Lakeshore Stamping

Milwaukee Regional Presentation

I was THRILLED to be asked by Stampin' Up! to be a Workshop WOW presenter for the Milwaukee Regional Seminar last weekend.  Here is the booth I was in...

I had a mirror above me so those far back could still see the project I was showing them.

And Shelli Gardner even went around to the booths to see what we were up to!

I created my own take of a Smash Book using only Stampin' Up! product.  If you don't know what a Smash Book is, it is a small casual scrapbook of a special occasion or time period in your life all smashed together.  For instance my good friend, Tara, made one using mementos from her high school years.  She had a bulletin board of pictures, brochures, newspaper clippings, you name it of her four year of high school.  She saved everything and many years later made a mini scrapbook of everything.  I decided I was tired of looking at a bag full of memories of my honeymoon 10 years ago and a 12x12 old scrapbook with just four pages done.  I tore apart the four pages (it was before I was a SU! demonstrator and it was horrible!) and made my own mini album using just Stampin' Up! product.  I had saved everything from our honeymoon so I had lots to scrap with.  I even kept a journal of what we did everyday so I was able to go back and journal each page of what we did.  Yes, I had every intention of scrapbooking this great trip with my husband, however, a blank 12x12 page was staring at me and I was overwhelmed where to start! 

Here is the cover and a few pages to give you the idea...

I used our 5x5 Art Journal for the base of the book.  I took the book apart and covered the pages as I went with our Designer Series Paper.  I used the 3/16" punch of our Crop-A-Dile to punch the holes back into the pages after covering them.

I really did save everything, even the baggage claim tickets!  But this is what makes the book...all the little things from your special occasion!

I even inserted a few Side Notes as pages in the book.  I really tried to use many different Stampin' Up! items in this book.  The Side Notes were used a lot throughout this book.  I loved them!

I even used My Digital Studio to create one of the layouts and little things throughout the book.  I made a tag in MDS to use as a half page.  I didn't want to use up an additional layout for just a few pictures so the ticket as a half page worked out perfect.

I wanted as much room in the book for pictures so I added another half page using Designer Series Paper as another half page to journal.

This half page is one of our long envelopes which holds a map of Maui.  I loved having the map to remember the island however it didn't fit in the book.  This worked perfectly after decorating the envelope.

I even used the Top Note Die as a page to add some additional pictures.

This project was a lot of fun to create.  I also created a different kind of mini album using my pictures and items from our Alaska Cruise last May.  I will share that with you after I hold my class in April. 

This is how I took the book apart.  I would recommend purchasing two books so you have one to show you how to put the book back together.  It helped me a lot!

It was a great experience presenting at the Regional.  I enjoyed sharing this new idea with others.  I also enjoyed completing something this project after 10 years of wanting to finish it but never did.

So, on your next special occasion remember to keep everything of that occasion and take lots of pictures to make your own Smash Book.  You won't regret it!

Happy "Smashing"!

 

Birthday Fun!

I had an amazing birthday weekend!  Aaron and I flew down to Atlanta to visit our friends, Mandy and Chris Grant.  I met Mandy a year ago during my Founder's Circle trip.  It was also her first time to Founder's and we met on the "first timer" bus on the way to Kanab.  We've remained good friends and have kept in contact ever since.  You'll probably recall a few pictures of us together over the last year posted on my blog. 

Mandy surprised me on Friday night when we arrived with these fanatastic gifts.  She made each of them and they are amazing!  As you know, I LOVE the Spice Cake line and all of these gifts are made with Spice Cake. Thanks Mandy!

 

Mandy is AMAZING with My Digital Studio.  She has taught me everything I know about MDS and she makes the greatest items!  The below calendar and pencil cup was made by her with MDS.  The calendar sleeves turn to change the dates, days and months.  She has directions on her blog on how make this!

During our September Stamp Club meeting the ladies surprised me with cupcakes and this pile of cards!  Yes, each of these amazing ladies made a handmade card for me and I was so delighted!  They all did an amazing job!

I still have a few projects to show you over this next week. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday's...Stampin' Up! Style

During Leadership in January, Stampin' Up! announced they would be sending a birthday card to each demonstrator the month of their birthday.  I had totally forgot about this nice little surprise until it came in the mail to me on Friday.  I didn't know the cards would be different from month to month but I know this wasn't the card shown at Leadership and I was excited when I opened it! 

This one is so much my style!  I just love it!  The rhinestones were added later so it is a hybrid card too!  Now the really exciting part is what is inside.  Not only did they decorate it inside but they SO spoil us demonstrators!

This is our birthday present to us from them and I think it is just wonderful!  Look at all the detail in this card.  I really do love it!

I am looking forward to printing some cards to send out.  Of course I will have to add a little to them to make them hybrid but they are still fun to create!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

First Digital Card

I had a free introductory class to My Digital Studio tonight.  Of course it was a day where my voice kept going in and out but luckily I only had two good friends who came so it worked out okay.  This weekend I had realized I had created two photobooks and a journal using MDS but I had never created a card.  I thought I'd better do this before the class tonight.  I had a great time making this simple card and I wanted to share it with you.  It would also work great as a real handmade card too.  I may have to give it a try!

I may print a few of these cards for my grandparents who sent out 10 birthday cards a month!  Yes, they are in their early 90's and late 80's and still everyone in their family gets a card on their birthday.  This may be a great gift idea!

I have been working hard in my stamp room getting out 46 swaps this past weekend!  I hope to share them with you this weekend so you can see what I've been up to!  I've been playing with some great new products from the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog.  You should have received yours this week if you are on my mailing list.  If you didn't please let me know so I can get one to you soon!  You won't want to miss this catalog...always my favorite!

Hope you are having a great week!

Sharing a My Digital Studio Project

I am finally sharing one of my projects with you using this amazing software!  When the software for My Digital Studio (MDS) first came out, I made a book of our Summer of 2009.  Then I didn't touch the software for a while until my friend, Mandy Grant, taught me some real cool things using MDS while we were on Stampin' Up!'s Incentive Trip.  So while we were on our Alaska cruise this past spring I started playing with the software and made a 8 1/2 x 11 scrapbook of our entire trip!  I will share a few pages with you in the next few months and here is one of my favorite layouts.

This is just one layout of the 24 page book but one of my favorites.  I created each layout from scratch and had fun doing it.  I love using this software especially when I am away from my stamp room.  This way I can still get my fix of stamping while away...and I need my fix!   I just received my hard cover book back and it is GORGEOUS!  I am so happy with how it turned out and hope to do more of these books as we travel.

If you live near me and want to learn more about this great software, I am offering a FREE introductory class using My Digital Studio on August 23rd at my Lakeshore Stamping Studio at 6:30pm.  Please contact me for more information and to register.  I may have a little something for you so I want to be prepared with how many are attending!

Have a great weekend!