3amStamping Pad

Frequent Stamper Shopping Card Updated

I've made a few changes to my Frequent Stamper Program.  You can now receive an electronic "punch card" for every net purchase (before tax and shipping) of $30, unless excluded.  The filled card is worth $35 off your next order.  You may receive both a hard copy card and an electronic card for the same purchases, but only one will be redeemed.

See the full details here!

Too Much Fun!

I've been playing with my BigShot Die Cutting Machine - and having too much fun to do anything else.  It's so easy to use and so neat! I used the Petal Card die to make "packages" that hold a holiday bookmark and thought this die would be good to make little "surprise" cards.

Here is how the Petal Card looks open:

 

and closed (isn't double-sided paper great?):

 

I'm going to play with a few designs and come up with a surprise card to post.  How about you? What would you make with this pattern?  Send me a picture and I'll post it.  And, if you are a newsletter subscriber and use all Stampin' UP! products, you'll be entered in my monthly contest.  Check your last newsletter for the links.  If you're not signed up, click on the sign-up link at the left.

If you're local to Santa Rosa or Sonoma County, or will be in the area on January 3rd, sign up for my BigShot Blast Day - you'll be able to make a banner and templates with a number of the BigShot Dies.  See my Schedule of Events at left for more details or email me at mary@3amstamper.com.

Easy as D-S-P

Do you want to make a matching gift bag and card?  Try this:

It's as easy as Designer Series Paper (DSP)!

I cut a sheet of DSP (in this case, #112040 Green Tea) to fit a Gift Sack (#100900-white), 8" x 10".  I used two sheets so both sides of the bag would be covered.  I tied the knot of 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain (#109054) only on one side; the back just has a strip of ribbon across it in the same place.  I used the 2" x 8" scrap for contrast under the ribbon.  I assembled the panels, then adhered them to the sack with Sticky Strip (#104294).

For the card, I used Bashful Blue (#105120) 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", and Not Quite Navy (#101722) 5-1/4" x 4" card stock, and 5" x 3-3/4" Green Tea DSP, cut from the remaining 4" x 12" scrap. I layered the DSP on the Not Quite Navy, then tied a strip of Old Olive Grosgrain around both.  I used about a 1" piece of Sticky Strip across the ribbon on the back for extra holding power when I SNAILed (#104332, or refill only #104331) the whole front layer to the card.  I stamped my greeting (On Your Birthday stamp set #111664) with a Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pad (103008), tucked it into an envelope (#107301, Medium Whisper White) and I was ready to go!

The card and gift bag packed well, since I had to take them to Disneyland for my son's birthday while we were on our trip.  The bag got filled with a shopping trip to Downtown Disney - and a sale!

Pick your favorite Designer Series Paper (pages 168-171 in the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog; or pages 7, 12, or 21 in the 2008 Holiday Mini Catalog), then choose coordinating or matching card stock.  The matching colors are listed underneath the paper pattern title - very handy, but you may need a magnifying glass to read them, like I do.  You can use those colors to find coordinating ribbon, too.

To order, click on "Online Ordering" at the right, then click on "Shop Now" to open the catalog.  You can search for items by name, category or color. Don't forget to take advantage of Free Shipping on any order of $70 or more!

Fond Farewell to Retiring Stamp Sets - Sale Prices & Free Shipping!

The new list of retiring stamp sets from Stampin' UP! has been posted.  And they're on sale! Plus there is free shipping for orders of $70 or more!

Click on "Specials" at the left to see the full details.

You may download the lists to read over at your convenience:

Stamp Sets by Page Number

Stamp Sets Alphabetically by Title

Click on Online Ordering, then "Shop Now" and "Specials" to see the retiring sets and images along with their special pricing.  Order today, the special pricing and free shipping offer is only through December 23rd.

Mailing Dates Reminder

This is more for me than you, but I thought I'd share in case there are others like me who forget until the last minute.
These are United States Postal Service dates:
Today is the last day to mail packages via USPS and have them delivered before Christmas.
December 10th is the last day to mail cards and letters and have them delivered before Christmas.
Anything mailed after these dates will probably be delayed due to the Christmas rush.

However, December 16th is the approximate last day to order Stampin' UP! products and have them delivered in time.  You can order online anytime by clicking on the button at the right.  Or feel free to contact me if you have questions.

I have Gift Certificates available in any amount with hand-stamped holders for $2.00 extra.  Call me at (707) 542-3695 or (707) 695-3571 or e-mail me at mary@3amstamper.com to order.

Two-Way Adhesives for Reposition-ability

I like to use the Two-Way Glue Pen to make masks because I'm usually using a shape that doesn't get much repositionable adhesive if cut from a Post-It (tm).  One thing I've learned is to spread the glue into a THIN coat and let it dry thoroughly before using it as a mask. Otherwise, you may pull up some pieces of the paper or card stock along with the mask.

The Tombow Multipurpose glue can also be repositionable.  It dries fairly tacky unless you spread it out very, very thinly. I would let this dry overnight before using it for masking.

Do you need two-way adhesive?  You can order online by clicking the button to the right. Order #100425 for the 2-Way Glue Pen, #110755 for the Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive.

Do It Yourself Cloud Template 2

I used the Two-Way Glue Pen and stroked adhesive along one edge of each circle, then let the glue dry.  The circles are repositionable and can be separated to make circle masks for the Sunset/Moonrise technique as well as joined together for the Clouds effect template.
I adhered the circles together in random order like this:

Check back here for step 3, how to use the template.