Samplers - a new kind of team swap

Sampler Swap

Our team did a different kind of swap – a sampler swap. Here are photos of 1 sampler with a Love theme (Heartfelt designer paper, Flirty Flamingo, Real Red, Silver, White and one with a Poppy theme (Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive, Poppy Parade).

and a few close up shots of each sampler.

The very talented Bonnie O’Neill in Long Island provided inspiration and helpful tips on how to do this.  I appreciate that she said feel free to share her samplers as inspiration!

And here's the Poppy sampler for some more inspiration.

Here’s what we did.  The host picks a theme such as “love” or “beach” or “spring”.  The host sets the 2 or 3 colors (not more than 3). The host creates a rectangle with these words 6 ¼ x 3 and 1 square (so for the Love example it’s the top row. The host recruits other team mates to join in and organizes the swappers on our FB page by collecting and sharing the list of mailing addresses of each swapper.

Host option: you can ask each person to use the same base color.  This can really add to the coordination of the sampler. 

The swapper creates 8 IDENTICAL squares and mails them out to the other swappers. Squares are 3 x 3 and square and can but don’t have to include a relevant sentiment.  The host will mail out the rectangle.   Swappers may wish to put in a protective post card into your envelope. Each square is 3 x 3 – exactly 3 x 3.    Swappers use ONLY the selected colors, with any current stamp set. You can use ribbon or embellishments or die cuts or punched shapes – IF they are part of the color selection.

You can get 12 x 12 frames anywhere – there are lots of sales on now! If searching online a tip is to search for a "scrapbook frame"

I'm thinking of organizing a beach themed sampler! Stay tuned :)

happy crafting MaryKate

Parisian Blossoms Suite - a 70th anniversary card

It's not often I'm asked to create a 70th anniversary card.  What a wonderful celebration of love!

Here's my card, using the Parisian Blossoms paper and sentiments.  I used a background of petal pink 4 x 5 1/4" and the paper 3 3/4 x 5" along with about 12" of ribbon.  

The paper is absolutely gorgeous as it has champagne foil accents and pairs perfectly with the petal  pink champagne ribbon and the petal pink rhinestones.

This card uses a few items beyond the paper and stamp set: I've used the new Label Me Lovely punch and also the Well Said set for the inside greeting.  For the punch I created the shadow by punching a matching pool party label and cutting in half and attaching to the top and bottom for a shadow effect. 

I love adding a bit of designer paper to the envelope to make it a matching set. 

The new Mini catalog is live - so if you see anything you like, it's all in my online store!  

Happy shopping! MaryKate

IDEAS Jan 2020 Blog Hop - Heartfelt

Welcome to our IDEAS blog hop for January 2020. We are 12 international Demonstrators with a tutorial bundle for you.  This month the theme is "share the love" so you'll see many ideas to celebrate love, Valentine's day, weddings, anniversaries and more!

I created notecards for you (there's another design in the bundle) and a fun treat holder that stands up. It can hold a gift card or small candy.  Quick and easy to make - perfect for people like me who send or give out many Valentines!


In the tutorial I share all the tips on creating these projects and of course all dimensions are listed in inches and cm.

I hope you like these projects and the projects from my fellow IDEAS demonstrators.  It's really a great bundle of inspiration for crafters or demonstrators looking for new ideas or workshop ideas.  Keep hopping so you can see all the creativity.   The bundle is about 60 pages of detailed full color instructions. 

Would you like a copy of the instructions for these projects to use for your personal use, or even to use in your classes? Contact me at MaryKate@MaryKateScott.com Free to customers who purchase $35, or Free to my team members, or $15 by PayPal.  

Once you have received the tutorials, please remember not to share or distribute the printed or electronic copies of these bundles. We have worked hard to provide these exclusive projects for your use. If you know someone that would like to purchase the bundle, please direct them to me to obtain their copy. Thanks for your support.

Thanks for stopping by. Please click on NEXT and visit Judy May in Australia the next talented IDEAS demonstrator!

Happy New Year - Happy New Mini Catalog

Today is the day! The New Mini January - June 2020 catalog is live!  To see the catalog online, click on the tab "Shopping Deals and Catalogs".

And today is the first day of Sale-A-Bration - every $50 you spend will get you a free item!

I mailed out catalogs about 2-3 weeks ago and if you didn't get one, email me MaryKate@MaryKateScott.com and I'll get one in the mail to you!

Don't forget to use the host code - my customers last month all received Noble Peacock rhinestones.  I promise to pick a great customer thank you gift for January!

I'll be posting all next week with new projects using all these lovely new products and papers!

happy catalog browsing, MaryKate

Easel Calendar Cards with Crafting Forever

Each year I make calendar cards - for a class and to give away!

This year I used the Crafting Forever set. I love the little scissors and the greetings (we're cut out to be friends) and (do something creative every day)

This is a card 4 1/4 x 11 folded in half.  I did tone-on-tone stamping with the scissors using the matching Calypso Coral ink.  I used the post it notes so I could go off the edge. The matching designer paper is 3 x 4 1/2. I stamped the greeting and punched it out with the new Label me Fancy punch (this is turning out to be a go-to punch).  



I punched out the coordinating Pacific Point (same punch) cut the shape in half, adhere to the back of the stamped greeting.  I added a Noble Peacock rhinestone.

Then I added the calendar to the front.

What makes this card a bit different is the easel part at the bottom.  On the back cut up about 1/4" 2 slits that are about 1 3/4 long.  Cut 2 small slits on the front about 3/4" in from the edge and about 1/4 up into the card.  This is your easel base. I hope the photo makes it easy to see how this works.   

It mails flat, the receiver just inserts the back "legs" into the front. 

This easel concept would be great for a special birthday card, one the receiver just doesn't not want to throw away.  Easy but so useful!

On the back I stamped another pair of scissors and the greeting.  I figured the receiver would see the back vs the inside given the easel stand.

What do you think? Will you try it? let me know if you have questions (or if you needs supplies to make this card).

Happy stamping Happy New Year to you, MaryKate

A Peaceful Poppies Sampler

Our team is creating "samplers".   A color scheme is set and we each create 3 x 3 squares (for a 12 x 12 frame)

This sampler swap focuses on the new Poppies stamps and dies and stunning designer paper.  The lead set the colors as Blackberry Bliss, Poppy Parade, Mossy Meadow.






So I created my square and then 7 identical ones and mailed them out.




I can't wait to see what my team mates create!! 

I'll be sure to show you the final 12 x 12 sampler when it's all together!

Our team is a ton of fun, we share ideas, swaps, get together in person and online, so fun to hang out with crafty friends!  Jan 3 is a great time to join us as a member of our team.  You pay $99 and get your choice of $125 plus a stamp set of your choice, plus a mini-trimmer and designer paper sampler.  What a great membership offer!  Once you are a member you get 20% of all your Stampin Up purchases, if you don't purchase anything further, that's fine, no obligations, if you spend $300 every 3 months, your account and your 20% discount is there for you!!

happy stamping, MaryKate 

Do Something Creative Every Day

We had a free shipping sale last week so I decided to order a few New Years Gifts for my team (I"ll post the packaging after they all arrive and are opened).  

Here are the cards I made to go with the gifts.

I wanted a card that was easy and fast to reproduce as I have to make a lot of them! I love my team!  Here's the messy desk picture as I create a big pile of the pieces to create the cards!

I used Pacific Point and Calypso Coral for my bases (using the designer paper as a the guide to color choice).  And the yellow is "crushed curry".

I stamped with the scissors tone on tone, then added designer paper cut 4 1/4 x 2, the added the greeting with the 1 3/4 circle punch on top of a new punch "label me lovely" being released Jan 3rd 2020.  And a little white twine bow to finish.  

Inside it says ... we are cut out to be friends!

I love this creative set and the fun crafting designer paper. This paper is available in the annual catalog so you have til June 2nd to get this fun paper.

I'll be off my blog for several days over the holidays... but back late December with news on all things new in the new catalog!  

Happy crafting MaryKate