SPRING SPRUCE UP...

I'm getting ready for spring by sprucing up my blog... There are eight new Blue Buttons and one new Sunshine Button here at Polka Dots and Paper... (My Promos, Catalogs, Products, Virtual Card Kits, My Digital Studio, Textiles, Tutorials, Translate.)  When you click on the blue buttons you will find a variety of resources... But it will take me a few days to get them all up and posted. The cute Sunshine Button is exclusively for our Stampin' Up! team!  (YOU can be on our team too!  Really, you can!)

 

 

 

 

LET YOUR HEART HAVE WINGS...

Like love and marriage, and a horse and carriage, the design components and colors in this card fit well with the Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper...

Even though the card is a little ho-hum-and-like-many-others, the scalloped corner adds a fresh touch.  And this greeting stamp set is a nice one to own.

 
  

Supplies & Accessories:  Stamp Set #113722 Hope Happens; Stamp Pad #101179 Basic Black; Textured Card Stock #115719 Rich Razzleberry, #108695 Certainly Celery; Card Stock #100730 Whisper White, #101658 Pale Plum; Designer Series Paper #115671 Cottage Wall; Punches #112091 Scallop Edge, #107215 Tag Corner; Big Shot Machine and Embosslit Die #118138 Beautiful Wings; Adhesive #103683 Mini Glue Dot.

 
You may order 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! Store or at my Polka Dots Store by clicking on either button, top right.  To receive assistance, simply contact me by email, top left, or through a personal phone call at 360-936-2030.

FUN & FAST NOTES ARE STILL FUN & FAST...

We get so excited about all the new stamp sets, and sometimes forget about some of the old favorites.  Old Mr. Porcupine looks cool with the newer Flower Daisies (pines) Die-cut.  Hummm... I wonder if Fun & Fast Notes will retire in June...

 

He came with a "built-in" butterfly on his nose... But I changed it to a perky pretty one...

 

This is an awesome stamp set.  Just LOOK at the selection of darling images and versatile greetings that may be stamped really FAST to make a FUN card!

 
  

Supplies & Accessories:  Stamp Set #113500 Fun & Fast Notes; Stamp Pad #103139 Close to Cocoa; Textured Card Stock #115719 Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, #108697 Pumpkin Pie; Card Stock #100730 Whisper White; Punch #109047 3/16" Corner Rounder; Big Shot Machine and Bigz Die #114520 Flower Daisies-2, #118138 Embosslit Die Beautiful Wings; Adhesive #104430 Stampin' Dimensionals.

Click on the Virtual Card Kits button on the right sidebar, and see what I made for you...

You may order 24/7 at my Stampin' Up! Store or at my Polka Dots Store by clicking on either button, top right.  Receive my personal assistance any time simply by contacting me via email, top left, or through a personal phone call at 360-936-2030. 

THREE GOOD REASONS...

This was a fun card to make for three reasons...  Reason 1:  I used a FREE Sale-A-Bration stamp set.  Reason 2:  I was able to position TWO STAMP IMAGES (at the same time) on ONE Clear-Mount Block, getting them perfectly straight before stamping!  Reason 3:  I could see right through the Clear-Mount Block and was able to stamp my image exactly where I wanted it...

And I like the way the pierced holes look, right next to the Eyelet Border Punched holes.

Have you tried watercoloring yet?  On this one, I lightly touched the Blender Pen tip to the brush end of the Stampin' Write Marker to pick up a tiny dab of color.  I marked on my practice paper first, then applied and spread out the remaining color on the stamped image.

 

Supplies & Accessories:  Stamp Set #119125 Happy Moments (SAB); Stamp Pad #101406 StazOn Jet Black; Textured Card Stock #108698 Brilliant Blue, #115719 Crushed Curry; Card Stock #100730 Whisper White; Stampin' Write Markers #100057 Brilliant Blue, #116329 Crushed Curry, #105106 Certainly Celery; Punch #113692 Eyelet Border; Ribbon #115614 Polka-Dot Grosgrain Crushed Curry; Tools #116631 Paper-Piercing Tool, #105826 Mat Pack; Adhesive #104430 Stampin' Dimensionals.

On tomorrow's card, I'm using the Porcupine Stamp from the Fun & Fast Notes Stamp Set.  I've chosen a Die-cut for embellishment that looks like the Porcupine.  Can you guess which one?  <smile>

 
You may shop 24/7 right here on my blog.  Simply click on my Stampin' Up! Store button, top right, or my Polka Dots Store button, top right.  I am always available to assist you... Contact me via email or by phone at 360-936-2030. 

A HAPPY CARD FOR A GOOD FRIEND...

The colors are cheerful in this card, but I mainly want to point out a neat design feature... Notice how the dots on the Designer Series Paper are lined up at both angles.  The dots dictated the angle and that's where I started...

And, with paper like this, how could you NOT make a matching envelope?

The Sweet Pea Stitched Felt leaves add an extra dimension, along with the Textured Card Stock and Designer Series Paper.  All together, they are refreshing, bright, and happy!   

Supplies & Accessories:  Stamp Set #113792 Great Friend; Stamp Pad #101179 Basic Black; Textured Card Stock #108697 Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Summer Sun; Card Stock #100730 Whisper White; Designer Series Paper Stack #117161 Sweet Pea; Punches #109043 Scallop Circle, #104401 1-3/8" Circle, #104403 1-1/4" Circle, #109046 1" Circle, #107217 3/4" Circle; Accent #117266 Sweet Pea Stitched Felt; Adhesive #104430 Stampin' Dimensionals.

It's just Tuesday, and I already have cards made for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  It's tempting to post them right now, because I'm so excited!  But I'll wait a little longer. You too, huh?

You have three ways to shop here at Polka Dots and Paper...  1) Click on my Stampin' Up! Store button, top right.  2) Click on my Polka Dots Store button, top right.  3)  Click on my Virtual Card Kit button, right sidebar.  Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.  Email above left, or cell/txt me at 360-936-2030.  Thanks so very much for dropping in again today.

YA GOTTA' HAVE THIS PURSE...

See this purse card, along with additional views and instructions by clicking on the TEXTILES button, right sidebar...

 

SWEET AND SIMPLE...

Yep!  Sometimes sweet and simple is all you have time for...

 

Three pieces of Whisper White Card Stock, all layered with Stampin' Dimensionals, and a ribbon tied through a little hole punched on the side, gives this simple card a classy look!  The Crystal Effects turns the plate into china.

 

I was tempted to add some brads or eyelets or buttons.  But hey!  Not every card has to be fabulous and fancy!  Besides, I have a free day tomorrow and feel a creative mode settling in... Who knows what Monday (and post-Super Bowl) will bring!

 

You can earn this stamp set FREE!  Click on my Catalog button, then on the Sale-A-Bration Brochure, and see a couple of cute card ideas on page 7.

 

 

 

Supplies & Accessories:  Stamp Set #119125 Happy Moments (SAB); Stamp Pad #101406 StazOn Jet Black; Stampin' Write Markers #116329 Melon Mambo, #100050 Yoyo Yellow; Textured Card Stock #115719 Melon Mambo; Card Stock #100730 Whisper White; Ribbon #115611 Polka-Dot Grosgrain Melon Mambo; Tool #108362 Crop-A-Dile; Adhesives #101055 Crystal Effects, #104430 Stampin' Dimensionals.

 

You may order 24-7 at my Stampin' Up! Store, at my Polka Dots Store, OR NOW by clicking on my Virtual Card Kit button!  If you need my assistance or have questions, please contact me via email (button above left), or by calling my cell phone at 360-936-2030.  Thanks so much for dropping by!

EXPANDING MY FRIENDSHIPS...

Recently, while at a special Stampin' Up! event in Phoenix, I was inspired by Liliana Inguanti-Garcia who gave a great on-stage presentation and encouraged demonstrators to expand their business horizons to include Hispanic-speaking customers in their own geographic areas.  Even though I don't speak a word of Spanish, I decided to spread my wings a little.  

I was highly motivated, accepted the challenge, and within one week, made this poster, ordered two dozen Celebrando Creatividad catalogs as well as a variety of other Hispanic business supplies and several sets of Hispanic stamp sets!

To compose a greeting in Spanish, I opened a Word document and typed what I wanted to say in English, then pressed the Translate to Spanish button.  Presto, there it was, ready for my poster!  The cards and projects pictured, all in Spanish, were cut from one of the Celebrando Creatividad catalogs. 

I knew of a local church that has a Mass with about 1,500 Hispanic-speaking people on Sunday mornings, and received permission to hang the poster in their fellowship room. 

I am also adding a friendly feature to my blog... It is a Translator button. Anyone may click on the button and change to a language of their choice. (Build it and they will come!)

This is a very exciting adventure for me - and I love sharing it with you.  My BIG PLAN is to find a new friend who speaks fluent Spanish and English and invite her to join me on my Stampin' Up! journey.  I'm going to welcome her into our local SU family, give her a wonderful gift of catalogs, business tools and a couple of cool Hispanic Stamp Sets to help her jump-start a brand new Hispanic Stampin' Up! demonstratorship. If YOU are Hispanic or if you KNOW of someone perfect for this fun escapade, let me know! And when the mission is accomplished, I'll make sure you hear how the story ends.  (Actually, I will be telling you how the story begins!)

Hello...Me encantaria darle la bienvenida a nuestra familia de Stampin' Up!  Si estas interesado en ser un pasatiempo o carrera demostrador, yo puedo proporcionarle con muy buena informacion y lotes de aliento.  Usted y yo, tendra una amistad de larga distancia a traves de la world wide web.  Lo emocionante para ambos. Sinceramente...

 

SPRING IS ONLY 46 DAYS AWAY...

It's raining like crazy today, but my neighbor has crocus peeking through the bark in her flower beds - so I was inspired to make a card to look like new growth and flowers in colors of spring...

On this card, I didn't like the bulky brad on the back of the button, so I cut them off with my hubby's wire cutters.  The back was then flat, and I used a Glue Dot to position each button in place.

 

If you don't have the Corduroy Buttons, you can substitute other buttons, or a Designer Brad or even a yellow circle punched with the 1/2" Circle Punch. 

Supplies & Accessories:  Stamp Set #115324 Kind & Caring Thoughts (HL3); Stamp Pad #101179 Basic Black; Textured Card Stock #115719 Crushed Curry, #108696 So Saffron; Card Stock #101650 Very Vanilla; Designer Series Paper Stack #117161 Sweet Pea; Punches #116630 Modern Label, #110711 Boho Blossoms, #107217 3/4" Circle, #109047 3/16" Corner Rounder; Big Shot #114511 Little Leaves Sizzlit Die; Embellishments #106953 So Saffron Brads; Buttons #114343 Corduroy Buttons Summer Sun; Tool #116631 Paper-Piercing; Adhesives #104430 Stampin' Dimensionals, #103683 Mini Glue Dots.

With springtime just around the corner, you'll want to have a few new supplies on hand!  Pretty spring-colored papers and floral stamp sets may be earned FREE during Sale-A-Bration.  Ask me more about Sale-A-Bration.  I have some great tips for you! 

You may order 24/7 from my Stampin' Up! Store or from my Polka Dots Store.  Simply click on a store button, top right.  Contact me any time.  My email is stampingforfun@comcast.net.  My cell is 360-936-2030.

VINTAGE CARD POPULARITY...

OLD IS IN... whether its furniture or walls or cards.  And cardmakers everywhere are making new things look old by antiquing and doing who-knows-what to turn new papers into relics. The dictionary says vintage is, "of a past period."   Even though I'm a little vintage myself, making old vintage-looking cards is new for me.  On this card, I really should have antiqued the vase and drawn a crack on it.

The envelope is antiqued around the edges with a little ink smeared here and there on it too.

I purchased an old paperback book, Christy, at the Goodwill.  It has 500 pages, enough to share with all my stampers.  And since it's a Catherine Marshall story, all the material is inspirational and suitable for card making trim.  Later, I discovered that Christy was on my bookshelf at home, so I could have saved $1.99.

Supplies & Accessories: Stamp Set #118598 Vintage Vogue (OMC); Stamp Pad #100908 Chocolate Chip; Textured Card Stock #115719 Soft Suede; Card Stock #101650 Very Vanilla; Designer Series Paper Stack #117161 Sweet Pea (OMC); Punches #116794 Ornament (HMC, retired sorry), #110711 Boho Blossoms; Embellishment #109109 Vintage Antique Brass Brad; Applicator #101610 Stamping Sponge; Adhesive #104430 Stampin' Dimensional; Envelope #107300 Medium Very Vanilla.

My husband and I are off to a steak and crab feed this evening.  My husband is getting steak and I'm getting crab.  I'll be careful not to cut or pinch any fingers off as I'm digging crab out of the shell - or there will be no more card making this week!  <smile>

 

You may order from my Stampin' Up! Store, simply by clicking on the button at the top right.  The store is open 24/7 for your shopping convenience, and I am just an email or phone call away with any questions you may have.  stampingforfun@comcast.net and/or 360-936-2030.  Thanks for dropping by.