Friday, January 30, 2009

Heart box

Here is another project I made for my recent event. Its a valentine/heart box that can be used for anything you like! I made this one a generous size of 4x4, so it can be filled with little cards, candy, or a small gift! It has a base of Real Red (although it looks rose red in the picture for some reason) and Real Red Designer Series Paper, the lid is Pretty in Pink stamped with the Always small circles, then I stamped the large heart from the Always set in Real Red, cut it out then cut a mat of Real Red to go behind it, then tied it with the Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon.
I put the heart on dimensionals in such a way that the ribbon kind of threads though it, so it can be easily removed or even re-used!
before I assembled the lid, I punched the edges with the scallop edge punch. This box was actually pretty easy to make! The heart would be even prettier with glitter on it! I might go do that!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Give a little love

These are the little valentines I had prepared for my recent event. They are 3x3, and very easy to make! The main colors I used are Real Red and Pretty in Pink. Inkds: Riding Hood Red, Pretty in Pink. The stamp sets I used are Love You Much and Holidays and Wishes. It also uses one of my newest favorite tools....the corner rounder! Love that little thing! It really gives your cards a cute, finished look. And it punches easily through 2 layers of cardstock, which is really nice. It's very inexpensive, and you get TONS of use out of it! It's definitely on my list of must haves for your tool kit.
Lastly, I used a blender pen to color in the images. You could put glitter on them if you like, I opted not to this time. I kept it simple.
This is a great example of how you can make several things with just a few supplies. And you can do any variation of these, or even translate them into larger cards!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Bugs and Kisses

I was sitting at my scrap-desk, and wondering what I could do to make a valentine for a little boy. I was originally just going to go with more boy colors with a typical valentine, but then in my search through my stamps, came across the Bugs and Kisses set, and had a V8 moment! It works perfectly!

This little card is a 3x3, cardbase of Bashful Blue, mat of Real Red, and the cute little grasshopper is stamped with Certainly Celery ink on Whisper White. On a scrap piece of white, I used the heart trio stamp from Love you Much, inked just the little heart, and punched it out with the Heart to Heart punch. I then rounded all the corners and put it all together! You could easily make a lot of these for a child's class or for their friends!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Back to my roots

Since becoming a Stampin' Up demonstrator, I haven't done a whole lot of scrapbooking, which used to be my main hobby. I guess i was kind of learning how to make cards and concentrated on that for the last year. Well, In the meantime, I have all these pictures that need to be put on pages!
So last month, I decided to buckle down and make a page for my daughters kindergarten picture!
I wanted it to be easy enough that I could finish it fairly quickly.

I started with a 8x8 page of Pretty in Pink, and the Simply Said and Bugs and Kisses sets. I used Basic black to stamp the flowers, and Pretty in Pink for the flowers on the white panel. I inked the ladybug in real red and used a black marker to color the head, antennae and legs directly on the stamp. I then used the white gel pen to color in the flowers and the black marker to make the dots around the title panel and the picture.
I put mats on this page of going gray and white, but you can just have the whole page Pretty in Pink if you like.
I left lots of room for journaling on the top left. You could even put your title on the top left and put your journaling below that.

Friday, January 23, 2009

of Pumpkins and scarecrows

Ok, I had every intention of posting this yesterday, but during the time I would have normally been typing, my sweet husband decided to tinker with my computer to try and make it run faster. It seems to have worked, but it caused my post to be typed a day late. I'm not complaining though! lol!
But it all worked out, because now that I am posting this, I can finally start posting things that are more "seasonally appropriate" beginning Monday!
I will have a scrapbook page to post, and then on to some Valentines stuff!

These cards were made with the Autumn Harvest set (now on the Dormant list) and the Happy Blessings set, which was in the Holiday Mini, and I am hoping will return for the next catalog.
I used colored pencils and Gamsol to color the scarecrow, and a combination of colored pencils and watercolor technique for the pumpkins. The background papers were all scraps, cause I always like to use scraps when I can, cause boy do I have a lot! I hate wasting anything!

Happy dancing!!


why I am happy-dancing? well, because I got the most exciting news! I have been sent an award by my new blogging buddy, Julie Alberda! I feel so very honored! Her stuff is wonderful! Check out her blog and see her beautiful work!:

http://stampingstation.blogspot.com/

Isn't she super talented? And she's a wonderful person too! Thank you so much, Julie! I am seriously giddy about this! Can I tag you back?

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person or persons who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.



Ok. So here are the 6 random things about me.

1. If I had tons and tons of money, I would build/run a dog rescue
2. I'm fascinated by space and all its beautiful wonders
3. I would love to take a graphic arts course.
4. I like the rain and snow. (just not driving in it!)
5. I think polar bears are super funny!
6. I would love to learn how to 'stage' a home (when you are selling your home and someone comes and fixes it to be more appealing to buyers)



Yeah, I know, those things are really random!
I wanted to tag my wonderful friend Carrie Rhoades, but Julie tagged her too! here is Carries blog:

http://www.carriestamps.com/weblog/


Allright, now here are my tags! they all are so incredibly talented!:



http://britineyj.blogspot.com/

http://mercedesweber.blogspot.com/

http://inkingidaho.blogspot.com/

http://crafts.peteandkerry.com/

http://butternutsagedesigns.blogspot.com/

http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/



Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Out of my system!


Hello, all! Yes, I know, I'm a little late for Christmas, but I really wanted to post these cards, and I debated with myself if I should or not. And figured I would just go ahead and do it, getting it out of my system!

You can always use them as inspiration for the layout, colors, or even if you're getting a jump start on next year's Christmas cards!

The blue and purple cards were from a class I held several months ago and only recently down loaded the pictures to my computer. That class really emphasized embossing. They are embossed with silver or gold embossing powder. For the most part, the stamps I used have retired, but you can substitute other similar sets, or use the same if you have them!

Both the blue and purple cards were inspired by cards I had seen on splitcoast, but I apologize that I don't have links to the cards, it was quite a while ago! I tried to put enough of a spin on them that it wasn't an exact replica.


For the Red and pink ones, I used the Felt Flurries (I wish I had a huge box full of these! Love them!). I really hope they bring them back next year!

Ok, Tomorrow I will probably post one or two fall/Thanksgiving cards, then I PROMISE I will move on!
Have a great day!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Sorry I posted so late!

I've been trying to post this all day, but life seemed to want to keep me from it! Well, I win! it is still technically still Friday, with 45 minutes to spare, and I am posting! (even if it is a little late in the evening!)
Here are the details for this card....


Birthday card:
I started with a Baja Breeze cardbase stamped with the Canvas background stamp in Bordering Blue. Then I cut a strip of Tempting Turquoise and stamped it also with the Canvas background stamp in Bordering Blue. I then stamped it with the True Friend large medallion stamp in Tempting Turquoise, then with the floret stamp from Baroque Motifs in Chocolate Chip. I cut a strip of chocolate chip to go behind the Tempting Turquoise piece. On a Whisper White panel, I stamped the flower sprig from the Embrace Life set in Chocolate Chip. I then colored the flowers with a Tempting Turquoise and Taken With Teal with a blender pen. I also stamped the sentiment from Hugs and Wishes in Chocolate chip on Whisper White. I used the Ticket Corner Punch on all panel corners, then matted both panels with Chocolate Chip cardstock and punched the corners of those as well. I tied 5/8 Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon around the flower panel, then put Dimensionals on the back of both and adhered everything to the card. I really like the way this card turned out, and especially like that ribbon!


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Thursday, January 15, 2009

It's a beautiful day!

Hello everyone! All is well now, because in my hand I have my brand new, beautiful copy of the Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book and Catalog!!!!!!!!
Oh, oh, oh, someone help me, I can hardly stand it! This catalog is just TO DIE for! Seriously! In all honesty, catalogs past were really great, but I generally liked between half and 3/4 of the sets before, but this one.....almost every page! There are so many beautiful new sets! and SUPER cute ones! and the PAPER!!!! I want it all! "I'll take one of everything, please!" And my new goal in life is to somehow get the Big Shot and all the dies!
I cannot wait until you all get to experience the new catalog too!

On my last post, the cupcake card, I had an inquiry about the paper I had used on that card. Well, that particular paper is one from Die Cuts With a View. I sure do love patterned paper! That is my biggest weakness and I literally have drawers FULL not to mention stacks and packs! I really need to quit hoarding and just use more of it!

Well, I should be back tomorrow with another card!
Until next time!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Cupcake anyone?

This card was made with Crazy for Cupcakes and Hugs and Wishes. I think that the Crazy for Cupcakes is an essential in any stampers stash. Everyone needs birthday cards, right? You will get TONS of use out of this set!
Here is just one of MANY cards I have made since getting this set about a month ago.
I used black Stazon to stamp the image, then used markers to color it in. Used the Birthday sentiment from Hugs and Wishes stamped in Rose Red, then used the ticket corner punch on the corners of the image and sentiment, and put them on dimensionals.


Catalog Update: Haven't gotten it yet, still biting my nails, but I did read someones blog who has theirs, and I am SOOOOOOO looking forward to seeing it!

Have a great day!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Flowers for your birthday

This card was actually kind of fun to make, despite how easy it really is. Well, maybe that is why I enjoyed it so much, cause every once in a while it's nice to just make a card without having to fuss with it too much!

Stamp the flowers from Eastern Blooms and cut them out. You can just use one color, but for my card, I used a sponge dauber and used a mixture of Real Red, Ruby Red and Pumpkin Pie, and a little Bravo Burgundy to give it some variation.
Then take a strip of white and use the scallop edge punch to create faux ric-rac. Stamp the sentiment from Hugs and Wishes on a small scrap of white. edge your patterned paper with white, and arrange them all on a pale yellow cardbase. I have used Dimensionals behind the sentiment.

I hear rumor that the catalogs should be arriving very very soon, some demonstrators may even get theirs today.....I hope that someone is me! I am DYING of anticipation! I'm sure mail and shipping delivery people will be stalked until they arrive!

Monday, January 12, 2009

Easy does it!

Ok everyone, I know it's been a while since I have uploaded a card, but I will really try to keep up on the uploading! (key word being try!)

Here is a fairly simple little baby boy card, which can easily be translated into a girl card using Apricot Appeal or Pretty in Pink cardstock and maybe a flower instead of a star. Or even yellow or aqua for a neutral card! (hmmmm, I may have to make a few more of these in all the colors!)
It begins with a Bashful Blue cardbase, stamped in bashful blue ink with the Polka Dot background stamp. Then I cut out a piece of white and used the scallop punch around the edges. It did take a little work to get the corners to line up just right, so if you are not a patient person, I might suggest either scallop scissors, or leaving it straight. I stamped the sentiment from Curvy Verses in Ballet Blue. I then punched a star from Bashful blue cardstock.
I then layered the pieces using Dimensionals and added a Very Vanilla button on the star with a glue dot.

I sure do like these buttons and I am a little sad that Stampin' Up is retiring all the regular buttons from the looks of the retiring accessories list. aw, shucks. Well, i know they will have lots and lots of really exciting things to take their place! The new catalogs should be arriving to demonstrators everywhere in the next few days, and I will be waiting impatiently for my delivery man to come to my door with my copy! I have been privileged to see just a few new items they will be having, and I can only imagine what surprises the new catalog will hold! I will be letting you know about it when I get it!
Ok, its off to finish laundry! (I'd rather be stamping, but clean clothes are a must!)