Retired List Blowout Sale!

Retirement Banner Image

Get excited! Because starting tomorrow Stampin’ Up! is will be offering 25% – 50% off many of the retiring items! Yippie!! So if you missed out on a product the first time, this is your last chance to get it before it’s gone for good!

Sale runs May 22nd – June 4th, 2014

Retirement List Click HERE to get a printable PDF

Retirement List Accessories Click HERE to get a printable PDF

NEW UNDEFINED CARVING RUBBER OFFERED

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Now being offered is a 3 pack of Undefined Carving Rubber (item 137123). Now you can combine this rubber with our Cling Foam (124236) to make your own clear-mount rubber stamp!

Still want the wood mount option? Check out our Undefined Refill Kit (134808).

Want a NEW 2014-2015 Catalog?

Catalog Premier 2014 Bonnie Thurber (4)

Contact me today to find out how to receive yours.

Click here to order your Stampin’ Up! Products online 24/7! (US only)

Hostess code WXAUDJ3F

Serene Silhouettes

I love the soft look of a watercolor wash behind an stamped image and the Serene Silhouettes stamp set is perfect for this technique.

Serene Silhouetes

Silhouette images are great for all kinds of techniques and the Serene Silhouettes has a wonderful selection of nature based images so it is great for all kinds of occasions and year round use. I happened to use the Afternoon Picnic Designer Series Paper as my color inspiration for this card, but can you image it done with a bolder pallet for sunset instead of sunrise?

And if you need a very versatile ribbon try our Whisper White 5/8″ Organza Ribbon. I know that it is Whisper White, but because of the nature of the ribbon it lends itself to all kinds of colors. The sheer portion of the ribbon allows it to adapt even when using Very Vanilla as the neutral. So why not try it out – I think you’ll be surprised with the results.

Serene Silhouetes - Candy dot closeup

Notice the pop of color in the lower right hand corner of the card? Did you say, Candy Dots? If so you are right, these happen to be the color Wisteria Wonder from the Subtles Collection of Candy Dots. Just perfect when you want a little something!

Stepping back in time with Undefined 

Yesterday I shared with you the card and cake I made for my son’s birthday this week and I told you I’d dig out my project from high school. Well, I found it under my stack on my desk! I’ve been meaning to share it with you since January. (Thus the fact it was under a stack on my desk. LOL!)

I made this in my art class during my freshman year of high school. It was during our printing unit – we did all kinds of cool mediums and then printed them in different ways. You can see I’m no artist, but I’ve always loved art class and wanted to be an art teacher when I was little, so I took every class I could in school. Oh, wait I guess I am sorta… after all I teach stamping!

Here is the linoleum carving – As you can see I was into mermaids in the late seventies. Hmmmm… maybe that had something to do with the Disney movie at the time – oops… I’m dating myself!

linoleum carving

And here is the print that I made using the linoleum. For this print we brayered (is that a word?) on the acrylic ink and then layer the paper on top running a clean brayer over the top.

linoleum carving Print  (1)

It’s a bit ragged, but it’s held up pretty well for it’s age I guess. Looks like I’ve got another project on my list of to dos – going through my old childhood boxes.

And here we did prints with a background of tissue paper.

linoleum carving Print  with tissue paper  (3) linoleum carving Print  with tissue paper  (2)

As you can see, this makes me think of how much that stamping really has in common with my old art class days. We use a lot of the same concepts and procedures in our stamping. And Stampin’ Up! has made it sooo easy for all of us to be a successful stamping artist with the products found in our catalogs. It’s not just stamping folks – It allows us all to tap into that creative nature we all have inside us and maybe even forgot about!

If you’d like to tap into your forgotten inner artist, learn stamping techniques with me, and live locally why not check out my technique classes on my Calendar of Events? You too can join in the fun and become a stamping artist too.

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Serene Silhouettes (132073/127324)

Inks: Basic Gray (121044), Wisteria Wonder (126985), Blushing Bride (131172), and Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin’ Pad (131298)

Paper: Afternoon Picnic Designer Series Paper (131390), Shimmery White (101910), Crisp Cantaloupe (131298), and Wisteria Wonder Card Stock (122922),

Accessories: Subtles Candy Dots (130933),  Whisper White 5/8″ Organza Ribbon (114319), Aqua Painters (1039654), and  Stampin’ Spritzer (126185),

Click here to order your Stampin’ Up! Products online 24/7! (US only)

Hostess code JZT4F3FZ

Click Here to learn more about using the Hostess Code

Birthday Card Contest – Click HERE for details

Clearance Rack (while supplies last)

Weekly Deals (Special ends Monday, April 7th, 2014 at 11:50 p.m. (MT)

Undefined Birthday

Earlier this week I mentioned that it was my son’s birthday on April 1st. Over the years, I’ve often wondered if the joke was on me since our son has given me an education through the years as his interests have changed that I didn’t expect. I’ve made up bed time stories about building a gazebo with Norm, learned all the names of the tools in my local Sears, and the difference between a backhoe and a front loader. Not exactly things that I’d ever thought I’d need to know – but motherhood is full of surprises.

What does this have to do with an Undefined Birthday? Well, when Stampin’ Up! introduced the Undefined Stamp Carving Kit I knew it would be something that I could use. In this house we don’t always have the image I need for that someone special.

So this year I knew I had it knocked and could create what I needed with the Undefined Stamp Carving Kit (item133402).

Here is what I came up with for our son, Johnathan’s birthday. I started with the cake since I knew that that would take some time to dry. (I used royal icing to create the design. It didn’t dry completely so you’ll notice it cracked a bit.) And the special cake is really his favorite part of the day.

Undefined Johnathans birthday 2014 cake

I simply went online and found an image that I thought would be fairly easy to recreate for both the cake and the stamp carving.

It took a little bit of time and there is nothing like waiting until the last minute, but I had just what I needed and knew my son would love it! Really I was surprised how quickly it went once I started carving. (I just kept reminding myself as I went along that what I left would show up as the black and what was gone wouldn’t show up.)

Undefined Johnathans birthday 2014 card

And here is the inside of the card, notice the bullets at the bottom that I carved also? Larry wasn’t sure he thought they looked like bullets, but Johnathan said he knew what they were from the context of the card. LOL

Undefined Johnathans birthday 2014 card inside

And I’m sure those of you who watched movies in the 70s recognize where I took the sentiment from. LOL

Johnathan’s gift consisted of a new shirt, (since I know he won’t buy his own) and a DVD set of guess who.

He didn’t say it, he just did his usually grunt, but I know he was tickled when he saw the cake since he immediately took a photo and texted it. With that quick move I knew I’d made the kid’s day!

Undefined Johnathans birthday 2014 cake and card

Do you need that special image you can’t find? Why not give our Undefined Stamp Carving Kit a try? Bring out the inner artist in yourself. It is easy to do – just draw or google an image, trace, and carve. Remember our old art class days from school? I know I did one of these for printing back in the old days. Hmmm…. I’ll have to dig that out of my school day stash and share with you one day.

And better yet you can get refills for the kit. Yippie! I believe I need one for my daughter’s birthday at the end of the month. Try and find a flute!

Birthday Card Contest banner

Since birthdays are a big deal here in our house during the spring I’m holding a Birthday Card Contest. Joining in the fun is easy. Just send me a handmade birthday card and be entered to win a cute birthday stamp set from my stash!

I’ll be sharing these cards here on my blog and on my face book page Stamp with Jini – so why not stop by and like my page?

Here are the details:

1. Contest ends April 29th, 2014 (My daughter’s birthday, yikes!)

2. Make a birthday card using Stampin’ Up! or My Digital Studio (Or even a combination of both!)

3. Place a sticky note on the inside with your name, address, email, and phone number so I know how to contact you when you win.

4. All cards will be donated to my Caring with Cards program which includes Hospice, Ronald McDonald House and Operation Write Home.

5. Mail the card to me

Jini Merck

2320 Dooley Rd.

Clarkesville GA 30523

On May 1st I’ll be announcing the winner of my Birthday Card Contest here on my blog!

Supplies:

Inks: Jet Black StazOn Ink Pad (101406) and Pumpkin Pie (126945)

Paper: Basic Black (121045), Pumpkin Pie (105117), and Whisper White Card Stock (100730)

Accessories: Undefined Stamp Carving Kit (133402)Circle Collection Framelits (130911), Blender Pens (102845)

Click here to order your Stampin’ Up! Products online 24/7! (US only)

Hostess code JZT4F3FZ

Clearance Rack (while supplies last)

Weekly Deals (Special ends Monday, April 7th, 2014 at 11:50 p.m. (MT)

New Digital Downloads

 

Leadership – Day 3

Today started with a presentation from an inspirational speaker, Pat Pearson who gave a wonderful presentation to our group.

Leadership 2014 Pat Pearson

I enjoyed the classes and participating in some of our fun and engaging booths in the Gathering Place and of course enjoyed the ever growing projects displayed on the display boards and visiting with other Demonstrators from across North America.

Leadership 2014 Houston display boards

I took part in our Paper Pumpkin Challenge – where I designed a card in under 10 minutes using stamps from our past Paper Pumpkin kits and new products from our Occasions Catalog.

Leadership 2014 Houston Paper Pumpkin Challenge (3)

Leadership 2014 Houston Paper Pumpkin Challenge (2)

Whew, that was a lot of fun, stamping and creating with the others at my table. I can’t wait to see all the wonderful cards everyone made tomorrow. Here’s mine – so what do you think?

Leadership 2014 Houston Paper Pumpkin Challenge (1)

Lunch was made extra special with a lovely plated meal
Leadership 2014 Houston Lunch (3)
– and a wonderful dessert.
Leadership 2014 Houston Lunch (1)

And more time to learn about and try some of our newer products like the Undefined Kit. I had a blast carving this stamp for my daughter – I’d forgotten just how much fun this was to do. After all it’s been a long time since Middle School art class – LOL.
Leadership 2014 Houston Undefined

And to end a wonderful day of learning and playing together, after dinner we met to stamp together. Here is my table of friends that included – Carol, Sara, Rosemarie and Kathleen.
Leadership 2014 Houston Make n Takes (2)

Yes, those are our goodie bags of supplies – yippie! And here is one of the projects we were able to work on during the event. Do you recognize this image from the Occasions Catalog? Curious about the finished card? I’ll try and post a finished photo soon.
Leadership 2014 Houston Make n Takes (1)

And of course the night wouldn’t have been complete without Leadership giveaways and prize patrol! Here is my lucky friend Marni, who got this great bundle of products.
Leadership 2014 Houston Prize Patrol Marni

How great is that, right? Lucky girl – maybe it’ll be my turn tomorrow.

Click here to order your Stampin’ Up! Products online 24/7! (US only)

Hostess code 4V3FQSB9

Clearance Rack Blitz (while supplies last)

Weekly Deals (Special ends January 13, 2014 at 11:50 p.m. (MT)

NEW Undefined Stamp Carving Kit

Undefined banner image

Woohoo! Just announced yesterday during Convention is our NEW Undefined Carving Kit! Check it out.

Have you ever wanted a stamp but couldn’t find the perfect image? Do you have a special family logo or a sketch you’d like to have as a stamp. Well now you can! Undefined is Stampin’ Up!’s new stamp carving product line. You define the rubber stamp any way you want.

Its an entirely new and different creative experience when you carve your very own stamp . And when you’re finished, you will have created a one-of-a-kind stamp!

How exactly do you carve a stamp? Watch the video to see a quick tutorial.

Intrigued? I know you’ll want to get your hands on the kit and start carving your own masterpieces. So here are the item numbers you’ll need (I suggest adding a refill kit on your first order . . . trust me, you’re gonna want it).

Item #

Description

Price

133402

Undefined Stamp Carving Kit

$19.95

134808

Undefined Refill Kit

$9.95

124236

Clear-Mount Cling Foam*

$10.95

*Add a sheet of Clear-Mount Cling Foam to create your own clear-mount stamps. Mounting your stamps on the cling foam allows you to make stamps any size you want, not just what will fit on the blocks in the kit.

Undefined carving kit image

Included in the Stamp Carving Kit:

  • 2 carving tools
  • 3″ x 4″ rubber
  • 3″ x 4″ foam
  • 4 wood blocks (various sizes)
  • 1 Island Indigo Stampin’ Write Marker
  • 3 postcards
  • Instruction sheet
  • Stamp image templates

Undefined refill kit image

Included in the Refill Kit:

  • 3″ x 4″ rubber
  • 3″ x 4″ foam
  • 4 wood blocks (various sizes)
  • Instruction sheet

Go ahead – Express your personality, thoughts, feelings, etc. with a stamp you’ve carved all on your own!

Click HERE to see a printable Undefined Carving Kit Flyer

Click here to order your Stampin’ Up! Products online 24/7! (US only)

convention special banner

Convention Special Hostess Code EVGFBV9E. – You’ll receive a FREE Washi Tape 5 Ways Class Tutorial (a value of $14.95).  It’s my gift to you! And since Washi Tape is so much fun – you’re going to love this FREE Class!

Click Here to learn more about using the Hostess Code

Buy 3 Get 1 FREE!

        July DSP promotion               

For a limited time when you buy 3 packs of Designer Series Paper you can get one for FREE! Promotion ends July 31st