Spooky Stamp Club project

Here is the spooky little tabletop/mantle decoration we created for our last stamp club. I used My Digital Studio to create the letters for this piece. Witches Brew Designer Series Paper creates a nice colorful background for this Halloween decoration. The bats and glitter spider were extras from the craft store.

Now if I can just get my little Boo kitty to leave the bats alone:)

The Boo Kitty

Happy New Year! - Our Christmas Cards

Happy New Year!

After a busy Christmas season and vacation, I finally have time to post. Woo Hoo! Hopefully, I can begin to stamp again next week. 

This year I once again created our family's Christmas cards using My Digital Studio.

I love how easy and quick the program is to use and how I can customize the colors to match my photos. Best of all, I was left with plenty of time to spend with my family making happy holiday memories.

Retro Sketch - Thank You

Here is another thank you card today made with my October 2011 Key Elements Kit. I can't believe it's taken me a year to use these items and I am just loving the paper. I wanted a clean card for this recipient and I found a great sketch at Retro Sketches. I have definitely bookmarked this great sketch site. Now that I have my thank you notes completed, I am gettin' out of the closet but there are more cards to make tomorrow.

Paper - SU Whisper White card stock, Sunbeam card stock, Crate Paper Farmhouse
Stamp/Ink - None - I used My Digital Studio for the sentiment and printed on Whisper White Card stock.
Accessories - Red ribbon and fabric button

Stamp Club Projects - Quick Gift Projects

This month's stamp club, I focused on quick gift giving. These two framed projects were demonstrated using a quilling method ( click here for a demo of quilling) for the flowers and using My Digital Studio to design the interior of the Menu and To Do lists. I found these ideas on Pinterest and thought I would create  them for our club. Just add an inexpensive frame, a dry erase marker and you have a quick gift for a neighbor or teacher.

Gift cards are always a "given" around the holidays so I also included 2 gift card projects.

 

The coffee to -go cup was completely CASE'd from my stamping friend Kathy Whitten. She brought this idea to a stamp group and I modified it using my Stampin' Up! products. I was able to create the top of the cup using Print Shop since it is constructed of basic shapes. I already have this GC holder earmarked for a special teacher.

The second gift card holder is a real quickie and an example of how MDS can make your life sooooo easy during the holiday hub bub. The paper and trees are from the digital kit " Frosty Day". I just love the bright cheerful colors from this set and best of all this card holder can be created in about a minute.

Coffee Gift Card Holder

Paper - Festival of Prints paper stack, crumb cake, whisper white card stock
Stamps - Tiny Tags
Ink - basic black, crumb cake for distressing
Accessories - Cherry Cobbler Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, Always Artichoke seam bindingCherry Cobbler bakers twine, Jewelry Tag punch, small circle of velcro

Frosty Day Gift Card Holder
My Digital Studio Frosty Day ensemble
Paper - whisper white, melon mambo, pool party card stock
Accessories - Scallop border punch, scallop circle punch, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, dimensionals

Fancy Favor and That's a Wrap for Lunch

On Sunday, Megan hosted a luncheon for her friend who is going to study in Ireland for 3 months. I made these party favors and cupcake toppers using my new favorite, That's a Wrap digital download. These are so quick and easy. 

Stamps - All Holidays MDS

Ink - none

Accessories - MDS digital download That's a Wrap, fancy favor die, buttons sizzlet, polka dot embossing folder, brads, sticky strip, dimensionals, small wood dowels

Stamp Club - Quickies for the Holidays

This month our stamp club met for our new session. Our theme was "Quick Ideas for the Holidays".  I introduced the ladies to the kraft boxes from the new 2012-2013 Idea Book and Catalog along with the new MDS download That's a Wrap ( My new FAVORITE, I just love this digital suite). These two products in combination with one another allow you to create quick and cute gift boxes. They are perfect for gift cards, small gifts and homemade goodies. I will be featuring these items quite a bit in the next few months.

Two other Items that we worked on took advantage of the quick and easy elements from the Ghoulish Googlies Designer Kit. After creating the glassine bag featured in the Holiday catalog, we used the circle tag from the kit to create a quick goodie bag. I demonstrated how this bag can literally be completed in just over 1 minute - talk about a "quickie".

And now about That's a Wrap and Kraft Boxes. The That's a Wrap digital download allows you to quickly create paper bows either with digital papers or with any DSP - just use the images as a template.

 Download includes:
* 11-page décor designer template (11" x 8-1/2")
* 6-piece SVG stamp brush set
* 5 Designer Series Papers
* 7 embellishments
* 6 punches

Features:
* Digital-exclusive
* A cool way to make adorable, trendy bows for all your gifts

Coordinating colors:
Basic Gray, Calypso Coral, Gumball Green, Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit, Very Vanilla, Whisper White

To get a free 30 day Trial of My Digital Studio2 - Click here



The Kraft boxes are just a fabulous deal 4, 3 1/2" boxes are just $2.95. To order the boxes and the That's a Wrap digital download Click HERE and enter the following product codes.

That's a Wrap - 132190
Kraft Boxes - 124106

Halloween Gift Bag

Paper - basic black, pumpkin pie card stock
Ink - Stazon Black
Stamps - Googly Ghouls
Accessories - Ghoulish Googlies Designer Kit, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, fancy favor die, black dotted scallop ribbon,brads, dimensionals

Gift Box

Paper - Orchard Harvest DSP
My Digital Studio - That's a Wrap
Accessories - Kraft gift boxes, wooden buttons, dimensionals, glue dots.

Introducing the Newest Member of the Family - Abbie

Here is the newest member of the Bilbao family - Abbie. We just picked her up today and have been so excited to bring her into our home. I will admit, however, that we are all so tired and now remember what it is like to have a little one around the house - A LOT OF WORK. She is such a cute and sweet little 8 week old girl. She is an English Creme Golden Retriever and has coloring almost like a polar bear with white fur and a black little belly and skin.

We are crossing our fingers for a good night tonight and successful potty training. - WOOF!

Speaking of Woof! Here are some bags I created to give to her parents using MDS. I got the idea from SU demonstrator Michelle Suit to print directly on the bags using my printer. Another great MDS project.

Masculine Birthday for an Easy Rider

Here is a card I created for my neighbor who is turning 70 although you would never guess his age. I find images hard to choose for masculine cards, but thought this was appropriate since my neighbor is a motorcycle rider. I used MDS to create the greeting and reduced the opacity of the "70" to make it appear as a background for the sentiment. I love MDS!

Paper - Scraps of Webster's DSP ( I can't remember the name), not quite navy, early espresso, cherry cobbler, whisper white, crumb cake
Ink - basic black, baja breeze, marina mist, going grey, soft suede, daffodil delight, sahara sand
Stamps - Motorcycle ( MDS)
Accessories - square lattice embossing folder, dimensionals, brads, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/2" circle punch

Treat Bags for RMH

Here are the bags I will be making for our Long Beach Ronald McDonald House. I'll put some chocolates, hand cream and lip gloss in these little Fancy Favor boxes. This is a hybrid of both stamping and My Digital Studio. I am just loving MDS and can't wait for the new improved MDS 2 coming later this year.

The talented ladies at The Paper Players have a Mother's Day theme this week so pop over there and see all the beautiful designs and ideas.

I have also found a new challenge blog Tuesday Alchemy that is very cool. It is open to ALL crafts so check that out as well.

Stamps - Mixed Bunch, Elementary Elegance, Creative Elements, Chateau Bella ( My Digital Studio)
Ink - Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede, Peach Parfait
Paper - Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Silver Glimmer Paper, Attic Boutique DSP
Accessories - Fancy Favor die, Labels Framelit die, Heart to Heart Punch, diamond jewel, small scallop punch, very vanilla seam binding, brads

Stamp Club Project - Brown Bag and 3X3 Card

Tonight is my stamp club appreciation night and this is the project we will be completing. A little something other than a card and one that is ready to hold a gift for a special friend.

Stamps - Established Elegance, Artistic Etchings, Noteworthy Labels (My Digital Studio)

Ink - Stazon Black, daffodil delight, pear pizzazz, peach parfait

Paper - whisper white, basic black, daffodil delight

Accessories - Very Vanilla seam binding, daffodil delight reinker, button, scallop border punch, 3x3 envelope, dimensionals

My Digital Studio Express Free 30 Day Trial

Have you wanted to give digital design a try but don't want to buy a program without hands on experience? Now you have the opportunity to try My Digital Studio Express FREE for 30 days. Even though I do not scrap using MDS, I use it for so many elements in my cards and in home decor projects.

To get starting using My Digital Studio Express - Click here to visit my Stampin' Up! website and start shopping. You can contact me if you have any questions regarding My Digital Studio.

Here are some of the many projects that I have created using My Digital Studio

Background Paper

Image and Sentiment

Background Paper and Sentiment

Image and Sentiment

Sentiment

Sentiment

Christmas Cards

Background Paper

Multiple Images and Letters

Multiple Images from MDS

Sentiment

Multiple Images and Letters

Valentine Themed Stamp Club

Last night our stamp club met and we made items for Valentine's Day. Since I have all ladies in my group, I wanted to make a masculine Valentine Card. As you can see, these are not traditional Valentine colors but I did get a heart in there. This is another My Digitial Studio Hybrid. The upper right panel and sentiment were printed using MDS.

I have such a hard time choosing accessories for masculine cards and find that I use the same items over and over. What is your favorite masculine accessory? I would love to hear what you use  - so please leave me a comment.

Stamps - Sense of Time, French Foliage, My Digital Studio Stamps
Paper - Well Worn DSP, basic gray, early espresso, crumb cake, not quite nave card stock
Ink - early espresso, crumb cake, chocolate chip
Accessories - vintage brads, mini vintage tags, linen thread, dimensionals

Here are the other 2 quick Valentine Treat Projects We Created

Lollipop Flower
Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink - Real Red
Paper - Soft Subtles, Bold Brights DSP, pear pizzaz ( on bottom of flower) whisper white card stock
Accessories - Flower Folds Die, Blossom Punch ( on bottom of flower to create "leaves")

Smarties Butterfly
Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink - Real Red
Paper - Everyday Enchantment DSP, whisper white card stock
Accessories - Beautiful Butterflies die, Word Window Punch, Glue Dots

A New Venture into My Digital Studio

Ever since I attended my first Stampin' Up! workshop 12 years ago, I have always hand made and stamped my Christmas cards. Our list has grown to over 85 recipients and I would make multiple versions so I wouldn't get bored with the same design .  I am diving into new waters this year and producing the cards with My Digital Studio. I am a little sad to let go of the hand crafting but I am also a little excited for the new cards.

Due to our travel schedule and commitments early this month, it would be nearly impossible to complete the cards before Christmas. I created the holiday card above and ordered it tonight. WOW! One evening to complete the cards instead of a week -  what a time saver!  I am very anxious to see the final product and may add a few jewels before I send them off. 

I am really taking a liking to My Digital Studio. MMM I may already have another project in mind:)

The Paper Players - Non-Holiday/Christmas Challenge - MDS Hybrid

WOW! I can't believe my time as a guest designer for The Paper Players is almost up. I have just one more project with the team next week and then I will go back to entering the challenges. My, how time flies when you are having fun! This week Nance has a fun challenge for us to use non-holiday stamps or color combinations to create a Christmas card.

I knew I wanted to use Calypso Coral and Pear Pizzaz ( don't know where my brain picked that from). Since the color combination is a little modern and youthful I  decided to use my Furry Folk set and went from there. I had a scene in my head but no paper to match SO I turned once again to My Digital Studio. I created the background paper using digital paper and stamps. It was rather fun and I am really starting to see endless possibilities with MDS.

I printed out this sentiment on whisper white card stock, then stamped the images around it. I just love this little hedgie! A little glimmer paper border, ribbon and jewels and it is finished. Non- holiday stamp with non-holiday colors.

I had some company in the closet while while I was working and had to post these pictures.

Boo tucked up asleep on my work surface

Barney - The Stalker - He follows me EVERYWHERE

Please join us this week for The Paper Players challenge. Make sure to visit all the design teams non-traditional Christmas projects and leave a sweet comment.

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

Julie Marshall

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Tara Bilbao

Susan Joyce ( November GD)

Paper - whisper white card stock, silver glimmer paper, 2011-2012 In Color Stripes (MDS)

Ink - basic black, pear pizzaz, chocolate chip, crumb cake, calypso coral

Stamps - Furry Folk, Season of Cheer (MDS), Frosty Day II (MDS)

Accessories - whisper white organza ribbon, silver glimmer brad, basic jewels, circle dies, dazzling details

The Paper Players Blog Hop - Another MDS Hybrid for Me and Blog Candy

Happy Saturday everyone!  If you have been to the Paper Players Blog, you will know we are having a blog hop today!  Everyone on the team has created a Fall project!  We are linking our projects up on our blogs this week, and some of us have blog candy to share! So be sure to check out each blog.  Here is the Blog Hop list...click the names to visit their blogs.

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile
Cindy Hall

Jaydee

Julie Marshall

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan 

Nance Leedy

Rita Wright 

Tara Bilbao  (you are here)

My Project today is a somewhat simple Thanksgiving Decor Item. I get so annoyed with the department stores putting Christmas decorations up before it is even Halloween. They seem to skip Thanksgiving altogether - ACK! I love Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong I am a Holly Jolly Girl through and through, but THERE IS A HOLIDAY BETWEEN HALLOWEEN AND CHRISTMAS!! OK enough of my ranting.

I decorate my house for Thanksgiving and wanted to make a little something for my entryway . In order to get the scale a bit larger than the stamped image, I turned to my handy, dandy My Digital Studio to give the background a distressed look and to print out the Thanksgiving sentiment. I added a few hand made flowers and some pewter embossed leaves in a simple layout and I have a Thanksgiving decor item for my hall table. Yes Virginia, there is a Thanksgiving:)

I realized my center piece was crooked after I took this picture - I fixed that!

Paper - whisper white, very vanilla, old olive, early express more mustard card stock

Ink - soft suede for distressing, more mustard, early espresso, old olive, cajun craze, bravo burgundy

Stamps - My Digitial Studio - Autumn Spice Digital Kit

Accessories - 1 3/4", 1 3/8" , 1", 3/4" circle punches, scallop border trim punch, glimmer brad, small brads, frame

I have blog CANDY! Leave a comment and I will randomly select a winner that will recieve a "Button, Button" clear stamp set along with a ribbon assortment. 

PPA35 Anything But a Card - My Digital Studio - Scrapbook Page for Dempsey

Here is a quick 2 page spread I created using My Digital Studio. It was so quick an easy and it let me create a fun layout for our little guy Dempsey. So often I feel like I need to create a whole scrapbook at once and scrap all the big events. I have found that it is the smaller day to day things that really bring me joy and I will be scrapping those using My Digital Studio.

The great thing about MDS is that I don't need to run to the store to find the perfect paper, embellishments, adhesive, page protectors and go through the brain damage to find a perfect layout for just one page. Everything is contained right in My Digital Studio. Now I can scrap a page quickly whenever the urge hits me and all I need to do is walk to my computer. 

Contact me for more information on My Digital Studio.