Stellar Stamps

My very first My Digital Studio scrapbook - in progress

I wanted you to see what this software can do. WOW is my first reaction as it was SO easy. I timed myself and I got through these 12 8" x 8"pages in just under one hour and that included perusing lots of photo choices (hundreds) and rearranging and such. I am not finished but here's the start of an album I'm creating for my son and daughter who (after my son finished his 5 months studying in Italy) met up in Amsterdam and toured Europe via backpack and hostels for just over three weeks. A trip of a lifetime!

In these photos Matt is 20 and Kirsten is 18. Yes, we put her on a plane three days after she graduated from high school, all alone and she flew from California to Amsterdam with only a backpack. When she got to Amsterdam, she had to figure out the train system to get on a train to meet her brother and friend in downtown. She's a tough and brave cookie and Dad and I did not sleep until the three were safely together... 2:30 AM our time! She returns to Europe in just over one year for her semester trip there.

Everything below was a template with only the empty spots for photos. You can move the embellishments, change them, remove them... the list goes on. I tried to keep it all pretty close to the template so you could see how much is already done for you.

I have to move the embellishment over a bit below (super easy to do) but check it out. In the London train station, they put up a Platform 9 3/4 just like from Harry Potter. Oh those Brits are funny! Hey, I'm a Brit by birth!

This page below won't look like that but I just plopped the photos on then I'll tweak later.

I need to add text, move things around but for a quick effort, look how much I got done.

IDEA: Christmas gifts! Create one album then print one for each grandparent!

The software makes scrapbooks in other sizes plus calendars plus cards plus .....

This is the most awesome product I think Stampin' Up! has ever introduced!!

Official evidence that I attended Stampin' Up!s Founder's Circle

I am so proud to be among these wonderful fellow Founder's Circle achievers. This photo was taken at our pajama party. My little face is peeking out in the left 1/3 of the photo just to the right of the gal (Tiffany) in brown on the white chair. I was sorta, kinda in Dawn's armpit! Hey, how come I now have glitter on me???

This photo was taken at The Ledges golf course. Wow, look at that sky! It's our final night. I am again in the left 1/3. I have a black top with big white polka dots. The wind kicked up so I momentarily lost my bangs ;-)

I have a Clearance Rack in my Stampin' Up! online store now

CLICK HERE TO LINK TO CLEARANCE RACK

When you get to my site, choose "Products" then "Shop Now". The clearance rank is the 2nd option from the top on the left.

Some samples of items deeply discounted:

Autumn Vine Designer Series Paper, sold for $9.95 but now only $4.49

.

Cranberry Crisp stitched grosgrain ribbon only $2.99

Turquoise tin only $1.99

And many, many more items.

Founder's Circle Swap Cards - #7

Kathy Hamrick used Serene Snowflakes (pg. 26 Holiday) and Four the Holidays (pg. 19 Holiday).

Tiffany Bauer created with Charming (pg. 32 Holiday) which was intended for our Simply Adorned jewelry and which Tiffany used in a great alternative way!

Jackie Ross really impressed me with this card. It's not super ornate or anything but I just loved it. She used Sense of Time (pg. 124 IB&C). I sat with her as she completed them at Founder's. Maybe I feel part of the birthing process, who knows!?

Laurie Krauss used Dasher (pg. 208 IB&C), Priceless (pg. 130 IB&C) and Heard from the Heart (pg. 142 IB&C).

Founder's Circle Swap Cards - #6

IB&C = main catalog

Holiday = Holiday mini catalog

Kelly Acheson used Sincere Salutations (pg. 143 IB&C) and Bigz Die Serif Essentials (pg. 199 IB&C).

Our Stampin' Up! CEO and cofounder (and hostess for Founder's Circle), Shelli Gardner, swapped this card using Of the Earth (pg. 13 IB&C and a Level-1 hostess set) , French Filigree (pg. 133 IB&C) and Itty Bitty Backgrounds (pg. 132 IB&C). During the Business Share portion of our evening, Shelli confessed that she'd forgotten to label her swaps with her name so some of us handed her our swaps from her and asked her to hand-sign it. That should explain the 2nd photo.

Kristina Koch created with Delightful Decorations (pg. 24 Holiday), Ornaments punch (pg. 25 Holiday), and Many Merry Messages (pg. 33 IB&C).

Judy Garza wow'd me with this Top Secret card using Jumble Alphabet (pg. 150 IB&C).

Founder's Circle Swap Cards - #5

IB&C = main catalog

Holiday = Holiday mini catalog

Using Scenic Season (pg. 35 of the IB&C), by Kari Metzger

By Karen Duke who used Four the Holidays stamps (pg. 19 in Holiday) , the Ornaments punch (pg. 25 of Holiday) and Movers and Shapers Holiday Windows die (pg. 7 of Holiday).

This card had no name but the artist used Little Boo (pg. 208 IB&C) & Teeny Tiny Wishes (pg. 145 IB&C).

 A glittery masterpiece by Dawn Rapsas using Serene Snowflakes (pg. 26 in Holiday). I have to share a funny sidenote. Dawn was finishing her swaps at Founder's and she had lots of generous help from her demo friends. I saw her at the swap and I asked "why do you have glitter all over your face?" She laughed hysterically. Now I know.. and I guess her team of helpers were similarly shimmery! That stuff gets everywhere!

Good luck Matt!!

My college senior son and eldest child, Matt, takes the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) tomorrow (following in both his mom and dad's footsteps - we met in law school!)!

He's been taking practice tests for months and he hovers between "awesome" and "very good" scores. He need "awesome" to get into one of the two top schools on his list of six that he's applying to. His dream school is very hard to get into as is his 2nd choice. If you are the praying sort, I welcome prayers for Matt's clear-thinking, his calm and that he produces an "awesome" score!

Here he is on his 21st birthday last June with mom and dad. He's so wonderful!

Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle Swaps - #4

Josee Smuck used Medallion (pg. 133 of the catalog) which we hear is either the most popular new image or close to the top. I can understand why.  I love clean lines and not a lot of "fuss". This is SO my style - it is gorgeous! ... and it might take 5 minutes to make?

Sentiment is from Thank You Kindly, pg. 145.

Kay Kalthoff designed this card using Delightful Decorations (pg. 24 of the Holiday mini) and the new Ornaments punch (pg. 81 of the Holiday mini).

Colleen Magness used the Wide Oval punch (pg. 186) to create this darling pumpkin.

Lisa Fast used Delightful Decorations (pg. 24 of the Holiday mini), Ornaments punch (pg. 25) and Baroque Motifs (pg. 131 of the catalog).

Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle Swaps - #3

Lynette Zahradka designed this card using Think Happy Thoughts, pg. 144 of the catalog.

Connie Heisey's artistry using Dasher (pg. 208 of the catalog) & Christmas Punch (Level-2 hostess set, pg. 14 of the catalog).

Susy Miller cleverly used an image from Serene Snowflakes (pg. 27 of the Holiday mini) and punched it with our new Ornament punch (pg. 25 of the Holiday mini). I see that houndstooth Designer Series Paper and I want to yell "Go 'Bama!" (my 2 eldest kids go there and their fabric is black & white houndstooth.

Sandi Rule uses the wildly popular Dasher image, pg. 208 of the catalog.

Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle Swaps - #2

From my dear Canadian friend, Caroline LeBel, eh? She used an image from the Level-3 hostess set, The More the Merrier, pg. 17 of the catalog. This was not a swap card but one she gave me personally. So lovely!

Created by Susie Wood using Autumn Splendor, pg. 13 of the Holiday mini catalog.

Artistry by Jan McClurg using Great Friend, pg. 107 of the catalog.

Designed by Joyce Feraco using Pumpkin Patch, pg. 9 of the Holiday mini catalog.

You can B-L-O-O-M too!

At Founder's Circle, every night (and also during a swapping event) we were each given a "pillow gift" and, this year, each had a butterfly tag with a message on it. Put them all together and they spell "BLOOM". I thought the saying on each were really neat and I wanted to share them:

1. B - Begin to Grow
2. L- Love what we do and share what we love (that's a line from our mission statement)
3. O - Opportunities are everywhere. Take the first step
4. O - Open your mind to new ideas
5. M - Make the change. "If nothing ever changed . . . there would be no butterflies."

Recycle your juice or cold coffee bottles into Halloween gifts

I've been collecting some of those bottles from cold coffee beverages and juices. After soaking labels off and then washing in the dishwasher, they are good as new and ready for a fresh life.

In a few weeks, I'll be hosting a booth at a craft fair and I wanted some table decor to bring attention to my area. Using retired Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper, I made super fast "belly bands" in three layers, plopped on a center focal point and some ribbon then capped it with the bottle caps that I quickly colored black using spray paint. I plan to make more for my son's elementary school teachers. I think after washing and painting the lid, the actual decorating part might have taken about 15 minutes. SO quick and easy!

Belly bands were simply adhered with Stampin' Up! Snail Adhesive. I popped up the focal points using our Stampin' Dimensionals. So, start saving those bottles and breathe new life into them. You'll be helping the planet too!

Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle Swaps - #1

I have a treasure trove of gorgeous swap cards I received last week at Founder's Circle. There were about 120 of us and we all seemed to be swapping. Here are the first 4 that I'll be sharing. I just plucked them off the top of my pile. No specific order and it is a coincidence that one of these cards is from the only downline there with me! I will give credit to all the card makers where the name is available.

From Sarah Wills using Cold & Cuddly from the Holiday mini (pg. 18) and Snow Buddies (hostess level 2 in the Holiday mini catalog). There's a cellophane envelope over the card so it sort of distorts the photo a little.

From Kim Peck using Gifts of Christmas (pg. 37 of the main catalog).

From Linda Bauwin using Delightful Decorations in the Holiday mini catalog (pg. 24).

From Jill Olsen using Sweet Centers from the Holiday mini catalog (pg. 7). This was not a swap but Jill gave each of us who visited her home this beautiful card!

My Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle 2009 photos

Founder's Circle was AMAZING!!!! It was the 4th I've earned but only the 2nd to attend. I won't say "I missed out" because it was impossible for me to attend the first two years (due to a job I had) but I will say that I vow to avoid missing it ever again. So much to tell but they say "a picture says a thousand words". I will be posting the swaps I received on a daily basis for the next month or longer. I have over 120 swap cards and I'll put 2 or 3 on per day until I'm done.

For now, though, link to Stella's Founder's Circle photos here.

Template: A card to make right now

Here's the pattern, now go find your stamping treasures and reproduce it using any set, any colors, any embellishments you want!