Summer is all about fun accessories and flip flops, so why not create one of a kind flip flops for yourself, kids or grandkids this summer?  You can find relatively inexpensive flip flops and then just add your Big Shot, and some fun foam and you’ll be all set.

Stampin' Up Supply List

• Accessories: Filigree Brads (112577), Fire Circle Rhinestone Brads (109110)
• Tools: Big Shot Die Cutting System (113439), Daisies #2 Die 114520, Paper Piercing Tool (116631)
• Other: Fun Foam, Hot Glue Gun, Flip Flops

Technique Directions

Using the Big Shot you can create Emboss Designer Series Paper using the Big Shot.

1. Cut out a large daisy of your first color, and the second color.
2. Cut the second largest daisy out of your first color.
3. Cut the smallest daisy out of your second color.
4. To create the daisy, layer the two largest daisies together. If have fun foam with an adhesive back, you can use this to hold the two daisies together. If you don't have adhesive foam, you can use a small dot of hot glue to hold them together. Ensure the layers are staggered as shown above.
5. Add middle daisy as above and add small daisy on top.
6. Take a small scrap of foam and insert into the hole in the middle of your layered daisies. You may want to add a wee bit of hot glue to ensure this piece holds.
7. Add a filigree brad and insert large brad through centre, and then using paper piercer, set brad through stabilizer piece in the middle of the daisies and then butterfly the back.
8. Using hot glue gun carefully add to your flip flops.
9. Repeat all steps for second flip flop.

Have fun with this project. I'd love to see your creations!  To shop now for any of the Stampin' Up supplies used in this project, click below.

You can use craft ink on pretty much any surface (unlike regular classic ink) but keep in mind it takes about 3-5 minutes to dry, and can be a bit messy, so have a wet facecloth or baby wipes handy for cleanups.

Here's just a few ideas of items you can stamp with craft ink: tote bags, ceramic tiles (get bigger ones and do hand or footprints), t-shirts, glass plates, and more.

Take a trip to your local discount store and I'm sure you can find more items to stamp on!

*Craft Spots come in a family of colours—perfect for any scrapbooking or craft project. And Craft ink is great for embossing.
*Coordinate with exclusive card stock, pastels, and markers
*1" x 1" square pad

Stampin’ Up! is offering a ‘$45 Rejoin’ kit of supplies only for former demonstrators who have quit or lapsed before March 31st, 2010.

Rejoining at this special price is only via Mail and you will need to send in the paperwork to be received by July 31st.

Contact me for the paperwork

The Rejoin Starter Kit Contains:

• 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog (8)
• 2010 Summer Mini Catalog (8)
• Guest invitation postcards (100)
• Customer order forms (50)
• 2010-2011 Definitely Decorative catalog (1)
• Two months free Demonstrator Business Web Services (DBWS) subscription

OR select one of our regular starter kits, click here to check it out and sign up online! (Available with no tax and no HST)

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. 

During the summer, you are probably going to be looking for craft projects to keep your kids busy on the stinking hot (or rainy!) days. A great project for the beginning of July is to get organized so you can quickly and easily document summer memories as you go! Why not take the time to create a mini scrapbook with your kid(s) so they can add pictures and record memories this summer. Here's an easy one you can create using the Briefcase On Board Album and Island Oasis Designer Series Paper! Chipboard albums offer a low cost way to create a scrapbook with one or more kids!

Stampin' Up Supply List

• Stamps: Perfect Punches (W117022/C120516)
• Ink: Concord Crush Classic (119785)
• Paper: Very Vanilla Cardstock (101650), Concord Crush Cardstock(119792)
• Accessories: Basic Pearls (119247), Pretty in Pink 5/8 Satin Ribbon (117289), SNAIL (104332), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Wood Sheets (116309)
• Tools: Big Shot Die Cutting System (113439), Top Note Bigz Die (113463), Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (120175), Scallop Oval Punch (119856), Wide Oval Punch (119859)

Cardstock Dimensions for this Project

• Concord Crush
  • Card Base: 8.5 x 5.5
  • Scrap for large oval punch
• Very Vanilla
  • Scrap for stamped and punched greeting

Technique Directions

1. Cut a Top Note using the Big Shot out of a Wood Sheet.
2. Take the Top Note and run it back through the Big Shot using the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

Finishing Touches

1. Stamp greeting in Concord Crush Classic Ink on Very Vanilla and punch out with Scallop Oval Punch.
2. Punch out piece of Concord Crush Cardstock with Wide Oval. Attach punched piece with greeting using SNAIL.
3. Attach small piece of Pretty in Pink ribbon to Top Note using SNAIL, layer punched greeting overtop using Stampin' Dimensionals.
4. Add three basic pearls as shown.
5. Attach completed Top Note to cardbase with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Just another great example of why everyone needs a Big Shot, so you can create WOW cards that look so much more complicated than they actually are. To purchase a Big Shot, or any of the supplies used in this project, please visit my online store.

This card features a fun embossing technique that you may not have tried before – faux embossing.  You can get an embossed look without needing anything besides stamps and ink.  Here's how you can do it – let's get started!

Stampin' Up Supply List

• Stamps: Upsy Daisy (111710), Watercolor Trio (117050)
• Ink: Tempting Turquoise Classic (100814) , Whisper White Craft Ink (101731)
• Paper: Whisper White Cardstock(106529), More Mustard Cardstock (100946), Tempting Turquoise Cardstock(102067)
• Accessories: Pumpkin Pie ¼ Grosgrain Ribbon (109030), Stampin' Dimensionals (104330)
• Tools: Big Shot (113439), Lattice Embossing Folder (119976), Stampin-Ma-Jig (101049), Large Oval Punch(107035) , Ticket Corner Punch (107214)

Cardstock Dimensions for this Project

• More Mustard
  • Card Base: 8.5 x 5.5
  • Mat for Stamped Image: 3.25 x 4.25
• Whisper White
  • Card Mat for Embossing: 4 x 5.25
  • Scrap for stamped and punched greeting
• Tempting Turquoise
  • Stamped Image: 3 x 4

Technique Directions

Use a single solid image stamp for this technique, like Upsy Daisy.

1. Take a solid image stamp and stamp image in color that is the same as the paper you wish to use.
2. Clean the image, and then using a Stampin-Ma-Jig, stamp overtop, slightly offset in Whisper White Craft ink.

Note: If you aren't sure how to use the Stampin-Ma-Jig – check out this video from Angie Juda on YouTube

Finishing Touches

1. Fold card base in half and make crease with bone folder.
2. Run Whisper White 4 x 5.25 piece through Big Shot with the Lattice Embossing Folder.
3. Take Pumpkin Pie ribbon and attach to embossed piece with SNAIL on back, wrapping ribbon around the sides. Attach to card base with SNAIL.
4. Take More Mustard 3.25 x 4.25 piece and Tempting Turquoise 3 x 4 piece and use Ticket Corner punch on all four corners. SNAIL the Tempting Turquoise to the More Mustard piece and attach to card base with Stampin' Dimensionals.

A few years ago when Boho Backgrounds was released, it was one of the more popular sets, but as we get new sets, we all tend to forget about old ones in our stash. Over the past week, I've been going through my stamps and putting aside all of the retiring ones, including this one!

This card features Boho Backgrounds along with Medallion in a fun technique called Emerging Colour. Here's a quick tutorial on this technique and how to make this card:

Stampin' Up Supply List

• Stamps: Medallion (115223), Boho Backgrounds (114940)
• Ink: Versamark (102283), Melon Mambo Classic (115656), Rich Razzleberry Classic (115658), Regal Rose Classic (105211)
• Paper: Whisper White Cardstock(106529), Melon Mambo Cardstock (115320)
• Accessories: Melon Mambo Polkadot Grosgrain (115611),Clear Embossing Powder(109130), Ice Circle Brads(109111), SNAIL (104332), Stampin' Dimensionals (104330)
• Tools: Heat Tool (100005), Piercing Tool (116631), 1 3/8 Circle Punch (104401), Brayer (102395)

Cardstock Dimensions for this Project

• Melon Mambo
  • Card Base: 8.5 x 5.5
• Whisper White
  • Card Mat: 4 x 5.25
  • Scrap for stamped flower

Technique Directions

You will need at least two stamps for this technique, a bold solid image stamp and a smaller one to create the background.

1. Randomly stamp images on Whisper White card base. For this card, the background is stamped with the small flower image from Boho Backgrounds in Melon Mambo. Completely cover the entire background.
2. Stamp large background image over top in Versamark. Cover with clear embossing powder and heat until embossing powder is fully melted.
3. Take your brayer (or a sponge) and a dark colour (for this card Rich Razzleberry) and completely cover your background. Take a Kleenex and wipe any ink off embossed image. The background should now show through the large to create your emerging color. Here's what the finished product should look like:
   

Finishing Touches

1. Add Melon Mambo ribbon to stamped panel with SNAIL as shown. Tuck one edge under to get a clean edge.
2. Stamp large flower image in Regal Rose and punch out with 1 3/8 circle punch. Set purple brad through centre of flower, and then attach to the middle of the Medallion with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Be sure to take a look at the list of retiring stamps and stock up before they are gone! Visit my online store and go to the last chance list section to check out all the sets that are leaving us.

Here's a quick tutorial on this technique, and how to make this card.

What You'll Need

• Stamps: Tropical Party (118515/130081), Favorite Thoughts (116968/130048)
• Ink: Versamark (102283), Pumpkin Pie Classic (105216), So Saffron Classic (105213), Old Olive Classic (102277)
• Paper: Pumpkin Pie Cardstock (105117), So Saffron Cardstock (105118) Whisper White Cardstock(106529)
• Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder(109130), Fire Circle Brads(109110), SNAIL (104332), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104330)
• Tools: Heat Tool (100005), Big Shot (113439), Two Tags Die (115954), Paper Piercing Tool ( 116631), Fancy Flower Punch (118073), Five Petal Punch (109041)

Cardstock Dimensions for this Project

• Pumpkin Pie: Card Base: 5×10 for Card Base, Scrap for Fancy Flower Punch
• So Saffron:Tag: 3×6 scrap, Scrap for Five Petal Punch
• Whisper White: Embossed Panel 4×4, Scrap for stamped flower

Technique Directions

This fun technique is best with a bolder, solid image stamp set.   Tropical Party is perfect to create a whimsical birthday card.

1. Randomly stamp images on Whisper White Cardstock with Versamark.
2. Cover with clear embossing powder and tap off excess.
3. Set with Heat Tool and continue heating until the embossing powder bubbles a bit and is very glossy.
4. Gently spray the cardstock with water.
5. Take sponges and randomly sponge classic ink over the embossed image.

Finishing Touches

1. Stamp leaf image randomly on card base in Pumpkin Pie classic.
2. Create tag using Big Shot, and stamp greeting towards right hand side of tag.
3. Punch out Pumpkin Pie flower using Fancy Flower Punch, punch out So Saffron Flower with Five Flower Punch.
4. Stamp small flower image from Tropical Party on Whisper White. (On the sample I used Rock and Roll technique to use both So Saffron and Pumpkin Pie). Cut out flower using paper snips.
5. Assemble flower by layer Pumpkin Pie flower, followed by So Saffron flower, stamped flower and then an Ice Circle brad to top it off. Attach flower to tag with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
6. Adhere batik panel to card base with SNAIL. Attach tag panel to the cardfront with SNAIL.

This card was one of the ones we made at my last Christmas card class and it was definitely a hit! (Thanks to Georgia Giguere for swapping this card with us at Founder’s Circle!)

 I’m truly excited about the next 2 months of stamping…I hope you’ll join me for some of these fun classes: (click on each for more details)

 Holiday Hoopla   is on Nov. 7th (I’m asking for registration by Oct. 19th as I need time to get the supplies in and get all the projects cut!) It’s going to be an awesome event…with tons of make and take’s, demonstrations, prizes and Christmas card samples…this is an event you want to bring your camera to! 

Big Shot Bonanza is on Oct. 21st. I still have spots available! Make sure you come join us for some BIG FUN!

Open Stamp & Scrap is on Oct. 27th…this is the perfect time to come use my stamps, ink, punches, Big Shot….to finish your holiday projects!

AND with Christmas around the corner…it’s time to fill out your HOLIDAY WISHLIST and get what you really want this Christmas! If you’d like a wishlist to fill out, email me  to receive yours! (Canada only)

My exclusive 12 weeks of Christmas for newsletter subscribers is in full swing…don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to receive them!
 

Sign for Josee’s 12 Weeks of Christmas Email Newsletter

Stampin’ Up! is at it again with their great instructional video’s! In the new Occassions Mini Catalogue…we have a great new product: printed window sheets! They are absolutely fabulous and I know you’ll fall in love with them after watching this video!

Click here to go to the Video!

Hope you like it! 

(sorry for the glare on my video…I’m working on a better spot to tape them)

If you are reading this by email, please go to my blog HERE to view it.

Now for the magic of circle making…check out this card….don’t you LOVE IT??? This is a card we’re making at Laura and Sandy’s stamping parties next week. It’s hard to see from the picture, but, each cupcake top is full of glitter! I got the idea from a beautiful card I received in the mail from my thoughtful downline Catherine Cote from Montreal. I love her card so much…I had to make one too! 

Are you from Canada? Sign up for my newsletter  to receive 3 FREE coupons, exclusive samples and subscriber-only content!

Circle Scissor Plus
Item # 112530
Price: $37.95

Description: Making circles has never been easier! With the Circle Scissor Plus you can quickly make circles from 1" to 6".

Glass Mat 13" x13"
Item # 112531
Price: $24.95
 

Description: The glass mat allows the blade to glide smoothly as you cut with the Circle Scissor Plus.

Crazy for Cupcakes Stamp set
Item # 111618
Cost: $28.95

To purchase these supplies, go click here to go to my online store…then click SHOP NOW!