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)!
Mar 16, 2008 | Announcements
Sale-a-bration runs until March 17th….so there’s still some time for you to pick up some free Sale-a-bration product! Check out my Sale-a-bration kit page – tons of product in $70 groupings so there’s sure to be a kit that catches your eye! Contact me to let me know which one works for you!
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)
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!!
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….
Mar 2, 2008 | 3D samples
Love those sticky cuts letters….
This is totally based on a project that we did at convention last year… Stampin’ Up! is selling a 3 pack of these great tins for $12.55 (that would be 1 to give away and 2 to keep for yourself!!) Perfect for holding cards, memorabilia, photos… the possibilities are endless!
Certainly celery designer series paper, backed with chocolate chip… the sticky cuts letter (that’s a lower case "L", not a number 1 as my mother first thought…) is coated with cosmo fine glitter; flowers from the pretties kit finish off this project. The smaller flower was dyed by applying re-inker with an aqua painter. My current favourite tool, the crop-a-dile punches through this tin like butter….to create holes for the chocolate satin ribbon. That chocolate satin ribbon that we all fell in love with at Christmas time is available as part of the Theatre ribbon originals, by the way!!! (OK, so not a full roll but still, it’s there).
When you use your sticky cuts letters (or numbers, or images – there’s a heart, flower, star on the sheets as well) – you will want to peel off the white waxy backing first (the backside of the letter) and apply it to the project or cardstock, then remove the red plastic layer off the top of the letter and apply your glitter/beads/embossing powder etc. I think it’s easier to deal with that way, less mess for sure. You can also save the red liner (or for that matter, the white waxy liner) and use them as masks for sponging on a separate project! (oh, should have saved that for a Frugal Friday tip – well, maybe I’ll do a pictorial on that one some Friday).
Off to finish up the masterpieces for my classes this week – I have a FUN project for them that highlights a set from the new Occasions mini! (will be sure to post it at a later date, need to keep it a surprise for the attendees in the meantime!)
Mar 1, 2008 | Announcements
Stampin’ Up!’s Occasions mini catalogue is now in effect! Click here to browse through the online copy, or on the image of the mini in the right column on the blog. Remember that there’s 7% off all the listed prices… There’s LOTS of fantastic stuff in this one, so if you see lots of things you like, don’t forget that with your $70 merchandise order, you receive a set from the Sale-a-bration mini catalogue as well!
Looking forward to using some Occasions product at my class on Wednesday. Class registration CLOSES on MONDAY 3 March at 7pm sharp, so RSVP to make sure you don’t miss out!!
Feb 28, 2008 | 3D samples
I’ve always been inspired by those who can "alter" everyday items and make them "WOW" – but I’ve also been slightly intimidated by the whole process. I’m a simple/clean stamper for the most part, and many of the altered projects I’ve seen seem so involved.
I’m taking an online course and part of our pre-class assignment was to alter a clipboard (if we wanted to). I knew that if I tried to do too much, I’d get bogged down & either never complete it, or get frustrated and set it aside, never to complete it, or get distracted and never complete it….you get the idea. So – the goal was to complete this project!! With that in mind, I chose Stampin’ Up!’s Cutie Pie Designer Series Paper. I love the bright colours, and the various patterns on this sheet makes it look like I’ve worked harder than I actually did (that’s key to most of my projects! LOL).
So….I cut the paper to fit the clipboard, nudging up to the clippy thing at the top, and adhering with some Mod Podge. I then cut 2 strips (the multi colour dots) to fit at either side of the clippy thing and used my hobby blade to trim close to the clippy thing. (I really don’t know what else to call that thing). I used my paper snips to trim around the corners of the clipboard (and anywhere where it wasn’t quite flush), then used my sanding block gently to smooth the edges.
The over achiever in me didn’t like the seam where I’d joined the two papers at the top of the board (which really weren’t _that_ bad), but I covered it with some purely pomegranate double stitched ribbon. I added flowers and half pearls from the pretties kit, because they’re pretty….and because they cover up any not so perfect cutting around the clippy thing at the top. (It’s all about the cover up). I actually used the Tombow Multi purpose adhesive that SU now carries to adhere the flowers and make sure the ends of the ribbon were tacked down. I love the little pen tip to put some glue just where I want it (especially because I tend to be a bit of a messy glue-er).
So; to answer the question – it took me less than half an hour from start to finish (and less than one sheet of the paper). TADA! Oh, and because I was so energized by this, I went on to do a chipboard book that has been sitting naked on my shelf for ages. I’m going to post pics of that in my March newsletter, so watch for that in your "inbox" next week!
Feb 25, 2008 | rubber stamping
This features the Sale-a-bration set "So Many Scallops", which has 4 stamps that work perfectly with the scallop circle punch. The flowers were stamped in ballet blue onto whisper white cardstock, and a sponge dauber applied more mustard in the centre of the sentiment. Wild wasabi double stitched ribbon made some stems, and the pocket was formed from a 6×6 piece of rose red designer series paper. Stampin’ dimensionals give the flowers extra "pop". If you really wanted to follow through on the "Sweet of you" theme, a Ghirardelli chocolate square would also fit into the pocket. I would have put one in here….but alas, somehow my chocolate has all disappeared?! (Oh wait, there it is, on my hips!!! LOL). Don’t forget my springtime card class next Wednesday, March 5th – RSVP to reserve your spot! There’s still time to get in on Sale-a-bration with your $70 merchandise order….and the Occasions mini will be in effect March 1st!! (Have you received your copy? If not – contact me for yours!!). See you here in Burlington!!
Feb 21, 2008 | rubber stamping
Proof that not all glitter is girly! D needed a birthday card so I needed to whip up something quickly (yet again! LOL). ***edited to add***the boy’s name starts with a "Q" so I decided it was a good chance to use a letter that usually gets left over on my alpha sheets!***
This card uses Stampin’ Up!’s Sticky Cuts Letters and Chunky Essentials black glitter. The chunky glitter is still somewhat sparkly, but reminds me almost more of sequins. I used some retired designer series paper (I _think_ this is pool party….but I could definitely be wrong!) and the stamp set "It’s Your Birthday" (which is definitely still current). Black grosgrain, and a black eyelet complete the masculine colours. I used the square punches for the tag, and added a strip of cardstock as a tab to insert the eyelet; I used a stampin’ dimensional to hold it in place.
We used sticky cuts letters & fine cosmo glitter yesterday at Stampers Club so I’ll try to post the project a little later as well. One note – if you have the fine cosmo glitter, you definitely will want to have the powder pal trays and brush as well – this stuff is so fine, you need to have some way to corral it & return it to the bottle!
Love this sentiment…..it’s from Stampin’ Up!’s Occasions mini catalogue – the set is Full of Life.
