Did someone say Uggs???

Do you love Uggs? I DO! Ugg boots are such a rave right now!!! I was fortunate enough to get a pair from my Mom this past Christmas. And boy, they are one of the warmest boots you'll ever wear - keeps your feet toasty warm! For those of you who live in Minnesota, you know you'd need a pair of these babies because of the harsh winters! Would love to win another pair! 

Click HERE to find out more deets on how to enter for a drawing!!!
Happy Ugg-ing!

Ribbon, Ribbon ON SALE NOW at Paper Maniac and More...

Hear ye, hear ye...Paper Maniac Newsletter

coming soon to a computer near you!!!

Would you like to be the first one to know about new products, special sales, events, and even learn about different techniques??? Pop on over to the Paper Maniac store to become a registered customer and shop while you're there - lots of things to drool over. The product focus this week is R-I-B-B-O-N...and all ribbon is marked down 20% off (NO coupon code needed) so make sure to get some while you can.

All those who are registered customers will receive a weekly newsletter via email with an extra incentive just for becoming a reader. What's in store for our special customers in this week's newsletter??? For all of you Northwoods fans out there ... A coupon code to get a 20% discount on all Northwoods stamps.

All sales are good through September 14

So, what are you waiting for???!!!! Go on and do some major shopping!!! Remember to register so you won't miss out on any newsletter only specials in the future.

Digital Stamps at Paper Maniac: Time Flies

Paper Maniac LLC has been open for the last 5 days...I hope you enjoyed seeing all of the DT samples so far in addition to doing a little shopping at the Paper Maniac store - hopefully you were able to take advantage of the fabulous grand opening special of getting 15% off your total purchase. If you missed it, you still have a chance to win some things on your wishlist (up to $35 value). Click here for more deets on the Wishlist Blog Candy...

Today, I wanted to showcase my love for digital stamps...Have you been to the Digital Designs section yet at Paper Maniac? Ann Vento aka Raindrop Echo Designs, one of Paper Maniac's talented digital word artists, created some fabulous digital-stamp sets. You know me...I can't seem to get my hands away from working with digital images. They are so versatile and I love the fact that you can resize them to your card/project needs. Let me tell yah, it took awhile to get used to stamping with regular stamps again - LOL! But I am very fortunate I still get to work with digital stamps alongside my other favorite love - patterned paper and Paper Maniac definitely has some yummy-licious paper lines to choose from.

Take a look what this digital-stamp set has to offer...Click here to go directly to the product page. All of the digital-stamp sets are reasonably priced starting at $2.00 per set. What a steal of a deal!!! Sheesh...I sound like a used a car salesman - LOL!!!!

CPS131

For this sample, I created a card using the newest digital-stamp set release called Time Sentiments. As soon as I saw this set, I knew what I needed to do with it. I used the Card Positioning Systems sketch: CPS131. I hadn't had a chance to participate in any of their challenges lately so the sketch was the inspiration for my card. It all came together pretty quickly. Except I had bit of a trouble working with glossy paper. I used bindakote glossy paper in pearl (for the base layer) and red (for the wings). Because I was dealing with printer ink, I knew I had to emboss the image so it wouldn't smear. Using your heat gun to dry the ink isn't going to work - you'd be sitting there for days and the ink would still be wet. The next best thing is heat embossing with black embossing powder (something that I haven't touched in ages). Now, I've never really been good or successful at heat embossing but I had to give it a try since I was working with some really cool paper and the image just went so perfectly with the Time sentiments. First off, my first try was a total flop. I remembered I bought an embossing buddy awhile back at Micheal's (that tiny pillow looking thing that has some powder in it that you swipe over your cardstock before stamping - this ensures that you won't have any static cling on the cardstock and that your embossing powder adheres to your stamped image). This method definitely worked wonders. Although there were a few tiny powders still on the paper when I heat embossed the image using my heat gun, the tiny speckles gave the wings a little dimension (as if they were meant to be there). Don't you just love it when things like this happens???

I used some scrap patterned paper that I had been hoarding for the last 3 years from Bo Bunny. I used my rectangle nesties to frame the sentiment - I added some faux stitching for the border around the sentiment. I printed the clock on white cardstock, distressed with Antique Linen ink and topped off with a Kaisercraft brad. I finished it off with a 7/8" black grossgrain ribbon.

I kind of went a little out of my element and created a funky vintage card...hope you enjoyed my blabber today! But before you go...

Take a looksie at the other digital-stamp sets available at Paper Maniac - Digital Designs. (Exclusively found at Paper Maniac).

Thanks for visiting! Happy Digi-stamping!

Digital Stamps: Raindrop Echo Designs (Time Sentiments), Owl Whimsy (Angel Wings)
Paper/Cardstock: Bindakote (Pearl, Red), Unkown (Black), Bo Bunny
Ink/Embossing Powders: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Antique Linen), Stampin Up (Basic Black), InkXpressions Embossing Powder (Black)
Accessories/Tools: Making Memories (Paper Piercer), Kaisercraft (Brads), 7/8” Wide Black Grossgrain Ribbon, Spellbinders (Classic Rectangles)

September '09 Sheetload of Cards: Show Us Your Sheetload "FALL THEMED" Challenge

It is time for the monthly Show Us Your SheetLoad challenge over at SheetLoad of Cards!! To be entered to win, all you have to do is create a single, Fall-themed, card that utilizes the sketch from the latest issue.

Head on over there today and find out how you can win one of two gift certificates from the September sponsor - JessicaLynnOriginal!

Paper Maniac September Weekly Theme: Ribbon

Starting today, the Paper Maniac DT gals will be creating cards/projects dedicated to a weekly theme. This week, the Paper Maniac DT is showing off RIBBON!

Fall is just around the corner (it's already here in my parts of the country *sigh*) and soon Christmas will be here before we know it. I, for one, love to use ribbon when I can on my cards. For my sample, I was able to use two fun ribbon techniques: pleated and flower ribbon. The pleated look just adds so much dimension to the card in addition to the flower ribbon I created myself. You can find the tutorial here for the pleated ribbon technique. 

For the ribbon flower, I simply threaded the top part of the ribbon and pulled it together to gather the ribbon until it looked like a flower. I finished it off with a button in the middle. Then everything fell into place. I am happy that I got to play with some new Spellbinders Labels that just came in the mail.

The main image is hot chocolate from imaginisce that you can find in the Paper Maniac store for only $1 in the Dollar Store section. For added dimension, the image was stamped twice and popped up using Scotch mounting tape. I added Aleene's Paper Glaze to the heart in the middle of the cup. The patterned paper is imaginisce Polar Expression 12 x 12 Paper Pack - Collection 1. The sentiment "warm wishes" is computer generated and punched out with the word window punch from Stampin' Up. The base layer is Neenah 110# Solar White cardstock - very high quality and heavy cardstock great for the base layer. Believe me, it is even a heavier quality than Stampin' Up cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to stalk the DT blogs for ribbon inspiration throughout the week!





Stamps: imaginisce (Hot Chocolate)
Paper/Cardstock: Neenah (110# Solar White), imaginisce (Polar Expressions)
Ink/Embossing Powders: Palette (Noir)
Accessories/Tools: Spellbinders (Labels 4, Classic Circles), Stampin’ Up (Word Window Punch), Offray Grossgrain Ribbon, Sewing Thread, Vintage Button, Aleene’s Paper Glaze
Coloring: Prismacolor Pencils blended with Baby Oil

September 2009 Sheetload of Cards - Ready for Download

It is time for the new issue of SheetLoad of Cards - September 2009 - sponsored by JessicaLynnOriginal!

Head over to the blog today to download your FREE copy and make sure to check back later this month for chances to win prizes from the sponsor.

PAPER MANIAC GRAND OPENING DAY!

Today is the day you all have been waiting for...

PAPER MANIAC GRAND OPENING DAY!

To start off the grand opening celebration, starting today through September 6, Paper Maniac is offering its first customers 15% off your total purchase (use coupon code: GRAND15 at checkout).

If you are a BIG fan of Unity stamps, make sure to take advantage of purchasing the Unity store kit and sign-up for the Autoship feature so that you will be one of the first ones to ink up some fabulous stamps every month. Check out the details for the Autoship feature here.

AUGUST 30 BLOG HOP REMINDER

If you haven't visited the blog hop yet, make sure you check out everyone's creations and leave ONE comment on the Paper Maniac blog hop post and each of the DT blog hop posts for a chance to win some yummy goodness --- start HERE.

You thought it couldn't get any better than the blog hop candy...Here's another chance to win. Paper Maniac is offering a GRAND OPENING BLOG CANDY...drum roll please!

WISHLIST BLOG CANDY

Go to Paper Maniac online store and start browsing through the countless products and create a wishlist of your favorite items. Random winner will be selected on September 15. Good luck and Happy Shopping! Believe me, you won't be disappointed!

One more thing...

JOIN THE PAPER MANIAC
CHALLENGE BLOG

Starting today, September 1, the first challenge begins! Each challenge will be assigned on a bi-weekly basis. This means...you will have two full weeks to get your entry in to win a fabulous prize. You will see some fabulous samples from the DT to help you get your mojo going and stir up some inspiration.

Challenge FAQs:

1. A new challenge will be posted every other Tuesday.

2. All creations (cards, layouts, altered items, etc) are welcome. All styles are welcome.
3. You may combine this challenge with other challenges.
4. Entries must be received by 11:59 PM (Pacific Standard Time) Monday night to be considered for the drawing. Feel free to play along if you don't make the deadline.
5. No blog? No problem! You may upload it to any gallery or to our Paper Maniac Forum.

Click HERE to check out the Paper Maniac Challenge Blog...


And last but not least...Another sample from one of the Make it Your Own card kits. This card also qualifies for the first ever Paper Maniac Challenge: Dry/Heat Embossing.

SFYTT 8.8.09 - Thank You Whimsy Frog

Stamps: Whimsy Stamps (Animal Collection- Frog)

Paper/Cardstock: Bazzill, Neenah (80# Natural White), Jillibean Soup

Coloring: Prismacolor Pencils blended with baby oil

Accessories/Tools: Stampin Up (Slit Punch), Spellbinders (Classic Rectangles, Blossom Nestabilities), Assorted Ribbon, String, Scotch Mounting Tape, Robin's Nest (Christmas Dew Drops), Offray Ribbon, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Swiss Dots), Glitter Glue


Now get going and shop till you drop at Paper Maniac!!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great day!