End of School

 
Hi Stampers!
This little desk was inspired  by "Brenda" from Hawaii.  It would make an AWESOME teacher appreciation gift. Any teacher would be tickled to receive it. I made it as a "Congratulations" gift for my daughter who is completely her first full year as a full-time 5th-6th grade teacher.

Brenda's desk was built from a pattern she purchased.
I made my 'desk' using the matchbox die. I cut six matchboxes and, after adding a little designer series paper to the drawer front and a Chocolate Chip corduroy button brad for the drawer pull, I glued three boxes together, one on top of the other using Tombow Multi glue. The boxes were further reinforced by adding a strip of card stock around the entire stack, gluing it together on the bottom. For the desk top, I used the thin cardboard from the back of the designer paper packaging and glued a piece of Chocolate Chip card stock to each side then glued it to the top of both towers. TIP: Set the towers the distance apart you want them on your grid sheet. Be sure they were square by lining them up on front and inside edges on the grid lines. Then you will know how far apart they are SUPPOSED to be.
Finally, I added a 1/2" wide, Z-folded piece of card stock covered cardboard to brace the towers from leaning into each other. The inside measurement is the distance you originally set the towers apart from each other.
These directions are difficult to put in words. If these instructions do not make sense to you and you are interested in making one, please email or, better yet, call me and I can try to explain further.

Happy Stampin'!
Judy

Fourth of July Card

 
Hi Stampers!
 It is not too early to think about the Fourth of July and using up some of your scraps and retiring paper.
Supplies you will need for this card:
Stamps: Fourth of July
Card stock: Real Red 8-1/2" x 5-1/2", scored at 4-1/4", Brilliant Blue (soon to be retired) 4-3/4 x 3-1/2, Whisper White scraps
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Real Red Satin Ribbon, larger of the two Star Punch, Dimensional (to dimensional the bottom right corner star up over the existing star.
Hope you have fun with this quick and easy card!
Happy Stampin'!
Judy

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

 

Hi Stampers!
The photograph today is a look at the weeding out process.  With the help of Ann G., I have gone through all my stamps sets and have decided on all the sets for sale. 
Mark your calendars for SUNDAY, JUNE 6th, 2:00-5:30pm
I will be having my LAST CHANCE OPEN HOUSE and will be selling a lot of my retired stamp sets at discounted prices...in fact, approximately 30% off the retail price, not to mention the S&H and tax savings. 
 
Because of the great deals, you won't want to miss this!!  So there will not be any pushing, shoving, fighting (NOT THAT ANY OF MY WONDERFUL CUSTOMERS WOULD DO THAT ANYWAY) or, most importantly, no hard feelings,  I plan to have a system in place where everyone will be given a number. Everyone will have a chance to look all the sets over and then, numbers will be called, allowing each 'number' to get ONE set. Then, numbers will be called again and each person will be allowed to choose TWO sets, etc. until 1) everyone has what they want or 2) all the sets are gone. I will also have various other items for sale...Designer paper packs, etc. So, if you want to arrive a tad early to LOOK at everything, be my guest. Stake out a PLAN of what you will get at FIRST grab, SECOND grab and so forth. Should be a scream!
In the mean time...
Happy Stampin'!
Judy

Build a Bear Dollhouse

Hi Stampers!

I have finally completed my Build-a-Bear dollhouse, along with Bears who stand up and can be dressed with different clothes.  I will be sending out an invitation today for you to sign up to make one for your grand-daughter, God-daughter or the little girl within YOU! I had SO much fun making this!! We will make the house, which COMPLETELY folds up like a book and ties closed with ribbon, on Thursday evening, June 17th from 6:30 to 8:30. Then, we will meet again to finish the furnishings and make the bears and their clothes on Saturday afternoon, 2-5pm on the 19th.  The workshop will include one package of designer series paper (your choice of "home decor" paper), a full set of printed instructions, a tin to house your bears and all their clothes.

Happy Stampin'!

Judy

First Brayered Card

 

Hi  Stampers! 

This photo, found in the 2007 Jan-Mar issue of Stampin' Up's "On Stage" magazine, 

gave me the inspiration for my first brayered card that I will teach in classes and clubs this month. ("On Stage" was later combined into our current Stampin' Success magazine.)

 

OK...mine is not as 'bright' as the photo but, the inspiration came from the photo none the less. 

Also have been working on a fold-up Build-A-Bear paper doll house. It is finally finished!! Check back later in the week for photos of it.

Happy Stampin'!!

Judy

Bleached Bird

 
Hi Stampers!
Do any of you have a blender pen that you accidently left open
or 'washed' with water, that is now dried up?  DON'T throw it away!
I used a dried up blender pen to "color" this little bird (with BLEACH)  that I
stamped with black Staz-On onto Close to Cocoa card stock.
The bleached out color made the decision on the colors I used on the card,
So Saffron and Handsome Hunter. I also used Chocolate Chip and Handsome Hunter
Stampin' Write Markers to complete the bird.
It is fun to see how the different colored papers bleach out differently. Check it out!
Tip:  I used an empty glitter jar for a dab of bleach. This way, I can close it when not in immediate use
to prevent catastrophe!
Happy Stampin'!
Judy

Bling Brads

 
Hi Stmapers!
 Today, similar but different...
On the same bag as my last post, I wanted a blinged up brad. To do this, you need Whisper White paper, Vintage Vogue flower stamp, a neutral brad, mini glue dots, Pretty in Pink classic ink,  snips, mat pack, paper piercer, and fine cosmos rose colored glitter. 

First stamp the Vintage Vogue flower, with Pretty in Pink classic ink, onto Whisper White card stock and cut it out using snips. 

Next, pierce a hole into the center of the flower using the piercing tool and mat pack.  

Put the brad onto a mini glue dot and pull the glue dot from the roll.

Dip the brad, with the glue dot on it, into the glitter.

 

Oh MY! Isn't it pretty!!

 

Put the brad through the hole pierced in the flower.

Add to the center of the daisy flower (instead of the 'designer Jumbo Brad".
Now you have "bling" on your bag!
Happy Stampin'!
Judy

Decorate Brads with Craft Ink

 
 Hi Stampers! 
Today I am going to show you how to make Craft In-Color Ink. As you know, our In-Colors are only sold in Classic Ink. However, I wanted to use Melon Mambo to stamp on a Jumbo brad so I made my own. I saw this somewhere a long time ago and cannot remember whose tutorial I saw it in...maybe even on Splitcoast Stampers. Anyway, here are the supplies you will need: Plastic bowl, Classic In-Color re-inker, CRAFT WHITE ink refill , a Jumbo brad, Stamp, sponge dauber and toothpick (or something else tiny to stir with).

 
Put a drop or two of the White Craft Re-inker in the bowl. 

 
Add equal drops of classic re-inker (or, if you want, add an extra. Just experiment)

 
Use the toothpick to stir

 

Stir that together VERY thoroughly.  

 

Then, use a sponge dauber to pick up the ink

And put it on the stamp.

I put the brad onto the stamp rather than stamping onto the brad. (I hope that makes sense when you look at the photo.

 

Finally, because the craft ink takes "forever" to dry, I used my heat tool to speed up the process. 

I then used the brad in the center of the Big Shot Daisy flower. As you can
 probably see in the picture, my ink was a little light. That is because I only used 1:2 drops ink
 to re-inker. When I did it for a class, we used 2:2 and it turned out better.
 Hope you get a chance to try making your own designer brads!
 Happy Stampin'!
Judy

***WINNER*** of the Monthly SOUTH TEXAS BIG SHOTS Card Contest

Congratulations Mary Ann Sawyers!!!
 Mary Ann entered this gorgeous card using the Vintage Vogue set and Cracked Glass technique. The picture does not do it justice. It is SO much MORE beautiful in real life!

A little bit about our gathering...All the demonstrators who I have recruited, along with their recruits, meet once a month to exchange ideas and business tips.  This month we had three technique demonstrations and several people who shared projects that they had done. This is a GREAT group of very talented women.  All are demonstrators, some hobbyists and some business women. If you would like to join us as a guest to see what it is all about, please give me a call (649-4103) or send me an e-mail at judyghome@suddenlink.net.
Hope to hear from several of you!!
Till then,
Happy Stampin'!
Judy