Stamp with Me!

One of a Kind

This one is so different from what I usually do, I think.  I wanted to try a different color combo, as well as use my embosslits.  So here you go -

I used the Simple Flower embosslit for the flowers, and cut the leaves from the Birds & Blooms SU! exclusive Sizzlet set.  I folded the leaves in half, ran them through the crimper to make "veins", then unfolded them. 

The paper is Urban Garden DSP, and the card stock colors are Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Ruby Red and Kiwi Kiss.  I inked the stamp (from One of a Kind) with Ruby Red and Basic Gray markers.  Flower centers are Earth Elements brads and the Soho Designer Hardware. 

So there you go.  Just a quickie for today.  I took Wesley to (probably) his last visit to the pediatrician today.  It was just for a check up, and he's doing wonderfully.  But since he's almost 17, he only has one more visit before he's too old for peds.  Jonathan already had his first "adult doctor" check-up, and, of course, he's in great shape too.  They both eat well (most of the time) and work out, so their blood pressure, cholesterol, height, weight....it's all good.  We're so blessed, because they've always been healthy.  I think I can count on one hand the number of times each has been to the doctor for something other than a check-up.  They're cute, smart, healthy and very respectful (at least when adults are watching!)...can life get any better for parents?  Mike & I really can't take a lot of parenting credit; it's mostly the grace of God!  That's not to say, of course, that the boys are "Stepfords."  They have their moments, but mostly it's all good.  We're incredibly blessed. 

So enough "Mom gushing."  If the boys ever read this, they'll be so embarrassed.  Well, maybe not.  They're used to it by now, and they just pretend I've escaped from the asylum but they'll be taking me back later.

Have a great weekend.  I won't promise to keep the posting streak up through the weekend, but I'll try. 

Back to Fifth Avenue

I'm happier with this version than the one yesterday - so here you go!

It actually didn't need a huge amount of changing.  Here's what I used -

Stamp set:  Fifth Avenue Floral
Ink:  Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss Classic
Paper:  Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss card stock; Urban Garden DSP
Accessories:  Designer Hardware - Soho; Punches:  Eyelet Border, wide oval, 1 3/4" circle; Stampin' Dimensionals, Crop-a-dile

Have you ever had a stamp set that you just had to have, and then when you tried to ink it up, you said, "Why in the world did I buy this set?"  Me either.  I know exactly why I bought them; I'm addicted.  But I do have several sets that really challenge me.  "Always" is one of those sets.  I've seen so many gorgeous samples with it, but whenever I ink that bird up, it just looks like a mess.  So I decided today that I was going to win this time.

I tried using the "gradation" technique (we learned this at our technique class this month).  Nope.  Worse than the Not Quite Navy dyed ribbon yesterday. 

Finally, I settled on this -

I think any set can be redeemed with the "Tea Party" designer series paper!  Isn't it beautiful?  And that bird is really pretty IRL (in real life, for those of you without teenagers or who don't live on the internet), but it looks a tad anemic on the monitor. 

I stamped the bird in Almost Amethyst on Whisper White, then added the Certainly Celery branches.  The sponging around the bird is Pretty in Pink and So Saffron.

I didn't think ahead (again) with the ribbon and sentiment.  I wanted to use the Certainly Celery polytwill, but didn't have room for it to go all the way across the card without covering something up.  So I punched a couple holes with my crop-a-dile and threaded the ribbon through the Whisper White.  Whoever gets this one will just have to peek under the ribbon to see the "always."  (Actually, since I stamped the sentiment a tiny bit crooked - what's new? - I almost covered it up with the ribbon anyway, but changed my mind.  Obviously.)

Here's the whole list:
Stamp set:  Always
Ink:  Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink classic
Paper:  Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink card stock;  Tea Party DSP
Accessories:  Crop-a-dile, Certainly Celery polytwill ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, corner rounder punch, stampin' sponges

Now I'm off to work for DH.  Dinner's in the crock pot and I have a card for tomorrow (maybe....it's another one I'm not too fond of, so we'll see....), so hopefully I can get finished really fast and have a little more time to stamp. 

Don't forget that on Sunday you can begin ordering Easter sets from the Occasions mini catalog.  I'll have a flier with the sets on it so you can shop early!

Hardware on 5th Ave

I started a card today, but am really not super happy with the way it turned out.  So you can't see it yet.  I wanted to add some ribbon, but don't have any the right color.  I tried dying some Whisper White grosgrain Night of Navy.  Yuck.  So here's just a peek.....

 Stamping the Fifth Ave floral flower on white in different colors reminds me of dresses ladies wore when I was younger.  (Much, much younger.)  And I love the eyelet border punch.  But the rest of the card....Not so much.  So I'll work on it.

Here's one more peek - I'm loving this new hardware.

It's so easy to set with the Crop-a-dile, and really adds a lot to your project.

Sorry you don't get to see a whole card, but I didn't want to mess up my posting streak by missing tonight!  So - I have an appointment tomorrow at 10; then I'm heading home to fix this puppy.  Wish me luck. 

Quilted Dots

I love these "quilted top note" cards, don't you?  I made one at Christmas (patterned after the first one I saw, by Bev Rousch).  Last week, Diana Gibbs had a spring one on her blog that was just gorgeous.  I was inspired, and decided to make a set of these for my friend Donna who's having a workshop in March.  She's a quilter, and it would make a great hostess gift, don't you think? 

Punch 12 squares from designer paper (I used Delicate Dots) with the 1 1/4" square punch.  You can cut them with your paper cutter if you don't have a punch.  Sometimes my punches are a little stubborn on thinner paper.  You can either a) adhere the paper to card stock to make it a little thicker, then punch, or 2) sharpen your punches.  My square punch was really not happy to be punching the Delicate Dots paper, so I punched about 4 times through a soda can.  Voila'!  Perfectly punched squares with no rough edges. 

Ok - back to instructions.  Punch 12 squares.  Layer them to a 3 3/4" x 5" layer of card stock, and run through your Big Shot with the Top Note die (quilted side down).  You can run it back through with a Texturz plate, if you want (again, quilted side down).  I used the Eyelet plate from the Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I collection.  I used a shim so the texture would be a little more obvious, but forgot that the white card stock and DSP would be a little thinner than regular card stock - so the texture isn't as deep as I'd like, but it's ok.  I added some "stitching" with my Sahara Sand marker. 
(Both Bev and Diana have full tutorials on their blogs.  Just check out the links at the beginning of this post.)

Here are the rest of the supplies I used:
Stamp Sets:  Yummy, Polka Dot Punches (both free during SAB!  Ooooo...didn't really mean to rhyme.*)
Ink:  So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad, Old Olive, Sahara Sand Stampin' Write Markers
Paper:  Delicate Dots DSP (free), So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Sahara Sand card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot; Punches:  1/16" handheld circle, 1 1/4" circle, 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" square, Scallop edge; Top Note Die; Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz plates; Certainly Celery polytwill ribbon (free); Crafter's Tool Kit, linen thread, stampin' dimensionals, stampin' sponges, Texturz Impressions Pad & Silicone Rubber

*It's so tempting to add, "but I do that all the time....." but that would just be too corny.

I'm off to make a few more of these for Donna.  I think on one or two, I'll use the Movers & Shapers Curly Label die.  Won't that be cute in the corner?  Later!

 

Catalog Inspiration #2

Aren't these such original titles? "Catalog Inspiration 1."   "Catalog Inspiration 2."  I promise tomorrow will not be CI 3!

Here's my second "Catalog Inspiration."  The original is on page 114.  Here's mine...

I changed the green circle to Gable Green.  I wasn't looking at the catalog when I made it, so my circles lined up differently.  I like the way the catalog designers had the circles going all the way to the corner better than the way I did it, I think. 

I also changed the sentiment, and I added texture to the front of the card.  Oh - and I stamped the little flower from "One of a Kind" on the circles to add a little depth to the card stock.  (I love using those artsy terms!  What it really means is, I thought the circles were a little blah, so I stamped on them.)

This is actually more of a CASE of "r2mckinl"'s card here.  I loved the colors she used.

Here's the complete supply list -
Stamp sets:  Pick a Petal, One of a Kind
Ink:  Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, Gable Green classic; White gel pen
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, Whisper White, Gable Green card stock
Accessories:  Crafter's Tool Kit, Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I texturz plate, Circle Scissor Plus, stampin' dimensionals

That's it!  It was super easy once I figured out what I wanted to do.  I'm not totally pleased with my "faux stitching."  It's actually worse than my real stitching, if you can believe it.  To me, it just looks like holes punched in card stock with lines connecting them.  (Which, really, is what it is.....)

Gotta run!  My very patient and sweet hubby is waiting for me to watch a movie. 

Catalog Inspiration #1

Have you noticed how faithful I've been this week?  I'm so proud of myself.  I've been trying to keep a day ahead, and draft a blog at night to post the next day.  Unfortunately, some days I can't wait, so it publishes early.  *Sigh.*  I really need to work on the patience virtue.  I've learned not to pray for patience, though, because when I do, I usually get lots of opportunities to exercise it.  Yikes!  Like I need more opportunities to be patient!

I found two cards in the catalog that I absolutely loved.  I enjoy helping others be creative, but sometimes you need a little springboard.  I do, anyway.  So - when you look through the catalog, find a layout, or a color scheme or even a whole card that you like, then add your own touches to it.  When I first started stamping (and even now sometimes!), I copied everything exactly.  And that's ok.  But it always gives me a little sense of accomplishment to make it my own.

So here's the first one.  I absolutely loved the colors in this card.  The original is on page 37 of the catalog.  Here's mine.

I used the same basic colors (I love the Taken with Teal/Tangerine Tango combo!), but changed the Kiwi Kiss to Kraft.  And I added a little of the Taste of Textiles card stock.  Of course, I used the Big Shot.  And instead of chipboard, I punched 3 hearts from Taken with Teal with the Heart to Heart punch.  I covered the smallest with VersaMark, then used Heat & Stick powder to add the Aqua glitter from the Fine Supernova glitter stack to the heart. 

Here's the whole list -
Stamp set:  Sip by Sip
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Markers; VersaMark, Taken with Teal classic
Paper:  Taken with Teal, Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Whisper White card stock; Taste of Textiles specialty
Accessories:  Big Shot, Movers & Shapers Curly Label die, Heat & Stick Powder, Heat tool, Fine Supernova glitter, Stampin' Sponges, So Saffron wide grosgrain ribbon, stampin' dimensionals, corner rounder punch

Isn't is just so retro?  I think it's the Tango/Teal combo with the lady. 

I have another catalog inspiration for tomorrow.  That one didn't get changed a whole lot.  I think I changed one color, added some texture and changed the sentiment.  (Ok, I guess I changed a little more than I thought.)  Till then.....

What Big Ears You Have!

I hate it when Christmas decorations start showing up in stores in August, and here I am - 2 months early - with an Easter card.  But I just couldn't wait to show you this one.

Yep - he's back!  When I first stamped those ears, I thought, "Oh, my, Sock Monkey, you look more like a jackrabbit than the Easter Monkey!"  Obviously, bunnies on the East coast have smaller ears.  Or maybe they just don't stick up.  Whatever - it was great to ink up the monkey again!

Here's the supply list -
Stamp Set:  Sock Monkey, Sock Monkey Accessories
Ink:  Jet Black StazOn, Rose Red & Regal Rose Classic, Watercolor Wonder Crayons
Paper:  Watercolor Paper; Raspberry Tart DSP; Rose Red, Regal Rose card stock.
Accessories:  Stampin' Dimensionals, Aqua Painter, Blender Pen

That's all for today.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.  I entered two Sale-a-bration projects in the "soshelli.com Creative Challenge" yesterday.  There are a lot of extremely talented stampers who entered, so I'm not getting seriously optimistic!  Do log onto Shelli's blog and enter one of the challenges.  ("Shelli" is Shelli Gardner, Co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!, by the way.  Her blog is always fun and positive.)  You do not have to be a demonstrator to enter the challenges.  This month, it's projects using SAB items.  Give it a shot!!

SAB Fun!

One of the things I love about Stampin' Up! is I'm always getting free goodies.  Whether it's hostess benefits, rewards from sales, recruiting and promoting, or other promotions they're offering, I'm always getting something good! (I won't even go into the perks of getting to work at home and set my own hours, making new friends, getting a great price on quality craft products and stamps, lots of training....)

During February and March, we're celebrating Sale-a-bration.  It's one of my favorite Stampin' Up! events.  Whenever you spend $50, you get to select a free stamp set, paper or ribbon from the SAB brochure.  If you hostess a $300 or more workshop, you get a free set.  How cool is that?  You get to have fun and get free stamps at the same time.  (View the SAB brochure here on my web site.  Just scroll down to "Promotions."  And don't forget the watch the Big Shot video tutorial, right beside the "Promotions" box!)

Here's a little box I made with two of the Sale-a-bration stamp sets, some of the ribbon and the designer series paper (Delicate Dots). 

Isn't this just too cute?  It opens into a little box (3 1/2 x 2 1/2") that holds chocolate, jewelry, chocolate, little trinkets, chocolate... You get the idea.

Here's a picture from the side.

 

You can see another example in the Spring/Summer Idea Book and Catalog on p. 80.  Mine's a little different.  I made a cardboard "card" (8 1/2 x 5 1/2", folded to 4 1/4 x 5 1/2) and covered it on both sides with the DSP.  Then I ran it through the Big Shot with the Top Note die.  (Yes, the Big Shot and Top Note die did actually cut a folded piece of cardboard, and two sheets of folded DSP!  What a workhorse!)  The fold of the card is just a little before the edge of the die, so when it's cut, you have a folded Top Note card.  Then you cut on the score and have a top and bottom for your box.  You can see a full tutorial (with pictures and more examples) here on Angie Tieman's blog.

Here's the complete supply list, and ways to get some (or all) of the SAB products I used completely free!

Stamp sets:  Yummy, Polka Dot Punches (both free)
Ink:  Old Olive, Brilliant Blue Stampin' Write Markers; Brilliant Blue, More Mustard, Old Olive classic stampin' pads
Paper:  Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Sahara Sand card stock; Delicate Dots DSP (free)
Accessories:  Soft Subtles brads, Hodgepodge Hardware - Vanilla, Pewter jumbo eyelets, Crop-a-dile, stampin' dimensionals, 5 petal flower punch, small oval punch, 1/2" circle punch, 1/16" handheld circle punch, mini glue dots, sticky strip, Sizzix Big Shot, Top Note die, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Certainly Celery wide polytwill ribbon (free)

How to get free Sale-a-bration products: 
If you buy the Top Note die (113463, $21.95), 5 petal flower punch (109041, $15.95), Jumbo Eyelets (108432, $9.95) and Soft Subtles brads (106954, $8.95), you can select 1 free SAB product.  (Total - $56.80 before shipping/tax)

Need the Big Shot?  Add it to the first package (113439, $99.95) and you'll get three SAB products free!
(Total Top Note package + Big Shot - $156.75, before shipping/tax)

Already have the Top Note die?  Switch it for the Hodgepodge Hardware (112454, $29.95), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430, $3.95), Jumbo Eyelets (108432, $9.95) and Soft Subtles brads (106954, $8.95)
(Total - $52.80 before shipping/tax)

Add in a Crop-a-dile (108362, $29.95), Sticky Strip (104294, $6.95 - a must for boxes!), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049, $11.95) and mini glue dots (103683, $4.95) and add another free SAB product.  (Total for this package - $53.80, before shipping/tax)

Of course, if you need the Big Shot and Top Note Die, the best way to do that is to get the Big Shot Starter Kit (116314, $195.95).  You'll get the Big Shot, 2 XL Stampin' Up! exclusive dies, a 4-pack of Sizzlits, a decorative strip and the cutting pads and multi-purpose platform so you can use all the dies in the starter kit.  Add in a Sticky Strip (104294, $6.95) and select 4 SAB products, absolutely free.  (Total - $202.90, before shipping/tax)

Oh, yeah....don't forget with that last package, you also get $20 in free products plus a Level 1 hostess set from the current Idea Book & Catalog.  Find two friends to each add a $50 order to your Big Shot package, and then they'll each get a SAB product, plus you'll get an extra SAB product (because now you have a $300 workshop!), AND $35 in free merchandise AND a Level 1 or Level 2 hostess set. 

See what I mean?  You just can't keep up with all the free stuff.  What a great problem to have!

You can order online any time of the day or night. Be sure to go straight to my web site to order for the best prices on products and shipping.  Click the "Shop Now" button and get ready to have some fun!  And, of course, you can always call or e-mail me to place an order.

That's it for today.  I've been playing, um, working very hard in my stamping room this morning, so I need to get some chores done around here.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Buzzin' By Again

At our group meeting Thursday, we made this card. 

Isn't it adorable?  It uses the Movers & Shapers Curly Label die, textured Pink Pirouette card stock and the Tea Party DSP.  It's so quick and cute, and makes a great "Make & Take" for workshops. 

Here is the supply list -
Stamp Set:  Just Buzzin' By
Ink:  Jet Black StazOn, Pink Pirouette classic
Paper:  Pink Pirouette textured, Tea Party DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Movers & Shapers Curly Label die, Certainly Celery wide polytwill ribbon*, 2-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter, stampin' dimensionals

*I love this ribbon!!  It's part of the ribbon bundle you can get free with a $50 purchase during Sale-a-bration.

But....how frustrating is it to want to make a card but you don't have all the tools?  So here's basically the same card, but I used punches instead of the Big Shot.


I think my scanner doesn't like green, because this is much, much prettier in person than on a computer screen. 

This one uses Flight of the Butterfly, Kiwi Kiss textured card stock, and Urban Garden DSP.  Instead of the Big Shot, I used punches to make the window and decorate around it. 

Here's the complete supply list for the butterfly card-
Stamp set:  Flight of the Butterfly/
Ink:  Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive
Paper:  Kiwi Kiss textured card stock, Urban Garden DSP
Accessories:  2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Very Vanilla wide grosgrain, 1 1/4" circle punch, scallop circle punch, stampin' dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig

The bee and butterflies are stamped on the designer paper, so it gives them a little more interest and dimension. 

You can use any punches that you have on hand to make the window.  And I know there's a new one coming in the April Occasions mini that you're going to love! 

That's all for today.  I'm working on a Sale-a-bration box, but hit a snag so decided to take a break and watch an NCIS rerun.  (Gotta love Very Special Agent L J Gibbs!!)

Just to prove I can

I made a card without using the Big Shot at all!  Can you believe it?  But first ---- HUGE NEWS!

I told you in yesterday's post that you can order Easter sets from the Occasions mini in March.  Well, SU! announced tonight that beginning with the Fall/Winter 2009 issue (coming out July 1), we're going back to one catalog/year!  I love having the extra catalog, but it is a little hectic.  There will be one catalog, one Spanish Supplement, 2 Decor Elements brochures and 3 mini catalogs each year.  The minis will each last 4 months and there will be hostess sets you can earn in the minis.  (Remember when they used to do that?)  I don't think there was any word about the Supply List going back into the catalog, but I'm guessing that it will.  I don't think that's been a hugely popular move, although, personally, I love having extra pages for goodies.  And I never used the supply list much - until it was gone!  I find myself heading to the back of the catalog to check on something, and then catch myself.

So - back to my "No Big Shot" card.  This is the "Bloomin' Beautiful" set that Liz got at her workshop and let me borrow.  Yes, she is really sweet, but the real reason she loaned it to me was so I'd make the mask!  Here's what I'm talking about....

I stamped the vase and flowers in StazOn on Whisper White card stock.  Then I stamped it again on a Post-It note.  From the Post-It, I cut out just the vase, making a mask for the flowers and a reverse mask for the vase. Then I stamped the definition in Basic Brown on the vase.  WHEW!  It's a lot easier than it sounds.

After I stamped the definition, I watercolored the image.  Next time, I'd color first, then stamp the definition.  However - the Basic Brown really is waterproof on Whisper White!  It held up quite well to the aqua painter.  And I didn't even heat set it.

Here's the list of supplies:
Stamp Set:  Bloomin' Beautiful
Ink:  Jet Black StazOn; Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst, Basic Gray, Basic Brown classic; Markers - Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst, Mellow Moss, So Saffon, Always Artichoke
Paper:  Whisper White, Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, Certainly Celery card stock; Tea Party DSP
Accessories:  2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, So Saffron wide grosrain, Designer Label punch, 1/8" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, eyelet border punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Flower brads, Blender Pen, Aqua Painter

I thought I was on a roll with the bow/knot tying.  Is the one on this card not perfect?  I was so proud.  Then I tied a knot in a ribbon tonight, and it wasn't so great.  Ah, well.  Too much perfection would be hard to bear.

Till tomorrow!