Your Online Shopping Experience is About to Get Better!

Stampin' Up has just announced some good news for On-line Stampin' Up! Shoppers.   On October 15 at 10:00 AM (MT) Stampin' Up will be enhancing their ordering features for online customers. Here are the new benefits:

• All orders will now go through a demonstrator. If you've already selected me as a demonstrator in the past, no worries you don't have to repeat the process.  If you're a brand new On-line Shopper, I hope you'll pick me as your demonstrator.
• No more preferred pricing. This system was kind of confusing for folks so because everyone will have to have a demonstrator now for their order to be processed, eliminating preferred pricing simplifies this process.
• Guest checkout. If you've been hesitating about using the On-line system because you don't want to commit to creating an account or having someone have your contact information, no worries, you'll no longer be deterred from ordering because of this. As of tomorrow, you'll be able to shop as a "guest". You'll still be required to select a demonstrator, and I hope that's me, but you'll be able to select whether to pass on your contact information to me - and that will be up to you.
• New features for our shopping bag. One of the big bugs about the old system was that you couldn't save your order and go do something else.  If you left the system you'd have to start all over the next time you came on-line.  Well not anymore! Customers can now easily save bag contents. Also, when adding items to your bag, you can choose to go directly to the bag or continue shopping. You'll now see a progress bar on the order to guide you through the ordering process.
• Enjoy more images. You asked for it--you got it. Additional product images are bigger and easier to view.What a relief!
• Enhanced sorting. Oh, and now you'll be able to sort the merchandise on your order based on  newest or oldest--a real plus when you want to see the latest MDS downloads.
• Sale prices will be clearly marked. Items on sale are clearly marked without having to add them to your bag (as shown below). You can also sort products by the sales price (instead of according to the original price).  
• Contact preferences. As stated above if you're a guest you'll be able to state whether you want to be contacted (by Stampin' Up! or by a demonstrator) or not. (See the check box at the bottom of the screenshot below.)
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Choose me:  http://pennyhanuszak.stampinup.net

Pals Color Challenge #175

Fall has arrived and the Pals Paper Challenge design team has selected 3 of the most glorious fall colours for inspiration this week.  I just couldn't resist playing along, and I hope you'll be inspired to do so too!

Today is the beginning of our Thanks Giving Day celebrations in Canada so my choice of cards was easy.  And, since I was already busy putting together a Pinwheel card tutorial I thought perfect, I'll combine this challenge with that - even easier!  

Here's the pinwheel I made:

The card base for the pin wheel is Always Artichoke cut into two 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" squares.  See tutorial for assembly instructions. 

I needed some DSP to correspond but didn't have any so I decided to make my own.  I chose an 8 1/2 x 11"  sheet of So Saffron DSP to make a One Sheet Wonder background.  To begin I stamped the leaves from the Wonderfall stamp set randomly in So Saffron, Always Artichoke and Cajun Craze across the card stock.  I then inked up the tire track, small and large splotches and speckles stamps from Gorgeous Grunge in the same inks with a touch of Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler thrown into the mix.  To finish my One Sheet Wonder I stamped the Off the Grid stamp in Versa Mark ink and embossed it with Gold Embossing Powder.  Voila my very own designer paper.  

This is the One Sheet Wonder with just the Wonderfall Stamp set images stamped on it.

Here is the finished One Sheet Wonder that has images from Gorgeous Grunge and Off the Grid stamped on it along with Wonderfall. 

For this card I cut a 6 x 1" strip of the One Sheet Wonder and worked it into the Pinwheel design.  I needed 4 of the dsp and 4 coordinating squares which I chose to cut out of Champagne Glitter paper.  I think it looks pretty good.  To finish the pinwheel I sponged the around the outside edges with Old Artichoke to give it an aged look and that worked too.  

The sentiment "Happy Thanks Giving" is from the Tags 4 You stamp set in the Holiday Catalogue.  I layered it onto a couple of Cajun Craze bracket labels that I cut in half and glued to the back of the sentiment label.  This piece was adhered with dimensionals to the pinwheel and a couple of basic rhinestones were added for bling. 

The card base is a piece of 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" Always Artichoke card stock that was scored and folded at the center.  Next came a 5 1/4 x 4" piece of the One Sheet Wonder dsp, topped with a 5 1/2" x 1 1/2" strip of So Saffron card stock that was dry embossed with the Honeycomb Embossing Folder.  I thought that added a bit to the outdoor theme.  And finally two 1/4" x 5 1/2" strips of Champagne Glimmer paper were added to this strip before it was adhered to the card front, for some added dazzle.

Although the inside of the card looks almost white in this picture, trust me it is from So Saffron card stock that's been dressed up with some additional stamping from the Gorgeous Grunge and Wonderfall Stamp sets.  The sentiment "Thinking of You" is from the retired All Year Cheer Stamp Set #II, which I simply cannot part with.

Tags 4 You Pinwheel Tutorial

 

In follow up to my workshop at the end of September, I wanted to give each of my new customers a card and a thank you for their orders.  Since the workshop was a Winter/Christmas theme I decided to make each of them a Christmas card that they can actually use.

As these gals are all relatively new to stamping I wanted to keep the card simple and yet fun, so decided on using a pin wheel tag base layered on some of the Seasons of Style Designer Paper and feature the "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" sentiment from the Tags 4 You stamp set.  This is a very simple card and so a great design for a stamp a stack class or when you want to churn out a bunch of cards for your friends and relatives assembly line style.  Here's the "how to's"

Supply List:

Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler for the card base, Gumball Green for the pinwheel base, Whisper White for the sentiment and inside of the card

Stamps:  Tags 4 You* from the Holiday catalogue, Small Snow flake stamps or some other Winter/Christmas themed stamp to decorate the inside of the card.

Designer Paper: Seasons of Style Designer Paper, Red Glimmer Paper

Ink:  Gumball Green and Cherry Cobbler

Accessories:  Chevron Embossing Folder, Basic Rhinestones, Bracket Punch*, Apothecary Framelits, Trimmer, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals, Adhesive strips. 

Note:  The Tags 4 You and the Bracket punch can be purchased individually or as a bundle.  You save 15% off total cost before shipping and handling when you buy the bundle.   

For the Card Front:

1. Cut Cherry Cobbler card stock to measure 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" for the base, score at the center and fold.
2. Dry emboss the front panel of the card with the Chevron Embossing Folder
3. Using your trimmer cut a strip of Season of Style DSP to measure 51/2 x 1 1/2" 
4. Cut two 5/12" x 1/4" strips of Red Glimmer Paper
5. Choose which side of the DSP you want facing up, I chose the stripes to contrast with the pinwheel.  On the reverse side lay down two strips of sticky strip - one on each long edge and attach the two 1/4" wide strips of Red Glimmer Paper.  TIP:  I line up the glimmer paper along a straight line on my grid paper, remove the sticky strip backing on one side of the DSP and position this piece over top of the glimmer paper adjusting to make sure the amount of glimmer paper showing is even and then adhere the strip.  I repeat this for the other side of the DSP.  
6. Adhere the DSP/Glimmer paper strip to the front of the card about 5/8" from the bottom.  TIP: Because this piece needs to bear the weight of the pinwheel I adhere it with a couple of sticky strips along each edge.
7. For the pinwheel, cut two 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 squares of Old Olive Card stock.  Lay one square over the other to achieve a Star of David pattern and adhere together.  TIP:  When I make the first pinwheel I always line up the points on grid paper so it's evenly spaced all around.  Once I've adhered the two pieces together, I draw an outline around it so I have a template.  The template acts as a guide for making more pinwheels.  This is really helpful when you're making a lot of these cards.
8. Once the base for the pin wheel is assembled cut eight 1" by 1" squares using your paper trimmer.  TIP: Cut 1" by 6" strips of DSP and then cut these strips down to 1" squares.  When you're assembling the pinwheel alternate the patterns of the DSP to achieve a patchwork effect.
9. See the pictures below for placement of these squares.  It's important that when you place the first square that you only glue down half of it.  When you place the last square on the pinwheel you'll need to lift up the first one and work the last square under it.  Once the last piece is glued down, then glue down the edge from the first square so it lays flat.  This step will make sense when you make your first pinwheel.
10. Stamp the sentiment in Gumball Green on Whisper White card stock and cut out with the bracket punch.  Glue to the center of the pinwheel with dimensionals and add two basic rhinestones for a little more bling.
11. Attach the pinwheel to the center of the strip with dimensionals.

For the inside of this card I cut out Whisper White card stock with the Apothecary Labels Framelits and then stamped some random snowflakes with Cherry Cobbler ink to add some interest.  You could paper pierce this piece to add more interest.

The inside of this card has a piece of Whisper White card stock but to 51/4 x 4" and again some random snowflakes stamped in Cherry Cobbler ink.

Here's a batch of the cards I completed.  Don't they look cheery and bright? This design can be used for any occasion just change up your paper and sentiments.

Making the Pinwheel:

Cut 2 squares measuring 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" from coordinating card stock.  For this example I am using Island Indigo.

Using grid paper, line up the two corners of your square so the points are resting on a line (top and bottom of square).  Adjust the sides of the square so they are in the middle of a grid line.  Draw a line around the square with a marker pen.

Once you've drawn the first square remove the square and this is what it should look like. 

Line up the second square so it intersects with the first one and again draw a line around it with a marker.

Save this drawing because this will become a template that you can use to line up your squares before gluing them together.

Cut strips of designer paper to measure 1" x 6".  Cut these strips into8 1" squares.  If you move the strip along between the inches, it is easier to cut them.  Don't use a 1" punch because you waste dsp. 

Lay out the squares so you have one of one pattern and then the next in the flip side of the DSP. This just makes it easier to grab the next square for gluing onto the grid.

Glue the first square to the top pointed piece of the pinwheel.  This is your starting piece.

Only put adhesive on the right hand side of the 1" square so you can lift it at the end. You'll see when we get to that picture why you do this.

Once you have the first square in place just continue around overlapping squares and reversing the patterns as you go.

Okay now you need to lift the left hand corner of the first square.

While the corner is lifted fit the last 1" square in place and glue down, then add adhesive to the left had corner of the first square and glue it down. 

When it's all finished your pinwheel will look like this.  Make sure all the squares are glued down so they don't catch and lift.  You're now ready to put whatever embellishment you choose in the center of the square so the construction part is covered. 

To construct the strip on the face of the card cut a piece of DSP from the same paper you chose for the pinwheel to 5 1/2" x 1 1/2".  Also cut two strips of card stock or glimmer paper 1/4" x 5 1/2".  These strips will be mounted on either side of the dsp strip before it's adhered to the card front.

Just put sticky strip on the back of the DSP piece long edges and then add the smaller card stock strips.  Make sure they measure the same when you look at the flip side - see next picture.

I added a snowflake to the front of this card so this picture just shows the Festive Flurry snowflake image cut out in Silver Glimmer paper being added to the front of the pinwheel. 

Here's the finished card with the embellishment added.  I used the Honeysuckle Embossing Folder to dress up the front of the card.  Kind of looks like ice crystals. 

This is the inside of the card.  Both stamp sets used are retired.

Here are some additional pinwheel samples.  You can make these ahead and just add them to your cards when you make them.  They're so much fun to make and so quick once your pieces are cut out.  This is a terrific way to use up scraps.  

 

The sentiment is from the Chalk Talk stamp set and is mounted on a Red Glimmer paper scallop circle.  Silver glimmer paper replaces 4 of the 1" squares to add some bling. 

This one features Red Glimmer Paper matched up with Cherry Cobbler card stock and Season of Style Designer Series of Paper.  The stamp is from the Tags 4 You stamp set.

Here's one for Thanks Giving that was made for the Pals Paper Challenge #175 this week.  I made the designer paper as part of a One Sheet Wonder using the Wonderfall Stamp set and Gorgeous Grunge.  The patterns are stamped in Always Artichoke, So Saffron, Cajun Craze and Early Espresso inks.  I added Champagne Glimmer Paper for some bling.  The sentiment is punched out with the Bracket punch and then I punched out two more bracket labels, cut them in half and fitted them to the back of the sentiment.  Easy peasy!

Here's one I made last year using the Ornaments Stamp set and Framelits.  It was mounted on a quilt base that was achieved with strips of dsp on adhesive sheets. 

And that's it for this tutorial and post.  Hope you enjoyed it.  I'd love to have your comments and if you make one using this tutorial please link back to me.  Appreciated.

LNS Treasure Hunt - Canadian Clue Hunters!!!!

Where are the Canadian Clue Hunters?

Where are you?  The LNS Fall Treasure Hunt will be coming to an end on October 24th and I haven't received a single CANADIAN entry? I've received entries from  Americans and I've sent those off to American demos so they can be entered in the contest - but, and this is heartbreaking - not a single Canadian entry.  Where are you? 

Have you forgotten that you can win some great prizes? I'm hoping to get some action because I'm counting down the days until I submit Canadian entries to Deb Smart for the big draw on October28th and I need you to participate!  

Don't know what to do?  Okay here are some "clues " I mean tips on how to play along:

1. Anyone can play but Canadians need to submit their clue lists to Canadian demos and I'm one of them.  Note:  Americans, Australians and players from the UK need to submit your clue lists to a rep from your own country, so you can be entered for those prize draws. 

2.  To find the clues just go to the LNS Fall Treasure Hunt Blog Hop menu at the top of the page, click on it and then just select and click on any of the links (doesn't matter if the demo you click on is from the US, Canada, Australia or the UK).  You'll know these demos are playing because they'll have the LNS Treasure Hunt badge on their blogs.  

3.Find the clues - there will be a picture of a Stampin Up! product with a caption that says something like "This is My Clue".  Sometimes you have to hunt, but that's the fun of it.  There are so many awesome blogs and so many great projects featured on them.  Leave them some love.  Some of the sites are offering "blog candy" too just for playing along, so you might win twice (but make sure you read the fine print because you may only be eligible for Canadian blog candy).

4.  List the name of the blog owner and the Treasure Hunt clue.  When you have 50 clues on your list submit it to me by email at:  pennyhanuszak@telus.net.

5.  If you can't submit your list to me by October 19th then submit it to one of the other Canadian demonstrators by the 23rd of October so you can make sure your entry is in the draw.  

See, simple!  Hope you're a winner!  Go grab a coffee and visit my LNS Fall Treasure Hunt list at the top of the page.  Here's my clue to start you off: