Thursday Tools - Punches!

It's no secret that I LOVE punches! One of the saddest days was the day i realised I would have to leave all of my punches back in Australia because they were so darn heavy! (I know that Alicia is having a ball with them!!!!)

So, how happy was I when i saw the fabulous selection that Stampin' Up! has. And, beautiful quality too. If you haven't taken a look at them in a while, give me a call (303 805 2344) or send me an email ( megan@verhoevenfamily.us ) to get your copy of our catalogue so you can see for yourself!

This card showcases some of my new favorites - the scallop edge border and the scallop oval. The other fantastic thing about our punches, is that they have co-ordinating stamps, making it easy-peasy to create fabulous cards or scrapbook pages in a snap!

Watch for Saturday's border to see even more of our punches in action!

Stampin' Up! has just released a fabulous promotion for June - extra Hostess benefits! Yay SU!

So if you haven't hosted a 'funshop' with me lately, or ever!!, book in now for June so that you can get your hands on these fabulous punches for FREE!!

Call me or email me today to book yours! 303 805 2344 megan@verhoevenfamily.us

Recipe:

• Stamps: Oval all, Friends 24-7
• Paper: Kraft (card base), Baja Breeze, whisper white, very vanilla, Bella Bleu DSP
• Punches: Scallop edge, scallop oval, large oval
• Ink: Chocolate chip, Baja Breeze

Hugs

Megan

You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter now!

I've just created a page on Facebook for my Stampin' Up! business!

I'm so excited to be able to use this pge to show you new and exclusive cards and scrapbook pages!

If you aren't on Facebook yet, why not??? LOL! I LOVE Facebook and have been able to connect with lots of people that I haven't seen in forever, or that live on the other side of the planet to me!

You can sign up for Facebook here, and my page here.

Let me know what you think about the page, and become a fan to get updates as I add more and more bits that you can only see there!

And not only Facebook - but Twitter too!

If you don't know what Twitter is, don't worry, you're not alone!

But if you DO, then you can follow me by clicking on the button on the left sidebar!

I'll be having exclusive contests just for my Twitter followers and also for my Facebook fans, so make sure you sign up so that you can be part of it all when I announce them (probably at the start of the month!)

Hugs

Megan

10 things to do with Versamark!

Well - it's Tuesday, and that means that I can start a new column on techniques (with the very original title of Technique Tuesday!!!!)



I cannot tell you how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Versamark! The results are stunning with this product. Every time!



What am I talking about?


This is what the creators of Versamark say:


"Finally a pad that lets your personality shine through! VersaMark is a necessity in every crafter's toolbox. Easy for beginning crafters to use, but versatile enough for experienced artists to create unparalleled masterpieces. VersaMark allows you to perform a number of amazing techniques! Stamp your image onto text-weight paper to explore the possibilities of watermarking, or stamp subtle tone-on-tone images onto colored cardstock. Create a resist image by stamping on glossy cardstock and brayering with dye ink. And VersaMark is so sticky that it will act as a "glue" for chalks and pigment powders. You won't believe what you can do with just one ink pad!"


And I have to agree - this is a MUST for every stamper and scrapbooker out there.


Here is a really quick card I made to showcase three of my favorite techniques using Veramark.


Now - I know this isn't the prettiest card ever, but lets look at the techniques used on it!
First off, on the background the is just plain 'watermarking' with the Versamark. That simply is using the stamp with the Versamark ink and you get a fantastic tone on tone (watermark) look. This is absolutely sensational for scrapbookers so that you can create your won background paper!
Next there is heat embossing (the silver square, and also around the word panel). You stamp your image (or run the paper along the Versamark pad) and then sprinkle on some embossing powder, heat it with a heat gun and you have this fabulous shiny look. Embossing powder comes in lots of colors, so it suits all sorts of cards.
The other technique that this card showcases is called "Popping Pastels". this is where you stamp your image with Versamark, and then dab on some of our Stampin' Pastels (chalks), and it makes the image 'pop'! Very fun and easy to do. This time I used the technique on whisper white (which is the best to use to make the colors come alive best), but you can have more muted colors on different cardstocks.

So ten things to do with Versamark:
1. Create your own backgrounds(watermark)
2. Heat emboss an image
3. Pop those pastels
4. Watermark under a colored image to give it dimension
5. Heat emboss a border around an element (word panel, photo mat, entire pages!)
6. Create a very subtle border along a page or photo mat
7. Create tone on tone borders for a scrapbook page
8. Repeat an image subtly behind a colored image for a cohesive look
9. Use it on cardstock before you punch it out for some dimension
10. Use heat and stick powder on it to apply sparkle with Stampin' Glitter

So - if you are ready to learn some of these techniques, get some of your friends together and have a 'funshop'! Not only will you learn some fun techniques, you can earn some great product along the way! Give me a call today -303 805 2344

Hugs
Megan

Happy Memorial Day!

Today's card is a simple 'patriotic' themed card! I know that I saw the idea of the Top Note die on the Stampin' Up! demonstrator site ( a great bonus for being a demo!!!), but I'm not too sure if I adjusted it, or remembered it and made it as it was!

Anyway, it's fun and cute, and super easy to make - the sort of cards we love right?!

I just layered 1" strips of the brilliant blue along the whisper white cardstock before I ran it through the big shot, and then cut a top note die in the red into quarters and stuck that down on top. Punch out the stars, and you are done!

So, if you need some of the Big Shot dies, or the punches to make super quick and cute cards, give me a call to place an order. Or better yet, call me to book a 'funshop' for you and your friends and earn some for free!

Recipe:

Cardstock: Whisper White, brilliant blue, real red

Tools: Top Note Big Shot die, large and small star punches

Hugs

Megan

You areone of a kind

Isn't this pretty? I don't know why I have never used lavender lace before, but I really loved using this color! And here is the swirly border again!

I used the One of a kind stamp set to create the background. It is THE easiest way to create a cohesive, one-of-a-kind 'kit' of your own! Just choose two colors of card stock (I cheated a bit and used a bit of 'hard to get' DSP) along with their matching ink pads, a stamp set and off you go! Everything will match and you just have to worry about the layout and not about finding things that will co-ordinate.

How may times have you gone down to create some pages, and then spent most of your time trying to find matching papers and embellishments from your stash? This is my solution! Can I tell you again how much I love that Stampin' Up! has everything that co-ordinates in its four color families? Just choose the family that 'speaks' to you the most, and work towards getting all of the pieces to that family, and you will never have to waste creative time searching ever again!

Call me to get a catalogue and start your collection today! 303 805 2344

Recipe:

Paper: Lavender lace,mellow moss, green tea DSP (retired),naturals ivory (sold in the naturals pack)

Stamps: One of a kind, Define your life

Tools: Swirly Big Shot die; Boho blossoms, 1 1/4" circle & designer label punches

Hugs

Megan

Scrapbook pages basics - or scrapbooking for Dummies!

Here is a really, really simple double page spread that I made last night. It only took about 30 minutes to create both pages, so I meant it when i said it was quick!
One of the most basic elements of a scrapbook page is the photo mat. As you can see from the photo, I used some of the 'background' paper leftover from the border. What an easy way to build a cohesive layout, and not waste paper!

And look at this border - how simply elegant is it?! This was a new die to me in this week's order. It's the 'Swirly' Bid Shot decorative strip die ($19.95, 113456) and I think that I am in love! I dreamt about this die last night and all the possibilities it has! So you know that it's going to show up a fair bit in the not too distant future!

And aren't borders another way easy thing to make your two pages look like they belong? I'll be featuring borders every Saturday for the foreseeable future, so stay tuned!!

This border picks up the color of Lauren's cast, another little trick to make your pages 'make sense".

Another element that your pages need is a border. This layout uses another new die to me - the 'Naturally Serif' Big Shot die ($19.95, 113453). This may be the most value for money for a scrapbooker ever! It's another long decorative strip die, meaning that it is 12" die, but that includes ALL 24 letters, big and small! And they are just the perfect size for a scrapbook page - not too big or too small.

I got a little Gladware container that I placed all of the other letters that I didn't use in, and I'm thinking that it won't take too long before I have a great stash to create all sorts of creative titles with the mismatched letters!

These letters also fit beautifully into our circle or square punches. I didn't have enough room for the 1 1/4" squares punch, so I just used the trimmer and made little 1" squares - easy-peasy!!!!!

So, if you want the great and versatile Naturally serif die, and if you need the Big Shot to go with it, give me a call to place an order! 303 805 2344

Recipe:

Paper: Bashful blue DSP, summer sun, bashful blue

Tools: Naturally Serif & Swirly Big Shot dies, 1"circle & 1 1/4" square punches, paper trimmer

Pen: basic black & bashful blue stampin' write markers

Hugs

Megan

Apricot Appeal

You know how there are just some colors that you don't have a great relationship with? Well, apricot appeal is one of them. And here it is paired with blush blossom and I think that it looks OK!
I stamped the images from 'Say it with Scallops' (a set we got free at Convention last year!) in blush blossom, and then stamped the big image from 'Baroque Motifs' over the top and clear embossed them.
I used this card for a swap I was in, and then had it on hand to send to a friend for her birthday. It is always so much easier to just write on a card that's already made, than try to get inspiration when we have to have a card to get in the mail in the next 10 minutes! Call me to book in for my next Fabulous Friday cards night so that doesn't happen to you! 303 805 2344
Recipe:
Stamps: Say it with Scallops, Baroque Motifs
Paper: Apricot appeal, blush blossom,pretty in pink
Ink: blush blossom, pretty in pink, versamark
Tools: square scallop punch
Accessories: whisper white taffeta ribbon

Hugs
Megan

Pacific Point layout

Remember this card that I made yesterday? Well, while I had all of the supplies out, I thought that I would make a page at the same time!
That's a HUGE time-saving tip for you - while you still ave all of your table messy, and you have all of the leftover bits of paper laying around, make something else! This is especially useful for using up scraps to make a card (I know, I did it the other way round, but I usually make a card after I've made a page!)

Recipe:
Stamps: Sweet stems, Contempo Alphabet
Paper: Pacific point, whisper white, bashful blue patterns DSP
Ink: pacific point,basic black stampin' write, sage shadow
Tools: cutter kit, blender pen (to color the flowers)

So next time you have out your supplies, make them work for you and create a card, or a scrapbook page, with what you have on the table in front of you! And if you need any card stock, or other supplies, give me a call to place an order for you.

Hugs
Megan

Pacific Point Panels

Isn't this pretty? I made another card very similar to this one yesterday (that will be seen on my Facebook page when it's up!) but it was made using retired colors. I loved it so much that I just had to make it out of current colors, and pacific point hasn't had much use of yet!

But stay tuned for more of this idea- i also used the same idea and supplies to make a scrapbook page that I'll show you tomorrow!

And take a look at that ribbon - cool, huh?! It's actually whisper white taffeta ribbon that I colored using the pacific point ink pad. I used the heat gun to dry it (I was being a Little impatient!!!!) but noticed that it started to shrink from the heat. And I liked it!!!

So next time that you don't have ribbon handy to match your colors, think about inking them up with a classic ink pad - the results are great!

Oh - and remember that we are starting to wind up this year's In Colors - so if you like the look of Pacific point, now is the time to stock up before it goes away for good come June 30th! Call me to put your order in before you miss out!

Recipe:
Stamps: Sweet stems, one of a kind ("for you")
Paper: Pacific point, whisper white, bashful blue patterns DSP
Ink: pacific point,basic black stampin' write, sage shadow
Accessories: Whisper white taffeta ribbon
Tools:cutter kit,word window punch, blender pen (to color the flower)

Pacific Point Scalloped envelope

Isn't this cute? The little note actually comes out for you to write a little something!

I got this idea on the Stampin' Up! website - one of the many advantages of being a demonstrator is that you get access to a huge collection of ideas, templates and scrapbook layouts.

You only have a little over a week to take advantage of the super special that SU! is running this month to become a demonstrator for only $75! Call me for information.

Recipe:

Stamps; En Francais background stamp, Baroque motifs, Elegant cheer

Ink: Pacific Point

Paper: Pacific point, kraft, whisper white, Bella Bleu DSP

Accessories: Scalloped envelope Big Shot die

Remember too that all Designer Series Paper is on sale to the end of the month - buy 3 and get a 4Th FREE!

Call me with your order today, or order online - just click the button on the top right!

Hugs

Megan