Reason to Smile

In my July newsletter, there was a card made by Stampin' Up! that inspired this card. The embossing resist technique was perfect for featuring the Reason to Smile stamp set. With this technique, you use clear embossing powder on a light colored paper. When you sponge on darker inks, it makes the embossed images pop.

I started by stamping the two flowers on watercolor paper with Versamark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Then I sponged on Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo. The inks blended nicely on the watercolor paper.

The Reason to Smile stamp set is Stampin' Up!'s July promotion.  When you buy $50 in product (before shipping and tax) the stamp set is only $5.

I'm also offering a special on Stampin' Up!'s new firm foam ink pads to my newsletter subscribers.  When you buy 5 ink pads, the 6th one is free.  Sign up for my newsletter to get the coupon for the ink pad special. 

Combine both specials for extra savings!  Both specials end on July 31st.

Stampin' Supplies

Item	Description	Price
131275	Reason to Smile Stamp Set	$5.00
120516	Perfect Punches Stamp Set	$17.95
102283	VersaMark Pad	$7.50
126944	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad	$5.95
126948	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad	$5.95
122959	Watercolor Paper	$4.95
109130	Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder	$4.75
129053	Heat Tool	$29.95
126877	Whisper White 1/4" Stitched Ribbon	$4.95
120907	Decorative Label Punch	$16.95
119859	Extra-Large Oval Punch	$16.95
101610	Stampin' Sponges	$3.50

Creatively yours,

Sharon Cheng
Richland Hills, TX

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Top 10 Reasons to Choose Stampin' Up!'s Firm Foam Stampin' Pads

I cased this card which uses Betsy's Blossoms stamp set and Stampin' Up!'s new firm foam ink pads. Check out my special on the new ink pads at the end of this post.

Many of us find it easier to get consistent results with the new firm foam ink pads.   Stamps with a lot of smooth surface area like the images in Betsy's Blossoms stamp set can be more difficult to ink. My stamp club members noticed the difference when they made their cards using Betsy's Blossoms and the new ink pads.

Here you can see the same image stamped using a freshly inked felt pad and then a firm foam ink pad.  With the felt pads, I avoided images like this bird because it was difficult to get consistently good results.  There are many tips posted on the internet about how to stamp bold images with a felt pad, but you'll probably find it quicker and easier to use Stampin' Up!'s firm foam ink pads.

Initially, a skeptic about Stampin' Up!'s new firm foam stampin' pads, I've become a happy camper.  Now I'm  changing all of my ink pads to the new firm foam style.
 

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Stampin' Up!'s Firm Foam Stampin' Pads

1.  Coordinating colors with Stampin' Up!'s card stock, designer series paper and embellishments is easy.
2.  The new labels make it easy to color coordinate in English, Spanish, French or German.
3.  You won't misplace the permanently attached flip and lock lid.
4.  The ink pads are designed to store your inked pad upside down so your ink is right at the surface.
5.  The firm foam makes it a breeze to ink your stamps, especially bold images.
6.  You can buy the ink refill for every color!*
7.  The design of the ink pad make it easy to hold.
8.  The firm foam stays flat and does not become wavy.
9.  It's easier on your hands to ink up a stamp since it takes less pressure and less tapping.
10.  The new labels are easier to read and have the name of the color on the front edge of the pad.

*Stampin' Up! does not recommend that you use the old formula ink refills in Basic Black, Basic Gray, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, and Tempting Turquoise with the new firm foam pads.  Ink refills purchased after June 1, 2012 have the new formula ink.  You can use the new ink refills in the old and new style ink pads.

For the month of July, I'm offering a special to my newsletter subscribers on Stampin' Up!'s firm foam ink pads.  Buy 5 of the ink pads, you'll get the sixth one free from me.   Sign up for my newsletter now to take advantage of this special offer.  You'll get a monthly newsletter with Stampin' Tips and more details about how to get your free firm foam ink pad.

View Stampin' Up!'s video about the new ink pads on my Facebook Business Page.

View the Stampin' Supplies for the Betsy's Blossoms card.

Visit my online store to get your supplies for this project.  Remember that when you purchase $25 or more in product, you are eligible for my Rewards Program.

Creatively yours,

Sharon Cheng
Richland Hills, TX

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Established Elegance Hybrid Card

This card is a hybrid card where I used My Digital Studio to create some of the embellishments for the card.  One of my favorite things about My Digital Studio is being able to change the size of some of the images.  The dress form is from Established Elegance.  The stamped image would be too small for this card.  Thanks to My Digital Studio, I was able to make it larger to fit these two cards.

This was my original version of the card.  Summer Starfruit is one of my favorite new In Colors.  I didn't think I would like it at first.  I've since found that it makes a great background color.

Stampin' Up! offers some great digital design and product suites in their new catalog.  While I've listed the individual elements, you can get many of the digital designs I used in the Fan Fair Collection DVD (127212) for $25.95. 

You can use My Digital Studio images with other digital design programs or try out My Digital Studio for free for 30 days!

Stampin' Supplies

Item	Description	Price
127424	Established Elegance Digital Brush Set	$5.95
125620	Rue Des Fleurs Digital Brush Set (Card 2)	$5.95
122497	Petite Pairs Stamp Set (Card 1)	$20.95
127072	Layered Labels Stamp Set (Card 1)	$25.95
126257	Itty Bitty Banners Stamp Set (Card 2)	$11.95
127200	Fan Fair Digital Designer Series Paper (Card 1)	$4.95
126042	Urban Oasis Digital Designer Series Paper (Card 2)	$4.95
121878	First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper (Card 1)	$12.95
129014	Hugs and Kisses Digital Punch (Card 1)	$1.95
127352	Petite Pennants Digital Punch (Card 1)	$.95
119868	1" Circle Punch (Card 1)	$12.95
113440	Buttons #5 Sizzlits (Card 1)	$4.95
127003	Apothecary Accents Framelits (Card 1)	$24.95
118872	Scallop Rectangle Clearlits (Card 2)	$7.50
129267	Bitty Banners Framelits (Card 2)	$14.95
119257	Marina Mist 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (Card 2)	$5.95

Try using My Digital Studio to make some hybrid cards.  You might be surprised to see how easy it is to do.

Creatively yours,

Sharon Cheng
Richland Hills, TX

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Patio Party Designer Series Paper

 

The Patio Party Designer Series Paper features 3 of the newest In Colors:  Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals and Midnight Muse.  Here are 2 other cards that use the Patio Party Designer Series Paper.

Denise Ward made this card for our demonstrator swap.  Can you tell that we get some GREAT cards in our demonstrator swaps?  

I CASED (Copy And Share Everything) this card and changed the paper to the Patio Party Designer Series Paper.

Click here to see all 12 designs in the Patio Party Designer Series Paper.

Stampin' Supplies

Item	Description	Price
126916	Patio Party Designer Series Paper	$10.95
126742	Make A Cake Stamp Set (Card 1)	$11.95
126257	Itty Bitty Banners Stamp Set (Card 1)	$11.95
129267	Bitty Banners Framelits (Card 1)	$14.95
125595	Adorning Accents Edgelits (Card 1)	$9.95
126412	Wacky Wishes Hostess Stamp Set (Card 2)	$10.00
125537	Mixed Bunch Stamp Set (Card 2)	$21.95
125603	Blossom Punch (Card 2)	$16.95
119246	Rhinestone Basic Jewels (Card 2)	$4.95
127072	Layered Labels Stamp Set (Card 3)	$25.95
119855	Large Oval Punch (Card 3)	$15.95
120906	2 1/2" Circle Punch (Card 3)	$16.95
119858	Boho Blossoms Punch (Card 3)	$16.95
127003	Apothecary Accents Framelits (Card 3)	$24.95
119247	Pearl Basic Jewels (Card 3)	$4.95

Creatively yours,

Sharon Cheng
Richland Hills, TX

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Betsy's Blossoms Stamp Set

Betsy's Blossoms is one of the popular stamp sets in the new Stampin' Up! catalog.  It's a versatile set with a great bird and flowers that you can use as a background or embellishments.  These three cards show different ways that you can use the Betsy's Blossoms stamp set.

This card was inspired by one that I received in a demonstrator swap.  You can see the original card on my Facebook Business Page.

Click here to see Betsy's Blossoms stamp set.  

Stampin' Supplies

Item	Description	Price
126006	Betsy's Blossoms Stamp Set	$21.95
120510	Curly Cute Stamp Set (Cards 1 and 3)	$14.95
122977	Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon (Card 1)	$9.95
127072	Layered Labels Stamp Set (Card 2)	$25.95
119855	Large Oval Punch (Card 2)	$15.95
119856	Scallop Oval Punch (Card 2)	$16.95
127003	Apothecary Accents Framelits (Card 2)	$24.95
126848	Gumball Stitched Satin Ribbon (Card 2)	$8.95
119246	Rhinestone Basic Jewels (Card 2)	$4.95
123126	Perfect Pennants Bigz L Die (Card 3)	$32.95
114526	Circles #2 Originals Die (Card 3)	$15.95
125583	Seam Binding Ribbon (Card 3)	$6.95

Creatively yours,

Sharon Cheng
Richland Hills, TX

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Happy Father's Day

I wanted to share this card for Father's Day.  Sharon Hudson made this card for our last demonstrator swap.  She wanted to make a masculine card.  The sentiment is part of the Wacky Wishes stamp set which makes it easy to adapt this card for different occasions. 

Stampin' Supplies
126412  Wacky Wishes Stamp Set $10 (Hostess)
126898  Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper  $10.95
119849  Modern Label Punch  $16.95
127003  Apothecary Accents Framelits  $24.95
104199  Linen Thread  $4.50

Creatively yours,

Sharon Cheng
Richland Hills, TX

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Embellished Events and Scallop Edgelit

Karen Hale designed this card for the make and take project at our demonstrator meeting.  It features many items in the new Stampin' Up! catalog including the coordinating Delicate Designs embossing folder and the Large Scallop Edgelit.  You can check out all of Stampin' Up!'s Die-Cutting Products here.

The new dahlias fit this image from the Embellished Events stamp set perfectly.  And the base of the flower pot is from the cupcake builder punch!

Stampin' Supplies
126497  Embellished Events  $20.95
126257  Itty Bitty Banners  $11.95
127023  Delicate Designs Folders  $8.95
127019  Large Scallop Edgelits  $7.95
129267  Bitty Banners Framelits  $14.95
121807  Cupcake Builder Punch  $16.95
126847  Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon  $8.95
127556  In Color Dahlias  $7.95

Many thanks to Karen for creating such a cute card for our make and take!

Creatively yours,
Sharon Cheng
Richland Hills, TX

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