Carrie Stamps

Fresh Cut Favorite

I wanted to share with you my favorite card that I have made so far with the NEW Fresh Cut Set and matching Notes.

Once again, Chocolate Chip, I firmly believe you just can not go wrong with Chocolate Chip!  I paired it with Soft Sky, what a GREAT In Color.   I  love that we can get it in Prints DSP, which is what I used on the inside of my card, behind the flower. 

I also used the Pretties Kit, I am just loving those hat pins and beads.  It adds a touch of elegance.

The Defining Alphabet and Define Your Life sets finish off my card, accenting the corner with the word "WISH".  My thinking is that this would make a great gift card to go with the birthday gift.   My birthday is coming up, what can I give my self?  It's just one of those cards I might not be able to part with for a while, you know that feeling right?  I just need to gaze at it a while longer.

As, of June 1st you can pre order this Stamp set, FRESH CUT and the matching notes!  If you email me today or tomorrow you can get free shipping on this great bundle! 

carrierhoades@msn.com

Happy Stampin'

 

Pink and Brown Pretties

 I know!  It is an illness, my pink and brown addiction!  I just can not seem to help my self! 

I made this card for a display board, for an upcoming stamp camp.   If you are interested in coming as my guest, see this post, it includes a sample of one of the cards we are making. We (myself and some other demonstrators in my group) are making one display board all with the pretties kit! 

I made this while up at the stamping retreatI attended a few weeks ago.  My up-line, Margo, brought a ton of left over packets of precut paper from her events, this paper was just one that I happened to pull out, so it really is not all my fault!

Here is the RECIPE:

Stamps: Stitched Background (LOVE IT)

Ink: Chocolate Chip and Regal Rose Pads

Paper: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Accessories: White Gel Pen (I feel another addiction forming), Pretties Kit, Grosgrain Ribbon, Slit Punch, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots.

Happy Stampin'

All the cool products I used to create this card can be found in Stampin' Up!'s Spring/ Summer Collection.  Email me to place an order from this GREAT Paper Crafting Catalog!

[email protected]

Stamping and Camping!

Seems like for ever since I have posted.  We went camping.  I had every intention of posting one last time before I left, but the first trip out with the camper can be a little more work, and ours proved to be as our refrigerator decided not to work! 

We left Friday morning for Hells Canyon, it is on the border of Idaho and Oregon.  It was my first time to go there and my husband had not been since he was a kid.  WOW, it was cool.  This is the time of year to go. It was not hot and the spring rain made everything green.  It was like the hills had a velvet cover on them. Wild flowers of yellow, white, purple and pink bloomed all around.  It is a very diverse terrain, there are rolling hills, mountainous peaks, rocky cliffs, grassy hills and so much more.  We so LOTS of wild life.  Deer, Bald Eagle, Geese with their gosling's, wild Turkeys, Hawks, Turkey Vultures and a Pheasant.  The fishing there is great.  We caught mostly Bass and some Trout, well, they caught fish.  I did not have my fishing license. We got back last night, and I had to post, just to let you know I am still here!

We did have a bit of rain everyday we were there, but not bad.  Luckily I was prepared, with my Stampin' supplies and a GOOD book.  My friend let me borrow her copy of Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett   .  It is a GREAT book, I highly recommend it.  It is great for men and women who love a great story! 

So, now on to stamping!  I took some things to work on while I was there as I always do.  When you pack your stamp stuff to go camping you have to really decide what to take and what to leave behind.  And, as you know there are so many things you can not live with out!  So, I always decide on a few projects and take what I will need for that.  For instance, my May Card Makers Club is coming up on Saturday.  I still needed to stamp out one more card, the one stuck in my head.  So, I brought what I would need and created my sample. 

This is a 2 way open card.  It has 2 opens two different ways.  It is a fun card.  I wanted to use this set (Winds of Grace) and give it a Club Med, Bahamas type feel.  The designer paper from the East Coast Prep collection was my inspiration for the color scheme. I also used the Sanded background, Define Your Life and Defining Alphabet sets on this card. 

It is not to late to sign up for Card Maker's Club.  It is this Saturday, May 31st at 10am!  The registration is just $20.  We will be making 5 WOW cards, including this Trifold Pocket card.  If you are interested in attending or are interested in receiving this class by mail email me at: [email protected] and let me know.

I also worked on some scrapbook pages for my daughter's ABC album I am making for her half birthday.  I will share those later.  I got 3 pages done while camping.  And, I created her Half Birthday invitation as well.  So, I was happy with the amount of stamping I accomplished while camping! 

Hope you all had an enjoyable holiday weekend and remember our veterans and those who sacrificed so much for our country. It is a subject near and dear to my heart as my Husband, Sister, Brother-in-law and 2 cousins have all served in Iraq.  I know what the sacrifice is and no matter your feelings about this war and our government our soldiers are over there and serving for you and me.  They deserve a simple Thank you!

So, my Thank you goes out to all the Military Wives out there who may be reading this.  I have been there, and thank you for supporting your husbands and taking care of your family and home so that your husband could do what he needed to do.  It is so hard, and I send you all a big HUG!

Happy Stampin'

You can view all the products I uset to make this card in Stampin' Up!'s Spring/Summer Collection. 

Come to Convention with me!

Stampin' Up!'s Convention is Open to Guests!

Where can you experience good times with stamping friends and also get creative new ideas for stamping and scrapbooking projects? At Stampin' Up!'s annual convention!

If you've ever thought about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator or wondered what kind of training Stampin' Up! provides to help demonstrators make their businesses so fun, you won't want to miss this first-ever opportunity to attend Stampin' Up!'s annual convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Each year, Stampin' Up! demonstrators from across the US and Canada gather for education, celebration, and motivation. This year, in honor of Stampin' Up!'s twentieth anniversary, guests are invited to join us as we reminisce about the past, celebrate the present, and dream about the future. For more about our convention theme, view the Convention Announcement. You'll also find additional resources about convention below. 
 
Convention is an opportunity to learn the latest stamping techniques, be one of the first to see the new catalog and get your own copy, and spend time with thousands of energetic demonstrators swapping stamped cards and sharing ideas. You'll also get to attend business classes and new-product demonstrations, participate in Make & Takes, and enjoy time with the best stampers in the world!

When you register, you can also sign up to take a tour of Stampin' Up!'s Riverton campus where you'll see our Legacy Room, which showcases a brief history of Stampin' Up! and beautiful home décor displays. You'll also get to see how orders are processed in the Distribution Center, and walk through other areas of our building.

Convention will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 30 through August 2, 2008. Register now to attend our upcoming convention and experience what demonstrators are talking about! To hear first hand about convention, contact me!

Happy Stampi' (In Salt Lake!)

H is for Happy

Good morning!  I wanted to share with you another card I made from the Fresh Cut set and matching laser cut notes.  See yesterdays post for my special! 

I am having a lot of fun with this new set.  I love how you can put something cute in the middle of the flower. In this case I used a small flower from the Pretties Kit.  I colored it with the Aqua painter and Eggplant Envy Classic Ink.  In the center of that is a Ice Round Rhinstone Brad. 

Here is the card recipe:

Stamps: Fresh Cut, Define your Life, Defining Alphabet

Ink: Eggplant Envy Pad and marker, Certainly Celery Pad and Marker, Old Olive Pad

Paper: Laser Cut Notes, Almost Amethyst and Certainly Celery Cardstock

Accessories: Pretties Kit, Round Ice Rhinestone Brads, snail, demensionals, Aqua Painter, and sponge

We are off to a play date this morning! 

Happy Stampin'

Home Again, Home Again, gig-a-dee-gig

I am back from my Stampin' Retreat!  What an awesome time I had!  I'm not even sure how to describe it to you.  But I have never been so tired from relaxing! (Make sure to read to the bottom for an awesome SPECIAL!)

The house we stayed in, in Donnelly, was perfect.  Lots of rooms, awesome views.  The weather was SO nice, we ate EVERY meal outside on the deck! Okay, that was partly to do with the fact that the rest of the house was taken over by all our stamp stuff!! hehe.  The owner of the house was so gracious to share her home with us, and she was not a stamper.  Notice I say, was not.  We got her a gift basket of STUFF to get her started, and she stamped right a long with us!  We stamped, ATE, stamped, watched movies, ATE, stamped, laughed, hung out, read...  It was a perfect weekend.  And, three nights away from life was just what this Mom needed to get rejuvenated!  So, I have some pictures to share.

This is Linda (left) and Cheryl.  This is Linda's first experience with stamping, she is the owner of the house where we stayed.  Cheryl was helping to get her going, she is a fellow demonstrator.  Her and I were roommates and we carpooled up there.  You can see in the background how we took over the living room with our stamping stuff!

Here is one of Linda's first cards!  Yeah.  I was so impressed by how she let us, complete strangers into her home, and then take OVER with all of our stamping stuff.  She fit right in and was a gracious host! 

Here is Rene with a masculine card she made.  She is also a fellow demonstrator.  I was so happy to hang out with her, it had been a long time since I had seen her.  She is such a sweet heart!

We did a shoe box swap while there too.  Each of us was in charge of one meal.  We planned it, shopped for it, cooked, and cleaned up!  It was great.  Then we also planned a 6x6 recipe page with our recipe and we each got to make one of the other gals page.  It was great.  Here is Natalie, making one of those pages and talking with another gal across the table.  We did this stamping outside on the Deck!  Got to love the Spring in Idaho.  Actually, like several places in the country we had an unusually HOT weekend.  In the mountains it was WARM, so I was glad to be out of the city!

Okay, here is one of me, ugh!!!  One of the fun things about stampers retreat, there is no need for make up, fixin' your hair, or even to get out of your jammies.  This day I had just washed my hair, but just put in a hair clip to hold it back.  So, it is not my favorite picture.  I was wearing my sunglasses, because the morning sun came in SO BRIGHT in my stamping spot.  My stampin's so bright, I gotta wear shades...  How do you like my new song? 

So, one of our stamping goals was to create two display boards for an upcoming group stamp camp.  One board is of Masculine cards, the other is of the Pretties Kit.  We also wanted to use the Define your life set.  So, I was a crazy stampin' fool!  Margo, our fearless leader, brought up left over packets from classes in the past and we used those to create new cards.  Each time I pulled one out it was a new challenge.  I loved it.  I took pictures of some of the cards I made and will share a couple with you now.

Remember, I used Card stock that was precut for another project to create this card.  But I did add the DSP, from the Spring Break Collection.  And, for my WOW on this card, I filled in the word LATER with Crystal Effects!  This card went on our Masculine display board.

This is a card I did for the Pretties Kit Display board.  We are making a card with this new Fresh Cuts set and matching Laser Cut cards at our June Stamp camp, so I wanted to have more samples with this set. 

I stamped the background image from Fresh Cut with versamark and embossed it with clear powder.  I then added color from the Purely Pomegranate and Pumpkin Pie Classic Pads with a blender pen.  The Pretties flower is water colored with Pomegranate and an Aqua Painter.

One last pic.  The sun was going down and the moon coming up, this pictures POORLY captures the beauty we saw from the deck!

Well, I think that is about all from my stampers retreat.  If you ever get the chance to go on something like this I HIGHLY recommend it! 

Happy Stampin'

PRE ORDER YOUR FRESH CUT stamp set and Laser Cut cards and get FREE shipping from ME. The stamp set is $21.95 and the Laser Cut notes are $5.00 with your purchase of the matching stamp set.  To take advantage of my special offer, 

Email me, with the title: FRESH CUT FREE SHIPPING.

I will need your Name, Email, Address, Phone number, the Quantity you want to order (you only get one pack of notes at $5 per stamp set ordered), and how you want to pay. 

I must have your order by June 1st in order to take advantage of the free shipping, SO DO NOT DELAY!

[email protected]

 

 

What's For Dinner

Right now I am in Donnelly, Idaho at STAMPER'S RETREAT.  I am with a group of the Stampin' Up! Demonstrators in the beautiful mountains of Idaho, Stampin' and hanging out!  Doesn't that sound like fun! It totally is! I will share more when I get home!

Today we are doing a shoe box swap.  We were to create a 6x6 recipe page.  Each of us is in charge of one meal this weekend, our page is to be of that recipe!  How fun.  I love 6x6 recipe books and have created 2 with the recipes that I love, and have done 2 recipe book classes.  They are alway fun and the end result makes a GREAT gift.  The first book I created was a wedding shower gift for my BABY sister when she got married, I wanted her to have all my favorite, staple recipes, as she loves to cook like I do.  So, remember recipe books when you are thinking about making a gift for someone!!

Here is my swap page.  The recipe is for Chicken Fajita Tostadas.  I got it from my Everyday Food Magazine!  I love that little magazine.  I have gotten so many of my favorite meals from it!

So, the "red thingy" is suppose to be a Red Bell Pepper.  What do you think, does it look like one or where you like, what is that suppose to be?  Tell me the truth! 

Now about my accent strip, my favorite part! 

I learned this technique "burnishing" from an awesome demonstrator Susie Miller, she demoed it at Convention one year and I loved it.  I use this technique to make your own Designer Like Paper (DLP, hehe).

Here is how you do it. 

Randomly stamp images of your choice.  They do not have to be solid and do not have to be in black.

Then take a sponge dauber, load it up with classic ink and rub it over your image in a circular motion, with a very light hand a first and then gradually add more pressure.  If you press to hard with a sponge dauber you will make a perfect circle.  That does not look good here. 

You want to "burnish" the ink outside the borders of your image, so that they touch once you add all the colors.

To finish off my strip, I stamped over the top with my Sanded Background stamp, but you do not have to do this and I sponged the edges, both with Creamy Caramel Classic Ink.

It is a totally fun technique and I suggest you give it a try. 

Here is the Recipe for my card:

Stamps: Wanted and Sanded Background

Ink: Ruby Red, Not Quite Navy, Summer Sun and Creamy Caramel Classic Ink, and Black Staz On pad

Paper: Same as ink pad colors and Close to Cocoa for the stem

Accessories: Large oval punch and Round tab punch (to create bell pepper), dimensionals, distresser tool, Crop-a-dile, Earth Elements Eyelets, Sponge Daubers, Snail

Happy Stampin' from Donnelly!

You can view everything I used to create this page in the Spring/Summer collection.  Email me if you have any questions or to place your order!

 

SNEEK PEEK!!!

LOOK WHAT THE MAN IN BROWN BROUGHT ME YESTERDAY!!!

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/FreshCuts_0508_US.pdf

It is the all new Fresh Cut Set and matching gift cards!!!  I was so excited.  On Tuesday Stampin' Up! Announced that we would be able to pre-order this new stamp set from the up coming Fall/ Winter Idea Book and Catalog and when we do we get the matching gift cards for $5.  Well I ordered mine right away and it came in 2 days! 

You can pre-order yours too, in June, and get the gift cards for $5!  Click here for more details.  AND, as a hostess in June you can get BOTH for FREE!  If that is just too tempting, email me and we can set up a date for a workshop or you can be a catalog hostess!!!

I could not resist stamping with it right away.  This very may well be one of the projects we will be doing at the Stampadelicious Stamp Camp in June!!!  The main flower is laser cut out of the card front, you just pop it out!  That is the cool part because then you can use the flower petals you pop out on another creation!  I was impressed, these cards are 4x4, such a fun size!  I know you will all love them, as well as this versatile set!

Interested in joining me for GREAT stamping event? 

Here are the details:

Saturday, June 14th

9am - 1pm at the Nampa Hispanic Cultural Center

6 projects - Only $25

You must register by 5/21 in order to attend!

To register now, click the Pay Pal button below!

Happy Stampin'

I am off to Donnelly in 3 hours, better get all my stuff packed!

   

"S" is 4 Samantha

I wanted to share another scrapbook page for my daughter's ABC album I am making. 

I had to do her name, Samantha, for the letter S.  She can recognize her name, but it is going to take a while for her to remember all the letters to spell it! 

I loved the colors in her outfit and used those as my inspiration for the colors in the page.

I had to use more chipboard, I love it in scrapbooking!  The "S" is from the On Board Simon Upper.  The "4" is from Lots of Letters. And, the large circle is from Ginormous Pieces. 

Here is how I altered each of them.

For the "S", I inked it with versamark and embossed it with heat and stick powder.  I then added the green glitter from the Fine Cosmo Collection.  Lastly, I heat set it again.  It is SO SPARKLY in real life!  Love it!

For the number "4", I inked it with Tempting Turquoise Craft ink and embossed it with Iridescent Ice Powder. Still sparkles, but in a different way than the "S".

For the large circle, I covered it with glue from my SU! glue stick and then laid it on East Coast Prep DSP, one of the sides is just plain, a just a hint lighter than Tempting Turquoise!  I then cut it out and then cut out the middle.  Next, I used my sanding block to smooth out the edges.

I made the scalloped edge around my photo with the Large Oval punch, each scallop is half an oval, glued to the back of the chipboard (after I adhered the picture) both adhered with the Tombow Liquid Mulit glue!

I added a Rub On to the photo, it is from the "A Perfect Day" set.  I liked it because it suits her and Sweet starts with "S".

I am very excited to complete this book for her 1/2 Birthday and think she will really like it, and it will be a favorite thing for years to come! 

I am getting ready to leave for STAMPER'S RETREAT tomorrow, I am going to try and delay some posts for you to read while I am gone, but if I don't get it done I will be back Monday, post on Tuesday for sure!

Happy Stampin'

Don't forget to take advantage of the Chipboard SALE!  Email me before this offer expires!

Cherry Box

Good Wednesday Morning!  I wanted to share with you a box I altered and raffled off at my Chip-n-Dip Stampin' Mania last Friday.  A stampin' friend gave me a stack (3 boxes) of assorted goodies from Harry and David as a gift. One of the boxes had chocolate cherries in it.  It was just calling for an extreme make over.

I forgot to take a before picture, but trust me when I tell you that this is WAY cuter than the original box! Harry and David have not heard of Stampin' Up! apparently! 

The frame is a chipboard piece.  I covered it with Tombo Liquid Glue and Chunky Sprinkles! 

Here is a picture of the bottom half of the box,with the goodies in it.

Here is my Box Recipe:

Stamps: Tart and Tangy (Occasions Mini), All Holidays

Ink: Real Red marker, Old Olive Marker and Basic Black Classic Pad

Paper: Summer Picnic DSP (Occasions Mini) and Whisper White CS

Accessories: Chip Board frame, Tombo Liquid Glue, Chunky Sprinkles (Occasions Mini), Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Red Gingham Ribbon, Pop Up Glue Dots.

I love the 50's feel of the DSP, the light blue with the Red and Green in the Cherries!  How fun, I need an apron out of this paper!

So, time to break out the chip board and get creative!  Don't have any? OH, I can hook you up!  Chipboard is on sale right now!  Email me to get yours at 25% off!  You can view the Stampin' Up! Spring/Summer Collection and Occasions Mini Collection here.

Happy Stampin'

Favorite Father

I made this card for my Dad (step, but we don't see it that way).  I also used the Try a New Technique challenge (on Splitcoast) from yesterday for my inspiration, I have been using this Water color wash technique for a lot of my Father's Day Creations. So, I knew I wanted to try it with my new Winds Of Grace stamp set and the Technique to try was embossing and watercoloring.

That is exactly what I did.  I embossed the sail boat with Black Craft ink and Black embossing powder. Then using my watercolor crayons, colored right over my embossed image.  Next, I used my aqua painter to wash/blend the colors.  It is suppose to be a sunset. I love it with the sail boat.  You can see on my previous posts how I did this technique with Bronc Buster and Noble Deer.

I used my Define your Life set and stamped the definition for Favorite along with my Defining Alphabet "Ff", because my Dad is always telling each of us FOUR GIRLS, that we are his favorite.  So, I thought that would be a perfect, a little inside joke. 

Here is a close up of the watercoloring. You can use less coloring for a more subtle sunset or dark like I did here for a more dramatic sunset! 

I also used the Twill Background stamp on my card front as well as the Everyday Flexible Phrases for the word "father".  I thought the eyelets and black hemp added to the nautical feel of the card.  I think I have all my father's day cards made now.  I might make one more.  I will definitely share if so. 

You can see all the products I used to make this card in the Spring/ Summer Collection.  If you need anything or WANT anything feel free to email me I would love to help you with a order.

Happy Stampin'

Stitched Card

No, I did not stitch or sew my card, but I did use my new Stitched Background stamp (pg 135).  I love it!  I saw the idea to color in the stitched images on Mary Jo Albright's blog.  So, I got out my Stampin' Write Markers (pg. 183) and took the time to just color.  I love the look, like I created my own background paper.

I got the lay out from CPS #64.  That is all I need to get me stampin' is a layout challenge. 

I made my card 6x6 out of Bashful Blue Textured Card stock.  I added some Celery 5/8" grosgrain.  The main flower was stamped once with Basic Black and colored with the Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and Orchid Opulence Markers.  Then I stamped the same image with So Saffron Craft ink and embossed it with Clear Powder and cut out only the center flower, with out the stitching, and mounted that on top of the black on that I colored.  The center of the flower is a Purple Round Rhinestone. The flower is popped with dimensionals.  The flower and the flourish images are from the Stitched Exotics set (pg 83).  They saying is from the Much Appreciated set (pg 144).

Here is a close up of the gorgeous background with my pretty good coloring job. Isn't that a FUN background stamp!  Of course it does not have to be colored, but what options you have with it! 

I love the spring soft feel of this color combination. I have been wanting to use Orchid Opulence cause it was beginning to just sit there. It does look good with these other softer colors! 

That's all for now, more stamping to do.  I need to plan a 6x6 recipe page for a shoe box swap I am participating in this week end at a Stamper's Retreat!  I am so excited 3 1/2 days and 3 nights away from home, STAMPING!  Mercy, I am a lucky girl! 

Happy Stampin'

You can view all the stamps and accessories I used here in the Stampin' Up! Spring/ Summer Collection.  Feel free to email me with your questions, comments and orders!  [email protected]

Cracked Bloomin' Beautiful

I wanted to make matching Mother's Day Cards to give my Mom and Mother-in-Law, that matched their gift.  When I saw Beate's weekend sketch challenge, I decided to challenge my self to use it to create my Mother's Day Cards!  I just did not get a chance to post the card until now.

Here is the sketch.

And, here is my card.  I had to make my panels a little bigger to accommodate my stamped image. 

I watercolored my image from the Bloomin' Beautiful set, with ink refills and the Aqua painter on Confetti White Card stock.

Then I did the "Cracked Glass" technique over the top.  Here's how you can do cracked glass: 

1. Ink your entire card stock with a versamark pad (pg. 183).

2. Pour on Glassy Glaze powder (pg.187), shake off excess.

3. Heat emboss with Heat Tool (pg. 187) till all the powder is melted.

4. Repeat this process 3 more times, for a total of 4 embossed layers. It has to be THICK to work.

5. Place image in the freezer for about 10 minutes. This the curl the edges of the paper up.

6. Take piece out of freezer and while it is cold bend it to crack it.  Be somewhat gentle so as not to pop the glassy layer off the card stock. 

7.  Optional last step, apply some ink with a sponge, it will resist the glassy layer and stick in the cracks giving it more of an antique feel. I would suggest Chocolate Chip ink for this.

You may be able to see the cracks better in this picture.

It is a fun technique that adds that little something extra when you want to make a special card.

I also used the Afternoon Tea DSP and Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

I made the scalloped edge with a 1-3/8" circle punch and the Scalloped Circle punch using Textured Wild Wasabi card stock. 

I think the Mom's really liked the card and the gift as well, although BOTH of them said " I bet their are pictures of you in here" to my 3 year old daughter when opening the portfolio that contained cards.  So, I guess I better follow up with some cute Samantha pictures! 

Happy Stampin'

Need some things to create the "Cracked Glass" technique at home?  View the Stampin' Up! Catalogs here.  Email me with your order and I will have it shipped right to your door.  Please feel free to email me with questions, I am here to help you with all your stampin' needs.

Altered Chipboard book

Good Saturday Morning to you all!  Last night was my "Chip -n- Dip" party.  It was a great time!  I demoed everything chipboard.  And wanted to share one of my favorite projects with you all.

I took some chipboard rectangles and altered them to create this mini book.

The rectangles are left over from the retired On Board Garland Greetings. 

I covered the front with Chocolate Chip CS and 1/2" circles from Regal Rose, Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue CS.

The Large Flower accent is a chipboard inked with white craft ink and embossed with White powder.  Then on top is a Die cut bloom from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  The leaves behind it are two 5 petal flowers, punched out of Certainly Celery.

The center of the flower is what I like to call a gum drop.  It is a Pop Up Glue dot covered with Chunky Glitter.  You can do the same thing with Micro Beads. 

The ribbon is Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain and Pretty in Pink Taffeta.  I love to layer my ribbon and this worked perfect for my book.

Here are the 5 pages inside my book.

You can see my daughters jacket was the inspiration piece for the cover of my mini book. 

The pages are made out of coordinating card stock and Prints DSP.

I reinforced the point at which the wholes were punched with a Key Tab punch.

The accent flowers were made with the Boho Blossom Punch and White Card stock.  The centers were done with the 1/4" circle punch and coordinating card stock for that page.  

The stamping is all done with the Defining Alphabet and the Define Your Life Stamp set.  I love how the one where she is blowing on the Dandelion (above) says "wish". How Perfect.

They are great stamp sets for scrapbooking. 

I also wanted to mention that on the back of the covers for this book I covered them with Close to Cocoa Prints DSP, a polka dot pattern to go with my all over Polka Dot theme.  Do you think I might be to hung up on Polka Dots?

Last page.  It was a fun book to make and after doing all things chip board for this class, I have to say I am totally hooked on the stuff!  It is so fun to alter to match what you are making!   

Don't forget, this month Chipboard is on sale.  Click here for more details.

And please let me know if you have any questions.  I am here to help you with your stamp needs. You can view Stampin' Up!'s current catalogs here. Email orders are welcome!

Happy Stampin'

Brilliant? Blue Challenge

Kristina Werner's Color Challenge #8 was posted today, another CHALLENGE for me, with my hang up with Brilliant Blue.  But, I know my friend Britiney will be out there watching for me to post a card for this challenge, because she is trying to convince me that Brilliant Blue is a fun color. When I only thought it was for scrapbook pages of the BOISE STATE BRONCOS! 

Here are the four colors for this challenge:

Brilliant Blue

Bashful Blue

Pumpkin Pie

Whisper White

Here is my card!  I did it!  And, I don't hate it, in-fact..... I think I like it!!!  What a cute little blue bird from the Always stamp set.

I added a little Apricot Appeal to the mix so that my Baroque Background would sand out more.  I love that stamp, it is my first time using it! 

I also wanted to use a chipboard piece on there, as it is the Ways to use it challenge on Splitcoast today, to incorporate chip board in your project.  Which is perfect as I am having a "Chip and Dip" party tomorrow, so now I have another great sample!

If you would like to learn a bunch of cool things you can do with chipboard, you can come to my "Chip and Dip" party.  Friday, May 9th at 6:30pm!  All you need to do to attend is to RSVP!  This is a FREE event at my house and there is a make and take project for all who RSVP, so shoot me an email, and get out and do something fun FRIDAY night! 

PLUS, Chipboard is on SALE right now!  How about 20% off!  Nice, huh!  Stampin' Up! is giving you 20% off all the chipboard you want with a $35 purchase!

Here, I used a circle from the On Board Simon Upper collection.  And stamped on it with Pumpkin Pie Craft Ink.  Then added some dots with my white gel pen.  Who knew how GREAT white gel pen looked on naked chipboard!  I made a tag out of my chipboard with my Crop-a-Dile, it punches through the chipboard like it is paper!  So cool!

I hope to see you at my "Chip and Dip" Party and that you are inspired to stamp by this post as well as the Color Challenge! 

Happy Stampin'

Check out all the cool things I used to create this card in the Stampin' Up! Catalog, including the Always Stamp set (pg. 57).  Email me your order and get some chipboard at 20% off! 

   

Trifold Pocket Cutie

Here is a sneak peak of one of the cards we will be making at my May Card Maker's Club!  Isn't is so cute! We will be using the Summer Picnic Paper, Die cut blooms (both from the Occasions Mini Catalog) and Flower fusion.  So, you may get a different pattern of paper and matching flowers!  How fun, I can not wait to make one in another pattern!

But, I love how Certainly Celery, Old Olive and Bashful Blue go together.

I love the rounded edges, scallops, texture and patterns.  The flowers from the Die cut blooms are on textured paper.  How fun is that! 

Can you believe this paper is from the Summer Picnic collection?  It is so different from the Real Red and Orange! 

This is a fun card to make and will be a great card to give when the occasion arises.

Here is a picture of the pocket pulled out, where you could write your message or embellish more if wanted.

So, do you want to come play, stamp and learn new ideas? 

MAY CARD MAKER'S CLUB IS PLACE TO BE!  The idea behind this monthly stamp camp is to help you build up your supply of cards on hand.  So you always have a card to send when you need it. So, come join us!

SATURDAY, MAY 31st at 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM

AT MY HOUSE

WE WILL BE MAKING A TOTAL OF 5 CARDS

REGISTRATION IS JUST $20

CLICK THE PAYPAL LINK  BELOW TO REGISTER NOW!

Happy Stampin'

Challenge Combo

Todays Sketch Challenge, Yesterdays Color Challenge and Inspiration from a card I saw on Kerin's blog, is what I used to create this card. When you have all those ideas to spur you on, it is easy to be creative!

Here is the Sketch Challenge:

Kind of different, right?

   When I first saw it, I thought, this is not for me.  Which then made me think, well then I should definitely try it!  And I am pleased with my final result. Sometimes you have to step outside your comfort zone! My card is just turned on the side from the original card.   

The color challenge is: Pretty in Pink, Lovely Lilac and Certainly Celery.  I wanted to try this as well because I rarely use Lovely Lilac, not sure why.  It goes great in this combo!  My only challenge in with these colors was getting the Lovely Lilac to look Lovely Lilac in my photo.  I hope it does on your end.

My inspiration came from the Emboss Resist technique used on the Fabulous Flowers behind the greeting. I saw it on Kerin's blog and loved it, what a great way to use that big flower, it does not always have to be cut out!  So, if you are out there Kerin, thanks for a great idea!  Just stamp your image with Versamark, emboss with clear powder and then sponge on your color. The embossed image Resists the ink, leaving your stamped image white and your cardstock colored!

The accent flower is stamped with Pretty in Pink Craft Ink and embossed with Iridescent Ice powder.  I added a pink rhinestone from the Round Fire Collection and double popped it, so it stood higher than the greeting. 

I also wanted to extend the Polka Dot design, so I added dots with my white gel pen around my half ovals and I POKED A DOT (see how clever my play on words is there!) border around the edge of the card.  The Polka Dot designer Paper is from the Prints collection, the Celery you can purchase, but the Pretty in Pink comes in a stack that you can get for FREE as a hostess!  Love it! Let me know if you want to get some FREE too, I would love to come stamp with you and your friends! 

Happy Stampin'

Check out the Stampin' Up! Catalogs for all the stamps and accessories that I used here.  Email orders are welcome and shipped right to your door!  Let me know how I can help you with your stampin' needs!

 

More Gift Card Holders

I have been making some more gift card holders, love them!  I had to make one with my Noble Deer set and one for Mom as well! 

Again, I used my watercolor crayons to make the sunset effect here. The image is stamped in Basic Black craft ink and embossed with Black detail embossing powder.

I used my Defining Alphabet and Everyday Flexible Phrases for the "Father" Accent.  And stamped behind that is the pine bow image from the Noble Deer set, I just stamped it off before stamping it on the CS to give it a shadow like effect.

You can not see it in the photo but the chocolate chip cardstock is stamped with the Sanded Background in chocolate chip ink. I sponged some ink on the twill tape to dirty it up a bit, make it more masculine.  To see where the gift card goes, see this post.

And now, one for Mother!  I actually already have 2 gifts for my mom so this will not be for her, perhaps MIL?

Well, I did a bit of cutting on this one.  The entire flower pot is cut out as well as 3 additional flowers to give it a 3-D effect. 

To color the flowers,  I used a blender pen and ink refills.  The pot was colored with Close to Cocoa water color crayon and blended. 

Again I used the Sanded background, I am lovin' this stamp!  I guess I am finally getting over the retirement of Linen. 

To tie it shut I used the yummy Poly Twill Ribbon from the Occasions mini.  I am so glad they extended the Occasions Mini until JUNE!  This ribbon is so cool! 

Here is a CLOSE UP!  Can you see the 3-D effect now?

I think these are the cutest little cards and a great way to lovingly deliver a gift card. 

Want to make one.  Here are some simple directions, email me if you can not figure it out.

Start with a 4-1/4" x 11 piece of cardstock.

Score it at 3", 5-1/2" and 8"

Fold it so that the card opens to reveal an inner panel, like this, (see photo 2).

Now, flip it over and adhere the inner panel on the top, bottom and outside, DO NOT put adhesive on the fold, make sure to put is right on the edge, so as not to take up room that the gift card will need.

Go back to the inside of the card.  You will now use your word window and 3/4" circle punch to create the opening for the gift card.  Line up the word window with the edge of the card stock and punch half a word window out of the folded edge.  Repeat this on the other end of the fold.  You will have a little point in the middle, punch this out with 1/3 of a circle using the 3/4" circle punch.

All you need to do now is Stamp it up!  I know once you make one of these you will want to make more! 

Happy Stampin'

Need some supplies to create this project, let me hook you up!  Check out the Stampin' Up! On line catalogs here and email me with your order.  I will have it shipped right to your door!

 

Watercoloring for Father

I recently bought the Noble Deer (pg. 100) set to make Father's Day projects for my husband and father-in-law.  I wanted to share with you the Father's Day card I made, using a watercoloring technique that I love, which I learned on splitcoast.  I put together a little photo tutorial for you! 

Here is what you need for this watercoloring technique.

Watercolor Paper

Staz On Ink

Stampin' Write Markers

Aqua Painter

Stamp of your choice

The first step is easy, ink and stamp your image with Staz On Ink.  I used Jet Black and the main image from the Noble Deer Stamp set.

The next thing to do is to add ink with your Stampin' Write markers.  I start with the lightest colors that will be your base color, later you will add a darker shade that will be come your shading. Here are the colors I used.

Deer: Chocolate Chip

Long grass: Old Olive

Short grass: Certainly Celery

Sky: Bordering Blue

Trees: Handsome Hunter

  Now you want to watercolor using your aqua painter. Really blend all the lines that the marker creates.

Then add your darker colors for shading, dimension and detail.  You can also use the same color marker, like the case with my deer,sky and trees. Instead of using a darker color I used the same color for my detail. For the grass I used Alway Artichoke.  

Now you want to blend again with the Aqua Painter, but this time, you want to just blend it with the color already there, to create shading.

Here is my final image. All watercolored!  Now, that is a Noble Deer that I sure will inspire the hunter's in my family!

Now it is time to create a card with your watercolored image.  Here is one of my Father's Day cards. Since my husband was in the room while I made this one, I think it will go to my Father-in-Law and will make a second, similar creation for him.

Here is the Recipe for my card:

Stamps: Noble Deer, Sanded Background, Defining Alphabet, Everyday Flexible Phrases.

Ink: Jet Black Staz On, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Blue Bayou, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Water color paper and Spring Break DSP

Accessories: Stampin' Write Markers, Distresser Tool, Linen Thread, Hodgepodge Hardware, Sponge, dimensionals, Word Window Punch.

You can view all the stamps and accessories that I used to create this card in the Stampin' Up! catalog.  Just email me and I can help you with an order!

Hodgepodge Hardware is the Must have accessory for Masculine cards.  Click here to see how you can get a Hodgepodge Hardware kit for FREE!

Happy Stampin'

Look What April Made

It's time for another Guest Blogger!  April is one of my stamp club members and has been stamping for about a year now.  She came over to pick up her club order and brought a card that she made to show me. I love that!  To see what my customers are making with their stamps makes me so happy!  I asked her if I could take a picture of the card for my Guest Blogger spot.  She said yes and let me keep the card!  How sweet.  So here is April's card!

   It is a baby shower invite.  And it uses one of my favorite stamps sets Zoofari! 

The invite information sits in a pocket.  She used Basic Black, Wild Wasabi and Soft Sky cardstock and ink.  What great colors for a baby boy shower! 

In this second picture you can see what the card looks like when the invite is removed from the pocket.  I like how she did not neglect the inside of the card. 

Thanks for sharing your cute card with us April.  Keep on stampin'!

If you are my customer and interested in being a guest blogger, email me a picture of your latest and greatest  Stampin' Up! creation!  Or bring it to my next event and I will take the photos. 

Happy Stampin'

Check out the Zoofari stamp set (page 72) that April used here and all the other great stamp sets and accessories that Stampin' Up! has to offer, HERE.  Let me know if I can help you with an order or any stampin' questions.