Give Thanks Spectacular!

Back in September, we had an All-Day Stamp Fest for my downline members at my In-Home Stamping Studio. One of the highlights for me was a SWAP where we exchanged 16 Card Fronts! There were many wonderful SWAPs shared, but as you know, I like to keep some things "exclusive" for my girls — so I'll be sharing just one of the SWAPS with you here on my blog! This SWAP was made my creative guru, Jen Rios Raner!

ALY'S HELPFUL HINTS:

• Why is our Big Shot Die Cutting Machine the best on the market? Well, there are MANY reasons, but just one is it's versatility. It can cut through 50 different materials (see listing below)! Here, it was cut through a chipboard coaster at the same time it was cut through the Brushed Gold Cardstock. Perfect covered chipboard every time! No cutting, no line up hassle.
• Embossing gives this card an extra edge – and picks up the Gold Brad Accents beautifully!
• The "thanks" emblem is one of our Embosslit Dies – another thing the Big Shot can do – cut AND emboss all in one roll!
• To get two colors with this die is super easy! Just crank through both Whisper White and Dusty Durango cardstock, and then punch out the "thanks" sentiment with the Modern Label Punch (yes, it lines up perfectly! You've got to L-O-V-E Stampin' Up!'s coordination!) and layer it on top!
• Paper Piercing is no chore when you use the Mat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool – and those simple little dots add so much to your card!
• The word "give" is on a stamp with other images and words – how do you emboss just the one word? Color over the rubber with a VersaMarker just where you want the Embossing to be!

WHAT CAN THE STAMPIN' UP! SIZZIX BIG SHOT CUT THROUGH?

WHAT TO ORDER:

Stampin' Up! Sizzix Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Stampin' Up! Thanks Embosslit Die (115957), Stampin' Up! Alphabet Simple Letters Die Set (115960), Holiday Best Stamp Set (Hostess Exclusive – Book a Workshop or place an order totaling $150 or more!), Whisper White Cardstock (100730), Dusty Durango Cardstock (115321), Earth Elements Textured 12×12 Cardstock (108697), Brushed Gold Cardstock (102935), Cottage Wall Designer Paper (115671), Gold Brads (104337), Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (109051), Modern Label Punch (116630), Gold Embossing Powder (109129), Heat Tool (100005), VersaMarker (100901), Mat Pack (105826), Paper Piercer (116631), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive (110755) and Gold Elastic Cord (109867)

TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS ONLINE 24/7 CLICK HERE!

Don't Forget!

• To Sign Up for the FREE Class Night coming up on November 12th – Click Here!
• To Sign Up for the GRAND Christmas Card Class coming up on November 21st – Click Here!
• To schedule your Complementary Christmas Card Designing Appointment – Click Here!
• To place your qualifying order for a FREE Decor Element – Click Here!
• To Order your November Card Kit of the Month – Click Here!

Fall Frolic Day #7

Welcome to the 7th Day of the Fall Frolic Event at www.alystamps.com! Today I'm going to share a card that allows the Autumn Meadow Designer Series Paper to take the stage!

I shared the full swatch of this Designer Series Paper just yesterday when I annouced the 3rd Blog Candy Giveaway for the Fall Frolic Event, so I won't show it again, you'll just have to look at the "Fall Frolic Day #6" Post! And if you haven't entered to win yet, be sure to do so! The winner will receive a beautiful sampling of this striking Autumn Meadows DSP Pack!

ALY'S HELPFUL TIPS:

• To achieve this beautiful multi-colored leaf image, stamp your leaf in VersaMark Ink, and use Spong Daubers to Rub various colors of or Stampin' Pastels into the ink. It's a very quick and easy technique, but looks fabulous!
• The size of this card is 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" so it still fits in Medium Envelopes.
• I love making these "Autumn Splendor" leaves multi-colored – check out my Fall U Pick 2 Stamping Menu (simply click "U Pick 2" on the top of this page) for another idea useing reinkers instead of pastels!
• Tearing DSP, like I did with the Taken with Teal piece of paper here, is another simple technique that works very well with fall themed cards – and you already have the tool that does it! But if you have any problems tearing straight – try the "Tearing Edge" featured in the Idea Book & Catalog.

WHAT WAS USED:

Autumn Splendor Stamp Set (116503), Autumn Meadows DSP (116769), Chocolate Chip Cardstock (102128), Really Rust Cardstock (100661), Very Vanilla Cardstock (101650), Autumn Harvet RubOns (115731), Linen Thread (104199), The Tearing Edge (102930), VersaMark Pad (102283), Sponge Daubers (102892), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430) and Stampin' Pastels (105542)

TO ORDER STAMPIN’ UP! PRODUCTS ONLINE 24/7 CLICK HERE!

Don’t forget about this week’s Deal of the Week! You only have until Monday morning to take advantage of these fabulous savings!

Have you entered to win the 3rd Blog Candy Giveaway Yet? Win the paper used on this card! To enter to win the Autumn Meadows DSP Sampler, you have until Saturday! View the Fall Frolic Day #6 Post for Details.

Fall Frolic Day #6

Welcome to the 6th day of Aly Stamp's Fall Frolic Event! Today's project is a fall card that takes on a "quilted" look putting the Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper to good use!

This card focuses heavily on the Autumn Collection style watch featured on pages 92 and 93 of the Idea Book & Catalog. Here is a look at the full pack of Autumn Traditions DSP that has taken center stage in this card:

Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series papers are absolutely beautiful and use our palette of colors and original images. Designer Series paper makes it easy to create a card or scrapbook page with coordinating background paper, card stock, and stamped images. It also covers On Board chipboard beautifully.

• 12" x 12", 100-lb text-weight paper
• 12 sheets per package (2 each of 6 designs)
• Exclusive designs and colors, with patterns based on Stampin’ Up! art
• Autumn Traditions DSP coordinates with Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colors: Elegant Eggplant, Soft Suede, Ruby Red, More Mustard, and Always Artichoke

ALY'S HELPFUL HINTS:

• To create perfectly "faux" stitched lines, use our Mat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool paired with the White Gel Pen. Simply use the grid provided in the Mat Pack to pierce evenly spaced holes through your cardstock – and then connect the dots with the White Gel Pen in hand!
• Another good use for the Paper Piercer on this card is to "fringe" the Linen Thread — use it's tip and drag it through the ends of the thread for easy seperation.
• You'll notice that the "y" of "you" goes artfully off the oval punch out. To achieve this look, punch out the oval punch and lay it flat on the cardstock, rubbing the greeting over both pieces of cardtsock. Once the image has transfered, you can remove it, adhere your dimensionals, and line it back up.
• I prefer to use a Bone Folder for burnishing the RubOns onto the cardstock – it tends to work much nicer than the popsicle sticks that are provided.
• Sponging the edges of cardstock with Classic Ink and a Stampin' Sponge gives a wonderful weathered look, and adds another element to your card that's quick and easy!
• Do you ever have a hard time trying to determine what size cardstock to use for RubOns? Try placing your RubOns with it's protective wax paper still intact on Grid Paper. This will allow you to "play" and make your measurements before you've rubbed your images on and it's too late for changes.

WHAT WAS USED:

Autumn Days Stamp Set (115452), Autumn Harvest RubOns (115731), Orchard Ribbon Originals (116232), Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper (115668), Chocolate Chip Cardstock (102128), Kraft Cardstock (102125), Always Artichoke Cardstock (105119), Chocolate Chip Classic Ink (100908), Linen Thread (104199), Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Mat Pack (105826), White Gel Pen (105021), Wide Oval Punch (112082), Stamping Sponges (101610) and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS ONLINE 24/7 CLICK HERE!

AND… it’s time to announce the winner of the SECOND Fall Frolic Blog Candy Giveaway!

The WINNER of the FREE Natural Hemp and Linen Thread is…

Danene DiSalvo

Danene, e-mail me by Noon tomorrow to claim your prize, Congratulations!!

NOW, it's time for our THIRD and FINAL Fall Frolic Blog Candy Giveaway!

Our third prize is 12, 6×6 Swatches of Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper featured in the Holiday Mini Catalog! This is a way for you to get a sampling of each of the wonderful prints showcased here. What do you have to do? Simply leave a comment to this post below telling me what has been your favorite project shown during the Fall Frolic Event so far! You have until Saturday October 24th at 10:00 am EST to Enter! Good Luck!

Don’t forget about this week’s Deal of the Week! You only have until Monday to take advantage of these fabulous savings!

Fall Frolic Day #4

Welcome to Day #4 of the Fall Frolic Event! Today I’m going to share with you what is probably one of my favorite cards I’ve designed this year. I just love how it came out! This card all started with me not knowing what to do with these leaves. I loved the set, and used it for the September Card Kit of the Month, but I don’t usually work with smaller images that don’t have as much of a focal point. I liked how they lined up with the circle punch, though – and the card evolved from there!

And if you haven’t checked out this week’s Deal of the Week yet, the green library clip used on the lower middle circle is part of this week’s special! The 1/2" Library Clips are on sale for just $3.99! Check them out along with the other accessories on sales this week only:

ALY’S HELPFUL HINTS:

• For a blocked look, try creating a 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" square card – you’ll start with a 5 1/4" x 10 1/2" piece of cardstock, and when you’re done, Stampin’ Up! has wonderful quality envelopes to coordinate!
• One of the things that makes this card so delightful is having a different accessory attached to each circle – it keeps things unique and exciting. Don’t be afraid to try a wide array of combinations, it’s what keeps your cards interesting!
• Take your cards to new "heights" with Stampin’ Dimensionals — I never make a card without them! This card uses them on each and every circle – don’t they just "pop"!?
• The Corner Rounder gives a crisp and neat look to the edges of your cards.
• These stamped images have a weathered look from being stamped on Very Vanilla Textured Cardstock.

WHAT WAS USED:

Falling Leaves Stamp Set (115368), Dusty Durango Cardstock (115321), Dusty Durango Classic Ink (115654), Crushed Curry Classic Ink (115659), Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink (115658), Neutrals Textured Cardstock (108693), Chocolate Chip Cardstock (102128), Old Olive Classic Ink (102277), Chocolate Chip Classic Ink (100908), 1/2" Library Clips (112581), Clips Assortment (112580), Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware (112454), 5/16" Neutral Brads (112534), Earth Elements Brads (106955), Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons (114339), Button Latte (114333), Playground Buttons (116313), Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka Dot Ribbon (115613), Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka Dot Ribbon (115614), Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (111368), Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (111367), Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Mat Pack (105826), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Corner Rounder (109047), 1 3/8" Circle Punch (104401) and 1 1/4" Circle Punch (104403)

TO ORDER STAMPIN’ UP! PRODUCTS ONLINE 24/7 CLICK HERE!

Have you entered to win the 2nd Blog Candy Giveaway Yet? To enter to win the Hemp Twine and Linen Thread, you have until Thursday! View the Fall Frolic Day #3 Post for Details.

WHAT’S NEW on www.alystamps.com today? Track My Progress! Since the website opened, we’ve still been making some additions and tweaks! Today you will see these wonderful enhancements!

• The November Card Kit of the Month information is now up if you click on "Card Kits" in the upper tabs!
• The Demonstrator File Section is up and running if you click on "For Demos" in the upper tabs!
• We’ve made some formatting changes to posting, so you won’t have so many gaps between words, and the words won’t be touching the photos.

More tomorrow!