Friday, February 28, 2014

My Card-In-A-Box with Up, Up, & Away

Hey readers!
How's it goin' in your world? I just finished my first card-in-a-box and I'm SO (yes, enough for italics, bold, and underline) excited to share it with you!

I used one of my all time favorite stamp sets, 'Up, Up, & Away'.


Drumroll please...

Cutesy little "front" focal point

I can mail a sunshiny day to a friend. Ah-ma-zing! Why didn't I think of this before?


Side view


The "back" where you write your message.

Well, what do you think? Show me your card-in-a-box for a chance to win a Card-In-A-Box Class for you and one other friend! This contest expires in one week. So excited to see what you come up with!

Thanks for looking & happy stamping!

-Your dynamite Stampin' Up! Demo, TNT



Wednesday, February 26, 2014

New SU! Web site- Quick One Stop Shopping!

Go here to see my new SU! website, and click "shop" to purchase some amazing products for yourself!
www.stampwithtnt.stampinup.net

Clear Blocks: Another Use

Hey all,
    I'm going to tell you a story that will make you sure I should have at least one cup of coffee a day, for everyone's well being! Then I'll show you what I did with my clear blocks on a card for my two kids. And lastly, I'm going to teach you how to clean your clear blocks so they keep those rubber stamps on them. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy!

    I'm a server at a cute little mexican food restaurant here in Austin, Texas. As such, I get done with work pretty late most nights. I like to unwind for a couple hours before going to sleep (stamping time! woo hoo!). So, as you can imagine, I don't like getting up in the mornings. I've never been a morning person, but it seems to be getting worse as I get older.

   Anyway, just like over 50% of Americans, I find the solution is a hot cup of coffee. I was so tired this morning, I sat down with my coffee and forgot about it until it was less than hot. So, I got up and trudged into my little kitchen, opened and turned on my toaster oven, and yeah nearly put my cup of coffee in.

   My two kiddos, munching on strawberry poptarts, both laughed and called me a "goof nugget". I guess they are right on that one, I do get the Goof Nugget Award for the day. Ha ha!

 
I am coffee. Microwave me. Don't bake. Don't toast. :p
  
 Do you use Stampin' Up!s clear stamps and clear blocks? I LOVE  them! I don't know how I would store all my stamps if they were the larger wooden ones. Last year, I was in a time crunch for a congrats card and I decided to use my clear blocks as stamps themselves! 


   Last night, I decided to do it again. It's so fun and simple. My kids are leaving town to go to their grandma's house this week. They'll be gone for at least two weeks. Is my mother-in-law a saint, or what? I'm excited to have plenty of stamping time, time to work, and time for a few date nights with the hubby! But, I will miss my babies so much. So, I made them this card:


I had to play with the clear blocks for a bit before getting three rectangles that I really liked. Just experiment and have fun with it. I adore the Cute Clips, aren't they so fun? A package comes with conversation bubbles, hangers, and arrows. Very cute indeed.

Now, I've heard from a few frustrated stampers that have had trouble getting their clear stamps to stay on the blocks, and I've had that problem before! I know how annoying it is to be holding your block, positioning it above your paper, and PLOP! your stamp falls right off, in a terrible place, ruining your hard work. 

Here's what I found that works: 

Spray a bit on your blocks, and clean them off with a paper towel or washcloth. You can do the same with your stamps! Oil from our fingers and hands is the culprit, and makes those stamps not want to stay put. But just clean off those oils and it's like you have brand new blocks and stamps again!

Thanks for reading! Leave some love!

Your Dynamite SU Demo, TNT



Sunday, February 23, 2014

Fab Friday 35

Hey ya'll! 
Guess what? It's another sketch challenge! This one is from Fab Friday. I picked this one because it uses a paper doily, which I have a bunch of, and don't use that often. They are so pretty, too. 


I used to live in Washington state, and had a group of ladies that I would meet with every Wednesday for coffee. I cherished those hot white chocolate mochas over laughter, stories, updates, and sometimes tears. I made this card with them, and all the pretty sunny days of two summers ago, in mind. 




Thanks for looking & happy stamping!

-T.N.T., your dynamite Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

PCCCS081

Hello hello!

I am so excited to share with you a card I made today. It took me a long time to figure out which direction to go with this project. And wouldn't you know, it was my very creative five-year-old talking about Spring, Easter, and flowers that had me pulling out my Flower Shop set.

I took both my kiddos out on the town tonight, planning on seeing the new Lego movie. We ate a great dinner, I finally found the delicious burger I've been searching for!

nom nom nom
Unfortunately, the movie was sold out, so we went and picked out some new paper and crayons and colored up some pretty pictures.


I love coloring! As you can tell from my take on the Paper Craft Crew Sketch this week. Here's the sketch image:


And here's my card, for my friend's new baby girl:




I used black embossing powder and my heat tool to really make those flowers stand out, then I colored the flowers with my ink pads and blender pens. And can you make a baby card without the polka dot EF? I can't fathom it. Ha ha! So much fun!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my sketch challenge! Thanks for reading & happy stamping!

-T.N.T., your dynamite Stampin' Up! Demonstrator