Category: Uncategorized

How to Celebrate a Year of Birthdays!

Posted on by darlaso
Birthday card created with Celebrations Duo and Birthday Adventures shared by Darla Olson at inkheaven
Celebrations Duo Embossing Folder & Balloon Adventures Bundle

How to celebrate a year of birthdays? Send a card! I know that is a simplistic answer…and maybe not quite what you were looking for. However, this past year there was a campaign started, by a sweet gal named Shannon, dubbed, “I’m Bringing Birthdays Back. The response was amazing! I think the response was amazing because:

  • Sending a card is easy
  • Everyone loves getting fun mail
  • The giver felt the joy of giving
  • Birthdays truly are special as they are limited
I joined the campaign and made the commitment to be better about sending birthday cards. I will admit, it was a challenge! Some were “belated.” But you know what? It felt great! Wouldn’t you like to feel great, too? I am making the same commitment for 2017. I hope you will join me! As nice as it is to get the “Happy Birthday” wishes on our Facebook pages; it is even nicer to open up the mailbox to see a bunch of cards! I know this from personal experience. I received quite a few cards from others who joined the challenge. To be honest, I kept mine on display for awhile! It was so nice to have my birthday be remembered in such a special way! You see, the sender had to make a personal investment to make it happen. That’s a big deal and a priceless commodity. I didn’t take it lightly!
This card is another one created with something new, something older, and something retired!  I used last year’s retired Sale-A-Bration set, Just for You (love that set!) for the …on your special day sentiment. Oh, and I swiped the color combo from the Party Animal Designer Series Paper. Ha ha! The Celebrations Duo Embossing Debossing Folders, Balloon Adventures Bundle, and Party Animal DSP will be available on January 4th! I am tons of excited! How excited are you? I will be showing cards with the coordinating stamp set for the Celerations Duo Folders eventually – but I want you to also see how well they will work with what you may already have! 
 
For your convenience, I have listed most of the current supplies that I used creating this card below. Clicking any of the images will take you to my 24/7 online store where you can be a happy shopper! Be a happy shopper anytime with me here at inkheaven by clicking here www.darlaolson.stampinup.net.
Thank you so much for stopping by to create and learn with me at inkheaven!

Celebrating Success

Posted on by darlaso
Congratulations card created with Celebrations Duo embossing folder, Swirly Bird, and Bravo shared by Darla Olson at Inkheaven
Celebrating Success

Thanks for coming to my blog today! We are being highlighted internationally by Kylie Bertucci and you are able to VOTE for my project. The top ten winners will get to be part of an international blog hop so please vote for my project. VOTE HERE

Our theme for this highlight is encouragement as we all need a kind word said to us to build us up.

Celebrating success feels good, doesn’t it? Sharing it feels even better! Sometimes the success of others becomes our motivation. This happened to me several years back and become the impetus for losing quite a bit of weight. I need some new motivation in that arena again! Anyone want to share their success with me?

Any who, if you are looking to share and celebrate in the success of others, here is an easy and fun card for you! This is another in my series of something new, something old, and something retired. This time I paired the new Celebrations Duo Embossing Debossing Folders with Swirly Bird (current) and Bravo (retired). I love how it turned out! The sentiments from Bravo were a perfect fit for the overall design, as was the circle stamp from Swirly Bird.

For your convenience, I have listed most of the current supplies that I used creating this card below. Clicking any of the images will take you to my 24/7 online store where you can be a happy shopper! Be a happy shopper anytime with me here at inkheaven by clicking here www.darlaolson.stampinup.net.
Thank you so much for stopping by to create and learn with me at inkheaven!

I Love When Your Birthday Comes Around

Posted on by darlaso
Side Step Card created with Carousel Birthday shared by Darla Olson at Inkheaven
Carousel Birthday

Side Step cards look hard, but they are fairly easy to do! I am looking forward to showing you how to create this fabulous card!

I created this card using the fun new set called, “Carousel Birthday.” I absolutely love the Carousel Horse! I wanted the horse to have that gilded in gold look that you see on so many of the ornate Carousel Horses so I used the Gold Wink of Stella to color in all those little detailed areas. I even have a few enamel shapes (3) for a little more texture, shine, and dimension. The prettiness of this card gets a little lost in my photography skills…but have you noticed that I have been getting better! I’ve been putting those things that I have learned in my classes to work. I hope it is making your viewing more pleasant!

I have a sister (in-law) that collects Carousel Horses, this will make a fabulous birthday card for her! The new 2017 Occasions Catalog goes live on January 4th! I am so excited! Not only do we have that new catalog, but is it our biggest sale of the year! Have you heard of Sale-A-Bration? Sale-A-Bration is just that – a sale with lots of celebrating!

Here’s the deal: for every $50 USD/$60 CAD you spend (before tax and shipping), you get a FREE Sale-A-Bration product. That means it’s the perfect time to purchase those products you’ve had your eye on while earning more products for free.

Need another excuse to get together with friends? Just host a qualifying party with at least $250 US/$330 CAD in sales during Sale-A-Bration and you’ll earn $25 USD/$35 CAD more in Stampin’ Rewards! You can even apply your Stampin’ Rewards toward a Starter Kit and become a demonstrator yourself!

It’s the best time of year to join Stampin’ Up! During Sale-A-Bration, you can become a demonstrator for just $99 USD/$135 CAD and choose TWO additional stamp sets for your Starter Kit—any stamp set, any price! (Excludes Sale-A-Bration sets and bundles.) Plus, the kit ships for free!

Click here to contact me today!
Click here to go to www.darlaolson.stampinup.net


Thank you so much for stopping by to create and learn with me!

A New Year Means Another Round of Birthdays!

Posted on by darlaso
A birthday card created with Stampin' Up! Celebrations Duo Folder shared by inkheaven
Celebrations Duo Embossing Folders

Are you ready for the first birthday of the New Year? Birthdays are those little things that sneak up me! So, I thought that I would try to get a head start on some of my birthday cards. Plus, I wanted to do something a little different.

As a demonstrator, for the most part, I only show new or current products on my blog, classes, and other events. However, when I saw these fun embossing debossing folders, my mind immediately jumped to a few of my favorite retired sets and I wanted to play with them and see how they looked! And, since I believe in sharing my toys when I play, that means that I had to have a little mindset change about sharing “just the new stuff.” But, since many of you have retired stuff as well, this will be good creating inspiration for you as well!

For this card I used the retired set, Bring on the Cake. I love the “birthday” and think it is a great combo. Next time I think I will go ahead and mask off the happy. I left it for my first take because Happy, Happy Birthday isn’t necessarily a bad sentiment…I just think it will be more pleasing to my eyes to have it just be Happy Birthday since the 2nd happy is so small.

For your convenience, I have listed some of the other supplies that I used in the creation of this card below. Clicking any of the images will take you to my 24/7 online store where you can check out the details regarding the product.

Shop with me anytime at www.darlaolson.stampinup.net. Thank you so much for stopping by to create and learn with me!

Fa La La La Llama Shaker Card

Posted on by darlaso
Shaker card created with Fa La La La Friends and Birthday Fiesta shared by Darla Olson at Inkheaven
Fa la la la llama – what a hoot!

Some things just bring a smile to your face! This shaker card has put a huge smile on my face, it is such a hoot! It’s pretty to boot! I wish I could tell you who the creator is or was. There were no attached identifiers. If it is your card and you would like credit, please contact me!

If you would like to create this wonderful shaker card and put a smile on someone’s face, I have listed most of the supplies used in the creation of this card below. Clicking on any of the images below will take you to my 24/7 online store where you can be a happy shopper. Be a happy shopper with me at inkheaven anytime by clicking here www.darlaolson.stampinup.net. 
Thank you so much for stopping by to create and learn with me!

Star of Wonder, Star of Light

Posted on by darlaso
Christmas card created with Star of Light shared by by Darla Olson at inkheaven
Star of Wonder, Star of Light

This beautiful card was created by fellow demonstrator, Olive Barnes. I love how she used both white and silver embossing powder. It really pulls all the elements of the card together.

For your convenience, I have shared a list of some of the supplies that Olive used in creating her card. Clicking any of the images below will take you to my 24/7 online store where you can check out all the details.

Shop with me anytime at www.darlaolson.stampinup.net. Thank you so much for stopping by to create and learn with me!

Sending a Little Christmas Magic

Posted on by darlaso
Christmas card created using Christmas Magic shared by Darla Olson @ inkheaven
Christmas is Magical!

This magical Christmas card was created by fellow demonstrator, Elaine Lampropolos. I love the look of this stamp set. It has an old-fashioned vintage appeal.I like how Elaine added the little extra torn layers at the bottom to add dimension to her snow and card.

For your convenience, I’ve listed most of the supplies Elaine used in creating her card below. Clicking  any of the images will take you to my 24/7 online store where you can check out the details.

Shop with me anytime at www.darlaolson.stampinup.net Thank you so much for stopping by to create and learn with me at inkheaven.

Carousel Birthday Party Favors

Posted on by darlaso
Birthday party favor created using Carousel Birthday and Envelope Punch Board by Darla Olson at Inkheaven

This is my sixth installment of my 2016 OnStage Kansas City Display Board Stamper Samples.

Carousels and merry-go-rounds are attractive to most children. My inner child is still attracted to them! Carousels are ornate and fascinating with coordinated movement and cheerful music! I’m sure the designer of carousels engineered them so as to attract attention! With that in mind, as I looked at at this set, colorful and bright birthday party themes came to mind so I set out to create a little party favor box.

I used the envelope punch board to create the little favor box and decorated it with a fussy cut out of the carousel horse. The favor box is not too large so the sweet treats will be minimal (need to watch that sugar intake!)

I can’t wait to share a tutorial for creating this little party favor box with you!

Thank you so much for stopping by to create and learn with me!

Christmas, Birthdays, Snow Way!

Posted on by darlaso
Fun Handmade Card Design Great for those Christmas Birthdays at Inkheaven!

I adore what fellow demonstrator Kirsteen Gill did with the Birthday Fiesta Bundle when she created this card. It is such a hoot! (Do llamas hoot?) While she used the sentiment, “It’s Christmas already?” I think this card design would make a fabulous birthday card for those who celebrate their birthday around the Christmas holiday! This card is sure to bring a smile to their face and make their day extra special!

This card makes me want to OWN the Birthday Fiesta Bundle! If you want to own one too, shop with me at my inkheaven by clicking here: www.darlaolson.stampinup.net.

For your convenience, I have provided a list of most of the items Kirsteen used creating this fun card. Clicking on any of the images will also take you to my 24/7 online store. Thank you so much for stopping by.

Peace & Happiness To You

Posted on by darlaso
Handmade Christmas Card Idea Using Stitched With Cheer at Inkheaven

I love this swap card created by fellow demonstrator, Maria Probe, featuring this fabulous sentiment! Who doesn’t wish for peace and happiness for their loved ones? Great things about this card:

  • The sentiment really pops out and is nicely framed with the holly and berries for a great focal point
  • Small amount of Presents and Pinecones DSP anchors the bottom and provides a nice color combo and ties into the holly and berries on the focal point
  • It has a great subtle stamped background on the top 2/3rds of the card base
  • It has a nice pop of cherry cobbler dividing the background into 1/3 and 2/3 and framing the focal point
Well done, Maria! Love your card immensely! It’s a favorite! 
For your convenience, I have provided a list of most of the items that Maria used in creating her card. Clicking on any of the images below will take you to my 24/7 online store. Right now is a great time to shop with me! The year end close outs are fantastic! Check them out and shop with me and my inkheaven anytime at www.darlaolson.stampinup.net. Thank you so much for stopping by.

Technique Wow With Cable Knit Dynamic Folder

Posted on by darlaso
Technique Wow With Cable Knit Dynamic Folder @ Inkheaven

This swap card was jaw-dropping! It was created by fellow demonstrator, Angie Brailsford using the, Ink Direct-to-Folder Technique. This made the texture in the Cable Knit Folder stand out in an amazing way!

I have to confess, I have not yet tried this technique with this folder, but it is on my radar! I will be sure to share a video with you when I get it accomplished!

Meanwhile, if you try this amazing technique before I do, I would love to see your creation, or hear your tips!

If you are not familiar with the Cable Knit Folder here is a video that demonstrates how to use it:

For your convenience, here is a list of most of the products that she used to create this amazing card. Tin of Tags is on the retired list and must be ordered by December 21st to guarantee availability. After that, availability is only while supplies last! Clicking on any image will take you to my 24/7 online store. Shop with me anytime at www.darlaolson.stampinup.net! Thank you so much for stopping by my Inkheaven.

Have You Hung Your Stockings, Yet?

Posted on by darlaso
Hang Your Stockings Bundle

Hello Stampin’ Friends!

This pretty swap card was created by fellow demonstrator, Teri Bean. It has a lot of design elements and yet, it is still simple. The embossed background brings a lot of visual interest to the simple layout. I love it!

For your convenience, here is a list of most of the items she used in the creation of this card. Clicking on any of the images will take you to my 24/7 online store where you can shop to your hearts content (please do!) Thank you so much for stopping by!


Sending Smiles Across The Miles

Posted on by darlaso
Lift Me Up Bundle

Hello Stampin’ Friends!

I am excited to share with you the 4th installment of my Display Stamper sneak peeks for the 2017 Occasions Catalog!

I created this card with the new Lift Me Up Bundle. I used an inlay technique with the die. There is a peek of new designer series paper in the back of the die as well. Even with the technique, this card was very easy and I will be doing it in my class using this bundle! What fun!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Wishing You A Joyful Christmas

Posted on by darlaso
Wonderful Year Stamp Set

Hello Stampin’ Friends!

I created this card using Wonderful Year. I am rather fond of sentiments with nice big interesting fonts because they make for quick and easy cards.

This card is simple; however, it is not as plain as it appears at first glance. I added wink of stella over the Joyful font and the banner under the Christmas fond. I also added some to the two stamped elements at the top and bottom of the card (which shows up in this picture a little bit).

Adding washi tape gave it a little more visual interest. This card has a somewhat masculine look which I like.

If you like creating quick and easy cards, then this one will make you happy!

The stamp set and the washi tape are on the retired list so don’t delay in placing your order!

For your convenience, I’ve listed the items I used creating this card below and clicking any of the images will take you to my 24/7 online store where you can check them out along with all of the great year-end closeouts! Thank you so much for stopping by!


Naughty or Nice

Posted on by darlaso

I am trying to work through all my Christmas cards that I have not yet shared on my blog! This particular one was a make and take at my Grand Annual Open House(s) back in August! This was easy and fun. I love the fresh, modern look of the Santa!

One of the cool things about this Santa die that I have not yet tried, is that his beard will also make fun looking waves (water)! I simply just do not have enough stamp time on my hands!

This bundle is on the year-end close out and if you want to save 25 cents (Hey, every penny counts in my books!) you will want to order the dies and stamp set separate as the stamp set by itself is discounted!

If you like creating cards with a modern, sophisticated look then having this in your craft and stamping room will totally make you happy!

Stampin’ Up! even created a video to share some cute ideas using this bundle. If you haven’t seen it, take a look!

For your convenience, I’ve listed the items I used creating this card below and clicking any of the images will take you to my 24/7 online store where you can check them out along with all of the great year-end closeouts! Thank you so much for stopping by!