Make a Cake Birthday Wishes

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Stamp with Jini

Make a Cake is a two step stamp set that you can find in the 2013 Catalog is a wonderful image stamp set for all occasion use. Depending on which accent stamps you use to build your cake you can make birthday, wedding, congratulations, etc. The choice is up to you.

Here is a quick card I put together for one of my friend’s daughter who is turning 19. I wanted to give the card a softer spring time feel so I used the Birthday Basics Designer Series Paper and pulled out the softer tones of Crisp Cantaloupe and Bermuda Bay.

Want to see my masculine version of this card? I’ll be sharing it on my face book page Stamp with Jini later today so stop on by and check it out.

Did you know that the Make a Cake stamp set is one of the items on our Weekly Deals? Well it is, so now you can get this great stamp set in Clear at a wonderful deal! Why not check out the rest of the Weekly Deals below and while your there stop by the Clearance Rack and take a look at the great deals there?

Then stop back by tomorrow when I’ll be sharing another of my projects using items from the Weekly Deals list.

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Make a Cake (132036/126742), Itty Bitty Banners (132022/126257)

Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe (131176) and Midnight Muse Classic Stampin’ Pad (126860)

Paper: Birthday Basics Designer Series Paper (130145), Crisp Cantaloupe (130021), Bermuda Bay (131197), and Very Vanilla Card Stock (101650)

Accessories: Bitty Banner Framelits (129267) and Labels Collection Framelits (125598)

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

Hostess code JZT4F3FZ

Weekly Deals

Clearance Rack (while supplies last)

Weekly Deals & NEW Digital Downloads

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Stamp with Jini

Weekly Deals for April 8th – 14th

TWO NEW DIGITAL DOWNLOADS

Love MDS? Want some fun new Digital Downloads? Well you’re in luck – just released is a fun new birthday themed download with lots of goodies and packed with wonderful new sentiments that use a fun and whimsical font.

Endless Birthday Wishes Kit (137930)

And fresh from our Spring Occasions Catalog – the Springtime Hello Stamp Brush Set (137914).

Haven’t tried My Digital Studio but are curious how it works? Why not download our FREE 30 Day Trial and check it out today? Click HERE to learn more about it.

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

Hostess code JZT4F3FZ

Clearance Rack (while supplies last)

NEW Classes

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Stamp with Jini

Want to learn a fun new technique? Why not check out my April Technique Class?

Bubble Technique Tuesday Class:

You’ll always get to make both a card and a handy reference guide during my technique classes.

Tuesday, April 22nd at 6:30 p.m.

Class Fee $10 ($5 Refundable towards a minimum $25 order at class)

Contact me to hold your spot

Check out my Calendar of Events or Click HERE to see my flyer with details.

Soho Card Set Stamp Camp

I know that this class is in May, but with the retirement list just around the corner (on April 21st) you’ll want to check out the Class Bundle Option now and save your spot today.

Class includes 4 cards and a holder to keep them in and makes a lovely gift set. Instructions will be included and all supplies are included except Snail Adhesive.

Monday, May 19th at 6:30 p.m.

Cost $30 ($20 refundable towards a minimum $25 order at class)

Class Bundle Option: Four Frames Stamp Set & Decorative Label Punch Bundle

Wood $52 or Clear $46

(Bundle includes class fee, stamp set and punch)

Click HERE for my Calendar of Events or Click HERE for my flyer with details

LAST DAY FOR WEEKLY DEALS

There are just a few more hours before this week’s Weekly Deals end. Don’t miss out on your chance to order your favorites.

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

Hostess code JZT4F3FZ

Birthday Card Contest – Click HERE for details

Clearance Rack (while supplies last)

Serene Silhouettes

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Stamp with Jini

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Stamp with Jini

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.

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.)

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

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!

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!

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

Pop ‘n Cuts Easter Treat

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Stamp with Jini

I love to use the Card Base Pop ‘n Cuts Die to create all kinds of projects. So when I was playing with the Eggstra Spectacular stamp set the other day working on my Mini File Folder Gum Holder (click HERE to see more about that project) I couldn’t resist pulling it out to play with – and voila!

The holder holds a square of Ghirardelli chocolate. (I found these special ones for Easter at my local Ingles that are just too cute with the little images on them.)

Don’t you just love the soft colors from the Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper? Mmm… subtles, I love the soft spring color pallet, it’s my personal happy place and after this winter I think we’re all looking forward to spring!

I’ve used my Blender Pen and Smoky Slate Classic Stampin’ Pad to color the little lamb along with an assortment of Stampin’ Write Markers for the basket of eggs. And the Island Indigo Chevron Ribbon belly band just slides off and allows you to open your treat –

I really like the way that this turned out and so I thought I would share with you how to make them in this week’s video. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

I won’t keep you waiting any longer – here is my Pop ‘n Cuts Easter Treat

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Eggstra Spectacular (133068/133071)

Inks: StazOn Jet Black Ink Pad (101406) and Smoky Slate Classic Stampin’ Pad (131179)

Paper: Watercolor Wonder Series Paper Stack (132994), Gumball Green (126840), Island Indigo (122923), Smoky Slate (131202), and Whisper White Card stock (100730)

Accessories: Card Base Pop ‘n Cuts Die (130099), Circles Collection (130911) and Ovals Collection Framelits (129381), Island Indigo ¾” Chevron Ribbon (131151), Whisper White Baker’s Twine (124262), 2 3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch (118874), 1 ¾” Circle Punch (119850), Paper-Piercing Tool (126189), and Stampin’ Pierce Mat (126199), Assorted Stampin’ Write Markers, Blender Pens (102845), Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334), Craft Scissors (108360), Sticky Strip (104294), and Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)

Non-Stampin’ Up!: Ghirardelli ® Spring Impression chocolates

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

Hostess code JZT4F3FZ

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)

More Swaps, Weekly Deals, and Digital Downloads

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Stamp with Jini

Happy April Fools Day! can you believe how quickly the year is going by? And it’s no joke!

Twenty-Two years ago today I was in the hospital, getting every April Fools joke you can think of about labor – while in labor with our first child. The time has flown by and he is now 22! Yikes. So on my agenda today is creating something special for his birthday that I’ll be sharing with you later this week.

Meanwhile, I told you yesterday that I would share more of the cards that I received from my friends during this month’s meeting. So here are two more from my friends Anna and Janie.

This first card is clean and simple and uses the stamp set Lots of Thanks (129687/129690) along with our monochromatic Designer Series Paper, Modern Medley (126926).

If you are looking for a great place to start your stamping a monochromatic Designer Series Paper is a great place to start. This card uses just three items, Very Vanilla and Basic Black Card stock and Ink. Along with your favorite stamp set and you can create a ton of clean and classic cards.

This second card is for the Big Shot lover in us all and uses the Oh,Hello stamp set (131931/130733).

This card is fun and filly and for the girl in all of us. Janie uses the Dress Up Framelits (130101) for the focal point along with the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack (132996). Too cute right? I love the little pearl necklace and the Coastal Cabana 3/8″ Ruffle Stretch Trim.

NEW WEEKLY DEALS

Check out this week’s great deals! Click HERE to see them all.

NEW Digital Downloads for April 1st

We have two new Digital Downloads just released today – Why not check them both out?

This first one is just in time for your Easter projects – if you love this great little stamp set from the Occasions Catalog, you’re really going to love this Digital Downloads

Eggstra Spectacular (137912)

Stop by tomorrow when I’ll be sharing my latest video tutorial using this stamp set.

Have a quirky sense of humor? Or know someone who does? How fitting for today – April Fools Day! The Fine Print Greeting Card Templates (137911) will make that special someone take a second look! Check them all out and get a chuckle.