Stamp Journey

My Digital Studio: Baby Onboard

Guess who's going to be a grandmother?

Yep, that's my granddaughter currently lodging in my youngest daughter, Katelyn.

The layout is a 8" x 8" scrapbook page created in Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio software. Oh, how I love this software!

What I don't love is the name "Grandma." So, what do I want the child to call me?

Well, of course I believe my granddaughter will come up with her own name for her cherished grandmother, such as "Wonderful-wise-woman-who-knows-all." My son-in-law, however, is not buying it.

So I need suggestions. Leave a comment with your favorite grandmother name -- I'll draw a few names and send you one of my full project tutorials.

My daughter and son-in-law have started a new life, and Stampin' Up! has come up wtih a way for you to have a new life, too...as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

If you've ever toyed with the idea of creating and teaching art for profit, now is the time to jump in. For the month of June, you can become a demonstrator for only $99 with the Mini Starter Kit. This kit contains over $180 of Stampin' Up! products and business supplies. The products in this kit will not retire this year and in July recruits will receive a box of 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogs. It's a fabulous deal.

Want to learn more? I'll be glad to talk with you about this great opportunity to join my team -- for just $99! My downline members enjoy demonstrator-only events, monthly meetings and access to my customer events, along with support, challenges and awards. I'd love to tell you more about our business so give me a call or drop me an email. Oh, the fun we could have!

My Digital Studio: May Downloads

I so look forward to the first week of each month when Stampin' Up! releases new downloads for My Digital Studio. If there's a jock -- or a wannabe jock -- in your family, you'll appreciate the offerings this month.

Athletic Department Stamp Brush Set
Digital Download
Item #121065
$7.95

The 17-piece Athletic Department Stamp Brush Set is perfect for preserving your memories of the big game the winning shot, or that moment of true sportsmanship.    

 

Jersey Stamp Brush Set
Digital Download
Item #122263
$9.95

The Jersey alphabet stamp brush set for is a guaranteed win for sports fans in your life. This complete digital alphabet set works perfectly on its own or coordinates nicely with the Scoreboard numbers or Athletic Department stamp brush sets.

     

Scoreboard Stamp Brush Set
Digital Download
Item #122264
$5.95

You’ll always be ahead of the game with the Scoreboard numbers Stamp Brush Set. Perfect for scrapbooking those important wins, the Scoreboard works great on its own or coordinates perfectly with the Jersey alphabet or Athletic Department stamp brush sets.

 

I've used something from each one of the three downloads in this scrapbook page. The numbers down the side are from Scoreboard (item #122264); the letters for Savino's name are the Jersey alphabet (item #122263); the "Team Work" banner is just one of 17 sports-themed images from Athletic Department stamp set (item #121065).

The Scoreboard download includes a great Designer Template, too. Here's what the page looked like when I opened it.

 

The templates are an easy way to kick-start your pages.

To order this month's downloads, go to my website and click on Shop Now. Now THAT's a big score!

Video Shares: Nashville Flooding & Scrapbook Ideas

     

With the tremendous storms and flooding in the southeast, some of my best pals are in Alabama and Mississippi volunteering with the American Red Cross. It is truly a privilege to be able to serve those affected by disaster and I expect to be deployed to Tennessee myself in the next few days.

Please consider making an easy $10 donation to assist the relief efforts. Just text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to make a $10 donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. (See more donation information here.)

There have sadly been 28 deaths with the flooding in the southeast; thousands of people are in shelters and the flood waters have not yet receded. News broadcasts are showing spectacular photos of rescues, flooded highrise buildings and the impact on Nashville's music industry, including the Opryland Hotel and the Concert Hall.

Photographer Michael Deppisch has captured a rather different -- and moving -- perspective on the Nashville floods of 2010. 

I know your hearts are with mine as we keep all those affected by these storms in our thoughts.

    

The second video I'd like to show you today is in celebration of National Scrapbooking Month. Carrie Cudney from Stampin' Up!'s home office has the cutest projects to share with you.

Just click on the photo above to see the video. Let me know what you think of the ideas!

My Digital Studio: Update Available

News flash from Stampin' Up!

For those of you who have purchased the My Digital Studio software, there is a free update available. To update, launch My Digital Studio and choose "Check For Updates" under the Help menu and follow the directions. Easy-peasy!

Today's share is a 6" x 6" scrapbook page I created in My Digital Studio for our monthly demonstrator meeting.

 

Many of my stampin' pals pictured here were at the meeting, so it was fun to give them one of these pages.

Our next demonstrator meeting is Thursday, December 17th in Duluth, GA. We're doing a shoebox swap -- each of us brings a project for everyone else to complete.

If you've ever toyed with the idea of joining the ranks of Stampin' Up! demonstrators, I'd love to have you come to our meeting as my guest. Call me at 678-467-1330 for more information!

Hurricane Ida Go Away

After what seems like just a few days of rain-free Autumn days in Atlanta the wet stuff is back, courtesy of Hurricane Ida. After all the flooding in the southeast, we're just a little nervous when there are clouds in the sky, let alone a named storm moving in.

Longing for drier days, I put together a scrapbook page of fall fun in My Digital Studio.

 

I started with a template from the Hoppy Memories Scrappin' Kit, one of the kits included in the software. There are ten pre-designed pages in the kit, plus a front and back cover. In this case, I was only doing a couple of pages, so I just picked out my favorites and started modifying.

I added a photograph, some text, and changed out a few colors. And I was done!

Digital scrapbooking is so fast. I love that I can make my own digital embellishments or pick from the many included accessories.

Now I can shut out the rain, sip my hot tea and recall the moments of joy, play and sun.

Wednesday I'll have another edition of my Holiday Countdown newsletter going out with samples and full instructions for holiday projects. Don't miss out -- sign up for my email newsletter at the top left of this page.

Angela Scraps

My friend and talented paper wrangler, Angela Styma, has an adorable little boy who is – of course – the object of her scrapbooking efforts.

Angela used elements from Stampin’ Up!’s line of Simply Scrappin’ kits to feature her favorite young man.

Joy is easy to define with a little one in the house at Christmas!

Angela is an old hand at scrapbooking, but you don’t have to be experienced to get great pages with little effort. The Simply Srappin’ kits make coordinating colors and picking embellishments easy-peasy.

For more information on the variety of Simply Scrappin’ kits in our current catalogs, contact me at 678-467-1330 or email me at Kathleen@stampjourney.com.

Need A Laugh?

This has been a busy, confusing week for me and I so appreciated seeing two things that made me laugh right out loud. I thought y'all might need a giggle, too, so before we have a look at today's samples...

The first humor moment was when I read an email from Cindy Marchant. Her tagline cracked me up:
"I worry that when I die my husband will sell my scrapbooking stuff for what I told him I paid for it!"

Now admit it -- it's funny because it's true, right? LOL!

The second is a YouTube video that has nothing to do with the paper arts, but will be especially meaningful to those of you who have felt the pain of a "senior" moment. One of my favorite stampin' pals, Kathy Logan, sent me the link to this video. Enjoy!

I've not forgotten to wear clothing yet, but the way this week is going....anything's possible!

It's been such a hectic week that I especially appreciate the sentiment on this scrapbook page.

And here's one in very similar colors with a sentiment I love!

Now go...smell the flowers and create something wonderful.

Time to Scrapbook

Woohoo! Here we go for Scrapbooking Month…The stamp set used on our Stampin' Up! sample today is from the Occasions mini catalog, and is only available until the end of June.

Sense of Time features the images at right,
plus the large clock design used on the sample page below.

 

Stamps
Sense of Time (Item #113804)

Paper
Always Artichoke card stock
Chocolate Chip card stock
Naturals White card stock
Urban Garden Designer paper

Ink
Chocolate Chip Classic stamp pad
Baja Breeze Classic stamp pad

Accessories
Flower Fusion Too Accents & Elements
On Board So Tweet
Filigree Designer Brads
Curly Label punch
Hodgepodge Hardware, Vanilla

This is a 6" x 6" page – perfect for preserving those memories of that special day in a size that is easy to carry with you.

Contact me to find out more about the wonderful albums we have…in a variety of styles, sizes and colors sure to satisfy the archivist in you!

Start Scrapbookin'

Join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator for only $75 with the limited-time Scrapbooking Starter Kit.

The Scrapbooking Starter Kit contains:

• Schoolbook Serif Alphabet stamp set (valued at $42.95)
• Simply Scrappin' Petal Party (valued at $19.95)
• Earth Elements assorted Textured card stock (valued at $11.95)
• Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad (valued at $ 7.50)
  Each of the products listed above may be substituted for like items.

The Scrapbooking Starter Kit also contains all the business supplies contained in the standard Starter Kit:

• Getting Started DVD
• Getting Started Guide
• Guest Invitation Postcard (100)
• Idea Book & Catalog (8)
• Occasions Mini Catalog (8)
• To My Hostess Envelope (10)
• Recruit Folders (5)
• Recruit Brochures (20)
• Hostess Brochure (20)
• Hostess Benefits Form (10)
• Customer Order Form (50)

Contact me today to join my team!

Stampin’ In The Mountains

Every year a group of about twenty die-hard crafters and artisans gather for a weekend in the mountains of north Georgia…no kids, no significant others, no chores. Most of us scrapbook, but we also have people who make cards, do beading or create 3D projects like jewelry and gift items.

This year was a blast and I thought I’d share some of the photos from the weekend.

Sofas were pushed together to make room for our tables. Some of us seem to need more room than others (like me!).

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not everyone stayed up all night to work on their projects. Some ladies actually slept. A couple of people even did other things, like complete a puzzle or read a book. They were the exceptions, but it can be done. :-)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Perhaps you can't manage a whole weekend away to play…consider an afternoon or evening gathering, instead. Call me at 678-467-1330 or email maccreative@mac.com to chat about a private stamping class or party with YOUR friends. I'm working on my late April and early May calendar now, so call today for the best choice of days.

I'd love to party with you. Yes, you!

Tips For Taking Great Holiday Photos

The stockings are hung, the house is bursting with holiday colors and smells, and there's a "photo op" at every turn.

How do you capture those magical moments when you're  surrounded by twinkling lights, candlelit rooms and helpful Uncle Harry?

Jessica at the Webshots blog has compiled a list of tips for capturing those lovely -- but challenging to photograph -- sparkly holiday scenes. Click here to read her tips...you'll have to handle Uncle Harry on your own!

Good Intentions

I'm already looking towards January and New Year resolutions. I know, I know -- a recipe for disappointment -- setting high goals and ultimately feeling badly when I don't meet them.

This year, however, I am determined to keep my goals modest and attainable.

One of those goals will be to complete two scrapbooks. I've long been overwhelmed by the boxes of photos taunting me...daring me to organize them...2009 is the year!

For inspiration, I need look no further than my own website. Stampin' Up! has provided wonderful scrapbook samples, complete with a supplies list right here on my Stampin' Up! website.

I've decided to do my scrapbooks thematically instead of chronologically. Can you imagine doing a book for every year trudging through the last 30 years?

I know that that approach will be far too daunting for me to complete.

So, instead, I'm going to do one book about my babies...as babies. And another of our shared adventures when the girls and I were deeply involved in Camp Fire Boys & Girls Clubs. One book devoted to Christmas; another to family vacations. And so on.

I'm excited about this plan!

I expect this method will let me pick the best of the best pictures and memories and use some of the wonderful supplies I've accumulated.

If you're inspired by the samples here, click on each one to see the materials used.

From Photo To Fine Art?

As we scrapbook the moments in our lives, there are times when our photos need a little help. Adobe Photoshop provides many tools for enhancing pictures but can be somewhat daunting to use.

There's an easy tutorial at PhotoSpin.com on using Adobe Photoshop to create a work of art -- a faux painting, if you will. I tried it on a couple of photos I took last weekend in the Florida Keys.

Here's my original photo. This was taken on the dock at Key West...what a fabulous sunset!

You can't get any more south in the U.S. than this.

 

 

 

And here's the faux painting version.

 
 
 

 

 

  
  
  

 
 

Another original photo, this time from Key Largo. (A great place to scuba dive, by the way.) 

This was taken on the beach where we stayed.

 

 

And the faux painting effect. 

 

 

 

 

It's a fun technique to play with, and takes only a few steps. The technique is suitable for any level of Photoshop user, even beginners.

Watch the technique video at www.photospin.com.

May all your photos be "works of art!" My next task is to get the photos from this trip into a scrapbook. Off to work on that!

Fishin' Credit

My thanks to Kimberly Myers of Santa Rosa, CA, for her "Fishin'" scrapbook page seen in this post. Kimberly is not only an awesome scrapbooker; she is also one of the recipients  of Stampin' Up!'s Artisan Award for 2008.

Congratulations, Kimberly!

Cuppa Tea, Anyone?

Reader Monica Sheldon sent in this card using a piece of Hodgepodge Hardware. Nice job, Monica!

And here are some other samples using this great hardware:

Hodgepodge Hardware is not just for cards -- it's perfect for scrapbook pages and 3D projects, too.

Friday I'll announce the winner of the Hodgepodge Hardware Contest. One lucky contributor gets a Hodgepodge Hardware kit of her own for Christmas!

If you'd like a kit of YOUR own, let your loved ones know that they can order gift certificates from me for Stampin' Up! product or classes. A simple email to maccreative@mac.com or a phone call to 678-467-1330 will take care of it, and put visions of stampin' sugar plums in your head!

Begone Ghosts & Goblins!

I am SO glad it is November 1st -- for two reasons! 

One, I'm done with Halloween several days before the main event. If it wasn't for those impossibly cute witches, bats and spiders Stampin' Up! keeps putting into rubber stamp sets I would likely ignore the whole thing.

Two, there is a fabulous special sale starting today and you are going to LOVE it!

Buy three packages of designer paper and get the fourth one FREE!

What a great way to stock up on those terrific designer papers for your scrapbooking, card, and gift projects...and what a great gift for the paper artists in your life. Call or email me today to order the paper packages you love, or to order for the someone YOU love.