Leap Day Give Away!

HAPPY LEAP DAY! To celebrate, let's give away one of the February Monthly Samplers today! It will include card bases to make theses cards, but you will need to use your own stamps.


Leave a comment on this post by 11:59pm today, and I will announce the winner tomorrow.

I will also give away one more February Sampler on Facebook. If you are on Facebook, follow these steps for a chance to win there too:

Click here to go to Jamie's Stamping Cafe on Facebook
"Like" Jamie's Stamping Cafe
Post an entry comment on the give away post

Good luck and thanks for being a part of the Stamping Cafe!

Twitterpated Sampler ~ Completed Layout

Hello! I am giddy to show you my first Monthly Sampler done as a completed layout. This was the January Sampler featuring the Twitterpated products. As you can see I chose to journal on all the white pieces except for the one with our awesome snowflake and ribbon embellishments.

I did not use a title except to note that these were the first and second weeks of the year. My little secret is that I am going to try to scrapbook more weekly than monthly, which means I am going to need to make extra layouts. I am not sure how long I can keep this up, it's rather an experiment. But we will see! With easy layouts like these, I am hopeful that I can keep the enthusiasm going and pump out more pages this year. I want to capture more of the everyday things than just the big events. And I want to journal the everyday...because those memories are important!

Page one is Week 1. I went with the simple 3.75" square pictures. I included on one of the white cards a stub from the Globetrotters. I'm trying to remember to save little memorabilia like this to include on my pages. Look, I even wrote right on the Lego picture. This style of scrapbooking is so laid back and anything goes!


For Week 2, I had pictures that I didn't want to crop down to 3.75" square. And I tend to print my pictures in True Digital so they don't come 4x6". I just did the best I could with the size they were printed. The top left picture is actually two pictures cropped and butted up next to each other to take on the size of the other pictures.


I would love to hear how your layouts and/or cards from the Monthly Samplers are going! Personally, I am not missing the traditional titles and photo mats one bit. I am really enjoying the chance to journal more if I want. And I MOST love that I don't have to waste time designing new layouts over and over...and that I can play with lots of SU designer papers!

I hope you are inspired!

Stamp Club: February 2012

Who doesn't love the vintage line in the SAB brochure?! :)

Here we used:

Cardstock & Ink ~ Crumb Cake
DSP ~ Everyday Enchantment (SAB)
Stamp Set ~ Fresh Vintage
Die ~ Labels Framelits
Ribbon ~ Pleated Satin (Occasions Mini)
Accessory ~ Large Pearl (Occasions Mini)

One month left of Sale-A-Bration, where we can choose one free thing with each $50 purchase. My favorite time to stock up on cardstock, ink refills, adhesive, and other consumables to last me several months!

Grid Scrabook Layout - Cherish

After finishing the last of my themed layouts for 2011, I still had some random pictures left that I wanted to capture for the year. The "CHERISH" part of the Beau Chateau DSP was just what I needed to finish off the album. Instead of cutting into 4x4 quadrants, I kept the CHERISH portion all together, at nearly 4" tall.


Then I cut other papers from Beau Chateau into 4x4" for the other page. Actually, it's 3.75" x 3.75" so I can have the background paper showing.

Beau Chateau DSP
Designer Buttons
White Twine

Thanks for stopping by!

Surplus 1st Quarter Samplers For Sale

February Monthly Sampler Layout

Today I made up some more Monthly Samplers using the rest of the supplies I had on hand. Once these surplus kits are gone, I won't have anymore 1st Quarter Samplers for sale. We will be moving onto 2nd Quarter Samplers soon! Here is what I have for purchase:

2 January Samplers
Card Samples
Scrapbook Sample

6 February Samplers
Card Samples
Scrapbook Sample

2 March Samplers
Card Samples
Scrapbook Sample

Samplers are $6 each. If you take a whole quarter, you get a punch on your punch card. Those who end up purchasing every month this year will get a free bonus sampler at the end of the year.

Each sampler makes a 12x12 scrapbook layout or a set of 8 cards. If making cards, you will need to use your own stamps. Even if you have already purchased but would like more, feel free to take more. :)

Reserve your Surplus Sampler(s) by February 28th. Or I'm going to start using them for my own scrapbooks and card stash, lol! Thanks!

2011 Grid Pages - Summer

This is another quick layout I did using grids. This time I didn't have enough pictures to trim them to 4x4". So I kept them their printed size and cut my DSP down to approximately 2x3. Scrapbooking in grids is flexible like that.

DSP ~ Big Top Birthday
12x12 ~ Real Red
Ribbon ~ White Grosgrain

Have a good weekend!

2011 Grid Pages - Vacation

Because I am a chronological type of gal, I had to finish up my 2011 pages before I could play with the Monthly Samplers for my 2012 scrapbook. So over the next few days I will show you the grid style pages that I put together to quickly finish up 2011!

These pages were all about our fall trip to Branson, MO. I ended up doing two layouts. I used:

12x12 ~ Night of Navy
DSP ~ Pocketful of Posies
Journal Cards ~ Whisper White Cardstock

LAYOUT 1

LAYOUT 1, PAGE 1

Stamp Set ~ Fabulous Phrases (p.163)

LAYOUT 1, PAGE 2

Accent ~ Pearls (p.198)

LAYOUT 2

LAYOUT 2, PAGE 1

Ribbon ~ Satin Basic Gray (p. 195)

LAYOUT 2, PAGE 2

Accessories ~ Designer Buttons (p.197) & White Twine (p.194)

On-The-Go Card Making!

Squeeeeeal! I am onto another fantabulous, SIMPLE CRAFTING idea! We all know the Monthly Samplers have me just giddy about simple scrapbooking and cardmaking. And now I have come across another great idea! This time, it's an "on-the-go" system for making quick cards...whenever you are out and about.

I learned this idea in this month's SU demonstrator magazine. You basically put pre-cut cardstock for one simple card design and all the supplies needed to make that card into a stamp set case (called a clamshell container). Yes, it's supposed to be so easy that all your supplies should fit in the container!

After reading the article in the magazine, I immediately went the stamp room (11:50 pm) and put together an "On-the-Go Card Kit" for the next day's music class. The boys are in class for 30 minutes, and I knew it was the perfect time to test out a kit like this. Here was my container of supplies:


A Few Stamps (I included stamps for the card, the inside of the card, and the envelopes)
Cardstock (I used SU's pre-cut notecards and envelopes for the base of my cards)
Ribbon off the spool (just a wad of ribbon or twine will work)
Ink Pad (can be replaced by a black marker but I had room for it)
SU Markers (can be used to color in images, ink up rubber stamps, and write out cards!)
Sharp Scissors
Adhesive
And here is the card I am making. I have supplies in my kit for 9 cards. I got one done that day in music...I talked a lot more than stamped. ;)

I even stamped the inside and envelope which sometimes I am in too much of a hurry to do.


I just LOVE this idea! And it was as fun as I thought it would be! Not only did I get a card made, but I had other moms inquiring about what I was doing. I loved showing them how easy it is to make hand made cards! This will be a great way for me to slowly build up my birthday and thank-you card stashes. AND I can do it while I am out with the kids...sports practice, library time, the park, games, classes, etc! Maybe you work and could pull this off on lunch hours and breaks! The clam shell container is nice and compact. It should fit in your purse! The only extra tip I would add is to have some travel baby wipes in your purse too, so you can clean your stamps off.

What do you think?! Anyone super pumped to try this!?

I am linking to:

Accessory Organizing

These magnetic spice containers have had a lot of lives. They actually held spices on the side of our frig at our old house. Then at the new house they became my "retired SU accessory containers". I've had them on a cupcake rack, on the side of the filing cabinet, and now they have a new home. I found this metal wall art at Goodwill quite awhile ago. It took me forever to paint it. And then I still didn't know what to do with it. I was thinking of putting vinyl on it and hanging it above the stove. But then one day it dawned on me to put the spice container accessory holders on it and to hang it in the stamp room. I really like the new set up! :)

With them on the cupcake stand, they were taking up precious horizontal space. With them on the filing cabinet, the cabinet looked terribly cluttered. But I had wall space to spare and this became both decorative and functional. The containers have been covered in DSP and that adds to the decorative element.


Do you like to use unconventional storage ideas???

I am linking to:

SU Scrapbooking Supplies

There's one good thing about having a February birthday...there's nothing better to do than to sit inside the warm house and CRAFT! I've been catching up on scrapbooking for the past week, and it feels great! I completed a 6x6 baby album for Graham after realizing his big brother had WAY more scrapbooks than him...second child. And I also added 10 "grid layouts" to my 2011 12x12 family album. That means I am ready to start 2012 using the Monthly Samplers.

I thought I would show you some of my favorite scrapbooking tools from Stampin' Up!

Paper Snips $9.95 ~ great for ribbon

Cleaning Cloth $3.95 ~ for cleaning smudges off pictures

SNAIL Adhesive $6.95 ~ refills are $4.50

Black Journal Pen $3.50

Adhesive Remover $3.50 ~ for when you move pictures around

Paper Trimmer $45.95 ~ my favorite picture trimmer, never needs new blades!

Of course I use SU cardstock, designer papers, ribbons, and accessories in my scrapbooks too. They all color coordinate and match!

If you need any of these great tools, just contact me! I'm sure you will love having them in your scrap basket just like me!

1st Quarter Samplers are Ready!

A BIG thank-you to all those who reserved Monthly Samplers for 1st Quarter! All 21 Samplers are packaged and ready to go! I am so happy with the samplers, the convenient packaging, and the awesome response from all you wonderful ladies!

If you reserved samplers, contact me on when you are able to pick up. For those having them mailed, I plan to have them out by tomorrow.

Thanks again, and I am looking forward to 2nd Quarter! My wheels are already spinning...

Stamp Club: January 2012

Thrift Store Goodies

While on my hunt for the perfect punch organizers, I landed upon some other finds for the stamp room that I couldn't pass up.

OMGosh, this little shopping cart was at the antique store for just $4. I've seen these before in the SU catalogs but never dreamed I would find one. It's great for the rhinestones, pearls, and twine.


I also found this wire bowl at the consignment store for $3. It holds the big rolls of ribbon well.


I didn't know how I would use either of these items when I bought them. But the prices were right, and I was happy to quickly find uses for them. Funny that they are both metal. They look pretty good together on the hutch.

Someday I'm gonna paint that hutch!

Scrapbooks for Sale! SOLD

UPDATE: These are all reserved for sale. Thanks for the interest!

Well, since it's my year for scrapbooking, I'm looking to revamp my family albums. So I thought I would see if any of you were in the market for some scrapbook bargains? These albums are in fine shape...I just want to streamline the brands and colors. I know, I'm so ridiculous.

The top three are American Crafts 3-Ring Albums in linen. They retail for $20-$25 with 10 protectors. Mine will have 20 protectors. The albums are in great condition. The page protectors...I can't promise will be in tip top condition always. You may want to leave a few out and get a refill pack. But overall, these are great and from a clean, smoke-free and pet-free house. I've had these up high out of the reach so they haven't been handled much either.

The fourth album shown is faux leather, stitched, 3-ring, with a metal window on the spine. I am not sure about the brand. But I used American Crafts protectors in it. It will also have about 20 protectors included.

I am asking $10 for each album. I assume they will be hard to mail so should probably just sell them local if anyone is interested. If I don't sell these this week, I will probably just stick with them and remove them from the sale list. Thanks for looking!

Stamp Club: January 2012

Just like the simple style of my Monthly Samplers, these kind of cards are my favorite. I just love simple! There's just something about all that white space making the image pop...with a little watercoloring and designer paper. Ahhhhhhh.....

Stamp Set: Easy Events
Card Stock: White, Pear
DSP: Pear Designer Prints
Tools: Markers, Blender Pens
Accent: Dazzling Diamonds

Hope you are having a happy weekend!

Scrap Kits: July - December

Whew, I finally caught up my pages from 2011. I am very excited to start the grid scrapbooking in 2012. I'm hoping I can stay on top of it better! High hopes, I have high hopes.

Stamp Club: January 2012

Stamp Sets ~ Sweetheart, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock ~ Ridinghood, Vanilla
Ink ~ Ridinghood
DSP ~ Enchanted (SAB)
Punches ~ Word Window, Modern Label, Scallop Edge
Folder ~ Vintage Wallpaper
Ribbon ~ Narrow Taffeta

Have a great day! It feels like spring here!

Organization: Punches

Hey Friends! I thought I might show you some of my newest organizational methods in the stamp room. Today we will start with punch storage.

I have had my punches in a rolling Sterilite Cart with shallow drawers for a couple years. It worked fine for the old lever style punches. But once I started accumulating the new compact style punches, I was getting unhappy with the drawers. They weren't the right fit for the new narrow punches. Those need to be stored on their sides for maximizing space, and in the drawers they had to lie flat. I also hated stacking them and scratching the tops.

My new favorite thing to do when searching for storage is to hit resale stores! I'm getting better at seeing old things and imagining new ways to use them. So at the antique store one weekend, with Miles in tow, I saw this little rack for $10. I didn't know it was a wine rack until the worker told me it was. But it does have a Napa Valley stamp on it so I guess he's probably right. I wasn't sure what punches it should store, but I knew I could use it for something!

Then at the next antique store that day, I saw this crate with blue jars in it. Who knew...when I was on the hunt for blue jars months ago, I couldn't find them. Now here were three very nice ones, with lids, and all I really wanted was the crate. It was also stamped "Napa Valley". The price sheet on it was weird, something about getting the crate free with the purchase of the jars. All I know is that I left the store with three blue jars and the perfect crate for storing punches...all for $10.50.

After I found the second crate, I knew how it would work. Flat punches in the crate, on my hutch. And bulky punches on the rack, against the wall. :)

See how snug they look?

Oh, and here are the afterthought jars, which I really do like. :) Right now they are on display in the stamp room...storing wooden craft supplies. Now I see these jars more...they run about $5 average. So I guess I got a deal on three jars AND a crate for $10. THAT'S why I love to go on the hunt. It's a little time consuming, but well worth it! I usually end up with something "perfect" for what I need. :)

How do you like to store your punches? We'd love to hear!

I am linking to: