Each blog will also have a sidebar button that will link you to the entry with the master list of blogs, which should make it easy for you to find your way back.  All links will remain in place and active until November 1st, so you can visit and revisit at your leisure! 

This party will be showcasing many fun, exciting and different ideas on how to use the My Digital Studio software.  Don't think just digital scrapbooking ... this software is so much more, limited only to the extent of your imagination!  We all have had so much fun getting ready for this event and can't wait to show you how incredible My Digital Studio really is.

This is the party you won't want to miss (no special attire is necessary!!!).  Be sure to join us this weekend as we celebrate the launch of Stampin’ Up!’s My Digital Studio!

Here's a list of all the blogs participating in this party.  Enjoy!

1. DMDezigns/Dawnmarie: My Digital Studio - The Birdseye Overview
2. HowManyCats?!/Comeka: Digitize Your Sketch Library with MDS
3. Yapha: Turning Templates into Treasures
4. Willysgirl/Sarah: MDS Xmas and Extras
5. Hollylogic/Holly: MDS as a Design Tool (or How Not to Slice Up All Your Brushed Gold)
6. Lyssa: Playing with Stamps You Don't Own
7. Lilysinkpad/Sara: Simply Scrappin' Kits Go Digi
8. JulieA/Julie: Wanna Little Music with Your Slideshow?
9. lovetostampandscrap/Cheryl: Creating a Calendar to Beat All Calendars
10. Melina Stamps!/Melina: Man-Scrapping with MDS
11. BroncoMom/Joyce: Build Your Own DSP
12. Britiney: Clever Album Covers - A Piece of (Cup)Cake
13. S1itcher46/Kim: Hybridizing and Cataloging Collections
14. Kelli: Side-by-Side Test: Is it Actual or Is It MDS?
15. Scrapbookmama/Ellie: Keeping the Spotlight on Your (Adorable!) Subjects

I'm Back ... and playing with my MDS software!

Due to a serious creativity slump, my tiny little blog has been feeling very neglected.  I'm sure there aren't many people who check my blog on a regular basis anyway, but I still hate posting just anything - it has to be perfect ... at least in my goofy mind!  So today I finally took some time to create something I felt was actually "blog-worthy". 

I saw a card similar to this in one of the many craft magazines I read, loved the concept and layout and thought it would be fun to see if I could CASE it using SU's new My Digital Studio software.  I'm amazed at how quick and easy projects are to complete, as well as the ability to perfect them without all that paper waste and frustration I put myself through.  I think I have fallen completely in love with this program (surprise, surprise)!!!   

Card Recipe (all items from the MDS software):
Stamps:  Cheep Talk, Season of Cheer
Colors:  Real Red, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Paper:  Real Red, Very Vanilla, Christmas Jingle
Punches:  Modern Label Punch 
Embellishments:  Christmas Jingle Borders, Christmas Jingle Elements, straight stitching, buttons, brads
 

Think Fast! Think Easy!

As promised, I've finally found some time to post more details on the Autumn Meadows card set I created for the Stampin' Addicts recent blog tour.  Admittedly, thinking fast is NOT something I am proficient at ... but it is something I'm working on.  I've found (for me anyway) that using SU's designer papers is a great way to make quick, easy and great looking cards. 

On this card I colored the acorns in with blender pens and covered with crystal effects.  I love this organza ribbon, so easy to die to match your project and always looks so elegant!
Card Recipe
Stamps:  Grateful Greetings, Autumn Splendor
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Taken With Teal 
Paper:  Autumn Meadows DSP, Really Rust
Accessories:  Organza ribbon, tag corner punch, crystal effects, dimensionals

             * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I was having a hard time deciding what I wanted to do with the random leaf print in the series, which had a lot of white space - decided to use it on the inside of the card with just the border peeking out the bottom.  PERFECT!
 
Card Recipe
Stamps:  Grateful Greetings
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Autumn Meadows DSP, Really Rust
Accessories:  5/8" grosgrain ribbon, scallop border punch

             * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The large bold prints work very well as the main focal point of a card, then simplify with plain coordinating colors and a single stamped image/sentiment.  This card really didn't need any embellishments, sometimes less really IS more.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Wandering Words
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Autumn Meadows DSP, Taken With Teal, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Scallop Border punch

            

             * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I know my tastes are different from others, but this has become my favorite card of the bunch ... again, quick and easy!  I cut 4 rectangles of the same size in two different patterns, then just layered them onto a card base alternating the patterns.  Topped with a single stamped image, a sentiment, piece of ribbon and a brad.  I twisted the ribbon before affixing the brad, going for a "different" look.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Autumn Splendor, Grateful Greetings
Ink:  Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Autumn Meadows DSP, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  brad, ribbon, ticket corner punch, dimensionals

             * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Last but not least is the cute little purse box that all these cards get put into if needing something for a gift-giving occasion.  The leaf was stamped with shimmer paint, embossed with clear EP and cut out - then sponged with various colors to give it some depth.  It doesn't show in the photo well, but leaves are randomly stamped in Taken With Teal ink on the bottom section of the box.   
Recipe:
Stamps:  Autumn Splendor
Ink:  Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Taken With Teal 
Paper:  Autumn Meadows DSP, Taken With Teal, More Mustard
Accessories:  Champagne Mist shimmer paint, grosgrain ribbon, large eyelets, scallop border punch, dimensionals, sponge, thin magnet or velcro for closure 

Stampin’ Addicts Happy Holidays Tour – Autumn Meadows DSP

Welcome to the Stampin’ Addicts Happy Holidays Blog Tour! This tour will take you through 20+ blogs, each showcasing different items debuting in the new Stampin’ Up! Holiday Mini Catalog … available for purchase beginning September 1st.

I’m stop #8 along your journey. If you’ve been following the tour in order didn’t you just LOVE Holly’s gorgeous creations at Ink Paper Stamps! If you’re beginning the tour with me, don’t fret – the tour is a continuous circle so you can see all the wonderful and inspiring projects. Just follow the arrows at the bottom of my post. Without further ado here are the fun projects I’ve created featuring the new "to die for" Autumn Meadows DSP!

This paper SCREAMS fall to me, so my first project of course had to be Autumn themed with lots of leaves. I stamped the leaves with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint then embossed with clear powder – sponged leaves with Really Rust and Chocolate Chip inks and cut them out. Each leaf is stacked and mounted with dimensionals to achieve the layered look I was hoping for. I love how they sparkle!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Autumn Splendor, Grateful Greetings
Paper: Really Rust, Taken With Teal, More Mustard, Autumn Meadows DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard
Accessories: Champagne Mist shimmer paint, ribbon, large grommet, clear EP, sponges, dimensionals

In my next project I tried very hard to think "outside of the box" (ok, so it was a very small box) ... a Christmas card using fall themed paper! I started with a piece of the blue chevron patterned paper (I think that's what the little wavy lines are called), stamped random flakes using the Serene Snowflakes set with white craft ink. Back to the new shimmer paints (don't ya just luv 'em!), stamped a design from the Delightful Decorations set using Platinum shimmer paint, punched it out with the new Ornament Punch - then layered it using the Holiday Windows Movers & Shapers. I did this twice (so it looks the same when you open the card) and sandwiched silver elastic cord between the layers. The inside of the card is another patterned piece from the Autumn Meadows DSP, felt it was perfect peeking through the window. This was my very first attempt at a suspension card, hope you are as happy with it as I am!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Delightful Decorations, Four The Holidays
Paper: Very Vanilla, Taken With Teal, Chocolate Chip, Autumn Meadows DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, White craft
Accessories: Platinum Shimmer paint, Ornament Punch, Holiday Windows Movers & Shapers, Circle Scissors, silver elastic cord

For my final project I incorporated the remaining papers and made a set of cards with a cute little purse box to tuck them into. I came across this box template long ago (so long ago that I have no clue as to who/where) and altered the size to fit just a few cards. The main box is stamped with the Autumn Splendor set using Taken With Teal ink, covered the lid with a piece of Chocolate Chip large leaf patterned paper. Cute, cute, cute! I will post more details on this project later in the week.

I hope you enjoyed my projects with the new Autumn Meadows DSP, as much as I did creating them. Use the arrows below to continue on the tour and see what Lyssa has in store for you at Song of My Heart Stampers!

Links to all blog tour participants:

1. Tracy: Sweet Centers (Tracy’s Stamp Therapy)
2. Michelle: Grateful Greetings (Come Stamp with Me)
3. Sarah: Pumpkin Patch (Sarah’s Ink Spot)
4. Twila: Twick or Tweet (Stamp a Little Longer)
5. Sara: Haunting Hill & DSP (Lily’s Ink Pad)
6. Marie: Night & Day DSP (From Combat Boots…)
7. Holly: Autumn Splendor & Tablesetting Die (InkPaperStamps)
8. Joyce: Autumn Meadows DSP (Stampin’ Central)
9. Lyssa: Calendar Kit with Magnetic Box (Song of My Heart Stampers)
10. Trina: Gifts of the Earth (Stamps and Whiskers)
11. Kim: Wandering Words (Stitchin’ N Stampin’ on Paper)
12. Carmen: Cold & Cuddly (Stamping Addiction)
13. Ashley: Just Beclause & Christmas Cocoa DSP (Stamp with Ashley)
14. Dawnmarie: Berry Christmas (DM Dezigns)
15. Rhonda: Holy Family (The Stampin’ Bunny)
16. Kat: Delightful Decorations and Punch (Kat’s Kards)
17. Cheryl: Icicle and Merry & Bright Rub-Ons (Love to Stamp and Scrap)
18. Holly: Serene Snowflakes (Holly’s Stampin’ Mania)
19. Paula: Décor Elements & wood blocks (Stamping with Paula)
20. Linda: Charming (Olive Stamps)
21. Barbara: Simply Adorned (Creative Stampin’ Spot)
22. Yapha: Bear Bigz Die and clothes (Yapha Stamps)

It's Almost Tour Time!

I haven't posted to my blog for quite some time, wanted to send a quick reminder that the Stampin' Addicts Happy Holidays Tour will be starting on Saturday!  All blogs will be ready to go at noon and run through Monday August 31.  Come back here to jump on the tour and see lots of wonderful creations!

In the meantime, I thought I'd post this cute little teabag container I made a few weeks ago.  This is another idea I found when hopping around the internet, and of course once again I forgot where I found it (if it's yours please give me a shout and I'll be thrilled to give credit and link back!).  I altered the size to contain 3 teabags and changed the lid up a bit.  Doesn't the frayed ribbon look just like one of those oriental fans (use your imagination!)?  I used tiny thin magnets for the lid closure, but velcro would work just as well.  This is such a great idea if you are looking for a small and quick gift!

 
Project Recipe:
Stamps:  Dream Gardens
Paper:  Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Ink:  Always Artichoke
Accessories:  color spritzer tool, scallop border punch, tag punch, large tag punch, magnets, sticky tape, dimensionals, eyelet, 1/4" grosgrain ribbon