Creative Expressions

January Stamp Camp 2008

So I'm really late with my posts!  But here are the projects we did at the January Stampin Up Stamp camp.  I've got many more posts to do with all my projects, SWAPS, and stamp camps, stay tuned. 

Decorated Paint Can from my Gift Camp

The problem of not showing these right away is that I've got most of my projects buried or misplaced!  But I will locate them and get them listed one at a time.

This was one of four of the projects with my Gift Camp last December.  I got a steal from Staples, 50 cents a paint can!  (My son was embarassed but I bought every last one in the bin!).

We used the Christmas paper from the mini.  With a little bit of black ribbon, white ribbon and a Krylon pen, it worked out very nicely!

Holiday Stamp a Stack Samples postponed

It's been requested that I offer a second chance for people to make these cards.  So I will be doing that next weekend (glad they like my designs so well!) Therefore, I will postpone posting the pictures to maintain the element of surprise for those who have yet to see them.  They will be doing them next weekend so after that I'll post both the pictures of the Holiday Stamp a Stack as well as my Stamp Camp projects, being held the same weekend.

Thanks for your patience here!  Meanwhile, I have some other projects I'm working on too!

Holiday Stamp A Stack

Last Saturday, I held a Holiday Stamp a Stack.  We did 5 stacks of 3 cards each for $25 and $4 for each additional stack after that.  Of course, they couldn't stop at their minimum stacks, most did all the card designs I offered.

My Stampin Up business has grown to be a great set of people who genuinely enjoy each other's company as well as learning the art of rubber stamping from me!  It brings great joy to me to be able to hold these activities.  Yes it supports my own habit for this hobby, but it also gives me a great excuse to be with these ladies!  And the great thing is that the group is growing only by word of mouth.  The word is spreading that when they come to my Stamp Camps or other events, they walk away with so much more than the project before them.  Friendship and new ideas are abound at my stamping events!

And what really warms my heart is when I've heard back from most of them this week and commenting on how much they enjoyed the Stamp A Stack and how it's inspired them to do alot more that following Sunday!  I truely love being able to show them fun and exciting things to do with stamping.  And Stampin Up is such a great compnay to be doing that with!

They are asking me to do a scond day for the Stamp a Stack, I"m not sure if I can fit it in my schedule but I'm looking into it.  Wonder how busy people are on Thanksgiving weekend?

I had intended to show my card designs for the Stamp A Stack but I'm having trouble finding where I put my camera!  But as soon as I find it, I will post pictures of the projects we did last Saturday.

October Stamp Camp

Another month goes by and another fun stamp camp to have attended!  The group of ladies I have that come to my stamp camps are so fun to get together.  I really enjoy doing the stamp camps each month because of that.  Sure, the business is is good too but the group of ladies I have coming has made it so much more than that!  Friday night's stamp camp was roaring with laughter and Saturday's stamp camp had no shortage on friendship and comradity either!  I look forward to having them over each month!

Here is what we did this month.  No real theme but some fun little cards.  A couple of the cards, I was inspired by some I saw on Sudsol, but the others were right out of my little head!

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1. Happy Birthday Card - Using All occasions (level three).  The candles were stamped and then outlined with the Crystal Effects.  The background behind the Happy Birthday was stamped byt the "stamp off, stamp on" method.

2. - Floral Background Card - Super easy adn the effect is really showy!  Stamp the Floral background with versamark and emboss with black.  Color in as desired, in this case we used Markers but watercoloring would be cool too.

3. Fall/Thanksgiving Card - using the word search, I covered it in versamark, then used a marker to highlight the words I wanted, then stamped it to the front of the card.  The other side, we did a sponge background, stamped and masked the pumpkins.  The leaves are not stampinUp but a punch.  I used my fingernail to "score" vein lines in the leaves so they weren't so flat looking.

4. "Blessings" card - Not all stampin Up (They don't have the krylon pen or the silver microbeads) but I love the effect.  Stamp the image, drop Cyrystal Effects where you choose on the design and cover with the microbeads.

5.  Love note cards - very simple and quick cards.  Ueing Greeting Galore stamp your image and color in, we used pencils.  They made three of those at camp.

6.  Print Pattern box - So easy!  Teh print Pattern Background stamp provides a pattern to create this little box.  Quick and fun!

September Stamp Camp

I had a very busy weekend for stamping!  I held my usual stamp camp with 9-10 people this time last  Friday night.  A couple new people too so that was fun, hope they come back again!  ;)  And on Saturday, I held a Shoebox Party with 13 friends at my house (outside of Stampin Up).

I'll write more about the Shoebox Party tomorrow but for now, I'll share my ideas for the stamp camp we had this weekend. 

Yet another successful Stamp Camp this month.  I was focused on different folds and techniques this time.  I kind of felt like the cards were more simplistic this time but the people seemed to enjoy them.  I guess my whole point is to show the idea then you can take it home and run with it!  ;)

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I think most, if not all, of this cards were all from my head this time.  There were some ideas out there that I did spring board from though but that's the whole idea of sharing, right?  At least that's why I share what I do! 

1.)  Stampin Up Blossoms abound Stamp set Card - This was totally different than what I started out in my head but the people seemed to enjoy it at the camp!  I folded a 12x6 piece of CS into 4" sections, opened it up and torn the top part at an angle.  Placed the images with 2 step stamping on the front, stamped a background stamp on the back then we embossed the edges with copper EP.   At that point, we attached a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 piece of CS to the back.  Added some ribbon and a tag and there you go!

2.) "Hoppy Birthday" Card - Using the Stampin Up Unfrogettable Stamp Set  I stamped images to the front and used the baby wipe method with markers to make the "rainbow" effect.  For the inside, we did a pop up to add to the design.  On my card, I never got around to coloring the images, but my "campers" did!  They had some great variations to the card, each one unique!  (Love that about my stamp camps how they feel comfortable enough to explore their own creativity too!)

3.)  Leaves Card - This was using a basic card, smudging color on the front of the card.  Then creating a mat (folded over and torn at the top) and adding a image that was watercolored with the ink pads and aquapainters.

4.)  Stinkin' Cute Card - I personally don't care for this style stamp set but I'm always trying to figure out how to use it!  With this we used the slit punch to create a scalloped edge.  I also couldn't find my "proper" punch, so I showed them how to "snip" the corners by using the small circle punch.  Then we layered a mat for the image.

5.) My Token Halloween Card! - This is a fun fold I learned locally then I ran with it for a hallween card at my stamp camp.  The black actually fits inside the top fold of the orange card.  For this design, I used the square punch to create the elongated window on the front.  We added the pumpkin images with the Stampin Up Carved and Candlelit stamp set.  The "vines" are just using the top of the pumpkin set and stamping over and over to create the look of vines.  We added the punch tab to finish the card.

6.)  Pumpkin Lantern - this was just a very simple idea that I showed them.  My sample got abit squished for the picture, but you get the idea!  Now they can take it home and run with it.  This one was 8 cut strips (1" x 6"), punch a hole at either end and thread your ribbon through.  But there are many ways to use this.  It can sit at the table as is.  You can add tags to hang from the bottom.  You can make any size of lantern, varied sizes of the lantern.  You could even tie a bunch together on a long ribbon to hang them.  So many ideas for such a simple thing to do!  This is a great kids project too!

7.)  Squash book - I also picked up on this locally.  I've done these before but when I saw it a couple weeks ago, I was reminded to do it again!  This one I used paper from Fall Flowers, and two of the new colored CS that Stampin Up has.  Whatever size square you cut, when you fold it down, it always ends up half size.  These were cut to 6" squares and is a 3" book now.  We added a slightly larger cut piece of CS to front and back for covers.   And to finish it off we added a stamped image and ribbon.  I think the one I saw a couple weeks earlier she was saying to use chipboard for the covers, I'm not sure, I never got so far as to look at her directions!  This is great for pictures or make a card, add images, also very verstile!

Designer Lunchbox class

I hold a Hostess Purchasing Club for my Stampin Up (SU) Business.  They purchase a guaranteed $25 a month for 6 months thus earning one hostess party benefits for that period.  If they complete their commitment, I hold a special class for them for free.  This period it was a Lunch Box Tin.

This is my sample:

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For mine, I kept it some what simple but this was the fun part!  I prepared the cardstaock pieces to their color choices and provided the basic materials; Cardstock, parts out of the new SU Pretties Kit, the new SU Rhinestone Brads, and a coordinating ribbon.  Also all the inks and other basics they needed.  Then I let them choose the SU Stamp Set they wished to use, I had several available.  And once they had the basic boxesdone, I set them loose on all my ribbons and fibers I had.

I think they enjoyed the freedom and fun of "getting to choose!"  And I know I REALLY enjoyed them blossom as stampig artists as they created their own designer Lunch Box!

Here's a group shot of what they came up with!  I need to be careful or they won't need me anymore! (Grin) 

August Stamp Camp

Well, it's been awhile since I've last visited.  Been busy, busy, busy!  I've held two stamp camps this last week (One in my homeand on up north where my Mother lives.  I've got a new groupup there that like what I do too.)  But now that I've held them, I can share what we did here!  ;)

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Most of these just came out of my head,scary, huh! We did 7 projects this month.  They've been wanting to do mostly cards so these last couple stamp camps that's what I'm focused on.  For this camp, my only focus was to use the new stuff!;)

1.  Glitter Take Three Card - Take Three Stamp Set.  Made a window with Key Tag Punch, covered with packing tape and covered exposed tape with Dazzling Diamonds.  Then used versamark (since I don't have the Soft Sky Ink Pad yet) for the pattern on the Soft Sky Blue CS.

2.  3 Panel Card -  Priceless Stamp Set and Brass Template.  LOVE this set!  Stamped background in White Ink on Black Cardstock.  Dry Embossed with new Brass Template and created panels for card.  I used the new Groovy Guava for this one, my new favorite color too!

3.  Post-it Note holder - For this I used the new River Rock and Wild Wasabi colors.  I fashioned my own template for the tri-fold pattern.  One sidehas the post-it notes, the other a small little pocket.

4.  Heartspeak card - Heartspeak Stamp Set - Fold Cardstock in half then front of card, fold again. Lay the matted image across the front.

5. Pocket Card - Simple fun little card.  Create a pocket on bottom and make tag to go inside.

6.  Chef Card - Voila Stamp Set - Stampandcut out chef.  Stamp cover in silver in stazon and cut out.  Assemble rest of card.

7.  Tag Punch Flower Card - Flower petals made withtag punch and 9 "petals."  I colored the vellum by swiping the spectrum ink pad on the vellum.

June Stamp Camp

Here are all the projects we did this month!

Because I crank out so many at once I sometimes get stuck for ideas.  So sometimes I will "CASE" (Copy And Steal Everything) a project I saw.  I get the idea from someone else and then I usually change it abit for my own.  I'm not so good about noting down where I saw it.  Usually I've seen it and it's in memory as I create it for my own.  So if you ever see something that you did, or more likely, a version of it, thank you so much for sharing.  I hope this site will do the same for others! 

This time we have 8 projects to do, no particular focus this time other than trying to be bright and happy for summer!.

1.  4th of July Card -  We used the Star Spangled Banner SU Stamp Set for this card.  Used craft ink for white stars, crimped the Navy and for the flag, we stamped in black and tinted the red and blue colors.

2.  4th of July Utencil holder - I saw someone do something similar last year and it's been in my mind ever since!  I created this one, based on the idea I saw last year.  I basically took a 8"x8" White card stock and scored it on both ends, cut out a "triangle so when you fold it, you create a pocket for the napkin.  I crimped the Navy and wrapped it around the bottom, creating another pocket for the utencils.   

3.  "Little things" Card - This is a fun little card using the Polka dots and Paisley SU Stamp Set out of the Spring Mini.  The "card" actually is the little white CS piece.  On the larger pink, we stamped in brown and used the white gel pen to highlight. 

4.  "Fishy" card - Simple and basic using the Fishy Friends SU Stamp Set.  We colored in the "fish" with metallic pencils and added crystal effects for highlighting.  I guess this one is good to be retiring, I have one lady last night (who attends alot of Stmap camps, not just mine) who has seen way too much of this set!  No worries, it's gone after this month!  ;)

5.  Mini Post=it book - a simple little book.  We made the cover and cut out a sun, added initials, there you go!

6. Father's Day Card -  One last chance for a father's day card.  We folded the shirt out of designer paper.  I did see this somewhere and it was great, I had to do it.  The people loved it.

7. Yellow Daisy Card -  This was a fun fold.  It's basically a trifold, we used the window punch and stamped the words inside so they'd show through the window.  The daisies were stamped in black ink then we sponged the color in with the daubers.

8.  Medallion Card - these medallions are popular right now.  I saw this one somewhere too.  We used the corner punch to create it.

May Stamp Camp

Here are all the projects we did for this month at the stamp camp.

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Because I crank out so many at once I sometimes get stuck for ideas.  So sometimes I will "CASE" (Copy And Steal Everything) a project I saw.  I get the idea from someone else and then I usually change it abit for my own.  I'm not so good about noting down where I saw it.  Usually I've seen it and it's in memory as I create it for my own.  So if you ever see something that you did, or more likely, a version of it, thank you so much for sharing.  I hope this site will do the same for others! 

This time we have 7 projects to do, they all these cards were a focus of creating backgrounds.

1.  Mega Clip Bookmark Card -  This was a card I designed for the Retreat last month.  I was inspired by a Scrapbook page in the Stampin Up Catalog.  I thought my clientele would enjoy making them as well.  We used Card stock as a background and designed a pocket with it so the bookmark would fit inside for the receiver.  Micro beads were also used for the chair piece.

2.  Heartfelt Thanks Card -  We used the Weathered SU Designer paper for the background.  Stamped the flowers, and added the Hodgepodge hardware.

3.  Happy "bird" day Card- Used the Weathered background stamp and Natural Ivory, Cameo Coral, and Rose Red CS.  Stamped with SU Feathered Friends stamp set and colored in with watercolor pencils.  Added the brads and gold cord.

4. Wax Resist Card - This was cool and was a show stopper!  Did the Wax resist, brayered with the spectrum ink pad.  Then stamped with the SU Cool Cat Stamp Set.

5. Coffee Card - I designed a similar card for a magazine entry.  I adjusted it for my Stampin Up Camp.  They used the Print Pattern Background stamp, layered with Crinkled CS and a Coffee Filter.  We also used the SU Expressoly for You Stamp Set.  The coffee beans were just the right touch!

6. In the Wild Card -  For this background we used the Au Chocolate Designer paper (what cool paper!) and changed the look.  We brayered over the paper to change it from a cream and brown background to a Green and Brown background.  (You can make it whatever color you wish, try it!).  This card opened in the middle (a two panel card) and we added a mat with the In the Wild image stamped on it.  Add a couple brads and there you go!  ;)