The Stampin' Grounds

Christmas Stamp a Stack Nov 16th!

Woo hoo!  Halloween marks for me the beginning of the Christmas Season!  I'm SO excited to be sharing the many classes I have on the go to help you get ready!

First off, let start getting those cards ready, eh?!  Back by popular demand are 5 more top Founders Circle Swap Christmas Cards - I know you are excited.  :)  We will be making 15 of the above cards on Sunday, Nov. 16th from 1-4pm, 3 each of 5 designs with matching stamped envelopes for 9 of them, all for $25.  If this class fills and overflows, I will offer a second class later in the month.    RSVP soon - this class is popular (for obvious reasons - LOL!)

Holiday Packages are Ready - see you on Nov. 25th!

YAY!  It's that time of year again - time to start getting those gifts in order, all wrapped up and pretty!  I've got you covered this year BIG TIME - check it out!

First off, these are the packages I will be teaching you how to make in my Holiday Packaging Class on Tuesday, Nov. 25th from 7-9:30pm.  Aren't they adorable?! (ok, I have to admit that I keep touching them because I just think they are so darned cute!).  There are four packages we will be making: a wine bag, medium sized gift bag, pillow box, and pyramid box. 

Now, here's the REALLY cool thing - the class is $20, if you just want to come and learn, and make these four boxes.  Oh, you want it free?   Ok!  Order my 'Packaging Package' before SUNDAY Nov. 16th, and get this class for FREE!  (you will use your supplies in the class and break them in!)  Here's the Deal:

Packaging Package - Kari's Special

• One pack of YOUR CHOICE of Designer Paper (it doesn't have to be holiday paper, it can be whatever you like): value before tax/s/h: $11.75
• One pack of Sticky Strip, value before T/S/H: $8.25
• One spool of your choice of 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Taffeta Ribbon, or Rope Twine, value up to $9.50
• 7 feet+ of 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, value $1.75+
• 8 Jumbo Eyelets, value $1.50+
• Other assorted items to make your projects, including hodgepodge hardware, more ribbon, a library clip, etc
• FREE Packaging Class, value $20

All this for only $35*, including tax and shipping and handling!  Your first major score of the season, and you will have tons of supplies left over at the end!

Sign up NOW - this class will fill fast!

Wanna see these up close (click on them for even closer)?  Here you go!

*discount only applies when ordered directly through me - online orders are exempt from the special price

Introducing Some New Blogs!

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to take a quick sec and point you into the direction of a few new bloggers I recommend! 

First off, Jodie Fadum is a Vancouver, BC Demonstrator, and is one of the nicest folks you could hope to meet.  She's one of those Sweet as Apple Pie kind of girls, and she is also a mom to a beautiful baby girl! 

I love her creativity - she makes these beautiful flower cards, and gosh, you just want to hang out with her! :)

Check out her blog at: http://stampinjodie.blogspot.com/

Next is Leah Jones - Leah has been a successful demonstrator in Burnaby for quite some time, and just recently relocated to the White Rock/South Surrey area. 

One of my favourite things about Leah is that she is the queen of beautiful decor.  I went to one of her open houses, and she had the most beautiful little displays of not only paper crafts, but also signs for the different tasty goodies she brought (don't even get me started on those yummy tidbits!), and it just made you want to sit down and call it home! 

Check her out on her new blog at: http://leahslayout.typepad.com

Ok, Monica Chan is next, and oh my gosh, she makes the most stunning, detailed projects!  She has a careful hand, and it gives her lots of intricacy in her art.  Oh, and did I mention her Paper Cottage??  Yep - she actually has her own BUILDING in the back for stamping!  I know!  Are we all jealous?!  She holds her classes there, and it's a cozy little retreat from the rest of the world. 

Monica is a Demonstrator in Port Moody, and her new blog is already taking off like wildfire!  Make sure you visit her virtually, but if you are in the area, make sure you go meet her in person at her studio!

Her new blog is: http://papercottage.blogspot.com/

Colleen Thomas has this incredibly witty sense of humour that just keeps you rolling!  She's a kind, caring friend as well, and she has lots of experience with kids too (watch out for her mom and me classes!) She's a Demonstrator in Burnaby (close to Vancouver as well), and is a real kick.

Did I mention her Scrapbook skills as well?  This girl wins competitions for her layouts, so make sure you visit her!

Visit her blog at: http://www.stampinthomas.blogspot.com/

Super-Simple Spooky Lanterns

 Ok, am I one of 'those' mom's?  Here's the deal - my oldest is 5 (almost 6), and he is in Kindergarten this year.  Yep, that means I'm the first time parent of a school aged child.  Yikes.  Thursday is their Halloween party, and I wanted Ry to be able to bring something fun for all his schoolmates that WASN'T candy (not a big fan of candy here).  Soooo.. I thought these would be really fun - you can get the little battery tealights at Costco right now - something like 28 for $16 - great deal!  And, they don't get hot at all!

Wanna know how I did it?  Here you go!:

1) Take one sheet of Cardstock Vellum.  Cut it into a sheet that is 5"x10.5"

2) Score at 2.5" the long ways (one long line), and then score at 2.5", 5", 7.5" and 10" the other direction (obviously this only works one way). 

3) On one side of the long side, cut up the 2.5", 5" 5.7" and 10" line, UP TO THE SCORE LINE ONLY.   (you will have 4 square flaps hanging, and one tiny flap - cut the tiny one off).

4) Using a wheel (this one is the Frightful Fence one from the Occasions 08 Mini-Catalog), roll your image onto the vellum using Staz-on Jet Black ink.  LET IT DRY.

5) Using sticky tape, adhere the bottom flaps together to make the base (one on top of another), and then stick the tiny flap that is remaining onto the inside of the box. 

6) Stick your 'candle' inside, and Voila!  Done!!!  Wanna see what 22 of them look like?

My Studio (aka Retreat)

At long last, I have managed to take some pics of my studio for you guys.  I don't think I have posted anything since I redecorated in August, so I guess this is a bit of an unveiling!  As you will see, my paint colour ended up being very 'Baja Breeze' inadvertantly - obviously I'm just really trendy! LOL

I'll describe some of the items I use in each picture to both decorate and to be functional.  Here goes!

Ok, to the right is my tool area.  I use the decor elements (DE) 'Create Definition' in chocolate and the white 'Flourishes' DE for the white scrolly stuff on the right.  LOVE it!!  It goes so well with my colours too, don't you think?

Ok, below that you will see my punch rails.  These are just simple IKEA kitchen organizer rails, and are SUPER cheap (like less than $5), perfectly sized to hold them safely.  There are hanging baskets as well off of them to store more of my loot.

Below that is my organizer, and if you are ever in my studio, the bottom of it holds 3 baskets filled with card samples you can peek at for ideas (one was out being viewed in the outer room when I took this pic).  Similarly, the two books on top of this organizer are more idea books you can look through at your leisure.

Ok next is my Making Memories Organizer on my wall - I put my small 3D displays in there, and obviously it has a ribbon organizer as well.  I'm not so thrilled with it actually, as every time you run out of ribbon, they ALL have to come off to replace the one.  What a pain!  I want to get one of those gutter systems instead soon.

Below it to the left you will see my 'colour caddy' holding all my beloved Stampin' Up! inkpads and refills.  LOVE IT! 

To the immediate left of the organizer, you will see some lovely decorations on the wall - I LOVE how these turned out (possibly my favourite part of my studio!) - these are the 'Long Stem Silhouette' Decor Elements - the chocolate is the large size, and the white is the medium size. 

Below everything, on the floor, is my current magazine holder - I keep current copies of most of the popular magazines for you to look through when you are here for clubs, crops or classes.  You can peek through all the mags there for ideas.  It's my little library (back issues are in my closet)

Well, if the decor element part of my studio is my favourite part to look at, this part is my favourite part to BE!  This is my crafting desk - sometimes when there are only a few people here crafting, I turn it sideways and put another table in here crosswise for crafting to our hearts' content!

You probably notice the IKEA cabinets above, and the rails below, and the Stampin' Store Caddy for all my embellishments (to the left of my Inkpad Carousel).  Love that they are all a fingertip away, and I can browse through them with a spin of the fingertip! 

Inside my cabinets, you will find them filled with my stampsets (almost overflowing in fact!) - all current Stampin' Up! sets, and ordered by where they are in the catalog (by section).  My clubs  and crops get to use all of these and my punches and tools - we always have a few spaces available so drop in for $5 some time!

 

Ok - we've talked about the storage organizer already, but did you see my brand new toy??  My new Bigshot with it's matching doctor bag - I have most of the new dies, and EVERYTHING fits inside that bag - I LOVE IT!!!  (of course I can't quite close it, with my bigshot on top of the insane number of dies I had to buy, but who cares - it's SO cute!!).  In the corner is this great lamp I got on the cheap at Rona - 3 levels of display and a nice bright lamp on top - love that too! 

When you come over sometime, you have to look at the pics on that wall too - one is that pic of my son at a wedding where I used the Decor Elements and Sizzix to make a really neat scrap/pic for the wall - a prized possession.  Another is my pic of receiving one of the Rising Star awards from Ms. Shelli herself at Convention this year, and the third is probably one of my most special items - an introduction of me, written by my sweetie, Tom, when I was introduced to the AIC Ladies at the Ladies Breakfast a while ago (ask me if you are curious - too long of a story for now).  Needless to say, highly romantic, and very sweet!

Ok - this part is boring - this is just my office corner - tucked away on the other side of the room - I try not to spend TOO much time over here!  My degrees are on the wall, and a picture of me rowing (I used to row sculls, etc, and there's a pic of one of my first races there). 

Ok this is next to the doorway in, and it's my paper corner, and inspiration area.  Those cubes are Lisa and Becki, and as previously reviewed, they are constructed a bit too cheaply for the money I spent, imho.  The doors never hung correctly, so I had to remove them (and eat the cost) so don't get the doors if you want them.  The sides are great for displaying scrapbook pages - I should really get to putting some up, eh?! 

On top of those cubes you will see my larger 3D projects, and recent cards.  Behind it on the board are ideas for your inspiration - I try to turn it over monthly - I just changed that board to be all Christmas themed, so come on by and check it out!  There is also one behind the door into my office, with generic cards, so don't forget to look there too when you come by! 

The big black board are just the pics I take with me to workshops to showcase what you can do with stamping. 

  I thought you might like a closeup of my punch bar, and the create definition and flourishes. 

Ok - that's my space!  Hope you enjoyed it! 

I have so much to post - a camera full of pics - so look out for everything to come - I'm back baby!!! ;)

Retired Idea Books $2 each...

Hello! 

Long time no talk - bet you wonder what's happened to me!

Well, I decided to reorganize my office, and you know, once you get started.... I'm one of those people who needs things to be perfectly stored, or it becomes a disaster area quickly.  After a couple of quick cleanups after events (aka dumping armloads of stuff from my house into my studio), it got out of control pretty quickly! 

So, it's time to get things back to situation normal again. :)  Also, I've had lots of folks who have seen my studio ask me to put pics up on my blog so they can get ideas for their own spaces (the current ones are from before I redecorated this summer).  You can bet I won't be taking pics as is!!  :)  But, as soon as I have it cleaned up again, I'll take pics of my various storage methods, and give you my ideas from them.

In the meantime, as I go through things, I have found some items that it is time to move along.  Among them are retired idea books - I have a few Fall Winter (last year), and a few Summer Idea Books leftover.  If you want them, they are yours for $2 (retail $12.95) - I only have a few, so first to claim them gets them!! :)  Keep an eye out - I may have more items to move along soon!  And then I have SO many crafting pics to upload and share with you!  I've been busy. :)

Hope you are enjoying this lovely Vancouver evening (well, it was nice, but it looksl ike it's going to start to drizzle now...)  That's ok - makes my craftroom more homey!

Last Chance for Christmas Packaging Class!

Just a quick reminder that it's the last day (Tuesday) to RSVP for the Christmas Packaging Class happening next Wednesday, Oct. 22nd from 7-9pm!  You can also make this class up at the November Midnight Crop on Nov. 7th (Fri), from 8pm-midnight. 

Here's the pics of the bags we'll make:

And here are the details again: 

When: Wednesday, Oct. 22nd, 7-9pm
Where: My Studio, Vancouver, BC
What You Receive:

• One Pack Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper (shown above), value $11.75
• One Sticky Strip Package, value $8.25
• One Spool of Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, value $9.25
• Instructions for how to make each project at home
• The embellishments needed to make the above projects

What You Make:

• One Pillow Box
• One Gift Bag with Matching Tag
• One Wine Bottle Bag with Matching Tag
• (you will have enough supplies leftover to make at least 3, if not 4 large bags, or scads of smaller bags!)

Supply Fee: $35 (note that this is actually at a discount from the normal purchase price inc. tax/s/h!)

You can also have me mail you the kit to make these at home!  I will include careful instructions to help you create each project.  The mail-away kit is as follows:

• One Pack Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper (shown above), value $11.75
• One Sticky Strip Package, value $8.25
• One Spool of Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, value $9.25
• Winter Post Stampset, $31.95
• Instructions for how to make each project at home
  
• The embellishments needed to make the above projects

Depending on what elements you are missing, I can send those to you as well, please email me for details. 

See you in class!

Scarecrow Card (Watercolouring with Markers)

Today I'm going to teach you a couple of different techniques.  One is dying Hemp Twine with markers, another is heat embossing, another is sponging, plus masking and yet one more is watercolouring with markers and an aqua painter.  Here goes!

Supplies Needed:

• 3 colours ink, light to dark (I used Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie and Ruby Red, my fave fall colours)
• Craft Basic Black ink
• Black Embossing Powder
• Heat Tool
• Sponge
• Scissors (to mutilate sponge)
• Stampin' Write Markers (notice them resting on their sides, how they should be stored!)
• Aqua painter
• Powder Pal (to catch the powder and funnel it into bottle when you're done)
• Stampset
• Watercolour Paper

Ok, here goes!!

How to Heat Emboss:

Step 1: Stamp your image using Craft Ink

Craft ink dries much more slowly than classic, thereby giving the powder a chance to stick.

Step 2: Sprinkle Black Embossing Powder over image.

Ok, caveat here, YES, basic black classic ink is waterproof, but my watercolouring isn't.  I find that by embossing my image before I watercolour it, I can actually stay in the lines and make my image look nice.  It's by no means required, it's just what works for me. :) 

Note the lovely use of the powder pal, which used to have the awesome cap that kept the powder in while you tapped it all down, and my then 1 and 4 year old decided was much more suited to their play area and lego mine.  In a nutshell, gone gone gone...

Step 3: Using your Heat Tool, Heat Emboss the Image

Now, lots of folks will give you different methods for this, including heating from the bottom (so the powder doesn't float away).  Because I only have one hand, I can only tell you my preferred methods (so I can take a pic with the other!). 

I like to heat my tool up before I use it - let it run for about 10 seconds or so.  Then, using a gentle circular motion, I start at one point in the image, and heat the powder until it turns from a powdery, dull look, to a shiny finish.  When I'm done, I raise it horizontal to the ceiling, and tilt it back and forth to make it catches the light as I tilt it. 

Note: if you have a small image, hold it with tweezers while you heat emboss to avoid burning yourself. :)

Step 5: Cover your Image with a Mask
Stamp the image you are using on a scrap piece of paper (out of the recycling preferably!).  Cut out this image and place it over your already-stamped image (the permanent one). 

I usually keep my masks that I have already cut out inside the stampbox, so I don't have to do it over and over again - that's why the one you see to the left is already a colour. :)

Another tip is to use old post it notes when you stamp a mask - the sticky on the back will adhere to your image in a lovely, removable way.  Wow, I'm addicted to the word lovely today - that's suprising, given that it's one of those 'didn't have time to shower mom days'! :)

Step 6: Cut up a Sponge

I love mangling sponges. :)  Seriously - the stampin' up! sponges are awesome - nice and thick and, well, spongy!  The first thing you want to do when you get it is wreck it!  Woo hoo! (ok, I don't get out much) :)

No, actually, cut yourself some 'pie wedges' out of it, and hold them by the skinny edge as you sponge. Or, better yet, use sponge daubers. :)

Step 7: Load with Sponge Lightest Colour
Load your sponge using a classic inkpad - just rub it all over.  Or you can squeeze the ink cartridge, creating a pool of ink inside the lid, and load it that way - makes a darker colour that way.  Whatever effet you want, go with that way to get it!

Step 8: Sponge the lightest colour all over the cardstock
Sponge the lightest colour all over the cardstock (with mask in place). 

Step 9: Sponge 2nd lightest colour (for me pumpkin pie), just about 1/2way in..

This is what it looks like when you are done..

Step 10: Sponge darkest colour, just on outside edges














what it looks like when you're done..

Step 11: Colour in lightest areas using the summer sun marker





























Step 12: Colour Rust outlines over yellow

 



















Step 13: Blend using Aqua Painter

Ok - my trick here is that first I squeeze the water out of the pen so it is dripping.  Then I wipe it off on a towel (or sometimes my jeans - yikes!).  Or I squeeze out the excess water with my fingers.  THEN I blend the colours using the moist pen.

You repeat this process using other colours - I'll include some pics here of me doing it...

Last but not least, this is how I got the Hemp Twine to match:

Colour Hemp Twine using pumpkin pie marker.  Make sure it is fully dry before you put it on your project!

That's it!  I hope you liked my tutorial!! :)

Christmas Packaging Class - Wed. Oct. 22nd, 7-9pm

I'm so happy!  I'm crafting again!  It feels like it has been *forever* since I have sat down for a day and just crafted.  YAY! 

So, I just put together the most asked for class this time of year (other than Christmas Card Stamp a Stacks) - Yep, it's the Christmas Packaging Class,  and this time, I have structured it in a way you are going to LOVE!  First off, wanna see what we're going to make?

Cute, eh?!  I LOVE these.  I saw that the awesome Angela (North Shore Stamper) had created a wine bag with the DSP, so I spent most of today trying to figure out how she did it - I don't know if I came up with the same idea or not, but I'm happy with mine and can't wait to show you!!  I decided to make the class itself free, and instead just get you all the supplies to make lots of these at home too!  Here are the details:

When: Wednesday, Oct. 22nd, 7-9pm
Where: My Studio, Vancouver, BC
What You Receive:

• One Pack Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper (shown above), value $11.75
• One Sticky Strip Package, value $8.25
• One Spool of Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, value $9.25
• Instructions for how to make each project at home
• The embellishments needed to make the above projects

What You Make:

• One Pillow Box
• One Gift Bag with Matching Tag
• One Wine Bottle Bag with Matching Tag
• (you will have enough supplies leftover to make at least 3, if not 4 large bags, or scads of smaller bags!)

Supply Fee: $35 (note that this is actually at a discount from the normal purchase price inc. tax/s/h!)
RSVP Deadline: MONDAY, OCTOBER 13th (so we get the supplies in time) - if this date has passed, please ask me if I have enough supplies ordered to add in your registration, or you can make the class up at the Crop in November).

You can also have me mail you the kit to make these at home!  I will include careful instructions to help you create each project.  The mail-away kit is as follows:

• One Pack Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper (shown above), value $11.75
• One Sticky Strip Package, value $8.25
• One Spool of Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, value $9.25
• Winter Post Stampset, $31.95
• Instructions for how to make each project at home
  
• The embellishments needed to make the above projects

Depending on what elements you are missing, I can send those to you as well, please email me for details. 

See you in class!

I'm up on Meetup!

Hey Guys,

I just signed up onto Meetup.com, so now all my calendar stuff is linked in, and you can register for classes online, and also chat with other lower mainland stamp-a-holics!  Here's the invite - I'll put it in my newsletter this week too:

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

Come meet other Lower Mainland stampers, scrapbookers and paper crafters, and learn the latest techniques!  We have a blast, and I host lots of events for free. 

I host events for all levels of paper crafters - from brand new folks dipping their toe in for the first time, to seasoned 'artisan' crafters, and for those of you who are parents, I hold 'Mom and Me' classes for the major holidays as well. 

Most importantly, we are a community who has fun together - you will meet new close friends who share your love of papercrafting, and have an outlet and some 'me' time in your busy life!  See you here!

Click here to visit my meetup site!