Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Tags on Cards


Of all my Christmas stamp sets, I think I have used the Tags ‘til Christmas stamp set the most this year. The number one reason is to make Christmas tags for presents, but I’ve also have been using the images for cards, such as I did in this card. I used my favorite image from the set – the Dec. 25 image that can be easily punched out with the Decorative Label punch. What’s neat about this card too, is that you could easily switch out the Dec. 25 image for another image in the Tags ‘til Christmas set and create a variety of cards with the same layout.

Stampin’ Cita’s Tips
  •  Colors used: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla
  •  Stamp sets: Tags til Christmas and Four the Holidays
  • Accessories and Tools: Decorative Label punch, Scallop Oval punch, Scallop Trim Border punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals, and Jolly Holiday DSP
  • Use a 1” wide strip of Old Olive to punch the Scallop Border on. I like using 1” wide strips when I use the border punches to have a bit of leverage when punching the cardstock. The great thing about positioning the border above the DSP is that I can adhere it BEHIND the DSP and position it better.
  • Stamp the Dec.25 in Cherry Cobbler on Very Vanilla cardstock and then punch the image out using the Decorative Label punch. Stamp the Dec. 25 image again on Very Vanilla cardstock using Old Olive this time. Punch out the middle of the image using the Scallop Oval punch. Adhere this oval on the Cherry Cobbler image using a Stampin’ Dimensional.
  • Stamp the “Merry Christmas” sentiment (or any of the other sentiments in the Four the Holidays stamp set) with Chocolate Chip classic ink.
Hope your preparations for Christmas are going great! Merry Christmas and God Bless!

~Cita

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Happy Holidays with Markers


I don’t know why it took me so long to purchase the Big on Christmas stamp set because it has been one of my favorite sets for a few years now. The reason I like it so much is that it’s perfect to use when I want to color with markers, which is exactly what I did in this simple card.

Stampin’ Cita’s Tips:
  • Colors used: Old Olive and Read Red
  • Stamp set: Big on Christmas
  • Accessories: Real Red and Old Olive Stampin’ Write Markers, Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die
  • Card base is 4.25” x 5.5” Old Olive cardstock
  • Stamp the “Happy Holiday” sentiment on Whisper White with Chocolate Chip. Use the Real Red Stampin’ Write marker to color the letters in the word “Happy.”
  •  Stamp the “Happy Holiday” sentiment again. Color the Christmas Tree and then cut out the tree. Use a Stampin’ Dimensional to adhere the cutout tree over the tree on the first stamped image.
  • Emboss the Real Red cardstock with Dots by using the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die with your Big Shot.
  • Tie a knot in the Old Olive grosgrain ribbon and then wrap the ribbon around your Real Red piece. You can adhere the ribbon to the back of the cardstock by using Scotch tape. Tying a knot is so much easier than trying to tie a perfect bow, in my opinion
 Happy Stampin!
~Cita

Friday, December 17, 2010

Filled with Love


Ok, let’s take a break from Christmas and talk about Valentine’s day! (Which became one of my favorite days last year because that was the day I had my sweet baby girl, Sybella)

From December 17,2010 – January 24, 2010, Stampin Up! is offering a FREE package of Bitty Buttons (a $4.95 value) when you purchase an exclusive Filled with Love Bundle, which includes the Filled with Love stamp set and the Love Patterns designers series paper pack (exclusive for this promotion).

Filled with Love Details:
  • You must use the promotional bundle item number to receive the free buttons
  • Already have the Filled with Love stamp set and just want the paper? You can purchase the exclusive Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack alone for $9.95 (item 124156). Free Bitty Buttons are not included with the purchase of only the paper pack.
  •  The Filled with Love Bundles include the Filled with Love stamp set from the 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog (pg. 43). Although the Holiday Mini sales period ends January 3, 2011, this stamp set will continue to be available for purchase through January 24, 2011.
  • Promotion ends Monday, January 24, 2011.
  • Filled with Love Promotion Items:
o   Filed with Love Bundle contains the Filed with Love Set and Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack (Wood-mount 124380, $32.90; Clear-mount 124381, $26.90)
o   Lleno de Amor Bundle contains the Lleno de Amor Set and Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack (Wood-mount 124382, $32.90; Clear-mount 124385, $26.90)
o   Plein d'amour Bundle contains the Plein d'amour Set* and Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack (Wood-mount 124384, $32.90; Clear-mount 124385, $26.90)
o   Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack (non-bundled) 12 sheets total: three 12" x 12" sheets of two double-sided designs in Real Red and Pretty in Pink (124156, $9.95)


Head on over to my website to purchase this awesome deal, and get a head start on your Valentines.



~Cita

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Fun & Fast Merriness

When I became a demonstrator I was super excited about the Demonstrator Starter Kit. For just $175, I got a plethora of awesome Stampin’ Up! products valued at over $300 (it was my rite of passage into demonstratorship). One of the four stamp sets I received was the Fun and Fast Notes stamp set. I wasn’t too thrilled with the stamp set at first, and regretted my decision about not exchanging that stamp set when I ordered my kit (which is something you get to do when you order your kit). However, over the last couple of years I have found a love for this versatile stamp set. Seriously, you can make all sorts of cards with this stamp set, including Christmas Cards like the one in the picture. I’ve also made thank you cards, get well cards, baby shower cards, and baby scrapbook pages with this set.

Stampin’ Cita’s Tips:
  • Colors: Poppy Parade, Soft Suede, and Old Olive
  •  Stamp Sets: Fun and Fast Notes, Tiny Tags
  • Punches: Word Window, Eyelet Border, and 3/16" Corner Small
  •  Card base is 4”x 4”
  • Stamp the Christmas Tree from Fun & Fast Notes on Whisper White using Soft Suede Ink. Use the Stampin’ Write markers to color the Christmas Tree and then use a sponge to sponge a little of Poppy Parade ink on the edges of the Whisper White cardstock. Finish this piece off by rounding the top corners using the 3/16" Corner Small punch.
  •  Stamp “Merry” from the Tiny Tags stamp set three times on Soft Suede cardstock using Soft Suede ink. Use the Word Window punch the punch out the “Merry” words. Remember to stamp your word first and then punch it out, that way you can position the word where you want it. Adhere the three “Merry” words to the card and cut off the excess part of the word window.
  •  Use the Scallop Border punch to make the border. Punch one side of  a strip of Old Olive, and then punch the other side. A simpler way of doing this part of the card is to use the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch.
Enjoy your MERRY Christmas Card!

~Cita

Friday, December 10, 2010

Sweet Christmas

Break out the sweets and Christmas candy! More specifically, break out the sweet Candy Cane Christmas Specialty DSP. What makes it so special? It glitters! Notice the red bar on the DSP? It glitters. I love it. This pack of Specialty DSP features several glittery designs.  Another thing I love about this paper is the unconventional Christmas colors. I love making Christmas cards that go against the traditional red and green  or blue and white color schemes. The Candy Cane Christmas paper combines both of these traditional color schemes and then adds Blushing Bride to throw things off.

Stampin' Cita's Tips:
  • Colors used: Blushing Bride and Real Red. 
  • Stamp sets: Teeny Tiny Wishes and Jolly Bingo Bits 
  • Acessories: Scallop Border punch, 1' Circle punch, Dazzlin' Diamonds Stampin' Glitter 
  • Both stamp images come from the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set, which is super awesome in that it contains so many cute and simple images. Keeping with the candy theme, I used the candy cane and peppermint candy images for this card. 
  • Use Versamark ink the candy cane image to stamp a quick background of candy canes on top of the card. 
  •  Stamp the peppermint candy image from the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set on Whisper White in Real Red three times. Use the 1" Circle punch to punch out each image and then sponge some real red around the edges of the circle. Add some sparkle by gluing some Dazzlin' Diamonds on the peppermints. Adhere the peppermints to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals

~Cita

Monday, November 22, 2010

Online Spectacular - Starts Today



Black Friday starts today for Stampin' Up! and it lasts for 9 days!!

Two things to definitely take advantage of: My Digital Studio is 50% off (originally $79.95, now available for $39.98). Also, the designer series fabric is 50% (originally $9.95, now available for $4.98).

Additionally, if you spend $150 or more, you get free shipping.

Click here to see the list of these amazing deals (20%-50% off selected items) and then head over to my website to make your order. Hurry though, these sales are only available until November 30.

~Cita

Friday, November 19, 2010

Amazing!!! Save 50% off the Starter Kit!



Who wants to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator?

Who wants to get the Startup Kit for 50% off?

You do? Perfect!!

Until November 30, Stampin' Up! is offering the Starter Kit for $87.50, which is half of the regular price of $175. Everything that you get in the kit actually is worth over $300. Now that's a deal!

Here are my reasons why you should seriously think about becoming a demonstrator:
  • It is SO MUCH FUN!!!
  • You become part of Ladybug Ink and get to participate in monthly swaps, meetings, and events
  • You can save 20% on your Stampin' Up! orders (This is the main reason why I joined, and then I discovered how much fun being an demonstrator really is)
  • You gain access to learning tools, tutorials, and Stampin' Connection
  • You get a copy of Stampin' Success each month, which is Stampin' Up!'s monthly demonstrator magazine filled with ideas, tutorials, and business ideas
  • Did I mention it's fun?
If you want to take advantage of this awesome opportunity and join my team of stampers, Contact Me or visit my website. I'll get you hooked up. :)

Happy Stampin'
~Carmelita

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas....


This past weekend I was in Wal-Mart and was appalled by the amount of Thanksgiving and Christmas items that were out for sale. I was thinking "sheesh, we still have plenty of time and they have to put out everything so early!" And then I realized that Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK! And Christmas is just around the corner!

So with that, I decided to start posting my Christmas creations, starting with this unique Christmas card using Deck the Halls DSP. What makes this card unique? Well, it's, what I'm liking to call, a flap card, because the front cover is almost like a flap. It's a standard 4.24x5.5 card, but I cut off 1 1/4 inches off the cover of the card. I got this idea from a fellow demonstrator on Stampin' Connection.

Stampin' Cita's Tips:
  • Cut 1 1/4 inch from the cover of your card to make the flap and then decorate it.
  • On the "inside", which will show beneath your flap, use a Stampin' Wheel to stamp a continuous image. I used the Music Notes wheel with Basic Black. You may notice that my stamped image is not straight, and that is intentional. I love curvy music. :) However, if you are conscious about keeping your wheeled images straight, use the Stampin' Around Wheel Guide.
  • Deck the Halls DSP is the paper of the season! Use the holly paper for your background and punch out the bird (using the Two-Step Bird Extra Large punch) from any other piece of paper in the set. I gave the bird's wing a bit of dimension by using a Stampin' Dimensional to adhere the wing to the bird's body.
  • This year is a good year to crumble paper. I crumbled a strip of Always Artichoke and Crumble Cake and stamped my "Merry Christmas" sentiment in Cherry Cobbler.
  • Colors used: Basic Black, Crumble Cake, Always Artichoke, and Cherry Cobbler
  • Stamps used: Music Notes Stampin' Wheel and Christmas Greetings
~Carmelita

Sunday, November 07, 2010

Stampin' Up! Holiday Bundles


A handmade holiday is as easy as ABC....Amazing cards, Beautiful packaging, and Cherished gifts.

And Stampin' Up! is dedicated to helping you make your handmade gifts this year at a 20% discount!

See the Holiday Bundles options by clicking here.

Some things to take note of:

  • The Decorative Label punch is currently on backorder. The Tags til Christmas Bundle will still be an option as part of the Handmade Holiday promotion. This will allow you to order it now and receive 20 percent off. The Tags til Christmas Set will ship immediately and the Decorative Label Punch will ship as soon as the Decorative Label Punches are in stock. However, I can't give you a definite date as to when it will come in. As another option you can order an alternative Tags Til Christmas Bundle that includes the Ornament Punch instead of the Decorative Label Punch. This bundle will be available throughout the promotion even when the Decorative Label Punch is no longer on backorder.
  • Additional products from current catalogs may be purchased on the same order.
  • There is no minimum purchase required to participate in this promotion.
  • You must use the bundle item codes provided. The 20% discount will not be applied if individual bundle item numbers are entered separately.
  • Order on-line by Thursday, December 16, 2010
Hurry on over and take advantage of this great offer!

~Carmelita

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

CASING Fox and Friends


Look at the card in the picture above. Look at the card on page 96 of the Idea Book and Catalog. Look at the picture. Look at the card. Do they look similar?

Of course they do! That's because I CASEd (Copy And Share Everything) the card on page 96 of the IB&C. That's what is great about the catalog (and all Stampin' Up!'s catalogs ) is that it is full of ideas. That's why they call it an IDEA BOOK! Yay!

Obviously, there are a lot of things different in my card. I used Marina Mist and Early Espresso as my colors for stamping the animals from the Fox and Friends stamp set. I then used three different ribbons the Early Espresso and Marina Mist taffeta ribbon on the horizontal and then the Organza ribbon on the vertical. Because of the way I positioned the ribbon, this card reminds me of a present, so I'm thinking this would be a great baby shower card.

~Carmelita

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Clearance Rack Blitz


Who likes a deal? You like a deal? Well, check this out! Today, Stampin' Up! added over 200 items to the clearance rack, some discounted up to 80%. How do you like that for a deal? To check out this awesome deal, visit my website and click the Shop Button. You'll want to hurry, the quantities are limited and the deal is only available until October 18.

~Carmelita

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Look What You Can Do



Have I told you lately that the Big Shot is awesome? No?

Well, let me tell you, the Big Shot is awesome.

I love how you can use the Big Shot for a variety of different crafting projects. I generally use the Big Shot mainly for card making and scrapbooking, but sometimes there will be a miscellaneous project that I can use it for. Such as making a Flower hair bow.

My fabulous sideline Joanna Banta (who, by the way, made Rising Star in Stampin' Up!), taught the Ladybug group to make these Flower bows. We used material (toule, fabric, and felt), the Big Shot, and the Flower Folds Bigz xl Die to make these flower bows. We had the option of putting alligator clips on the back or pins. I made mine into a pin, but lots of the other ladies put alligator clips on theirs so they can attach the flower bows directly to their hair, to a headband, or to a beanie. As you can see in the picture below, my daughter Sybella had the honors of modeling the flower bow attached to the headband. Doesn't she look thrilled?


~Carmelita

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Holiday Mini Catalog List of Awesomeness


When I first saw the Holiday Mini Catalog, I wasn't too impressed. However, the more I looked at it, the more I fell in love with the awesome product that is in it. Is it bad to fall in love with stamp sets. Probably, but oh well. I am anyways.

So here's my list of awesomeness for the Holiday Mini Catalog.

  • Northern Hearts Level 1 Hostess Set. I want it, I want it, I want it. It's such a beautiful set and I have so many ideas of what you can do with it.
  • 1/2" Lace Trim. It's in the Halloween section of the catalog, but this lace trim could be used for a variety of different cards. It's so pretty, and I'm anxiously awaiting for mine to come in the mail so I can try to use it in a Christmas card.
  • Designer Fabric. I'm no quilter, but I'm still hooked on the Designer Fabric. I've been playing with the idea of using it on my scrapbooking pages. And Sybella could use a few new bows. This fabric is perfect to use with the Big Shot.
  • Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die. Oh the things you can do with the trim you get on this die. This would be a perfect die to have if you are big on scrapbooking. These trims will go great on scrapbooking pages. And of course you can use these trims on all sorts of cards and other papercrafting projects.
  • Christmas Designer Series Paper. The two featured Christmas DSP - Deck the Halls and Candy Cane Christmas - are absolutely wonderful. They have two completely different color schemes, but they both scream Christmas in their own way. The Candy Cane Christmas paper even sparkles.
  • Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set - This stamp set goes along with the Bingo Card stamp, but it's also great to have around for Christmas related stamping. With 24 stamps in this set, there's an image for all aspects of the Christmas season. There's a candy cane, Stanta Clause, a poinsettia, mittens, a candle, and a snowflake just to name a few images.
  • Design-a-House Decor Accents - This is like a gingerbread house made of chipboard and paper. I'm super excited about this because I can decorate a house and not feel bad that I just wasted a whole bunch of food. (As I did when I made a gingerbread house a few years ago.) What's great about it to, is that you don't have to use it for a Christmas project. Decorate it for any type of holiday or use it as a playhouse.
I could actually continue listing things for awhile, but I'll stop here. What's your favorite product in Holiday mini?

~Carmelita

Teeny Tiny Wishes


There are so many events that happen during the year, and so many cards to send out for each occasion. Earlier this year I was so frustrated that I did not have some sort of "Happy Graduation" stamp. And then another time I realized that I did not have a "Happy Anniversary" stamp of some sort. And then ANOTHER time I was in need of a simple "Happy Birthday" stamp, and I had none. I think you get the point. I have hundreds of stamps, but I still don't have a stamp for every occasion. At least that was until I discovered the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set. Now I have a stamp for practically every event that can happen in a year.

So, in May I had several events that I needed a card for. I needed several graduation cards, a sympathy card, and a wedding card. So I designed one card and used that design for each occasion with some variations. What made this idea work so great was that there was a graduation, sympathy, and wedding stamp in the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.

Here's the wedding card I made. I got this idea from a fellow demonstrator on Stampin' Connection (a benefit of being a demonstrator). I can't remember who it was, and I apologize to you and to the demonstrator out there.

Here's the sympathy card. Instead of stamping on the ribbon for this one, I stamped on card stock and used the Word punch to punch out the words.

And finally, here's the graduation card. I was super proud of myself for making this card as I was able to use the University of New Mexico colors (which is the university my friends graduated from). They loved it, and so did I; I almost wanted to keep it for myself.


Well, that's it for now. I definitely recommend the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set. It's worth it!

Happy Stampin'

~Carmelita

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Tote-ally Awesome



I love it when Stampin' Up! offers extra incentives to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. Check this one out.

Become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator between now and October 18, and receive the Greenhouse Gala Craft Tote for free! I had to pay $39.95 for mine. I wish I would have gotten it for free.

Here are some details about the tote:
  • 100% twill nylon exterior; 100% nylon interior
  • Dimensions: 15-3/4" x 7-5/8" x 8-7/8"
  • Includes attachable shoulder strap for easy transport
  • Center section fits 12" x 12" card stock, Craft Keepers, and Paper Cutter
  • Outside pockets fit extra-large punches perfectly
  • Outside flap pockets offer secure spot for accessories
  • Back zipper pocket holds up to seven Stampin' Pads
You can even check out this video (yes, there is a video).

Contact me if you are interested in becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator or head on over to my website for more information. This is such a great deal; I wouldn't want you to miss out on this.

~Carmelita

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Elements of Style


One of my favorite parts of being a Stampin' Up! demo is the monthly Ladybug Ink meetings. These meetings are conducted by my upline, Amber, and we get together, stamp, watch demos, and check out each others' latest creations. Each month, Amber usually prepares a make-and-take for us. This card is one of the make-and-takes from our April Ladybug meeting (I know, I am WAY behind), however, it's one of my favorites. Here are some details about the card.
  • We used the stamp set, Elements of Style, which is such a pretty stamp set.
  • We added texture to the card by using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder with the Big Shot.
  • The image was stamped on watercolor paper. We then used the aquapainters to color the flowers.
  • We used the eyelet border punch to punch the border at the bottom of the card.
For such a beautiful and elegant card, this is truly an easy card to make. If you are interested in becoming a Ladybug stamper and would like to participate in the monthly Ladybug Ink meetings, contact me.

Happy Stampin'
~Carmelita

Monday, September 06, 2010

Holiday Mini Catalog


It's been available since September 1, but I was enjoying the sunny beach of Cocoa Beach, Florida so I didn't get a chance to post it: the new Holiday Mini Catalog. So here it is. I am pretty excited about the stamp sets and products featured in this year's edition. I hope to post my Holiday Mini Catalog List of Awesomeness in the upcoming days, so stay tuned. In the mean time, enjoy your journey through the Holiday Mini Catalog.

~Carmelita

Saturday, August 28, 2010

And the winner is....

CASSANDRA! Yay Cassandra.

Actually, Cassandra had little competition as she was the only comment that I got. I guess not many people read my blog... My counter says that people visit, but I guess they don't read. Oh well. I enjoy blogging the little that I do so I will continue to clutter up my little bit of cyberspace with my ramblings and stamping projects.

By the way, be prepared for Wednesday; the new Holiday Mini Catalog will be released. I am loving all the new products and stamp sets featured in this catalog. It will be a great holiday season.

Happy Stampin'
~Carmelita

Friday, August 20, 2010

A Personal Best (and trying out a thing called Blog Candy)


A few days ago I realized that I have posted 35 blog entries this year. This is 2 more than I posted last year and the most I have ever posted since having a blog. I think this is pretty cool! I know there are some hardcore bloggers out there that can post 35 entries in one month, but I'm still proud of my achievement.

So to celebrate my personal achievement, I'm going to offer some blog candy. What's that? Well, it's free stuff for you just for reading and commenting on my blog. Leave a comment to this post letting me know what your favorite stamp set is in the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog and you will be entered in a drawing for a pack of 6x6 Patterns Pack of paper, a package of handmade Floral Fusion embellishments, and a Stampin' Up! Marina Mist pen (see photo at the top of this entry). Make sure to not leave an anonymous comment as I will not be able to know who you are and enter you in the drawing. Unfortunately, I have to limit entrants to those of you who live in the United States.

Leave your comment by August 27, and I will post on August 28 the lucky winner.

Looking forward to hearing what your favorite stamps sets are and giving some lucky reader some free stuff!

~Cita

Saturday, August 14, 2010

My Stampin' Up! Story



Last month, I joined a Stampin' Up! demonstrator training program called Recruit Crew. Basically, it's a training program that teaches us the skills and helps us build confidence on recruiting demonstrators. Recruit Crew is divided up into two-week modules, requiring us to complete a set of challenges during each module. One of the challenges in both the first and second modules require us to write and share our personal Stampin' Up! story. If you "Like" my Facebook fan page, you may have already read my Stampin' Up! story, but I thought I'd share it with you here on my blog.

When I was 15, my mom bought me my first scrapbooking kit. Because of that kit, I fell in love with scrapbooking; furthermore, I fell in love with papercrafting. Fast forward several years, and I’m convinced to go to a function at my church where we hand-stamped Christmas cards. Having never stamped in my papercrafting endeavors, I was intrigued and excited about how stamps could possibly enhance my scrapbooks. I went home that night and told my husband that I had a new hobby – stamping.

It wasn’t until the next year that I really did anything with my newly declared hobby. I attended my first Stampin’ Up! event that summer, which was a Stamping 101 class, met my upline, Amber, and was just amazed at how fast I developed my hobby. The more I stamped the more I craved to know more and stamp more. Within six months, because of Stampin’ Up!, I had learned some amazing stamping techniques, acquired the basic supplies (stamps, paper, and ink) to make projects, and joined Stampin’ Up! as a demonstrator. I was drawn in specifically by 1) the discount you receive as a demonstrator, and 2) the endless resources Stampin’ Up! offers to learn different stamping techniques and get ideas for my own personal projects. I don’t know how many technique videos I have watched, and each month I wait anxiously for my copy of Stampin’ Success, the magazine you get when you become a demonstrator. I am amazed at how much I have grown as a stamper because of Stampin’ Up!, and I love how well stamping complements scrapbooking. Since joining SU! I have done loads of scrapbooking, met wonderful people, formed unexpected friendships, made some amazing paper projects that I never thought I would be able to make, and now have a reason and an inspiration to continue stamping and scrapbooking.

In other words...I Heart Stamping. :)

~Cita

PS - You can follow me on Facebook or Twitter

Thursday, August 12, 2010

The Joys of Butterflies


Recently, I mentioned that Sybella's nursery theme is monkeys and butterflies, which is great because Stampin' Up! Decor Elements have both of these. There was a perfect place right above Sybella's changing table that was perfect for the Flutter Decor Element in Rose Red. It was a lot of fun putting the Decor Elements on the wall, and once all the little butterflies were up, I thought it was a perfect fit for the room. One thing I did not expect was that Sybella would be fascinated by the butterflies. There are times when she is laying on the changing table and will stare at the bright butterflies. Sometimes she will even reach out to them.

Here was the work in progress. Honestly, it took me several weeks to get all the butterflies up, but it really shouldn't take you as long (unless you have a newborn, then maybe it will take you several weeks). I'm not exactly sure how other people put these up, but I taped the butterflies up in the positions I wanted them before I applied the Decor Elements to the wall.



Here is a close-up of the butterflies on the wall. I love how Rose Red looks with the green color on the wall. (I can't remember what the actual color of the paint was, but it reminds me of Certainly Celery :) )



And here's the diaper changing area in action. Bella Bug just got her diaper changed and is admiring the butterflies. She's such a cutie. :)

I'm looking forward to purchasing more Decor Elements and placing them around our house. Hopefully now that Bella Bug is 6 months old it won't take me weeks to put up.

~Cita

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

EXTRA! EXTRA! Extra Hostess Benefits

Here's some good news: host a workshop with me by August 31 and get $25 extra in hostess benefits (aka FREE Stampin' Up! merchandise), starting with a $350 workshop.

This extra benefit is included along with the standard hostess benefits you receive when you host a workshop. The standard hostess benefits include

  • A free 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog worth $9.95!
  • Free stamp sets only available to hostesses (with qualifying orders; select from the products on pages 10-16 of the Idea Book & Catalog)!
  • Free Stampin' Up! products of your choice!
Click here for the Extra Extra Hostess Benefits brochure or click here for the hostess benefits chart.

Interested in this awesome opportunity? Host a workshop! It's really easy and lots of fun. Contact me for more information or to book your workshop.

~Cita

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Saying Thanks


In April, I went and visited my midwife for the last time. It was a little emotional because I had been seeing her for almost a year and had grown to really like her. She was an amazing midwife and if (IF) I ever get pregnant again, I'm going to go to her again. To show my gratitude, I decided to make her a box full of chocolate.

I absolutely love this origami box. Once I made it, it's quite easy. It looks more complicated than what it really is. I first saw this origami box on the Stampin' Up! demo website (a perk for being a demo), but it was Kathleen Hopperstad that had an awesome tutorial that I followed.
This is the outside of the box in it's closed form. I secured the box closed with ribbon by securing it with velcro. This way after the box is opened, it can be re-secured by attaching it to the velcro. I used the Big Shot and Upsy Daisy die to make the pretty flower.
Here is the box opened. Like I said, it looks a lot more complicated than what it really is. There are four rows of six decorated Hershey Nuggets.

Here's the top view into the box. I used the Jewelry Tag Medium punch to cut out the sentiments from the Tiny Tags stamp set.

Here's the matching note card that accompanied the origami box of chocolates. I love the versatility of the Scallop trim corner punch. You can use it in conjunction with the Scallop Trim Border punch to create a seamless scallop border, or you can use it alone, such as I did here, to give a simple square a little pizzazz.

My midwife seemed to like her present, and I hope you enjoy it as well. Give this origami box a try. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to make and how quick you can make these boxes once you get the hang of it. If you try it out, let me know how it goes.

Happy Stampin'

~Cita

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

List of Awesomeness

I don't know how many times I have thumbed through the new 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog. It's so pretty and entertaining. In the several years that I have been with Stampin' Up!, I do believe that this is my favorite catalog.

Having looked through the catalog so much, I decided to make my list of awesomeness - a list of my favorite items. I thought I would share this list with you.

Carmelita's List of Awesomeness
  • Level 1 Hostess Stamp Sets. Did you see all the cool hostess sets you can get for just hosting a $150 workshop? They are wonderful this year. I have already acquired the Because I Care stamp set, and I'm planning on getting the Punch Potpourri set. They are great this year.
  • Page 62. This page features 2 stamp sets that was love at first sight - For Everything and Kimono Kids.
  • Nursery Suite Specialty Designer Series Paper. This is such a great set of paper that can be used for more than just baby-related projects. However, I have lots of pictures of Sybella to scrapbook and am planning on using this paper in her scrapbook.
  • New In-Colors, especially Blushing Bride and Concord Crush. What do you think of the new In-Colors? I love them. They kind of remind me of Skittles, but I love how they feel so festive.
  • Designer Buttons. One word: CUTE!! I love how you get a total of 72 buttons and how they are available in each color family.
  • Clear Block Storage Caddy. I am falling in love with the clear-mount stamps and have been collecting the clear-mount blocks one by one. (I have yet to pay for one yet as I have been using my hostess benefits to acquire each block.) I was excited to see Stampin' Up! offering a way to store the blocks. I'm also liking that so many stamp sets are offered in wood-mount and clear mount.
  • Punches. Did you notice that there are four pages dedicated to punches in this catalog? I was almost overwhelmed with all the awesome punches. Four punches to pay attention to are the Two-Step Owl Extra Large, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Extra Large,Two-Step Bird Extra Large, and Petal Card Extra-Large double punch.
  • Big Shot Options. You can do so much with the Big Shot and I love how the catalog highlights the Big Shot's versatility. You can make your own Decor Elements with by using the Decor Elements Sheets with the dies. There's magnet sheets available now. The embossing folders are pretty awesome too, especially Elegant Lines and Elegant Bouquet embossing folders.
  • Stampin' Around Wheels. I'm going to get nostalgic on you really quick. The Stampin' Around handle and wheel were the first two items I ever bought from Stampin' Up! I used them a lot for awhile, but I kind of have seemed to have forgotten about the Stampin' Around wheels. However, there are several Stampin' Around Wheels that I have fallen in love with, specifically the Music Notes and P is for Paw wheels.
That's it for the List of Awesomeness for now. I may update it as I continue to browse through the catalog.

Happy Stampin'
~Cita

Monday, July 12, 2010

Monkeying Around with Decor Elements

I have to admit that I was a straggler when it came to adopting Stampin' Up! decor elements. I bought my first decor elements earlier this year for Sybella's, my daughter, nursery. The theme of her nursery is monkeys and butterflies, which is great because SU!'s decor elements have several choices of monkey and butterflies. I quickly found the perfect place for the M is for Monkey Decor Element on the divider bookshelf. Notice how I chose not to put the "M" on. That's one thing that is great about Decor Elements - they are versatile!


There are so many new and awesome Decor Elements available. Check them out here or head on over to my website to order your own. Don't forget the Décor Elements Applicator (114285, $1.95). It's well worth the $1.95. Trust me, I tried to apply these things without it, and life is much easier with it.

Happy Stampin'
~Cita

Friday, July 02, 2010

Hello 2010-2011 Idea Boook and Catalog!

It's here! The brand new Stampin' Up! 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog! Click the link below to view it's awesomeness.

Would you like to get your hands on a hard copy of the catalog? Contact me, and I can hook you up. You can even get one for free! Ask me how.

Click on the links below to view the new catalogs.



Enjoy & Happy Stampin'

~Cita

Friday, June 18, 2010

Farewell, Best Wishes and More


Sigh....one of my favorite stamp sets is on the Last Chance List. Best Wishes and More, a stamp set that I acquired at a Stampin' Up! regional in Albuquerque last year. (One of the perks of being an SU! demo is getting to attend Regionals). At first, I wasn't too fond of the stamp set, but it quickly grew on me, and it is one of my favorites. It's great for background stamping. I love cutting out the simple images. The greetings can be used for scrapbooking and cardmaking. It's such a great set...I'm really sad to see it go.

So before I have to retire the stamp set into my retired cabinet or into the retired stamp sale (see my info on stamp camp), I decided to try to make as many things I can with it and try to get them posted on the blog. So here's the first of what I hope is many cards with Best Wishes and More. I CASEd this card from fellow SU! demo Sandra Farrell.

CASEd Best Wishes and More details:
  • Colors: Not Quite Navy, Cameo Corral, So Saffron, Old Olive
  • Paper: Not Quite Navy cardstock, Bella Bleu DSP, Very Vanilla cardstock
  • Accessories: Filigree brads, Not Quite Navy Elementary Ribbon Originals
  • Stamp sets: Best Wishes and More, Teeny Tiny Wishes
  • Stamp the flower and leaf images from Best Wishes and More on Very Vanilla and cut each image out.
  • Stamp a greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes on Very Vanilla and use the Word Punch to punch it out. The great thing about Teeny Tiny Wishes is that there are so many awesome greetings to choose from, so this card could be graduation card, a thank you card, or a Mother's Day card.
If you would like to get your hands on the Best Wishes and More stamp set before it is gone forever, head on over to my website and order it. It will be available until June 30.

Monday, June 07, 2010

Hey, Look at Me! I'm on Facebook!

Way back in 2004, I made a decision in my life that has forever changed it - I joined Facebook. . .

And now I'm addicted.

Recently, I made a "fan page" for my Stampin' Up! Stuff. If you are on Facebook, you should visit my page, which is cleverly named "Carmelita's Stampin' Up!" If you like it, say so, and click that "LIKE" button. This will also allow you to follow my posts and status updates, as well as leave comments for me. I update my Facebook page a lot more than I do my blog. Remember, I'm addicted to Facebook.

Hope to see you there!

~Cita

Saturday, June 05, 2010

Show and Tell: Thank You Cards

I once had a goal that I would give everyone who gave me a present a handmade thank you card. In preparation for all the baby showers and blessings I started a massive effort to make as many thank you cards as I could before the baby arrived. I made quite a few; however, I did have to revert to store-bought cards as my time ran out before I was able to make everyone a hand-made card. What is worse, I have yet to deliver all these cards to these deserving people.

I wanted to share with you these fun thank you cards. Many of you know, Sybella's nursery theme is monkeys and butterflies, and I wanted continue with that theme with my thank you cards as much as I could. Hope you enjoy.






Snowed In

It's like we were destined to not go to school today. I woke up to a beautiful 6 inches of snow in my yard. We are in the lower elevatio...