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

Control Freaks' Occasions Mini Swap!!

It's Control Freak Swap Time again!!  For those of you who don't know who or what the "Control Freaks" are, I will tell you.  We are a group of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators who somehow all got pulled together through our Control Freak Mom, Lisa Martz!  I think we chose the name "Control Freaks" because we are all VERY particular about the cards we make & would want to show to others.  That doesn't mean the cards have to be "over the top" (although sometimes they are), it just means that they need to be put together very well & are more than just one layer of Card Stock...although I have seen some VERY NICE cards done with one sheet of Card Stock.  Anyway, everytime there is a new Catalog, Mini Catalog or sometimes for a special promotion, we all swap cards.  Think Cookie Exchange for Cards.  We each make 20-30 of the same card depending on the # of participants in a given swap & we all send them to Lisa.  She swaps them all out for us & mails them back...NO she doesn't pay for the postage, we do that.  Then, we all get 20-30 different samples of cards to drool over, to share with our customers, & to share with you!!  So without further delay, let's start the show!!  This show will take a few days, so stay tuned!!

We'll start with the I {Heart} Hearts set:

    Made by Erin Blair (to see the inside CLICK HERE and scroll down to the end)

Made by Mary Beth Brown

Made by Cindy Major

Made by Katy Clark

 I hope you enjoyed this installment of the Control Freaks' Occasions Mini Swap!!  Stick around, there's more to come!  Erin

 
 
 
 
  

Hugs & Kisses Holder from Tour de Freaks

I was gently reminded that I had not yet posted the instructions for this cute litte container using the Clear Bigz Scallop Square Die.  Rather than risk making a mistake in the directions, I am going to direct you to the place where I saw them originally at Monika Davis' very creative blog, which you can find by CLICKING HERE!  After you do all the scoring as advised on Monika's blog, fold all the scored lines and bring all the corners into the center.  Next, I cut a piece of ribbon approx 12 inches long.  I put the ribbon through one set of diagonally opposite corners, tied a loose knot, then I put the ribbon through the other set of diagonally opposite corners, and finally tied a bow on top. If you have any questions, please let me know!  Have fun!!  Erin

As For Me and My House We Will Serve the Lord

When the "As For Me & My House" Decor Element first came out, I squealed with DELIGHT!  This is one of my very favorite verses!  I have been trying to think of ways to incorporate Scripture into my decorating & then SHA-ZAAM, SU! put this verse in their Decor Elements Line.  As with the previous post with the Vinyl Designer Series Purse, I mentioned that I like things that you can make & swap out things to change with the seasons!  You see, there is a history to my sickness, when I was a kid, I had "Lotto" brand sneakers (mid 1980's)...it came with different colored Lotto Logo Emblems that you could change out on the sides of the shoes to match your outfits.  Then when I could purchase it for myself (cause my parents weren't going to buy it for me), I bought a Gucci Watch that you could change a little ring that went around the face of the watch to coordinate with your outfit!!  Now that I'm all grown up, I'm still into "changing things to match the seasons"!  I'm so glad that SU! is feeding into my sickness!  So in preparation Valentine's Day, I used the Sending Love Specialty DSP on my sign. 

 In my other "As For Me & My House" pictures, I have always felt like there was a little something missing .  So, this time, I came up with this little element that is on the topside of the glass with the ribbon.  I used the Top Note Die, Hearts & Bracket Die, and the Join in the Cheer Die (just cut out "Love") which are all exclusive to Stampin' Up! to be used with the Sizzix Big Shot. 

CLICK HERE to see my "spring" version.  The other two versions did not photograph well at all, so I didn't ever post them...EEK!!  I'll try taking pictures of them again as the seasons change & see if I can get some better pictures to show you.

I am so excited that in the newest "add in" brochure for the Definitely Decorative Catalog, there is another Scripture related Decor Element..."To Everything There is a Season".  That'll be my next Home Decor project for sure!  You can view both the catalog & the add in by clicking on the pictures of the catalogs in the Left Sidebar.   Happy Decorating!!  Erin

 

Erin's "Vinyl Designer Series Purse" Hall of Fame

BIG THANKS to everyone who came through on the the Tour de Freaks this week!!  I hope you had a great time.  Well, let's keep going with the Valentine's Theme today.  At Convention 2008, they showed us a really cute bag made from vinyl, DSP--Designer Series Paper, Jumbo Eyelets & Ribbon.  I vowed that I would make that bag!  I love things that you can make and switch things out for different occasions.  So with that in mind, let my Vinyl Designer Series Purse Hall of Fame begin!! 

Here is the original bag I made in September 2008 using the Sweet Always DSP. 

Then I just HAD to update it for the Christmas Season 2008 using the Ski Slope DSP.  I also added my initials using our Decor Elements!  I thought it just needed a little something extra.

Then in February/March 2009, I used the Raspberry Tart DSP to give it more of a Springy look!

Well, I guess I liked the above look sooo much that I didn't change it for the rest of the year.  Okay, maybe it was out of laziness or not remembering until the current season was almost over, but it was too soon to change it to the next season!  I did FINALLY change the paper & ribbons this past week to the NEW Sending Love Specialty DSP...what makes it so "special" is that each sheet has a side that has glitter on it!!! Ohh-Ahh!!  It's probably pretty tough to see in the photo, but in real life the large pink flowers are super sparkly!

 

I hope you had fun walking down my Vinyl Desinger Series Purse Hall of Fame!  If you'd like to see how "fun" it is to make this purse, CLICK HERE scroll through the post until you get to the RED WRITING then you will see a link to click on for the directions.

Have a super fun Friday!!  Erin

 

It's Time for the Tour de Freaks...Valentine's Edition

 

I know you probably didn't think that TODAY would ever get here, but alas, it is FINALLY HERE!!  The day where you can take a moment, grab some coffee (or a nice, cold Diet Dr. Pepper), and cruise through the Tour de Freaks!!   If you are already on the tour & this isn't your first stop, that means you just came from Dawn Olchefske's wonderfully creative blog...I'm so glad you are here!  If this IS your first stop, you are in for a real treat as you embark on this Tour de Freaks!  This month our theme is Valentine's/Love.  I've been working on a few projects that I hope you will thoroughly enjoy!!  So, without further delay, here we go!!

 Mini Mailboxes & Treats

These little mailboxes have been very popular in the papercrafting world for the last couple of years, so I thought I'd finally get into my stash of these and decorate some for my family. 

The first one I made was for my little sweetheart, Maddy.  I used the Sending Love Specialty Paper, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit Die, and the Well Scripted stamp set which are all from the BRAND NEW Occasions Mini Catalog. 

This next mailbox is for my main squeeze, Steven.  I wanted to see how it would look if I stamped on some Very Vanilla Card Stock with the new I {Heart} Hearts stamp set, instead of using the Designer Paper like I did in the first mailbox.  I love how it turned out!   Using the BRAND NEW Clear Mount Blocks really helped me to line up the filigree heart inside the dotted heart, and when I went back to add the other hearts, it was so very easy to see where to stamp! 

You can't make one of these mailboxes without being compelled to make lots of little goodies to go inside for your loved ones to find!  My plan is to make 14 treats/cards & to put one inside everyday starting on Feb 1 & going through Feb 14.    

I'll see if my kiddos & my hubby catch on & make things to put in my box!!  :)

 

When I saw this adorable little Hugs & Kisses Holder the other day while I was blog surfing, I squealed out loud!  I thought this was such a great idea & I knew I just had to make one to show you today!  It's made using the Bigz Clear Square Scalloped Die for the Stampin' Up! Sizzix Big Shot.  Come back later in the week & I'll show you how to make it & who inspired this cute candy container!

This sweet little "candy cone" is made with the Bigz Scallop Circle for the Stampin' Up! Sizzix Big Shot.  I used the Sending Love Specialty Paper and the Pretty In Pink Satin Ribbon from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

Gotta Have A Card To Show...

And last, but not least, here is a fun card I made for the latest Control Freaks' Swap!  Normally, we just do card fronts, since we use them on our display boards, but I couldn't resist doing this full sized card!!    Once again I used the I {Heart} Hearts Stamp Set, the Well Scripted Stamp Set, the Scallped Heart of Hearts Embosslit Die, and the Pretty In Pink Satin Ribbon which are all featured in the Occasions Mini.  But what is new to this card is the I {Love} Love Jumbo Roller in Really Red Ink and the Pinking Hearts Border Punch which are also in the Occasions Mini Catalog, the Full Heart Punch & the Heart to Heart Punch for the little bitty heart! 

Scroll down to see how much fun this card is!!

See, wouldn't you just love to get this cool card in the mail??  I know I would! 

Well, this bring us to the end of my stop on the Tour de Freaks!  Sniff-sniff!  I hope you will come back often!!   Don't be shy...leave me a comment, so I know that you were here!!

 I know you will have lots of fun at your next stop...the fabulously famous JAN TINK!!!  

My Valentine for MY Valentine!

 

Here's what Steven initially received (pretty exciting, huh?):

 

He had to get the hearts from these:

 

Which I placed in these:

     

I made these with the Sizzix Petal Card Die & just folded up two of the flaps.  I saw this idea on Margaret Raburn's blog HERE.  I forgot to take a picture with the chocolates in the hearts, but if you click on the link to Margaret's blog, you can see what it looks like with the chocolates in the hearts.

Then I hung the chocolate filled hearts here:

Steven had to pull the little hearts off of the chocolate's & put them on his card!  (Guess what??  I actually came up with this idea & the card ALL BY MYSELF!!  GASP!!  Yes, it's true!)  I got the cute little tree from my friend Alyson Lee who is a consultant for Once Upon A Family.  To see more about Once Upon A Family & to order your tree, got to her website HERE.  They have a lot of FABULOUS ideas on building family traditions into your life!  Have a great day!

My Valentine's Cards

Here are the Valentine's I made for my kiddos!  I had lots of fun playing with the Candy Lane DSP!  All the cards are 6x6.

Here's Maddy's Card (She's 3.):

 

 

Looking at it now I probably should have sponged the edges of the hearts & popped up some of the hearts on Stampin'  Dimensionals.

Here's Alex's Card (He's 5.):

   

I made this one based on a swap card I had received last fall & then I had also made one similar for my nephew, Andrew's 1st Birthday.  You can see it HERE.

Here's Emma's Card (She's 8.):

   

I was inspired to make this from a swap I received from Pam Downs.  You can see it HERE. Just scroll through to the end of the post.

Tomorrow I'll show you the Valentine I made for MY Valentine! Enjoy....Erin

Love You Much--Control Freaks' Swap Part 2

Did you know you still have time to order the Love You Much Bundle (Love You Much Stamp Set, 3 Heart Punch, Candy Lane DSP) & receive a 20% Discount??  Go to my "official" Stampin' Up! website at www.erinblair.stampinup.net and click on "SHOP NOW"!!  You don't want to miss out on this special offer!!

Here are some more FANTABULOUS "Love You Much" Swaps!! 

  Made by Judy Di Scipio

Made by Karen Barber

  Made by Kathy Strubel

Made by Mary Brown

Made by Melanie Schulenberg

Made by Pam Downs

I've got a few more to show you tomorrow!!  So come on back, ya' hear??  Erin

Love You Much--Control Freaks' Swap

The Control Freaks did a mini swap with the Love You Much Bundle, but now that I've seen all of them, I wish we could have done a big swap with them!!  Thankfully the other gals have shared their artwork with everyone.  You can see my "card in a can" swap HERE (FYI:  My Target was clearancing out the little tins in their Wedding/Baby Section...normally $19.95 for 20ish, now $9.95.) .  ENJOY!!

Made by Adele Heffern

Made by Adele Heffern

Made by Barb Mullikin

Made by Barb  Mullikin

Made by Brandy Wiggins

Made by Connie Babbert

Made by Dannnie Graves

Made by Jan Tinklenberg

Made by Jenn Dierks

I've got more Love You Much Swaps to show you tomorrow...stay tuned!!  Erin

Love You Much...Card in a Can

         

I got the idea for the "Card in a Can" from Sue Macleavy.  Click HERE to see Sue's COOL cards in cans!

 

I used the new "Love You Much" Bundle Stampin' Up! is offering at a 20% Discount until the end of January.  Click Here-- Download Valentines_Bundle_1208US to see the flyer, & then click on over to www.erinblair.stampinup.net & finally click on "SHOP NOW" to purchase your very own Love You Much Bundle, a couple of items off the Inventory Blowout, & you might as well order those retiring stamp sets & accessories you've been eyeing!  :) 

 

Let me know if you have any questions!  Erin

 

PS...This was my swap for the Control Freak's "Love You Much" Swap.  I only had to make 10 of these, so that wasn't too bad!