New Wood-Mount Cases

Coming May 31st!  New Wood-Mount Stamp cases!  these will be the same size as the clear mount cases only thicker to accommodate our wood-mount stamps!  Oh, the possibilities!  Take a look!

Dude, You're Welcome!

We got to see this last week at Leadership!  What a great idea for the Dudes in your life!  

 

You asked, and we listened! We're excited to introduce our new, very manly stamping kit: the Dude, You're Welcome! kit.
Guys don't always have the easiest time expressing themselves, but with the Dude, You're Welcome! kit, they'll have

• Four wood-mount stamps (double-mounted) with the perfect sentiment for every occasion
• Twelve 4" x 6" postcards in four different (manly) colors
• Twelve gray envelopes
• A Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad
• An instructional guide (for the most novice stamper!)

Basically, the kit includes everything a dude needs to create the perfect manly card that any woman would adore, all packaged in an appropriately masculine box.

Go to my on-line store HERE for more information and to order a kit for the Dude or Dudes in your life!

It’s a Sale-A-Bration Celebration!

 

Wednesday, January 23rd @7:00 pm

It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Come find out how you can earn FREE stamps, paper, accessories and tools for all your paper crafting needs.
Come see some of the things I learned at the Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference last week in Orlando...New product demonstrations, lots of swap samples, our just released 25th Anniversary specials and programs PLUS a FREE make and take and a small gift just for attending!
This is a FREE event so bring a friend (or two or three)
Register to win a FREE Limited Edition Sale-A-Bration Stamp Set:
Receive 1 ticket for your Meetup RSVP to this event
Receive 1 ticket for every friend you bring along that has never attended one of my classes
Receive 1 ticket if you "Like" my Gulfcoaststamper Facebook page
Receive 1 ticket if you sign up to receive my Blog updates at Gulfcoaststamper.com

Please RSVP HERE to ensure enough project materials and gifts to go around!  I hope to see you there!

Headin’ to Orlando!

This is the truck that is currently parked outside the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.  I am heading to my first Leadership Conference tomorrow morning where I will meet up with my BFF and upline Karen (who is flying down from her new home in Maine) along with about 1000 other Stampin’ Up! Demos from across the country!  We have 3 days of classes, stamping, and partying with the Stampin’ Up! staff celebrating our 25th year…what do you think is in that truck for us?  I can’t wait to find out! 

Gettin' My Mojo On!

I have been busy stamping and scrapping, just not posting!   This working full time, keeping track of three teenage boys, band mom, football games, school open houses, and stamping events has been keeping me busy!  I have so many projects to post, I will try to get a few of them posted every few days...there is so much to share and so little time to do it!

I had Monday off this week and finally had time to join in on the Mojo Monday sketch.  If you are ever suffering from stampers block, head to the Mojo Monday site, pick a sketch and get busy.  You will be surprised at how effective a good sketch is in getting the Mojo back!  I started with this weeks sketch and since it is the first Monday of the month there is also a contest...you should join in too! 

 

Being the Halloween fan that I am, I had just found a deal on the spider web border punch from Martha (I hate Martha but I have to admit she has some great Halloween stuff) and I was dying to christen it.   The stamp is from the Toxic Treats set in the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog. 

The image was stamped with Basic Black Craft Ink and heat embossed with Irridescent Ice EP.  It is hard to see in the photo but it gives the image a nice glittery sheen.  I used my sponge daubers to sponge the background. The image and basic grey layers were then cut out using my new Labels Collection Framelets Dies.  The background Designer Series Paper is the Howlestooth & Scaringbone paper from Stampin' Up!  (LOVE that DSP!)

Last but not least are my glittery bats.  I used the Bat Punch (R) from Stampin' Up! cuz it is just too cute not too even though it is retired.  I covered my punched bats in Two Way Glue and dipped them in  black glitter. and of course my spider web border which now that I look at the close up I should have covered in black glitter as well.  The Striped Satin Ribbon is also from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog.

That's it for today!  Go get yourself some Mojo and thanks for stoppin' by!

Halloween Howlstooth & Scaringbone Star

I have always wanted to make one of these dimensional stars but have always been intimidated by getting the angles right.  I don't know what I was so worried about...making a template out of copy paper was super  easy and the rest went together pretty quickly.  The hardest part was deciding the best way to arrange the patterns of the Designer Series Paper!

I started with a wooden star that I found (on sale!) at my local M's.  I inked the seams with Basic Black ink just in case my paper did not quite meet in the middle but honestly I really could have skipped this step.  It was just as easy to ink the seams after the paper had been applied with Modge Podge and allowed to dry.  

I used the NEW Howlstooth & Scaringbone Designer Series Paper from the new Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini along with the NEW 1/2" striped Satin Ribbon, also from the Holiday Mini.  (gotta love that new ribbon!) The sentiment and spider web in the center are from the Wicked Cool set in the big book.  

1/2" Striped Satin Ribbon  #127837  $7.95

Howlstoothe & Scaringbone DSP  #126906  $10.95

I have the entire house to myself right now (that never happens) so I am off to my craft room before the mojo disappears for the night!  

I think this may be one of the projects for my upcoming Tricks & Treats class...what do you think?  Stay tuned for all the info on my fall class schedule and thanks for stoppin' by!

Holiday Mini Stamp Camp Preview

It is 90+ degrees in Naples today but in my mind I have already said goodbye to summer and have moved on to fall!  (that is until I hit the beach this weekend) The new Holiday Mini from Stampin' Up! is full of so many fun new stamp sets and fabulous new tools that my Fall Mojo has kicked into high gear!
This is just one of the cards we will be making at My Holiday Mini Stamp Camp next Friday night (August 10th @ 7:00 pm...click HERE for details or to register to attend).

I used the new single stamp Frightening Feline and the Howlstooth and Scaringbone Designer Series Paper Pack from the Holiday Mini.  The Tag is from the Two Tags Die in the catty.  You can order both HERE or contact me to place an order for you!

Frightening Feline (wood only)  #128105  $8.95

Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP  #126906  $10.95

We Have A Winner!

Woo Hoo!  We have a winner!  The winner of the $150 Stampin' Up Gift Certificate is # 424439.  If this is your ticket please contact me ASAP to claim your prize!

The retired list is here!  Just in time to make room for all the new stamps in the soon to be released (June 1st) 2012/2013 Idea Book & Catalog.  Retired stamps will only be available through the end of May and are subject to availability so grab em' while you still can!  Click on the link in the left-hand sidebar to view the list or click on the shop 24/7 tab to place an order in my on-line store.

Better than Sex Cake

Seriously, that is the name of the recipe!  I made this cake for my monthly Stamp Camp last week and I had so many of my ladies ask me for the recipe that I thought I would post it here to share with all of you!  It was soooo good and super easy to make.   I did use a coconut cake mix in place of the yellow that is called for in the recipe and we collectively agreed that the next time I make it I will substitute Malibu (coconut flavored rum) for about 1/2 of the water.  (yum!)

Ingredients:

1 (18.5 oz) package yellow cake mix (do not use the pudding in the mix type) I used coconut cake mix
2/3 cup sugar
1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple
1 (6 oz.) package vanilla pudding mix (I used instant pudding)
1 tub non-dairy whipped topping
flaked or shredded coconut

 Directions:
1. Grease and flour a 9x13 inch cake pan, bake the cake according to package directions.
2. Put holes into the top of the cake (use toothpicks or wooden skewers)
3. Mix pineapple and sugar then pour over cake.
4. Cook the pudding according to the package directions and pour over cake. Chill in refrigerator.
5. Spread whipped topping over cake and sprinkle coconut on top.
6. Keep refrigerated.

I think this will become one of those Pot Luck go-to recipes.  I did use the sugar called for in the recipe but I really don't think you need it and I will leave it out or at the very least cut it in half next time.  I found the recipe at MomsWhoThink.com and you can find it HERE.  Their Blog  is a great recipe resource so please take a moment and look around! 


This one will have to be added to my Recipe Stand so look for a Recipe Card in the next few days and thanks for stoppin' by! 

Christmas Candy Bouquets

I have been neglecting my blog once again.   Working full time, keeping my Stampin' Up! business going and many (really) late nights working on gifts doesn't leave much room for posting!  I was surfing around on Stampin Connection, (our fabulous Stampin' Up Demo site), last month and came across these beautiful candy bouquets by fellow demonstrator Jessica Woitas.  I would love to share Jessica's creations with you but she does not have a blog and you need to be a demo to access the Stampin' Connection site.  Anyway, thank you Jessica for the fabulous idea and inspiration!  These were gifts for my co-workers this year.  

Snow Buddies Stamp Set & Northern Frost Sizzix Die

Sweet Treats Stamp Set

Sorry about the photo quality, these were taken with my phone on my way out the door this morning!  Each one of the stems has a Dove chocolate adhered to the back side.  Some have Lindt truffles filling up the space at the base.  I love the way these turned out!  Merry Christmas and thanks for stoppin' by!  

 

Click HERE to view the sale items on-line! 

Christmas Stamp-A-Stack #4

I love snowmen and the Snow Much Fun Stamp Set from Stampin' Up is one of my all time favorites.  Both Snowman images are so cute and that adorable Christmas Tree is just an added bonus.

I started with a Night of Navy card base and a layer of Bashful Blue Card Stock for my card.  Different shades of blue are my Christmas go-to's as I tend to shy away from traditional red and green.  Blues remind me of snow and cold weather and although it is typically in the low 80's in December in Naples, you can take the girl out of New England but you just can't take the New England out of the girl!  I stamped my snowman image in Jet Black Staz On ink on Whisper White Card Stock.  I then placed my stamped layer in the Northern Flurry Embossing Folder and ran it through my Big Shot.  I stamped the image before running it through my embossing folder so I could see the exact placement of the snowflakes so they would not run into my stamped image.  This card was a CASE of one I saw by Melissa Leach on Stampin' Connection, an incredible sharing site that is open only to Stampin' Up Demonstrators.  I love the clean lines and how the embossing folder and stamp compliment each other beautifully.  

It is a little difficult to see in the picture but the snowflakes were highlighted with 2Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter for some added sparkle.  The snowman and his little friends were colored in using my Stampin' Write Markers in Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie and Basic Grey. 

Thanks for stoppin' by and Stamp-A-Stack card #5 will be posted tomorrow so please be sure to stop by again!

Christmas Stamp-A-Stack #3

Here is card #3 from my Christmas Stamp-A-Stack!  I am typically not a red & green girl so this one was probably my least favorite card of the bunch.  I do love the Festive & Fun Stamp Set from the Holiday Mini though.  The image was stamped with Jet Black Staz On ink and colored with my Stampin' Write Markers in Real Red and Wild Wasabi.  I also used my White Signo Pen to color in the stocking and candy cane images.  The wreath portion of the image was stamped again on a piece of Very Vanilla scrap paper, colored with markers and punched out using the 3/4" punch.  It was then popped up using Stampin' Dimensionals and finished off with a Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon bow.   

The three strips of Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper were cut in 1 1/4" widths and carefully fed through my 1 1/4" Circle Punch to get a uniform rounded edge for the bottom of the strips.  I love the look of the large scalloped edge when the three strips are butted up against each other.  I finished it off with a piece of Real Red Card Stock that had been punched with the Ribbon Border Punch.  

That's all for today, stop by again tomorrow for Stamp-A-Stack Card #4 and thanks for stoppin' by! 

Christmas Stamp-A-Stack #2

This is card #2 from my Christmas Stamp-A-Stack last weekend.  It is a variation of a card I saw on Pinterest by Darlene Adamo.  I love the use of Crumb Cake for Christmas and I think it looks so good paired with Cherry Cobbler.  This is such a quick, simple card and a great for making multiples.

I started with a Crumb Cake base and added a layer of Soft Suede.  I used the Snowflake Punch on another layer of Crumb Cake and lightly sponged all my edges with a very light touch of Soft Suede Classic Ink.  The smaller snowflake is from the Northern Frost Strip Die and the sentiment if from the Contempo Christmas Stamp Set.  I think the hardest part of this whole card was tying the Mini Jingle Bell onto the Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine! 

Thanks for Stoppin' by!