Autumn Fest in Winter?

Good Day Everyone! It is going to be a snowy weekend for us! So, this card does not really go with the season. I made this card way back in November. But because I couldn't upload it to my site it has now become outdated. But I like it so much that I wanted to show it off. Not only has the season passed but this set, Autumn Fest, has been retired. I do hope that the card layout and color combination gives you ideas for other images.

I don't know if you can see the lowercase "g" in the lower right hand corner but there is one there. I used the jumbo outline alphabet and stamped it in Sky Blue. Then I colored in the "g" with a VersaMarker.

I have new product to "play" with so I will try my best to get some NEW stuff on my blog. I do have a lot of very cute Christmas cards to show but I will hold off for a little while. I may have to post them if I get into a pinch. I don't want to put my blogging fans on hold!! I will not be posting until Sunday or Monday. Have a great weekend!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Sanded background, Jumbo Outline Alphabet, Define Your Life, Autumn Fest (retired); Paper- Close To Cocoa, Sky Blue, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White; Ink- Always Artichoke, Pumpkin Pie, Close To Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Sky Blue; Accessories- Square punch, buttons, hemp, VersaMarker

Ginger Blossom Coasters

Hello everyone! I am so glad to be back to my blogging world! Shortly after my last post I got a new computer and it has really taken me this long to get everything the way I like it and be able to post pictures! UGH! I really love my new computer but it was really a pain to not have all the programs that I have grown accustomed to.

So, I am back and I am ready to post some new pictures and tell you more about Stampin' Up! My first post of the new year is a birthday gift for a friend that I just finished up. I was so excited about how they turned out that I wanted to post it right away! I hope that she doesn't read the post before tomorrow (that's when I am giving it to her)!

This is a set of four coasters that are really meant for pictures. I had seen someone else alter these coasters and knew that I could do the same! I used mostly new products from the NEW Spring/Summer Collections catalog! If you would like to see a copy, be sure to let me know! I am so excited about all the new products! One new product is the rub-ons! If you have never used rub-ons before then I would love to show you how! They are truly wonderful! Because these coasters didn't leave a lot of room for bulk or three dimension, I had to use just paper. So, there are no brads or ribbon. I needed the coaster to be flat so that the glass wouldn't wobble off!! So, the run-ons made a perfect embellishment! I hope you enjoy!

Card Recipe: Stamps- none; Paper- Ginger Blossoms designer paper, Ruby Red, River Rock, Groovy Guava; Ink- Ruby Red (for some sponging); Accessories- Eastern Elegance rub-ons, scallop punch, circle punches, word window punch

Three For You!

Hello again! I just wanted to show a quick and easy card after the last one. This one is so easy! Especially if you have the Three For You punch box! That is all I used on this card. Add a little ribbon and you are done!

The centers of these flowers (because you all know that all flowers must have centers) are done with the white gel pen. Brads would also be very cute in the centers but it is difficult to punch a hole in the middle and then the brad prongs tend to stick out... So, this is much easier! I also popped up the flowers using pieces of dimensionals. All of the stamps used for this card also come in the box. I have fallen in love with it and I know you will too! Have a great week everyone!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Three For You Punch Box; Cardstock- Blue Bayou, Sky Blue, Groovy Guava, Whisper White; Ink- Sky Blue, Blue Bayou; Accessories- Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon, white signo gel pen, dimensionals, flower punch (which comes in the punch box)

True Friend

Hello everyone! Hope you all had a good week! I did! I can't believe it is time to start a new week already!! But I think I am ready. Because I didn't show a project yesterday, I am going to do two posts today. I have been working on a few swaps and have some cards ready to show. Hope you enjoy!

This card is made using a stamp set from the new Holiday mini collection. This Holiday mini collection is superb!! I love almost everything in it! But I did put a limit for myself. And this stamp set was one of them!! I used the new True Friend set. The way I did this image takes a little more time than just stamping an image. The flower is all one stamp. I used my markers and colored in each section of the flower (I actually used four colors on the stamp). So, if you want quick and easy this may not be the card for you. But it still turned out cute! I normally would not think of these colors together but the color wheel made the suggestion and I went for it! And it grew on me because I made a bunch for a swap I am in! Now I just hope it grows on those who will be receiving them!! In the upper right hand corner of the rust piece is five pierced holes and two of them have gold brads in them. I know that I have used this "technique" before but I really like it! This card also uses our new Basic Gray color and I just love it!

Card Recipe: Stamps- True Friend; Cardstock- Basic Gray, Really Rust, Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla; Ink- Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Really Rust, Perfect Plum markers, Basic Gray pad; Accessories- Certainly Celery grosgrain, gold brads, Crafter's Tool Kit

Pick A Petal

Here is a card that I found on another blog - http://kimsstampinroom.blogspot.com/. I just loved her colors and layout and decided to copy! I did tweak the center just a bit. Instead of using a turqoise button (which I don't have), I took my double circle punch and punched a scrap piece of Tempting Turquoise paper. Then I took my circle punch and punched it out. And then I had a faux button! I added a little Whisper White grosgrain as well. The flower is popped up with dimensionals. Enjoy!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Pick a Petal, Curvy Verses; Cardstock- Apricot Appeal, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery designer prints paper; Ink- Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black, Arpicot Appeal; Accessories- Circle punch, double circle punch, coluzzle, Whisper White grosgrain, dimensionals

Coaster Frame

Hello everyone!! Well, the school year is under way and everything is going smoothly for the moment. It has just been a lot more work than I ever remember it being! But then again, I do have a 7 year old to contend with as well. Thankfully, my husband has really stepped up and helped me out there! Did I mention that I was also helping out the volleyball coach? The volleyball season ends at the same time as my son's soccer season. But then we are well on our way to Christmas!! YIKES!

Then there is stamping to help me gain my senses about me! Here is a little project that I put together for a swap and a shoebox swap that I am in. The one for the swap I did with some different paper and stamps but it is almost identical. I thought it turned out pretty cute! They are pretty easy to make as well. I used two 4 x 4 chipboard coasters (like the ones they use in restaurants). I covered them with our new Fall Flowers designer paper. Then I used the Bud Basics stamp set to decorate. Top it off with some Basic Gray taffeta ribbon and there you have it!! The little "hinges" are from a die cut by Zip 'e Mate. I just added some brads to make them look even more authentic! I really liked how it turned out! Enjoy!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Bud Basics; Cardstock- Sahara Sand, Really Rust, Basic Gray, Fall Flowers designer paper, Whisper White; Ink- Old Olive, Really Rust, Sky Blue; Accessories- vintage brads, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, dimensionals, rhinestone brad (for middle of flower), photo corners punch, corner rounder; Other- coasters, zip 'e mate

Fun & Fast Notes

Hello everyone in blogging land! I am so sorry that it has been a while since I posted! I really want to post something new everyday and I fell a little short last week. I have started back to work (after ten years) as a 5th grade teacher. I am also helping out the coach with volleyball. And last week I had to be at school by 7 a.m. to start practice! YIKES! I know that I will have to get up that early for school but I was not prepared for that!! Anyway, we start school on Wednesday and so my posting will probably be happening in the afternoons/evenings. I will do my best to stay on top of things.

Here is a card that I just think is so sweet. This set, Fun & Fast Notes, was a set that demonstrators received for FREE at convention. We had the opportunity to take a class about watercoloring and we used this set in that class to learn all the different ways to watercolor. I wasn't sure if I liked this set but the more I use it the more I like it! It is a very easy set to watercolor! Not too much to the stamps so it is quick and easy!! When I mounted my stamps, I cut off the words on the bottom of each stamp and mounted the words to the side of the wood block. That way I could use just the image if I wanted! For this card I inked up the word thanks... with my marker for the outside and then, after cleaning the stamp, I inked up the ...I needed that. for the inside. The other thing I want to point out is that there is a small rhinestone brad in the middle of the flower. Just to give it some "bling"! Have a great week!!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Fun & Fast Notes; Cardstock- Wild Wasabi, Sky Blue, Confetti White, Rose Red prints designer paper; Ink- Black StazOn, Sky Blue, Rose Red, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi; Accessories- Rhinestone brads, blender pens, Wild Wasabi double stitched ribbon, dimensionals

From The Heart

I found this layout on another blog that I was skimming through one day (sorry I can't remember who). What caught my eye was the way the ribbon was done. Kind of non-traditional! I am always looking out for things like that! The other card had different colors and the card size was different but everything else is pretty much the same.

A couple of things about the card- One is that the stamp set does not come with leaves for the flowers. What you do is stamp the flower once for coloring and then stamp it on a green piece for the leaves. Then cut it out by cutting the extra "doodles" off. If you look real close at some of the flower petals and just cut the outside doodle part off you are left with a leaf! Isn't that clever? The flower is popped up with dimensionals. The second thing is the ribbon. I just punched a hole next to the first and last word of my greeting. Then I took my Kraft taffeta ribbon and poked it through from the top of the first word and brought it up through the second hole (last word) and wrapped it around to the back and brought it back up through the first hole. No tying need!! So clever! Well, it's different anyway! Enjoy the weekend!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Doodle This, Holidays & Wishes; Cardstock- Kraft, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Rose Red prints designer paper; Ink- So Saffron marker, Black StazOn; Accessories- dimensionals, Kraft taffeta ribbon, 1/8" hole punch

Wonderful!

This card design was one I copied from the new Fall/Winter Collection. It is 0n page 59 at the bottom. Check it out! I don't have the Pretties Kit (which is next on my list) so I substituted the flower from Looks Like Spring. I added the brads and tucked the greeting behind the flower. The flower is also popped up. The flower in the catalog is green which really bugs some people (right, Becky?). So, I changed it to Bordering Blue. I think I like the "pop" of color a little better anyway. I also didn't have any Artichoke buttons so I just used my Spring Bouquet flower punch and punched a flower center and put a brad in it! I think that a button would be really cute, though. The Artichoke piece is stamped with the Fine Lace background stamp which gives it some real elegance! Then I just pierced down the edge of the Artichoke. Enjoy!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Looks Like Spring, Warm Words, Fine Lace background; Cardstock- River Rock, Always Artichoke, Whisper White; Ink- Bordering Blue, Always Artichoke; Accessories- brads, sponge, crafter's tool kit, dimensionals

Friend

This is the last card that we did for make-n-takes at convention. Now I am going to have to come up with samples of my own! Uh oh!! I better get busy! I did get some new stamps from the beautiful new Holiday mini which will debut next month! But I had better focus!!

This card uses the new Happiness background stamp. The stamp has a lot of different sections on it and you can use it as one whole background or, like on this card, you can use sections of it to make it look like you had a bunch of different stamps! I am anxious to have some time to play with this stamp as it has TONS of possibilities! The flower is a chipboard flower and we took a sponge dauber and craft ink and sponged the ink on the chipboard. It is layered onto a metal edged tag. For the tag, we stamped one of the stamps from Think Happy Thoughts onto the back of the tag. Then we followed the dots on the stamp and pierced each dot so when you turn it over you have evenly spaced holes! Clever!! I just love the colors and it really went together pretty easily. Enjoy!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Fundamental Phrases, Think Happy Thoughts, Happiness background stamp; Cardstock- Kraft, Soft Sky, So Saffron, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi; Ink- Chocolate Chip, Real Red, VersaMark; Accessories- On Board Blossoms & Basics, Jersey ribbon originals, So Saffron button, metal edged tag, dimensionals, Crafter's Tool Kit, sponge dauber

Super Cute and Quick!

This is a 6 x 3 card that we did for a make-n-take. It will fit nicely in the open end envelopes that we sell. I don't usually make these cards (mine are always the standard) but I think that I might have to start! It's a nice size and something different! This card is so super easy!! Remember that yesterday I told you about the Build-A-Flower accents and elements tin? Well this card uses more from that tin! And another great thing... The flower is punched!! So you punch the flower with our new five petal flower punch and then you find a five petal flower from the accents and elements and stick it on top! Then we took a little label from the tin and stamped Hello! The flower has one of our new rhinestone brads and is popped up for dimension. The scalloped edge is made by removing the guide from the corner rounder and punching straight on. If you need more explanation on that please let me know. We glued some of our Cutie Pie designer paper on the inside so it would peek out and you are done! Very quick and easy and so super cute!!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Fundamental Phrases; Cardstock- Rose Red, So Saffron, Cutie Pie designer paper; Ink- Wild Wasabi; Accessories- Fairy Tale ribbon originals, Build-A-Flower accents and elements, ice circle rhinestone brads, 5-petal flower punch, corner rounder

Cards Tin

Hello bloggers! Hope you all had a great weekend! I have come down with a cold so I am still trying to shake that. But stamping and scrapbooking always makes me feel better!!

Anyway, this was probably one of my favorite projects from convention. I loved them all but I really love this one! This little tin is actually the tin that the accents and elements come in. I know that people have done things like this before but I hadn't. And since we got a in of the Build-A-Flower accents and elements they just had us use that for one of our make-n-takes. Clever! This actually was very easy to do and would make a great class. So, be on the look out for a class. I don't have cards in mine, yet. Wouldn't this be a great gift?

Let me tell you a little bit about this tin. The blue and green flowers come in the Build-A-Flower accents and elements. The flower center does as well but is on a Build-A-Brad. The Build-A-Brads are really interesting. They are bigger than our other brads and you can punch a 1/2" circle from an image or patterned paper and stick it to the top of the brad. Then you put this sticky clear top on and you've got your own custom made brad!! The bad news is that these brads are on back order as they are not meeting quality standards. Hope they get it fixed soon!!

The "C" is our new lower case monogram alphabet. I actually love the lower case more than the upper! It is stamped on our new textured cardstock. Love it! We also spelled out cards onto a label that comes in the accents and elements. As you can tell, you get a LOT of stickers in one of those little tins! I will be showing you even more in the next few days so stay tuned!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Simple Serif mini alphabets, "C" monogram alphabet lower; Cardstock- Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, Blue Bayou prints designer series paper; Ink- Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi; Accessories- chocolate chip wide grosgrain, whisper white narrow grosgrain, build-a-flower accents and elements, pewter build-a-brad, pewter hodgepodge hardware, corner rounder, crop-a-dile, dimensionals, crafter's tool kit

WANTED!

As promised, here is the 6 x 6 page that we made at the pajama-rama event. This was made with the Outlaw designer paper and the Wanted stamp set. We also used the Sanded background (love that background stamp). I just wanted to point out the star focal point. This is kind of cool. We punched a circle out of the rust strip (the one that says wanted on it) and the background paper. Then we stamped the star from the set and used the new star punch to punch it out. Then we took the circle punch and punched a circle out of scrap paper and then centered it in the scallop punch and punched that out. Then we used the 1/8" punch and punched holes in each of the scallops. Then you take the punched star and put it on a scrap piece of Outlaw designer paper and put a brad in it and glue it behind the page to cover up your holes! I thought it came out so cute! Don't you think you need the scallop punch now?

Card Recipe: Stamps- Sanded background, Wanted; Cardstock- Outlaw designer paper, Really Rust, Sahara Sand; Ink- Chocolate Chip, Close To Cocoa; Accessories- photo corners punch, scallop punch, star punch, gold brads, circle punches

Pocket Card

This pocket card was one of the easier make-n-take projects that we did at convention. I think that I am really going to like this new Wanted set! Tomorrow I will show a 6 x 6 page that we did with this set. This card uses the new Outlaw designer paper. I just love the colors! You can definitely dress it up to look more elegant or the stamp set can be more masculine. The rust piece fits inside the pocket which is made from a piece of the designer paper. So, you can see both sides of the designer paper - one side is the sage shadow and the other is the stripe. That's what makes our designer paper so great! On the rust card we used the crop-a-dile to emboss circles across the top of the card! I had no idea that you could do that!!! You learn so much at convention! We also used our crop-a-dile to punch the hole and set the jumbo eyelet on the pocket. The crop-a-dile is such a great tool!!! One other thing I want to point out is the new scallop punch. At convention they showed us that many of our stamp sets work so well with our punches. And this is one of them. The "medallion" piece fits exactly into the scallop punch! Hope you all are having a great week!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Wanted, Fundamental Phrases; Cardstock- Naturals Ivory, Really Rust, Outlaw designer paper; Ink- Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, VeraMark; Accessories- Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain, linen thread, pewter jumbo eyelets, corner rounder, crop-a-dile, scallop circle punch, dimensionals

Happy, Happy Happy!!!

Here is a little box that we made at convention. Chipboard is really "hot" right now so Stampin' Up! is really keeping up with the trends by offering quite a variety of chipboard embellishments to use for just about anything! My poor little box got a little mangled on the trip. I tried to make it presentable but I am afraid that it still has some "issues". What I really love about this little box is that the flower and the flower center are really three dimensional! I will try to explain as it might be hard to tell from the photo. We punched a hole in the box itself. Then we took a piece of cardstock with dimensionals and put it behind the hole. Then we stamped and punched out the flower center and stuck that directly to the piece of cardstock behind the hole so it looks like it is "set in". Then we took the chipboard flower and put dimensionals on it to pop it up! There is also a tiny rhinestone brad in the center. The chipboard flower does not have any paper or ink on it. It is what some might call, "raw". But it still looks great! The layers at the bottom of the box use the new Happiness background stamp that is many stamps in one! I can't wait to play with it! Have a great day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Think Happy Thoughts, Happiness background stamp; Cardstock- Chocolate Chip, Confetti White, River Rock, Ruby Red; Ink- River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red; Accessories- On Board Blossoms & Basics, Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon, clear rhinestone brad, circle punches, dimensionals