Design 101 Part Three

Tuesday night was the last in a series of three Design 101 classes here.  By now the attendees should be comfortable designing their own layouts, picking their own colours and knowing what embellishments would work well on their designs.  I say "should" because only one person was able to attend all three classes, however, I think everyone who attended even one class came away with enough information to help them do more of their own designing.  At least I got them trying it, which should give them more confidence to try it at home.

Here are some of the results:

Teri Coady is my newest recruit and she has had lots of experience designing layouts for scrapbooks and it shows in her design abilities.  Teri says she likes the bright colours and fun designs.  

I like the ribbon treatments she used and the cheerful designs.  Everything is well-balanced and eye-pleasing. She makes good use of colours, patterns and textures.

The next samples are from another one of my downline, Rebecca Hendricks, who has attended all three classes and has really done well with her designing skills.  Rebecca loves clean and simple and doesn't use a lot of embellishments, and with her designs, she doesn't need to.

I like the combinations of blues and greys she used in this card and her choice of DSP for the layout.

Here you see Rebecca's Clean and Simple style at it's best, with the Magnificent Maple along with the sentiment from Blessings From Heaven.  Her only embellishment is some linen thread.

Planning and presenting this class for the first time was challenging for me, but the results have been well worth it.  If you want to take your card making and stamping to the next level, let me know of your interest and I will plan another set of Design classes in the new year.

Today is Thank You Thursday again!!

Here are the deals for today - one day only.  

I must receive your order before 10 pm so as to make the deadline.  Call or email  me or head over to my on-line store and submit your own order.  Just remember to do it before 10 pm.

Thanks for dropping by today!  Won't you leave a comment for my Design 101 students and give them the encouragement they deserve?

Design 101 Part 2

So Monday night, I had the second in a series of three classes on how to design your own cards.  I was really worried about it because the first of the series I only had two people attend.  The second class, I had seven people attending and I was worried about the logistics of it and if it was too complicated for some or too easy for others.  Turns out I had nothing to worry about.  No one got too frustrated, (at least they didn't tell me they were) and they created some great cards on their own, with some guidance from some challenge sketches I gave them.






There were some guidelines to follow and some pieces already cut except for the last project, which they had to cut the pieces and choose the colours and stamps and everything.

At the end, I asked each one to choose their favourite of the three projects they did and I took a photo of the card for my blog, with their permission.  Everyone was so proud of what they had accomplished, with good reason.  I am going to share them with you today.  Please leave some kind comments for the ladies to encourage them:

Margaret Knoess

Shirley Wilding

Alice Stutters

Rebecca Hendricks

Eunice Stoneman

Jill Clifton

Just One More Sleep!!

Yes, just one more day until you can order the Magnetic Platform for the Big Shot.  If you remember, back early in the summer, the demand was so great for these, that the manufacturer couldn't keep up and they were backordered for ages, so Stampin' Up took them off the order list until they could catch up.

Well, they did and now you will be able to order them again, starting Thursday, Sept. 12.  My advice to you, if you want one (and who wouldn't - they're the best thing since sliced bread!), is to get your order in right away.  Call or email me or go to my online store, but I personally know of dozens of people who want one, and multiply that by all the distributors and you've got a mighty big demand again.

Stampin' Up has added more new MDS downloads!  Check them out here.  Here's some of the latest ones released Sept. 10:

Burlap Ribbon - Digital Download

Grateful Hearts Frameables

Halloween Banner - Digital Download

Halloween Hello Stamp Brush Set

Perfect Blend Stamp Brush Set

Simply Life Photo Templates

Tape It Stamp Brush Set

Toil and Trouble Stamp Brush Set

Thanks for dropping by, and please leave a kind comment for my Design 101 class to encourage them to keep creating!

Getting Ready for Convention

I am working on some ideas for my roomie gifts as well.  These are little trinkets and gifts we give to all our roommates!  This is also a Convention tradition that is so much fun.  I will share all these with you when I get to Convention!   You get to meet people from all over North America.  I can't wait!

The excitement is building!  In exactly one week, I will be heading, along with thousands of other stampers, to Salt Lake City to another Stampin' Up Convention!  But there are a lot of things I have to do before then!

I got all my swap cards designed this weekend and two sets of them almost completed, but I have another two sets of 12 to finish.  It is a tradition at Stampin' Up Conventions to take part in card swaps -  like a cookie exchange only with cards.  Some people prepare 200 or more cards for these exchanges.  This year, I was very conservative in my commitment to swaps so I could spend my energy reaching my goal of Rising Star, so I only have to make 56 cards.


In the meantime, I have a Q&C card to share with you.  Everyone needs a selection of quick and cute cards they can make swiftly and easily when an unexpected occasion comes up. (Or when, like me, they have forgotten about an occasion until the last minute!)

I was walking by my paper stacks yesterday, when I thought, "Aha!  I bet Pistachio Pudding and Early Espresso would look smashing together!  Like mint creme and dark chocolate!"  Then I thought, "I'm hungry!" and went off on a fruitless search for some dark chocolate - which I adore. (Hint, hint!)
After I got back, I went looking for a stamp set to use.  Something new.  And I found it - in Cycle Celebration, a really cute new set from the new catalogue.

• Have I mentioned yet how much I LOVE the new Designer Series Paper Stacks!  They have up-dated the designs and you can get beautiful single colour DSP in EVERY colour in our catalogue!  So handy, especially when the other DSP's do not feature many of the colours that are current.
• I love the Chevron Embossing Folder for the modern texture it gives your card.
• The chevrons are mirrored by the new 3/4" Chevron Ribbon.  I used Pear Pizzazz as it was the closest I could get to the Pistachio colour.  A strip of 3/8" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon in Early Espresso gives a very decorative look.  
• The sentiment is also part of the Cycle Celebration set.  I really like the font!
• Again, I used the new Deco Labels Collection Framelits for the bicycle and it's matte, which are mounted on the card using Dimensionals to give some variety in height.

Card Designing 101

There you have it!  Easy peasy!  You know, you could create cards like this of your own design.  Yes, really you could.  I am planning a series of Card Designing classes to give you the skills and the confidence to start designing your own, as well as some ideas of where to look for inspiration.  Let me know if you would like to attend.  More details to come.

Okay, back to working on swaps!  Wish me luck getting them all finished!  Thanks for dropping by!

Stamps:  Cycle Celebration (w130270; c130273)

Paper:  2013/15 In Colour Designer Series Paper Stack (130136); Early Espresso (119686), Whisper White (100730) and Pistachio Pudding (131294) card stock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Early Espresso (126974)

Accessories:  3/4" Chevron Ribbon in Pear Pizzazz (130011); 3/8" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Early Espresso (126871)

Tools:  Deco Labels Collection Framelits (130102); Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (127749); Big Shot (113439)

Cycle Celebration Stamp Set

Deco Labels Collection Framelits

1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Early Espresso

3/4" Chevron Ribbon in Pear Pizzazz

2013/15 In Colours Designer Series Paper Stack

Big Shot

Chevron Embossing Folder