RobinsCraftRoom.com

Robin Messenheimer, Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Can You Say, “Exhausted”?

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I’m back from Stampin’ Up!’s Celebrate 2008 Convention.  It was my first (but definitely not last) SU Convention, and I’m just now coming up for some air.  My bags aren’t unpacked, my swaps aren’t sorted, and my notes aren’t typed.  Nonetheless, I thought I’d share a couple of tidbits from Convention with you as my own "sneak peek" of what I’ll be sharing as the week goes on.

Of course, there’s Shelli showing off the Sizzix–with wonderfully witty masks made from some exclusive Stampin’ Up! dies.  Yes, Sizzix was the big news for me at Convention!  I am a long time Sizzix user, and I can hardly wait to get my hands on that beautiful black Stampin’ Up! model.  I placed my order during convention, and I should have it by the end of the week.  If you’re coming to my Catalog and final Retired Set Open House this Saturday, I’ll definitely show it off!  If you can’t wait that long to see if, click on the link to the right to see the brochure.

Of course I came home with new stamp sets.  I’ll be spending lots of time this week using them for projects to show you right here!  So keep on coming back.

Now it’s time for a (well-deserved, as they say) nap!

 

Gifts of Stationery – Part 2

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There is a BIG box of swaps in the Craft Room waiting to be hauled off to Salt Lake City and the 2008 Stampin’ Up! Convention.  My favorites continue to be the Stationery Sets that are a part of three Stationery Set Swaps in which I’m involved.   In the first set, described a couple of posts before this one, was in a folder.  Now I’d like to share with you one that’s in a bag, ready to hand to the perfect hostess!  Here’s a picture of the bag, and another picture of two of the four cards that can fit in it.

Almost everything about this paper purse and the cards are from items that you’ll find in the Fall/Winter 2008 Stampin’ Up! Idea Book and Catalog, due to be in my hands while at the Convention–and ready for you to have and order from on August 11th!  I’ll be able to tell you all about our new papers, punches and colors when I return from Convention next week.  Look for my next Newsletter, which I’ll be sending to you later this week, and an invitation to an August party in Robin’s Craft Room.

If you’re not on my newsletter mailing list, just enter your e-mail address up to the right where it states, "Sign Up for my FREE e-mail Newsletter," and I’ll get the latest one out to you right away (well, after I return from Convention).

If you just can’t wait for the instructions for this bag, I’ve included a sneak peek in my Techniques section.

 

Just Couldn’t Resist Some More Swaps!

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I’m in the final stretch before I head east for the 2008 Stampin’ Up! Convention!  I should be packing and checking things off on my to-do list.  Instead, I decided that I just HAD TO HAVE some general swaps–just in case I met someone at the airport in Hilo or Honolulu or Salt Lake City.

At this late date (I leave tomorrow!) I had to have something that would be catchy but easy.  Since you probably know already (if you’ve read some of my earlier posts) that I love working with windows (actually, paper templates) I thought I’d try something I’d seen in a magazine but thought too difficult to do easily.  This is the card with which I ended up.

I couldn’t imagine trying to get those little squares aligned vertically and horizontally, not to mention with each other!  But, as I was clearing off my work table to get ready for the trip, I spotted one of the templates that I’d used to create some window cards.  That little light bulb went on over my head and, Voila!  I whipped 20 of these little critters out in no time flat.

You can do this, too!  You can find instructions for this and other card techniques in my Techniques Section!

If you’d like to have some of the new Stampin’ Up! papers and colors, it won’t be long! 

 

Gifts of Stationery – Part 1

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I am having so much fun with the swaps that I’m doing for the 2008 Stampin’ Up! Convention.  I am participating in planned swaps, trying to find items that my customers will enjoy making during the coming year!  One of my favorite types of projects are those that my customers and I can give away for gifts.  And what better gift to make from paper and ink than stationery sets!

The first of three swaps involving me and stationery sets is a folder containing four of Stampin’ Up!’s Note Cards.  The Note Cards are a bit smaller than the standard 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card, but are still big enough to mail using a regular first class stamp.  If you’ve never seen them, just call or send me an e-mail, and I’ll be glad to show them to you!  If you’re too far away for a drive (and that happens a lot when you live in Hawaii!), I’ll be happy to send you a sample. 

Sun FunOnce again I used one of my favorite stamp sets, "Life’s A Breeze" to make this coordinated set.  You can find the instructions for making the folder in my "Techniques" section.  If you’d like directions for decorating the folder and the coordinating cards, call or e-mail me, and we’ll make plans for that!Sun Fun Cards

A “No Layer” Challenge

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Most cards that are made using Stampin’ Up! products include multiple layers of papers and/or card stock, artfully arranged with stamped images and embellishments to create a true work of art!  (Hey, I need to start doing more of that!!)

For one swap to take place at this year’s Stampin’ Up! convention, we were challenged to make a card with NO LAYERS!  But it was still supposed to be a work of art!  Well, we could use one embellishment, so that helped. 

No Layer CardThis is the card I made for the swap. I used Very Vanilla card stock for the basic card, and stamped using Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise inks.  The stamp set that includes the fish, the boat and "Life’s A Breeze" is called, appropriately, "Life’s A Breeze"!  The turquoise fishies were stamped using the wheel, "Something Fishy." 

The tricky part was using a punch to make "portholes" in the front of the card through which you can see the 3 goldfish swimming happily among the turquoise fishies.  I’ve detailed how I made the portholes in one of my technique pages, "Yes, I Do Windows." 

I added some Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, and, Voila!  I met the challenge. 

You can make this card–and lots of other fun items–using the Life’s A Breeze Stamp Set.  It will be on the dormant list for the coming catalog, which means it will still be available, at least until January 2009.  Call or e-mail me if you’d like to order any of these materials–or, better still, if you’d like me to host a class or workshop for you and your friends!  My phone number and e-mail address are in the banner at the top of the page.