BLOG CHALLENGE - FUN & PRIZES! - LRSBC1

Hi Everyone!

I am super excited because it is time for our VERY FIRST BLOG CHALLENGE!

Our Featured Stamps right now are the STRAWBERRY KISSES Collection from Crafter's Companion, so that will be our theme for this blog challenge:

STRAWBERRY KISSES

Rules: Create a Card, 3D Project, or Scrapbook Page that is inspired by the phrase "STRAWBERRY KISSES"

We want EVERYONE To be able to play so you can use any stamps, paper, embellishments that you want, HOWEVER, you get bonus entries when you use a stamp from a company that we carry in our store, and a double bonus when you use an actual Strawberry Kisses Collection Stamp! If you don't have one they are currently 10% off in our store, Loves Rubberstamps!

We are giving away PRIZES for playing along! Here is what we are giving away:

Grand Prize Winner will get a STORE GIFT VOUCHER for $25.00 off an order!
We will also choose 2 runner-up winners and they will each receive FREE SHIPPING Coupons for use on their next order from our store.

PLUS: On our store website we have a "Gallery of Champions" where we will display the top 3 winners creations AS LONG AS they are made using a stamp from a company that we carry in our store, with the artists permission, of course. We will also provide a link to your blog for you also.

To play along. after creating your project upload it to your blog or online gallery. You MUST provide a link back to our Blog Challenge Post on your blog entry. Please use the Keyword Tag LRSBC1 when uploading your projects to an online gallery. Then leave a link to your project using the linky widget at the bottom of this post. ENTRY SUBMISSION CLOSES FEB. 29th at 11:59 PM. You can play as many times as you would like.

Here is how the entries work and how you can earn BONUS Entries for the prizes:

Earn 1 Entry - Just play along using whatever stamps, materials you want
Earn 2 Entries - Use a stamp from a product line that we carry in our store
Earn 3 Entries - Use a STRAWBERRY KISSES Collection Stamp

* Remember to be eligible for your project to be displayed in our Gallery of Champions, you must use a stamp from a company that we carry in our store.

We will choose the winners using a random number generator and will announce them on MARCH 3rd.

Here are some projects that my friend Tarry and I made to help inspire you!






This card was made using the FREE STRAWBERRY KISSES BACKGROUND PAPER that you can download. The stamped image I used in this sample from the YUM Strawberry Kisses Collection Stamp Set. I colored it using prismacolor pencils. I hand drew my floor and used Background Paper for the wall. There is Crystal Effects on the glass so it looks shiny and I used Liquid Applique for the whipped cream.



This box is made using a tutorial from splitcoaststampers called MARIA'S TREAT BOX.
On this box, I used an EK Success Scalloped Heart Punch to create my Strawberry, other than that everything else is made using all Stampin Up! products, some retired and some current. Here are some other views:



I filled my treat box with Hershey's Kisses! YUM!



Side View of my Strawberry Kisses Treat Box



This card is called a "TENT TOPPER" I again used the stamped image from the YUM Strawberry Kisses Collection Stamp Set this time coloring it with my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink Markers. The chocolate on my strawberry was made by covering a piece of Early Espresso cardstock from Stampin Up! with clear embossing powder so it is shiny. I covered the rest of my chocolate areas and the glass using Crystal Effects. I can tell you that I learned that the Crystal Effects will change the color of your Alcohol Ink Markers after you add it. I didn't mind because this was a glass so it makes the contrast ok, but keep this in mind if you use them. I also stamped the dog a second time and cut him out and "popped him" on this card for extra dimension! If you can't tell he has chocolate smeared on his face!

Here are some neat scrapbook pages my friend Tarry Myers created. Tarry is an OTRA VERIFIED RESCUE TRANSPORTER and is also the OTRA IOWA MODERATOR & OTRA MEMBERSHIP MODERATOR. OTRA stands for On the Road Again, and they are a group that transports dogs to rescues and families once they are adopted. Tarry makes these scrapbook pages when dogs that she helped transport get adopted for the new families to have as a keepsake!



This is a 12 x 12 scrapbook page. On this page Tarry used the GORGEOUS Strawberry Kisses Collection Stamp Set You can see she stamped the "Gorgeous" saying on a bone, cute!



Here is a close up of the stamped image from the GORGEOUS stamp set.



On this tag she used the little strawberry image from the stamp set!



Here is Tarry's second scrapbook page that uses the FRIENDS FOREVER Strawberry Kisses Collection Stamp Set.



Here is a close up of the image from the FRIENDS FOREVER stamp set.

We plan on doing Blog Challenges on the 1st and 15th of every month! I hope you will spread the word and play along with us. :)

FREEBIE and Sneak Information...

Hi everyone!

I have been hard at work loading our opening inventory in the store! I appreciate everyone's patience as we are getting things added! I just wanted to give everyone a heads up on what is coming...

I am currently adding all of the new C.C. Designs February 2012 stamps that were just released yesterday into the store. We have them all on hand and ready for shipping!

I will also be adding products from Whimsy, Lablanche, Melissa Frances, the Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink Markers, and the Paint Fushion line as they have all arrived.

I have shipments on the way from Bildmalarna, Stamping Bella, American Art Stamp, Gourmet Rubber Stamps, Prickley Pear Stamps, Wild Rose Studios, and some more Tattered Angels that should all be coming in the next week or two.

So lots to look forward to!

TODAY I thought I would take a quick break because I wanted to share an AWESOME FREEBIE with you and give you some sneak information on our very first LOVES RUBBERSTAMPS BLOG CHALLENGE which I hope you all will play in!

Right now in our store our featured stamps are the new STRAWBERRY KISSES Collection from Crafter's Companion. This line will be the inspiration for our first blog challenge! Everyone will be able to play, even if you do not have these stamps. Our first blog challenge will be posted in about a week and a half with full details on the rules and the prizes!



In the meantime here is an awesome FREEBIE for you to enjoy from Crafter's Companion that coordinates with the Strawberry Kisses Stamp Collection. It is FREE background paper and all kinds of embellishments for your cards, scrapbook pages, or papercraft projects.

You can even use some of the freebie goodies in your project for the blog challenge coming!

I hope you enjoy the FREEBIE! I am excited for our first challenge - it will be lots of fun :)

I am off to add more inventory... Have a great night everyone! - Laura

New Direction

Good Morning Everyone!

This post is kind of bittersweet. I have decided that it is time for my life to take a new direction in regards to my Stampin Up! Career. When I joined Stampin Up! over 5 years ago, I was a brand new stamper with no experience. As time went by and I learned more about stamping and papercrafting, my love for the craft evolved as well. I found other companies whose products I loved just as much as the company I was a part of. As a stamper, one of the most rewarding parts of this craft is being able to share your creations with others and spark their creativity, and I wanted to share ALL my creations, not just ones that I made using one company's stamps. That is when I decided to create my own rubber stamp, scrapbooking, and papercrafting supply store called, what else but... Loves Rubberstamps! I wanted to be able to share with my customers ALL of the wonderful stamp companies I had found whose products I love and use myself!

I love the Stampin Up! products, the sisterhood and friendships that I have made, and I will defiantely still use Stampin Up! products because they are awesome, it is just that I want to take my creativity to a different level than I am able to as a demonstrator. So with that being said....

I want to welcome you to the NEW Loves Rubberstamps Blog. This blog will be the main blog for my store LOVES RUBBERSTAMPS

I am still getting all of my opening inventory added. So far we have C.C. Designs, Crafter's Companion Stamp Lines, Paper Smooches from Kim Hughes, and Flourishes in the store. We have shipments on the way from Whimsy Stamps, Stampingbella, Pink Cat Studios, American Art Stamp, Gourmet Rubber Stamps, Magenta, La Blanche, Melissa Frances, The paint fushion line from Sheena Douglass and the spectrum noir alcohol ink markers from Crafter's Companion, Bildmalarna, AND Tattered Angels stamps!!! These should all be arriving in the next week or so! We will also be adding in the near future... Penny Black, Northwoods, Great Impressions, Prickley Pear Stamps and Wild Rose Studios!

Our goal with the store is to provide the best selections and products from the finest companies all at the best prices we can offer! After our opening inventory arrives and is loaded in the store, we will be adding new products and also bringing new companies on board every few weeks! We want to become your one stop shop for all your scrapbook, stamping and papercrafting needs!

I am also in the process of designing my own rubber stamp line that will also be carried in my store as well!

For the new direction my blog will be taking... We will be running Loves Rubberstamps Blog Challenges, having blog candy & prizes for participants and lots of fun! I will still share tutorials and techniques, tips and tricks but instead of being Stampin Up! only as before... I will be using a variety of companies and stamps that will be available in my store. I will also be recruiting for a design team, after I work the details out :)

I hope that all of my followers will continue to follow this blog because we do have a lot of fun things planned for you in the near future! I appreciate all of your support as I move forward in this exciting new venture!

If you have a moment please visit our store, Loves Rubberstamps and take a look around! Also sign up for our newsletter, where you will receive special offers, stay on top of our new releases, our blog challenges, and details on the design team recruitment when it is time for that!

Again - Thank you all for your support and I look forward to sharing all kinds of new things with you SOON!

Laura

Cracked Glass - Cozy Christmas Lodge

Good afternoon stampers!

Today's card will be another one that I designed for my Christmas card class coming up. It uses the GORGEOUS stamp set Christmas Lodge that is in the Holiday Mini. The layout and basic design was inspired by this card I saw created by flowerbugnd1 on splitcoaststampers. I changed the colors of mine and used the cracked glass technique on my card as well. Here is my version:



I really love the cracked glass technique with this stamp set! I really love how the lodge looks like a vintage old photograph cracked with age using the sahara sand cardstock as a base. To get this look I stamped my lodge with early espresso on sahara sand, filled in the snow with a white gel pen and then sponged the edges with chocolate chip ink before doing the cracked glass technique.

If you want to try the CRACKED GLASS TECHNIQUE here is what you do:

First you will need a versamark pad, Stampin Ups! Glassy Glaze (retired now) or you can use UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel) or regular clear embossing powder (you will just have to use more layers) and then you will need your heat tool.

1. After you stamp and color your image, stamp the whole panel with the versamark ink pad.

2. Completely cover the panel with your embossing enamel or powder. Shake off excess and heat with the heat tool. If you are using glassy glaze or the UTEE the first heating will look lumpy and it will look like spots are missed. Don't worry about it!

3. As soon as the powder is melted, stamp the whole panel again with versamark ink. Cover your panel again with a new layer of embossing enamel or powder, shake off excess and then reheat. This time it will be much smoother and even looking.

4. If you are using the UTEE or glassy glaze you need to do only 2 or 3 layers of embossing powder. IF you are using the regular clear embossing powder you will need to repeat the versamark and then emboss with new layer of powder a total of 4 or 5 times to get it thick enough.

5. After you get your last layer of embossing powder done - stick the panel in the freezer for about 2 minutes. This makes it hard and it cracks easier. It may curl a little bit but that is OK because when you crack it, it will straighten out.

6. Remove it from the freezer and start bending it where you want the cracks to be. Keep going until it is cracked how you like. You can sponge over the top with a dark ink like, early espresso or chocolate chip and it kind of fills in the cracks to give it a more aged look. I didn't do this on mine because of the darker background I stamped on, but it works good when you do this technique on white or very vanilla.

7. After your done cracking your piece, layer and add to your card :)

Hope this makes sense! There is a picture tutorial and a video posted on splitcoaststampers on how to do this technique also which you can see here.

Here is what I used on today's card:

Stampin Up! Stamp Sets: Christmas Lodge

Paper: Stampin Up! Sahara Sand, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Stampin Up! Classic ink pads in Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Stampin Up! Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Versamark Ink Pad, Glassy Glaze (retired), White Gel Pen, heat tool, Big Shot, Perfect details texturz plate, texturz silicone rubber pads, sponges, dimensionals

CUTIE PATOOTIE - PENGUIN

Good afternoon everyone!

I have been busy in my stamp room designing cards for my upcoming Christmas Card Class, December 1st. I wanted to share one of the cards that we will be making. It is this CUTIE PATOOTIE PENGUIN card:



Isn't he the CUTEST? I think so! I got the penguin idea from pixiedustmom on splitcoaststampers. She did a super cute z-fold card using this style punch art penguin that you can see here. On my card the "ribbon" I used is actually a piece of the FROSTWOOD LODGE Designer Series Paper! It has some awesome flannel designs that make perfect "faux ribbon"

Here is a closer look at my cutie patootie penguin:



I can't wait to make more of them because they are super adorable! The color combination I used is from the Stampin Up Color Coach. This is an AWESOME tool to have because it gives you some coordinating color combinations for your designs. This color combination was featured on the MARINA MIST card and is the getting started combination. The colors are MARINA MIST, REAL RED & OLD OLIVE



If you don't have a Stampin Up Color Coach yet, you can purchase yours here. They are only $14.95 and are well worth it!

SPEAKING OF SHOPPING.... Stampin Up! has an AWESOME deal going on right now through November 30th called ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA! You can get some great product bundles and special products up to 60% off! To see the featured products click HERE. After your done making your MUST HAVE list, shop online at my store. Don't forget to check the clearance rack also for more great deals!



Thanks for stopping by! Here are the products I used on my card:

Stampin Up! Stamp Sets: Merry Winter

Paper: Stampin Up! Old Olive, Real Read, Marina Mist, Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, basic black, whisper white, daffodil delight, shimmer white

Ink: Stampin Up! Classic ink pads in old olive, pumpkin pie, white craft ink

Accessories: Stampin Up! Snowburst textured impressions embossing folder, big shot, color coach, white gel pen, dimensionals. PUNCHES USED: Extra large Oval, Large Oval, Scallop Circle Oval, Stocking builder, word window, owl builder punch.

BRRRRR.....WINTER!

Good afternoon everyone!

This week is supposed to get COLDER & COLDER each day...BRRRR! I am still not ready for winter or snow! The ONLY place I like to see snow is on my cards - LOL :)

Today's card I made is for three different challenges. I came across this wonderful sketch challenge blog that features a new sketch each week for you to make a card with. I love card sketches because sometimes the layouts are the hardest thing to come up with, at least for me. The website is called FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES

I loved their sketch for this week and when I found it I only had 2 hours to get my entry in - YIKES! But luckily as soon as I saw the sketch I knew what I wanted to do so I hurried up and whipped out my card. Here it is:



I wanted to make my snowflake look cold & crisp and tempting turquoise is a perfect color to make it look frigid. Reminds me of the sky color on those super cold winter days! This card like I said was for three challenges. FIRST the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge FMS11, and then on splitcoaststampers it is for the Technique challenge this week TLC352, to have snow on your card, and the Clean and Simple challenge of a winter card, CAS145.

Here is what the sketch, FMS11, looked like from FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES that I used to create this card:



I loved it - very simple layout but it is very versatile which I love. I will definately be playing along with their challenges in the future! Check out their website!

Here is what I used on today's card:

Stampin Up! Stamp Sets: Serene Snowflakes, Merry Winter

Paper: Stampin Up! Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Whisper White, Vellum

Ink: Stampin Up! Classic ink pads in Basic Black, tempting Turquoise

Accessories: Stampin Up! Versamark, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sponge dauber, Snowburst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 1 & 1 1/4" circle punches, dimensionals

Thanks for visiting my blog today! Be sure to visit each day because I have been busy in my stamp room and have LOTS of fun & cute Christmas cards coming up to share - you won't want to miss it!

Magazine Holder

Good afternoon everyone!

Long time no stamp! I have been super busy lately and just haven't had time to make it to my craft room...but I made up for it today! I have a confession....I have TONS of craft magazines! Not just one craft either...lots! Crochet, Cross Stitch, Scrapbook, Cardmaking... and I can never make myself toss out the special Consultant only magazine, Stampin Success, that Stampin Up! sends out monthly, too much good stuff in there! It features techniques, scrapbook & card layouts and much more. I have all my magazines piled in boxes and when I want to find one I have to dig and it is a huge pain! So I started looking online last night for some easy ways to make your own magazine holder. I came across an e-how article about altering empty cereal boxes and using those to create them. That sounded like a good idea to me but a little flimsy for what I was looking for. So this morning when I was wandering around my craft room I had an A-HA moment! I do a lot of ebay shopping and I keep most of the boxes and envelopes that are in good, reuseable shape. I noticed that the MEDIUM FLAT RATE boxes from the post office were the PERFECT size to make into a magzine holder! They are super sturdy and a perfect 12" wide which makes altering them a breeze with the 12"x12" designer series paper! So I made one this morning for my Stampin Success Magazines! It turned out AWESOME! Here is the side view:



To get the box ready for altering here is what I did. I sealed one end that will be the bottom. I cut the flaps off the other side. I measured up 4" from the bottom on each side at the front of the box and marked it. I then drew a line between the two sides along the front connecting them. I used my ruler to draw a diagonal line from the 4" mark on the front to the upper back corner. I then just cut the box along my lines. To cover with designer series paper I layed the paper on the side I wanted to cover until it was where I wanted it. Carefully holding it in place I layed the box paper side down and traced the back of my paper. I then cut it and mounted it. I took a nail file and smoothed the cut box edges after my paper was on. Pretty easy really!

For this box I used the SPICE CAKE designer series paper to cover the top half. I then used pumpkin pie and chocolate chip as mats for the bottom half. I stamped a large panel of a pretty fall sunset scene set on a lake, with the trees reflecting in the water. I stamped en francais lightly on one side and then stamped the GRATEFUL sentiment, because I am grateful for my Stampin Up business :)
I finished off the panel using the gorgeous Victoria crochet trim. I did the same scene for both sides of my box. You just have to remember that the two sides will be opposite. So when I stamped my first panel I did my words on the right side, and on the second panel I had to stamp the words on the left, because when I mounted them on the box I wanted the ribbon side to be towards the front.

Here is a close up of my stamped panel.



Here is a close up of the side with the ribbon and words:



Here is a close up of the left side:



For the spine of my box I just cut a strip of the designer series paper and covered it. I did do a mat at the bottom of pumpkin pie, chocolate chip and then the matching designer series paper. I left this area kind of blank in case in the future I want to make a panel that says what's in the holder. Here is what the spine looks like.



For the front, I again did the same mat sequence, pumpkin pie, chocolate chip, the designer series paper. Then I did a pumpkin pie 2 3/8" scallop, a 1 3/4" chocolate chip scallop circle, then I created the STAMPIN SUCCESS on the computer and printed it out on very vanilla cardstock, punched it out with a 1 1/4" circle and sponged with chocolate chip ink. I adorned the scallops with the Basic pearls and added some victoria crochet trim. Here is the front:



And here is what it looks like from the front holding my Stampin Success magazines!



I covered the inside of my box with basic white copy paper just to cover up the priority mail wording on the inside. I think it turned out really neat! I can't wait to do more of these for my craft magazines. I thought it would be fun to seperate my magazines by seasons and do seasonal designs! Lots of possibilities and a great way to RECYCLE!

For my stamped design I was inspired by a beautiful card created by Michelle Zindorf which you can see here. Because her's was created awhile ago, I updated the colors I used and changed the stamp set so I used all current products. I also use sponges instead of a brayer.

For the sky & water the colors I used were: Peach Parfait, Bashful Blue, & Basic Gray - before sponging on your paper with the peach and the gray I rubbed them off on scratch paper so it wasn't as dark.

I used more mustard for the en francais words.

I did my trees using basic black, also for the reflections I used the basic black and the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig.

I sponged the outside of my panel with chocolate chip ink.

Here are the products I used to create this project.

MEDIUM FLAT RATE PRIORITY BOX - the one that is 12" wide.

Stampin Up! Stamp Sets: Lovely As a Tree, Always Thankful, En Francais

Paper: Stampin Up! Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Very Vanilla

Ink: Stampin Up! Classic ink pads in Peach Parfait, Bashful Blue, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard

Accessories: Stampin Up! Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, post it notes, white gel pen, sponges, Victoria Crochet Trim