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I love how it turned out!  It looks very different than my finished Rockabilly box, even though the design is exactly the same.

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Unfortunately, it’s too late to sign up for my Explosion Box class for this Saturday.  But if you’d like to learn how to make these, just find at least two other friends who would also like to take the class, and we’ll schedule another one on a date that works for you.

I went with the gift’s theme and made a matching tag and 3×3 card. Very simple and fast.

I ran some Pretty in Pink card stock through my printer to add the little girl’s name. Then I layered it onto Regal Rose card stock. I whipped out a couple of sweet strawberries from the Tart & Tangy stamp set using Regal Rose & Gable Green markers for both the tag & the card. Then I punched them out with the circle punches.

I made a hole in the top of the tag with the Word Window Punch.  Then I covered the whole thing with a long strip of packing tape on both sides (I don’t have a laminator, and this actually worked really well!).  Then I punched a smaller hole through the top again with the Horizontal Slot Punch to allow the handle to go through the tag.

I love using stamps to quickly personalize a store-bought gift!  Don’t you?

So, I finally found a few minutes to take some photos of my Rockabilly Photo Explosion Box with the photos I added to it. As I mentioned before, I had decided to go with an icecream theme: more specifically, photos taken at our favorite icecream parlor: Leatherby’s Family Creamery.

If you thought my box was cute before, just look at it now! Priceless! Yes, once you add your personal photos to a project, the completed item means so much more.

I made all the photos (which span over the last 4 1/2 years) black and white to help the project visually flow and so there wouldn’t be any clashing with colors. Also, B&W really goes well with the colors of the box.

 You’ll notice that some of the sections don’t have a photo.  I added accents simply by punching out leftover scraps from the project with the scallop circle and other circle punches.  (When I hold the class, I’ll have my punches available so the class participants can do the same, if they like.)  I’ll probably add journaling to those sections later.

I haven’t added photos to my Parisian Breeze box yet. I took my family out to a nice park last week and we got a ton of photos. I’ve almost finished narrowing them down. That box will be a little different from this one. 1) I’ll be using color photos. 2) There won’t be any panels left blank (I may even put a photo on the center square). When I finish it, I’ll take pics to show you.

If you have a minute to check it out, please feel free to do so: http://ruthstamps.blogspot.com/   I’d really appreciate it if you left comments here to let me know anything you like/dislike about it. I also set up a poll on the sidebar of the new blogger blog where you can let me know which blog you prefer: my old or my new.

So, things aren’t set in stone yet. I am experiencing both pros and cons to the new blog, but so far, I’m leaning toward switching.  But don’t worry, I will let you know as soon as I decide for sure, and I will leave this blog up and will link to it from my new one so nothing will be lost.  I’m already working on transfering my most recent posts over to the new blog.

Anyway, let me know what you think! 

I made some adorable photo boxes with them.  I’ll be teaching how to make these boxes at my Photo Explosion Box Class on Saturday February 21st @ 2pm.  Class members will choose whether they want to make the Rockabilly or Parisian Breeze box when the sign up.  If you’d like to join us, please be sure to contact me by Weds Feb 11th, as I’ll need to order the supplies.  (Class members will need to bring their own paper cutter with a scoring blade and their own adhesive.  Thanks!)  ETA:  Class fee is $20 ($18 for current stamp club members.)

You’ll take your box home all ready to add your photos. Plus, you’ll take home the instructions and templates. Photo boxes make a great gift to keep on a desk or coffee table!

(Click on individual photos below to enlarge.)

Here’s the Parisian Breeze Specialty box.  I wish you could reach right through the computer to feel this paper!  It is textured, and much heavier than our normal designer papers- almost as thick as our card stock.  It is very nice!

And this is the Rockabilly Specialty box.  I love the glossy design on these papers!  What I also love is that on each sheet in the pack, on one side is a very classic pattern: either stripes or polka dots, and on the other side is a trendy pattern like skulls and crossbones or cherries.  I was initially going to go with just classic stripes and dots and my box.  But then I decided that I’d be using photos taken at a favorite ice cream parlor, so I used some cherries.  Too cute! 

When you make your own box, you’ll get to choose which sides of the papers you want to use and where in the box they will go.

I’ll be adding photos to these boxes soon, and will post new pics then.

I’m really excited about a new Coaching Group I’ve joined.  Its called the Business Stampers Coaching Group, and it is through John Sanpietro.  I’ve used John as my Business Coach before, and he is fantastic!

He knows the ins and outs of our business and he tells you just what you should do to maximize your time, money and efforts.  I know Stampin’ Up! Founders Circle demonstrators who swear by him.  Over 60% of his clients earn the cruise.

Anyway if you’d like more info on this coaching group (which includes a monthly conference call, business-oriented message boards, and more) click here.

Plus, if you sign up today (2/3/09), you’ll be a Founding Member which means you get a discounted monthly rate.  But, I have to say, the information and support from this group is really worth the normal rate!

Simply click here to enter the online store through my business website.  (Click “Shop Now” at the top of the home page.)

Stampin’ Up! will give away free catalogs to the first 22,000 online orders, or until April 30th, ’09.

If you already have a catalog, share any extras with a friend!

The biggest sale of the year is here!  Why is it such a big deal?

Customers
When you spend $50 on Stampin’ Up! merchandise, you’ll receive a free Sale-A-Bration reward! There’s no limit—for every $50 you spend, you can select another free Sale-A-Bration reward.

Hostesses
When you host a workshop of at least $300 (before tax and shipping), you’ll receive a free Sale-A-Bration reward, in addition to all of the regular hostess benefits!

Recruits
During Sale-A-Bration, anyone who joins as a demonstrator can choose any stamp set—a value of up to $47.95—from the current Idea Book & Catalog free! Plus, new recruits get 15% off the Starter Kit—over $350 of Stampin’ Up! products and business supplies for only $169!

The Sale-A-Bration promotion starts on February 1 and runs through March 31, so don’t miss your chance to earn free products! Contact me today to book your workshop or learn more about this promotion.

To order these products online, click here to go to my business website, then click on the “Shop Now” button on the top right of the page.

Click here to download the Sale-A-Bration brochure! (pdf)

These are the cards we’ll be making at my $10 Card Class this Friday evening (2/6, 7PM, my house).  If you’d like to join us, just let me know by this Weds (2/4).  You’ll also take home matching envelopes.

 Lots-of-Hearts Flower Card

Stamps: Warm Words
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Candy Lane Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Heart to Heart Punch, Trio Flower Punch, Stamping Sponge, Dimensionals

Love Birds Gate-Fold Card

Stamps: Love You Much
Ink: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze
Paper: Basic Gray, Riding Hood Red, Urban Garden Designer Series Paper, Watercolor Paper
Accessories: Wide Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Word Window Punch, AquaPainter, Silver Brad, Dimensionals

Heartfelt Standing Card

Stamps: Love You Much, Heartfelt Thanks
Ink: Basic Black Craft, Riding Hood Red Classic
Paper: Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Clear Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Whisper White 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, AquaPainter, Uni-ball White Gel Pen