Blog Posts - Hand Stamped by Cheryl

On Stage at OnStage

4/19/2019

One of my favorite reasons for being a demonstrator is the opportunity it provides me to travel. Every April and November, Stampin' Up! offers OnStage events, an opportunity for us to connect with other demonstrators, create with new products, and see the new catalog coming! A few weeks ago, I attended OnStage Local in Minneapolis which worked out perfectly (well except the 12 inches of snow and 7 hour delay at the airport) since my brother, his wife, and their 8 month old daughter live there. Shortly after I registered for the event, I got a call from Shannon West, our Demonstrator Development Manager from the Great Lakes region, asking me if I would be interested to present. Of course! I am so grateful for the opportunity!

Sad to See Go

4/19/2019

Have you had a chance to look through the Retiring List?
Here is a list of my top 5 products I am sad to see go on June 3...or while supplies last!

1. I know the Large Letter Framelits are at such a high price point, but I truly do use them all of the time. The coordinating Letters for You stamp set is also retiring, and while I am not as sad about this, I do use them a lot of scrapbooking. Yes, these could end up in the Clearance Rack at some point, but I doubt it. And you definitely won't be seeing them at my table at my team's IN Stampers Retired Sale coming up on June 15, 2019 here in Indy. So if you must have them, consider hosting a party in May to try to earn them for free with your Stampin' Rewards, or get as a half price item when your event reaches $450 in sales. Contact me to schedule a date!

2. SU announced that they will no longer be partnering with Sizzix, so that means we are saying farewell to the Big Shot, plus all plates and accessories. We will still sell dies and embossing folders as we await a new machine. The trimmer is also retiring, so get your blades asap! New trimmer coming soon!

3. The Happy Birthday Thinlit Die is just a staple. It's just one die, so at a lower price point, and it's just so useful when you need to throw a card together at the last minute. I love using this die with the Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets, which are also leaving, so consider picking up these two great products before it's too late!

4. I love coffee. And while I haven't used the Coffee Cafe stamp set and dies in awhile, I know it's great for any java lover! There is a new coffee set that is coming, but it's not my style as much as Coffee Cafe. This set won't be making the IN Stampers Retired Sale either!

5. And this is the time we say good-bye to the 2017-2019 In Colors! I love Lemon Lime Twist, but I am also sad there is not another green taking its place with the new 2019-2021 In Colors. In Colors are the first retiring products to sell out, so get the colors you want now!

In addition, ALL Designer Series Paper retires. But I also noticed that 6x6 stacks are gone in the new catalog (with the exception of the solid packs like this seen pictured). The good news is the 12x12 DSP coming is amazing!

Stay tuned for my next blog post about the Top 5 Products I am Excited to See Come!

Going, Going, soon to be Gone!

4/15/2019

After 18 years, Lovely as a Tree is finally retiring! See what else is retiring below...If you had your eye on any of these products, get them while you can before they are gone, like the In Colors. While supplies last!

2018-2019 Annual Catalog Retiring List

Occasions Catalog Retiring List

Clear/Wood Sets Carrying Over to Cling

Or click "Last Chance Products" on my webpage to see a live list of products still available!

NEW #storagebystampinup!

3/26/2019

The wait is finally over! Storage solutions for ink pads, markers, Blends, and more!
And you know I love to organize! Get yours here!

See Prices Here

See Configuration Chart Here

I placed my order today...stay tuned for pictures!

VIP Embossing

3/25/2019

The first time I tried heat embossing over ten years ago, I was hooked!

This month in VIP we tried some heat embossing techniques. This handout gives an overview of what you need to get started with heat embossing.

The first card we made used the Stained Glass technique where you heat emboss on vellum, then turn the vellum over and color on the reverse side.

We used the Humming Along stamp set and heat embossed in white. Then we used Stampin' Write markers in Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, and Pear Pizzaz to color the image. Finally, adhere the vellum down with glue dots so the adhesive won't show through.

The second card used a rainbow background made with the 2018-2020 In Color Embossing Powders. All five colors come in a cylinder tube. The powders are .25 oz., so smaller than the basic colors of embossing powders.

We used the Versamark pad to just add a line and rub against Whisper White cardstock. Then we sprinkled the Lovely Lipstick powder and heat set with the Heat Tool. Then we did again the with next color, one at a time so as not to mix the embossing powders.

We used the Friendly Conversations stamp set for the greeting. I heat embossed the image with black powder, but you can also stamp with a colored ink pad and then add clear embossing powder over the top. The greeting was cut out using the Stitched Shapes Framelits and popped up with dimensionals.

The last card we made used some retired products, like Tempting Turquoise cardstock, the Reverse Words stamp set and DSP from Sale-A-Bration a few years ago. We used three retired embossing powders: Pool Party, Melon Mambo, and Tempting Turquoise. This technique uses plastic straws, cut at an angle to serve as little spoons. You can then stamp the image in Versamark and use the straws to spoon the powder in a controlled pattern. All three colors were added at once, and then the excess powder was mixed and stored in a separate container. The "For You" stamp was then heat set with the powder mixture, so almost a lavender color.

We also used the mixture of embossing powder to emboss the retired Swallowtail stamp to create a beautiful butterfly! Don't forget the embossing buddy to make sure the specks of powder don't end up in places you don't want!

Fun Folds (Also Fancy, Fantastic & Fabulous)

2/23/2019

The technique for VIP Card Club this month was Fun Folds! I have a Pinterest board just for these, and there are so many options to try! My brain doesn't think in 3D, so I look for ones with videos or templates. We made three different cards with three different folds. See links below if you want to try yourself!

The 1st card is called the Impossible Card, but it is really not so impossible. There are templates to make this a 5x7 card, but I wanted a 4.25x5.5 size. We used the free Botanical Butterfly DSP to decorate, plus the Incredible Like you stamp set for the greeting.

The 2nd card is an Easy Slider card using the So Hoppy stamp set cut out with new dies coming in March! I added the "Hoppy Birthday" sentiment with the Well Written framelits. Make sure to snip apart to say hoppy, not happy! In the inside, I used a greeting from Hello Cupcake. So cute!

The 3rd card is a Collapsing Box card. We used the template on this website. To decorate, I cracked out the Foxy Friends stamp set and used up old matching DSP, but the greeting was stamped with Animal Outing. How cute will this be to add a gift card inside the box for a baby shower?

Like I mentioned, there are some new products coming in March! See them here! For the first time ever, Stampin' Up! is offering products for sale which coordinate with Sale-A-Bration products, hence while they are only available in March. Plus, three new FREE options were added in February! Sale-A-Bration ends March 31, so be sure to get what you want before products are sold out or the sale ends!

Card Making with Bleach

1/26/2019

I don't normally use bleach, but when I do, it's for card making.

This month at VIP, we wore our junky clothes and tried stamping with Clorox! We lined stamp cases with six sheets of paper towel and then poured in bleach until saturated to serve as our "stamp pad."

The background stamps worked best, or anything with thicker lines. Stamping sentiments didn't work well, since the bleach can run. I also found that using a paint brush to dip in the bleach is a good way to touch up your images.

As for what colors of cardstock work the best, I suggest dark colors like Blackberry Bliss and Basic Gray. But surprisingly not Basic Black which doesn't work at all! I also like bright colors like Melon Mambo and someone got a great (but subtle image) with Pineapple Punch.

The cards we made are pictured below. The first used Shaded Spruce and the Flowering Desert stamp set.
The second card used the retired Swallowtail background stamp on Melon Mambo cardstock.
And the last card used the Buffalo Check stamp set on Blackberry Bliss. Then we used the free Lovely Lattice stamp also on Blackberry Bliss, then snipped out and popped up with dimensionals.

Such a fun and interesting look, if you can handle the bleach smell!

Host this Sale-A-Bration!

1/20/2019

Sale-A-Bration is a great time to host your own workshop or private card class!

Let's imagine you invite 20 people, 10 come, and 5 people place an order...Most people place a $50 order so they can choose a free item from the Sale-A-Bration catalog. So that right there would be a $250 party which would mean you as the host would earn $50 in free product!

Then, consider using that $50 to roll over to a $99 Starter Kit which is also on sale this Sale-A-Bration! You would get to choose $175 in any products you want from the Annual Catalog, Occasions Catalog, or Clearance Rack (not Sale-A-Bration catalog or Paper Pumpkin subscriptions).

So that is $99 - $50 Stampin' Rewards = $49... plus free shipping! Who could say no to $175 in craft supplies for just $49?

So just invite a few friends, your house or mine, let me do all the work prepping some fun projects, and you'll earn even more with our biggest sale of the year! Contact me to set a date!

On top of your Stampin' Rewards, hosts get to choose a free gift out of my goody basket!

My OnStage Travel Scrapbook

1/19/2019

I am so excited to have put together a new scrapbook of all of the Stampin' Up! events I have attended thus far! I was beginning to lose track of where I went, when, and with whom, so as a paper crafter, a scrapbook is in order! Attending these OnStage events each April and November is one of my favorite reasons for being a demonstrator. I can't wait for my next trip back to Minneapolis in a few months!

I used a 12x12 Black Faux Memories & More album, and added some Variety Pocket Pages and some Traditional Pages. I found a cool "Travelogue" page that serves as my Table of Contents. After the cover page, I decided to do one spread (2 pages) for each event I attend. So I have many blank pages in the album which I can't wait to fill up! Interested in joining the fun? Learn more here about the benefits of joining my team and how you can attend Stampin' Up! events too!

Shop this Sale-A-Bration!

1/14/2019

Sale-A-Bration is such a fun time of year! Spend $50 (before taxes and shipping) and choose one of the free options from the 2019 Sale-A-Bration Catalog! There are 11 options available. Which one is your favorite?

And when you spend $100 (before tax and shipping), you can choose two $50 options above
or one of these two options below. Which one is your favorite?

Also, note on page 2 where it says, "Watch for another set of exclusive free items coming February 15!" That's when I renew my 12 month Paper Pumpkin subscription...and get to choose 4 free items!