Life…

Mar 19, 2008 | rubber stamping

Love this sentiment…..it’s from Stampin’ Up!’s Occasions mini catalogue – the set is Full of Life.

This is a rectangular card that fits into the small open ended envelope.  The images are from the set  Just Celebrate (I mounted the images separately from the sentiments) and are stamped in StazOn Jet Black onto glossy white cardstock, then coloured with Stampin’ Write markers.  Love using the markers on the glossy cardstock – the colours go on smoothly and the glossy cardstock looks so professional.  The ribbon slide is from the styled silver hodgepodge hardware, also in the Occasions mini.  LOOOOOVE all the neat new pieces in this kit – embossed brads with flowers, stars, etc – very cool.

I have 2 spots left in the Many Marvelous Markers club that starts at the end of this month.  Over four months (and 4 payment instalments) you’ll end up receiving a complete set of 48 double-ended stampin’ write markers with carrying case, coordinating cardstocks, envelopes, blender pens…..  Contact me to reserve your spot or to get more info (but act quickly)!

An Easter card without Easter stamps…

Mar 14, 2008 | rubber stamping

Ever have one of those moments when you think "ARGH!  I don’t have any (insert name of occasion here) stamps!"?  There’s a way around everything!  Here’s an Easter card that we did at a recent class without a typical Easter stamp set.

Using the Illuminations set (not featured in the Spring-Summer Collection, but still available to order from the Dormant List), we created an Easter card.  I actually used this same stamp for a Christmas card with the same group, and love how it applies to both occasions. 

The cross was created from scrap cardstock, and simply held in place to use as a mask; lavender lace ink was sponged outwards to create a resist effect.  "Joy" was stamped in versamark & embossed with gold embossing powder on cardstock vellum, and then held in place over the card by white taffeta ribbon.  Vellum adds a little elegance to everything, I think!

Another example of an Easter card without Easter stamps….the punch bunny card!  (in the Easter projects photo album; link is at the right, or click above for the link)

So now you have no excuse for not being able to make some sort of an Easter card for someone, right?!  (Oh, and might as well contact me to order an Easter stamp set for next year!! LOL)

Happy Bali Breezes

Mar 10, 2008 | rubber stamping

(I’ve been working on my card photos to improve your viewing experience… please feel free to give feedback!)

I love using designer series paper as an accent on my cards.  For one thing, I don’t have to think very hard about what colours to use in the project!  This card features the Sale-a-Bration set So Many Sayings, and the Bali Breezes designer series paper.  This is a square 4.25" x 4.25" card which will fit in a standard A4 card envelope.  The strip of Bali Breezes is mounted by a strip of taken with teal…but if I re-did this card, I think I might just use the paper alone – you see, the flip side of this pattern is a solid(ish) teal colour!  So the re-do would add about 1/2" onto the width of the paper, and I would fold 1/4" over to reveal the teal colour. 

The sentiment was inked with stampin’ write markers in taken with teal, rose red, summer sun & old olive.  I pulled these colours from the paper (see, no thinking involved – just my style!! LOL).  OK, well, technically, I think that orangey colour in the designer series paper is pumpkin pie, but I have a soft spot for summer sun, so I used that one instead.  It’s all good, they’re part of the same colour family (Earth Elements) so it still coordinates in my book.  I used the square punches on the sentiment & the teal background for it. 

Clean & simple, great for getting the card done so it can be mailed ASAP!  Don’t forget, the countdown is on, Sale-a-bration ends on St. Patrick’s Day, so if you love this stamp set, be sure to get your own by contacting me to place your $70 merchandise order before March 17th!!

Smell-o-vision

Mar 6, 2008 | rubber stamping

I’m not so techno-savvy that I can figure out how to get smell-o-vision on the web….too bad, as it would be perfect for truly experiencing this card!

This is a fun scratch & sniff card that recent class attendees have had the chance to make!  We used the orange from Tart & Tangy (in the new Occasions mini), plus the So Many Scallops Sale-a-Bration set.  The sentiment comes from Curvy Verses.  The orange is stamped in craft ink, then heat embossed with a combination of clear embossing powder & sugar-free orange drink crystals.  When rubbed, you can pick up the citrusy scent!  The So Sweet of You flower (remember this card?) was used with the clear button – we just punched out the centre of the image with the 1" circle punch.  Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper and wide twill tape finish off the card.  Fun!  Smell you later….