Heidi's Crafting Mecca

Welcome to Week #7 of Marty's Sunday Sketch. We are all amazed that it has already been 7 weeks of Marty's inspiration and our Design Team's creativity! I am always thrilled with the cards that they create from one week to the next.

I love when Marty sneaks off to THE MECCA to design his sketch. This week's sketch was done by punching out one flower and then Marty traced it several times to create his work of art.

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By Pat Tillery

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By Jenny Bonet

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By Heather Franz

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By Tammy Christian

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Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...
Here is another Christmas card using amazing products from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini. I was inspired by a card that I saw online and decided to embrace the design.
I LOVE the new Delightful Decorations Stamp Set and the Ornament Punch! I was able to stamp the ornaments and use the punch to quickly punch them out. The picture looks like I may have done a masking technique to get the ornaments to look like one is on top of the other. BUT, I punched them out and used dimensionals to layer the top ornament on top of the other two ornaments.
My friend and downline, Pat, told me that she saw how someone used the punch online to make a flower. They cut out five ornaments and glued them together like flower petals. How cool and very versatile!
I would LOVE to hear your comments and remember to check out the rest of my blog! Once you finish, please check out Carolyn's Blog by clicking Carolyn Serviss

Congrats on making it to your fourth stop on the Remarkables Stampers Blog Tour!



This super cute sample features some of my favorite brand new products now available from Stampin' Up!:

Stamps

Asian Artistry (Level 2 Hostess Set)

Paper

Rich Razzleberry Cardstock (NEW IN COLOR)

Crushed Curry (NEW IN COLOR)
Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper

Ribbon

Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon
1. Download the Blog Tour Report for your chance to win $50 Stampin’ UP! Gift certificate

2. Download the 2009/2010 Catalog Scavenger Hunt for chances to Win Stampin’ UP! product
Details for submitting the form are on it - Check Back July 8th to see if your name is posted as a WINNER!!!

3. Consider Joining the Gotham City Stampers Demonstrator Team by clicking HERE! My special password is newyorkcity.

4. Check back each day of the tour – we will be posting new samples to tempt, tease, teach and take you on a tour of the new catalog!

5. Makes sure you own a copy of the 2009/2010 catalog – if you don’t have one – ask me for one today by emailing me at fluteprincess619@yahoo.com

PACK YOUR BAGS, GRAB YOUR CATALOG, GRAB A PENCIL and YOUR POST-It’s notes – let’s start the tour!!



After leaving a comment, please check out Kathy Hamrick's Blog and her fabulous creations!

A few months ago I was invited to stamp with the staff at my dear colleague, Candida's school. Today I had the opportunity to stamp with about 45 brand new stampers at the Blythedale School in Valhalla, NY. It was really a fun time! Everyone was new to stamping and cardmaking and I loved seeing their excitement as they created their own handmade cards!

Marty (my favorite assistant) was there helping out! He is amazing!

This is the part of Stampin' Up! that I really love. I had the chance to share crafting with new people and enjoy making their days just a little bit brighter!

Today, I had one of my FAVORITE monthly events, Stamp-a-Stack. At this event, stampers pay $20 to make 20 cards! What a deal! If you go to most stores, cards will run $3-$5 for ONE card. We had a great time today with our stamping marathon and stampers left with a stack of cards and a SMILE on their faces.

One thing I love about this event is the opportunity to create very freely. I focus on making cards that can be recreated rather quickly while still having some pop.

I am a HUGE fan of the PaperCrafts magazine. I used it for inspiration for today's cards. I scanned the current issue for ideas of layouts. I loved combining items from my own stash with fabulous Stampin' Up! products.

Two of the projects used diecuts from The Big Shot! I loved cranking out WAY too many butterflies and branches for two different cards. I think my stampers LOVE all of the extra diecuts as they usually get to leave with a clear envelope of extras to take home and use to create.

Remember...cardmaking can be simple and quick. The results are amazing and the recipient will LOVE it!

My sister, Hilary, once taught a class on Glass Etching. I was so intrigued but only recently did I give it a try! One of my directs and dear friends, Jenny B, requested this class and I was thrilled. Her timing was so funny because I had already planned to add it to my list of Spring Classes!
I purchased the Etching Cream at Michaels and it tends to be expensive! I bought two jars--each was about $35 but take a coupon! The coupon certainly helped and can be found on their website and often in leading crafting magazines.
This piece first started as a plain and very inexpensive circle mirror. I used some clear stamps as well as a retired set from Stampin' Up! to make this. I simply stamped each image in Versamark and clear embossed them. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO FIRST USE THE EMBOSSING BUDDY! Once everything was heated and set, I slathered on the Etching Cream. Brace yourself...it stinks! :) After five minutes, rinse with warm water and scrape off the embossed images. I used my finger nail--it was easy under the warm water.

This was done using a stencil from Stampin' Up! I taped down the stencil and globbed on the Etching Cream. Let it sit for five minutes and then rinse! Easy!

Tomorrow (for our class) I plan to also use my BIG SHOT to make some stencils for my fabulous stampers. This way, everyone can customize their projects and take some stencils home.

I added some bling to the first piece. My plan is to add ribbon to hang this up. I want to check with Marty about the best way to add the ribbon in the back before I do it. I have a French vibe in the Mecca so I thought this would be perfect on the wall!

Here is a picture of the two pieces together! I am so thrilled with them. I still feel that they are both works in progress. My friends laugh but I often start a 3D piece and then have to sleep on it. The day always works best to finish them. If you love these, PLEASE leave a comment on my blog! Thanks and have a great crafty weekend. INKY SMILES!

I love, love, love my Big Shot! I have been using it for almost every stamping event at The Mecca! I am addicted. Lately, I have been creating the paper pop up cakes from the brand new EXCLUSIVE Three Cake Tier Pop Up Cake XL Die! I held a class using this die and people LOVE it!




I enjoyed missing my Stampin' Up! products with some beautiful papers that I had in my always growing stash! I loved the Spring look of this cake and can't wait to send it to someone special!
As I look at my cakes, I plan to eventually add some embellishments to them to "jazz" them up a little bit! If you love 3D projects and cards that have some flair, check out this cool die for your Big Shot! Don't have a Big Shot...don't wait...CLICK HERE!

A few weeks ago at my friend Laurel's Meetup Event, we made cards using these amazing stamps from The Stampsmith. This John Lennon Stamp is one of their newest stamps and I was lucky to be able to use it. My wonderful crafty pal, Eileen, had it in her collection and it was perfect for a birthday card for my dad.

Little did I know at that time that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in NYC would have having a special tribute to John Lennon in their exhibit. I thought it was a perfect opportunity for my dad to come to visit. He has been a Beatles fan all my life! I grew up listening to (and sometimes grumbling about) the music. There were times that I thought my dad may have believed he WAS John Lennon. Dad was more than thrilled to come up to check this out. We had a wonderful evening that he said was very "memorable". That night with my dad is one that I will never forget and I sure he won't either. I miss him as we live states away so I cherish each of these special times with him. As I grow older, I grow closer to him as we share the same love of food, sense of humor and appreciation of music.

Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you SO much and wish you many, many more...

This is a brand new stamp set called FOREST FRIENDS available from Stampin' Up! It is one of the adorable sets available in the OCCASIONS Mini Catalog. If you would like a copy of this mini catalog, please post a comment and I will contact you. I am more than happy to put one in the mail for you.

Last night, I had so much fun stamping with Corris, Alexei, Jenny B and "Ballet" Melissa! We used the super cute stamp set, FOREST FRIENDS, on all of our cards. I loved combining the BIG SHOT TOP NOTE and the new paper from TASTE OF TEXTILES. Melissa has bunnies at home and loves them to bits. I knew she would just adore this card!

Hoot, hoot...this cute owl looks fabulous flocked and sitting on this branch. It is from the Bird & Branches DieCut for the BIG SHOT.

This card was so much fun. I got the idea for this from a card on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ but changed it to make it my own! I love this paper from the OCCASIONS MINI called Walk in the Park. I made the oval frame from the OVAL SCALLOP FRAME diecut for the BIG SHOT.

I am so excited for Spring and these cards show it. I hope you enjoy them! PLEASE take a moment and leave a comment. I would love to hear from you!