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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog

2010-2011 Definitely Decorative Catalog

En Espanol!!
2010-2011 Celebrando Creatividad

Enjoy & Happy Stampin'

~Cita

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.

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

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.

Farewell...Goodbye...Adios...

Stampin' Up! Last Chance lists are here. This is your last chance to purchase select stamp sets, accessories, and decor elements. These Last Chance items are only available until June 30 and while supplies last. You can find the links to the these lists below. Hurry up and order your favorite accessories fast because they tend to go pretty quickly.

Click on the following links to view the Last Chance lists.

• Last Chance Stamp Sets
• Last Chance Accessories (Check this list every day as it is updated daily)
• Last Chance Home Decor items (all of these items are 25% off)

You don't want to miss the opportunity to get your hands on these items. Head on over to my website to make your purchases before it's too late.

I'm pretty bummed to see some of these stamp sets go, especially Best Wishes and More, which is one of my favorite stamps sets; however, I'm super excited that with the retirement of these stamp sets we're making room for the new stamp sets in the new catalog that will be available next month. Summer is exciting in Stampin' Up!

~Cita

A Belated Valentine

My daughter, Sybella, was born on Valentine's Day, much to our surprise. The day before she was born, I spent most of the day stamping. You know, stamping is a great activity to do while pregnant. It's fun, relaxing, and doesn't require to move a lot, which is one thing that is hard to do at 5 days past your due date. :)
Anyways, I was really proud of a project I made during that last day and was planning on posting it on Valentine's Day, but I went into labor instead. So, 3.5 months later I decided that since I had already took the effort to make this project and take pictures of it, I might as well post it. So consider this as a belated Valentine's gift.

Swivel Valentine details:

• This idea came from Jacqueline Nimrichter's blog. You can get a great tutorial on her site on how to make this Swivel Valentine
  
• Color scheme: Basic black, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzelberry, and Whisper White
  
• Stamp sets: Tiny Tags, Hello Again, and Whimsical Words
• Use the Scallop border punch to punch a border around the Basic Black piece
• Stamp two flower vines (from Tiny Tags) in Whisper White Craft Ink. Sprinkle the images with some White Embossing Powder and use the heat tool to emboss these images. Repeat with your greeting (I used "Happiness Always" from Whimsical Words)
• Stamp three hearts in Rich Razzelberry and use the Snips to cut these images out. Attach the hearts using dimensionals.
  

This project can be customized for pretty much any occasion - wedding favors, birthday favors, birthday gifts, Christmas favors, etc. The possibilities are endless! Try it out and let me know what you come up with.

~Cita