Ink It Up! with Jessica Taylor

LAST DAY to Guess what Stamps are Retiring!

Pick 10 stamp sets in the
Spring Summer Idea Book & Catalog that you think will retire. Email me (jessica@inkitupwithjessica.com) your list TODAY!

I will announce the winner when the list comes out TOMORROW! The person with the highest number of correct guesses will win a retiring stamp set from my collection and 20% off a retiring list order.

In addition, EVERYONE who enters the contest will receive 10% off a retiring list order.

Last Chance for May Specials!

 In honor of National Scrapbooking month, Stampin' Up! is offering 3 GREAT specials.

1. Buy Three Designer Series Paper packs and get the Fourth one FREE.  This includes the Specialty Designer Series Paper or 12"X12" Textured Card stock.

2. Buy the NEW Jumble Alphabet set - a sneak peek from the upcoming 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog - at 20% off!

3. Join the Stampin' Up! family for as little as $75!  This month only, Stampin' Up! is offering a special scrapbook-focused Starter Kit.  This is a fantastic way to start your own business, while finding your own creative outlet.  

With these great offers, the scrapbooking possibilities are endless. 

Please contact me with any questions or visit MY ONLINE STAMPING STORE to get your supplies and take advantage of these specials.

Scrapbook in a Box

When this Scrapbook in a Box is opened a beautiful scrapbook page appears like magic. 

The Class by Email includes step-by-step instructions and photos to make a Scrapbook in a Box, a coordinating 12" x 12" Scrapbook Page and a coordinating Gift Note.

These beautiful projects feature the Petal Party Simply Scrappin' Kit, but you can recreate the set for Father's Day, birthdays, wedding gifts, graduations, bridal and baby showers!

You can purchase the Scrapbooking In and Out of the Box Class by Email for only $9.95.  Click on the PayPal link below to purchase.

Please note these classes are not available to Stampin' Up! demonstrators. If you are a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator please contact me at jessica@inkitupwithjessica.com for more information.

20% off Jumble Alphabet!

 

You’ll be jumbled in the best possible way when you use the Jumble Alphabet stamp set—not a single letter has the same style!

Buy the new Jumble Alphabet stamp set - a sneak peek from the upcoming 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog - at 20% off!  This die cut set of 52 stamps is only $35.16 (reg. $43.95)  through May 31.

You can order the Jumble Alphabet at MY ONLINE STAMPING STORE!  Just click on the 'Shop Now' button and enter 115199 into the Search the Store box.

Scrapbooking with Designer Series Paper

Watch this video by Stampin' Up! for some fun ideas on how to use your designer paper.

 

Designer Paper is on sale this month, so it's a great time to stock up! 

BUY 3, get 1 FREE!

To order your designer paper go to MY ONLINE STAMPING STORE!  Just click on the 'Shop Now' button.

Scrapbooking Sketches - 8 Ways to Be More Productive

Article by Monna Ellithorpe

Your scrapbooking layouts can make all the difference in how your pages look. The key is to have many scrapbook sketches available already there for you to choose from and to help you get over those times when your own creative ideas are at a standstill.

Your pages do not have to be perfect by any means and sometimes you will produce a page that no matter what you do, you are just not happy with it. Don't stress over it, just put it in your scrapbook and move on.  Remember scrapbooking is supposed to be fun, so don't make it into a chore just to get it done.

When you do find a sketch or layout that you like, experiment with it. Make your page about just one picture; add more pictures or less pictures; move them around; put the pictures on an angle; line them up and down or across. Walk away from it for a while and come back later with a fresh outlook and then just make the page and start another one.

I have discovered in my own scrapbooking sessions that if I have a sketch to go by, the hard part is already done. All you need to do is embellish with ribbons, buttons, lettering, stickers, glitter or what ever kind of embellishments you like the most. Cutting your mats and pictures with decorative scissors or if you have cutters with different cutting edges always adds a nice touch to your pages; experiment with different cutting edges.

A very important part of scrapbooking is "do not forget the journal box on your pages." In the future when family and friends look at your creative scrapbooking efforts they will want to know what was happening at the time, who is in the picture and where they were. This will keep the interest of any one viewing your scrapbook pages. It is such a disappointment when looking at a scrapbook full of pictures and you have no idea of who the people are in the pictures; no dates; no notes; nothing. Journal on every page even if you cannot remember the details, put as much information in your journal block as you can.

If you have quite a few pictures of one outing, a birthday party or some other event, it is always a plus and if you have the room to lay out many sheets of cardstock and just start laying your pictures out on each piece of cardstock as you go along. I have used this technique quite a few times and have been able to produce up to 10 pages in one session in my scrapbooking room. Believe me it is a great feeling to get so much accomplished at one time.

Below are some suggestions to help make better use of your time with your hobby:

1. Gather all of your pictures together from a single event.

2. If you have the room, lay out many sheets of cardstock and lay the
pictures on the cardstock at random.

3. Have sketches available to use as a guide.

4. Gather your embellishments that you plan to use; maybe you have a theme or just plan to use whatever appeals to you at the time.

5. Decide if you are going to cut your mats and photos with a straight edge or with a decorative edge.

6. Do not forget to make a journal box for each of your pages.

7. Don't worry if you are not able to finish your pages at one time. At least you have a start and the next time you have a few minutes a good portion of the decision making has already been done.

8. Last and most important, have fun and remember the event as you work on your pages.

Always remember enjoy your hobby and don't feel as if it is another job.

For more ideas, inspiration, learning to use your limited scrapbooking time more wisely and making great looking scrapbook pages, I would like to invite you to visit http://www.squidoo.com/Scrapbook-Sketches-500 which also includes free bonuses for cardmaking ideas and Christmas quotes.

"Copyright (c) Monna Ellithorpe. All Rights Reserved."

Stampin' Up! has some great Scrapbooking Specials during the month of May!

A Day to Remember

Memorial Day
© 2001 Luke, 3rd Grader, Academy Elementary School, Madison, Connecticut.

Remember the brave soldiers who gave their lives
For our freedom,
God Bless them all these courageous
Men and women.

They fought on land,
Others at sea,
Sacrificing their lives for
You and me.

Schools and offices respect these heroes
From the past,
By flying our beautiful flag
At half-mast.

As you watch the parade and hear
The trumpets play,
Please think about what we celebrate on
Memorial Day.

 

For more poems and information on Memorial Day, visit www.usmemorialday.org.

Looking for a custom stamp?

Stampin' Up! offers custom text-only stamps in two different fonts.  Choose from 1-4 lines of text, up to 32 characters per line.

Perfect for special occasions, weddings, or any other wording you find yourself repeatedly writing!

 

Large Text-Only stamps with 1-2 lines of text are also available, along with Text-and-Image stamps perfect for return addresses.

Want to put your mark on your handmade cards?  Put your name on a personalized "Hand Stamped by Design."

To order your custom stamps, please email me at jessica@inkitupwithjessica.com. 

Help Stamp Out Cancer!

Help stamp out cancer by purchasing some of Evie's Courage Cards.  Evie was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumor, tumors in her kidney, when she was 15 months old. She underwent 18 weeks of chemotherapy and had part of her left kidney removed.  

Evie is now a vibrant 4 year old and the main force behind Evie's Green & Speckled Frogs Relay for Life Team.  Her mom Tammie makes packs of Evie's Courage Cards each year to raise money for the team to donate to the American Cancer Society. 

This year the cards feature the Say It with Scallops Ronald McDonald House stamp set by Stampin' Up!  The layout is shown above with greetings of 'for you', 'hi' and ' I just can't thank you enough!"  Each pack of cards includes 10 cards and envelopes for $15.

ALL proceeds from the cards go to the American Cancer Society.

To order your Courage Cards, please contact Tammie at tammiejo@mhtc.net.

 

Summer Fun Mini Book

We made this mini scrapbook out of name badge holders at my stamp club last night.  Thanks to my friend Melissa who donated all the holders!

  

  

  

Stamps: ABC Alphabet Lower and Enjoy Every Moment

Ink: Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad, VersaMark pad

Paper: Whisper White and Apricot Appeal card stock; Rainbow Sherbet Designer Paper

Accessories: Crafter's Tool Kit; Bold Brights Brads; dimensionals; Certainly Celery and Tempting Turquoise grosgrain ribbon; 1" Circle, 1/2" Circle and 1-3/8" Square punches

May Special: Buy 3 packs of Designer Paper and you'll get the 4th pack for FREE! 

To order your supplies, go to MY STAMPING STORE and click on the 'Shop Now' button.