My Evolving Craft Room...

Today's post is a bit different but I thought I would share what I have been up to this week.  I got tired of my craft room being a mess so I decided to fix it up.  I purchased a new desk, hutch and shelf unit to go along with the other pieces I already had.  Here's some pictures of my room.

 This is to the left when you walk in the door.  It is my Big Shot station.  All of my dies are in the wall unit and scrapbooking supplies and various totes are in the new shelf unit.  The two drawer file cabinet holds all my cardstock and business supplies.  The Big Shot sits on top and my embossing folders are in the box that we made at convention.

Here's my new desk.  The online reviews on the desk said most people took two days to put the desk and hutch together but I managed to do it in under 6 hours by myself.  Of course, I love doing these types of things.  Don't ask about how my fingers faired the assembly process though!

These are the two shelf units that I have had for a long time.  My mom gave them to my daughter but I took them over when we purchased a new bedroom set for her about 6 years ago.  All my current stamps are on the left side. 

This is the area that I am still working on organizing.  Hopefully I can get that done next week.  I plan on repainting the room and we are putting hardwood floors in which I cannot wait for!  Much easier for cleanup!  Let me know what you think and if you have any great storage ideas.

Thank You Kim!!!

Here's a couple of gifts that I received from Kim Sinclair, another wonderful Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  Kim and I met through another demonstrator, Becky Roberts, and have become friends.  Our daughters are both attending Montana State University in Bozeman and when we took Cassidy up to Montana, we spent the day on Yellowstone Lake with Kim and her husband Brad.  Mike & Brad both flew down to San Antonio to spend the weekend and we got together to watch the 49ers lose (boo hoo!) and have dinner on the Riverwalk.

 Here is a box of chocolates that Kim gave me.  They look so cute boxed up in a jewelry box - what a great use for these boxes!  Of course, this will sit right next to me in my craft room as most of you know that your creative juices just won't flow as well without a little chocolate!

Kim also gave me this beautiful Journal that she made using My Digital Studio!  So pretty and very useful.  I am always looking for a piece of paper in my craft room so this is perfect.  Thank you again Kim, you are so thoughtful!

Thank You Linda!!!!

Here's a picture of the lovely gift I received from my 5th level upline, Linda Gutierrez, at Leadership this year.  She and I had a great dinner on Tuesday night when we arrived.  It was the first time either of us had been to San Antonio and it was fun to walk down on the Riverwalk at night.  Linda stayed at the Menger Hotel which is supposed to be haunted although she didn't have any unwanted guests in her room!  The hotel is beautiful and Linda said her room was gorgeous although I didn't get a chance to see it.

This adorable necklace and the matching gift box -- what a great gift!  Here's what you will need to make one:
      For the Box:

• Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper from Sale-A-Bration catalog
• Very Vanilla & Calypso Coral Cardstock
• Calypso Coral Ribbon from Ribbon & Brad Pack from Sale-A-Bration catalog
• Jewelry Tag Punch
• Bitty Box & Envelope Die

     For the Necklace:

• Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper from Sale-A-Bration catalog
• Crystal Effects
• Metal Washer from hardware store
• Leather Cord
  
  

Stampin' Up!'s Take It to Heart Stamp Set....

Are you ready for Valentine's Day?  Is it one of your favorite holidays?  I love celebrating my love for my friends and family but I am still pretty burned out from the holidays when Valentine's Day comes around.  Also, my husband's birthday is two days later so gift giving is a challenge!  Here's a card that I CASE'd from Leadership to use for Valentine's Day.  I really like how it uses the Adorning Accents Embossing Folder...

Here's what you will need to make this card:

• Take It to Heart & Delightful Dozen Stamp Sets
• Real Red, Basic Black & Whisper White Cardstock
• Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black & Real Red Classic Ink
• Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine
• Framed Tulips, Houndstooth & Adorned Accents Embossing Folders
• Scalloped Heart Embosslit
• Hearts Collection Framelits OR Full Heart Punch
• Heart to Heart & Small Heart Punches

Stampin' Up!'s Packed for Dad Stamp...

Here is another card using the "Packed For...." stamps although this one uses the Packed for Dad stamp.  If you are like me, I am always looking for masculine cards and this stamp is perfect for that.  The top left and bottom right edges of the Crumb Cake cardstock were actually lit on fire using a candle and then put out and the edges cleaned off using a baby wipe.  Please use caution when doing this technique - I also recommend doing it outside if you are sensitive to fumes.

 Here's what you will need to make this card:

• Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake & Cherry Cobbler Cardstock
• First Edition Designer Series Paper
• Packed for Dad, Party This Way and Bring on the Cake Stamp Sets
• Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Basic Gray & Soft Suede Classic Ink
• Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler & Baja Breeze Markers
• Modern Label & Word Window Punches
• Silver Brads & Always Artichoke Denim Jean Ribbon
• Stripes Embossing Folder
• Distressing Tool
• Blender Pen

This card was CASE'd from one at Leadership Conference as well.   I always put a twist or two of my own in them but the credit belongs with the wonderful demonstrator who made the original.

Technique Tuesday - Clear Block Stamp Hints & Tricks...

Today's Technique Tuesday is a little different but I think will be very useful for you.  Today, I am showing you how I mount  my clear block stamps and store them.  Trust me some of this has been learned the hard way.  You may have some ideas too and I would love to hear them!

 Stampin' Up!'s Clear Mount stamp sets come boxed in a DVD style case with the stamps in a sheet and a sheet with the labels.

 First, I remove all of the stamps from the backing.  Wait!  Hold on!  Don't throw that backing away!

 Remove the paper backing and place it in the bottom of the DVD case.  The back side will be sticky and will hold it in place.  This way when you place your stamps back in the case, you know that you have all of your stamps plus they won't move around and you do not risk losing one.  How do I know this?  Before I started keeping the backing piece, I purchased the Friends Fur-Ever set.  Do you know that set?  It's 19 little pieces which slide around all over in my DVD case and when I open it .... they fall out everywhere!

 For the stamps, removing the paper backing and expose the foam.  If you care if the label is on them, this foam backing is quite sticky on the clear blocks and is the best way for it to stick to the block.  However, I like having the label so here's what I do.

Remove the label from the sheet.

 Trim extremely close to the edge of the image.

 Here's the star image of this set completely cut out.  I would probably also trim the points from the star so they won't be so pointed.

 Attach the label to your stamp.  You will see that you end up with about 1/8" around the entire edge of the stamp which will help you to adhere your stamps to the clear block.

 For stamping with your clear blocks, you will need the right size block, your stamp and the Stampin' Up! cleaning cloth.

 Rub your block to remove the oils picked up from you handling the block.  I also repeat this process on the label of the stamp.

 Place the stamp on the block and press firmly.

 I then pick up the block and, using the ball of my thumb, press in the center of the stamp image.  This helps create a good bond between the block and stamp.

You can't see it here - maybe someday I will begin doing videos - but I shook this block before I took this picture to show that the stamp was sticking well.  I hope these tricks on the clear block stamps are useful for you!

Stampin' Up!'s Packed for Birthday Stamp...

Today's card is from last weekend's workshop.    Have you seen these stamps on page 39 of the Occasions Mini Catalog?  I must admit that I couldn't really see a use for them when I first saw them.   After receiving them from Stampin' Up! and seeing some samples at Leadership, I think they are really cool and very versatile!  I CASE'd this card from one that I saw at Leadership.

Here's what you will need to make this card:

1. Packed for Birthday, Crazy for Cupcakes & Bring On the Cake stamp sets
2. In Color Pattern Pack Paper (Island Indigo Stripe), Lucky Limeade, Pool Party & Whisper White Cardstock
3. Island Indigo & Basic Black Classic Ink
4. Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade & Pool Party Markers
5. Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon & 1/8" Ribbon from Sale-A-Bration Ribbon & Brad Bundle
6. Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

The inside of the card uses the Crazy for Cupcakes and Bring on the Cake stamp sets and the corner punch.

In the next few weeks, I will be posting more cards using these "Packed for ...." stamps so keep an eye out for them.  If you decide you cannot do without them too, make sure to order them as the "Packed for Everything Stamp Bundle (#127337).  That way it ends up being a Buy 3, Get 1 Free!