This is what you missed last month if you  aren't subscribed to Paper Pumpkin.  It could be a journal but I decided that it is a mini photo album.  My sister and brother-in-law were grand marshalls of the parade for Trading Days and their grandson's all got to ride the float with them. 

 

 

The book came with several extra sheets of DSP but I used them all to add more pages to the album.  So I covered the front and back chip board with just regular card stock.

 

The book came with 6 sheets of stickers and I only used about half of them so I have lots more for another album. 

 

I can hardly wait to see what I'll get this month.

I got a package from Stampin' Up! on Monday and I finally got a chance to try out my new Big Shot magnetic platform.  It's wonderful.  #1 I can get rid of my tab 2.  It's so warped that it's hard to use.  #2.  Everything sticks tight.  Really tight.  I shook it and turned it upside down and nothing moved.  I can hardly wait for my customers to try it.

 

 

This next picture is me trying to show you that nothing shifts if you hold the platform upside down and shake it.  Not the greatest picture but you get the idea.

 

And this next picture is a little late.  It's the Paper Pumpkin kit from a couple of months ago.  The card on the left is made according to directions.  The card on the right is one out of my head using some of the supplies in the kit.  It also shows one of the new stamps out of the new catalog.  It's a set called "Wetlands"  One of my favorite new sets.  We always need more masculine sets. 

Downline Gifts

I'm going to convention in July and I've got some of my downline going and I've made some gifts for them.  These are for keeping receipts or coupons in.  And when we go to convention we need to save all of our receipts for tax purposes.  I have made these before but I just stamped something on them and called it good.  This time I decided that they needed to be a little nicer so I decided on shabby chic.  So here are three of them.  I need at least one more but I've got time yet.

 

 

Since I started these a week or so ago I have used some retired stuff on them.  I had to use the crown because we're the Rubber Queens. 

 

The binder clips keep them closed real tight and they fold flat so they don't have a lot of bulk to them.

 

The designer paper on this one kept ripping when I was trying to distress the edges but I kind of like the effect so I left it.  And now here's a quick tutorial and they really are simple to do.

 

Start with an 11 X 8 1/2" sheet of card stock.  Score it at 4 1/4" length wise and score it at 6" the other way.  Now score the outside long edges at 1/2" on both sides. 

 

Now cut off the longer piece that you just scored.  I hope the picture helps

 

Now you need to fold the cs in half and cut a piece out of the middle of the shorter end.  This is just so that it will close better. 

 

Now add some sticky strip to the edge piece that is left on each side.

 

And fold the bottom up against the top to form a pocket.  Do this to each side.  Now you can decorate the outside any way that you want.  Or I suppose that you could just leave it blank.  It will work just as well.  Be sure to decorate the binder clip too.  Sticky strip works best for that. 

My favorites.

The new catalog went live on Friday and I've already put in two orders.  I think that my new favorite is going to be the magnetic platform for the Big Shot.  I've seen a video of it and it looks wonderful.  First of all because I'll be able to get rid of my horribly warped tab 2.  And secondly it holds the framelits and edgelits down really well.  No more sliding or shifting.  And no more post-it-notes.  So be sure to come to the next card class to get a chance to use it.  There's a lot more new stuff that I'm sure that I'll really like.  When my order comes I'll be playing with all of it and I'll let you see what I do.  Have you already looked at the catalog and marked all of the things that you want?  If you need a catalog please let me know.

 

Here's a stamp set that is retiring.  It's called Countryside and we'll be saying goodby to it next Monday.  This isn't the best color but the card is made with the new Baked Brown Sugar and the yellow is Crushed Curry.  Crushed Curry isn't new but it's been out of the line for a year or two and now it's back. 

Remember that the retired stuff only has a couple more days before you won't be able to get it so if there's something that you want let me know.  And on Friday we can order out of the new catalog so for a couple of days we'll be able to order out of both catalogs.  I've got a long wish list of things out of the new catalog.  Do you have your list ready?

 

Here's another card from last weeks card class.  I saw this on Gretchen Barron's blog and I love it.  She had done several in different colors.  The bright colors make beautiful cards but I choose this color for one reason.

 

 

And here it is.  Can you see the brad?  We embossed it in Melon Mambo so it matched the card stock.  I don't know about you but I tend to hoard things and these brads are retiring this week so I thought we had better use them.  The embossing folder is retiring too.  And this is my favorite folder.  I can't believe it's retiring.  I'm very sad about losing this one. 

Simply Sketched with water color technique.

 

This is another card that we did at card class.  I don't use the watercolor technique very much so I thought that we needed to try it.  Mine didn't turn out to bad.  I know that it takes practice and maybe just a little bit of talent.  This stamp set is a hostess set out of the new book called Simply Sketched.  I just love it and if you love it you can get it by hosting a workshop.  The pink color is Rose Red and the green is one of the new in colors called Pistachio Pudding.  I love it because it's such a soft pastel.  The white is water color paper and it really makes a difference when you're water coloring.  I wouldn't have done nearly as well as Whisper White.  So get some water color paper and give it a try.