Front Page!

I’m so excited!! I just found out that MamaBearStamps was featured on the FRONT PAGE of Etsy yesterday! Can you tell I’m a bit giddy?! 🙂 Here’s a screenshot:

See? That’s me in the lower right corner! HEE HEE!

Just wanted to share my excitement with my lovely blog readers and let you know that I have lots of items in the works that will be uploaded to Etsy soon! Check out my shoppe and let me know if you have a custom request!

All the best, T

Chocolate Bunnies

I LOVE this chocolate bunny! It’s only fitting… my day job is at a candy company! 😉 I have a bunch of mini gifts in the works with this little guy (yes, it’s a boy, lol) but wanted to share some of my new Chocolate Bunny Embellishments I have at my Etsy shoppe and how I made them.

I stamped these guys on Kraft cardstock twice – once in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink and once with Versamark and embossed him with clear embossing powder. I then carefully cut around him and applied a diminsional to the back. The bottom layer on the diminsional was left intact, and glued to a clear sheet (cut to size) so you just simply peel the bunny off the backing sheet and apply to your project. SIMPLE! Here are the products I used:

**ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE SPRING MINI CATALOG! Hurry – ordering ends March 31st!

Chocolate Bunny

116980

Classic Stampin Pad

100908

8-1/2×11 Card Stock

102125

Versamark Pad

102283

Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder

109130

Heat Tool

100005

 

*DON’T FORGET!* Sale-A-Bration and the Spring Mini ordering period are ALMOST OVER! You only have through March 31 to place your order for SAB and Spring Mini products! If you’re interested in getting FREE PRODUCTS let me know ASAP!!

Also, send me an email if you’d like to be the first to receive the next Summer Mini Catalog! I’ve seen it and it’s FABULOUS! If I have your email address by March 31st you’ll be part of the first round of mailings!

Have a great weekend! ~T~

MamaBearStamps is on Etsy!

As an extension of my mission to make stamping and scrapbooking super simple I have opened a shoppe on Etsy! At http://mamabearstamps.etsy.com you’ll find hand-stamped and handmade embellishments, cards, and more. My embellishments already have foam tape applied to the back, so you can simply peel-and-stick for fast embellishments!

Check it out and let me know what you think! Looking for a specific theme or embellishment? Just let me know! 🙂

I hope you’re having a great week! Only one more until Spring Break (aka Mom’s Week Off!) here! 😉 ~T~

Quick Note

Did you know that Mama Bear Stamps has a Facebook Fan Page? I have a new button over on the right so you can join the fun! I’ll be posting updates, sneak peeks, and specials on the Fan Page, so come join us!

Have a fabulous Wednesday! ~T~

Layouts and a Haiti Update

Hi friends! I hope you’ve had a great week! I have a couple new layouts to share with you and a Haiti Relief update!

“You Make Me Smile” – 12×12 layout using all Stampin’ UP! products

Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack

Beautiful Wings Stampin’ Up! Embosslits Die

Always Stamp Set

White Stampin’ Emboss Powder

The “You Make Me Smile” stamp is retired. I also used a 1.5″ circle punch and corner-rounding punch on this layout.

“Friend” – 12×12 Layout, Stampin’ UP! products only

Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Pack

Scallop Border Punch *AVAILABLE FOR FREE DURING SALE-A-BRATION!*

I {Heart} Hearts – Clear Mount Stamp Set

Clear Block D

I also embossed these hearts and used a 1″ and 1.5″ Circle Punch, then popped-up the circles with Dimensionals.

Speaking of I {Heart} Hearts…

At last count Stampin’ UP! customers and demonstrators have sent over $15,000 to the American Red Cross’ Haitian Relief efforts!! WOO HOO!! If you haven’t picked up this set yet be sure to order it before February 28th and $2 of the sale will go to the Red Cross! This goes for both the wood-mounted AND clear-mounted sets! Be sure to see the set here: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryID=708

Have a great weekend! Love, T

Why people don’t scrapbook (or continue scrapbooking)

Aby Garvey posted a great article yesterday on her blog at simplify101.com about the parallels between why people don’t scrapbook and why they don’t get organized. Take a look at the post (HERE) and read below how Stampin’ UP! And I can help you start (or get back into) scrapbooking.

Reasons

Feeling Overwhelmed

I completely understand the “deer-caught-in-the-headlights” feeling from the shear number of scrapbooking products on the market! I also understand a mounting pile of photos just itching to be cherished.

Perfectionism

I used to keep my favorite photos in a box for “when I’m good enough to scrapbook them”. Aby said it best, “But I find it so ironic that our desire to do something perfectly often prevents us from doing it at all.”

Time Constraints

We’re all pushed to our limits each day with work, family, home, and hobbies vying for our attention and time. However, as with organization, the sooner you set up a plan the easier and faster it will be to get things done.

How SU! and I can help

Feeling Overwhelmed

One of the most common phrases I hear from new scrapbookers is “how do you know what matches?” Stampin’ UP! has a solution for that problem: everything coordinates. Papers, inks, stickers, stamps, markers… it’s all created by designers using coordinating color families, and all SU! embellishments coordinate with everything else! All you have to do is choose your photo(s), pick out one color from the photograph and use scrapbooking products containing that color – SU! does the rest for you!

If you have piles of photographs and don’t know where to start, let me know! We can set up a time to go through your photographs, one-on-one or with a group of friends, and pick out supplies that match perfectly. You haven’t ever scrapbooked before? No problem! Just let me know and we can set up a fun “Scrapbooking 101” class for you and your friends, or a crop night for scrapping fun!

Perfectionism

I say this to my daughter all the time: There is NO wrong way to make art. Scrapbooking is about memories and the stories of your life, plain and simple. The art is just your personal way of expressing those feelings and telling those stories. My first “scrapbook” was made in high school: construction paper, photos (cut into some interesting shapes) and Crayola markers. These were stuck in regular page protectors and a blue school binder. While it won’t ever be published in a magazine or win a design award, I wouldn’t trade that scrapbook for the world! Those memories and that time in my life (heart-dotted “i”s and all) are too valuable!

The easiest way to begin scrapbooking is to copy a scrapbooker’s layout(s) until you feel comfortable branching out on your own. Check out my blog for scrapbooking layouts and designs using SU! products, or set up a scrapbooking time with me to re-create some of my favorite layouts with your photographs. Don’t let the fear of “perfect” stop you from sharing your story!

Time Constraints

With Stampin’ UP!’s coordinating products, scrapbooking can be quick! When I have a moment to create, I want to get as much accomplished as possible. With SU! there’s no wasted time trying to coordinate colors, match ribbons, or find the perfect paper – everything coordinates! This goes back to organization – once you have the tools you need the necessary time to create a project decreases significantly. Look to Stampin’ UP!s Simply Scrapin’ kits for papers and stickers in one package – just open the package and you’ll be ready to create! And when you need embellishments – just let me know which color palette you’re using and I can suggest products that will take your layouts to the next level.

 If you’re ever in doubt, just ask me! I’m here to inspire and share with you. J

Interested in Stampin’ UP! scrapbooking supplies? Just click the link to your right and browse my online store, or send me a comment or note saying “I need a catalog!” and I’ll pop one in the mail to you.

Love Sparkles Simply Scrapin’ Kit