S.T.A.R.S.--Sharing The Art of Rubber Stamping

Build-A-Flower Cards

Here are some Build-A-Flower Cards I made to swap at Leadership back in January.  I was originally inspired by none other than "THE" Patty Bennett.  She did a class way back in September and I just loved how she decorated the tin that they put all their cards on.  You can click here: http://pattystamps.typepad.com/pattys_stamping_spot/2007/09/build-a-flower-.html and then scroll down past some really cool cards & then you'll  see the tin.  From that idea, I made these cards and then the ones that follow.

Supplies:  Accents & Elements: Build-A-Flower

Cardstock:  Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, Lovely Lilac, Bashful Blue

DSP:  Cutie Pie, Flowers for You

Stamps:  Warm Words

Ink: Basic Black

Extra:  Fire & Ice Circle Rhinestone Brads, Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon, Blue Gingham Ribbon,  Almost Amethyst ? Ribbon from Fairy Tale Ribbon Originals

I hope you are having a sweet Saturday...Erin

OOPS, Sorry there was no Friday post...too busy couponing!!

I have very recently been introduced to the world of BIG TIME couponing!  I have always cut out coupons and used them, but there is this whole coupon/rebate culture out there who go out & purchase $50.00 worth of stuff for $0.10!!  I'm not kidding!  Go to:   www.afullcup.com (specifically go to the forums) or www.couponmom.com or www.retailmenot.com and you will see what I'm talking about.  Anyway, yesterday Walgreens had some great deals going on, and I didn't want to miss out.  I got so carried away organizing my coupons, writing my list of what I was going to get, and so forth that I forgot to do my post here!  For shame, I know...but I did end up saving $80 yesterday between 2 Walgreens and the Commissary (grocery store on the Air Force Base)!! 

So, if you are feeling like you want to start saving more money, just click on any of the links above & start saving!  OR you can go spend what you saved on groceries to buy more Stampin' Up! stuff!! :)

Have a super day...Erin

On Board Small Board Book--Friends Mini Album Part 2

Here's the rest of the mini album I made for my best friends & me. Just a reminder "warning" about the New Kids On The Block inspired title pages.  Okay, stop gagging!  You liked some goofy group/singer when you were in high-school, too! :)  Go down to yesterday's post to see a supply list.  Only 2 more days to get your On Board Items at a 25% discount.  Contact me today to place your order!!  Erin

PS...Don't forget that you can click on the pictures so you can view a much larger image.

On Board Small Book Basics--Friend Mini Album

As you may remember (or not) this past weekend I was fortunate enough to have gone on a mini-vacation with 2 of my very best friends.  We met in our freshmen year of high-school way back in 1987!! WOW!! How could that have been 21 years ago?? EEEK!  Here's a pic of me & my girls!  I'm on the far left, then Melissa's in the middle, and Julianne is on the right.  I'm so thankful that God has blessed me with such wonderful friends.  So what better way to let them know how much I care about them than to make a lovingly hand-crafted mini-album for our weekend girlfriend getaway!  Here's a warning though when looking at the page titles:  Way back in high school, we were REALLY into the New Kids On The Block, so I thought it would be funny to make the page titles a spin on the NKOTB song titles. So roll your eyes now & get it over with! :)

Here's the cool mini album I made for them & for me.  I'll show you some today & some tomorrow.

Supplies:  On Board Small Book Basics

Flowers & Friends Simply Scrappin' Kit (retired)

Stamps: Taffy Alphabet & Numbers, Spunky Alphabet (retired), Totally Tabs, Stamp of Authenticity

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Cool Carribbean (retired In Color), So Saffron

Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Whisper White

Other: Certainly Celery 5/8 Grosgrain Ribbon, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, Crop-A-Dile, Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware, Tab Punch, Rhinestone Brads, Corner Rounder Punch

Each page measures 5 x 6 7/8.  To make each page sturdier, I adhered 2 pages together using

a TON of SNAIL adhesive.  I wanted to keep the layout simple since we didn't have the pictures to put in the album before I made it.  I didn't copy any one persons design, but I was most inspired by Brenda Keenan on her SWEET blog:  http://keenankreations.blogspot.com/2008/01/on-board-book-basics-album.html

I made a little pocket page at the end of each section to record our favorite things.

I'll be posting the rest of the album tomorrow! 

Enjoy...Erin

Felt Fusion "Bunker"

Well, I was supposed to make some cool cards & other things with the Felt Fusion, before I showed you this, BUT that didn't happen.  I wanted to be sure I showed this cool idea to you.  If you remember, I showed you something similar to this for my Die-Cut Blooms, which was inspired by Lisa Martz.  If you click on this http://stampwitherin.typepad.com/starssharing_the_art_of_r/2008/04/love-these-bloo.html you can see it, plus a link to Lisa's Bunker.

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It was not an easy task to get those rub-ons on the felt flowers...so be prepared to have lots of patience!!

I am really excited to show you the BIG project I made during my Girlfriend Getaway!  You are going to LOVE IT, too!  So starting tomorrow, I'll be showing it to you!

Have a super day!  Erin

Happy Mother's Day 2008

I think this is the fastest I've ever gotten pictures onto a scrapbook page!  These are pictures from this Mother's Day...like only 2 weeks ago!  YIKES!!

When I was making these pages, this is the way I set up the pages; however, when I was taking the pictures, I accidentaly switched sides, and now I can't decide which way looks best. (See Below) What do you think?  Also, do I need to put a strip of flower rub-ons down on the bottom strip or just leave well enought alone?  I started to go really crazy with these pages...Rub-Ons (even on the pictures), Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Die-Cut Blooms...WOWZER!!

Don't forget you can click on any of the pictures to see a larger image.

Happy Scrappin'....Erin

PS...I'll be coming home today from my Girlfriend's Getaway...Boo-Hoo!!  But at least I've got such cute kids & a handsome husband to come home to!  :)

On Board 3 Clip-Clipboard--Tart & Tangy Kids

Okay, so Mother's Day was officially TWO WEEKS AGO, and I just FINALLY sent my mom her gift!  Bad Daughter...I know!  But hopefully, all will be forgiven when the Post Man rings her bell and hands her this delightful gift!!  Do you think she'll forgive me??

These pictures were taken of my children on Easter this year.  I just love how it turned out and almost want to keep it myself! 

Since I'm writing this just before I'm going on my trip, I don't have time to post details, so I'll do that when I get back...I promise!

Here are a couple more pictures of the clipboard without the pictures...

Don't you think you should stock up on these cool clipboards while they are on sale & then make these for Christmas presents??  YES YOU SHOULD!!

I should be sitting by the pool today...I hope I don't forget to put on sunscreen!  My hubby will be mad if I get burnt!! EEK!

Having fun in the sun...Erin

Totally Sweet Scrap Club--May

This week my Totally Sweet Scrap Club met and we had a great time while we were making these pages.

Click on any of the pictures to see them larger.

Actually, these pages took a lot long to make than I thought they would.  My Slit Punch kept getting locked up, so I spent the whole night scalloping everyone's strips at the top & the bottom of the pages!  GRRR!  Guess I know what I'll be ordering when I place my next order.

These pictures were taken on or about Mother's Day 2005 when I was 6 months pregnant with my little Madeline....which explains why my face is so HUGE!

I was inspired by Lindsey Blackhurst's "Fire" layout here http://stampwithlinz.blogspot.com/2008/03/retreat-scrapbooking.html

Here's what it looks like with a different Carousel note & Afternoon Tea DSP and without all the photos, title, & accent elements.  Looks a little bare!

 

 These are the accent pieces my clubbers made.  I also gave them an additional sheet of Whisper White & a sheet that matched their Carousel Note to use as photo mats...just incase they didn't have ELEVEN photos they were trying to squeeze into one 2-page layout and they needed some filler.

I should be shopping & eating at The Cheesecake Factory on my Girlfriend's Getaway today!  YUMMM!  Erin

Carousel Notes for My Best Buddies

I'm going on a Girlfriend Getaway starting today & going through Monday!  I am so excited.  I am going to meet up with my 2 best friends from high school at a little B&B in North Texas.  We are going to lounge by the pool, do a little shopping, and no Girlfriend Getaway would be complete without a trip to The Cheesecake Factory!  YUM!

I made them a couple of little goodies and I'm currently finishing another big project for them that I'll have to show you after I get back.  Here are the Carousel Notes that I'm going to give them with some sort of sentimental "You are the Best Friend in the whole wide world!" stuff written on the back.

  

I got the above FABULOUS idea from ???? I don't remember where I found this, so if this is your original idea, please let me know, so I can give you proper credit!

I lifted this cool idea straight from page #7 of the Occasions Mini Catalog! SWEET!

Since I'm going to be out of town for the next couple of days, I'm going to have some stuff ready to post while I'm gone...aren't I so thoughtful??

Have a fun & safe Memorial Day Weekend!! Erin

So Cool Card Club--May

Last week my So Cool Card Club met for the month of May.  Here are the So Cool projects that we made!

 

Stamps:  Big Birthday Candle, Polka Dots

Ink:  Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Versamark (on the Polka Dots)

Paper:  Brilliant Blue Cardstock, Jersey Shore Designer Series Paper

Extra:  2-Way Glue, Chunky Essentials Glitter-Whtie (although it looks kinda clear to me!), Wild Wasabi Striped Ribbon

Idea:  I've now seen this card in several places, but the first time I saw this was on Aly Schilling's blog.  Click on the link below to see her fabulous creations.

http://alystamps.typepad.com/stamping_with_aly/2008/02/birthday-cards.html

Stamps:  Dad's Day (I cut up the "You're The Man" stamp so the "man" and the greeting were on opposite ends of the wood block, just incase I wanted to use the "man" figure all by himself or the greeting all by itself.)

Ink & Markers:  More Mustard, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black

Cardstock:  Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Extra:  Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (Occasions Mini), Tab Punch, Designer Label Punch, Tempting Turquoise Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber

Idea:  This card was inspired by several different cards on www.splitcoaststampers.com in the Dad's Day gallery, but not a copy of any one card.

Stamps:  Live Your Dreams (from Occasions Mini)

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky Groovy Guava, Craft White (On Envelope)

Cardstock:  Soft Sky Carousel Note, Whisper White

Extra:  Pick A Petal Classy Brass Template (I just LOVE how this matches up with the Carousel Notes!), White Gel Pen, Paper Piercing Tool (from Crafter's Tool Kit), Chocolate Chip Poly-Twill Ribbon (from Occasions Mini), Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (from Occasions Mini), Blender Pens to "color" on Flower.

Idea:  I shamelessly copied this idea from Robin Spinner on her "About a Girl" blog.  Click on the link below to see her original creation!

 http://robinlea.blogspot.com/2008/03/stylized-silver-carousel-note.html

This is what I did for the back of the note.

We had lots of fun at the So Cool Card Club!  If you are in the greater Oklahoma City Metro Area, maybe you can join us when we start the club again in August!!

Happy Stampin'...Erin