A Little Something with Fancy Phrases

I think this has got to be my favorite layout. A simple card with dsp (designer series paper) on one half and a greeting popped up cut with circle dies and a little scallop circle in the back. In fact, when looking at stamp sets I am often looking for greetings that will fit in circles! In fact to be honest, I liked this stamp set - Fancy Phrases- for the greetings. I didn't care for the floral image at first. However I found that it was perfect for a background stamp. 

Project Tips:

I wanted a monochromatic look for this card. So I first started by finding some designer series paper (dsp) in the color I wanted (and that matched cardstock I had). This piece is from the 

Playing With Patterns 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper 152490 ($11.50)

To get the background, I stamped the same color of ink as the paper. This creates a watermark look, but a little darker than watermark. For this card I used Calypso Coral ink and cardstock. Then I found circles and scallops that fit my greeting using the 

Circles Dies $35.00 (151770)

Let me know what you think of this project! To order products, go to mayramt.stampinup.net 

Celebrate Sunflowers Class Projects

Even though the kids will be back in school soon, it is still feels like we are deep in summer. Personally, I am savoring the last few days (for me) and weeks (for the kids) of summer vacation. These projects were the first thing I wanted to create when the new catalog was released. To me, these sunflowers were screaming summer. I loved stamp sets that feature a large stamp or image that make it easy to create beautiful cards with minimal effort. 

These were some fun summer projects that I created for a Stampin' Bingo I hosted online late June. My class featured a class price and materials all cut up and prepared for everyone shipped to their home. Then we all gathered online at a set date/time and created the projects together. For this class we also played bingo, so that was extra fun! I have missed my live class gatherings so online is the next best thing. 

Would you like participate in a stamp class with your friends? Contact me and I can create this class for you or another in a theme of your choice. 

Project Details:

I wanted to feature one stamp set, that you could make several projects with minimal materials. These projects feature 

• Celebrate Sunflowers Bundle (stamps and dies) - 154065 - $51.25
• 2020–2022 In Color 6" X 6" designer series paper - 153070- $11.50
• Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad - 147114- $7.50
• Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack - 154883- $9.00

The cardstock colors used in the cards are Bumble Bee, Daffodil Delight, Just Jade, Early Espresso, Bashful Blue, Misty Moonlight. 

In this project (above), I stamped the sunflowers in early espresso and colored in the sunflowers with the blender pens. I am not great at the shading, so I stick to just one shade at a time!

This one featured the classic sunflower colors. For the flower I used Bumble Bee for the outer flower and Daffodil Delight for the back piece. I also stepped up the card base by texturing with an embossing folder.

This one was my favorite. I stamped the small sunflower image on a scrap paper and cut it out. I don't mind a little cutting! Then I layered it with a little dsp (designer series paper) and added my favorite linen thread. I go through packages of this stuff and add it to I would say half of my projects.

This could easily be a one layer card if you want to omit the linen thread.  That was my intention, but then I messed up on the greeting, so I added a greeting on dimensionals to hide it. 

Now this was my favorite! I love the misty moonlight and bumble bee color combination. I realize that sunflowers are not usually blue, but I love the way it looks! 

To order these products, go to mayramt.stampinup.net or contact me with questions!

Coloring with Jar of Flowers Bundle by Stampin' Up!

I have always said that stamping is a form of therapy. It is relaxing and gets your mind off of things and into the project in front of you. I always look forward to my monthly gatherings too and enjoy having the relaxation of stamping with the joy of friends. Since we can't gather right now, it is especially important to do things that are good for us and help us relax and unwind. I didn't always like coloring, however, lately I love it and need it!

I was very excited to see the Jar of Flowers bundle in the Stampin' Up! new catalog. I thought it was very pretty and allow me to make my favorite cards, easy, fun, fast and have a big wow factor. I featured two easy coloring techniques in the video below- coloring with stampin' write markers and with watercolor pencils. In the video I show you the difference between the two. As you can see from the picture I featured, I like the bold colors and chose to highlight the markers! You can decide for yourself. If you enjoy coloring and shading and adding dimension to coloring, check out the Stampin' Blends. They are great for that. I prefer (or shall I say, I am better at) simple coloring!

To help you get started, or jump back into stamping, or just to help with the prep work of projects, I am featuring a promotion. You can only get this promotion with me, it is for a limited time and hopefully supplies don't run out (so order early)! Check out the picture below for the details. 

Happy Stampin!

Mayra

New Catalog Walk Through

It is always fun to get new products. That is why it is always so exciting to get a new Stampin' Up! catalog and see what is new and available. I joined Stampin' Up! almost 13 years ago and I look forward to each and every catalog!  

I did a quick video to show you some of my favorite products. Make sure you come back to see some projects with those products!

Gift Card and Treat Holders & Year End Closeout Deals!

Check out the Stampin' Up! Year End Sales by clicking on the picture above. Act fast because supplies are limited! Use hostess code: SKK6XNNR for a project kit for each of the gift card holders below and a couple sneak peak projects from the upcoming spring catalog.  For those of you that are tired of shopping (already!), buy some gift cards and dress them up with cute packaging. Everyone loves gift cards, but if you are like me you feel like you did not put thought into the gift. To add a special touch I like to hand make gift card holders with an extra treat inside. Here is an easy pouch that I dressed up with Let It Snow DSP. As you can tell, I love this paper! Another fun way to dress up gift cards is with these cute pizza boxes. They are the perfect size to add a few chocolates and a gift card.  For an extra cute touch, cover hershey's nuggets with 1x3 matching designer series paper: Is a Stampin' Up! Gift Card on your wish list? Send your loved one to me and I'll add a free product coupon! Plus I'll even wrap it up for him/her!

Christmas Card Ideas

Interested in making some holiday cards this year? I have a few ideas for you, in a few different styles. If you like elegant cards, you will love the Christmas Gleaming kit. I love a WOW Christmas card. The one above using a beautiful coordinating designer series paper (dsp) with gold accents. This is definitely a work of art (and love!). 

Realistically, if I am mass producing Christmas cards, I need a simpler design like the one below. Ths one is actually pretty simple to make, but still has some gold shimmer and red glitter paper.

The first thing on my wish list this year was the Snowman Season bundle. I love these cute little snowmen and love the coordinating shimmer paper. The paper is so pretty that you can cut it and easily add it to cards, like the one with the 3 snowmen below. 

In addition to the cards above, I always make photo cards for family and close friends. This year, Stampin' Up! has made it super easy for me with the Night Before Christmas cards and card pack. All I have to do is layer them and add a greeting and ribbon.

 What are your favorite types of Christmas Cards to make? To browse some of the products used above, check out my webpage: mayramt.stampinup.net .

School Memory Pages & Back to School Cards

It's officially back to school time. We are busy this weekend looking for backpacks, tennis shoes and the perfect back to school outfits. Secretly, I love it because I remember how exciting it was for me. On the other side, the back to school 'to-do's' have been so much more complicated than I remember. I find myself looking for the best deals to save on the LONG school supplies items I have to get for my THREE girls. 

In between the hustle and busyness, I have been trying to work on the girls school memory books. For my older girls, I have skeleton books started and have to finish some grades and add some more photos. But for my little one, I am starting from scratch. Last year she started preschool. It was a trying year. She was a very good student, but really wanted to stay home with mami. This year, she is excited about school Thank goodness!! 

I have been looking for ideas on themes and products for my little ones book. The stuff I used for the older girls is 'retired' and no longer available. I was thrilled when I opened up the new Stampin' Up! catalog in June and found this stamp set. I thought, this is perfect for my new memory book!  I like using traditional colors in school books. For this one I used Real Red, Night of Navy, Smokey Slate, and Daffodil Delight. I loved the way it turned out!

Memory Book Tips: 

Making any scrapbook can be a big task. To simplify I try to come up with one layout and repeat it for each grade. So you can bet I'll be making a stack of each element on the page above to have for grades kinder to sixth.

I also made a couple of Back to School cards to give to my girls and others starting a new school year. I love the owl and the library card images. Did you use library cards in school? I asked my girls if they do and they were very confused. lol

Have a great back to school week (at least here in CA). I will miss the late nights and no homework nights. At least I have holiday crafts to keep me happy and busy. Join me live at facebook.com/mayra stamps on Wednesday 8/14 to get a sneak peak at some holiday products.

Here are some of the items I used on the Scrapbook Page above:

Check You Out Photopolymer Stamp Set

$16.00

Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.75

Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.75

Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.75

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.75

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

These are other colors I used on the cards:

Lovely Lipstick Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Lovely Lipstick Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Blushing Bride 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.75

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

$7.50

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.