Losing a love one is never easy. What do you say? "Sharing in your Sorrow" pretty much sums it up. I think that is the perfect saying. It seems to cover it all. The Thoughts & Prayers Stamp Set #113252 has this saying and a couple others,  such as Thinking of You (used in a previous Card of the Week), Get Well Soon, and Praying for You. The set also includes a beautiful Tree Image and a Flowering Bush Image. Both of these images are versitile and go well with these saying as well as Happy Birthday. I would say that Thought & Prayers #113252 is an over looked but valuable Stamp Set that is why I wanted to bring it to your attention. Also, this Card features the Faux Stitching Technique.

SUPPLIES:
STAMP SET:
* Thoughts & Prayers #113252

CARD STOCK:
* Whisper White Card Stock 8 1/2" x 11" #100730
* Old Olive Card Stock 8 1/2" x 11" #100702
* Chocolate Chip Card Stock 8 1/2" x 11" #102128

INKS:
* Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker #100079
* Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker #100071

ACCESSORIES:
* Bone Folder #102300
* Paper-Piercing Tool #116631
* Mat Pack #105826
* uni-ball Signo Gel Pen #105021
* Stampin' Dimensionals #104430
* SNAIL Adhesive #104332

INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Cut a piece of Old Olive Card Stock to measure 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". Fold it in half and crease it with the Bone Folder. The crease will be along the top. This is the Card Base.
2) Open the Old Olive Card Stock and lay it flat. Place the Paper Piercing Pad behind the upper left hand corner. This will protect your surface as you pierce the Card Stock. Place the Paper Piercing Template so the heavy black line (corresponding with the 3/16" & 3/8" spacing) lines up with the folded crease and the end of the Card Stock. These are the holes in the middle of the Template. Pierce 8 holes along 1 end and 4 along the other. You will run out of holes so you will have to turn the template and line up the holes before you punch another 4 holes. You will repeat this process in the lower right hand corner.
3) Draw "Stitch" marks by connecting the holes using the uni-ball Signo Gel Pen. Set the Old Olive Card Base aside to let it dry. The uni-ball Signo Gel Pen will smudge when it is wet.
4) Cut a piece of Chocolate Chip Card Stock to measure 3 1/4" x 4 1/2".
5) Cut a piece of Whisper White Card Stock to measure 3" x 4 1/4".
6) Using the Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker, ink up the leaves of the Tree Image in the Thoughts & Prayers Stamp Set. Color directly onto the Stamp.
7) Using the Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker, color the trunk and branches. Color directly onto the stamp.
8) Huff on the Stamp to moisten the Ink and then stamp the image onto the Whisper White Card Stock.
9) Ink up the "Sharing in your Sorrow" Stamp from the Thoughts & Prayers Stamp Set using the Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker. Don't forget to huff on the stamp to moisten the ink before you Stamp the image. Stamp it as shown.
10) Adhere the Chocolate Chip Card Stock to the Old Olive Card Base as shown using SNAIL Adhesive.
11) Adhere the Stamped Whisper White Card Stock to the Chocolate Chip Card Stock using Stampin' Dimensionals.
12) All that is left is to sign your name on the inside and give it to a love one.

Click on the Blue Highlighted links to see the details of these products or to purchase them on My Stampin' Up! Website.

Q: In the 2012 Sale-A-Bration Catalogue ~ why are there some Product Names with this SAB Logo next to it and some that don't have it.

A: This SAB Logo signifies Products that are exclusively for the 2012 Sale-A-Bration Promotion and will no longer be available after Sat Mar 31, 2012.
If there isn't a SAB Logo next to the Product Name, then that Product is available in the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue and you will be able to purchase it after Sat Mar 31, 2012. Stampin' Up! Offer these Products for FREE during Sale-A-Bration to ensure a wide variety of Products for you to choose from. If you would like to choose one of these Products for your FREE chose, make sure that you use the Product # in the 2012 Sale-A-Bration Catalogue when you place your order.

If you have any other Questions that you would like me to answer, email me at nancy@nancyfancystamping.com

Have you ever looked at an image and wondered which Punch you could use to Punch it out? Well! wonder no more when you use this simple White Vellum Card Stock #101856 Tip.

When you get your new Punch, Punch out a piece of White Vellum Card Stock. Now you will have a Template of that Punch that you can see through. I keep all of my Templates in a plastic container with my Punches.

Now as you look at an image in the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue or Mini Catalogue, you can pull out a Punch Template and lay it on top of the image. Since you can see through the White Vellum Card Stock, you can see what that image would look like if you Punched it out using that Punch. You can quickly see if that image fits in properly inside that Punch. If it doesn't then you could try another Punch.

The only other way would be to stamp an image and then Punch it out. If it didn't look right you would have to stamp the image again and Punch it out again. Using the White Vellum Card Stock Tip will save you time and supplies.

Click here if you would like to see all of the White Vellum Card Stock #101856 details or to purchase it

Have you every wondered how the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps work? Well wonder no more!

In this video I will demonstrate how to use the Heart from the Holidays Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamp Set.

The Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps come in 2 sets ~ the Holidays Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps #125152 and the Occasions Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps #127081. Both sets are found on page 40 of the 2012 Occasions Mini Catalogue.

It is the day before Valentine's Day and I have Love on the brain. There is not a lot of people out there that can say that they Love their job, but I can say it. I am a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

The following are my top 4 Reasons Why I Love being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

1) The hours are very flexible. Stampin' Up! doesn't dictate what you work. You can choose the hours that you want to work and the number of hours that fits into your schedule.

2) I love to Rubber Stamp. I have been making Cards and Paper Crafting for 15 years and there is always something new and exciting to share. It never gets boring. One of my Favorite things to do is show someone how to make a Card for the first time. We get so excited when they do it. You can see the joy and pride on their face when they realize that they just make a Card. They have a sense of accomplishment and you help them do it.

3) You may think that I am biased, but I think that I have the best customers. They are truly friends of mine. It is a special sisterhood when you share what you love with people that get you and love it too.

4) I loved Stampin' Up! Products before I became a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. Their Products are High Quality and they stand behind them. This gives me the confidence to represent a company that is going to stand behind me and their Products.

You can Join My Team for only $150.00 AND you will receive a FREE package of Designer Series Paper (Valued at $13.95 or less) OR a Digital Download every month for the rest of 2012! But hurry because this offer expires Sat Mar 31, 2012.

Email me at nancy@nancyfancystamping.com or phone me at (902) 455-7259 to get started

Q: My Stampin' Write Markers aren't as juicy as they once were. Do you have any tips to bring them back?

A: The Stampin' Write Markers are hollow inside and that is were the ink is held. As you use your Stampin' Write Markers, you will use up the ink inside and eventually they won't be as wet when you use them. Use the following Storage Tips to prolong their use.

Storage Tips:
1) If you store your Stampin' Write Markers upright then the other tip doesn't have any ink. If that is the tip that you want to use, there won't be any ink, so it will appear that the Stampin' Write Marker has dried out. I suggest to store your Stampin' Write Markers laying down and not upright. If it has been upright, then lay it down before you use it and give the ink time to redistibute to both tips.
2) Don't store your Stampin' Write Markers in direct sunlight or by a heat source. This will prematurely dry them out.
3) Ensure that both of the caps are on tightly when not in use.

If these Storage Tips don't help, then you can always re-ink your Stampin' Write Markers using a few drops of Classic Stampin' Ink Refill of the same color. Gently pull out the Brush Tip of the Stampin' Write Markers and add a couple of drops of Classic Stampin' Ink Refill. Re-insert the Brush Tip and lay it down to redistribute the ink.

Email me at nancy@nancyfancystamping.com if you have any other questions that you would like me to answer

I promised that I would show you a Card created using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334 and here it is. This is an "I Love You" Card created using the "Gate" Fold. It is very easy to score the 2 fold lines using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334. I suggest that you insert a Place Marker into the 2 3/4" slot. This will help you when you have to turn the Real Red Card Stock around and score it again. Any Sweetie would love to receive this Card on Valentine's Day.

SUPPLIES:
STAMP SET:
* Sweet Centers #116521
* Teeny Tiny Wishes #115370

CARD STOCK:
* Whisper White Card Stock 8 1/2" x 11" #100730
* Real Red Card Stock 8 1/2" x 11" #102482
* Red Glimmer Paper 12" x 12" #121790

INKS:
* Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad #103133

ACCESSORIES:
* Bone Folder #102300
* Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (Including Multipurpose Platform and Standard Cutting Pads) #113439
* Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates #114512
* Standard Texturz Silicone Rubber #114615
* Standard Texturz Impressions Pad #114614
* Real Red Stampin' Write Marker #100052
* 1 3/4" Circle Punch #119850
* Word Window Punch #119857
* Craft Scissors #108360
* Stampin' Dimensionals #104430
* SNAIL Adhesive #104332

NON STAMPIN' UP! ACCESSORY
* Post it Note


INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Cut a piece of Real Red Card Stock to measure 4 1/4"" x 11". Place it on the Simply Scored Scoring Tool and crease it at 2 3/4". Turn the Real Red Card Stock around and crease it again at 2 3/4". Fold these flaps over and crease them using the Bone Folder. There will be a crease on the left and the right hand sides.
2) Cut a piece of Whisper White Card Stock to measure 3" x 4".
3) Assemble the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine "Sandwich" ~  Multipurpose Platform (Tab#1), the Whisper White Card Stock on top of the Swirl Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate , Standard Texturz Silicone Rubber and Standard Texturz Impressions Pad. Run this "Sandwich" through the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine.
4) Take this piece of Whisper White Card Stock and run all of the edges against the Classic Real Red Stampin' Pad. This will add a little color to the edges to help it stand out and not look so plain.
5) Cut a piece of Whisper White Card Stock to measure 2 1/2" x 4". Ink up the "I Love You" portion of the stamp from the Sweet Centers Stamp Set using a Real Red Stampin' Write Marker. Huff on the stamp to moisten the ink and then stamp it on the Whisper White Card Stock. Punch it out using the 1 3/4" Circle Punch. Run the edge of the circle against the Classic Real Red Stampin' Pad.
6) Ink up the entire "I Love You" Stamp using the Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad and stamp in onto a Post it Note. Make sure that there is a portion of the image on the sticky part. Cut out the image using the Craft Scissors. This will make a mask of the image. Hold the mask against the Red Glimmer Paper and cut it out.
7) Ink up the "happy valentine's day" stamp from the Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set using the Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad and stamp it onto a scrap piece of Whisper White Card Stock. Punch it out using the Word Window Punch.
8) Adhere the 3" x 4" Whisper White Card Stock to the Card Base using SNAIL Adhesive. You will only put Snail Adhesive on the back of the Left Hand Side. This will enable you to open your Card.
9) Adhere the Red Glimmer Heart the the Whisper White Card Stock using SNAIL Adhesive.
10) Adhere the "I Love You" Whisper White Circle to the Red Glimmer Heart using 4 Stampin' Dimensionals.
11) Adhere the "happy valentine's day" Whisper White Card Stock to the Card Front using 2 Stampin' Dimensionals.
12) Happy Valentine's Day!

Click on the Blue Highlighted links to see the details of these products or to purchase them on MY Stampin' Up! Website.

Q: With Valentine's Day right around the corner, do you have any ideas on how to make some Hand Made Sweets for my Sweetie?

A: I did a previous blog post on the perfect Hand Made Sweets ~ Valentine's Day Hand Made Chocolates and Dipped Strawberries.

Click here for all of the Valentine's Day Hand Made Chocolates and Dipped Strawberries Blog Post

We are quickly becoming an Online World. Now a days you can order anything from Clothes to Cars Online. Why not Rubber Stamps? Just think My Online Store is open 24 hours a day, 365 (in 2012, 366) days a year. I am open for whenever the urge araises.

Practise these 6 simple Tips for placing a Stampin' Up! Online Order.

1) Place your order through a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Website.  

Nancy Fancy Stamping Stampin' Up! Website is http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/default.aspx?dbwsdemoid=2018425

If you place your order through stampinup.ca or stampinup.com you will actually pay more for Shipping and Handling and more for the products themselves. If your order qualifies for Hostess Benefits ($200.00 or more before Shipping, Handling & Taxes) you won't receive them unless you place them through a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Website.
2) The above link will take you to my "SHOP NOW" page. Don't forget to Sign Up for a Stampin' Up! Online Account. Remember to write down your Login ID and Password for future reference. The next time you want to place an order all you will have to do is "Sign In" using this information.
3) If you don't Nancy McDonald 902-455-7259 nancy@nancyfancystamping.com in the upper right hand corner, you're not on My Stampin' Up! Website.
4) Make sure you check out any promotions that Stampin' Up! offers, so you can take full advantage of them if you are placing your Online Order. You don't want to miss out on anything that you have coming to you.
5) If you know the Product # of the item you want, all you have to do is enter it in the "Search the Store" box in the left hand corner and click ">". This will take you to a photo of the Product and a price. Click on the photo and a description of the Product will appear and a "Add to Bag". Click on the "Add to Bag" to purchase the item.
6) You don't want to miss out on the "Clearance Rack" you can purchase great Products at Up to 60% Off ~ but only while supplies last. Available on Online Orders Only. All Sales of discounted items are final. Once these Products are gone, they are gone for good.

Click on the "Click Here Online Ordering" Link in the Upper Right Hand Corner and then Click on the "Shop Now" button to get started.

Stampin' Up is constantly coming up with High Quality Products for their valued customers ~ Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334 is no exception.

I have used other Scoring Tools and they came with a piece of plastic to score the paper and the measurements weren't easy to follow.

The Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334 has scoring grooves every 1/8", so it will be easy to find whatever measurement you are looking for.

Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334 is made from durable plastic, with the dimensions of 15 1/8" x 13 1/4" x 1". The scoring area is large enough to accomendate a 12" x 12" piece of Card Stock or Designer Series Paper.

Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334 comes with a ergonomic Stylus with a comfort grip and 2 different sized tips. The tips are made of refined steal that will become smoother as you use it. I suggest to play with the Stylus and try either sized tips with different pressure. You want a clean crisp line, but you don't want to press too hard that you go through the Card Stock or Designer Series Paper.

The Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334 also comes with 3 Place Markers. These insert into slots on the Ruler (along the top). The Place Markers remind you of the measurement that you want to score. For example if you want to make a box and you want to score all four sides at the 1", you could insert a Place Marker at the 1" slot. As you turn the Card Stock and score the line and then turn the Card Stock again, you can quickly see were the 1" groove is. Stampin' Up! also sells a package of 6 extra Place Markers #125625.

There is even a Hidden Storage Section to keep the extra Place Markers from getting lost.

The bottom has nonmarking and nonskid feet so it won't move or mark the work area.

You can use the Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334 to make the perfect scoring line, Cards with different folds, to add texture to any Card Stock or Designer Series Paper, create 3-D Boxes and Projects and much more... as the name suggests ~ Simply.

Check out the Valentine's Day Card of the Week Sample on Feb 11, 2012, I will be creating a Card using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334

Click here to purchase the Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334