NC Stampin' Up! Demos October Blog Hop

Welcome to the October NC Stampin' Up! Demos Blog Hop where we are celebrating the holidays. We could choose any holidays we want but the challenge was to pick two different holidays. I chose Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you are following through the hop, you just came from Laurie Meier's. blog. Aren't her projects fantastic?

Edit: In looking through the other blogs, it looks like I interpreted the challenge differently than it was intended. I did not catch the line about showing how versatile our stamp sets are which meant I missed that I was supposed to use the same set for both projects. The ironic thing is, I like thinking outside the box and using our sets in ways they weren't originally intended so this was right up my alley. You've still got cards from 2 holidays, but I used different sets for them. Sorry! I hope you still enjoy them and find some inspiration.

We did/are doing this Thanksgiving card in my October Zoom class. I use both tenses because one class was yesterday and the other will be Tuesday. Those who were there yesterday really enjoyed all of the techniques we talked about while creating 3 projects using the Gather Together bundle.

To get colored rhinestones, I colored them with my dark Old Olive Blends marker. I leave them on the backing paper when I color them and don't move them to my project until they are completely dry.

I used a sponge dauber to rub gently over the leaves with Soft Suede ink. This brings out the embossed lines on the leaves and adds a little extra visual interest. When I do this technique on leaves I don't mind if I rub a little hard and some ink gets on the rest of the leaf. After all, real leaves are multi-colored when they change. However, with some embossing folders I am much more careful and light handed with this technique because I really don't want the ink on the inside parts.

To create the background I set my Woodland embossing folder on a flat surface and rubbed my Soft Suede ink pad all over the inside of the front panel. A few tips: 1) Hold the ink pad horizontal to the embossing folder as you rub so that none of the ink gets in the depressed parts - in this case the trees. 2) When I say ink goes on the inside of the front panel - the front is the piece that has the logo on it; inside I think is clear, but just in case, it's the part the will be inside when you fold it in half with the cardstock in it. 3) Once you lay the cardstock on the embossing folder be very careful that it does not move. If it does, you'll have smudges where you don't want them. The same goes when removing it after you've run it through your embossing machine. I usually open the folder and turn it upside down so the embossed piece gently drops onto my work surface.

In this next card, you can see what happens if you ink the other side of the embossing folder.

When dry embossing, the part that is depressed on the folder is what pushes up and will be the embossed image. Therefore, the directions I gave you will leave the trees uninked and the background colored with ink. If you want the trees colored with ink and the background to remain uninked bare cardstock, as in the above picture, then you would rub ink on the back inside part - the trees will feel raised and the background will be depressed. If you do it this way, your trees will be colored but they will be debossed (pushed into the cardstock) instead of embossed (raised).

This Christmas card is one of the three cards we will make at my upcoming Stamp-a-Stack featuring Winter Woods. The background was done with the Buffalo Check background stamp.

It's hard to see in this picture, but I added Wink of Stella all over the tree, especially on the snowy areas. The tree layer is flat on the Mossy Meadow cardstock and then I popped up the Mossy Meadow layer with Stampin' Dimensionals. The pennant sentiment is similar. The Very Vanilla piece is flat on the Mossy Meadow, but this time I only put Stampin' Dimensionals on one side so the part over the tree layer is flat against it and the other end is popped up from the Buffalo Check.

Thank you for stopping by my blog and for hopping through this month's NC SU Demos Blog Hop. Next up is Dawn Colby. Hurry on over to see the great projects she has for you.

Jo Anne Hewins

Tina Lesson

Laurie Meier

Sue Root

Dawn Colby

Tracie Evans Langley

Celebrate Sunflowers Again

As promised yesterday, here's another card using the wonderful Celebrate Sunflowers bundle. I just love today's sentiment - Know that you are loved. Everyone should hear that message.

This card was CASEd from Australian demonstrator Alice Tomal. For those of you who don't know, CASE means Copy And Share Everything. It can be used as a verb as I've done here. We demonstrators love to share our creativity with others and when we're stumped for an idea are grateful for others who have shared. You don't always have to copy an idea exactly. Sometimes it's a stepping stone to get your own ideas flowing. Either way, I think it's always fun to see what other people create.

Supplies:

Celebrate Sunflowers Bundle: Celebrate Sunflowers stamps and Sunflowers dies

Cardstock: Bumblebee and Whisper White

Ink: Early Espresso

Cardstock Measurements:

4.25 x 11 Bumblebee – The card opens up rather than to the side with this cut. It is a design choice. 

1 x 2.25 Bumblebee 

3.5 x 3.5 Bumblebee for die cut 

4 x 5.25 Whisper White – 2 pieces, one for the front and one for inside 

I added pearls that I colored with my Blends marker. I used the Dark Daffodil Delight and did 2-3 coats to make it darker. Let dry in between coats and thoroughly before adding to project.

Here's how I finished the inside. Sorry about the shadows. I couldn't seem to avoid them.

And here's a CASE of my CASE. As I mentioned, other's ideas can be a spark for your creativity. I think the first card looks very bright and summery. I changed this one up a bit to seem more like fall. 

For this card, I didn't pop out all the little pieces from the die cut. I sponged the center and also a little bit on the petals to give them some definition.

I hope today's cards have inspired you to create something beautiful. If so, I'd love to see what you make. Please share a picture in the comments or on my facebook page. Happy stamping!

Celebrate Sunflowers

I'm a big fan of the Celebrate Sunflowers Bundle, which includes the Celebrate Sunflowers stamps and Sunflowers dies. Here's a card I designed that we made in my last online class.

Supplies:

Celebrate Sunflowers Bundle: Celebrate Sunflowers stamps and Sunflowers dies

Cardstock: Bumblebee, Old Olive

Ink: Early Espresso

Cardstock Measurements:

4.25 x 11 Old Olive – You will find it helpful to cut your 8.5 x 11 cardstock in half vertically for this card because it is much easier to line up the sentiment piece when neither side is a fold. 

1 x 4.25 Bumblebee 

3.5 x 3.5 Bumblebee for die cut 

4 x 5.25 Whisper White – this is for the inside

I stamped the background using the large sunflower stamp. The die cut sunflower is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals so it stands out a little more. The strip with the sentiment is flat on the card.

For the inside, I stamped the small sunflower in the bottom, right corner of the Whisper White layer. I always like when dark cards have a white layer inside. It's a nice pop when you open the card, plus it makes it easier to read the message.

Check back tomorrow to see another card using this bundle.

Rustic Christmas Card

 The Mini Catalog is full of incredible items, but don't forget about the Annual Catalog. Christmas card using Rooted in Nature, Buffalo Check Background, and Itty Bitty Greetings stamp sets.

Cardstock: Basic Black, Real Red, and Whisper White.
Ink: Garden Green and Tuxedo Black Memento.
Other items: Nature's Roots dies, Linen Thread, and Wink of Stella on the trees.

Here's a close up of the Wink of Stella on the trees. A little sparkle adds a lot.

Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine Now Available

 Woo Hoo! It's here! The new Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine by Stampin' Up! is now available to order!

There are so many great features to this new machine. You are going to love it! There is a full size version and a mini version. Currently only the full size version is available but the mini will be coming soon.

So what sets our machines apart from the rest? Here are some of our favorite features:

• Durable machines with high-quality results. The solid steel construction frame and rubber feet that securely grip the work surface produce crisp, clean, precise cutting and beautifully detailed embossing.
• Easy to use. The machines and tools are designed for an intuitive die-cutting and embossing experience. For example, all plates are labeled with a number and are color coded for easy reference and use when building your sandwich. And just like the name suggests, our Magnetic Cutting Plates have fully-magnetic surfaces to make it easy to securely position your dies and keep them in place.
• Simple to store. The platforms on both machines fold for space-saving storage and they look pretty too–the sleek, clean design suits any crafting space.
• Portable. You can use both machines at home or on the go with their folding platforms and ergonomic carrying handles. This makes it easy to take to crops or other crafting get togethers or to take on vacation or anywhere else you might want to craft.

Both machines come with all the tools needed to get started right away, making it easy to have a fantastic die-cutting and embossing experience from the start. Replacement plates and additional specialty plates are also available. 

Adhesive sheets make it easier than ever to adhere your die cuts.

Check out the whole line of die cutting and embossing supplies here. When you order, please select me, Sue Root, Raleigh, NC as your demonstrator. Thank you!

NC Stampin' Up! Demos July Blog Hop

Welcome to the July NC Stampin' Up! Demos Blog Hop where we are celebrating all things summer. If you are following through the hop, you just saw the fantastic summery project by Laurie Meier. 

For today's post I made a shaker card featuring the Whale Done bundle which includes the Whale Done stamp set and Whale Builder punch.

I couldn't seem to get a good picture without any glare. I'm sorry about that. Here's a close up that might help you get a better idea what inside the circle looks like. There are lots more sequins, but they are pooled at the bottom and hidden by the whale and seaweed. You also can see the details of the Seabed embossing folder better in this picture.

I had a few issues with the shaker part and I'm going to share because maybe my experience will help you. I was out of Foam Adhesive sheets and tried to make due with what I have. Sequins have already fallen out despite the fact it seemed like I had a good seal. I am definitely waiting until I order new Foam Adhesive sheets before making another shaker card. It is so much easier and effective to just cut use my Layering Circles dies to cut a ring from the Foam Adhesive Sheet. Also be sure to use the Window Sheets. They are much easier to work with and give a better seal than other things you might think about substituting.

Here's how I finished the inside of the card.

Supplies:

Stamps: Whale Done

Punch: Whale Builder

Embossing Folder: Seabed

Dies: Layering Circles

Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Pretty Peacock, Sahara Sand, Smoky Slate, Soft Suede

Embellishments: Sequins

Thank you for checking out this month's blog hop. Next up is Nedine DuPree who I am sure will have a wonderful project for you. Enjoy the rest of the blog hop and the rest of your summer!

This month's blog hop participants:

Jo Anne Hewins 
Tina Lesson
Tracie Evans Langley 
Toni Campana  
Amy Kinler
Ariel Matera
Laurie Meier 
Sue Root - you are here
Nedine DuPree

NC Stampin' Up Demos June Blog Hop

Welcome to the June NC SU Demos Blog Hop! You probably just came from the blog of Tracy Lewis.  Wasn't her card great? And what a coincidence that she used the same set that I did.

Since June is a month for weddings, our theme is something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. I made a center step card with the Forever Fern stamp set and Forever Flourishing Dies which are available individually or as a bundle. The colors, the Basic Pearls, my Stampin' Blends marker, and the sentiment from Good Morning Magnolia are old. The Forever Fern bundle is new. I borrowed the bundle my friend Corothy. Thanks Corothy! And I used Pretty Peacock for my blue.

I used sponge daubers on the stamps to get the multi-colored look. All of the other pieces are die cut out of solid colored cardstock. The Basic Pearls were colored with a Stampin' Blends marker. This is a great way to get pearls in different colors.

Colors: Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry, Merry Merlot, Old Olive, Pretty Peacock, and Whisper White

Here's another shot from before the Basic Pearls were added. It gives you a better idea how the folds go.

Here is the inspiration for my card. I have several packs of these Gift Of Fall Add On Bundles and I don't have the stamps from the original Paper Pumpkin. I did have the kit but one of my customers didn't order it and really wanted it so I let her have mine with the agreement I could borrow the stamps to complete my Add On pack. I did at the time, but then the packs went on the Clearance List and I bought more. When I saw Forever Fern, I knew it would go great with these cards. This card inspired me to make today's center fold card. By the way, these are still available on the Clearance List.

Thanks for stopping by this month's blog hop. You can continue on through the hop by visiting Tracie Evans Langley's blog next. I know she'll have a fantastic project for you.

This month's blog participants:

Tina Lesson
Toni Campana
Jo Anne Hewins
Ariel Matera
Laurie Meier
Amy Kinler
Tracy Lewis
Sue Root
Tracie Evans Langley

Libby Foreman
MartinetteHorner

Daisy Lane Fun Fold Card

Today I have a fun fold card - with tutorial - to share with you. I don't know the name of it, but it is super simple. With only some score lines and no fancy cutting, you can get a card that will really pop.

Cut an 8.5 x 11 piece of cardstock in half so that you have a 4.25 x 11 piece. Score at 2 1/4, 3 5/8, 7 3/8, and 8 3/4. Make the first fold on the left a valley fold, then mountain, mountain, and valley. And if that doesn't make sense to you, try this. See the center panel? Fold each score line down. Then fold each of the little panels up. If you stand it on the table and look down at it, it should look like this. Use your bone folder to get crisp edges.

The Whisper White layers are as follows:

Center (2): 3.5 W x 4 H (one for the front and one for the back center panel)

Sides (2): 2 W x 4 H

This is really handy - if you cut a 4 x 11 strip from a piece of cardstock, it comes out perfectly to get the pieces needed for the card. Cut at 3.5, 3.5, 2, and 2 (equals 11).

If the cardstock is laid flat, it looks like this after it is decorated and the layers are attached. I made my side panels a little simpler because I wanted them to be pretty and compliment the front panel, not distract from it.

Since the card doesn't open traditionally, I put the area to sign on the back. The label with the sentiment is 1/2" and the Daffodil Delight layer under is 3/4".

That's all there is to it. I told you it was super simple.

I love this Daisy Lane stamp set and the fact that it has 2 daisy punches that coordinate with it. I only used the Medium sized one - the smaller daisy in the upper right of the front panel - but there is a larger punch that fits the larger daisy. I used Stampin' Dimensionals to pop up the punched daisy.

Colors are Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, and Whisper White.

I hope you give this fun fold a try. If you do, please share your card in the comments or on my facebook page. I'd love to see what you come up with.

Come Sail Away Designer Series Paper - Retires June 2nd

Today I'm going to share some assorted projects I made with the Come Sail Away Designer Series Paper (DSP). You can still get it through tomorrow, June 2nd. After that it, and all of the other retiring items, will no longer be available. Current hostess code for my customers is WQNA3SZM.

These are a set of Artist Trading Cards that I made for last year's State Fair. In addition to the Come Sail Away DSP, I used the Sailing Home stamp set, Smooth Sailing dies, and High Tide stamp set. They received a 3rd place ribbon, which I didn't think was too bad for my first attempt at ATCs.

The Happy Birthday comes from Itty Bitty Greetings. The sailboat is from the Sailing Home stamp set. Cardstock is Crumb Cake.

The next two cards were inspired by the One Sheet Wonder I did with my stamp club last month. We've been meeting via Zoom since we can't meet in person.

This is a set made with the same One Sheet Wonder template. The DSP is really old, but I used the Sailing Home stamps on some of them. You could do the same with the striped DSP in the Come Sail Away DSP.

NC SU Demos May Blog Hop - Farewell Retiring Products

Welcome to the May NC Demos Blog Hop. This month we are celebrating our favorite retiring items. I started out featuring the Wish For It All bundle and ended up using several other retiring items including the Gallery Grunge stamp set, Swirls and Curls embossing folder, Come Sail Away Designer Series Paper (DSP), and some of the 2018-20 In Colors. If you want these or any other retiring items, remember to get them ASAP since retiring items are only available until June 2nd or while supplies last, whichever comes first. Current hostess code for my customers is WQNA3SZM.

The first card uses the retiring In Colors Lovely Lipstick, Blueberry Bushel, and Pineapple Punch. The embossing folder is Swirls and Curls. The label and sentiment are from the Wish For It All stamp set and the candles are from the Doily Wishes dies. Those last 2 products make up the Wish For It All bundle. Except for the Whisper White cardstock, everything on this card is retiring.

For this next card I actually used the negative from cutting out candles. I positioned the candle dies where I wanted them on the Lovely Lipstick layer before I ran it through my die cut machine. There are 2 candle dies in the die set, so I used both the first time and then ran it through the die cut machine another time with just 1 candle die to get the 3rd candle cut out. Two of the die cut candles were removed and used on the 1st card; the other is waiting to be used on another project. Then I put Daffodil Delight cardstock and retiring Come Sail Away DSP behind the candle cut outs and mounted the Lovely Lipstick layer on the card base.

This card also used the negative from cutting a candle for the first card. I used a stamp from Gallery Grunge on a piece of Pineapple Punch cardstock which was layered behind the cut out to make the candle striped. The sentiment is stamped on an oval from the Stitched Shapes dies and layered on a Pineapple Punch oval. I added some rhinestones for bling.

 I die cut the candle on this card from Whisper White cardstock and then sponged it with Daffodil Delight ink for the flame and Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather, and Lovely Lipstick for the candle. The candle is layered on a Coastal Cabana die cut from the Stitched Nested Labels dies. I stamped the background with a stamp from Gallery Grunge. I stamped several times with each color used on the card.

Here's one last card I made with the Wish For It All bundle. I used the dies to create an ice cream cone. The cone is die cut from Soft Suede, then I layered it on top of a piece of Crumb Cake that had been sponged with Soft Suede. The ice cream is cut from Very Vanilla cardstock. I lightly sponged Soft Suede around the edge of the Pool Party background layer and then used a stamp from Gallery Grunge several times to add to the background. It's the same stamp I used to put stripes on the candle on the Blueberry Bushel card.

This is the first time I've inked up my Wish For It All bundle and already can tell I will miss it. I will still use it for personal projects and the Birthday Card Ministry at my church, but am sad I won't be able to use this with my stamp club. There are so many other ideas that I haven't even gotten to yet. I was having so much fun with the candles I never even got to the cake, cupcakes, doily backgrounds, and several other ideas.

Follow along the blog hop to see the next great project by Martinette Horner.

May Blog Hoppers
Amy Kinler 
Toni Campana 
Tina Lesson
Ariel Matera - 
Tracy Marie Lewis 
JoAnne Hewins - 
Jenn Hutt - 
Laurie Meier - 
Libby Foreman 
Tracie Evans Langley 
Sue Stapp
Sue Root - you are here
Martinette Horner
Nedine Dupree
Erin TCook 

NC SU Demos April Blog Hop - It's a Spring Thing

Welcome to the April NC SU Demos Blog Hop. Our theme this month is "It's a Spring Thing." I chose to share with you the One Sheet Wonder (OSW) cards that I created using two sheets of Designer Series Paper (DSP) from the Magnolia Lane DSP pack. Although I've done plenty of OSWs with templates I found online, this is the first time I've designed my own OSW template. My stamp clubs and I are creating these cards virtually this month. Anyone who placed, or places, a $35 or more order in April using the current hostess code (YDWNMQBA) will be sent the template and basic instructions via email.

Here are all 12 of the cards made with one sheet of DSP. I also made all of these cards with another DSP from the Magnolia Lane pack. While I don't have a group picture, they are all shown below.

I tried to keep the cards pretty basic with minimal supplies so that my stamp club members would have most of the supplies already. Since demonstrators are unable to provide stamped images to customers, I used a variety of sentiments from a variety of sets to give some ideas. Any sentiment that fits will work.

Many of these cards feature circles and ovals from the Stitched Shapes framelits. This card also has a strip of 3/4" Petal Pink cardstock.

 As you can see, I used the back side of one of the papers for a different look.

 I added some pearls to this card for some extra interest since there are fewer layers. It's a little hard to see on the background I used behind the cards, but the card base is Mellow Moss.

This card also has a Mellow Moss base.

 The template gives 2 triangle shaped pieces, so stampers can make 2 of the same card or rotate the triangle for a different look.

This card also has a Mellow Moss base that's kind of hard to see.

 Just cut a V shape out of the end of a rectangle to make the pennants. I usually use my ruler to mark the center of the cardstock piece so both sides end up even. This is particularly helpful when layering pennants.

 I added an extra layer to the card on the left, otherwise these cards are the same.

Magnolia Lane DSP is on the Last Chance List, and it's discounted, so be sure to get your pack before it's gone. There's also a 20 pack of Magnolia Lane DSP that just has the 2 sheets used on my cards on the Last Chance List.

Sentiments on these cards came from Beautiful Bouquet, Butterfly Gala, Dandelion Wishes, Good Morning Magnolia, Itty Bitty Greetings, Rooted In Nature, and Varied Vases. Don't feel limited in your sentiment selection. You don't always have to use a sentiment with the stamps it came with.

Some of these cards fit the criteria for #simplestamping - just ink, stamps, and paper (in this case cardstock and Designer Series Paper).

Thanks for visiting my blog and joining our blog hop. Next up is 

Amy Kinler with another Spring themed project.

April Blog Hoppers
Amy Kinler
Nedine DuPree
Tracie Evans Langley
JoAnne Hewins
Tina Lesson
Toni Campana
Sue Stapp
Ariel Matera
Laurie Meier
Sue Root - You are here