Hyppychick.com

Scramping 101: Why is paper important?

2009-11-06T16:57:00.004-05:00

When you are first starting out in stamping or scrapbooking, you'll find a lot of different kinds of paper out there. Paper is a staple in these crafts and marketers know it! You can find pattern paper, textured paper, thin paper and thick paper. Some paper says it's archival and other papers say they are acid free. What does all this mean?

Paper is the foundation for all of your creations, so make sure you are using good paper. If you are creating a scrapbook page, use only archivally safe paper. It is generally marked as ARCHIVAL or it will say it is ACID FREE or LIGNIN FREE. Paper that is not achivally safe will not last as long as other papers and will crack or crumble after several years.

I also recommend thick paper over thin paper. For one thing, it looks better and for another, thick paper is easier to manipulate.

If you are stamping, you want paper that is very smooth as any texture will be exaggerated by the ink. The extra smoothness also keeps the ink on the surface of the paper instead of soaking into the paper. Try stamping on cheap card stock and you'll see that the ink bleeds through the paper and along the individual fibers of the paper.

There are several companies that offer excellent paper for scrapbooking and for stamping. I highly recommends Stampin' Up! papers and card stock. Not just because I am a SU! demonstrator but because they are just good products. I used the SU! papers for a long time (8 years!!) before I was a demo.

Stampin' Up! card stocks are made of 80lb cover weight paper and are very high quality. Additionally, Stampin' Up! card stock coordinates with our markers, ink pads, pastels, ink cartridges, watercolor crayons and Stampin' Spots. Additionally, it's acid and lignin free for scrapbooking.

Thank you so much for reading my blog. You can shop anytime at my Stampin' Up! site then by clicking SHOP NOW. Also, please sign up for my newsletter by clicking HERE or by completing the form on the right.

Holiday Organizing

2009-11-03T08:56:00.001-05:00

My goal for holiday season is to provide you with great ideas for both your creativity and your domesticity this holiday season. Folks that subscribe to my newsletter have gotten great ideas for cards and will begin getting ideas for gifts and packaging in the next few weeks.

This week, we are going to look at organizing the Christmas season as a whole. I KNOW it's November and December 25th seems a long way away, but making a few decisions and setting up a few tools now will make your holiday much more relaxing.

My first suggestion is putting together a Holiday notebook. I use the Holiday control journal from Flylady and add a calendar that I've printed out of Word.

Take a look at the calendar. Think about all of the things that are going to happen between now and New Year's. If your family is like mine, you've got family activities, Christmas recitals, parties and travel to juggle with shopping for gifts, wrapping those gifts and cooking up tons of special goodies.

Start plotting those things out. And start thinking about tasks related to the outings and parties. You don't have to think of all of them now, but a few minutes of brainstorming now will save your brain a lot of worry later.

Thank you so much for reading my blog. You can shop anytime at my Stampin' Up! site then by clicking SHOP NOW. Also, please sign up for my newsletter by clicking HERE or by completing the form on the right.

One Sheet Wonder Card #3

2009-11-02T09:00:00.003-05:00

This one was fun!

I used the Rich Razzleberry as my card base and cut a strip of the Cottage Vine DSP. Then I made some random cuts in the DSP and put it back together on some Old Olive cardstock and glued it down.

I also used the sentiment from One of a Kind and stamped some random leaves and stuff using a Versamark pad.

Thank you so much for reading my blog. You can shop anytime at my Stampin' Up! site then by clicking SHOP NOW. Also, please sign up for my newsletter by clicking HERE or by completing the form on the right.

Have you ever thought of being a Hostess?

2009-10-23T12:09:00.000-04:00

A Stampin' Up! workshop isn't like any other party you've ever been to. We get into the products and you and your guests walk away with the knowledge and tools to make your own cards and gifts. You'll also get a chance to make your own creation!

Right now, through November 30, if you host a workshop totalling $250 or more, you can choose any item from the Holiday mini catalog for just $10!

Additionally, if your party merchandise total equals $400 or more, you can get the new My Digital Studio software for 50% off!

Thank you so much for reading my blog. You can shop anytime at my Stampin' Up! site then by clicking SHOP NOW. Also, please sign up for my newsletter by clicking HERE or by completing the form on the right.

One Sheet Wonder Card #2!

2009-10-22T11:50:00.000-04:00

Here's the next in my One Shot Wonder series!

Again, we're using the Cottage Vine DSP, Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive along with God's Beauty stamp set.

With this card, I've layered the DSP piece with a scrap of Old Olive. The Old Olive is just a scrap and isn't the same size as the DSP. Because of the layering this doesn't matter.

Here's a tip: When tearing paper, pull the excess paper towards you. This will result in a more interesting tear.

Thank you so much for reading my blog. You can shop anytime at my Stampin' Up! site then by clicking SHOP NOW. Also, please sign up for my newsletter by clicking HERE or by completing the form on the right.

It's a WONDER!!!

2009-10-21T16:18:00.004-04:00

One way to get a lot of ideas all at once is to use what is called a One Sheet Wonder.

An OSW, as they are commonly called, can help you think inside the box! By using a pattern to cut just one sheet of 12X12 patterned paper and then pairing those pieces with scraps you already have on hand, using a One Sheet Wonder can spur your creativity and save money! The best thing about an OSW is that they generally create a LOT of cards!

Over the next few days, I'll be showing the possibilities and hopefully will inspire you to look at paper scraps differently.

Here's our first card:
We're using the In Design color Rich Razzleberry and my old standby Old Olive with a single piece of Cottage Wall Designer Series paper (DSP).

With this card, I just used one piece of the DSP with a scrap of Old Olive that I layered. I also used my Versamark pad to add texture and interest to the plain Razzleberry paper.

Stamps:
God's Beauty (RETIRED)
One of a Kind (Item #113624)

Thank you so much for reading my blog. You can shop anytime at my Stampin' Up! site then by clicking SHOP NOW. Also, please sign up for my newsletter by clicking HERE or by completing the form on the right.

November 7th Stamp-A-Stack Deadline Date is coming up fast!

2009-10-20T14:35:00.001-04:00

Just a few days left to register for my Holiday Stamp-A-Stack on November 7th in Douglasville. Registration ends October 30th so you better act now!!

Thank you so much for reading my blog. You can shop anytime at my Stampin' Up! site then by clicking SHOP NOW. Also, please sign up for my newsletter by clicking HERE or by completing the form on the right.

Holiday Budgeting - It's a snap!

2009-10-19T11:55:00.005-04:00

I believe that one of the biggest holiday stress inducers is money!!

If you're like me and don't want to incur debt for Christmas, you've got to think NOW about how much you can spend on Christmas. If you're really smart - which I have to say, that I am not - you should be thinking about the holidays all year and be budgeting the whole year. But now with the end of October LOOMING before us we can think about the holiday budget and how much is reasonable to spend.

The first step in evaluating your holiday budgeting needs, you need to look at last year's expenses. If you use expense tracking software like Quicken, then you can go back and track this pretty easily. If you don't have some way of tracking this, don't get too upset. Just vow to save your receipts this year.

Once you've got an idea of last year's number, decide if it's a reasonable number. Did it cause you go to go into debt? Or if you're ok with some debt, did it cause you to go OVER the amount you wanted?

With this information in mind, determine the magic number this year.

Other things to do for your budget this year:

Write a list and stick to it. If you decide you're only spending $30 on each family member, do it. If you decide that your contribution to the family meal will be desserts, don't decide that you'll cook potato salad and your famous wiener appetizers too.
Say no to last minute temptations. Sure glitter is on sale at the big box craft store but do you really need a 4 gallon bucket of glitter?

Last but not least, remember that your holiday budget should be liberating. Instead of thinking that you can't do this and you can't do that because you have a budget - said in a whiney voice - remember that this way, the bills will be outlived by the holiday bird.

Thank you so much for reading my blog. You can shop anytime at my Stampin' Up! site then by clicking SHOP NOW. Also, please sign up for my newsletter by clicking HERE or by completing the form on the right.

Mr Big Shot! Who do you think you are?

2009-10-07T12:04:00.001-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, before all the craziness with local flooding started, a generous benefactor made it possible for me to get a new tool.

What is it you ask?

This is the Sizzix Big Shot. The Big Shot is a manual multipurpose die-cutting system. It can quickly and easily create die cut and embossed shapes, envelopes, tags and baskets. It can cut all kinds of materials and because it requires no electricity and is very portable, it's great to take to crops.

I LOVE THIS THING.

I got a few dies and some embossing plates to go with it that just do amazing things like cut shapes.

And I've already made the cutest card and have designed several that I'm going to be showing you.

Fun and Fast Get Well Wishes

Stamp: Fun and Fast Notes (item #113500)

Paper:

Tempting Turquoise (item #102067) - 5-1/2 X 4-1/4 and a scrap to punch flowers out of..

Whisper White (item #100730) - 2 pieces: 5-1/2 X 8-1/2 folded in half and 5-1/2 X 4-1/4 for the Top Note Die

Accessories:

Tempting Turquoise Stampin' Write (item #100058)

Boho Blossoms Punch (Item #10711)

Sizzix Big Shot (Item #113439)

Top Note die (item #113463)

Paper Piercing Tool (Item #116631)

Swirly Texturz Plate (Item #114512)

Snail Adhesive (item # 104332)

Stampin Pastels (item #105542)

Blender Pens (item #102845)

Rhinestone Brads (item #109110)

Fold your 5-1/2 X 8-1/2 card base and set aside.
Run the Tempting Turquoise through the Big Shot with the Swirly Texturz plate. Set aside.
Cut the Whisper White paper with the Top Note die.
Stamp the die cut paper with the wanted stamp.
Color the entire stamped image with your blending pens. Be sure to cover everything even though it will be mostly covered.
Draw stitching around the edges of the die cut image.
Using your Paper piercing tool, punch holes for the brads and flower punches.
Punch out flowers using your Boho Blossoms punch in the Turquoise paper. Then punch a small hole in each one.
Push the brad through the flower punched paper and through the Whisper White paper. Close the tines on the back.
Adhere decorated paper to Tempting Turquoise paper and then attach to white card base.

Thank you so much for reading my blog. You can shop anytime at my Stampin' Up! site then by clicking SHOP NOW. Also, please sign up for my newsletter by clicking HERE or by completing the form on the right.

Sign up for my exclusive holiday newsletter!

2009-09-29T13:38:00.004-04:00

This is just a taste of what you'll see when you sign up for my holiday newsletter. And there's just 3 days left to sign up!!

These projects will only be on the newsletter so don't miss out!

The sign up is on the right side of the page. Or you can click HERE!

Small Glitch in the Holiday Newsletter!

2009-09-27T22:53:00.006-04:00

I live in the section of Georgia that experienced flooding this past week. We're ok thank goodness, but have some damage to our roof due to the rain. We also lost our telephone/internet/cable coverage as well as water and there was some disruption to electricity. So my priority this past week has been survival and safety rather than the holidays!

So with that in mind, the newsletter will be coming out this Friday, October 2! Sorry for the delay.

Thank you so much for reading my blog. You can shop anytime at my Stampin' Up! site then by clicking SHOP NOW. Also, please sign up for my newsletter by clicking HERE or by completing the form on the right.

12 Weeks of Christmas is COMING!!!

2009-09-16T10:29:00.000-04:00

I'll be sharing tips and tricks for getting through Christmas starting September 25 so you're gonna want to check back every Friday to see fresh ideas.

ALSO, I'll have a special newsletter sharing great cards, giftboxes and tags and gifts with instructions ONLY to those folks who sign up for my newsletter. You can sign up at this LINK or by filling out the form on the side of this page.

Scrampology 101: What do I really need?

2009-09-15T07:46:00.001-04:00

I get asked by folks about what kind of things you need to get started. I especially get asked this at workshops and my answer is always:

A paper cutter
A good pair of scissors
Good quality paper
A pencil
Strong adhesive
A ruler

That's it. You don't need any fancy tools. Most of us have these laying around the house. And if you have gotten overwhelmed by all the great stuff in the catalog, then know this: you don't really need stamps at this point.

That's right. You don't.

With these few items, you can make all kinds of things: beautiful little note cards, little gifts, a wonderful scrapbook page, the list goes on.

I'd like you to consider purchasing a basic all-round stamp set too. In the current 09-10 catalog, my recommendation is Fun and Fast Notes (#113500). This little set will work for almost any situation and it very cute.

To make this card:

Cut all pieces
Pixie Pink: 5-1/2 X 8-1/2 (#105121)
Green Gable: 2-3/8 X 3 (#102795)
Whisper White: 2-3/4 X 2-1/4 (100730)

Fold Pixie Pink in half for card

Using Pixie Pink cartridge (#105203), wheel image over right most part of card using the Stampin' Around Handle (#102971) and Fast Flowers (#109679) wheel.

Stamp image on whisper white and color using blender pens (#102845) and pastels (#105542).

Holiday Card Stamp-A-Stack

2009-09-14T09:08:00.000-04:00

It's almost that time! Christmas is right around the corner and we're having a holiday Stamp-A-Stack!

A Stamp-A-Stack is an event where I give you all the tools, embellishments and stuff to make 12 amazing cards! I've set-up 2 dates and will probably add more.

Friday, October 16 - Tifton GA = This one is hosted by my mother in law. If you'd like an invite, please e-mail me for more info.

Monday, October 26 at 7:30PM = at my home. Again, contact me for more info.

The cost for both of these events is $25.

Christmas comes but once a year

2009-09-11T11:31:00.003-04:00

I know on this lovely September day, you are hardly thinking of Christmas! But it's only 105 days until Christmas and we've lots to do!

Starting September 25, we'll start the 12 weeks of Christmas. I'll show you one project a week that you can make and I'll offer project kits so you can get the same look I do. I'll also be showing you ways you can organize your Christmas projects. Best of all, my 12 weeks of Christmas project ends ONE week before so you have everything in place and can relax and spend time with your family instead of worrying or working!

Next month, I'll be offering at least two Christmas Stamp-A-Stacks. A Stamp-a-Stack is an event where I provide all the tools, paper, embellishments, stamps and instructions and YOU make 12 lovely cards perfect for sending! All you've got to do after that is slap an address and a stamp on and you're ready to go!

So we've lots to do and only 105 days to do it!! Let's go!

Card: Sip by Sip

2009-09-04T12:24:00.000-04:00

This card is pretty cute and is pretty gender neutral!

Stamps: Sip By Sip (item#113403)

Papers:
To The Nines Designer Series Paper (item #114038)
Sage Shadow (item #101563)
Chocolate Chip (item #102128)

Inks:
Chocolate Chip (item #100908)

Tools:
Paper Cutter (item #104152)
1-3/4 circle punch (item #112004)
Scallop circle punch (item #109043)

Holiday Mini Special!!

2009-09-02T10:00:00.003-04:00

From September 1 - November 30, host a $250 Stampin' Up! workshop, and choose any one item from the Holiday 2009 Mini Catalog for just $10.

Choose from our award-winning stamps, beautiful new Simply Adorned jewelry, exclusive Build-A-Bear Workshop products, or latest dies for the Sizzix Big Shot.

Best of all, this amazing offer is in addition to the already fantastic benefits we offer to our hostesses.

Emai l me today to book your workshop!!

The New Holiday Mini Catalog is HERE!!

2009-09-01T20:47:00.005-04:00

The new Holiday Mini catalog is here!

If you'd like a copy, let me know and I'll be glad to mail you a copy!!

It's stamping and it's scrapping - it's SCRAMPING!!

2009-08-27T17:18:00.003-04:00

I am a scrapbooker. I've been scrapbooking since 1998 when I inherited all of my grandmother's pictures and photo albums. And I enjoy it. Scrapbooking is our generation's version of the quilting bee and provides a community of crafters that I am proud to know.

About 8 years ago, I found rubber stamps and found them to be a delightful addition to my scrapbooking. I love to make cards and gifts and I love adding stamp work to my scrapbooks.

In the next few days, I'm starting a new feature I'm calling Scramping 101 - I hope you'll enjoy it.

Trendy Trees part 1

2009-08-12T15:29:00.000-04:00

I love this set and you'll be seeing a lot more of it.

All stamps and papers are from Stampin' Up!

Stamps:
Trendy Trees

Paper: Rainbow Sherbet (sadly retired), Whisper White
Inks:

Tools: Crop-A-Dile

Just for the Kids - FREE APPLICATOR TOOL!!

2009-08-11T16:01:00.006-04:00

From August 1 - September 30 only, get the exclusive Decor Elements Growth Chart - plus, receive a free applicator tool for just $24.95!

Card: One Sunny Day

2009-06-26T16:08:00.003-04:00

This is the cutest card!! It uses Washington Apple Designer Series paper that is retiring June 30th! You can pick some up here.

Recipe:
Stamps
One of a Kind

Paper
Washington Apple DSP= 2X4
Pumpkin Pie CS = 2.25x3.25 and 2.25X4.25
So Saffron CS = 4x5.25
Whisper White CS = 2x4, 2x3, 5.5x8.5

Inks
Ballet Blue
Rose Red
Black

Tools
Snail
Stampin' Dimensionals
Scissors

Optional:
Embossing Powder
Heat Gun

Cut all pieces to sizes listed.
Layer patterned paper on Pumpkin Pie CS.
Stamp large flower on whisper white. Cut out.
Stamp other images on whisper white. Emboss using embossing powder and heat gun if desired.
Layer stamped piece on Pumpkin Pie CS.
Layer So Saffron CS on folded Whisper White card.
Assemble other pieces as shown.
Add dimension to cut out flower by adding a Stampin' Dimension.

Card: Brayered Background

2009-06-09T12:27:00.001-04:00

Like most stampers I know, I rarely pull out the brayer and what experience I do have with a brayer involved spectrum ink pads.

Well no more.

Check out the brayered background in this card. A delicate green at the bottom and a gradient blue at the top...

I have to admit that this is not an original idea. I saw someone else brayer the background for this set, Nature Silhouettes and decided that I had to make this card.

I would not have attempted this without seeing a couple of other folks talk about how to get this kind of background. The first is Michele Zindorf. You can find her at http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/. She makes the most amazing cards I've ever seen. I plan to take her class the next time she's in Atlanta.

Next is Mrs. Lumpy. She took Michelle's class and offered her own Brayering 101 class here. I owe the look I got for this card to both of them.

And now for instructions:

All products are Stampin' Up!
Inks: Brilliant Blue, Green Galore, Basic Black
Papers: Brilliant Blue, Tempting Teal, Whisper White
Stamps: Nature Silhouette

Fold Brilliant Blue to card size
Brayer Green Galore half way up larger piece of whisper white, then brayer Brilliant Blue half way down leaving white space
Stamp tree image on card with black ink
Stamp deer or wolf on brayered piece
Sponge black around tree
Cut brayered piece down to 2-3/4 X 3
Mount brayered piece to whisper white #2 and mount on card
Stamp sentiment on tempting teal and mount on card

One tip: when creating a brayered background, I've found that it is absolutely necessary to make my initial piece larger than I want. This allows for the edges to be a little wonky. If you get started brayering, you'll see what I mean.

You can get any of the supplies you need to create your own version of this card by visiting my Stampin' Up! store at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/hyppychick/

Summertime and the entertaining is EASY!!

2009-06-05T14:45:00.000-04:00

Spending time with family and friends can make the splendid, lazy days of summer ones you'll always remember. With the simple and speedy projects in the Country Living Summer Cookout Kit (item 118070), every occasion to gather becomes a reason to celebrate!

For just $24.95, you'll have what you need to throw a smashing summer barbecue:

Creative invitations
Fun food wrappers
Customizable coasters
And more!

For a complete list of all contents, check out this data sheet and to order, visit my Stampin' Up! store here.

My New Adventure

2009-06-01T20:43:00.000-04:00

I am so excited. After a couple of years of threatening to do it, I finally did it. I have joined Stampin' Up! as an independent demonstrator. What is Stampin' Up! you ask? Stampin' Up! is the best rubber stamp and scrapbooking company there is. Stampin' Up! (SU!) is a 17-year-old company that manufactures and sells quality wood mounted decorative stamps and accessories for use in creating greeting cards and scrapbook pages as well as home décor and other craft projects.

Think you have to be super creative to make cute stuff? Think again! SU! makes it so easy to coordinate colors and create really beautiful cards, scrapbook pages, and other stuff!

Want to make your own cute stuff?? Shoot me an email and let's schedule a workshop. Gather a few friends and I'll show you all how to make really beautiful things easily. The other great thing? You'll get free gifts just for having a party and you can earn tons of stamps based on the purchases your guests make!

Not in the Atlanta area? No problem. On my new website, www.hyppychick.com, I'll show you how to make super cute stuff every week. And you can always order Stampin' Up! products through my demo website: hyppychick.stampinup.net

Want to do what you love and become part of a industry that Americans spent $2.8 billion dollars on last year - DURING A RECESSION? Send me an email to amanda@hyppychick.com and I can tell you more about joining Stampin' Up as an independent demonstrator.