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I'm loving the new products in the just released 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog. AND I'm vowing to use each one of them just as soon as I can for both my own pleasure and creativity and for yours.
Here's today's card:
Although you can't see all of them, I used 4 new products:
Hearts Collection Framelits Die, 125598, p. 6
Adorning Hearts Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 125601, p. 7
It was so nice meeting with the gals at the Mi Wuk Village Library yesterday. I was looking forward to a little stamping and socializing time!
Clockwise, from me (standing): Nancy, Diana, Ellen, Roberta, Pat, Vicki and Sue
Our library used to be a firestation and our tables are in one of the old fire truck bays. See the roll up door on the left. When it's hot, we can open it for great ventilation.
Without really planning, today's cards both used scraps and the paper piecing technique.
Here's our first card, a general birthday card that can be switched out with any color combination you'd like!
Critique from the person who put this card together (me): I should have placed an Elegant Eggplant bow on the top. Oh well!
SUPPLIES:
STAMP SET: Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess, p. 21, 2011-12 Idea Book & Catalog)
CARD STOCK: Lucky Limeade, Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White, Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack: 2010-12 and 2011-2013 In Color Assortments
INK: Concord Grape, Lucky Limeade
ACCESSORIES: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch, Stamp-a-Majig, Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Houndstooth Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Jewels: Rhinestones
Here's a variation.......
TIP: Stamp the greeting first in Lucky Limeade, clean stamp, and stamp it again, using Concord Grape, slightly below or above and to the left or right. You can also use the Stamp-a-Majig for more precise placement. Are you familiar with the Stamp-a-Majig? Well, stick around till tomorrow and I'll give you a little tutorial.
Can you really make bling blingier? At least, perhaps you can make it splashier or more colorful--or dyed to match your project anyway.
All you need is a package of Stampin' Up's Jewels: Rhinestone (124296, $4.95) and some permanent pens, such as Sharpies. Simply color the top of the rhinestone, let it dry (just takes seconds) and you are good to go! Pretty cool huh? Get yours here!
• Small, self-adhesive rhinestones • 150 rhinestones per package; 50 each of 3 sizes (3 mm, 4 mm, and 5 mm) • Each package also includes three 2-5/8" strips of connected rhinestones, perfect for borders
I just love the versatility of this stamp set. It can be used with so many colors and exude so many moods. I'm sure I'll have several more samples from this set after the swapping 'frenzy' at Stampin' Up!'s annual Convention which is next week in Salt Lake City.
FABULOUS FLORETS: 123025-W and 123027-C. It's in both the Summer Mini (p. 22) and the brand new 2011-2011 Idea Book & Catalog (p. 107). The Beyond the Garden Designer Series Paper (122342) coordinates wonderfully with this set as shown in the first card. The first card also shows off the oh-so-fun Tangerine Tango Stampin' Emboss Powder (123106). I'm so glad we have some fun embossing powders in 'the product line-up' again. Check out the available colors!!!!! You can find them on page 201 of the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog.
Cherry Cobbler 122949
Tempting Turquoise 122950
Tangerine Tango 123106
Wild Wasabi 123224
Melon Mambo 123223
The lower card shows the technique of 'stamping off' or 'second generation' stamping where you ink up the image and stamp it, and then stamp again and again without reinking, allowing for lighter and lighter tones of the same color ink. The flower in this card was stamped and cut out once with Concord Grape ink onto Perfect Plum cardstock and then reinked and stamped directly onto the Whisper White Top Note, highlighting the delicacy of the flower. Pretty cool.
If you don't have your very own copy of Stampin' Up!'s new 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog, and you don't mind a phone call from me, just send me an email (left sidebar) with your phone number and address, and I'll send you one. Then I'll call you in about a week to see what is your favorite item and what you would like to order.
Finally, this is the 3rd card we made using vellum as a main feature.
Supplies:
Stamp Set/s: Friends 24/7 (113218), On Your Birthday (111664)
Card Stock: Pear Pizzazz: 5-1/2" x 11" (119795), Whisper White: 4" x 5-1/4" (100730), White Vellum Paper: 3-3/4" x 5" (101839), Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack: In Colors (117158)
Ink: Basic Black (101179) and Pear Pizzazz (119784) Classic pad; Markers: Pear Pizzazz (119801), Pretty in Pink (100045)
Using Basic Black ink, stamp the flower image on the left and right sides of the Whisper White card stock. Sponge the edges of the Whisper White CS with Pear Pizzazz. Stamp the flower image again, Basic Black ink, on the Vellum paper piece, allowing room at the top for the strip of DSP (Designer Series Paper) and at the bottom for the tearing of the paper. After tearing off about 1/4" - 1/2" from the bottom of the Vellum Paper, sponge it with Pear Pizzazz.
Using your markers, color the flower image on the back side of the vellum, allowing the color to show through the paper. Attach the Vellum piece to the Whisper White with Snail adhesive, placing the adhesive so that it will be hidden under the DSP layer.
Attach the DSP (4" x 1") layer -- tear a bit off of the bottom edge and sponge it using Pear Pizzazz classic ink -- to the Vellum with Snail and then add gold brads on the sides for decoration. Then add these layers to the card front. The brads only go through the Vellum and Whisper White layers.
Stamp the greeting of your choice on the Whisper White card stock, below the torn edge. I used the larger LIVE, LAUGH & LOVE image from the On Your Birthday set, inking up only the Happy Birthday.
Be sure to either pull out your Vellum Paper and Card Stock that you have stashed away or purchase some today and play with it. It's great fun and is sure to get attention from your recipients. There are definitely more ways to use it which I will share in the future.
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO PLACE AN ORDER FROM THE OCCASIONS MINI CATALOG!
DON'T MISS OUT!
CALL ME (phone number is in my banner).
EMAIL ME (click on the link in the left sidebar).
GO DIRECTLY TO MY SU! STORE (click on my name below or the shopping cart in the upper right corner)
My stampin' friend, Tammy Fite, just shared a super sample using vellum (card stock) for a butterfly.
Tami used the Beautiful Butterfly die and the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder and her BIG SHOT die cut machine. What would we do without the Big Shot!? And the Sew Suite Designer Series Paper that is used in the background is only available until tomorrow! It's gone when the Occasions Mini is gone, tomorrow nite (Saturday) at 11.59 p.m.
Punch out the butterfly with the Beautiful Butterfly die, and then place the butterfly in the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder and run it through the Big Shot one more time.
Have a great day. I'm going to be watching our recordings of the Royal Wedding!!! Wow!
Yesterday I shared with you my first experience with "Recessed Heat Embossing". And today I have another card to show you.
This Christmas Card was submitted by Kim Assaly, a Stampin' Up! demonstrator from Canada, for my Sudsol Christmas card swap in August. Her use of the 'Recessed Heat Embossing' peaked my interest in the technique.
Repeatedly tap the raised side of the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder (p. 214, 116824, $7.95) with a VersaMark Pad (p. 195, 102283, $7.50). Lay your card stock between the folds as normal and run the folder through the Big Shot. When you remove the embossed card stock from the folder, sprinkle Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder on the recessed side of the card stock. Shake off excess and heat set. When you assemble your card, the adhesive will be placed on the side that is normally shown off--the raised side of the flower.
It's really hard to get a photo of glitter! So now, it's your turn to try this technique. Any embossing folder can be used. As I try other folders, I'll share them with you. I'm kind of addicted to the technique. :)
I hope you go ahead and try this fun technique. It's an attention-getter for sure. Need glitter? Need an embossing folder or Big Shot??? Let me help you get the products you need. Click on my name below to be directed to my Stampin' Up! store on my Demonstrator Website or send me an email and I'll personally help you.
Yesterday's 'excitement' is gone and I can share with you the fun cards my class created on Wednesday. It was very gratifying to see how much my stampers enjoyed them! Good for one's soul.
We started with a "window pane" card:
Ingredients:
Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree (115026), On Your Birthday (111664) (Happy Birthday is on the bottom of the LIVE, LAUGH & LOVE stamp--use a Chocolate Chip marker to color the h.b.)
Accessories: 2-1/2" Scallop Circle Punch, Stamping Sponge, Personal Paper Cutter, Snail Adhesive, Dimensionals
The 'secret' to this card is how to make the view from the window. The Early Espresso layer is 4" square. The Whisper White scene layer is 3-3/4" square. Stamp your scene and then cut the Whisper White layer in half, at 1-7/8"; then turn those pieces and cut them at 1-7/8".
Then position the pieces on the 'window frame' piece of card stock.
I used the oh-so-dependable Lovely as a Tree stamp set, stamping the tree two or three time with Early Espresso, not reinking. Then I stamped it again several times, using Old Olive ink. The sky and the ground were sponged. Bashful Blue for the sky, Old Olive and a bit of Always Artichoke for the ground, and a bit of Pear Pizzazz for highlights. Each piece of the window was sponged with Soft Suede.
TIP for the sky: punch out a scallop circle using the new 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch--use computer paper. Place the scalloped circle up near the top left (or right) of your card. Sponge above the scallops. Move the scalloped circle and sponge some more, sponging over what you have just sponged. Continue to randomly move the scalloped circle all the way down into the tree line. At first you might wonder if you're really making 'clouds' but keep sponging across the top of the scallops, moving the scallop circle and your sky will begin to pop out.
Our next card was made using the Two Step Owl Punch (118074, p. 200) and Elegant Soirée Designer Series Paper (117163, p. 175).
Ingredients:
Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)
Card Stock: Baja Breeze (111352 2" x 2" scrap), Early Espresso (119686 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"), Soft Suede (115318 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"), Wild Wasabi (118641 2" x 2" scrap), Elegant Soirée Designer Series Paper (117163 2-7/8" x 2-7/8")
Accessories: Stamping Sponge (101610), Circle Scissor Plus (112530), Glass Mat (112531), 1-3/8" Circle Punch (119860), 5/8" Early Espresso Grosgrain Ribbon (119955)
For the sun, I used the 1-3/8" circle punch to punch a hole in a 4" x 4" (more or less) piece of computer or other lightweight paper. I used a wee bit of Dotto (p. 197, 113305), repositionable and removeable adhesive dots, under the paper to hold it in place. Then sponge inside the circle, first with Peach Parfait, and then finishing up with a light touch of Pumpkin Pie around the edges. Remove your mask, and stamp the sentiment of your choice, using Chocolate Chip ink.
And the fourth card, also using Lovely as a Tree:
Ingredients:
Stamp Set: Lovely as a Tree (115026), Inspired by Nature (111656), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)
Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Old Olive
Accessories: Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Ovals Originals Die (119741--largest oval), Punches: Modern Label and Word Window; Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Metallic Brads (119741 Antique), 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, dimensionals, Snail Adhesive
The layers at the top left and bottom right are
Old Olive: 2" x 2-1/4"
Whisper White: 2" x 2"
Crumb Cake: 2" x 1-7/8" Do not attach this layer until you've stamped it. HINT: I inked up the tips of the stamp first with Chocolate Chip, placed the two Crumb Cake pieces side by side, and stamped several times, allowing the ink to get lighter. Then swap the position of the two pieces of card stock and repeat with Old Olive ink.
These beautiful cards are actually quite easy to recreate. Just slowly work through each layer. If you have questions, of course I'll be glad to answer them.
And as always, if you need to add any of the ingredients used for these cards to your collection, please either let me know by email for personal assistance, or click on my name below and be directed to my Stampin' Up! Store on my Stampin' Up! website. Click on SHOP NOW. Be sure to name me as your demonstrator to receive the preferred pricing and shipping. Thanks for stopping by today.
Have you seen cards where the brads are place just-so-nicely-right-in-a-row? It's easy and now you can know the 'trick' too. All you need is a Mat Pack (105826) and a Paper Piercing Tool (116631), page 198 of the current Idea Book & Catalog.
I'm copying the sample on page 163 of the IB&C, the one with all of the brads! There are 5 brads across the top of the Whisper White cardstock.
I'm using a 3" x 6" piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock and a 2-3/4" x 2-7/8" piece of Whisper White cardstock.
Position the Paper Piercing Guide over the Whisper White cardstock, balancing it left and right.
I have chosen to use the part of the guide in the middle, poking the left hole, skip 2 holes, poke in the next one, skip 2, etc etc., to evenly space 5 holes for brads.
Insert brads (Regals--Cherry Cobbler: 119731). TIP below: use the end of the Piercing Tool to separate the legs on the brads. Then push it down to the center and flatten them with your finger tips.
I like to lightly tap the back of the brad with a tack hammer to ensure that they are laying down nice and flat.
This layer is not yet adhered to the Cherry Cobbler cardstock. But, look how nicely spaced the brads are.
And there you are......lots of brads, a few flowers from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309, p. 201, $16.95/3 punches), a Mini Library Clip (109857, p. 187, $12.95/48) and some Hemp Twine (100982, p. 190, $2.95/12 yards). And some punching with the Scallop Border Punch (118402, p. 201, $15.95).
You can space your paper piercing at any interval of choice. Along the same vein, you can just pierce your cardstock and leave that as the decoration, without inserting any brads at all. Pierce several rows, pierce a corner, pierce a triangle, pierce all around an image or layer........ The options are just about limitless.
Or you can pierce your paper, insert no brads but "connect with dots" with a marker.
I've been looking all through my photos and samples and can't find samples for the above two ideas. As soon as I do I'll send them out to you all.
Have a great remainder of your weekend. I'm going to work with some new accessories and Designer Series Papers this afternoon and come up with some fun new ideas to share during the next weeks.
And remember: today is PATRIOT DAY (officially named so in 2004). We will never forget!
I had a little epiphany a week or so ago and that was to make some jars of cookie mix using red, white and blue M&Ms in honor of the Fourth of July. Could I find red, white and blue M&Ms ???? Nope. But my sister came to visit yesterday and she brought...........red, white and blue M&Ms. Let's hear it for Grocery Outlet stores in Santa Rosa and Stockton CA.
So here are the completed jars. Hopefully they'll sell at this afternoon's Farmer's Market in Twain Harte CA. $7.50 if you'd like to come and get one. :) Three are just plain 'chocolate chip' type cookies but using the M&Ms. The other 2 have a little less flour plus uncooked rolled oats. If these come home with me from tonight's market I'll be making a batch of cookies. Yummmm.
The toppers were made with the larger of the circles in the Circles, Scallop #2 Bigz Die for the Big Shot Die Cut Machine. I dusted the top of each topper with my Embossing Buddy, rolled the Classic Stars Jumbo roller wheel in VersaMark ink, and rolled it 'diagonally' across each circle, sprinkled the stars with White Embossing Powder, and set it with the Heat Tool. I attached it to the top of my jar with a now retired Jumbo Glue Dot. I also attached the recipe to the inside of the topper.
How did I make the stars on both the knots and the top of the toppers?? I used the Star Extra-Large punch and the retired (sorry) Star punch. I just realized it was retired.
Below: the three things you need:
Below: punch out small star leaving enough room for large star punch to fit "over" it.
Below: Lay the large star punch over the punched out small star and punch.
Below: Your punched out star 'outline'.
Below: I layered a few of the punched out star pieces on both the lid piece and over the knot.
If you're wondering where the ribbon came from, it is well retired Stampin' Up! ribbon, probably 5-6 years ago. Of course I have held on to it.
Have a great Friday and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow with a really neat graduation card.
