Tuesday Tip - how to make clear mount stamps stick

Have you been having troubles getting your clear mount stamps to stick to your clear blocks?

Here's a quick tip (literally...quick!) that might help solve it.

Take the clear block and rub it against your jeans really fast...


Sometimes I also take the cling part of the stamp and rub it also...


To get a good stick, I put the stamp on my desk and then put the clear block on top and put a lot of pressure.


This picture shows the "bubbles" (at the top where "happy" is) which gives you a good idea that it has a good stick...


Something to note: The clear mount stamps from Stampin' Up! are made of the same high quality rubber as their wood mount stamps. They have been adapted for clear block mounting with self-clinging labels. The clear mount stamp sets not only help save space because of their thin case, but they are also economical in the long run since you don't have to pay for new blocks with every set once you have collected each of the blocks.

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Visit my other Tuesday Tips HERE.

Disclaimer: Many of the "Tuesday Tips" I share each week have been gathered through my experience as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and crafter. I do not necessarily claim any of them as my original idea (unless it really is!), but rather things that I have seen here and there through blogging, surfing the web, attending events, and such. If there is a specific idea I have seen and want to share, I will be sure to give credit where credit is due. Hope you enjoy my "Tuesday Tips"!

teacher treats!

The end of school is coming soon! Do you have a special treat ready for your child's teacher? I put together some fun little teacher treats, cards, and gift bags to add to some of the things I already have displayed at a local consignment store where I sell some of my cards.

The Tart & Tangy stamp set has the perfect little apple just right for making teacher gifts and cards.

Gift Bags

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Post it Note Holder & Matching Pen

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Tic Tacs

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Treat Jars
{I shared more about these HERE}

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Peppermint Patty Treats
{I shared more about these HERE}

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Cards
Let me know if you have any questions!

wow...i made the headlines at The Paper Players!

I was so excited that I was the headliner of the week for my "Baby Steps" card over at The Paper Players. What an honor to be chosen by Nance! Her sketch was awesome to work with!

Here is the card I created...


Go check out many of the others who were also "A Cut Above" at The Paper Players. There is some beautiful work to be seen! Thanks again, Nance!

fun with color!

It was {another} rainy day here in Oregon, which meant time in my stamp room! I decided to play along with a couple of color challenges and a sketch challenge.

First challenge was over at The Color Dare, where we were encouraged to use:

So Saffron
Concord Crush
Neutral of Choice

Stamp Set: Tiny Teacup, Best Wishes & More (retired)

Paper: Whisper White, So Saffron, Concord Crush, Crumb Cake, Concord Crush DSP (from Hostess Level 1 pack)

Ink: Concord Crush

Accessories: Itty Bitty Buttons, white floss (non-SU!), 1/2" Concord Crush Poly-Stitched ribbon

Tools: 1 1/4" Circle punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Itty Bitty Punch Pack

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For this next card I used a sketch challenge and a color challenge to create it!

The sketch was from The Paper Players (PP48)...


The colors are from Create with Connie & Mary (CCMC152)...


And, here is my card...

Here is an up close view to see the polka-dotted textured background on the Baja Breeze and the ears of the elephants in 3-D.

Stamp Set: Baby Steps, Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment)

Paper: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Peach Parfait, Peach Parfait DSP (from Hostess Level 1 pack)

Ink: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, white gel pen (dots on scallop circle)

Accessories: 1/2" Peach Parfait Poly-Stitched ribbon, Dimensionals, Riding Hood Red brads,

Tools: 3/4" Circle punch, Heart to Heart punch, Scallop Circle Die (used with Big Shot), Texturz Plate (polka dot)

a cut above!

I came home from a weekend away to find out that I was 1 of 6 cards chosen as a "Cut Above" at The Paper Players! A couple of weeks ago, I participated in a color challenge at The Paper Players using Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, and Early Espresso. Most of the cards created were masculine, but because I don't own any masculine style stamps, I went with something I thought might still work with the colors we were asked to use.

Here is the card I created...

Thanks to Rita, this month's guest designer, for choosing my card!!

Head on over to The Paper Players to participate in this week's sketch challenge...I hope to find some time to play along!

Birthday Card Sketch Challenge (A La Card Monkey #57)

I am honored to be a guest designer again at A La Card Monkey! I was an honorable mention a couple of weeks ago with this card I created, along with a couple of other stampers. Each of us was asked to be a guest designer for Monkey Sketch #57 (Birthday Card + Sketch).

Here is the sketch for this week...


And, here is my card I created...


Stamp Set: Create a Cupcake

Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso, Melon Mambo (heart)

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso

Accessories: Dimensionals, Basic Rhinestone Jewel Accents, 1" Pink Pirouette Grosgrain ribbon (retired), pink brad (retired)

Tools: Decorative Label punch, Swirls & Scribbles Sizzlits Die (used with Big Shot), Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Embossing Folder (used with Big Shot)

Card Making Night - May

On Monday night this past week, I held my 3 for $6 card night. I had three new stampers who had never been before and they really enjoyed it! I think I got them addicted already! *wink*

This first card below, I posted on Monday, so it might look familiar.


Stamp Set: Apple Blossoms (Hostess Level 2 set)

Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Sahara Sand

Ink: Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Sahara Sand

Accessories: 1/8" Whisper White Taffeta ribbon, 5/8" Rose Red Double-Stitched ribbon (retired), Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

Tools: Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Modern Label punch, Scallop Square Duo Bigz Die (used with Big Shot)

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For this next card, I was inspired by a card I had seen HERE. I changed up the colors and made a few of my own touches, but I just love the bright colors and the way the party hats stand out!

Stamp Set: Party Hearty (currently 30% off until May 30, 2011), So Happy For You (2011 SAB - no longer available)

Paper: Whisper White, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo

Ink: Melon Mambo, markers - Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo

Accessories: 5/8" Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals

Tools: Paper Snips (to cut out the party hats), 3/4" Circle punch, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (used with Big Shot)

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I just love this Father's Day that I found at Lesley's blog when I participated in a color challenge last week with the Paper Players. I switched up a few things by re-arranging the colors and adding an embossing folder, as well as adding some brads in the corners. I'm just a fan of clean and simple!

{inside greeting}

Stamp Set: Best Dad Ever (in the 2011 Summer Mini Catalog)

Paper: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, markers - Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso

Accessories: Dimensionals, Night of Navy brads

Tools: Square Lattice Embossing Folder (used with the Big Shot)

Tuesday Tip - do it yourself punch templates

This week's Tuesday Tip is a "do it yourself" punch template tool that I made with my stamp club at our last meeting.

Here is the final product...


I thought I would run through real quick how I made this tool and then further down, I will share with you how to use it effectively.

Start out with typing up the name of each punch that you are going to include (I have most of the punches, just missing a few)...


Punch each of them out with the Word Window punch...


Cut 3x3 squares out of your choice of cardstock and then punch each of them to create the shape outlines...


Adhere the labels to each of the squares...


Laminate them (if you own a laminator) for durability...


Punch a small hole in the corner of each square and add a ring to keep them all together...


This punch template will be helpful as you are trying to create a card and you want to use a certain punch, but you want to find the right sentiment that fits inside. If you take your punch template, you can go through the catalog and find the stamp sets you own to find a sentiment that fits!


It also works for images...

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One more quick tip as you are looking through the catalog you might notice that on some images there is a red outline around them. These red outlines indicate that it coordinates with a punch that Stampin' Up! sells. Thought you might like to know if you didn't already!


**If you're looking for more Tuesday Tips, check them all out HERE

card night sneak peek!

Tonight is my final 3 for $6 card night before I take a break for the summer. I have other Stampin' Up! events planned for each month, but my normal "once a month card night" will be on hiatus.

I wanted to share a sneak peek of one of the cards we will be making. It was inspired by a couple of challenges. One being the color challenge over at the Color Dare (CD100). The colors we were encouraged to play with were Baja Breeze, Rose Red, and Sahara Sand. I thought it was a tough color combo to work with, especially adding in Sahara Sand, but I really do like the finished product!

The sketch for this card came from Stamping 411 (Challenge 203)...




Stamp Set: Apple Blossoms (Hostess Level 2 set)

Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Sahara Sand

Ink: Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Sahara Sand

Accessories: 1/8" Whisper White Taffeta ribbon, 5/8" Rose Red Double-Stitched ribbon (retired), Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

Tools: Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Modern Label punch, Scallop Square Duo Bigz Die (used with Big Shot)