$85 Stampin' Up! STARTER KIT SPECIAL

Don't miss out on this ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS OFFER!!!

Want to join me and get 20% DISCOUNT or MORE on your stampin' & scrappin' supplies? Earn extra money? Have FUN! FUN! FUN! Increase your creative juices? Well, here's how. Join me and Stampin' Up!

Tons of demonstrator support materials, including a monthly magazine, workshop ideas, daily Stamper's Showcase of stamped art, huge treasure trove of patterns & 3-D artwork, audio and video trainings on all kinds of topics and much more are all available on the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Web Site!

Stampin' Up! is having a special on their starter kit--- It's ONLY $85!!!! but hurry it lasts only until August 31, 2009.


The special, limited-time Mini Starter Kit shown at right contains many of the items you need to get started in your new business, including:

* For All You Do stamp set
* In Color Classic Stampin' Pads (6)
* Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
* In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
* Business forms and tools


Or if you want to buy the standard Starter Kit for $199, this kit includes:

* Five stamp sets
* A Stampin' Around wheel, handle, and ink cartridge
* Stampin' Pastels
* Card stock
* Eastern Blooms Décor Elements and applicator tool
* Five Classic Stampin' Pads
* VersaMark Pad
* Stampin' Scrub and Mist
* Blender pens
* SNAIL
* Business forms and tools
AND the In-Color BONUS of the ....
* In Color Classic Stampin' Pads (6)
* In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")

Mini Starter Kit and standard Starter Kit Special Offer deadlines:

• Mail-in IDA: Monday, August 31, 2009 (received in the office, not postmarked)
• Online IDA: Monday, August 31, 2009; 11:50 PM (MT)

For more benefits of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and joining my team, CLICK HERE.

DAWN's Added BENEFITS
I would love to have you join my group, Expressively Ink! As part of my group, you'll be able to
- attend my monthly classes for FREE!!!;
- participate in the quarterly meeting with hundreds of samples, live demonstrations of the newest trends or products, and card swap!;
- receive my special PUNCH SAMPLER!

Email me with any questions you may have: DKNstamps@sbcglobal.net

JOIN TODAY - http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/dawnnaritoku/join
PASSWORD: Naritoku

Love Endures

It was our wedding anniversary last mth… 25 yrs! We don’t exchange gifts anymore… by my request ☺ because after all these years he still doesn’t know what I like. LOL! But I thought I had to at least make him a card to tell my dh how much he means to me ☺ And since I just HAD to put hearts on it, I needed to use Manly Colors to offset the girly-ness. Tee Hee…

This card is a variation on some cards that I made during Sale-a-bration earlier this year. The base is Always Artichoke and paper pierced along the right border. The left border is torn. Peeking behind is a piece of Designer Paper in Old Olive which I sponged with Always Artichoke to tone down the white background. The Naturals Ivory cs is paper pierced in the upper corners with our fabulous paper piercing template and mat. Second layer is Chocolate Chip cs. Coordinating taffeta ribbon which again ☺ had to be “manned up” with a designer brad from the Circle set. Mini-glue dots hold the ribbon in place. The hearts are stamped in craft white onto Always Artichoke and punched with our coordinating heart punch. One heart is popped up with a dimensional.

All supplies by Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp Set(s): Define Your Life, Polka Dot Punches (Sale-a-bration 2009 retired)
Ink(s): Always Artichoke, Craft White
Cardstock/Paper(s): Always Artichoke cardstock, Chocolate Chip cardstock, Naturals Ivory cardstock, Old Olive Patterns Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon, Designer Brads-Circle set, Full Heart punch, Stampin’ Sponge,
Paper Piercing tool/template/mat, Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Happy Stampin’,
☺ Dawn

Variations on a Card Sketch #4

OK. Here’s the fourth and final variation on the basic card sketch from the original card posted on 7/28/09. The Curly Label is the same as variation #3 (8/1/09) but now is centered in the middle of the designer paper. Switched back to that oh so lovely, Kiwi Kiss/Vanilla satin ribbon. The major change is the addition of the embossed background using the lovely swirls from the Stampin’ Up! exclusive Big Shot Texturz Plate, “SU! Backgrounds 1”.

All supplies by Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp Set(s): Eastern Blooms, Polka Dot Background, Cute & Curly (retired)
Ink(s): Old Olive, Baja Breeze (retired), Versamark
Cardstock/Paper(s): Green Tea Designer Series Paper (retired), Certainly Celery cardstock, Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Double-sided Satin Kiwi Kiss/Vanilla ribbon (retired), Curly Label punch, Big Shot Texturz Plate-SU! Backgrounds 1, Big Shot, Dazzling Diamond Ultrafine Glitter, 2-way Glue Pen, Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals,


Happy Stampin’, ☺ Dawn

Variations on a Card Sketch #3

Continuing from the last two posts, today’s version #3 has the addition of the Cute & Curly set punched out with the coordinating Curly Label punch. It’s embellished with a touch of dazzling diamond in the center of the flower and then mounted with dimensionals. It’s much more glittery IRL but the photo is soooo bad… remember, I did say I’m a rotten photographer. LOL! The designer paper is cut a little shorter this time. The Polka Dot background is stamped on the lower half and the bottom is scallop punched. Each scallop is paper pierced and dotted with our White gel pen. The upper corners of the designer paper is notched with the Ticket Corner punch and then the cs is paper pierced and also dotted with the white gel pen. All the “dots” flow back to the designer paper which is subtly dotted in the background. The Baja Breeze base is back to versamarked flowers. The ribbon is attached to the back with mini-glue dots… I always use mini-glue dots with ribbon! Love, love, love mini-glue dots! What did we ever do before we had these precious gems of tiny but powerful adhesive dots?! ☺

All supplies by Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp Set(s): Eastern Blooms, Polka Dot Background, Cute & Curly (retired)
Ink(s): Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Baja Breeze (retired), Versamark
Cardstock/Paper(s): Green Tea Designer Series Paper (retired), Certainly Celery cardstock, Baja Breeze cardstock, Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Baja Breeze 5/8” Striped Grosgrain ribbon (retired), Scallop Edge punch, Curly Label punch, Ticket Corner punch, Dazzling Diamond Ultrafine Glitter, 2-way Glue Pen, White Gel Pen, Paper Piercing tool, Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Happy Stampin’, ☺ Dawn

Variations on a Card Sketch #2

OK. Today’s version, adds one more layer of cardstock, Whisper White to help flow with the stamped background of White Craft ink. Again, it's as simple as that to bump it up a notch ☺.



All supplies by Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp Set(s): Eastern Blooms
Ink(s): Versamark, White Craft ink
Cardstock/Paper(s): Green Tea Designer Series Paper (retired), Certainly Celery cardstock, Baja Breeze cardstock, Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Double-sided Satin Kiwi Kiss/Vanilla ribbon (retired), Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive

Happy Stampin’, ☺ Dawn

Variations on a Card Sketch #1

I’ve been a baaaad blogger ☹ Where does the time go? Part of it is that time is such a premium with a busy family life and major house repairs and remodeling going on. So again, I’ll be posting some very quick oldies. Yes, I will get to some new stuff eventually. But it’s going to take me a while to catch up because I’m the world’s worst photographer ☺. The next few days will be variations on a basic and quick card sketch. Each day we’ll bump it up a notch. The set will be Eastern Blooms and I used the same designer paper, Green Tea (retired… sniff, sniff… I loved that design!!!) throughout each variation.


Today’s version is a simple layering of designer paper onto Certainly Celery cs and then mounted onto a Baja Breeze base. Quick stamping of the coordinating flowers with Versamark, addition of that gorgeous double-sided stain ribbon and we’re done! Because of the coordinating designer paper, cs, ink and stamp set, it can’t get any quicker than that to produce a lovely card ☺

All supplies by Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp Set(s): Eastern Blooms
Ink(s): Versamark
Cardstock/Paper(s): Green Tea Designer Series Paper (retired), Certainly Celery cardstock, Baja Breeze cardstock,
Accessories: Double-sided Satin Kiwi Kiss/Vanilla ribbon (retired), Corner rounder punch, Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive

Happy Stampin’,
☺ Dawn

Journaling Booklets

These are a few of the quick and simple journaling booklets that I made for the kids in my bible study group last year. The chipboard letter is from the Stampin' Up! On Board series. I just patted the letter into a SU! ink pad. After it dried, I coated it with Crystal Effects for that glossy sheen.

Happy Stampin'
☺ Dawn

Watercolor Wonder Crayons

I love how easily you can get a watercolor effect with these Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Wonder Crayons. There are several different techniques on how to use this modality. For this card, lightly mist your stamp. Then quickly color directly onto your stamp with your crayons. Start with the lightest first and progress to the darker shades. Once your stamp is colored in, check to see if it’s still moist. If not, then mist lightly again. Then quickly stamp onto your watercolor paper. To get a more soft effect, also mist your watercolor paper before stamping. Voila! A beautifully soft watercolor effect via stamping ☺ Stamp your sentiment and punch out with the small oval punch. Add color to the edges by sponging and then pop it up with a dimensional. Add a little extra interest by paper piercing the corners using the SU! paper piercing template/mat. Tie your taffeta ribbon (LOVE this ribbon! It’s so easy to tie and lies flat).

Happy Stampin',
☺ Dawn

All supplies by Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp Set(s): Inspired by Nature (#111656 - this beautiful 4 piece set is still available although not shown in the current catalog), Short & Sweet
Ink(s): Always Artichoke, Watercolor Wonder Crayons
Cardstock/Paper(s): Always Artichoke cardstock, Mellow Moss cardstock, Watercolor paper
Accessories: Small Oval punch, Stampin’ Sponge,
Whisper White Taffeta ribbon,
Paper Piercing tool, paper piercing template & mat, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, non-su water mister

Teeny Thank You Box

Sorry I've been absent again :( Seems like sharing my computer with the kids, doesn't leave much time for me. Anyway, we're still continuing on the "blast from the past" track with class projects from last year.

The belly band slips off, revealing a hinged lid. This cute little box easily fits a little treasure or 2 peppermint patties :)

All supplies by Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp Set(s): Wow Flowers
Ink(s): Pacific Point
Cardstock/Paper(s): Bella Rose Designer Series Paper, Pink Pirouette cardstock, Pacific Point cardstock, Kiwi Kiss cardstock, Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Soft Subtles Brad (Pretty in Pink), 1-3/8" Circle punch, 1-1/4" Circle punch, Scallop Circle punch, Ticket Corner punch, Mini Glue Dots, Sticky Strip, Paper piercing tool, Mat Pack

:) Dawn

Quick Hi and Ronald McDonald Charities

I really love this set and how versatile it is. It’s super easy to use especially since Stampin’ Up! designed it to work beautifully with our Scallop Square punch. I can’t believe I don’t use this more often. So I’ve made a promise to myself that I will make a minimum of 10 different designs with this set over the next few months. I hope you all keep me accountable. When I’ve reached my goal, I’ll do a blog give-away of all 10 stamped cards.

This is a quick tri-fold card using the slit punch on the inside of the card for placement of a gift card. The image is stamped in Chocolate Chip on Whisper White cardstock. Then it’s punched out with the Scallop Square punch, glittered, popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals and outlined with the best white gel pen (Signo). Punch the edge with the Scallop Edge punch and add a strip of the polka dotted designer paper from the Bella Rose Series.

Isn’t it wonderful that I didn’t have to struggle with matching all my accessories. The Stampin’ Up! ribbon, ink, designer paper all perfectly coordinates. They take out the guess work… I don’t spend hours pulling out several different colors of ink, paper, designer paper, ribbon, and other accessories trying to get them to match. Pre-Stampin' Up!, ask my stampin’ friends about how I’d be so frustrated with the process that I never got around to stamping! LOL! Now using the Stampin' Up! coordinating product lines, stampin’ is a breeze!! ☺.

Stampin’ Up! designs an exclusive stamp set every year to help raise money for the Ronal McDonald House Charities (RMHC). When you purchase this year’s RMHC set, “Say It with Scallops” set, Stampin’ Up! donates a portion of the sales to RMHC. Won’t you join us in making a difference? I know I make it a point to make the RMHC set my first purchase of the new catalog year ☺.


All supplies by Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamp Set(s): Say It with Scallops (Ronald McDonald House Charities set)
Ink(s): Chocolate Chip
Cardstock(s): Bella Rose Designer Series Paper, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Accessories: Chocolate Chip 5/8” Grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, Scallop Square punch, Slit punch, White Gel Pen, Dazzling Diamond Ultrafine Glitter, 2-way Glue Pen, Paper Piercing tool, SNAIL adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Bag Box

OK, here's another oldie but goodie. It'll take me a while to catch up, so be patient with me ☺. Anyway, this was a fun project from a class that I taught last year. I first saw this cute bag design years ago by the talented papercrafter and vintage paper company owner, Melissa Neufeld. She demo’d the bag on the Martha Stewart show. But I couldn’t remember the exact date. So I looked it up on the MS website and it shows that it was “published 12/2006”. Wow, was it that long ago? Time flies☺. There are tons of fun adaptations of Melissa's original concept all over the stampin’ and papercraftin’ community, like the clever addition of the Round Tab punch to create a cute closure for the top of the bag.

For my next class on March 21st, we’ll be making a shorter variation of this bag and coordinating 3x3 cards to fit inside. We’ll be using different designer paper for this class. I love how it easy it is to coordinate all the different products – ribbons, cardstock, designer paper, buttons – because Stampin’ Up! does it for us ☺.

All supplies by Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted.
Cardstock/Paper(s): Bella Rose Designer Series Paper, Riding Hood Red cardstock
Accessories: Pink Pirouette 5/8” Striped Grosgrain ribbon, Boho Blossoms punch, Scallop Edge punch, Round Tab punch, Button Bouquet, Mini Glue Dots, Sticky Strip, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive, Crop-a-dile

stampin' hugs!
☺Dawn

Basket and Blooms

Here's a cute basket using the Big Shot die Baskets and Blooms that we made for a class I taught a while back. I used the the very sweet but now retired Georgia Peach designer series paper. Yes, (head hanging in embarrassment), it's taken me that long to post pictures on my blog. LOL! But the Washington Apple dsp which is the same print pattern as Georgia Peach except in reds and blues, is still available.

The tag and the flower are all part of the basket die. Note the yummy ribbon is double-sided! The "thank you" is punched with SU!'s coordinating scallop square punch. I love the fact that SU! creates their own exclusive images to coordinate with the punches that we carry.

The matching tag uses the exclusive Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) stamp set, Say It With Scallops. Every year, Stampin' Up! creates an exclusive set with a portion of the sales donated to the RMHC. I make it a point to purchase the RMHC set every year :)


Supplies: All Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated.
Stamp: Say It With Scallops (RMHC set)
Ink: Old Olive
Paper: Georgia Peach dsp (retired)
Accessories: Scallop Square punch, SU! Exclusive Baskets and Blooms Bigz XL die, silver mini brad, Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla (double-sided) satin ribbon, Sticky Strip, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals.

stampin' hugs,
:) Dawn

40% OFF! FREE Stamp Sets! FREE Shipping!

OMG! Is that crazy or what?

For only a limited time (ends March 31, 2009!), if you join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator during Sale A Bration (Feb./March 2009) Stampin' Up! will NOT ONLY give you 15% OFF your Starter Kit, but will also let you pick ANY stamp set for FREE (up to $47.95 value) in addition to your Starter Kit Contents!!!

If you love all things stampin’, scrapbookin’ and papercraftin’, how can you pass up this opportunity?

Would you like regular discounts as a hobby demo or a fun way to earn extra income? Then now’s the time to sign up to be a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator with me ☺

AND… here’s an added bonus! I’ll match SU!’s FREE stamp set offer! Yes! you heard right. I’ll give you an additional FREE Stamp Set (up to $47.95 value) if you sign up with me. PLUS, I offer all my classes FREE to my first level downline as my way to introduce new techniques, stamp sets, projects and to just plain ol’ have FUN!

So to summarize:

Limited Time Offer: Between now and March 31, 2009 (ENDS Tuesday, March 31; 11:50 PM, Mountain Time), sign up online on my Stampin’ Up! website.

2 FREE STAMP SETS:
FREE Stamp Set (a value up to $47.95) directly from SU!
FREE Stamp Set (a value up to $47.95) from me! Just let me know when you completed your online registration to become a demonstrator on my website. Email me your FREE stamp set choice that you will receive from me.

Starter Kit Value: $335
Starter Kit Regular price: $199
Discounted Starter Kit price: Now ONLY $169!!!

FREE SHIPPING of your Kit When you join SU!, you get direct access to videos, ideas, projects, techniques, daily showcase of stampers’ artwork on the Stampin' Up! demonstrator site and much, much more! AND you can qualify for 30% discount off your first order (within 45 days of signing up)!

You also have the benefit of attending any of my Classes at NO CHARGE!

You can view the Starter Kit Contents HERE. If you already have some of the stamp sets or other items in the kit, you can CUSTOMIZE your kit by substituting stamp sets or ink pads/cardstock of the same or lesser value. You can sign up online right on my demonstrator website HERE. Click on "Join Now". When asked for the password, you will need to enter: SU18351naritoku

I would LOVE to have you join my Expressively Ink Stamp Group and the Stampin' Up! family!
If you have any questions about becoming a demonstrator, please email me at DKNstamps@sbcglobal.net

stampin' hugs!
:) Dawn