Boo!

What's holiday is the most fun? Halloween. I love the whole thing--although I don't go crazy with parties and stuff. I just enjoy celebrating the end of October, fall, and the end of the first quarter of school!

Stamps: Spooky Bingo Bits
Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Whisper White, Frightful Sight Designer Series Paper
Ink: Versamark, Black Embossing Powder
Accessories: Heat Tool, Powder Pal, 1" Square Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, Big Shot, Spider Web Embossing Folder, Silver Brads


This card was inspired online, although I didn't mark where, and was a huge hit in my September events. The stampers loved picking out their images from all the cute choices in this set! I love it, too, so you know you'll see it again this fall!

I used black embossing powder to ensure good coverage of color and to add a little texture. Easy and fun. I am so glad we have a 1" square punch now!

Happy Stamping!

Sending a Little Love and Sympathy...

in a card. My stamping friends ask once every few months for sympathy cards and I oblige. Sympathy cards mean more to recipients than any other card, I think. When designing this one, I knew it had to be one I would send.

Stamps: Nature's Walk, Petite Pairs
Paper: Early Espresso, Naturals Ivory, Not Quite Navy
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Accessories: Big Shot, Framed Tulips Textured Embossing Folder, Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Vintage Brads, Clear block

To create this design, I rubbed my clear block on the Crumb Cake ink pad and pressed on my paper. I then colored my stamps with markers and stamped. Elegant and nice. Hopefully, it conveys the right message.

Happy Stamping!

A Wedding in Blue

So I don't really know what happened Friday. I thought I had a post scheduled. (some busy weeks, I do that) Even so, no post. Sorry about that. I post every odd day, which usually I can fit in between family, my day job as a teacher, and stampin', but this week flew by. At the middle school where I work, the honey moon period is over. Wowzer. I came home exhausted every night and Bubba thought I was going crazy. It's just my life! I love it anyway. Back to today's post--what I worked on this weekend--a wedding card for a swap:

 and the inside (done with My Digital Studio):

Stamps: none
Paper: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Not Quite Navy
Ink: none (but the colors on MDS I used for the writing were Marina Mist and Not Quite Navy)
Accessories: Big Shot, Embossing Folder, Marina Mist Satin Ribbon, paper snips, and Basic Jewel Pearls

I am married. Bubba and I got married in 2007 and I made our invites to our party in 2008. But, if we had more time between the decision to get married and the actual wedding (like more than the two weeks we allotted), then I could have made these. They are straightforward, clean and crisp, and not too flashy. However, if I was to make 200 of these, I would have to plan better so I wouldn't get cramps. The cutting was a bit excessive for mass production. But the 70 or so I would have had to make would have been doable.

I used My Digital Studio to print the insides, then cut apart. I added one stamp for a little flair--but nothing too over the top.

How did I do it? Well, I used my new favorite tool--Simply Scored to score a 5 1/2 by 11" card at 3 3/8" and 7 5/8".

This would be so easy to do more than the 12 I needed for the swap. the markers you can place make the scoring multiples easy! No more measuring each 1/8" each score line like on the 12 x12" cutter. 

After that, I just carefully placed my embossing folder so that the edge was on my score line and the design was the way I wanted it on the right panel. I cut out around the image. The other side, I used a piece of Marina Mist cardstock with the embossing folder. I adhered it and cut both layers at once.

Happy Stamping!

Wax Paper Resist = Fabulous Snow!

I am a technique junkie. When I first encountered this technique, I knew I had to try it. Then, I kept putting it off each month. When the Holiday Mini Catalog featured a new embossing folder, I knew I had to use it with this technique! Here is my card and technique card we made for August's class:

Stamps: Snow Much Fun
Paper: Marina Mist, Glossy White, Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue
Ink:  Basic Black, Marina Mist
Accessories: Many Marvelous Markers, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Marina Mist Polka Dot Scalloped Ribbon, Regals Brads, Brayer, Iron, Wax Paper

Take a piece of wax paper and run it through your Big Shot in an embossing folder. Take 2 pieces of glossy cardstock and make a sandwich with the embossed wax paper and the glossy sides of the paper in the middle. Take a piece of copy paper and lay it over the top of your sandwich. Using an iron, iron over the sandwich. Take out the glossy papers and brayer over them with whatever color you want.

We learned a couple of things when we did this in class. First of all, the side of the wax paper does matter. Make sure it's in the embossing folder so that the up parts are the parts you want white. It will make sense when you try it. Also, the more brayered ink, the better.

Happy Stamping!

September Calendar

How can it be September 19th today? Really? As I start my third week of school with my new 6th graders and old 7th graders, I am feeling tired but ready for the new challenge. Somehow, my MDS goal of a calendar a month got skipped over. As my middle school students say about homework, "Better late than never!"

I was in a hurry so I made it simple. I just added the background paper from the Autumn Spice Collection. I then changed the colors of my numbers and lines. I added a top note punch and moved it on the side for the label. I filled it with another page of the Autumn Spice Designer Series Paper and created matte around the punch of Cajun Craze at 10. Next, I replaced the text box on the template with a stamp of "September" and added the date. I thought it looked a little boring, so I added the buttons from the Sweet Stitches Collection. All in all, it took me about 20 minutes. Not bad!

Happy Stamping!

 

Raining Flowers with Rules

Sometimes, it's nice to have a simple card. Really, I'm not laughing as I type this. I've found that I have gotten a little complex in my cards. I love layers and textures and embellishments, and a card just doesn't look finished until I add all of that stuff. Mary Rindal posed a challenge in the shape of a swap on Stampin' Addicts. As swap addict, I signed up as the the title was--Workshop Friendly Card Swap.

Stamps: Raining Flowers, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink: Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, Pearls Basic Jewels


This is the card I started with--My first design. I liked it,  but here were the rules-- 1) colors from one family plus neutral, 2) one punch, 3) one embellishment. This one missed by the more than one accessory section. When I went to make them with the ribbon and not the pearls, it looked funny. Plus, I found out I didn't have enough ribbon for the whole group of swaps. Back to the designing table. I came up with this design which I sent in:

Stamps: Raining Flowers, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink: Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade

Accessories: Decorative Label Punch, Pearls Basic Jewels

I like it, but I still prefer the first one!

Happy Stamping!

Up, Up, and Away...

in a Magic Air Balloon. We've all had those days when we wished that could happen! The card I am featuring today, hopefully does that for someone in need of a pick me up.

Stamps: Sweet Centers, Petite Pairs
Paper: Marina Mist, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Markers in Marina Mist, Pumpkin Pie, and Real Red
Accessories: Big Shot, 3" Circle Die, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Cupcake Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Baker's Twine

How cute is that? It's a spinner card or swing card. I love how the little message floats! My stampers found it a little bit picky. I got the design idea from my friend Tanya at Tinkerin' with Ink. She made a scrumptious (and better) Treat Swap with this set. Mine just have a flipper instead of a treat cup--and different colors.

Happy Stamping!

A Posy with Thanks

Speaking of trends, three-dimensional flowers are everywhere these days. One of my boys wore a jacket with one on the other day. He called it a design, but I think it looked like the one on this card-- 

Stamps: Swirls and Curls Verses (level 1 hostess set from the Summer Mini, and no longer available) Paper: Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, Crumb Cake
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Sticky Pages, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Big Shot, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Bird Punch, Itty Bitty Flower Punch, Regals Brads, Scallop Rectangle Duo Bigz Die, Denim Ribbon

I love how cute this is!

My technique group has a lot of scrapbookers so I thought this technique might be cool for them to add onto a scrapbook page. I also love that this card is made for the recipient to display! Easel cards are fun and easy to make.

Happy Stamping!

Merry Christmas Tree

The Christmas Tree from the Christmas Lodge set of the Holiday Mini Catalog spoke to me as soon as I saw it on the Main Stage Screen at Convention. I knew I had to make a card featuring that stamp. A swap at Stampin' Addicts made that idea come to fruition.

Stamps: Christmas Lodge
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke
Ink: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Tea Distressing Stain
Accessories: Mica Flakes, Simply Scored, Distressing Kit

I love the old feel of this card. I recently realized how amazing the Distressing Kit is for making cards go from cool to amazing. I used the Tea Stain on my cardstock after stamping to add the color. I rubbed the stamp from the kit on the ink spot and then rubbed it across the corners of my paper. Very easy and a very cool look.

I also used two-way glue to add some Mica Flakes to the tree. The Banner was hand cut with my paper snips and folded so that it still fit in an envelope.

The tree just didn't pop enough, so I used my new Simply Scored to add a score line border 1/4" around my tree piece. It adds a subtle, yet perfect touch. I love that tool! Making 12 of these was no problem!

As it's September 11th, I honor the day by thinking of those people most important to me that have passed, who would have loved this card-my grandma's. They taught me how to live life to it's fullest, how to love unconditionally, and how to be strong and positive in adversity. Traits we all need.

 Happy Stamping!

A Pinwheel to Remind Us To Stay Young at Heart

Pinwheels are a trend in design right now. You can see them everywhere in home decor, crafts, fabric, clothes. I have always loved the whimsy of a pinwheel. My sister demanded, I mean, asked for a pinwheel card. I was happy to oblige using new products from the Idea Book and Catalog!

 

Stamps: Petite Pairs

Paper: Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Peach Parfait, Just Eat Cake Designer Series Paper

Ink: Tangerine Tango

Accessories: Big Shot, Stripes Embossing Folder, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Soft Subtles Brads, Ribbon Border Punch, Paper Snips, Itty Bitty Flower Punch

Pinwheels are quite easy to recreate for a card. Simply cut from each corner of square towards the middle, fold one point of each resulting triangle to the middle, and you're done! I love the bright, summery colors of this card and will be dreaming of summer today as I help my Neenah Stamp Group plan their Christmas Cards! (after the First Friday of School with my students).

Happy Stamping!

Red, Green, and Yellow Chili

Some recipes we make are the kind that when the cupboard is open, things just fall in naturally. I know I got this recipe from somewhere, but over the years I've gotten to where I just add a bunch of stuff and it works. However, the last time I fed a crowd, I got asked for the recipe and I had to think about what I actually put in. That's why I chose it for part of my recipe book:

I'm a bit literal. I got the color scheme from the title of the recipe--Red, Green, and Yellow Chili. I also added the blue #1 as a contrast. The red paper also made me think of kidney beans. See, a bit literal.  I like it.

One thing that makes digital scrappin' cool is that you can adjust the size of stamps. I made a small #1 and then a big #1, and they are exactly the same. Very cool.


Happy Stamping!

Faux Cloisonne

Until I researched this technique, I never knew that my grandma Elsie loved Cloisonne. I mean, I never knew all of those urns and vases were an art form! Here is my version:

Stamps: Raining Flowers, Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Baja Breeze, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Heat Tool, Gold Embossing Powder, Flower Garden Embossing Folder, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Small Oval Punch, Itty Bitty Flower Punch, Cajun Craze Brads, Paper Snips

To do this technique, you just stamp your line art image in versamark and emboss with gold powder. Pick a fancy magazine or a colorful Designer Series Paper. Trina Caraway of Stamps and Whiskers created a beautiful page and swap card for a swap and I had to try it with my technique class.

Now, here's a photo from my internet research about Cloisonne. This is the kind of art my grandma loved.

Happy Stamping!

Fall is in the Air

WEll, at least my school year starts this week! Just teacher work days--curriculum, classroom set up, open houses, I love it all. One of my favorite dinners is this recipe--Sweet Potato Quesadillas. I can cook a batch up one night and eat for a couple!

This is another recipe from my Convention Recipe Swap. I did the same as last time, copied all of the elements 4 to page so I could get them printed!

I want to point out that on this spread, I was able to combine layers of the top note with a Designer Paper or and one without. I just used the Paper Fill or Color Fill Buttons in the Deisgn Center to choose my paper!

Easy! Really, if you've used any type of computer design program, this program is for you!

Happy Stamping!

Stockings and Stitching, Oh my!

Stockings have always been a huge part of my Christmas. We had the ones my mom felt stitched and ones a friend knitted. For our family, we would go around one by one, guess, and open all the little treats we got. We still do (much to Bubba's chagrin). He puts up with it though, as he does all holidays with my family!

Today starts the Holiday Mini Catalog and this is one set I just adore. I mean who doesn't love a stamp set with matching punch? I made 12 of these for my monthly Christmas goal for August. I love the blues!

Stamps: Stitched Stockings
Paper: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Baja Breeze
Accessories: Stocking Punch, Ribbon Lace Border Punch, Big Shot, Flurries Embossing Folder, Tiny Silver Brads, Paper Piercing Tool, Matte, and Template, Dimensionals

This was an easy card to make. Stamp, punch, attach. Poke a bunch of holes using the template. Add a little paper lace. Add a couple of brads. Use my Big Shot to texturize my paper and I'm done. Not hard, but it sure is cute!

Happy Stamping!