Toot! Toot!

Yep, that's me tootin' my own horn! One of my convention swaps made Stamper's Showcase today!!! Stamper's Showcase can only be seen by SU demos so I had
to share here so more people could celebrate with me!!!

Here it is:



I know if you regularly follow my blog, you saw this one while I was at convention but just in case, I put it in again! Thanks for looking!

Blogger's Challenge: Patriotic or Baby Cards

I thought about doing a Patriotic Baby card and then just had a small piece of inspiration with this card...

Yes, I used the Top Note Die and my Big Shot! I LOVE my BIG SHOT! This is one of the exclusive dies available only from Stampin' Up! (Sales plug: Big Shot and the accessories will be available for all customers to purchase on Tuesday!!!!)

I layered strips of leftover cardstock onto Vanilla cardstock and used that piece to die cut the "top note". When turned, it looked like a medallion and the card took off from there!




Thanks for looking and be sure to see what the other members came up with by clicking on the Blogger's Challenge link on the right side of my blog. Which card did they choose to make? I'm off to find out myself!



Recipe:
Stamp Set: Nursery Necessities
Cardstock: Real Red, Very Vanilla and Night of Navy
Ink: Very Vanilla Craft Ink
Punches: Large and Small Star
Other: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Night of Navy Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

The Sale is ON!!!!

***This post will stay at the top for a little bit...scroll down to see new posts!!!
Click on sale button to the right to see the list. The retired stamp sets are now included in on the list!!!!
SHIPPING: ***Shipping will depend on what will fit in the Flat Rate Priority mailing box. All orders will be shipped USPS Priority Mail unless you live locally!
$4.80: Small items (ribbon, small stamp sets, etc...) that will fit into a Flat Rate Mailing envelope. Also, one larger stamp set.
$9.80: packages of DSP, Simply Scrappin' Kits,
$12.95: If you buy lots, I'll cram it into this box!
Other: For the Cuttlebug and Scor-it, I will pack the items up, go to the PO and find out what the actual shipping charge will be before you pay anything.

Color Inspiration #20

I didn't think there was any way I would have time to participate in this challenge this week but I pulled it off! I had a workshop last night (Hi girls!!!) and we had a GREAT time! I've been working at school in the rest of my time. I'm looking forward to stamping a bit over the weekend before school starts next week.

Here's Kristina's color challenge for the week!



And...here's what I came up with...Don't these colors remind you of Neopolitan Ice Cream? I served a lot of ice cream when I worked at Dave's Home Plate one summer. I was either dishing up ice cream there or whipping up short order items on the grill...what a summer job!



Here's a close-up look of the clear embossing that I did. I used a different texture on each color.



Thanks for looking and be on the lookout for my blogger's challenge tomorrow...I hope the inspiration for that comes like this one did!

Blogger's Challenge #61! Color Challenge!

Our challenge this week was a color challenge. The colors were: More Mustard, Ruby Red, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip. I began by thinking fall leaves and then went in a different direction!

I was inspired by the layout on page 120 of the new catty. I made it my own but that's how I got my start and the basics of this card. Another inspiration was the way Margaret Raburn used the Boho Background on her card for our shoebox swap in SLC. Using these ideas with the color combination completed this card!

Another element was adding the Ruby Red Taffeta Ribbon...OH WAIT!!! SU doesn't make this ribbon...I did!!! I used the Vanilla Taffeta ribbon and my ruby red stamp pad to dye the ribbon to match my card!

Thanks for looking and check out what the other participants are up to with this challenge!



Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Boho Backgrounds
Cardstock: Old Olive, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Ruby Red
Ribbon: Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain, "Ruby Red" Taffeta Ribbon (hee hee)
Other: Crafter's Tool Kit, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL

Color Inspiration #19

After this card, I think you know how much I LOVE my Big Shot!!! I used two of the Bigz Dies (Scallop Envelope and Top Note) and one of the BEST new background stamps from the new catty: Bella Toile!

Kristina's color challenge this week was to use Basic Black, Whisper White, Basic Gray and pick a color of our own...I chose Pink Pirouette, one of the new In Colors for this year!

I tucked the birthday greetings inside of the envelope so the receiver will have a little extra surprise!

Thanks for looking!



Card Recipe:
Stamp sets: Bella Toile,Hugs & Wishes
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette
Ink: Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette
Other: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Big Shot, Scallop Envelope and Top Note Bigz Dies, Stampin' Dimensionals

Stand Still!

Okay, this is what you get when you think you have your camera set to take a still photo but it's really slipped into video mode! This is our SSUS group Shoebox swap! Boy, I miss you girls!!!! I hope this works!

Blogger's Challenge #60! Birthday!

I kept my card SIMPLE! I just returned from WI yesterday but instead of having today to catch up, we drove to GF to fix my windshield. Living in a small town without a auto glass repair shop...

I received my order from the new catalog yesterday! Oh! That catalog is fantastic!!! Right now, it's hard to see online so you'll just have to contact me to get ahold of your own copy!!! Host a workshop or order $100 and it's yours for FREE!!!!

I used my new Big Shot! I'm so excited that Stampin' Up will have this product available to you soon! There will also be Stampin Up EXCLUSIVE dies to go with it. I've always wanted to do more die cutting and now I CAN!!!!

Here's the recipe:
Stamp sets: Celebrate Everything, Itty Bitty Background, Flight of the Butterfly
Ink: Real Red
DSP: Summer Picnic
Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie
Ribbon: Pumpkin Pie
Other: BIG SHOT, Top Notch die cut, Stampin' Dimensionals

Fall Winter Idea Book & Catalog Goes LIVE!!!

I'm scheduling this post ahead of time but the F/W Idea Book & Catalog should be live if you visit my Stampin Up Website: www.lisabohler.stampinup.net When you get to my site, click on Stampin' Up Products: Online catalog!

WARNING! For now, this is downloadable as a LARGE PDF document. We are awaiting SU to launch...ONLINE ORDERING!!! At that time (sometime in the fall) the catalog will be back to being able to view online PLUS it will be searchable, again!!!!

Tee Ball Rocks!

Here's the card that I started for Blogger's challenge on Friday and then realized that I didn't want to come up with another card with this layout. So, I picked another layout for that challenge but I still like this card!



It uses the ABC Alphabet Lower for the words...For the last 13 summers, the players do a team cheer with their coach and the overall favorite has been for them to shout, "TEE BALL ROCKS!" Other cheers have been yelled, but this is the favorite!

Today is the LAST day to order from the Spring Summer Collection. I'm at my in-laws but call me on my cell phone if there's anything you would still like to get that won't be available tomorrow!

Thanks for looking!



Recipe:
Sets: Just Baseball, ABC Alphabet Lower
Cardstock: Garden Green, Kraft, Not Quite Navy
Ink: Ruby Red, Not Quite Navy, White Craft Ink
Marker: Ruby Red
Other: Paper snips, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL, Sponge Daubers

Blogger's Challenge #59: Same but different!

The challenge for this week was to use the same sketch different stamps, cardstock and inks. It was a fun one. Awhile back many stampers were using this sketch, an SCS sketch.

Last night was the last night for tee ball for the summer. I don't have kids in tee ball but I've been the supervisor for this Park and Rec program since 1996! Most of the kids that coach the teams for me, played tee ball when I started!



The second card was inspired by the new stamp we received at convention called "Inspired by Nature." I am LOVING this set. I brought out my watercolor crayons to color directly onto the stamp, misted with water and stamped the image two times, without recoloring. Then, added the phrase. Notice the ribbon? Yep, 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon is back in the new catalog!!!! Whoo hoo! (I had kept mine and with our piece in our make and take kits, compared and it's the same as the old chocolate!)



Make sure to see what the other BC players did with this challenge...that's what I'm going to do!



Baseball Recipe:
Set: Just Baseball, Fundamental Phrases, Sanded
Ink/Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel
Other: Ruby Red marker, Round tab punch, sponge daubers, Stampin' Dimensionals, Cutter Kit

Passion Recipe:
Set: Inspired by Nature
Ink/Cardstock: Versamark pad, Summer Sun, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Confetti Cream
Markers: Creamy Caramel, Summer Sun
Other: Color Spritzer Tool, Watercolor Crayons, Sponge Daubers, Cutter Kit, Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Color Inspiration #18

Oops! I miss a couple of these! Now that I'll be in school mode, my participation will be scattered. Hopefully not but....

Here are the colors for today's challenge:



And here's what I came up with. I used a BRAND NEW set from the Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog!!! It was one of the three free stamps sets in my convention bag when I arrived!



I chose to go with the Summer Sun and not Green Galore. The black background is stamped with the background stamp, Polka Dot and embossed with clear embossing powder. I also used a sponge dauber and my Rose Red ink pad to dye my white Taffeta ribbon Rose Red!

I need to really work on my color fastness in my photos. Lisa tried to teach me how to use my camera but....

Thanks for looking!

Conditioning Your Stamps

Until recently, I didn't understand the importance of conditioning your bold image stamps. Lisa and Jeannette, my friends and roommates at convention, convinced me to try conditioning and they are so RIGHT!!!

Pat Huntoon, technique guru and fellow Blogger's Challenge member posted this tutorial on conditioning.

Here are some before and afters of the difference on some stamps I received at convention:





Can you see the difference I see? Hopefully, this will convince you to condition and not to be afraid. You WILL not ruin your stamps if you use a light hand to sand.

I'm home!!!

Wonderful! Marvelous! Fabulous! Just three words to describe my time at the 2008 Stampin' Up! Convention! It was AWESOME! Thank you to all of you who support my business and make it possible for me to attend these learning experiences!

First, here's some news:

You can be a BIG SHOT...Owner that is! The Big Shot by Sizzix, a die-cutting machine will be available along with some EXCLUSIVE die cuts through me, your SU Demonstrator!!! Here's what it looks like along with a GORGEOUS Doctor's Bag to store it with the plates and dies!



Here's a snapshot of a display of the exclusive dies:



Demonstrators can order now (I'm waiting to add it to my new catty order on the 11th!) We can win prizes by having a wrist band (that everyone actually places on their lanyard/id holder) and I WON!!! I won the Join in the Cheer Decorative Strip Die, the Decorative Strip Cutting Pads and In Color cardstock to match that size! It was super exciting! My friends around me were just convinced I was going to wet my pants and were equally happy that I didn't! Now I just have to be patient to order my Big Shot!

Oh...Did I mention the new catty? Yep, I have been saving the SU catties since 1997 and this one is the BEST! The cover edge is scalloped with the Scallop Edge punch!!! Beautiful! I've got my convention copy and am anxiously awaiting the man in brown (AKA the UPS man) to deliver my boxes! Here's a picture of all of the new Designer Series Paper:


Also! Thanks to UPS, each demonstrator received a bonus stamp set at convention! It's the new Ronald McDonald House set!!! So not only did UPS give to us; but by purchasing this set, $2 per set went to the Ronald McDonald House Charities!!!! AWESOME!

Do you want good news for your buying power? SU announced a sale on 10 of the BRAND NEW stamp sets!!!! From August 11-September 30, these sets will be available at a 15% discount! This is unprecedented!!! I've got some workshops already scheduled for those dates but maybe you'll want to schedule another so you can take advantage of that offer!!!!

Now, to reach me...Steve and I will be heading out on Saturday to visit his side of the family in Wisconsin. But you can reach me by cell phone! Also...I don't think that I've mentioned that I now have a SU Website! Why now? Because soon, you'll be able to order ONLINE!!!!! My web address is: www.lisabohler.stampinup.net It's still a HUGE work in process. SU hasn't announced a specific date that Online Ordering will be available but have only said, "the fall". I wanted to be ready as soon as it launched!!!

Swaps up?

Do you like my play on words? What's up? Tee hee! The set used here is Serene Spring...another GORGEOUS hostess set!!! I'll be showing some gals at a party at the end of August how to do this watercoloring technique! The cardstock colors used are Bordering Blue, More Mustard, and Chocolate Chip.