How To Make A Triple Bow

February 24, 2017 ~ Jeanie Stark ~ 7 Comments

Yesterday I shared a card I made with a triple bow. Several people asked about how I made the bow so I thought I would attempt to share the details. First of all, I have a little wooden bow maker that a husband of one the ladies in card club made for everyone. Here’s a picture of mine.

This little gadget makes bow making a breeze! You just spread out the pegs for larger bows or bring them closer for thin ribbon and/or tiny bows. It’s quick and easy! I did a little research and found one similar from Amazon but it was expensive and from reading the reviews it seems the pegs didn’t stay in the holes. Fortunately, two of my blog followers, Sonny and Nancy, shared information from a fellow demonstrator, Debbie Henderson, who sells them. (Thank you ladies for sharing! I love how we help each other!!) Here is the link:

https://debbiesdesignsblog.blogspot.com/p/daves-stamping-tools-for-sale.html

To make the triple bow on yesterday’s card, I just wrapped the ribbon around the pegs three times. Cross the ribbon over in front (like an X) and take the top ribbon and bring it under and over through the center of the pegs. Then wrap it under the ribbon in front and tie it in a knot. My photos aren’t great but hopefully you get the idea.

Then you just slide it up and off the pegs and cut the ends.The back is facing you so when you turn it around you have a perfect bow. (*I have a pair of scissors that I use just for cutting ribbon. Believe me, it is worth the investment to get a good pair of ribbon scissors!)

I use glue dots to attach the bows to my projects. Here’s a close up of yesterdays card with the bow. You can click HERE to see the full post.

Here’s some bows I made using the organza ribbon. What do you think I’m doing with all these bows?

These bows are some of the ones I made to go with one of the project kits I’m sending out to everyone who placed orders with me in February. Click HERE to find out more about my “Just Stampin’ Card Kit and 3D Project Buffet” TO GO!

sale-a-bration

Get one FREE Sale-A-Bration product for every $50 you order.

3 new items were added to Sale-A-Bration on February 21st.***These are WHILE SUPPLIES LAST so get the glimmer paper quickly!****

glimmer-paper make-a-medallion reverse-words

Click HERE to shop.

February Hostess Code: K3VM6YBW

Use the Hostess code when placing your online order to receive my Just Stampin’ Card Buffet Kit with an online order of $50 or more.

Have a wonderful day!

Just Stampin’

Jeanie

Stampin’ Up!’s Sale-A-Bration 2017 is going on now through March 31!!

Shop!

For every $50 you spend (before tax and shipping), you get a FREE Sale-A-Bration product. That means it’s the perfect time to purchase those products you’ve had your eye on while earning more products for free. As an added bonus, Stampin’ Up! added three new Sale-a-bration products on February 21!

VIEW: Sale-A-Bration – release 1
VIEW: Sale-A-Bration – release 2 (new)

Host!

Place an order of $250 or greater or host a party with at least $250 in sales during Sale-A-Bration and you’ll earn $25 more in Stampin’ Rewards/Host Cash!! You can even apply your Stampin’ Rewards toward a Starter Kit and become a demonstrator yourself!

Join!

It’s the best time of year to join Stampin’ Up! During Sale-A-Bration, you can become a demonstrator for just $99 and choose TWO additional stamp sets for your Starter Kit—any stamp set, any price! (Excludes Sale-A-Bration sets and bundles.) Plus, the kit ships for free! Send me an email (j.stark@myactv.net) if you have any questions or want to set up a time to chat. Click HERE and HERE for more information or click below to Join the Fun!

Tuesday Tips for The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

December 6, 2016December 7, 2016 ~ Jeanie Stark ~ 11 Comments

wonderul-year

I love the holidays and I love stamping! I want time to enjoy both during this busy time of year and I bet you do too! Well, I have some tips for you and one tip doesn’t have anything to do with stamping; however, it will give you more free time to stamp! Isn’t that what we all crave…a little more time to create?

Tip # 1…Make It! I think of the time I spend in my craft room as saving me from going to the store to buy cards and gifts. I love to give sets of cards as gifts and enjoy making my own boxes, bags, and tags for favors and other gifts I give. This is a WIN WIN!! I get to relax and enjoy creating while making gifts to give. You can do this!!! Use the products you have on hand to make some cards to gift to others…save time and money! If you need to purchase anything, you can shop my online store without leaving the comfort of your home and it will be delivered right to your door! I love getting homemade gifts as I know it is a gift from the heart. I have shared many gift giving ideas on my blog as well as gift packaging for treats, teacher gifts, etc. Contact me if you need ideas or help! Consider giving a Paper Pumpkin subscription or a gift certificate. I will make you a homemade card to present your gift certificate or subscription!

One of the things I love to do is decorate our home for the holidays…from setting up my New England Village (for a touch of home) to adding greenery, lights, and trees in nearly every room. (I stopped at 5 trees this year…so far! LOL) This brings me to my next tip…

Tip #2…Wrap it! I had this brainstorm last year as I was getting ready to take down all the decorations I set up…why not just put away the trees all decorated. Hmmmm…it was worth a try! So we bought some Press’n Seal and started wrapping. Last year we wrapped 2 of our 6.5’trees as well as our slim tree and stored them. (Our slim tree fit perfectly in the guest room closet.) We just had to take the big tree apart as there was no way it would fit through any doorway. I couldn’t wait to get the trees out this year to see if it worked…and it did!!! All the ornaments, ribbons, etc. were secure. What a time saver!!! I plugged the trees in, did a little fluffing and I was done! More time to stamp!! When I told my friend Susan what I did she said the man who invented Seal & Wrap is married to a card maker. How cool is that?!! I wonder if he knows this new unintended use for his invention? Here’s some photos for you. 🙂

On the move! Sliding to it’s destination.

The kitchen basket tree is always a favorite as each basket is filled with candy.

The White House tree pictured below is my favorite (along with the family tree that has all the little homemade ornaments my kids made over the years).

I just love everything about this time of year…making homemade cards and gifts, decorating our home, listening to Christmas music, baking for my cookie exchange, enjoying the lights at night, getting together with family and friends, helping others, and (most important) remembering the reason for the season. I make it a goal every year to do what I can WITHOUT stressing out. You can’t do it all! No one can! Realizing this takes the pressure off! Work together and focus on what’s most important.

My Pre-K students really keep the spirit and meaning of Christmas alive! Every year they perform a play, The Christmas Story. It is just the sweetest thing you can imagine…4 year olds dressed up as Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, animals, and kings singing their little hearts out as they act out the story on stage for family and friends. Our class “adopts” a family in need and everyone donates money and food. I love shopping for the family (and making a few crafty things of course)… it is such a great feeling to work together to help others. I love working with the next generation of card makers… I help my students make Christmas cards for residents in local nursing homes. Even 4 year olds can make a difference in this world! Don’t underestimate this craft we do…a simple card can make a huge difference to someone this holiday season or anytime!

I hope today’s tips and ideas have inspired you or helped you in some way. What’s your favorite thing to do this time of year? I would love to hear from you!

Have a wonderful day and enjoy this most wonderful time of the year!

Just Stampin’

Jeanie

Click on the picture below to shop my online store 24/7. Check out the Year-End Closeouts!

S is for Stamps

September 23, 2016August 30, 2017 ~ Jeanie Stark ~ 7 Comments

Welcome to my ABC’s of Stampin’ series. I bet it was no surprise today that S is for Stamps! Stampin’ Up! offers 3 types of stamps…clear, wood mount, and photopolymer. You can learn about each type in this short video.

Here are some basic tips I’ve learned along the way to keep in mind when using stamps.

When inking your stamps use a light, repeating tapping motion. Make sure to move the stamp over the ink pad to ensure that the entire surface of the stamp gets covered. Don’t use too much pressure or rub the stamp on the pad. Over-inking can lead to blotchy designs. Using too much pressure can result in ink on the block which could transfer to the cardstock.
Take a look at the block before stamping on card stock. Wipe off any ink on the block using a tissue.
When stamping with photopolymer stamps, use extra cushion under the cardstock to make sure the stamp makes even contact on the surface. You can use a piece of foam or the Stampin’ Pierce Mat. This will also help the ink to transfer to the card stock evenly.
You need to hold photopolymer stamps in position for an extra moment or two to allow the ink time to transfer properly to the card stock. You don’t need to apply extra pressure to the stamp, just give the ink extra time to absorb onto the card stock.

Check out this short video on using the photopolymer stamps.

*Note-Stampin’ Up’s! Photopolymer stamps have been available for several years now and come in clear mount cases just like the clear mount and wood mount stamp sets. (There are many retired photopolymer stamps sets on sale now in the Clearance Rack.)

I love our stamp sets! I especially like ones that have great sentiments & fonts and offer lots of versatility. Here are some of my favorite current stamp sets…presented to you as “Stark’s Stampin’ Superlatives”

Favorite Bundle (from the Annual Catalog) – Flourishing Phrases (Great sentiments for a variety of cards and I just love the dies that come with the bundle!! SAVE 10%)

Favorite Christmas Bundle (from the Holiday Catalog) – Cookie Cutter Christmas (So stinkin’ cute!!)

Favorite Thank You stamp set – Thankful Thoughts (Everyone needs thank you cards and this one has great fonts and inside sentiments too!)

Favorite Female Birthday – Butterfly Basics (I love to watercolor the flower in this set!)

Favorite Celebration – Celebrate Today (Who doesn’t love balloons?! And these have matching framelits!)

Favorite Limited Edition – Thoughtful Branches (available only while supplies last..Get it today!)

Favorite Single Stamp – Stylized Birthday (They had me with the font!)

Favorite Floral Pair – Flower Shop & Pansy Punch (I love how easy it is to add a quick flower to any card!)

Favorite Oldie – Lovely As a Tree (this was one of the first stamp sets I bought and I have used it for so many different cards… masculine, birthday, thank you, sympathy, thinking of you, Fall, Winter, Christmas)

Favorite Hostess Set – Time of Year (You can use this Thinking of You for any occasion! Coordinates with Bunch of Banners Framelits Dies)

Favorite Background Stamp – ?? Not Telling Today! Stay Tuned Til Tomorrow!

What’s your favorite stamp set? Do you want to know what’s better than Stampin’ Up! stamp sets? SAVING on stamp sets!! Check out these Bundles and Save 10%!

Here’s today’s Back to School Special…for every stamp set you purchase through me, I will send you my “All Set to Stamp” card kit so you can get started stamping with your new set immediately! And that’s not all! Because today is “S is for Stamps”, I will send a Secret Stamp Set Surprise to one random shopper! Remember to enter the Hostess Code 7CNZAUYM when you check out. (See the visual below.) Click HERE to start shopping!

Have a Spectacular Day!

Just Stampin’

Jeanie