A Touch From the Heart

Chesky Convention: Final Day (24 hours late)

I am SO sorry for the 24 hour delay on this post.  I was typing my post, and then....BAM.....Internet Explorer crashed and my post was GONE!!!  Argh!!!!  I was so mad that I had to step away.  Then, I had my Stamp Club meeting and watching Amanda dance at Chaska River City Days.  Well, suffice it to say, that my post never got done on time.

Well, I am here now for the final day of Chesky Convention.  While on my two week vacation, I had a revelation.  A lot of the cards I put on my blog are too over-the-top.  I am going to focus on simpler cards........cards that you can copy for your own stamping needs.   Am I still going to make my "over-the-top" cards?  Of course I am!!!  They are part of who I am.  Once a week, I will show you these cards.  But, for the most part I want to make cards that you can recreate easily!!!!

Today is the first card on this new journey!  It's incredibly gorgeous yet easy to make.

I love monogram cards!  Since they are personalized, the recipient feels extra special because the card was made just for them!  This card is for one of my very special customers.  She presented me with the most thoughtful birthday gift.  I treasure her friendship, and I wouldn't have met her if it weren't for our love of stamping!!!

Isn't that big flourish amazing?  It's called Elizabeth (117120), and it's one of the "a la carte" stamps found on page 18 of the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog.  It sells for $9.95.  Aren't just un love with the single "a la carte" stamps?  It's a great way for new stampers to get a taste of Stampin' Up!  Yet, it's also perfect for the seasoned stamper to pick up a stamp or two to round out their collection.  Love this!!!! 

For the monogram, I used the ultra-elegant Monogram Sweet alphabet set (115462).  The font works perfectly with the flourish, dontcha think?

The card itself is very simple.  The base card is Basic Black.  The next layer is patterned paper from the Sweet and Sour Specialty Paper pack (117390).  The colors in this collection are Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red and Very Vanilla.   Now, what makes this pack Specialty?  Well, one side of each paper in the collection has a raised glossy design.  It's one of my Top 3 papers from this catalog.  It's stunning!!!

Of course, this elegant card needs a bit of bling as it's finishing touch.  The brand new Basic Rhinestones (119246) accomplish this perfectly.  I've been asking Stampin' Up! for adhesive backed rhinestones and pearls for years.  Yay!  They're here!  Each pack of rhinestones or pearls have 150 elements on them.  Each come in three sizes, and they sell for $4.95 per pack.  A lot of pizzazz for so little money!

At Stampin' Up! convention, we are taught how to use the newest products......shown new ways to use products...and most of all, how to provude top-notch customer service to you.....our stamping friends and customers.

My goal is to use this blog as a tool to help you with your papercrafting journey.  I look forward to not only showing you projects I've created, but also providing more tutorials, videos, techniques and tips to make your stamping, scrapbooking and papercrafting simpler and more enjoyable.

I hope you have enjoyed the past couple of days......Chesky Convention has been so much fun!  I hope I have inspired you to pull out your stamps, ink and paper and create something beautiful!

All of the products used this week are available through my demonstrator website

I look forward to being your demonstrator.....providing you with the best customer service available......I am here to help!

Until next time....Happy Stamping everyone!

Card Recipe

stamps:  Elizabeth, Monogram Sweet
paper:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Sweet and Sour Specialty Paper
ink:  Versamark, Rose Red
accessories:  Black embossing powder, Basic Rhinestones, heat tool, sponges, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch

Chesky Convention: Day Four

My friends have been keeping me updated with all the happenings at Stampin' Up! Convention.  The room just buzzes with excitement.

Today, the ladies who have reached certain milestones were able to walk on stage to celebrate their achievement.  This year Jenn Turoff (one of my BFFs) and I celebrate our 5 year anniversary with Stampin' Up!.

Jenn called me and told me to check my email.  This is what she sent me:

 
She made a "flat Patti" so I could be there for our 5 year walk.  She made me cry!!!  You all know how much I love Stampin' Up!, but it's truly the friendships I have made over the past 5 years that are the most precious to me.  I love these women like sisters. 

Stampin' Up! talks about recruiting and sharing the love of Stampin' Up with others while we are at Convention.   I truly love what I do!!!  If you are thinking about joining Stampin' Up!, I would love for you to join my team.  Just email me to chit chat!!  No pressure!!!

Okay, now it's time for a new video.  Christopher and I put this one together.  Amanda is at dance camp this week.....so it's a Mom/Son collaboration.  How do you think he did filming this one?  He's usually my editor and upload guy!!!  I think he did a GREAT job!!!

Today's video is all about some stamping tips and tricks that I've picked up over the years.  I hope you find them helpful!!!

All of the products used today are available through Stampin' Up! and can be purchased from my demonstrator website.  I pride myself on providing top-notch customer service!!!   

Later this afternoon, my Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch project will be available for your viewing pleasure.

I'll be back tomorrow with another fun Chesky Convention post! 

Until then.....Happy Stamping everyone!

Chesky Convention: Day Three

It's Day Three of my own Chesky Convention.  You see, I couldn't make it to Stampin' Up's convention this year......so I thought I would host one for all of you.

So far I've shown you a video on the Direct-to-Paper technique and spotlighted some of the new punches from the catalog.  You can view Day One and Day Two by scrolling down on my blog.

Today, I am going to show you another video.  This time I will showcase a very easy stamping technique that never fails to deliver "ooohs and ahhhhs" when I show it to all my stamping friends.  The technique is called Poppin' Pastels, and it is one of the first techniques I learned as a demonstrator.

This technique uses Stampin' Pastels.  Currently, the Stampin' Pastels are unavailable for order.  Stampin' Up! is working with the supplier to get them here as soon as possible!  So hang on tight, okay?

For the card in the video, I used the Level 1 hostess set "Because I Care".  This stamp set can only be earned if you hostess a workshop of or place an individual order of $150 or more.  Most of my club girls have already said that this is the stamp set they are going to pick.  It's THAT awesome!!!

Well, have I convinced you to have a party to get this stamp set?  We can have a traditional party, virtual party or a book party!  Whatever works best for you!!!!!  Email me today to get your workshop on my calendar!!!

All products used on today's card are available through Stampin' Up! and can be ordered through my demonstrator website. 

Card Recipe

stamps:  Because I Care (level 1 hostess set)
paper:  Elegant Eggplant, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
ink:  Versamark, Elegant Eggplant
accessories:  Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Large Oval punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Stampin' Pastels, sponge daubers

Day Two of Chesky Convention: New Punches

Welcome to Day Two of Chesky Convention!!!  Since I cannot go to Stampin' Up!s Convention this year due to timing issues, I thought I would host my very own convention here on my blog.

If you're visiting my blog for the first time, make sure to check out yesterday's post.  Day One of Chesky Convention is a technique video on the Direct-to-Paper technique.

Today, I thought I would share with you two new punches from the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog.  They are the Owl Punch and the Petal Card Punch.

The Owl Punch is a hoot (pun intended) to use!  Punch art is very popular, and this punch has all the pieces needed to assemble him on it.  Now, you can either punch all the pieces by inserting a bigger piece of cardstock or slide paper in on angles to only punch the piece you need.   You build the owl by using different cardstock colors and patterned paper patterns.  What fun!!!!

Helpful hint:  use Tombow Liquid Adhesive to assemble your owl.  When you punch the owl using different colors, keep your unused pieces in a plastic baggie. 

The Petal Card punch is a two step punch.  It punches the shape and adds the score lines all at the same time.  Because it is doing double the work, there's a special way to use the punch.   This punch needs to be used on a flat surface.  Rather than pressing the bottom of the punch, you need to place the heel of your hand over the design in the center of the punch.  Press firmly and hold for about 5 seconds.  This holding motion helps make better score lines. 

I've used the Petal Card Punch twice on the project.  Can you spot the two places?

If you guessed the Pumpkin Pie shape behind the owl and the little envelope in the corner, you guessed correctly!  You see, the first is the shape unassembled while the envelope is the finished product.  Fun stuff!

The little envelope holds the sentiment (from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamped onto Daffodil Delight cardstock and punched with the Small Oval Punch).  See the little heart?  That's from the Owl Punch.  What a great way to send a message that you care!!!

All of the products used for today's project are available through Stampin' Up!  You can order them easy peasy by going to my demonstrator website.  Click on "Shop Now" to enter the online store!

Card Recipe

stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes
paper:  Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Greenhouse Gala designer series paper
ink:  Chocolate Chip
accessories:  Owl Punch, Petal Card Punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, Big Shot, Small Oval Punch, Pumpkin Pie 1/4" grosgrain ribbon