Playing with DSP, Part 4

Today, we're up to Part 4 already in my series on Playing with DSP (Designer Series Papers) and I have another beautiful card ready to share with you.  It's another combo of black and white.  It has worked well to hurry up Spring by my making more cards for Spring but, unfortunately, I've succumbed to a severe chest cold and it has set off asthma problems with me... big time.  I need to catch a break here!  I'm trying to focus on the warmer weather when we have it and my stamping and not think about how badly I really feel.  Thank goodness for my Nebulizer!  

... and another view from my previous post...

That's all for now.  Come back soon to see how I wrap up my series on Playing with DSP.

We'll be making cards featured in this series, at my April 7 Monday Night Stampers class.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Playing with DSP, Part 3

As we continue our little series on playing with DSP, I have a great card to share with you today.  Well, actually, I have 2 cards.  I love, love, love creating black and white designs.  They just speak to me.  We'll be making one of these cards at my next Monday Night Stampers class, in April.  Both cards feature the folded frames technique and both cards feature photopolymer stamps that I designed myself, with our new personalized stamp options.

Close-ups of the stamps I designed:

We'll be making cards featured in this series at my April 7 Monday Night Stampers class.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

The Other Half of My New Card Display

In my previous post, I showed you my new card display, but that was only half of the display.  Here is the other half, on the other end of my 'clothesline' display.  There are all the projects we'll be making at my April 7 Monday Night Stampers class.  It's going to be all about playing with Designer Series Papers (DSP).  There's one additional project that I haven't shown and that's a check book cover.  It's a little more difficult to fit into a display with cards and projects.  Let's take a look at what I do have on display:

We'll be playing with designs and techniques as we work with DSP, vellum and Core'dinations CS.  We'll make a cute little treat bag, a check book cover (not shown) and 4 great cards.  The cards include using vellum, a folded frame design and a sunburst design.  I hope you can join us on April 7 for some great stamping fun.  The class is $18. or free w/$35. or more order.  I'll share more details and some close-ups of these cards in a future post.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

My New Card Display

I put up a new 'clothesline' for displaying cards in my studio.  It is working out very well to use it for class previews.  Here are all the projects for Friday, March 14, so you can see them all at a glance.  We'll be working with some super fun water coloring techniques and playing with using DSP as a part of our design.  Each card has layers of delicious texture.  Each card is unique in its design.  Each card is super fun to create and I hope you'll join us for this class.  Scroll down to see further details on this class, as well as other upcoming events.

Close-ups:

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Let's Talk Cards, Part 2

Yesterday, I shared with you a sneak peek at one of my upcoming classes, along with a closer look at one of the cards.  Today, let's take a look at another one of the cards from this upcoming class.  This card features a 'sunburst' effect along with paper piecing.  I love the crisp, clean look of the black and white color story.  Let's take a look.

 ... and another look at yesterday's featured card:

Again, here's a sneak peek at what we'll be making for our (March 14) Friday Night Cards Class.

These cards will include playing with DSP a bit and a lot of water coloring techniques.  I think you'll enjoy them a lot.  The class includes envelopes and all materials to make the cards, except your adhesive.  All the envelopes are dressed up to coordinate with the cards, too.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Tutorial... How to Use a Thinlits Circle Card die to Make a Place Card or Calendar

As promised, today I'll share my tutorial with you for just how to make a calendar or place card using the Thinlits Circle Card die.  It's fun and easy.  I hope you'll give it a try. 

FOR CALENDAR:
- Cut CS to 5 1/2 X 6."
- Run through Big Shot, using Thinlits Circle Card die.
- Fold as shown in photo.
- Add calendar and decorate to your heart's desire.

NOTE:
You could use these same steps and turn this into a place card.  The tutorial below is for a place card with a base.  I made mine with a base because they were going to be transported to the dinner location and then labels added to them.  I wanted to be sure they would be extra strong.

 FOR PLACE CARD:
- Cut CS to just under 5 1/2" so it fits inside the die (see photo).
- Position as shown in the photo.

- Run through Big Shot, using Thinlits Circle Card die.
- Score at 6" and 8 3/4."
- Fold and burnish all score lines.
- Attach small strip to front, using Liquid Tombow (or Sticky Strip), to form the base.
- BURNISH WITH BONE FOLDER INSIDE HOLDER, TO STICK TIGHT.

I realize that I don't have shot of the place card from the side.  When it is folded around and the base is attached to the front, it becomes a triangle from the side view.  I think you can get the idea.

Now, use your imagination and think of other special occasions where you could use a fancy place card.  Enjoy!

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Thinlits Circle Card Calendars

As promised, I have more calendars ready to share with you today.  These are an original design I came up with for using our Thinlits Circle Card dies.  I do believe these are my favorites, although I really love the easel calendars, too.  I gave one to my mother-in-law last night, along with one of my baby file folder treats and she was delighted.  It's so fun to share.  

This first calendar is decorated with Modern Medley DSP, Crushed Curry chevron ribbon, and a flower, which I stamped, punched and curled a bit.  The flower is from our Mixed Bunch flower stamp set and coordinating punch.

Up next, some calendars decorated with our Kaleidoscope DSP.  The Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry are welcome colors this time of year and make a beautiful color story.  I used the same flower, but this time I used just a little knotted 'sprig' of chevron ribbon instead of wrapping it around the calendar.

Which one do you like the best?

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blog world.
Have a great day and come back soon for more design inspiration.

Click here to learn about my Stampin' Tokens program.

Now, go stamp something beautiful. 

Click here to learn more about upcoming classes.

Modern Medley and Kaleidoscope Calendars

As promised, I have some more calendars for you today.  These are actually little easel calendars, the same size as an A2 card and can fold flat for mailing.  I love the versatility!  I've made some with Modern Medley DSP and some with Kaleidoscope DSP.  These are kind of addictive:)  

Look on the calendar on the right.  See the cute little flowers?  Those are actually adhesive-backed cork!  They're one of our free products during Sale-A-Bration.  Now check out the calendar on the left.  This one has Sale-A-Bration pieces from our Good As Gold Kit.  I thought it would be fun to add some to a calendar.

Which calendar do you like the best?

Come back soon and I'll share an original design I came up with for yet another style of calendar.  I think it may be my favorite of them all!

Have a great day. 
Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blog world.

Click here to learn about my Stampin' Tokens program.

Have a great day and go stamp something beautiful. 

Click here to learn more about upcoming classes.

Coaster Calendars Everywhere!

I'm just now getting around to sharing my coaster calendars with you.  I've made somewhere around a hundred of them, I think (just this year).  I gave my husband a box of them Sunday morning and told him to just give them out to anyone and everyone that he ran into that morning.   He shared with all his Sunday School class, stuffed boxes for office staff and then just shared with friends and all.  This is just a fun way I can share a little cheer with everyone.

It was so much fun when I took treats to give to medical staff at my last doctor's appointment and I knew he would enjoy passing out calendars.  They have a magnet on the back so you can stick them up on the fridge or on a filing cabinet.  I always seem to enjoy making coaster calendars each year and love giving a variety of choices to everyone.  Bill says they had fun picking through the box and choosing which one they liked the best.

Here are just some of the many that I made.  The first ones are made with Modern Medley DSP.

These are made with Retro Fresh DSP.

These are made with Sweet Sorbet DSP.

Most of them have ribbon tied through a punched hole, but a few have a knotted ribbon glued directly to the top.  Some of the punched flowers have candy dots in the center and some have glitter glue.  All the flowers are added with 2-3 glue dots, to give them a little added dimension.

I'm really into making fun things to share this year.  Bill and I are going to a Valentine's Day dinner this Friday night.  I am going to surprise everyone at our table with a stamped something special.  I think it will really be fun!

I've come up with some brand new designs for calendars this year, so be sure to check back soon and see what I designed.  Have a great day and thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blog world.

Click here to learn about my Stampin' Tokens program.

Have a great day and go stamp something beautiful. 

Click here to learn more about upcoming classes.

Oh, yes I did!

If you remember my new storage system I went to recently for storing my Thinlits and Framelits, then you know that I showed you a blank canvas, as far as the container goes.  If you know me at all, you know I could not leave it at that.  I just love taking some cute old thing, like a sewing drawer, and making it pretty... fun AND functional.  Would you like to see what I did next with my little sewing drawer?

I cut large pieces of black CS and cut the top edges to look like file folder tabs, using the Envelope Punch Board.  I typed a sheet for the labels I wanted and then just punched them out with the Scallop Oval punch.  All the dividers have coordinating designs from the Modern Medley DSP.  I decided to keep the front all polka dots.  My cute little box now sits out on my bar, close to my Big Shot, with all my Thinlits and Framelits within easy reach.  This was a fun project and my box has turned out to be super handy.

I've been kind of crazy about collecting Scrabble tiles for a long time now, so I have several jars full of them.  I thought it would be fun to use them to label my box.  I like to decorate in a way that I can change down the road, if I decide to update it again, so I did not want to affix my tiles to the front of the drawer directly.  Instead, I chose to cover a piece of black CS with DSP and attach the tiles to that.  I scored the 'sign' in 2 places at the top and cut the back flap just slightly shorter, which allows it to hang over the edge of my box.  It literally sits on the front edge of my box.  I like it!

TIPS:
I got my 'cards' for storing my Thinlits and Framelits from Stamp-N-Storage.  They have TWO sizes of cards.  Mine are the larger size.  I have several sizes of old sewing machine drawers (Yes, I know... I have a 'thing' about boxes, too:) and this is a longer drawer.  You need a longer one to be able to have TWO rows of cards stored in it.

For storing my embossing folders, most any size of sewing drawer will hold two rows of folders, easily.  These are also handy being stored this way because they are so easily accessible.  I do not like clutter and mess (even though I create a lot when I'm working) because it gets in the way of my creativity, but I do like to have things handy.  You never know when you might walk by them and be struck by a super creative idea!

WARNING:
Sometimes, often late at night (I am a night owl!) a little voice gets into my head and whispers:  "What if we just tweaked this a bit over here?"  Whenever that happens, the next thing I know, I find myself 'upgrading' my organization in my studio.  This happened last night and I ended up with an amazingly improved work area behind the bar where I stamp.  This means... you will be seeing some new shots of my studio soon.  If this gets that little voice whispering inside your head too, well... you have been warned.  You're on your own.

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blog world.  Have a great day.  Come back soon for more creative inspiration.

Click here to learn about my Stampin' Tokens program.

Have a great day and go stamp something beautiful. 

Click here to learn more about upcoming classes.

What's in The Box?

I have LOTS of exciting news in today's post, so be sure to keep scrolling so you don't miss a thing!  Previously, I gave you a sneak peek at this next project over on the side of my blog and in my last post.  Did you guess what's in the box?  If you guessed an organized card keeping system, you are correct!  What better way to start off the new year than to get organized.  As I've been sprucing up my studio, I decided to include improved organization wherever I found a need.  Having cards more easily accessible was at the top of the list for me.  I had them organized all along, but they were in a basket inside a drawer.  Sometimes out of sight really is out of mind.  I decided that if I made a pretty box that coordinated with my studio decor, I could keep it out and actually use it!!!

Are you wishing you could make one, too?  Well, you're in luck!  We'll be making this at the first session of my brand new class --- Monday Night Stampers.  We'll begin on Monday, March 3, 6:00-8:30.  I'm very excited about offering this brand new class.  We will focus on a special project, theme or technique at each class.  Class fee is just $18.00 OR free with your order of $35.00 or more (before tax and shipping).  Orders or class registration must be paid at least 2 days prior to the class and may be placed from any current catalog or special promotion -- online through my website or directly through me.  These wonderful boxes are from my retired stash, so I have a limited number of them.  Class spots are only available while my supply of boxes lasts, so hurry to sign up for our first Monday Night Stampers class.

We'll be adding a title to each card, to label the sections in our box.  You'll know at a glance which cards are low and what you'll need to make next. 

The tabs for each file card are made with one of our new tag top punches.  I used the Scalloped Tag Topper punch.  (Say that 5 times in a row, fast:)

We also have an Angled Tag Topper punch.  It would work for this project, as well and give an entirely different look.

Aren't these new punches just fabulous?!!!  I'm already working to fill up my new cards box.  Whenever I need a card right away, I can go to my cards box and find just what I need.  Here's how the labels will look for our dividers.

I used the Scalloped Oval Punch to punch out typed labels.  I decided to type them so they would all be a uniform size.  I added an extra divider in the front with a pocket.  This pocket is for stamps, etc. for your cards.  You'll have no excuse now for not getting that card into the mail on time.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.