Crafters Make Their Own Spring - Charly's Ink Link March 2011

Winter Pansies

I know that "April showers bring May flowers", but it is only March and I want spring to arrive now!  

Luckily, as crafters we can make our own spring.  If I can't grow pansies outside, I can grow them in my stamping room. With a punch and a couple ink refills, the flowers start to bloom!  

Book me for a private class and I'll show you how to make these pansies yourself. The ink bleed technique is surprising and beautiful, and it is so fun to compare your flowers with others.  They all turn out differently.  

Invite several friends over, serve some appetizers you picked up at the store, and I'll teach you and your friends how to make a garden of paper flowers.  Everyone will go home with two ready-to-use cards, plus a handful of paper flowers to use on your next project. Or wouldn't it be fun to attach them in the corner of your mirror so you can see them every morning?  

Call me now to schedule your private class.  Weekends are filling up and Sale-A-Bration is almost over!  This is the best time of the year to have a Stampin' Up! party, don't miss your chance!

Sale-A-Bration 

The biggest even of the Stampin' Up! year is over at the end of this month.  Don't let this great opportunity for free stamps get away, call me today!  

  *  If you are going to buy any crafting materials at any time this year, buy them now.  When else can you earn free stamps for every $50 you spend?  

  * Book me for a private class or a workshop.  If you and your guests' orders combined reach $300 or more, you'll earn yet more free stamps!  

  * The Starter Kit is a great deal at any time, but right now it's discounted even more.  Enjoy the 20% off demonstrator discount with no strings attached!  

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Calendar

Jan. 25 - Mar. 31 SALE-A-BRATION!!

Mar. 17 Spring Scrapbooking sign-up

Mar. 17 6:30: Simply Adorned Bracelet Club

Mar. 26 2:00: Spring Scrapbooking Class

Mar. 27 2:00: Freestyle Stamping Club

Apr. 14: Easter & Mother's Day class sign-up

Apr. 14 6:30: Simply Adorned Bracelet Club

Apr. 23 2:00: Easter & Mother's Day Class

Apr. 24 2:00: Freestyle Stamping Club

May 19 Congrats and Condolences sign-up

May 19 6:30: Simply Adorned Bracelet Club

May 28 2:00: Congrats and Condolences class

May 29 2:00: Freestyle Stamping Club

Simply Adorned Bracelet Club

Make a personalized, totally unique charm bracelet for yourself or for a gift.  Buy one charm each month, or buy the entire bracelet at once, it's up to you.  Order your charms ahead of time, then come to our club meetings to use my supplies and ideas.  What is more fun than friends, crafts, and jewelry?

Freestyle Stamping Club

Come to my Freestyle Stamping Club to give yourself a little crafting time and stamp with friends.  I will provide ink, some stamp sets, basic tools, and I will have paper packs available for $5.00.  Or bring your own materials, any brand.  There is no fee, and everyone is invited!  Please RSVP.   

March - Spring Scrapbooking Class

This month come and make two 8-1/2" x 11"scrapbook pages with a Spring theme, suitable for adding to a scrapbook album or for framing.  I will also show you some digital scrapbooking ideas, and how to turn your scrapbook design into a greeting card.  Class fee will be $10 and will include one of my paper packs.  Please sign up by March 17.  

April - Easter and Mother's Day Class

Come make six pretty and elegant cards which can be used for a variety of occasions - including Easter or Mother's Day.  Class fee will be $15.00, or place a $25 catalog order and the class will be free.  Please sign up by April 14th to reserve your spot.  

May - Congratulations and Condolences

We all need cards for both happy and sad events.  In this class we will make six cards, including wedding cards, new baby cards, and condolences cards.  Please sign up by May 19th so supplies can be prepared.  Class fee will be $15 or a $25 catalog order.  

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Spring Scrapbooking Class

Need a scrapbooking boost?  Come to my class and make a two page layout, then take it home and drop in your photos.

We'll be using the Botanical Gazette designer paper, and the distressed technique, to put these pages together.  

Also included in the class is one of my paper packs, which contains enough materials to make 4 more pages in this same style.  

Call me now to reserve your spot!  Class is March 26th at 2:00.  

Color Challenge

If you need a little inspiration this month, try creating a project with these colors: Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo, and Whisper White.  The colors are bright and springy, just what we need to defeat those winter blues!  

The technique used in this card was the ink bleed technique. All you need is some glossy card stock, a spray bottle of water, Stampin' Up! Classic ink refills, and an Aqua Painter or other paint brush. What stunning results! Call me to order your supplies or to schedule a private class to demonstrate this technique.

Technique Challenge

The technique challenge for this month is to stretch your creativity and make a different kind of project.  If you are a scrapbooker, try making a greeting card.  If you are a card maker, make a scrapbook page.  Or try something else new and make a box or other 3-D object.  Need ideas?  Try Splitcoaststampers.com > Gallery > Anything But A Card.  

Since I am more of a card maker than a scrapbooker, this month I made the little 5"x5" page at left.  I used My Digital Studio and put it together digitally, even more straining my experience.  I used this month's inspiration colors, but I substituted Cajun Craze for Melon Mambo to better suit the photo.  

Next I will be uploading it to MyDigitalStudio.net.  Come check out the site and upload your own digital projects!  If you haven't tried digital scrapbooking you'll have to ask me about it.  It is so fun it's going to be my newest hobby!

February 2011 Newsletter - Sale-A-Bration is here!

Sale-A-Bration

The biggest event of the year is here! It's time to pull out those wish lists and stock up on everything you've been wanting, but were waiting for a better time to buy. Now is that better time!
During Sale-A-Bration, for every $50 you spend from our catalog, you'll receive a free stamp set or other Sale-A-Bration gift! So the more you buy, the more you get for free. In addition to our 8 limited edition Sale-A-Bration products, there are over 60 stamp sets from our main catalog which you can choose from as your free gift. If you don't already have a Sale-A-Bration catalog, contact me for a catalog and more details.
For even more benefits, host a workshop during Sale-A-Bration! As a hostess you receive all the customer benefits, plus another free gift for every $300 in total workshop sales. Fun with friends + free stuff = a great time!
For the best deal of all, buy the Stampin' Up! starter kit. The kit is 15% off, plus you'll receive a Sale-A-Bration bonus bundle valued up to $50. Enjoy the 20% off demonstrator discount and all the demonstrator benefits, without any commitment. I'd love to give you more details - just ask me!

Cupcake Extravaganza!

Even if you never send Christmas cards or valentines, I'm sure you send Birthday cards. Wouldn't you like a stash of several cards you can take out at the last minute? Or a punch which would allow you to create a birthday card any time you needed one?

Come to my Cupcake Extravaganza Class and I'll show you how to make three fast and easy cards. We'll all make and take home the fancy versions, but I'll also show you how to make versions which require only a few supplies.

The class fee of $20 includes the cupcake punch. Have fun using it on greeting cards, scrapbook pages, bookmarks, gift boxes, and more. Never be caught without a birthday card again!

Calendar

Jan. 25 - Mar. 31 SALE-A-BRATION!!
Feb. 17: Cupcake Extravaganza sign-up
Feb. 17 6:30: Simply Adorned Bracelet Club
Feb. 26: Cupcake Extravaganza Class
Feb. 27 2:00: Freestyle Stamping Club
Mar. 17 Spring Scrapbooking sign-up
Mar. 17 6:30: Simply Adorned Bracelet Club
Mar. 26 2:00: Spring Scrapbooking Class
Mar. 27 2:00: Freestyle Stamping Club
Apr. 14: Easter & Mother's Day class sign-up
Apr. 14 6:30: Simply Adorned Bracelet Club
Apr. 23 2:00: Easter & Mother's Day Class
Apr. 24 2:00: Freestyle Stamping Club

Simply Adorned Bracelet Club

Make a personalized, totally unique charm bracelet for yourself or for a gift. Buy one charm each month, or buy the entire bracelet at once, it's up to you. Order your charms ahead of time, then come to our club meetings to use my supplies and ideas. What is more fun than friends, crafts, and jewelry?

Freestyle Stamping Club

Come to my Freestyle Stamping Club to give yourself a little crafting time and stamp with friends. I will provide ink, some stamp sets, basic tools, and I will have paper packs available for $5.00. Or bring your own materials, any brand. There is no fee, and everyone is invited! Please RSVP.

February - Cupcake Extravaganza
We will be making three cupcake birthday card designs, which can all be easily duplicated so you can make birthday cards for everyone all year. Class fee is $20 and includes the cupcake punch. Please sign up by Feb. 17th so I can order your punch in time for class.

March - Spring Scrapbooking Class
This month come and make two 8-1/2" x 11"scrapbook pages with a Spring theme, suitable for adding to a scrapbook album or for framing. I will also show you some digital scrapbooking ideas, and how to turn your scrapbook design into a greeting card. Class fee will be $10 and will include a paper pack. Please sign up by March 17.

April - Easter and Mother's Day Class
Come make three pretty and elegant cards which can be used for a variety of occasions - including Easter or Mother's Day. Class fee will be $12.00 and will include a Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz. Please sign up by April 14th to reserve your spot.

Valentine Ideas

Color Combination: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, and Rich Razzelberry. To make the colors really pop out, place them on a black background.

Technique: Embedded Embossing - punch shapes out of card stock and attach them using SNAIL adhesive. Then run the project through the Big Shot using an embossing folder to make the shapes appear embedded in the background. If you don't own a Big Shot yet, book a workshop with me to try it for yourself!

Project: Bookmarks make great crafts, because everybody wants one! Simply cut a strip of card stock 8-1/2" long by 1-1/2" wide and fold it in half. Decorate the front side any way you like. Attach small sheet magnets on the inside to hold the front and back together, and you'll have a bookmark which will never fall out of your book again!

Host a Workshop for Hands-On Crafting

Would you like to try some of these projects for yourself, but you don't own all the tools or you're not sure about the techniques? Book a workshop and invite all your friends and I'll show you! I'll provide the project, the supplies, and the great time; you provide the food and the great company.

Sale-A-Bration is the best time of the year to host a workshop! With extra hostess benefits for qualifying workshops and free gifts for everyone who buys $50 or more, who can resist? This month you will get to try out the Big Shot, embossing folders, and the Embedded Embossing technique. We can make either bookmarks or greeting cards, your choice. You also get to pick your theme: Valentine's Day, Spring, or another theme of your choice. I know I have some supplies which are calling your name! Let's have some fun.

Simply Adorned Bracelet Club

The Simply Adorned Bracelet Club will start up again, meeting monthly for as long as there is interest. Order just one or two bracelet charms each month, or order the entire bracelet at once. Join us as often as you want to create inserts for your charms. If you purchase a bracelet chain and all four charms, I will throw in a set of key trinkets for free!

This month we will be heat embossing to add a little texture and sparkle. Bring on the Spring with birds, bees, butterflies, and flowers! Please RSVP early to order your charms in time for the class. See the calendar for club dates.

Basic Tools for Paper Crafters

All hobbies require their own tools: knitters need yarn and needles; photographers need cameras, lenses, and filters; and woodworkers (like my husband) apparently need a garage full of large and expensive tools like table saws, band saws, and routers.

As stampers and scrapbookers we need our own tools too, but thankfully ours are reasonably priced. All our tools put together are still less expensive than just one of my husband's saw blades!

 

The paper cutter is probably the first tool you need to turn your card stock into cards. This cutter, available from Stampin' Up!, is one of Fiskars' better models. It can easily cut 12"x12" papers and card stock, but it is still lightweight and portable. It's fast and easy to use, and while I have had trouble with cheaper plastic models, with this cutter I've been able to make good straight cuts and 90 degree corners every time. ($24.95, item #104152)

The bone folder is a simple tool, but it's amazing how useful it is and how quickly it becomes one of your most reached-for items. It gives folds a nice crease; it can be used along with your paper cutter to score card stock; and I use it to separate card layers if I've made a mistake and I need to take my card apart and rework it. ($6.95, item #102300)

Paper snips are the perfect scissors for cutting shapes out of paper and card stock. I like to stamp images, color them, cut them out, and pop them up on Stampin' Dimensionals. This look adds a lot to a card or scrapbook page, and it's a fun alternative to buttons, rhinestone brads, felt flowers, or other purchased decorations. ($9.95, item #103579)

SNAIL is my first choice in adhesives, I use this more than I use any other kind. SNAIL leaves a strip of stickiness without the inconvenience of double-stick tape or the mess of glue. It's fast, easy, permanent, and the #1 choice for most card makers and scrapbookers. ($6.95, item #104332)

The Stampin' Scrub is the best and fastest way to clean your rubber stamps. Just lightly spray one half with the Stampin' Mist and leave the other half dry. The Stampin' Mist cleans and conditions your stamps, and the dry side of the Stampin' Scrub removes any leftover ink and moisture. (Stampin Scrub $16.95 item #102642; Stampin' Mist $4.50 item #102394)

The Stamp-a-ma-jig is one of my favorite tools, but not everyone uses one. This is a tool which needs to be demonstrated instead of described, ask me to show you how this works in person. (11.95, item #101049)

 

 

Sale-A-Bration is still going on, but only until March 31st. This is the perfect time to stock up on your stamping tools and supplies, because the more you buy during the Sale-A-Bration event, the more free stamp sets you can earn! If you were to buy every tool on my list your total would be $82.20 (still less than one of my husband's saw blades), and you would qualify for a free stamp set or other Sale-A-Bration reward. Add another product for $18.00 or more, and you'll receive two sets!



Charly Bratt
CharlysInkLink@gmail.com
http://charlysinklink.blogspot.com/
http://www.charlysinklink.stampinup.net/

 

All you need to start stamping is....

1) Stamps!
Most stamp sets in our catalog run between $12.95 and $38.95, with many sets under $20.00. Look for sets which include both images and sentiments, which will allow you to make multiple card designs with only one stamp set.
 

2) Something to stamp on.
Card stock is perfect for making greeting cards and scrapbook pages. Stampin' Up's card stock is extremely high quality: 80 lb weight, and dyed all the way through. I recommend buying one package of assorted colors (Soft Subtles shown here: $7.95 for 36 sheets in 12 colors - item #105568), and one package of Whisper White ($7.50 for 24 sheets - item #100730). Those two packages together would cost only $15.45, and you would have enough card stock to make 60 greeting cards, each with several layers. Make cards for Easter, Mother's Day, and all your friends' Spring birthdays!
 

3) Ink.
One stampin' pad of basic black ink is all you really need to get started, but you might like to add a little color. Some people like to buy ink pads in all the colors and a set of blender pens (#102845); some people like to buy watercolor pencils (#101879) and an Aqua Painter brush(#103954); some people like their Watercolor Wonder crayons (#106697).

Personally, I like the markers. (Soft Subtles shown here - $31.95 for a set of 12 - item #105537) Stampin' Up's markers are dual tipped with a fine point for writing or detail work, and a brush-like tip for coloring. Our inks, papers, ribbons, and other products are all color coordinated, so the Soft Subtles markers will perfectly match the colors in the Soft Subtles card stock.
 

4) Something to Sale-a-brate!
Sale-A-Bration, our biggest event of the year, is still going on. For every $50 you spend you can choose a free gift. Ask me for a catalog! Try this combination: a Basic Black Stampin' Pad, a package of assorted card stock colors, a package of Whisper White card stock, and your favorite one or two stamp sets. You can order everything you need for only $50, and then receive a free stamp set!
 
 


Charly Bratt
CharlysInkLink@gmail.com
charlysinklink.blogspot.com
www.charlysinklink.stampinup.net

January 2010 newsletter - Sale-A-Bration is Here!

Sale-A Bration is Here!

Stampin' Up's biggest event of the year, Sale-A-Bration, will be going on from Jan. 5th - March 31st. So what makes Sale-A-Bration so special?

* Free Products! For every $50 you spend on Stampin' Up! merchandise, you can choose one of the many stamp sets in the Sale-A-Bration catalog to receive for FREE! If you didn't get the pink Sale-A-Bration catalog in the mail, contact me and I'll make sure you receive one. This is the perfect time to stock up on your stamps, paper, ink, ribbon, tools, and other accessories. The more you buy the more free products you'll earn!

* Extra Hostess Benefits: In addition to the already generous hostess benefits, during Sale-A-Bration hostesses will earn an additional free product for every $300 ordered in their workshop. Plus, hostesses receive the same Sale-A-Bration benefits as their customers when they buy at their own workshop.

* Starter Kit Special: Have you ever considered becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? Or do you just wish you could get the 20% demonstrator discount? Try being a demonstrator for a few months and see how much fun it is. Even if you never hold a single workshop you'll love the value of the starter kit and all the demonstrator resources. Starter kits are 15% off during Sale-A-Bration, and new demonstrators can choose an additional free stamp set valued up to $47.95. Contact me for more information, or see my website at www.CharlysInkLink.StampinUp.net.

How To Earn Your Free Products

Clearly the best way to earn the most free stuff is to host a workshop. Not only can you earn the Sale-A-Bration free products, but you will also receive hostess gifts and free merchandise if your workshop orders total $150 or more.

Book your workshop now to take advantage of the best event of the year. Do your friends a favor and hold your workshop in January, that way they can hold their own Sale-A-Bration workshops before the big sale ends.

It's my job to make hosting a workshop fun and easy for you. See the other side of this newsletter for details on how easy it really is. Have a party! Invite your friends you haven't seen in a while! Everyone will go home with a hand-made craft, and everyone will have fun.

Give me a call or drop me an email!

Mini Reese's Gift Box

Make this gift box for someone you love this Valentine's Day. It holds 12 mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups with a surprise stamped message inside. The hand stamped box (or designer paper box, as seen here) and swivel tag will be fun to make and sure to impress.

See my next blog post on how to make this with your own supplies, or book a workshop today to make this project with my supplies!

How to Host a Workshop

What is the best way to take advantage of Stampin' Up's amazing Sale-A-Bration event? Host a workshop of course! I want to make hosting as easy and fun for you as possible. Here is a list of all you have to do:

1) Call me! Together we will come up with a date and project for your workshop, and I will bring you your hostess pack which includes Stampin' Up's Idea Book and Catalog.

2) Choose 20 people to invite to your workshop (keeping in mind that only about half the people you invite will be able to come). I will give you a worksheet to help you come up with your guest list.

3) Decide where to have your workshop - at your house, at my house, at a church or clubhouse, or somewhere else. My house is always available!

4) Email your invitations. I'll supply everything you need to make it easy. Following up with a phone call is important, but I can help or even do those for you!

5) Provide munchies. A party is always more fun with something to eat! I recommend grocery store bakery items or heat-and-serve appetizers, a pre-prepared fruit plate, or something else easy. Don't worry about cooking from scratch; the idea is to make this party stress-free.

6) Distribute your guests' orders after they come in, a week or so after your party is over. All the orders from your workshop will arrive at your house in one box, with a clear list of which items are for which guest. You will not, however, have to deal with collecting payment - that will all have been taken care of earlier.

What you DON'T have to do:

1) Sell. Stampin' Up! products sell themselves! If your friends enjoy what they see in your catalog or at your workshop, they will want to buy. If not, that's OK too.

2) Clean your house. Hold your party at my house!

3) Cook. A pot of coffee and grocery store bakery cookies are good enough.

4) Math. You might want to help collecting orders, but I will figure out the tax, shipping, and totals.

Calendar

Jan 5 - Mar 31st SALE-A-BRATION

Jan 17: Freestyle Stamping Club meeting

Jan 21: Valentine class sign-up deadline

Jan 30: Valentine Magnets class

Feb 11: Pendants class sign-up deadline

Feb 20: Stamped Pendants class

Feb 21: Freestyle Stamping Club meeting

Mar 11: Game class sign-up deadline

Mar 20: Travel Game class

Mar 21: Freestyle Stamping Club meeting

Apr 8: Monogrammed sign-up deadline

Apr 17: Monogrammed Card class

Apr 18: Freestyle Stamping Club meeting

Freestyle Stamping Club

The idea behind my Freestyle Stamping Club is for people who are new to stamping to get together and work on their own projects while socializing with friends. Even if you have few supplies you can come, since I will provide ink, some stamp sets, basic tools, and I will have paper packs available for $5.00. The "fee" to join is to buy one stamp set for $15.00 or more, and then bring that stamp set with you to share. If you have scissors, adhesive, card stock and accessories of your own, bring those too so you can use them on your own projects. One stamp purchase pays for 3 club meetings.

January Class - Valentine Magnets

Just in time for Valentine's Day, make a gift tin of beautiful glass refrigerator magnets. Class fee will be aprox. $8.00 depending on the number of attendees.

February Class - Stamped Pendant

This month make 3 pendants for necklaces with colors and designs of your choice. Class fee TBA.

March Class - Travel Games

We will be making a kids' travel game set out of a DVD tin and magnets, with a hand stamped Memory game on one side; and Tic-Tac-Toe on the other. A fun handmade gift for a young friend. Class fee TBA.

April Class - Monogrammed Cards

Perfect for Mother's Day - make a stationery set of monogrammed note cards, a matching pen, and a folder to hold them all. Class fee TBA.

Contact me if you have any questions, would like to sign up for any classes, or want to host a workshop. I'd love to talk to you!

Charly Bratt

CharlysInkLink@gmail.com

www.CharlysInkLink.StampinUp.net

December 2009 Newsletter - Holiday Photo Cards

Holiday Photo Cards

Would you like to make holiday photo cards this year but you don't want to spend a lot of time or trouble? Make an appointment with me and I will help you create amazing holiday cards with your digital photos. Stampin' Up's professional printer can print on both sides of the inside of your card as well as the front! Include a holiday letter in your card this year, or more photos, or just use Stampin' Up's beautiful images to customize your card inside and out. If you already have the pictures you want to use in your card this year, call me to make an appointment just to see what we can do. Here is an example of one possible card inside layout - what would be in your card?

Sale-A-Bration: The Biggest Event of the Year!

Every year Stampin' Up's biggest event is Sale-A-Bration, and every year Sale-A-Bration gets better and better! This year Sale-A-Bration will run from January 5th - March 31, and there are more free stamp sets available than ever.

Sale-A-Bration is the big sale where you can earn free stamp sets and other product in several ways. First of all, for every $50.00 you spend on any Stampin' Up! products, you will earn one of the stamp sets or other goodies as shown in this year's Sale-A-Bration catalog. That catalog is coming to you in the mail this month - if you don't receive yours by the end of December let me know and I'll be sure to give you one. Since the new mini catalog is coming out at the same time, it will be very easy to find $50.00 worth of stamps you'll want to buy. There is no limit to the S-A-B rewards you can earn, so for example, if you order $150 in products you'll be able to choose THREE free Sale-A-Bration sets!

Secondly, when you host a workshop, in addition to all the free hostess gifts and products you would earn at any time, hostesses will receive a free Sale-A-Bration set for every $300.00 in workshop orders. If you remember that many of your guests will be trying to buy $50.00 worth of products, getting to $300 or even $600 in orders will not be hard.

Thirdly, if you have been thinking about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator like me, this would be the perfect time to do it. Both the regular and the digital starter sets are 15% off, and in addition you can choose any stamp set valued up to $47.95 to receive for free!

In short, Sale-A-Bration is an event you won't want to miss, and it's definitely the best time of the year to host a workshop. Call me today to choose your workshop date! You'll have an easy instant party, your guests will have fun, and you'll earn free stamp sets. What could be easier?

Holiday Goodie Jar

Do you need a hand-made, heartfelt gift to give to teachers, friends and neighbors? Wouldn't it be nice if this gift could also be made quickly and easily and didn't cost a lot of money? Holiday goodie jars are simple and fast to make, and always fun to receive. The Delightful Decorations tags are the perfect touch, and with the ornament punch cutting them out is fast and fool-proof.

Supplies:

• Merry Moments designer series paper
• Real Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
• Silver or Gold elastic cord
• Delightful Decorations stamp set
• Ornament punch
• SNAIL adhesive
• Sticky Strip adhesive
• 1 glass 1-quart jar w/ lid

Contact me by Dec. 15th to order in time for Christmas!

Charly Bratt

CharlysInkLink@gmail.com

www.CharlysInkLink.StampinUp.net