Stamps, Paper, and Ink

My Favorite Sets: Winter Post

Winter Post is another one of my all-time favorite sets for Christmas! 
For today's card~

• I combined the Winter Post set with Serene Snowflakes and the sentiment comes from All Holidays. 
• I stamped the skaters in Soft Suede ink, then covered the image with a mask to stamp the snowflakes
• I sponged Sahara Sand around the edges using an oval mask
• Colored the skaters' clothing with markers, and I added glitter to her hat and sleeves
• The red card stock is textured. Don't forget about this option, it adds so much elegance to your projects!

I'll list the supplies in a minute - but, speaking of supplies - my order from the Sale A Bration brochure and Occasions mini arrives today. I can't wait! I love being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator! If you'd like to find out how you can get 30% off of your stamping supplies this month - just send me an e-mail and ask!

You know, I so appreciate every one of you that faithfully visit to see what I've been making. Thanks for your support and kind comments. Have a great day!

Edited to add: Since I've already received requests for specific information about how I made this card, I've added them below.

Supplies~  all supplies by Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Winter Post, Serene Snowflakes, All Holidays
Paper: whisper white, real red textured, soft suede
and Ink: soft suede, sahara sand, real red

Accessories: Square rhinestones, Mistletoe ribbon, 1-3/8", slot and Designer Label punches, sponges, Top Note, Big Shot

How I made the focal image using the masking technique, step by step:

•  Cut the Top Note. Cut an oval  - I used the Nestie Ovals and cut the oval out of a transparency, so I could see to center it on the Top Note .
• Next you need to cut a mask of the skaters. Stamp the skaters (in soft suede) and cover with the mask.
• Center your oval mask and randomly stamp the snowflakes. I stamped the large snowflake first. Sponge lightly around the edge of the oval to define.
• Carefully remove the mask over the skaters.
• Assemble the rest of the card.

E-mail me HERE with any questions you have!

My hotel room offerings....Fifth Avenue Floral

I am on a trip with my teenagers and I am making a card?  Well, you see, they are at a String music camp all day and I came along for the ride to tuck them in at night. :D  So, here away from home, what do I do after eating breakfast out, and doing a little shopping? Make a card of course!  Want to know how many bags of stamping supplies I packed?  Just a couple tote bags full. :D  This is a limited supply week for me, hope you'll give me lots of comments for my extra-effort, LOL! I had to go outside and take the photo on the sidewalk, now that's dedication! (or maybe I am just crazy, but you knew that already didn't you?) heehee

 

Here's my card using the Fifth Ave Floral stamp set. The technique is so much fun and really easy. I stamped the flowers on Shimmery white cs and embossed them in white. I spritzed them generously with water and then used added drops of color from re-inkers. Colors are cameo coral and apricot appeal, they are more vibrant IRL. The sentiment comes from t he Soft Summer set.

I brought these flowers cut out already and it was easy peasy to add them to a card based on the sketch provided at the Clean and Simple Cards challenge for today. I'd love to hear from you, hope you like it!

Welcome to the Blog Tour!

Welcome to
Blog Tour # 7
Stop 17






I am so glad you've stopped by to see the projects I have for you today using the Big Shot and the Matchbox and Top Note dies. I have good things in store for you!
The matchbox die is exclusive to Stampin' Up! and in one cut you get the box top and bottom and three tags. Assembly of the box is easy and you get TWO boxes from one sheet of 12x12 card stock!

You may have seen these boxes filled with candy or made with transparent window sheets, or even stacked to make adorable drawers.

Here's the box that I made to wish a special child a Happy Birthday. The Sweet Slumber Specialty Paper makes a darling box. You'll never guess what's inside! I like to think 'outside the box' and I have a great idea for you!
Pull the ribbon tab to open the box, and...

and, up POP these three cute critters from the Forest Friends stamp set to greet you! How fun is that ?!  I was so excited to try this idea and find out it really works! 

ETA: Thanks for the suggestion, Jackie, that I send this project to SU! I will do it :) Also, since there have been many requests, I will be posting a tutorial on my blog the first week of June. Sorry it can't be sooner, I have quite a few projects going on now!

My next project using the Top Note die was inspired by a lovely graduation invitation that I received. I took the pocket idea and designed this graduation card for the young lady with a matching envie.


The card bottom folds up to reveal the other pattern of the Walk in the Park designer Paper. Then a flap is folded back and it is all tied up with the So Saffron polytwill ribbon. Great Grads is the stamp set I used for this card.
I hope you'll bookmark my blog now so that you can visit again. The purpose of this tour is to help you enjoy your own creativity. If my blog has done that, I'd sure love to hear from you, take a minute to leave a comment if you can. Thanks for visiting!

Now, let me introduce my colleague Sarah Miller, who will be featuring the Always stamp set from the Spring/Summer Idea book & Catalog.

Thanks so much for taking part in the Blog Tour! Next one is scheduled for July featuring the new catalog. See you then!

Faux Cloisonne

If you've never tried the Faux Cloisonne technique you should give it a try! You basically choose a colorful swatch from a glossy magazine or catalog and emboss your image on top of it. Cut it out and add it to the same image embossed on card stock.

As you can see on this card by Emily, it's an elegant effect! Her card is especially elegant and beautiful as always - didn't she do a fabulous sample for me?  :D  The flowers and large leaf are filled in with the glossy cloisonne. The feathery trailing leaves are from the Little Leaves Sizzlet die, cut out with the Big Shot.Of course, the pearls are from my never-ending Pretties Kit. :D

Some of you have asked where to find this ribbon. It is Stampin' Up!'s Whisper White Organza Ribbon shown HERE. The beautiful stripe shows up much better on a real project and the price includes 15 yds. of ribbon! You may order from me anytime with an e-mail telling me what you'd like.

I'm off to work on some projects of my own. I'll be back tomorrow!

Endless Spring

 

Spring is here and it's Friday too, time for a challenge! Think Spring is the theme for this week's challenge at the Stamp Something blog. Our sponsor this week is Roses on Paper, head on over to the blog and check out the fun! 

In my mind spring and butterflies always go together, although I love butterflies in any season! I used the Echoes of Kindness hostess set, and colored the images with Stampin' Up! markers. The circle card was a breeze with my Circle Scissor Plus cutter. I will share more about this new product in the next week. The two white layers are matted with celery card stock and they open (the hinge is at the top) so a note can be written inside.    

For the butterfly I used the Bigz Beautiful Butterflies die and cut it out with Sticky Pages* so that I could lavish the wings with glitter. Gotta have my bling!

Wishing you a day full of sunshine, soft breezes, and many kind words. Oh, and a little bling.

Supplies~
Stamps: Echoes of Kindness
Paper: whisper white, certainly celery
Ink: Black Staz-On

Accessories: white Organza Ribbon, Stampin' Up! Beautiful Butterflies die, Big Shot, Circle Scissors Plus and glass mat, Pretties' Kit, Fine Cosmo Stampin. Glitter, Sticky Pages (* Sticky strip material in full size sheets)

Spring Day

Yesterday I wanted to make a bunny card and forgot that I had never used the Serene Spring set, now retired. It seemed perfect - the sentiment, sweet image and bright clean pastels sure fit my mood! I was inspired by the marvelous Mojo Monday sketch - not having to think about layout freed me up to play with the image and papers. I paper pieced the basket and popped up Peter rabbit's face on a dimensional. I used SU! markers for all the coloring and shading, except a dab or two with the white gel pen. The paper die cut button is two layers of paper, and is coated with Crystal Effects to make it shiny.

I can't end my post without letting each of you know how much I appreciate you, your visits and kind words to me. Your encouragement is like a breath of spring to me. Thanks.

Supplies~
Stamps: Serene Spring
Paper: Tea Party Designer Series paper, whisper white, pretty in pink, so saffron, almost amethyst
Ink: Black Staz-On, Lovely Lilac
Accessories: cream grosgrain ribbon, markers for watercolor, corner rounder punch, Big Shot, Buttons die, Crafters' Tool kit, gel pen, Crystal Effects

Golden Elegance ~ Bloomin' Beautiful

I hope you don't mind that I am posting tonight since I just couldn't wait until tomorrow to show you this one! Tomorrow will be a busy day as I prepare for my monthly club. This project is a sample for my fun group of the faux cloisonne technique. I have always wanted to try this technique and had this image sitting ready to put on a card. When I saw Julee's darling Mojo Monday sketch it seemed a perfect fit!

The technique uses a page from a magazine or glossy garden catalog. Does anybody remember the cloisonne jewelry from way back when?  LOL It was always outlined in gold and this technique mimics it - in fact it's even more beautiful than the original was. (there, now I've given myself away :D )  Often the gold embossing is done on black, but I chose to use shimmery white as my neutral this time. I just love the way these papers show off the variegated colors in the flower.

Supplies~
Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful (not retired), 24-7
Paper: shimmery white, kiwi kiss, Raspberry Tart DP, cameo coral
Ink: versa mark
Accessories: gold embossing powder, white organdy ribbon, 1-1/4 and 1-3/8" hole punches, Pretties kit

 

Happy, happy thoughts!

Thoughts of you are happy thoughts! Today I happen to be thinkin' about being able to order from the new catalog! I hope you are too.

The Echoes of Kindness set, a level 2 hostess set, is just perfect for those who love to watercolor, and I am one of them! I colored the line image with markers first, and then stamped. I used an aqua painter and reinkers to watercolor~then added some finishing touches with markers directly on the paper.

I just love pale yellow roses that have a tinge of pink or coral around the edges, so that was the basis for my color combo.

Embellishments were easy with a button from the Bouquet sampler and my stash of rub-ons and So Saffron polytwill ribbon.

Speaking of embellishments, don't you just love the new accessories in the Spring/Summer Catalog? Be on the watch for an exciting opportunity that is coming soon: my button and ribbon share!

Supplies~
Stamps: Echoes of Kindness, Goody Goody Gumdrops
Paper: Pretty in Pink, rose, red, whisper white, kiwi kiss
Ink:kiwi kiss
Accessories: SU! markers in so saffron, rose red, old olive, more mustard, scallop edge punch, crafters' tool kit, Button Bouquet, Eastern Elegance rub-ons, so saffron polytwill ribbon

Bringin' on the Birthday Bling

Ready to stamp something for a Birthday Challenge?  After two special celebrations in our house this week I couldn't imagine a better theme. I love bling, so I am happy to add this card to my stash. This is my first card made with the Sparkly Stained Glass technique, you'll find a great tutorial for the technique HERE. I wasn't sure at first if this image from Fun & Fast Notes would work, but it was not hard filling in the small spaces with Fine Cosmo glitter from Stampin' Up! I love the result!

The window cut in the Rose Red card stock was conveniently done with the Scallop Square punch. I punched and punched again to make a rectangle. When you discover this trick, it really adds quickly to your punching possibilities!

Join us for this fab challenge - I can't wait to see all the birthday creations!

Supplies~
Stamps: Fast & fun Notes, Heard from the Heart
Paper: bashful blue, whisper white, rose red textured
Ink: bashful blue, black staz-on
Accessories: scallop edge and scallop square punches, Fine Cosmo glitter, crystal effects, On Board Lots of Letters

To order Stampin' Up! products from me online 24-7, CLICK HERE

Life is good with a cherry on top

Who doesn't love an ice cream sundae with a cherry on top?

I loved making my own with the Goody-Goody gumdrops stamp set. I am not tired of playing with this set so you get one more sneak peek! It's so much fun water-coloring the adorable images.

I made this for the sketch challenge at SCS (SC209) It's a great sketch and I loved mixing up the designer papers in the favorite colors of the dear one I'm sending it to.

The cherry on the top for me is getting to share my designs with you.

Here's the recipe~
Stamps: Goody Goody Gumdrops
Paper: Bella Rose, Designer prints Baja Breeze, whisper white, Baja Breeze
Ink: Riding Hood Red, black Staz-On, re-inkers

Accessories: soft subtles brads, RHRed taffeta ribbon, aqua painter