Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Don't forget your envelopes!


If you want to add something special to your greeting, dress up your envelope.  When the card is received the person getting it already knows it is special, even before they open it up. 

Here are a few samples of how I dress up my envelopes. 



 
I used my Gingham Wheel to run a strip across my envelope to coordinate with the strip on my card.
 


Using my Garden Green Marker I colored in some of my image and then stamped it onto the back of my card.  Garden Green Card Stock was used for my card.
 
 

 
I embossed the back flap of my envelope to coordinate with the embossing on the card.  You don't always have an image you want to stamp, but embossing your envelope is really a nice touch.
 
 
 


You can also stamp an image into the bottom corner of your envelope too.  Just a little extra to make your card special.
 

Friday, May 17, 2013

Goodbye Circle Circus and Friendly Phrases


 
Today's post is my last post using retiring products.  I just wanted to highlight some of my favorite itms that will not be available after May 31st.  If you see something you like and still haven't purchased it you still have a few days left.  Next week will be Sneak Peeks of lots of new items you can start ordering May 31st at noon Mountain Time.
 
Lots of circles and designs for today's card, with another retiring Stamp Set - Circle Circus.   My Whisper White card base was stamped with my sentiment and then embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  I stamped my circles on Whisper White Card Stock and then punched them out using a variety of circle punches.  The smaller circles were placed on with dimensionals.  This is a great set for masculine themed cards.
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Whisper White
Ink:  Bravo Burgundy #126967 (retiring), Marina Mist #126962, Certain Celery #126958 (retiring)
Stamp Sets:  115778 w or #127784 c (retiring), Friendly Phrases #126149 w or #126151 c (retiring)
Punches:  3/4" Circle #119873, 1" Circle #119868, 1 1/4" Circle #119861
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Square Lattice Folder #119976
Adhesive:  Dimensionals  #104430, Snail #104332
 

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Goodbye Nature's Pace


One of my go to stamps for Thinking of You and Sympathy cards is the Nature's Pace Stamp Set.  It will be retiring at the end of the month. 
 
My card base is Elegant Eggplant Card Stock with a layer of Certain Celery (retiring) and Whisper White.  To my Whisper White layer I added my grapes and Thinking of You, and also used my Jumbo Handle and the Very Vintage Wheel for the bottom of the card.  I added a piece of Certain Celery 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon (ribbon) to add dimension and strike a balance with the wheeled images.
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Elegant Eggplant #105126, Certain Celery #105125 (retiring), Whisper White #100730
Ink:  Elegant Eggplant #126969, Certain Celery #126958 (retiring)
Stamp Sets:  Nature's Pace #122660 w or #122662 c (retiring),  You Are Loved #123777 w or #123779c (retiring)
Accessories:  Jumbo Handle #103661, Very Vintage Wheel #117693
Ribbon:  Certain Celery 3/8" Taffeta #119963
 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Saying goodbye to some of my favorite things...


 
The rest of the week I will be showing cards made with some retiring products.  I made most of these cards for my May Stamp Class, and if you like any of the items listed you better hurry and get them soon.
 
My card base of Wisteria Wonder was layered with another piece that was embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.  I then cut a piece of Designer Paper from the 2011-13 In Color Paper Stack and punched this using my retired Eyelet Border Punch.  My  jar was stamped using Basic Gray ink and then cut using a Cannery Set Framelit.  I drew the stems on using a Lucky Limeade Marker, added my flowers which I punched out using the Boho Blossoms Punch.  I also added a piece of Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine,  tied this around my jar and then added my just for you sentiment.
 
The Designer Paper, Embossing Folder, Baker's Twine, Marker,  Stamp Set, and coordinating Framelit are all retiring at the end of the month.  The Eyelet Border Punch retired last year.  
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Wisteria Wonder #1222922, Whisper White #100730
Designer Series Paper:  2011-13 Paper Stack #122384 (retiring)
Stamp Sets:  Perfectly Preserved #126690 w or #126692 c (retiring), Itty Bitty Banners #126155 w or #126257 c
Ink:  Wisteria Wonder #126985, Basic Gray #126981     Marker:  1012-13 In Color Pack  #123002 (retiring)
Punch:  Boho Blossoms #119858
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Vintage Wallpaper Folder #120175 (retiring), Bitty Banner Framelits #129267, Cannery Set Framelits #127811 (retiring)
Ribbon:  Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine #125572 (retiring)
Adhesive:  Dimensionals #104430, Snail #104332
 
 

Monday, May 13, 2013

Happy Graduation!


Just in time for graduation - cards for a male or female graduate using the Pure Gumption Stamp Set.

 
I used the same stamp set for both of my cards, just altered the card stock and Designer Series Paper to make the cards appropriate for either a male or female graduate.  A little bit of embellishing using the Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack and some brads, and the cards are ready to send.
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Bashful Blue #105120, Early Espresso #119686, Whisper White #100730, Pretty in Pink #100459, Summer Starfruit #126839
Designer Series Paper:  Sunshine & Sprinkles (Spring Mini) #126922, Patio Party #126916
Ink:  Early Espresso #126974, Pretty in Pink #126944, Midnight Muse #126860
Stamp Set:  Pure Gumption #126315 w or #126317 c
Tools:  Stampin' Pierce Mat #126199, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack #126187, Paper-Piercing Tool #126189, Paper Snips #103579
Embellishments:  Neutral Brads #119736, Subtles Brads #119738
Adhesive:  Dimensionals #104430, Snail #104332

Friday, May 10, 2013

Petite Pocket Birthday Treats


 
The Petite Pocket Bigz XL Die (which is retiring soon) looks cute dressed up for a special birthday treat.  These would make great party favors or class treats too.
 
And, did you know that you don't have to cut out the whole Scallop Birthday Ribbon?  You just need to trim the bottom and a few of the bottom scallops and it fits nicely into your 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch.  I'm sure a lot of you already know this trick, but I wanted to pass it along in case you were still cutting the whole thing out.
 
Stamp your image

Trim the bottom piece and a few of the bottom scallops

Slide it into your punch lifting up the cut pieces and punch. 
 
The Petite Pocket can be used to make a lot of different treat items.  It is one of the products retiring at the end of the month so if you still have it on your wish list don't wait too long.  If you aren't sure if you would use it, here are some other items I made with it throughout the year.  The possibilities are endless.
 

 
 
To make the birthday treats the following were used:
Card Stock:  Island Indigo #122923, Riding Hood Red #111348, Daffodil Delight #119683, Baja Breeze #111352
Ink:  Island Indigo #126986, Riding Hood Red #126968, Daffodil Delight #126944, Baja Breeze #126960
Stamp Set:  Blue Ribbon #125979 w or #125981 c 
Punch:  2 3/8" Scallop Circle #118874
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Petit Pocket Bigz XL Die #123131, Chevron Folder #127749, Houndstooth Folder #123134, Perfect Polka Dots Folder #117335, Square Lattice Folder #119976
Adhesive:  Sticky Strip #104294
 

Monday, May 6, 2013

Party Decorations using the Designer Rosette Bigz XL Die




I am having an engagement party for my son and his fiancĂ© in June.  I am fooling around with a couple different ideas of how to display some pictures showing Katie and Greg.  My first idea was to use the Designer Rosette Bigz XL Die and using it to display the pictures.

Well, my first try ended up being a mistake but I wanted to share it with you anyway.  I don't think I like the way I cut the picture in the center using a Floral Frames Framelit, so I think I will try to make the others using my retired Scallop Circle #2 Die.  And, when I was putting it together, I should of had the scalloped edge on the outside, instead I glued that edge to my Large Scallop Circle.  But, at least I have a general idea of what it will look like and can continue to play around with it.

The large rosette cuts really easy using Extended Cutting Pads and your Big Shot and really goes together quickly.  Here are step by step instructions on how I put it together.

 
First, you need to cut four pieces of your paper.  You can make the rosette smaller by cutting the width of your paper to a different size.  I am making the largest rosette you can so my paper measures 5 1/2" x 12".
 
When your paper is cut, fold it on the score lines.

When all four pieces are put together you will have one really long piece.  I attached my four pieces together using Sticky Strip for a good hold.


This is what it looks like when all four pieces of paper are attached.


Now, fold down on your large rosette to get the flat rosette pictured above.


Next, you will need something to attach to the center.  I used a cut Scallop Circle Bigz Die and  I gathered the rosette a bit in the middle to make it tighter, and used a glue gun to adhere it to the rosette.  Now, here is where I made a mistake.  I should of placed the edge with the scallops to the outside.  That is a nicer edge, and the opening in the scalloped edge gives you a nice place to hang a piece of ribbon, or whatever you wanted to use to hang your rosette.


Using Designer Series Paper, you get two options of which side to use.


I then attached my picture to the center. 


On another rosette I made during the holidays you can see of what the scalloped edge looks like. 


You can see the difference the scalloped edge gives to the finished project.

I will now go back to cutting some more paper and playing around with different ideas of attaching my pictures. But, I think they will be a nice way to display and share Greg and Katie's journey together.

The following current products were used:
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Designer Rosette Bigz XL Die #125594, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder #120175 (retiring soon), Scallop Circle Bigz Die #113468, Floral Frames Framelits #127012
Card Stock:  Soft Suede 115318
Adhesive:  Sticky Strip #104294









Friday, May 3, 2013

Cards for the troops

I have the privilege of working with a great organization called Humble Hearts for Hope.  They provide care packages, support, and financial assistance to our troops.  Throughout the year they hold various fundraisers and events to help raise funds and awareness for their cause, and this is the second year that I will be involved in their youth camp "Camp Hope".  Young adults ages 6th thru 12th grade  attend and provide community service for our deployed troops.  One of the activities they will be doing is making cards for the troops.

Some of the cards will be given in their care packages for them to have to send home for family and friend birthdays.  This way if someone they know has a birthday while they are away from home serving our country, they now will have a card they can send.  What a nice way for them to be able to connect on a special event they have to miss.  Back home we take such things for granted, but when you are away from your loved ones, having the ability to send a card and let them know you are thinking about them is extra special.  Or, just sending a Thinking of You card with a little message might be what brightens the day of someone missing a loved one.

The thank you cards will be given to them when they receive their care package.  This is just a small gesture of our appreciation for all they do for us.

I prepared the cards with only a few basic layers so they have time to complete them all (we plan on making over 400), and some of the materials used are not current product, so I am not going to take the time to list what was used.  But, I did want to show what this one organization is doing to help and say thank you to our troops.












If you would like to learn more about this great organization you can visit their website Humble Hearts for Hope, Inc. at www.hhfh.org



Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Baby Shower Invitation


 
I covered the information, but you can still see how stylish the Oh Baby! Single Stamp makes the Baby Shower Invitation.  The Single Stamps can not be found in any of the Stampin' Up! Catalogs, but they can be seen at my online store.  There are some really cute images, and it is nice to be able to buy only one stamp if that is all you need.  All Single Stamps come in Clear Mount.
 
 
My card base is Old Olive Card Stock that measures 8 3/4 x 3 3/4.   I printed the invitation wording using my computer, and then cut it down to measure 8 1/2 x 3 1/2.  You can get two invitations printed using one piece of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock and still have card stock left over for future use.
 
I then stamped my mother-to-be using Old Olive Ink, and then ran that part through my Big Shot using the Chevron Embossing Folder.  I added some Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding (retiring soon) and attached this layer to my Old Olive Card Stock. 
 
I like to make this size invitation if you don't have a lot of additional information needed.  They fit nicely into  #9 envelope (they measure 3 7/8" x 8 7/8") and require no extra postage. 
 
The following were used:
Card Stock:  Old Olive #100702, Very Vanilla #101650
Ink:  Old Olive #126953
Stamp:  Oh Baby! #132667 c
Ribbon:  Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding #122331
Tools:  Big Shot #113439, Chevron Embossing Folder #127749