Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 
This card comes right from a project showcased in my  Stampin' Up! online store, and was created by Stampin' Up!.  I wanted to post a project, but didn't get around to doing any cards today, so I thought this one was just perfect to say Merry Christmas to everyone.  I also want to take the time to say thank you to everyone who reads my blog, to all of my faithful customers and friends, and to the wonderful demonstrators at Stampin' Up! who are always a great source of inspiration.
 
I will be spending the next few days celebrating the Christmas holiday with my family and friends, so I won't be posting any new projects until the new year.  In the meantime, if you are in the need of some inspiration, just click on the link to my online store and search projects, and you can get some great ideas from the talented people at Stampin' Up!. 
 
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I look forward to creating and sharing ideas with you in 2013, and posting new projects made with  items from the Spring Catalog which is available from January 3 - May 31, 2013. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, December 21, 2012

Little Friends

 
The Little Friends Stamp Set is perfect for making cards for young children.   The images are really cute, and large enough to be filled in using your favorite colors.
 
My card base is Crumb Cake Card Stock that was embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.  I then cut a piece of Marina Mist Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper with my Big Shot using the Top Note Bigz Die.  My image was stamped on Whisper White Card Stock and I used my Blender Pens to color it in.  I then tied on a piece of Crumb Cake 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon and added my happy birthday sentiment. 
 
To color in the images using a Blender Pen, I just apply the tip of the Pen to the color of the ink I want on my image.  The water in the pen pulls the ink up and allows you to fill in your image.  To add a different color, just wipe the tip of your blender pen onto a piece of scrap paper until no ink appears, and you are ready to use another color.  The tip of the pen might appear stained, but if you see no ink on your scrap paper, you are good to go with another color.
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Crumb Cake #120953, Whisper White #100730, Early Espresso #119686
Designer Series Paper:  Polka Dot Parade #126902
Ink:  Early Espresso #126074, Marina Mist #126962, Old Olive #126953, Soft Suede #126978, Cajun Craze #126965
Stamp Sets:  Little Friends #122665 w or #122667 c, Teeny Tiny Wishes #115370 w or #127802 c
Punch:  Word Window #119857
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Top Note Bigz Die #113463, Blender Pens #102845
Ribbon:  Crumb Cake 3/8" Taffeta #122966

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Not another Christmas card!

Well, I am finally finished with all of my Christmas cards and projects, and thought it was time to start making some different cards to be used after the holidays.
 
My card base is Rich Razzleberry Card Stock, with a layer of Whisper White, and then another layer of Lucky Limeade that was embossed with the Fancy Fan Embossing Folder.  I then cut additional layers of card stock and stamped my background leaf image which is from the My Friend Stamp Set.  I punched my butterfly with some Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper, and tied a piece of linen thread to around it to give it some dimension.  I also added my Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon around this layer and tied my thanks so much sentiment onto it with another piece of Linen Thread. 
 
Now, I can't wait for Christmas, and love this time of the year, but this card also makes me think ahead to Spring, and that is my most favorite time of the year.
 
The following were used:
Card stock:  Rich Razzleberry #115316, Lucky Limeade #122926, Whisper White #100730
Designer Series Paper:  Polka Dot Parade #126902
Ink:  Lucky Limeade #126984, Rich Razzleberry #126950
Ribbon:  Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain #126876, Linen Thread #104199
Stamp Sets:  My Friend #122585 w or #122587 c, Tiny Tags #118091 w or #118592 c
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder #127751
Punches:  Jewelry Tag #117190, Elegant Butterfly #127526
 

Monday, December 17, 2012

Quick Birthday Card


I like to prepare some cards for my stamp class that don't require a lot of stamping or cutting, and I had a request for a feminine birthday card using circles.  So this is the design I came up with that was quick and also used the requested design.
 
My card base is Pink Pirouette Card Stock that I layered with a piece of Chocolate Chip Card Stock embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.  I then used my 1 3/8", 1 1/4" and 1" Circle punches with the Birds of a Feather Designer Series Paper for my design.  I tied some Pink Pirouette 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon and added my Happy Birthday Cake which I also punched out with the 1 3/8" Circle Punch. 
 
The Happy Birthday Cake Stamp is from the Pretty Postage Stamp Set that coordinates with the Postage Stamp Punch, but as you can see here on this card, it also goes with the circle punches too. 
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Pink Pirouette #111351, Chocolate Chip #102129
Designer Series Paper:  Birds of a  Feather #126899
Ink:  Raspberry Ripple #126859
Stamp Set:  Pretty Postage #123095 w or #123097 c
Ribbon:  Pink Pirouette 3/8" Taffeta #122981
Punches:  1 3/8 Circle #119860, 1 1/4" Circle #119861, 1" Circle #119868
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder #117335


Friday, December 14, 2012

Not another Christmas card

Well, I am finally finished with making all of my Christmas cards for both personal use and my classes, but I have some of the Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper left.  So, even though this is the paper I used for my holiday cards, it goes so well for those cards being sent during the winter months. 
 
My card base is Very Vanilla Card Stock that I embossed with the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder.  I then cut two pieces of my Designer Paper and placed them onto my card.  I also stamped my sentiment and snowflakes on another piece of Very Vanilla and cut it out with a Labels Collection Framelit and placed this onto my layers with dimensionals.
 
I like having so many options with all of the great designer papers Stampin' Up! offers.  During the cold winter months it just doesn't seem right sending a card with a lot of summer flowers on it, but I know there is always something in my supply of paper that goes well with any occasion.
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Very Vanilla #101650
Designer Series Paper:  Be of Good Cheer #126896
Ink:  Gumball Green #126861, Cherry Cobbler #126966
Stamp Sets:  Snow Swirled #111690 w or #127799 c, Word Play #120308 w or #120651 c
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder #127819 (Holiday Catalog), Labels Collection Framelits #125598
Adhesive:  Dimensionals #104430, Snail #104332

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Big Shot Winner!!!

Big Shot Die-Cut Machine - by Stampin' Up!




Congratulations to Marietta Stanz, the winner of the FREE Big Shot. Marietta's name was picked at my stamp class yesterday, and she was so happy when I called her to give her the good news.  What a nice early Christmas present.

I will start a new Big Shot Drawing January 1st, and it will run until the end of the 2013 year.  I will run the same format, for every $25 you spend on Stampin' Up! Merchandise, either through a workshop, online order, or customer order placed at a class, your name will be entered into the drawing. If you host a workshop, you get four entries into the drawing. So, if you didn't win this year, maybe you will be the lucky winner next year.

Thank you to everyone who entered the drawing, and I look forward to giving one away again next year. 

** This is my personal promotion to my customers, and not a promotion offered by Stampin' Up!.

 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Masculine Birthday Card



The Open Sea Stamp Set has great images for making masculine themed cards.  I used the large ship as the center of my male Happy Birthday Card today, and placing it on a  cut framelit was easy and quick.
 
My card base is Very Vanilla Card Stock which I embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder to give it a more rugged look.  I cut a piece of Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper with my Big Shot using a large Window Frames Framelit.  I then stamped my ship using Midnight Muse Ink and cut it out with a smaller Window Frames Framelit and placed it onto my card using dimensionals.  My Happy Birthday sentiment was sponged with Midnight  Muse Ink to give it a distressed look, the one end cut on an angle and curled, and also placed onto my card with dimensionals.  A simple card, but I think a nice one for a male birthday.
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Very Vanilla #101650
Designer Series Paper:  Comfort Cafe #126898
Ink:  Midnight Muse #126860
Stamp Sets:  The Open Sea #123030 w or #123032 c, Bring on the Cake #121899 w or #121058 c
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Window Frames Framelits Dies #129021 (Holiday Mini), Square Lattice Embossing Folder #119976, Stamping Sponges #101610

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Sponged Sympathy Card


 
Sometimes it is the simple cards without a lot of layers that really stand out.  By sponging my ink inside a cut framelit you are drawn to the message which is the most important part of the card.
 
 
To get the sponging onto my Whisper White Card I used a piece of the thick white backing that comes with your Designer Series Paper, and cut out a large Window Frames Framelit.  I then took a Stamping Sponge and sponged Baja Breeze ink into the opening.  Next I stamped my sentiment and flowers into this opening using Early Espresso ink.  The only other embellishment I added to the card was the Paper Piercing around the window, which unfortunately you can't see in the picture. 
 
When I stamped my flowers, I just placed my cut out framelit down again so none of the Early Espresso ink would go out of the design and onto my Whisper White Card Stock. 
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Whisper White #100730
Ink:  Baja Breeze #126960, Early Espresso #126974
Stamp Set:  Love and Sympathy #122795 w or #122797 c
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Windows Frames Collection #129021, Festive Paper-Piercing Pack #127857 (both from the holiday catalog), Stamping Sponges #101610
 


Monday, December 10, 2012

Home for the Holidays

 
I used the house from the Christmas Lodge Stamp Set for my cards last year, so I wanted to come up with a little different design for some of my cards this year.  I just added the large Hapy Holidays saying to the top to give it a different look.  I also put it on different paper, to give it a more Season's Greeting feel instead of Merry Christmas.
 
My card base is Baja Breeze Card Stock, and I added a layer of Whisper White which I embossed with the retired Snow Burst Embossing Folder.  But, before the layer was embossed I stamped my two images - my sentiment in Always Artichoke, and my house in Chocolate Chip.  I also added some Dazzling Diamonds to the snow on the house, treese and grounds to give it a more realistic look.  I adhered the Dazzling Diamonds by going over the areas I wanted covered with my 2-Way Glue Pen and sprinkling on my glitter.
 
I added my Always Artichoke 1/2" Seam Binding to the left corner because I didn't want to cover up any of my images.  For other cards with this same design I think I might try stamping my images further apart and placing my ribbon around the center instead. 
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Baja Breeze #111352, Whisper White #100730
Ink: Always Artichoke #126972, Chocolate Chip #126979
Stamp Set:  Christmas Lodge #123767 w or #123769 c
Embellishment:  Dazzling Diamonds #102023
Adhesive:  2-Way Glue Pen #100425, Snail #104332
Ribbon:  Always Artichoke 1/2" Seam Binding #121000
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Retired Embossing Folder

Friday, December 7, 2012

Snow Swirled Christmas

 
I like to make some holiday cards that can be sent to those who don't celebrate Christmas, but do celebrate the season, and I think my Snow Swirled card is perfect for a Season's Greetings card, or just change your sentiment and it makes a nice winter birthday card too.
 
My card base is Always Artichoke Card Stock, with an added layer of Cherry Cobbler, and Very Vanilla.  My snow flakes were stamped in random order using the coordinating inks.  I also sponged some Cherry Cobbler ink around the edges of my Very Vanilla Card Stock for more dimension. 
 
After looking at the card for awhile, I think I am going to add some Stampin' Glitter to the snowflakes for extra bling!
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Always Artichoke #105119, Cherry Cobbler #119685, Very Vanilla #101650
Ink:  Always Artichoke #126972, Cherry Cobbler #126966
Stamp Set:  Snow Swirled #111690 w or #127799 c
Tools:  Stamping Sponges #101610

Thursday, December 6, 2012

 
Thanks to Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Jen Timko who gave me the inspiration for todays card.
 
My card base is Very Vanilla Card Stock with added strips of Very Vanilla that were first embossed with the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, and then sponged with Crumb Cake ink.  Before they were placed onto my card I used my 1" Square Punch to snip my ends into their shape.  I then added one Snow Flake cut from the Snow Flurry Bigz Die using my Big Shot.  I also sponged Crumb Cake ink onto the edges of the snowflake, placed it on my card using dimensionals, and added a large pearl to the center.  
 
This card not only makes a nice card for the holidays, but would also be nice for a winter birthday or thank you.
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Very Vanilla #101650
Ink:  Crumb Cake #126975
Stamp Set:  More Merry Messages #126400 w or #126402 c
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder #127819 (Holiday Mini), Snow Flurry Bigz Die #127813 (Holiday Mini),  Stamping Sponges #101610
Punches:  1" Square #124094
Embellishment: Pearl Basic Jewels #119247
 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Ornament Keepsake Merry Christmas Card

 
The Ornament Keepsakes Stamp Set and coordinating Framelits Dies are a really nice way to stamp and then cut your images for your card or projects.  Add some dimensionals and they really stand out.
 
My card base is Whisper White Card Stock, with a layer of Cherry Cobbler and then another layer of Whisper White that was embossed with the Northern Flurry Embossing Folder, and stamped with the holly from the Christmas Lodge Stamp Set.  My large ornament was stamped using Cherry Cobbler ink, cut out with the Framelit and then placed onto the card with dimensionals.  A large pearl was added to the center for some extra embellishment. 
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Whisper White #100730, Cherry Cobbler #119685
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler #126966, Always Artichoke126972
Stamp Sets:  Ornament Keepsakes #128048 w or #128051 w (Holiday Mini), Christmas Lodge #123767 w or #123769 c, More Merry Messages #126400 w or #126402 c
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies #127816 (Holiday Mini), Northern Flurry Embossing Folder #120902
Adhesive:  Dimensionals #104430, Snail #104431
Punch:  3/16" Corner #119871
Embellishment:  Pearl Basic Jewels #119247

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Simple Merry Christmas

I know you can't really see the embossing on my Cherry Cobbler Card Stock, but it really makes this simple card look more elegant.  I saw several of this type of card posted by other Stampin' Up! Demonstrators, and I really loved the simplicity of it and knew I wanted to make a few myself.
 
My Cherry Cobbler Card Stock was embossed with the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder - a carry over item in the Holiday Catalog.  I then stamped my large tree and Merry Christmas on Whisper White Card Stock and then used my Big Shot to cut it out using one of the Apothecary Accents Framelits and added a few Rhinestones to make my tree sparkle.  Really a quick card to make, but sometimes I think less really says more.
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Cherry Cobbler #119685, Whisper White #100730
Ink:  Always Artichoke #126972, Cherry Cobbler #126966
Stamp Sets:  Evergreen #127970 W or #127973 C (Holiday Mini), More Merry Messages #126400 W or #126402 C
Embellishment:  Rhinestones #119246
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Apothecary Accents Framelits #127003, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder #127819