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.

A Great Party!

What a great Winter Open House Party we had yesterday afternoon!  I tried to take photos to post, but there were so many people stamping together that I never got a good angle for a shot.  Trust me, I had a full house, a wonderful, wonderful group and the party actually went until 6:00.

I wanted to share my cute little money bags with you today.  I started a new 'program' where you can earn Stampin' Tokens, 1 per each $50. or more order, and when you collect 10, you get to choose a free stamp set.  I couldn't just let people collect their tokens without giving them a money bag in which to keep them, so I used our cute little Mini Muslin bags to create a money bag for each person.  Here they are:

Each person who earned a 'money bag' got to choose what color they'd like.  My choices were Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe and Coastal Cabana.  Here are the tokens:

Super news:
Every time you come for an event, you get to enter your name into my monthly drawing jar.  If you bring a 'Show and Tell' to share with everyone, you get to enter your name 2 times and every time you place an order, you get to enter your name 3 times.
Please note:
I leave it up to you to enter your name whenever you attend and event.  However, I want you to know that, any time you place an order through email or online through my website, I keep track of it all and save up any tokens you may earn to give you, as well as placing your entries into the monthly drawing jar.  You won't miss out!
Pssst:
It's getting close to the end of the month.  That means that very soon Toby Joe will help me choose a winner for this month.

- 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.

A Card with Sea Squares and Our Wonderful Trimmer

Today's post will feature a favorite card and our wonderful new trimmer.

Here's my latest creation I made using the trimmer.

This stamp set (By the Seashore) is one of my very favorites.  I'm so glad it is going to carry over into the new catalog.  This is a monochromatic card, using Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Soft Suede. 

Here's a closer look:

I used our By the Tide stamp set for the background, still keeping with the monochromatic color story.  The trimmer made it easy to cut and layer the squares.

Our Stampin' Trimmer is an amazing tool and I just love it!

And...
It comes with 2 blades -- one for cutting and one for scoring.  It has an arm that extends out to enable you to cut larger pieces of paper or CS.  The feature that I like the best is that you can see exactly where to cut for 6" pieces without even using the extending arm.  Check here for more details and to watch the video to learn more about the trimmer.

Even better:
You can alternate cutting and scoring without removing either blade.  This saves a lot of time when you're busy creating.

More news:
The new catalog that goes live on May 31 will have a rotary blade you can use with it (available in August 2013) and there will be small scallop and tiny scallop rotary blades as well.  Get the trimmer now and be ready when the new accessories are available.

So now it's time for you to go stamp something.  Go on now.  You know you want to!  Come back and leave a comment and share what you made.  Have a great day!

- 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.

Retirement is Fun ... Changes are Good ... and my Last Try It Kit Journal

First up, I want to share my last Try It Kit journal with you.  This one is very vintage in style.  It was super fun to make it.  If you missed my previous posts, check back here and here.  

My previous post has all the details for making a journal.  For this one, I added some bits of burlap, crochet trim, linen thread and a fancy button from our Artisan Embellishments Kit.  I am not sure if I like this one the best or the one with the seashells and sand dollars.  I love them both.  After we lost my mother to cancer, in going through her things, we often found little notebooks and journals with notes jotted in them.  I must have inherited some sort of gene for loving little books and journals:)

The remainder of today's post is all about 'out with the old and in with the new.'  Retiring items are going fast and I'm knee deep in big plans for the remainder of the calendar year.  Throw out your old schedules and get ready to embrace the new --- new catalog, new products, new class events, new and improved class events ... and it's all good!

Even rubber stamps deserve a good retirement!  I love this guy.  This is just a reminder to check the retirement list frequently.  We have 2 lists going... one for stamps and one for accessories.  When items are gone; they're gone.  Also, I sometimes forget to mention that the retirement list includes discounts!!!  If you are planning on ordering to qualify to attend the May 5 Left-Overs Party, you can really stretch your dollars a long way.  You can order up a boatload of new goodies AND go home with a boatload of finished projects from the class, not to mention prizes!!!  It's a win-win situation!!!

Now, for the new!  Please note and save this information.  More details will be coming soon.

Our last Friday 3-4-5 will be May 10.
Our last Walk-In Wednesday will be May 22.
Our last round of Hostess Scrapbook Club will be June 3.

I am NOT doing away with all of these classes.  I am going about them in a better way; a way that will make better use of my time and yours and give us more for our money, as well.  

These new plans are based on comments such as:
"I love all your classes and wish I could attend them all...  I love being in a club, but don't know if I can commit for 6 months at a time... I love your cards and love making the cards with lots of layers and embellishments the best... I love projects --- all kinds of projects... I love making little albums... I need to win the lottery so I can come to everything... I have accumulated a lot of products and am outgrowing my space... I have accumulated a lot of products and need help using them all... I wish I could attend all your classes, but can only come so many times a month... "

I could go on and on but you get the idea.  You talk and I listen.

Here's a peek at what's in the works:

We will have a new club, starting July 1 --- a Stamp Club.

• We will make all kinds of things, from cards to 3-D projects to scrapbooking...  
• You will sign up for just 3 months at a time.  
• I will show you everything that we'll be making for the 3 months BEFORE you sign up.  
• You will be required to pay $40.00 at least 2-4 weeks prior to the date we meet.  
• That money will be used for ordering all the products we will need to complete our special class projects.  
• All products left over from kits and packages, etc. you will get to keep and take home.  
• Stamp Club members may still attend Scraps and Prayers for 1/2 price.
• All classes will now include adhesive in the price of the class.  You won't have to bring your own.
• I think you will love the variety of projects that you will get to create.
• Instead of feeling bad that you can't be in a club AND come to a stamp camp, this will be a combined type of event.  You can do it all!!!
• More details soon, as well as sneak peeks at projects. 

Instead of a Friday 3-4-5 Card Buffet Class, we will have a Friday Night Cards Class.  

• This class will still meet on the second Friday of each month.
• You will make 6 beautiful cards, that have layers, embellishments, perhaps a bit of bling...
• Envelopes AND adhesive will be included.
• I will spread the type of cards out to include all occasions and focus a lot on holidays as we near each special holiday --- particularly Fall and Christmas. 
• Class fee will be just $16. and you must pay to register at least 2 days prior to the class. 
• All classes will now include adhesive in the price of the class.  You won't have to bring your own.

Instead of 3rd Thursday or other types of Stamp Camps, I am moving those projects to the Stamp Club.  It gives everyone more opportunity to do more!

• You will see all projects ahead of time and can sign up for just 3 months at a time.  
• You will get way more in value than the $40. you'll spend each month for the 3 months; I'm positive! 

The one class I will no longer be offering is the Walk-In Wednesday.  I liked doing it, but it was not supported enough to merit adding it to the schedule on a regular basis.  It was an experiment.  If you miss a class, I will still make a kit for you and be sure that you get it finished.  You will not be left out in the cold. 

Christmas News / Christmas Retreat

• I am still, tentatively planning on a Christmas Retreat (Sat., Nov. 16) to help us prepare for the holidays. 
• Details for this event will be announced soon.  
• Save the date!  
• If you join the Stamp Club, we will make holiday creations, as we get closer to the holidays.  
• The Friday Night Cards Class will include some Christmas cards, as we get closer to the holidays.
• If you join Stamp Club, attend Friday Night Cards Class AND come to the Christmas Retreat, you will end up with way more than previously planned in the schedule AND at a great deal of time and savings to us all.

So, in summary, here's what will be on the calendar for each month:

• Stamp Club
• Scraps and Prayers
• Team Meeting
• Friday Night Cards Class
• Special Events will be added occasionally, if noted, such as the Christmas Retreat

So... that's a lot to digest for one day.  You may want to print this out.  It is tentative, so I will let you know if there are any changes, errors, or anything.  Please let me know if you have questions.

A Friendship Card

Here's a little card that would be fun to send to a good friend.

The stamp set is Tea Shoppe and the paper is More Amore DSP.

I kind of played with using whites and vanillas together, for a unique look.  I stamped the image twice, so I could cut out the ribbon banner and mount it on dimensionals.  I added a sprig of crochet trim under the focal piece.

I embossed the flap on the envelope, to add even more elegance.  The blues in the image were colored with the Aqua Painter, taking ink directly from the ink pad.

So now I'm off to start a busy week, moving ever so carefully after my mis-step / controlled fall last Friday.  I'm still awfully sore, but improving very slowly but surely.

- 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.

You've Been Framed - Part 2 ... a Vintage Frame

Here's a beautiful vintage frame I made using our flower trim.  I love the pale pink with the flowers.

Here's a close-up of the flower trim around the opening for the photo:

Please use caution when working with a hot glue gun.  Hot glue is not your friend when it comes to meeting up with your fingers!

Here's a close-up of some of the extra goodies I added --- vintage lace... and more flower trim... and a faceted vintage button... and sprigs of ribbon and lace tied onto the button.  I wanted to bring out all the vintage lace and flower goodness that I possibly could!

So, here's the frame.  The DSP is from our Tea for Two Designer Series Papers.   When I saw the pale pink, I knew it would be perfect for a vintage project.

I used Mod Podge to attach the DSP to the wooden frame. Everything else is attached with hot glue, so it is stuck tight.

Tips:

• When using an adhesive such as Mod Podge, apply a thin coat using a foam brush.  
• Quickly, but carefully, lay the DSP on top of your project frame.  
• Line up one side with the edge of the frame so the pattern will be straight.
• Gently smooth out the DSP with the palms of your hands.
• Take a plastic applicator such as we used to carry to apply Decor Elements and smooth out all the DSP, making sure there are no air pockets or bubbles.  (The plastic piece used to scrape and scrub stoneware will also work perfectly.)

This frame would be gorgeous is a nursery, a little girl's room, or anywhere you'd like a touch of pretty vintage.  Let me know what you think.

Vintage Christmas... Love the Look

I love the vintage look --- textures, layers, warm neutrals --- yummy!  This card is hands down one of my favorites I've made so far this year for Christmas.

It features Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede.  The snowflakes on the top layer are embossed, then sponged over lightly with Soft Suede.  Several snowflakes are highlighted with little pearls.  I sponged around the top layer, too, for added texture.  I used our new Illuminate Ink to stamp the snowflakes on the corner of the Crumb Cake layer.  It's even prettier in real life.  The crochet trim and taffeta ribbon add the finishing touches.

If you're looking for an elegant card to make, for a special someone, try a vintage Christmas card.  Your recipient will love it!  Have a great day and don't forget to vote.

Christmas Springy Card

I have a great little tutorial for you today.  A while back I did a tutorial on how to make a diamond fold (springy card) and now, thanks to our new diagonal plate for our Simply Scored Tool, the job is even easier --- actually, it's amazingly simple and really fun.  Here's my new card:

Before you start, decide which pattern of your DSP you'd like for each side.

Basic directions at a glance:

• Start with a 4 X 12" piece of CS or DSP. 
• Score as marked.
• Crease folds with a bone folder.
• Fold into a springy card.
• Decorate as desired.

When you've finished scoring, simply decorate as you like.  Be creative!

See the faint fold line down the center of the diamond?  You do NOT need to make this fold now because you can make the diagonal score lines using the diagonal score plate on the Simply Scored Tool.  I was used to folding it like this previously and just forgot to leave it out.  It's nice to not have that line in the middle of your project:)

I hope you'll give it a try and make your own version of a diamond fold card.  They're a lot of fun.  Actually, if you're making more than one, score the entire 12 X 12" sheet of CS or DSP and then cut it into 4" strips.  It will save you a little time.  You can still decorate each one differently.

Have a great day and don't forget to check out my '500' blog special! 

Everything Eleanor --- Love it!

It's no secret that I love the Everything Eleanor stamp set.  Here are 2 more card versions that I made with it.  The one on the right was my Convention swap.  The one on the left is a 'stepped up' version of it.  While enjoying using one of my very favorite stamp sets, I thought I'd use one of my very favorite Stampin' Up! colors --- Marina Mist. 

My flower colors are Marina Mist, Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy.  The green is Lucky Limeade and the text is Not Quite Navy.  I did some distressing (sponging) on the 'stepped up' version, using Crumb Cake.  So there you have it.  Now add a little spritz of Frost White Shimmer/alcohol mixture and you have a gorgeous card. 

A Gorgeous Color Combo / Vintage Cards

Would you like to try a gorgeous color combo?  Try Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and a touch of Very Vanilla.  It's a winning combo!
Today's sketch was inspired by another sketch challenge.  I want to show you why I get my creative juices flowing by starting with a good design.

In today's post, I will show you 2 cards -- both inspired by the same sketch design.  The first card is has a feminine, vintage look.  The second card is all guy.  I decided to stay with the same exact color scheme, so you can readily see just how easy it is to follow a good sketch design and go most any direction that you'd like to try.

The first card uses the Elements of Style stamp set, along with snips of ribbon, seam binding and crochet lace trim.  I added lots of texture by using textured CS on the Soft Suede layer, using one of the framelits dies (1/2 on each side of the focal piece), and embossing the Crumb Cake layer with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  An embossed image from the Notably Ornate stamp set adds even more texture to the Soft Suede background.  The text is punched out with the Modern Label punch.  The circle punches are 1" and 1 1/4" circles -- for the little accent piece.  I actually used Stampin' Write Markers to color all the stamps, except for the embossed image in the background.  I love the look of this technique in stamping.

The second card is all guy --- a cowboy!  I started with all the same colors / same layers, including the embossed image from the Notably Ornate stamp set.  I used only 1/2 the piece cut from the framelits die this time and added embossed horseshoes to go with the cowboy theme.  The cowboy and horseshoes are from the Out West stamp set.

I tied a few knots along the hemp, to give the look of barbed wire.  One horseshoe is 'hanging' on the 'barbed wire' and the other 2 are hooked together.  I don't know if my arrangement is lucky or unlucky.  I'll hope for the best:)

Both cards have lots of layers, lots of texture and lots of dimensionals. 

I've never really had any trouble coming up with my own designs, but I just love the challenge of trying to follow a given sketch.  I think it's always good to push yourself to try new challenges, new color combinations, new styles, new everything --- just to keep yourself motivated and constantly growing as an artist ... and to keep your designs fresh and alive.

I hope this post inspires you to really jump in and try creating cards using design sketches for a good place to start.  Plan out your colors and choose your stamp sets.  You can plan out embellishments to compliment your design as you work through your project.

Green, Green and Neil Diamond

I wanted to show you a card today that will get some music flowing through your mind.  My card design is inspired by a sketch challenge and I chose to do it in a monochromatic color story -- thus, the Green, Green song in my head.
I used the stamp set My Friend and, because it contains text stamps for 'hello' and 'my friend,' my daughter calls this stamp set our Neil Diamond stamp set -- thus putting yet another tune in my head.  I do love this stamp set.  It's surprisingly versatile and a lot of fun to use.

I used 2 of our In Color brads and made a double layer of my text strip, to create added interest.  I sponged the edges of both of the strips, to give extra texture.  The little knotted bit of ribbon is created by tying a knot around a tiny sprig of our crochet lace trim.

I used the Big Shot to cut a circle for stamping and then cut a larger scalloped circle to layer behind it.  My colors are Lucky Limeade, Always Artichoke and a bit of Pear Pizzazz.  The vertical strip is created using a technique called Mother of Pearl.

Here's how you do the Mother of Pearl technique:

• Place a bit of Frost White Shimmer Paint in a small container.
• Wad up a small piece of plastic wrap.
• Dip the plastic wrap into the paint and dab randomly over a piece of glossy white CS.
• Set aside to dry.
• Once the paint is dry, lightly sponge over the piece with Lucky Limeade ink, using a circular motion.
• Tissue off excess ink, as desired.

So today, I challenge you to go try this fun technique on a creation of your own.  Enjoy!