Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Paper Piercing - the cheapest design tool ever!

As promised, here are two more cards from this coming Saturday's Easter and Mother's Day card class.  It will be at my house at 2:00pm on the 23rd, email me to sign up!  

I tried to make this a more complicated card, trust me.  I tried to work in some designer paper, some edge punching... but the design just called out for total simplicity.  This card should take you 5 minutes to make, not including the 2 minutes you will spend picking out which sentiment you want to use.  

It may be an "Easter and Mother's Day" class, but all the cards we will be making can be used for almost any occasion, so I will have a number of sentiment stamps on hand for you to choose from.  

As I mentioned in the title, both these cards include paper piercing.  For this technique all you need is a mat pack and a paper piercing tool - which together will cost you under $15.00.  The paper piercing look can be modern and minimalist, or link the holes with a hand-drawn line to give the homey look of stitching.  Either way it's easy, inexpensive, and a great way to add that extra touch to your card.  

Both of these cards were stamped with the Fast and Fabulous hostess stamp set.  The "thank you" card was stamped with the set's faux watercolor look, while the tall flower card really was watercolored with Aqua Painters and ink.  

Come try both methods this Saturday!  Email me to reserve your spot.  

Charly Bratt
Independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator
(970) 206-9120
CharlysInkLink@gmail.com


Monday, April 18, 2011

Butterflies and Flowers

This pretty butterfly card seems to be the most popular one from my upcoming class "Easter and Mother's Day cards", which I will be teaching at my house April 23rd at 2:00pm.  

You'll be surprised how simple it is to make this card.  We'll use the Big Shot to emboss the card base (to make all the pretty raised swirls in the background), and we'll use the Big Shot again to cut out the butterfly shapes.  If you haven't used the Big Shot before, you'll have to come give it a try.  It's the most fun papercrafting tool ever!   

The rest of the card is just as easy.  We'll layer the butterfly shapes together with a touch of ribbon for the butterfly antennae, and a few pearls for the body.  There is plenty of space to stamp any sentiment you wish - "Get Well", "Thinking of You", "Happy Birthday", or of course the advertised Easter or Mother's Day greetings.  You choose what you want your card to say!  

The second card I'm sharing with you is one of the many flower cards from my upcoming class.  The theme is clearly flowers, earth tones, and elegant designs!  This card features a couple of patterns from the 'Elegant Soiree' Designer Series Paper pack.  The main image is stamped with the Awash with Flowers set, and the card is finished off with a little paper piercing.  It's another quick and easy card, but due to the sophisticated designs, it looks a lot more complicated than it really is.  

Tomorrow I will share with you another two cards from my upcoming class.  I know you'll want to have these in your collection so you'll always have a card when you need one at the last minute!  Sign up today to reserve your spot.  

Charly Bratt
Independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator
(970) 206-9120
CharlysInkLink@gmail.com

Monday, April 11, 2011

Do you have the creativity of a warthog? - Charly's Ink Link April 2011



Are You Creative?
 
Does it matter?  I don't care if you have the creativity of a warthog, you still have the ability to make a beautiful gift.  

Whether you want to give a thoughtful card, or share your photos and memories with your children, if you have two hands with opposable thumbs you can make these things.  

Stampin' Up! provides stamps so you never have to draw, Designer Series paper so you never have to try to put your own colors together, and the most fabulous and easy-to-use tools.  

Hundreds of blogs and websites exist to give you ideas, layouts, designs, and technique tutorials.  

But most of all, putting it all together is my job.  I am your personal coach when it comes to papercrafting, and I am awesome at what I do.  

So I dare you to be the least creative person on earth.  I can help you make projects you will be proud to give away - and your recipients will be touched to receive.  It's not about how creative you can be.  It's about making someone happy with your hand made, beautiful, greeting cards and scrapbook pages.  


Easter and Mother's Day Class

Join me on the 23rd at 2:00pm at my house to make six simple cards.  For April we will be using the paper Elegant Soiree, with its spring-like colors of earthy browns and cheerful blues.  Perfect for Easter, Mother's Day, birthdays, "get well", or just "thinking of you", these cards will be great to have on hand.  

While these cards look sophisticated, they are really very simple to put together.  Class fee is only $15 for 6 different cards, or place a catalog order of $25 or more and the class will be free.  Please contact me by 4/14 to reserve your spot.  


Calendar

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
June 16 Summertime and Picnics sign-up
June 16 6:30: Simply Adorned Bracelet Club
June 25 2:00: Summertime and Picnics class
June 26 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.   

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.  

June - Summertime and Picnics class
This month we will make four different 12"x12" scrapbook pages with a summertime theme.  Each layout will be easily reproducible with other stamps and papers, so make four pages in class and  more at home.  I will also talk about scrapbooking for non-scrappers.  Class fee will be $15 or a $25 catalog order.  Please sign up by June 16th so I can order your supplies. 




May Baskets

Celebrate May Day this year by surprising others with these cute May baskets.  These little baskets are perfect for holding a handful of treats and leaving anonymously on co-workers' desks or neighbors' front porches.  

This month book me for a private class and I will show you and your friends how to make this adorable basket and a matching card.  These would also be perfect for a wedding or party favors.  

This is a great time to host a class, since hostesses can earn a beautiful set of products for free!  With the Spring is Blossoming promotion, earn both the stamps and the papers shown here for free if total orders equal $350 or more.  Call me to book your private class today!


Color Challenge

It's April - Happy Birthday to me and all my other April birthday friends! This month I chose a color combination which looks bright, happy, and energetic.   Try making a project using Concord Crush, So Saffron, and Pear Pizzazz.

Here's a tip- always keep some white ribbon on hand, like this 5/8" organza ribbon (item #114319). When you need ribbon of a specific color, just dye the ribbon by rubbing it on a Classic ink pad, or color it with Stampin' Up! markers (shown here). Concord Crush ribbon is available, but I don't have any so I made my own using this method. 

Technique Challenge

Birthdays, baby showers, and weddings are all good excuses to have cake.  Now you can have this cake and eat one too!  These mini cakes are fun as gifts, party favors, or table decor.  They are made with an LED tea light, scraps of paper, and a 1-3/4" scallop circle punch.  They can be ornate like this wedding cake, or quick and easy like the birthday cake.  

Tip: If you want to make a lot of cakes, I suggest using a Simply Scrappin' kit.  With patterned paper and matching decorative borders you can decorate an LED cake in a snap.  To make the center hole, use a hand held hole puncher and punch several holes as close to the center as you can, to make one larger, centered hole.  Ask me to demonstrate! 


Charly Bratt
Independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator
(970) 206-9120
CharlysInkLink@gmail.com

Saturday, April 2, 2011

New Clearance Rack items - Plus Grab Bags



Check out our new Clearance Rack!  It's been refilled for April with new ribbon, papers, kits, chipboard, and more! 

Also in the clearance rack, try one of our grab bags - for $15 you will receive $60 worth of retired products!  (No stamps or tools, but perhaps ribbon, buttons, paper, or other embellishments.  No guarantees and no returns!) 

The only way to buy these deals from the Clearance Rack is either to email me, or buy from me online - go to CharlysInkLink.StampinUp.net.   When they're gone, they're gone! 

Charly Bratt
Independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator
(970) 206-9120
CharlysInkLink@gmail.com
CharlysInkLink.StampinUp.net
 

Friday, April 1, 2011


Contact me today! 

Charly Bratt
Independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator
(970) 206-9120
CharlysInkLink@gmail.com
CharlysInkLink.StampinUp.net

Saturday, March 12, 2011

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!  

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.  


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!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

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.