Happy Easter!

Happy Easter friends! Check out this Easter Lily made with the Festive Flower punch. The leaves were stamped with a stamp from Friends and Flowers. The cross was embossed with the Woodgrain embossing folder and my Big Shot.

The background was embossed with the Fluttering embossing folder on retired Core'dinations cardstock. Inside is the pretty Easter message from Suite Sayings, which is what I wish you this Easter and always:

Wishing you all the beautiful blessings of Easter.

*The Easter Lily is CASEd from another stamper, but unfortunately I cannot find the original post so can't find out who to give credit to. For some reason, I didn't pin it - so let that be a lesson: pin those cards you like as soon as you see them ;) If I find it later, I'll add it.

TSSC 351

Here's my design team sample for this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge. I needed a baby shower card for a co-worker whose theme is elephants, so I pulled out the retired set Wild About You.

Supplies:

Stamps: Wild About You, Cuddles and Kisses

Cardstock: Baja Breeze Core'Dinations, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip

Big Shot: Alphabet Press Embossing Folder

Punch: Corner Rounder

Embellishments: Chocolate Chip 3/4" Chevron Ribbon, retired brads

Here's this week's sketch. Use it to inspire you.

You can link your project and see the rest of the design team samples at the Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge site. Hope you'll play along this week!

TSSC 326 - Traveler

Here's my design team sample for this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge. It features the Stampin' Up! stamp set, Traveler. Check out my alternate version at the bottom of the post.

 

Supplies:

Stamps: Traveler

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Core'dinations: Early Espresso

Designer Series Paper (DSP): Sweet Taffy

Ink: Early Espresso

Big Shot: Tasteful Trim Die

The ship is popped up using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Here's this week's sketch. Use it to inspire you!

Before I had everything taped down, my pieces shifted and they landed like this (almost). I liked it, so decided to share it with you. Everything is the same, except I changed the orientation of the Early Espresso strip.

You can link your project and see the rest of the design team samples at the Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge site. Hope you'll play along this week!

Check back tomorrow for the new Weekly Deals! Still time to get this week's specials. Order Online or contact me about a group order.

Look Up To Father - Father's Day Card

This is a variation of a card we did in our last club class. I used the single stamp Look Up To Father. After I stamped the image, I used my paper trimmer to cut it apart.

The background was made with the Big Shot and Woodgrain Embossing Folder. I embossed Core'dinations cardstock and then sanded it. I sure am going to miss the Core'dinations. Good thing I stocked up! The ribbon was current when the club met, but has since retired.

The card we made in club was similar. We left the image whole, then mounted it on a longer piece of Garden Green cardstock and trimmed the bottom of that piece with Fringe Scissors. The ribbon went across the card horizontally and we embellished it with a button. Sorry I don't have a picture to share, but hopefully you can get the idea.

TSSC 314 Perfect Pennants

Here's my design team sample for this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge. It is note card size (3.5" x 5") and features the Stampin' Up! stamp set, Perfect Pennants.  The set is available in a bundle, with the Banner Framelits. You save 15% when purchasing the bundle instead of the individual products.

I sponged all of the Whisper White cardstock pieces (even the card base) with Daffodil Delight and Pool Party ink so it would blend in a little more with the DSP. I used the Banner Punch for the banner along the bottom. To get the longer banner, I just fed it in through the top. I sanded the Pool Party Core'Dinations, which helped it match the look of the card.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Perfect Pennants, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party Core'Dinations
Ink: Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party
Designer Series Paper (DSP): Epic Day
Big Shot: Banner Framelits
Ribbon: Daffodil Delight Seam Binding
Punch:  Banner Punch

 Here's this week's sketch.

 Thanks for stopping by my blog today. If you haven't been there yet, be sure to check out the design team samples here .  This is also where you can link your project.

Scallop Tag Topper Punch Fancy Fold Card

I thought this style of fancy fold card was so cool the moment I saw it. I showed the stampers at my April Club how to make one. The top card is the one we made in class.

 Supplies:

Stamps: Oh Hello (retiring)

Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla, Pool Party Core'dinations (retiring)

Ink: Crushed Curry, Pear Pizzazz

Designer Series Paper (DSP): Afternoon Picnic (retiring, on 4/22 Weekly Deals list)

Big Shot: Honeycomb Embossing Folder

Punch: Scallop Tag Topper Punch

Ribbon: Very Vanilla Seam Binding

 I designed and made this card during Sale-a-Bration.

 Here's what this style looks like standing up.

Supplies:

Stamps: Papaya Collage (retiring)

Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Pool Party, Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White

Ink: Sahara Sand, Pool Party, Crisp Cantaloupe, Wild Wasabi

Designer Series Paper (DSP): Sweet Sorbet (SAB, no longer available)

Big Shot: Arrows Embossing Folder

Punch: Scallop Tag Topper Punch

Ribbon: Pool Party Baker's Twine (SAB, no longer available)

TSSC 304 - Perfect Blend

BLOG CANDY:  Win Reason to Smile by interacting on my social media.  See details here. 

Here is this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge sample.  I actually had an interesting time this week.  This was going to be my prototype, but it wasn't going the way I envisioned.  I switched directions, but that card didn't really match the sketch.  So, I went back to this card.  In the meantime, one of my Oval framelits disappeared, so my prototype became the card I used.  Sometimes it just happens that way! :)

Here is this week's TSSC sketch:

 

 The line down the center of the sketch made me think of the card folded that way, so that's what I did.  Here's the card standing up so you can see how it opens:

 And here it is all the way open.  I sponged the inside just as I did the front.  I also added a few splotches.  The lines you see were scored with the Simply Scored tool.  Although the lines don't show that well in the pictures, they are around all of the edges.  I'll add an appropriate sentiment when I send it.  I'm thinking it will make a good birthday card for a friend.

Colors:  Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, Early Espresso, Naturals Ivory

Stamps:  Perfect Blend, French Foliage (for the splotches - could use stamp from Hey You, which comes with the My Paper Pumpkin Welcome Kit)

Designer Series Paper (DSP):  Epic Day

Big Shot:  Ovals and Circles Framelits

You can see the rest of the design team samples at the TSSC website.  Then link your entry at the bottom of the TSSC post.  Hope you'll play along this week!

Check back tomorrow for this week's Weekly Deals.

Edit 3/9/14 - I just posted the card I mentioned in the first paragraph - the one that I decided not to use as my design team sample.  You can see it here.

TSSC 293 Tags 4 You

Here is this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge sample.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Tags 4 You, Hearts A Flutter

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Real Red, Early Espresso Core'dinations

Designer Series Paper (DSP):  Patterns Stack - Brights Collection

Ink:  Real Red, Early Espresso

Big Shot:  Framed Tulips embossing folder, Hearts Framelits, Hearts A Flutter Framelits

And here's this week's sketch:

Now hop on over to the TSSC site to see the rest of the design team samples and to link your entry.  Hope you'll play along this week.

Joyful Christmas Cards

Do your Black Friday shopping all weekend from home!  Holiday Sale and current Weekly Deals go through Monday, Dec. 2nd!

Holiday Sale items in this post:  Joyful Christmas, Core'dinations cardstock, and Gold Ink (in a bundle with Silver Ink) 

Your order could win you $25 in free merchandise or the retired stamp set, Patterned Pines!  Details here.

Order online here.  Use Hostess Code BZAYHD2Y

 The poinsettia from Joyful Christmas was stamped onto Real Red cardstock and cut out.  The center dots were colored with the Signo White Gel Pen.  The background is Gumball Green Core'dinations cardstock that has been embossed with the Pretty Prints embossing folder and the Big Shot.  I used a sanding block to sand the Core'dinations which revealed the lighter inner core.  The sentiment is from More Merry Messages.

 The second card uses the same stamp from Joyful Messages, but it was stamped directly onto the Real Red background in gold ink.  The Happy Birthday was also stamped in gold ink, though I can't remember the set right now (it's retired).

Please contact me if you need assistance with an order or have any stamping needs.

TSSC 290 Oh, Hello - Soho Subway

Holiday Sale alert:

Items on this card that are on sale - Soho Subway DSP (130140, $7.67), Neutrals Core'dinations cardstock (129956, $16.77 - other colors on sale, too).  Plus, it's sized to fit in the Crumb Cake Note Card Envelopes  (131528, $3.85) that are on sale (shown below).

Here is this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge card:

The flower is from Oh, Hello.  The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is Soho Subway.  The background is Early Espresso Core'dinations which has been sanded with a Stampin' Sanding Block.

Here is the sketch:

 

And here is the envelope.  It holds a 3.5" x 5" card, which is a great size.  Sometimes you just want to write a quick note to someone and you don't have enough to say to fill a standard sized card.  I know - if you read my posts regularly, you're probably thinking I always have a lot to say (lol).  Besides, sometimes it's just fun to design for a different size and ratio.

I stamped the Chevron image from Oh, Hello in the corner.  I think stamping the envelope makes a nice surprise when the recipient pulls the card from the mailbox.

Don't forget to head on over to the TSSC site to see the rest of the design team samples and to link your entry.  You are going to play along this week, right?

Wonderful Blessing

Holiday Sale items:  Wonderful Blessing, Core'dinations Cardstock, and Circle Framelits.  My Circle Framelits have not gotten here yet, so I had to cut this out by hand.  The framelits set has a circle that is just the right size for this stamp, so not only would it save a lot of time to use it, the circle would look better.

The ribbon is Cherry Cobbler 1" Grosgrain Stitched Edge Ribbon.  I'm not sure if you can see the texture on the Night of Navy square, but the Core'dinations cardstock has a slight texture to it.  If you don't sand it, it looks very similar to the textured cardstock Stampin' Up! used to sell.

I think this stamp is so pretty.  I'm looking forward to making a bunch more cards with it once my Circle Framelits arrive.  You can see another card I made with this stamp here.

Love and Laughter - Soho Subway

This wedding card has several items that are discounted during the Holiday Sale (11/20-12/1, 2013).

Sale items on this card:

Soho Subway Designer Series Paper (DSP) (130140,  only $7.67)

Core'dinations cardstock - all color families are 30% off - $16.77 for 40 sheets of 12 x 12!!  Brights (129953), Subtles (129954), Regals (129955), Neutrals (129956)

Also, 2012-14 In Colors (129957) - $8.27 for 20 sheets of 12 x 12

In Color Embellishments Bundle (136534, $13.52) - includes In Color Boutique Details (Crisp Cantaloupe shown on this card) and In Color Dahlias

Supplies:

Cardstock:  Pistachio Pudding, Very Vanilla
Core'dinations:  Early Espresso
DSP:  Soho Subway
Ink:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Early Espresso (light sponging)
Embellishments:  Crisp Cantaloupe Boutique Detail

Turkey Card - Tags 4 You

Isn't this Turkey Card just the cutest thing?  We'll be making it in the class next week and we'd love to have you join us.  Tues. 10/22 at 6:30pm and Wed. 10/23 at 10:00am  You can see full details about the class here.

The sentiment is from Tags 4 You.  I bought it in the bundle (clear - 133294, wood - 133293)  with the Label Bracket punch and saved 15%.  It was stamped with Pumpkin Pie ink.

The strip of cardstock under the turkey is Early Espresso Core'dinations that I sanded to look like dirt.  There are some packs of Core'dinations cardstock on the Clearance Rack, so be sure to check that out.  There are some great deals, but only available while supplies last.

The turkey was made with the Owl Punch, the Autumn Accents die, and the Boho Blossoms Punch.  Designer Series Paper (DSP) is from the Regals Paper Stack (the retired pack, but the current one also has polka dots).  Cardstock is Chocolate Chip, More Mustard (sadly, retired - but if you need some I can hook you up), Cajun Craze, Whisper White, and Basic Black.

Although I changed my card and even how I made the turkey, the original inspiration and directions came from Dawn Olchefske.  She said that she got the idea from Connie Plaumann.  Thanks, ladies!

Thank you for stopping by my blog.  Remember, you can make this card (and two others) in class next week.  Be sure to RSVP by Sunday night if you plan to come.

Graduation Card - She Believed She Could

I know most of you are through graduations, but I wanted to  wait until some of the cards and gifts were given before I posted them to my blog so that the surprise wasn't ruined.

Today's card is once again done in Brilliant Blue and Crushed Curry for Garner High School's colors of Blue and Gold.  In May, I did a variation of this card in Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo (not trying to match any school colors), but sent it before I took a picture.

The stamp is from Feel Goods and I think it's great for any female graduate, but especially for an advanced degree or someone who's overcome some difficulties in reaching her goal.  I embossed the words so that they would really stand out on the dark background.  It was a little tricky because the card stock is textured so some of the areas didn't get any ink the first time.  I used my VersaMarker (retired, but you could probably use VersaMark ink and some sort of applicator, like a Q-tip(?), to apply it) to fill in the empty areas and then embossed again.

The flower was cut with the Daisies #2 die (retired) and the Big Shot.  The corners were punched with the Scallop Trim Corner Punch (retired).

Bonus card:  Here's a variation of the graduation card using the Chalkboard Technique that I posted previously.  You can see a few changes - layered on a Naturals Ivory Background, frame cut from Early Espresso Core'dinations and sanded, fewer stamps to accommodate the smaller black piece (chalkboard).  You can see the original card here.

TSSC 268 - Open Sea and Epic Day

I'm a day late with my Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge (TSSC) this week.  We just had so much going on with graduation and company that I didn't have time to get it done.  Sorry it's late.

The Designer Series Paper along the bottom is from Epic Day.  I love that DSP with my This and That Journal, but  it's also really nice for cards.  The ship stamp, from Open Sea, is stamped in Basic Gray ink on Pool Party card stock.  Both colors are on the DSP.  The base is Crumb Cake, which is also featured on the Epic Day DSP.

For the strip across the middle, I punched a 1" strip of Early Espresso Core'dinations on both sides with the Scallop Edge Border Punch.  I tried to offset the scallops so that it would look kind of like a rope.  Then I distressed it with my sanding block and my distressing tool.

Here's this week's sketch:

 

You've seen my sample.  Now head over to the TSSC site to link your own entry and see the samples from the rest of the design team.

You Are Loved Valentines

Here are a few Valentine's I made using the stamp set, You Are Loved.

With this first card I was pleased to discover that I could use the Hearts Framelits to cut out the heart.  It's a little smaller than the original stamped image, but it still looks great.   I really love the 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon.  I have it in every color available.  Colors on this card are Basic Gray, Whisper White, and Primrose Petals.

 This card is from the Note Cards and Envelopes pack (107311) and is 3 1/2" x 5".  It's the perfect size for a quick note.  The pack has 20 scored cards and envelopes for only 5.95.  Card colors are Real Red, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White.

 For the background on this card I used Core'dinations card stock embossed with the Fancy Fan embossing folder and then sanded.  I wanted it to look distressed, so I sanded off extra and then sponged it with Chocolate Chip ink.  Card colors are Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White.

Bells and Boughs Card and Gift Card Holder

I have two coordinating projects to share today - a card and a gift card holder.

The card was made first using the Bells and Boughs stamp set, Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder, the oval from the Designer Frames embossing folders, the Scallop Oval punch, and my Big Shot.  The ink is Always Artichoke and the Cardstock is Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, and Cherry Cobbler Core'dinations (which has been sanded to make the embossed image stand out).

I wanted a gift card holder for a class and I really liked the above card, so I modified it to look like this.  I used the Top Note die for the shape and changed up the colors a bit.

The brad creates a hinge to open the gift card holder.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  If you'd like to learn to make great projects like this gift card holder, please join me at a class sometime.  Or, join a stamp club and get free classes by purchasing great Stampin' Up products.

 

Silver Bells, Silver Bells

This card, which uses the Stampin' Up set Bells and Boughs, makes me think of the Christmas carol, Silver Bells (which gave me the title for this post).  It's so much fun to put on Christmas carols and work away on my Christmas stamping projects.

I used markers to color the stamp - Gumball Green (leaves) and Cherry Cobbler (ribbon and berries) Stampin' Write markers and the Silver Stampin' Dazzle Marker for the bells.  I use the Stampin' Dazzle markers a lot. The silver and the gold are both great for coloring the tops of the ornaments in the Ornament Keepsakes set (as I did on this gift card holder).  The stamp is framed by the Window Frames Framelits.  The Gumball Green framelit was cut from Core'dinations card stock and then I used the Stampin' Sanding Blocks to distress it a bit.  The background Designer Series Paper is from the Festival of Prints pack.

Baby Jesus Christmas Card

This card was made with the 25 and Counting stamp set. I colored the image with Stampin' Write markers, leaving the number without ink.  The background was embossed with the Holiday Frame embossing folder on Cherry Cobbler Core'dinations card stock, which was then sanded to show the lighter core.

Note:  For newsletter subscribers who are looking for a home decor item - it didn't turn out quite as I expected and I want to improve it a bit before posting it on my blog.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you all a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving!

We made this card in one of my classes and it was a big hit.  The leaves were cut using the Big Shot and the Autumn Accents die.  Then they were folded in half and run through the Woodgrain Embossing Folder to give the impression of veins on the leaves.  I don't know who thought of this because I've seen it several places, but I think it's a great idea.  The button was cut using the Sweet Buttons Embosslit and then I made a little knot with Baker's Twine and used just a dot of Tombow Multi-purpose Glue to attach it on top of the button.

The Early Espresso Strip of Core'dinations card stock was also embossed with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder.  Then it was sanded to show the lighter core on the raised lines.  The Happy Thanksgiving stamp is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  It was punched out using the Word Window punch.  Then I punched a piece of Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock with the Modern Label punch to layer behind the sentiment.  I sanded around the edges to make it look distressed.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  I am thankful for so many things, not only on this Thanksgiving holiday, but on every day.  Among the things I'm thankful for are my wonderful blog readers and my fantastic customers.