Summer Birthday Cards

It seems like I am celebrating someone’s birthday every week this summer.   From my friend Ashley to my husband and a few friends along the way, it has been one big party.  For your friends and acquaintances who you don’t need to get a gift for, a handmade card in the mail (or given in person) is a nice touch.   Kim Moreno has a great birthday card idea for a girl this summer.   She’s used the flower from PSA Life’s A Beach and stamped using various inks and her acrylic blocks.  She’s tied a small piece of twine through a coordinating purple button.    

For the guy in your life, Kim has a solution with a “hbd dude” distressed and colorful card.   She’s stamped from Peanuts Joe Cool.   I love Snoopy against his surf board!  She’s colored the stamp up with her makers to bring him to life – a technique that we almost always recommend when stamping characters!

Who’s birthday are you celebrating this summer?  Anyone special? 

Simple Favors

If you are planning a wedding, shower or party for a betrothed couple, consider these really simple favors for your guests by our DT member Angie Holden. 

You can pick the favor bags up from Michael’s in the wedding aisle – they’ll run you about $14.99 for a pack of 50.  Consider adding wrapped local candies, a bag of local delicacies (Boston baked beans, local honey…) and place at your guests seats.  PSA Essentials has an incredible line of wedding Peel & Stick stamps.  Check them all out.

Adding a stamp to a simple bag really dresses things up and adds a personal, DIY touch.  Try it yourself next time! 

Repurposed Materials

Talk about being resourceful!   Today I am sharing an idea by Angie Holden that you can recreate from supplies found in your home.   No trip to Michael’s or Joann’s necessary.   They’re inspirational candles made from medical tape and old tea glasses.   She’s stamped “light the way” and “let it shine” from PSA Vanilla Peel & Stick stamps using her Cabernet ink and Black inks by PSA Essentials.   This is a fun and easy craft that you can do very inexpensively.

Some tips:  Be sure to spray the stamp with hairspray directly after stamping.  This helps set the stamp.   If you don’t mind the vintage look (that’s what I love about it) then you won’t mind if each letter doesn’t come out perfectly.   Be sure to wrap the medical tape below the glass – no fires please!  I can really see this working for Halloween, can’t you?    

"Just a note" card

Happy Friday!  I quite literally feel like I am drowning in water...my bills are piled up high, there's a lot of dog hair on the floor (who has time to vacuum?), there are piles of laundry to be folded,  thank you notes that needed be written, and the playroom is a mess.  Connor is quite an easy baby but it's the combination of him, my nearly 3 year old daughter, the housework, and regular PSA Essentials work combined with a lack of sleep that is really taxing!   Enough woe is me - there are millions of mothers and families doing this all around the world, I don't hear a ton of complaining so I plan on being quiet about it now. 

I did find this fantastic blog post that if you are a mother (or have good friends with kids), I suggest you read it. I find comfort in it.   http://momastery.com/blog/2012/01/04/2011-lesson-2-dont-carpe-diem/.   I like how the author is honest, she's real and she's inspiring.  I have a new respect for people who have multiple children and I am sure that when my friends start having kids (who don't already have them) and I am through this difficult part, I will be there to support them.  Big time.   Perhaps I will send a motivational card, or a card just to say hello.    Send some flowers and make sure to call.   Call a lot.  Even if they don't answer, I will still call.  Because it's really nice to know that people are thinking of you.  

Here are a few beautiful cards by our design team.   If you know a friend who needs a little hello, send them a just a note card, or a hello.  I bet they'll appreciate it! 

By Anthonette Chavez, using PSA Essentials Topiary Peel & Stick Bee stamp, and PSA Essentials Vanilla Peel & Stick letters for "hi" 

By Carly Robertson.  Using PSA Essentials Cupcake Peel & Stick stamps for the flower stamp 

By Anthonette Chavez, using PSA Vanilla Peel & Stick stamps for the letters and the butterfly from PSA Cupcake Peel & Stick stamps

I am thankful for all my friends and family who have been there for me.  Now off to do some more work! 

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!   Today I am sharing 3 cards by our talented Vera Yates.   She's used PSA Essentials stamps from our Hello Kitty On The Go Peel & Stick set.  I love her use of patriotic colors and that she isn't afraid of white space.   Whatever your plans are today - be it beach, pool, fireworks, a cook out, or something else - I hope you have a great day!

2012 - 2013 Design Team Call

September 2012 – August 2013 Design Team Call

About PSA Essentials & Stamp Camp:  PSA Essentials manufactures self-inking custom stamps.   With patent-pending Peel & Stick technology and thousands of interchangeable designs, one for each holiday and dozens of licenses, PSA Essentials is perfect for all types of paper crafting, DIY projects and more!   PSA Stamp Camp (our blog) features all these crafty ways to use Peel & Stick stamps by our design team.  Visit: www.psastampcamp.blogspot.com

Why be on our Design Team?    

·         Receive our entire line of stamps, inks, tools:  a retail value of $1,800

·         Receive new Peel & Stick packs as they are released throughout the year

·         Receive $50 per project that is printed in magazine, $250 if you land the cover

·         Occasionally receive free product from our cross promotional partners

·         A crafting resume builder

·         Gain real attention of your work

Requirements for Design Team:    As a design team member, you are showing our customers how to use Peel & Stick stamps in the most clever, unique and creative ways possible. 

·         1 year term:  September 1^st, 2012 to August 31^st, 2013

·         Create 3 projects per month, photograph them, mail them in  

·         Occasionally participate in blog hops, or cross-promotional opportunities as they arise

Who we are looking for?   We are expanding our team and are looking for specific people who can fill these roles:  

·         Non-card making, DIY, crafty types!

·         Home décor specialists

·         Shabby chic card designers & CAS card designers

·         Scrapbookers

·         Mommy’s who create fun, educational, or inspirational activities for their wee-ones

·         Crafters who do things on a budget

·         Crafters who are into green living

·         A gift wrapper extraordinaire

Do you match one of the descriptions below, want all the perks and agree to the terms?  Applying is easy.    Send 3 examples of your work,  a very brief introduction to yourself and your blog address to loregan@psaessentials.com by August 1^st, 2012.    Please put:  2011-2012 DESIGN TEAM CALL APPLICATION in the subject matter.     Our new team will be chosen and announced on August 15th.    Good luck! 

Mike's 40th Birthday Party

It’s hard for me to believe that my husband turned 40 this weekend.   It seems like time has flown by because when I met him he was in his late twenties and we got together in his early 30’s.   I invited 7 of his college and high school buddies to come down for the weekend and my parents generously let them use their house while they were away on vacation.   One big weekend long frat party, they had an amazing time.  I am reminded whenever I see these guys what great friends they are to Mike and how important true friends are in your life. 

We had a small party on Saturday night.   With the arrival of Connor I haven’t been able to craft as much as I like, but I got a “40^th Birthday” custom stamp made.  We have some pretty talented graphic designers that can do just about anything if you need a custom stamp.   Here’s what Lesley came up with!

Also with the arrival of Connor, I haven’t been cooking or baking much.   All my sister-in-law could find at the grocery store were some girly cupcakes and 4^th of July cupcakes!  So we went with the flow.  I made some quick cupcake toppers by stamping my custom stamp in royal blue ink on paper, then punching with my 2” scallop punch.   I adhered to lollipop sticks.

I am so glad that Mike had the opportunity to be with his friends this weekend.  He’s been working incredibly hard at home by helping me around the house, making the adjustment for Molly easier, and bonding with Connor.  I really wanted him to have some “Mike time” and be with people that would make him feel good and have fun with.    I am so thankful that the boys were able to make the trip down (minus a few that were missed!) and I am thankful I got to spend some adult time with him on Saturday night.