Stamping with Noel

Up a Notch Junior Legal Pad Covers

Today I want to share a few samples of the Junior Legal Pad Covers I've been creating for my craft fair in Santa Barbara, CA this upcoming Saturday (for more information see my calendar). Those of you who were tiring of the digital samples can heave a sigh of relief (although almost any project created in My Digital Studio could be replicated in paper and ink!).

Back in July I shared a picture of a Jr. Legal Pad Cover I had done in one of my classes (see blog post here). This is a simple project requiring only one sheet of 12x12 Card Stock and a sheet of patterned paper. This time around, however, I wanted to add 'something' to the original design to complete the project which has been created and recreated by so many crafty individuals.

My simple Up a Notch addition? A basic belly band/closure using a pony tail style head band snipped and threaded through a piece of Designer Series Paper which was squashed between two pieces of milk carton (all three layers were cut with the Big Shot and the Circles #2 die and punched with the Crop-a-dile). Yes, milk carton continues to be a go to supply in my craft room (see other milk carton craft projects here). This little recycled/green embellishment acts as a handmade button and adds just the right touch to the cover. This closure can also be reused later as a simple bookmark!

This just goes to show you that taking a project up a notch does not require big changes or a lot of work.

Are you in or near Santa Barbara and looking for some last minute holiday gifts? Why not stop by the December 3rd Holiday Boutique or attend my Last Minute Holiday Gift Class on December 10th or 11th? All information can be found here.

Happy Crafting,

Noel

Receive Your My Digital Studio Print Products in Time for Christmas!

My Digital Studio print products make perfect digitally handmade holiday gifts. But make sure to order by December 7th in order to receive them in time for Christmas! Or, if you need a little extra design time, take advantage of expedited shipping and order by December 9th for US Second-Day Air and by December 12 for US Next-Day Air.

Looking for digital project ideas?  Here are 3 of my top digital photo gift projects:

• Calendars - a great practical gift ... share family photos and help grandparents and other family members keep track of family holidays!  My Digital Studio makes it easier than ever to create a gift that will last the whole year long!
• Framed Photo Artwork - create a frameable work of art ... this year, instead of simply framing a family photo or child's school photo, why not take one of our digital scrapbook album layout templates and drop in your photo before framing.
• Customized Journal - it's time to throw out the old composition notebook.  It couldn't be easier to create a customized journal perfect for everyone on your holiday gift list in just minutes.  Our journals are high-quality customizable books for jotting down notes, goals, to-do lists, and special memories.  They include 80 double-sided lined journal pages, and customizable spine and front and back covers.     

If you have any questions regarding digital crafting, please contact me.  I'm happy to help you get the most from the options available to you.

Happy Crafting,

Noel 

6x6 Holiday Photo Greeting Card from an MDS album template!

As promised, here is the 6x6 holiday photo greeting card I created from an MDS album template.  The best thing about this card?  It was created and ready to print in less than 10 minutes!  In fact, it was so fast and easy to create this holiday card that I created 5 different versions this year ... and I'm letting my hubby and children decide which one we send out (so for those of you on my holiday mailing list, the element of surprise is probably not lost!). Try to do that with your paper crafted holiday cards!

Are you looking for your own ten minute Christmas Card?

Here are the basic steps:

For the card above I simply took the same page from the holiday album I used for my Holiday Boutique Flyer (see post here) and dropped in two photos as designed.  Next I removed the “Memories” text block and added my own simple text blocks.  In moments my design was done. 

To turn my image into a greeting card, I exported my page to a jpg.  I then used my photo editing software to crop my image to a 6x6 file.  There may be a way to do this in My Digital Studio, but I am still finding my way around - thankfully it is so user friendly!

This new ‘photo’ was then dropped into a 6x6 My Digital Studio card template (using new project, card, create your own, and photo 10 settings gives you a card with a single photo on the cover!).  

I then added two blank pages – one for the inside cover which remained blank, and one to which I added a text box with our personalized greeting.

Finally I was ready to save my project as a greeting card (share project, greeting card).

In ten minutes total I was ready to order greeting cards for the holidays!  How long does it take you to make your annual card?

Happy Digital Crafting,

Noel

 

Happy Thanksgiving - Punch Art Style!

I just want to take a quick moment to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!  May it be filled with friends, family, and many moments of thankfulness.

Noel

Turkey Punch art:  created in My Digital Studio using three punches ... 5 petal punch, circle punch (all from one circle resized to my needs), and the small arrow punch (which is peeking out to form the beak)!

Another Flyer Made with My Digital Studio

Today I want to share another flyer done with My Digital Studio - an announcement for the 2011 Handmade Holiday Boutique I'm organizing.   

As with my last minute holiday gift class flyer (seen here) I took a template originally designed for photos (either as an album page or as a greeting card) and used it to create an informative flyer instead.  Simply insert your colored 'card stock' in place of the photo blocks and layer with a text block!  The available templates allow you to complete almost any project painlessly and in minutes!

TIP:  when using a My Digital Studio template, do not be locked into the 'original purpose of the template.  Even if a template is originally geared as a card or album page, you can use it template for any project you choose!  Later this week I'll share a 6x6 photo greeting card I created from an album page.

During the holiday season, when many of us are on the road or have guests staying in our homes (and often in our guest rooms/craft rooms), My Digital Studio is a great way to keep crafting or moving ahead on your scrapbooking at a time when you might otherwise have to abstain.  Ask me how I know, grin.

Happy Digital Crafting,

Noel

Shop Now for Great Savings!

Do you love a discount?  Shop now for special online offerings from Stampin' Up! 

Happy Crafting,

Noel

Q&A: My Digital Studio Thanksgiving Greetings

Recently I have been sharing some of my favorite new downloads offered by Stampin' Up! for the My Digital Studio Software.  In addition, I have been using My Digital Studio more and more in my own crafts.  The card above is one example of my own use.  It is a Thanksgiving card I designed for my customers (both those in the Santa Barbara area and those across the country!) who had placed an order in 2011.  This card was sent out last week and included a chance to win a $20 stamp set!       

As a result of my own increased attention to My Digital Studio, many of you who have not yet purchased the software have asked me if you can use these downloads without purchasing the software.

The short answer is YES!  These downloads can be used by any software that supports the appropriate file types.  However, please note that the designer templates are for the exclusive use with My Digital Studio. 

The more technical answers are below and can be found (along with many other helpful MDS tips) at:

http://mydigitalstudio.net/page/questions-answers

Q: Can I purchase digital downloads without purchasing My Digital Studio?

A: Yes. Our digital downloads are compatible with other software programs. You cannot, however take advantage of Stampin' Up!’s professional print services without purchasing My Digital Studio.

Q: What other software programs are compatible with My Digital Studio downloads?

A: Any program that supports layers, and .jpg and .png files such as: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Jasc Paint Shop Pro (PSP), Microsoft Digital Image Pro (DIP), Ulead Photo Impact (PI), Corel Draw. My Digital Studio designer templates are exclusive to My Digital Studio and are not compatible with other programs.

If you haven't started designing your holiday cards yet this year, it just might be the time to go digital!  You can create your holiday card in minutes using a My Digital Studio designer template, or take a bit more time and create your own unique design.  Either way, you can order your cards direct from your computer and have them delivered to your home.  And don't forget the new bulk pricing (details available here) which helps keep your custom holiday card costs down. 

Purchase My Digital Studio software and downloads here today!

Happy Digital Crafting,

Noel

Home for the Holidays 2011 Handmade Holiday Boutique Flyer

As promised yesterday, here is a quick project I have done with the Home for the Holidays MDS Digital Ensemble - a flyer for my upcoming Last Minute Holiday Gifts Class! 

 

After opening up the 8 1/2 x 11 template, I resized and repositioned many of the trees.  Added a few text boxes and a tag and my flyer was ready to go in minutes. 

If you haven't registered already, early bird pricing is good through November 25th.  Sign up here.  I hope to see many of you there!

If you would like more information on digital crafting with My Digital Studio, contact me or visit www.mydigitalstudio.net. 

Happy Crafting,

Noel

Home for the Holidays

The holidays are a time for family, and the Home for the Holidays Ensemble for My Digital Studio by Stampin' Up! helps you bring that feeling home in your digital and hybrid crafts this holiday season.

Isn't this a wonderful collection of images?  When you first look at the images do you see only holiday cards?  Look a little closer.  This collection was created for all of your holiday crafts - with solutions for holiday parties (an invite and labels for tags and treats), decorating (frameable artwork), gift tags, and Christmas cards. Even better, all the elements come available as stamp brushes and embellishments so you can create additional coordinating projects. 

Click here to purchase and download today.  Still need more inspiration?  Check back tomorrow and I'll share a project done with this download!

Happy Crafting,

Noel

National Game & Puzzle Week - Blog Flashbacks!

I just found out this week is National Game & Puzzle Week.  I grew up in a family of gamers - we played cards, board games, and became addicted to Pong shortly after it's release.  I think as adults all 6 kids in my family still enjoy games, and I know my children do as well.  In honor of National Game & Puzzle Week, I want to flash back to some of the handcrafted game ideas and puzzle crafts I've shared on my blog:

Multiplication Facts Game

Dice Games in a Box

Math Counters Game

Number Flashcards

Puzzle Piece Wall Plaque

I have more games I'm working on - including one that will be sold at the Holiday Boutique in December. 

Happy Game and  Puzzle week!  I hope your schedule allows for a little fun and games this week.

Happy Crafting,

Noel

 

A Stamp I Wish They Would Make ...

Today I'm wondering if you ever find yourself wishing for a specific stamp? Is there an image or idea running around in your head that you are just unable to craft because you don't have 'that' stamp? 

This often happens to me and I've solved the problem in different ways each time.  Share your wishes with me (leave a comment below) ... and I'll share my suggestions with you! 

Happy Crafting,

Noel

A Cocktail Napkin Box Inspired By You!

While it is my mission to keep you inspired and crafting, it is often my interaction with my customers that keeps me inspired!  I've shared with my embossed cocktail napkins with my Facebook Fans, my class attendees and even here on my blog.  Recently one of you pointed out to me that we just needed a box to put them in - it was such a great idea that I just had to run with it.  I shared it in class this weekend in a class attended by the customer who originally suggested it and now I'm sharing it with you.

Here are the original napkins:  (original party planning post here)

And now, here is the box:

Wouldn't this set make a nice handmade gift accompaniment to the bottle of wine you bring as a hostess gift during the holidays? 

There are many pizza box tutorials available, I have adjusted the basic pattern to fit a dozen cocktail napkins using a single piece of 11 1/2 x 6" card stock.  If you want to see a very simple tutorial for this box, please click here or the Downloadable Tutorials tab on the navigation bar above.

If you have any ideas for projects we need to try, let me know - you just might inspire your own class and/or tutorial! 

Happy Crafting,

Noel 

Handmade Glitter Brads Tutorial!

Want to know how I made those sparkly glitter brads used in my Christmas napkin rings (see this post)?!  See how they match our Red Glimmer Paper perfectly?  I've had several inquiries on the brads, but the technique was really quite easy.  Here are the basic steps:

1.  Choose a brad of your choice - any color, but the appropriate size for your task.

2.  Hold the brad by the prongs with a tweezers to protect your hands and smoosh into the surface of a VersaMark Ink Pad.

3.  Immediately push the brad into your Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Emboss Powder and heat emboss with your heat tool.  This is to provide a red back drop in case there are any light spots in your glitter and you don't want too much glitter showing through.

4.  Repeat step 3 two more times, letting your powder cool between heatings.  This will provide you with the thick coverage you will want when adding your glitter.

5.  Reheat the embossed brad and immediately place face down in your Red Galaxy Fine Stampin' Glitter.  Shake off excess by tapping your brad at the edge of your glitter container.

 6.  This last step is optional, but as we all know glitter has a bad habit of getting everywhere.  While this may be ok in our workroom, on a project like this, you wouldn't want red glitter falling off your napkin rings onto your napkins and ultimately on your guests faces!  So add a thin layer of Crystal Effects adhesive to the surface of your glitter brads to 'set' the glitter.

You are finished and your brads are ready to use!  Pair them with our Red Glimmer Paper for a perfectly coordinated projects - they were literally made for each other!  Want to avoid the hassle?  Stampin' Up! also sells glitter brads and other fun brads already colored to match our projects, available for purchase here.

Happy Glitter Crafting,

Noel 

Top 10: Top Tips for Using Jet Black StazOn Ink

Jet Black StazOn Ink just may be the most highly utilized ink pad in my craft room! 

Why?  Because of it's crisp black coloring, quick drying time, and it's ability to stamp on both paper and nonporous surfaces.  Add to those qualities that it is a permanent ink, and I'm a happy camper.  You can color or watercolor right over the top of dry StazOn with any of your Stampin' Up! color products without the smearing that occurs with other inks.  What a perfect foundational ink for your craft room!

Looking for some help with StazOn Ink? 

Here are my top 10 tips for using Jet Black StazOn Ink:

1. Because StazOn Ink dries incredibly fast, you need to be careful to use the plastic protective cover found inside your StazOn lid when storing your StazOn Ink.  Do not throw this cover out!  Tip:  If you would like to simplify the use of this cover, use one or two mini Glue Dots between the plastic cover and the StazOn lid to keep them together.
   
   
2. I find fine line images work best with StazOn ink. If your stamp image has bold areas, it can be difficult (but not impossible) to ink thoroughly and get a solid stamped image.
   
   
3. Again, due to the quick dry qualities of StazOn ink, you must stamp immediately after inking your stamp.  If you allow the stamp to sit, while you reorganize your project or go get a cup of coffee, your image will not stamp throroughly.
   
   
4. After stamping with StazOn Ink, be certain to allow your image to dry thoroughly before adding additional color.  While StazOn is a permanent ink, it will smear if it is not dried thoroughly!
   
   
5. If you are working on a project and are worried about smearing, you can also add a fine layer of a fixative spray to ensure color permanence (this is not a necessary step, but can be effective - especially if you tend towards impatience and aren't certain that your ink is dry!
   
   
6. StazOn ink will stain your stamps, especially your wood blocks, but I believe a well worn stamp is a well used stamp.  That said, to ensure that you do not discolor future projects, remove the ink from the rubber using StazOn Cleaner rather than Stampin' Mist.  The cleaner is specially formulated for this solvent-based ink.  I also like to keep an old stained white washcloth as my StazOn 'Stampin' Scrub' ... paper towels will quickly deteriorate and I like to 'see' if additional ink is coming off. 
   
   
7. If you are still worried about the amount of staining after using StazOn Cleaner, you can return to your stamp with the Adhesive Remover and try to remove any additional ink.  I have also heard that the Simple Green cleaner can be effective in removing StazOn Ink stains from the rubber and wood block.
   
   
8. For Storage, StazOn Ink pads are not labeled on the side ... if you use the Color Caddy or similar storage method, you may choose to label your StazOn case with a label maker (be certain to use the white labels, rather than the clear, to ensure your lettering shows up on the black case!).  
   
   
9. One word of warning - there are many surfaces from which it is difficult to remove StazOn ink ... please keep out of reach of children! 
   
   
10. One of the wonders of StazOn Ink is the number of surfaces you can stamp on with this ink!  While you can readily stamp on any paper, you can also use on non-porous surfaces such as transparencies, vellum, plastics, leather, glass, dominoes, tiles and metal surfaces.  With the purchase of this ink, you open a whole new world of stamping crafts!

I hope these tips help you to get the most out of your Jet Black StazOn Ink.  If you are looking for advanced techniques to use with this ink, I shared one during my multi-color stamping series ... see here.

Happy Crafting,

Noel

Don't Miss Any More!

 

Have you missed the first four weeks of the Stamping With Noel 12 Weeks of Christmas Series? 

Over the last four weeks, subscribers to my mailing list have received four holiday card ideas (including a new ribbon technique and fun card 'magic' technique) direct to their inboxes!  And, starting tomorrow, I will transition into handmade gift ideas for a few weeks, and then finish off with a focus on bags, tags and wrapping!

Don't miss out on any of the fun!  Sign up for my mailing list today -

Simply enter your email address in the subscription box below. After you submit your information, you will be sent an email asking you to confirm your enrollment. You must sign up AND confirm your subscription before 10am on November 9th in order to receive the next issue of the 12 Weeks of Christmas series! Each week will bring new inspiration for you to create your own handmade holiday items!

Join My Mailing List Now!
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the 12 Weeks of Christmas Series

Happy Holiday Crafting,

Noel