Stamp with Michele

Handmade Wedding Programs that double as fans for a summer wedding + Ribbon Tip

So about 2 weeks ago I get a call from one of my customers who overheard someone while at a local craft store saying she wanted to do her wedding programs but the printer was going to charge almost $1000.00.  Whoa!  Sandy immediately told this lady she needed to speak to her Stampin' Up! demonstrator (ME) who might have ideas.  I spoke to this young girl & didn't quite understand what she wanted but thought I really need to try to help her as she has to be able to do whatever she wanted cheaper.   She stopped by My Stamping Place the next night & showed me what she had in mind.  The one she received at a wedding she had attended had 4 or 5 pieces to it.  I found a template online with 3 that worked well & knew it would be easy to use it for 3, 4 or 5 pieces.  I knew she wanted to use the Shimmery White cardstock but didn't have it at home to print out so I just used Very Vanilla for my first sample.  I didn't like the way the ribbon turned out on this sample as it needed to be a wider ribbon. The second sample I tried the Horizontal Slot punch instead of the Cropodile I used on the first sample and thought it turned out much better.  I can't wait for Lauren to see my samples. 

Items used: Very Vanilla cardstock, Bashful Blue ink, Stampin' Up! Baroque Motifs & Together Forever stamp set, Cropodile, Whisper White Taffeta ribbon, Tabletop Paper Cutter & Paper Snips

Items used: Shimmery White cardstock, Real Red ink, Stampin' Up! Baroque Motifs & Together Forever stamp set, Horizontal Slot punch, Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Tabletop Paper Cutter & Paper Snips

TIP:  Don't have the color ribbon you need to match your project!  Just make sure you always have our Whispering White ribbon & then you can color it any color you need to match.  On the first sample I used the Bashful Blue ink pad to color Whispering White Tafetta ribbon.   I just love that white ribbon.

 

Michele Schmidt is rubber stamping, working on her taxes & getting ready for her Hostess Appreciation in Waterloo, IA

Guest Artist- Jennifer Worthington

So I went to Des Moines the beginning of the month for Technique Club & was invited to stay afterward to assist with working on wedding invitations for Jennifer's sister who was getting married this year.  Jennifer had cased the wedding invitation shown on page 49 of the current Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog with some minor changes.  It was just beautiful in person.  Jennifer you did a great job.  Thanks so much for sharing this with us. 

The really fun part about this is you can get your friends together to assist you in making them.  They had a pizza party and enjoyed the afternoon together. 

 This invitation uses the Stampin Up stamp set called Wedding Sweet & Monogram Sweet.  Sorry I had to butcher the invitation to not show all the details.  It really was more beautiful in person. 

Artwork © Stampin' Up!

Michele Schmidt stamps in West Des Moines & Grimes, IA also.

March Stamp a Stack cards- here are the other 2

So the other 2 cards I came up with for next weeks Stamp a Stack were a bit outside of my comfort zone.  Sometimes you just have to try different cards to stretch yourself.  I hope you like them.  Please go down a couple posts to see the other cards & to see all the details if you are interested in attending. 

This card uses the following:  Sizzix Big Shot, Scallop Circle #2 Bigz die, the Circles #2 Originals die, tearing technique, the Stampin Up clear mount stamp set called Good  Neighbors, Designer Series Paper Pad called Welcome Neighbor, 1/2" Library Clip and Stampin Up  Fundamental Phrases stamp set. 

This card uses the following:  Sizzix Big Shot, Textured Impressions Folder called Stampin UP Perfect Polka Dot, Aluminum Metal Edge tag, To the  Nines Designer Series paper, 5/8" Satin Ribbon Bashful Blue, 1 3/4 " circle punch, Stampin Up clear mounted stamp set called Happy Moments.

The stamp sets called Good Neighbors & Happy Moments are 2 of the stamp sets you can get free with a qualifying $50.00 purchase through March 31st during SaleABrations. 

Stampin is my fun job.  Michele Schmidt, Waterloo, IA 

Guest Artist- Mary Ann Amend

Mary Ann is a newer stamper that came to check out my Stamping Place the other night.  Of course we had to do some stamping.  The first card we did had many different beginning techniques used.  This card was the same card I use for my Beginning Stamp Class.  It was  then time for her to do a little creating. I showed her a card & asked that she use the same layout but different stamps & pick her own colors.  She also cut all the cardstock.  We did get the Color Coach out to assist with picking the colors. These stamps are all retired except for Itty Bitty Backgrounds used on the top of the card & the words from our Teeny Tiny Wishes. 

I think Mary Ann did a wonderful job for this Mothers Day card and appreciate that she is sharing her card with everyone.  I can't wait for you to join us again Mary Ann. 

Michele Schmidt is stamping away in Waterloo, IA

March Stamp a Stack - sign up now

The weather seems to be getting nicer but it still looks dirty outside.  My stamping area is starting to brighten up though. I have been working on the Stamp a Stack cards for next week.  Yes, Thursday, March 25, 2010 6 to 9pm is my March Stamp a Stack.  Come & stamp 2 each of 6 different cards.  I hope to have the other 2 cards figured out tomorrow night.  The last date to sign up is Monday 3/22/10.  There is a $20.00 fee for the 12 cards with envelopes.  You will also get a snack & there will be a drawing for a couple prizes.  Call me at 319-610-1114 or email me at msch1l@mchsi.com now to reserve your spot.   

 Below I am showing 4 of the 6 cards that you could make next week. 

  This is probably my favorite of the 4 cards.  You won't believe what punch is used to create these flowers.  I have seen other demonstrators making these flowers & decided to give it a try.  The rest of the card is my design though.  

Inspired by Nature, Extra Large Two-Step Bird punch, Tea Party Designer Paper, Pretty in Pink Grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Trim Border punch a free SaleAbrations item until 3/31/10 with a qualifying order.

This card is cased from a swap card I received from Stampin Up Convention last August but instead of the Soft Suede color they had used I used the Crushed Curry.  I also used a bit less white cardstock showing on the card.   

Wings of Friendship Hostess set, Pretties Kit, gold brads, Whisper White Craft ink, Crushed Curry Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon, eyelet border punch

This card is also a case of a swap card from Convention last year except I changed up the tab.  The swap card I cased had the tab with no stamping but a white punched cardstock piece sponged with So Saffron & stamped with some words. 

Fresh Cuts, Word Window punch, 5 Petal Flower punch, Whispering White Tafetta ribbon, sponging

This card is another case of a Stampin Up Convention swap card from last year.  The only change I made was I did not paper pierce across the bottom of the card under the ribbon.   

Upsy Daisy, Versamark, White embossing powder, silver brads, Bermuda Bay Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon

Hope you will come join me & some friendly stampers to make these cards. 

Stamping in Waterloo, IA, Michele Schmidt

Guest Artist- Darla Schmidt

The below pages were made by Darla, my sister in law from Phoenix, AZ using the same Stampin Up Simply Scrappin kit called Creative License.  She had wanted to learn to scrapbook so I brought her this kit to start with & showed her a few things as we worked on the pages.  She just jumped right in & did her own thing.  She also used several different Hodgepodge Hardware pieces I had brought that are retired.  Currently our Hodgepodge Hardware are in Silver & Vanilla.  I picked just 5 of the 12 pages she made with this kit to show you.  You may click on them to make them larger.  Thanks so much for allowing me to share these pages Darla. 

Michele Schmidt, Waterloo, IA   

Creative License, Simply Scrappin Kit

The Simply Scrappin Kit shown here is a retired Stampin Up product.  Did you know we have 9 different kits currently in our Stampin Up Idea Book & Catalog on pages 164 to 167?  Check them out.  Many stampers even use them to make cards instead of scrapbook pages. 

 

The 9 pages I have shown you over the last several days were mostly done in one day.  I will soon show you a few more layouts done by my sister in law Darla Schmidt from Phoenix, AZ.

Michele Schmidt, Waterloo, IA

Simply Scrappin' Creative License ideas

Here are a couple more pages.  I used the Paper Piercing Tool to go around the Authentic circle.  I also had taken a Stampin Up stamp set called Starring You from page 173 of the current catalog.  This stamp set was one that I earned free for putting in a $50.00 order during Salebrations that is going on through March 2010. 

 

Michele Schmidt, had a relaxing time in Phoenix, AZ but am glad to be back home in Waterloo, IA although I miss the warmer weather.

March Calendar of Events

I was playing with My Digital Studio tonight & came up with this calendar.  Thought I would share with everyone so you could see what I had planned as far as Stamp a Stacks & Open Stamping nights this month.  You can always click on the Catagories on the side for Calendar of Events to look.  I will try to do this each month so you can refer to it. 

Michele Schmidt playing with My Digital Studio in Waterloo, IA

Scrapbooking in Phoenix, AZ

As promised here are a couple more layouts.  On the first layout I took a piece of Pumpkin Pie cardstock & put it over the bottom of the green designer series paper so the design would show from under the punched stars.  I also used some very small scrap pieces of ribbon & made the little tabs that are on the right hand side. This is a wonderful way to use up your scrap ribbon pieces. 

 On this layout I again punched the star from the Pumpkin Pie cardstock so the light blue paper would show through.  I think I might use this page for the pictures of me picking my breakfast directly off the tree in their back yard which I did most mornings.  I have included some pictures below.  This was the first time I did this.  It was kind of exciting. 

 

Hope you are enjoying the pages.  Michele Schmidt, Waterloo, IA