Stepping It Up With Bermuda Bay ... Note Card to Full-Sized Card

Let's grab our Bermuda Bay ink, CS and glimmer paper and step up to a full-sized card from our previous note card design.  Let's look at the note card first.  I think it's actually my favorite of the two sizes of cards.  It's just cute and fun.  The front of the card has 1/2 inch trimmed off, to allow the pretty glimmer paper to show through ... which is a strip on the bottom of the inside of the note card.

Here's the full-sized card. Extra stars, glimmer paper in the middle, and same stenciling as the note card.

You can see just a simple punched star to add a little fun to the inside of the card.

So ... Which design do you like the best?

AND MORE CREATIVE FUN ... UP NEXT: 
May Events:
May 8 / Scraps and Prayers / Plant Decor Project / 5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Prepare for some super fun!

May 20 / Saturday Stampers / Eastern Palace Suite Projects / 3 cards + a layout / 1:00-4:00 / $20.00 / THIS IS ALL NEW -- NEW PRODUCTS / NEW PROJECTS / SUPER FUN!!!

June Events:
June 12 / Scraps and Prayers / All Occasions Cards / 5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Make some beautiful cards to add to your stash to send to special friends and/or family.

June 17 / Saturday Stampers /  Mixed Media Patriotic Project / 1:00-4:00 / $20.00 / Make a project that you can use every year as a part of your decor.

June 22 / EARLY BIRD GARAGE SALE / 5:30-6:30
June 23 + 24 / GARAGE SALE / 8:00-5:00

June 25 / Open House New Catalog Party / 2:00-5:00

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

- Come back often for more creative inspiration. 

Plaid Stenciling and A Colorful Egg

This is another card we made at my creative stenciling class.  This one was my favorite.  I just loved how fun and easy it was to create the plaid background.  I used a retired striped stencil from Stampin' Up! and 2 different colors for the plaid.  I chose Pear Pizzazz and Bermuda Bay.  These work well together for a fun Spring look.

The cute little bunnies are attached with dimensionals.

I used our new watercolor pencils to color my bunnies and then 'smoothed' out the coloring using my Aqua Painter ... and .... must have coordinating envelope:)

The 3 eggs are cut from our Glimmer Papers.

So cute!

Now for the egg.  This is a Simon Says Stamp die that I used to create a stenciled design for the egg.  The die cuts the oval (egg) shape and the flower, leaf, and dot designs all at one time.  I sponged my bright colors onto a piece of CS and attached it inside the front of the card.  I added lots of bright, Springy colors ... simple but very pretty.  I don't often veer from using only SU products, but seek other sources when SU does not offer what I want to use for a particular project.

UP NEXT:
April Events:
April 22 / Saturday Stampers / Birthday Bonanza / 1:00-4:00 / $20.00 / NOTE:  NEW DATE / Birthday treats, too!!!

May Events:
May 8 / Scraps and Prayers / Plant Decor Project / 5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Prepare for some super fun!

May 20 / Saturday Stampers / Eastern Palace Suite Projects / 3 cards + a layout / 1:00-4:00 / $20.00 / THIS IS ALL NEW -- NEW PRODUCTS / NEW PROJECTS / SUPER FUN!!!

June Events:
June 12 / Scraps and Prayers / All Occasions Cards / 5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Make some beautiful cards to add to your stash to send to special friends and/or family.

June 17 / Saturday Stampers /  Mixed Media Patriotic Project / 1:00-4:00 / $20.00 / Make a project that you can use every year as a part of your decor.

June 22 / EARLY BIRD GARAGE SALE / 5:30-6:30
June 23 + 24 / GARAGE SALE / 8:00-5:00

June 25 / Open House New Catalog Party / 2:00-5:00

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

- Come back often for more creative inspiration. 

I'm not telling what's inside ... until later:)

Here's a closer look at our fun project for my April 10 Scraps and Prayers class.  I will probably color the boxes for you ahead of time, so we won't have to worry about them not being dry before we 'decorate' them.  I'll spritz a little variety of colors, so you can choose one you really like.
It's still a secret as to what's inside.  I'll reveal that sometime after our class.

I spritzed my egg carton to be a gorgeous blue-green.  The Mint Macaron striped ribbon worked perfectly on it. 

Look closely and you'll see that my bunny has cute little pink cheeks and a sparkly bow tie.  Using clear Wink of Stella makes adding some sparkle easy peasy.

I didn't attach or tie any ribbons or papers around my egg carton, because I wanted it to be easy to open and close it without ruining the decorations.

I love the little 'grass' piece, made with coordinating thinlits.  The eggs and the bunny are die cuts, also.  Wouldn't this make a fun gift for someone special ... just a little something for a special someone --- your spouse, your best friend, someone who needs a little perk,  a neighbor, your mail person, your UPS person ... ... endless possibilities.

April Events:
April 10 / Scraps and Prayers / Easter Egg Carton Project / 5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / I'll have a special treat for you, too!

April 22 / Saturday Stampers / Birthday Bonanza / 1:00-4:00 / $20.00 / NOTE:  NEW DATE.

Be sure to look over on the left side of my blog for sneak peeks at the projects for my April classes!!!

May Events:
May 8 / Scraps and Prayers / Plant Decor Project / 5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Prepare for some super fun!

May 20 / Saturday Stampers / Eastern Palace Suite Projects / 3 cards + a layout / 1:00-4:00 / $20.00 / THIS IS ALL NEW -- NEW PRODUCTS / NEW PROJECTS / SAME FUN!!!

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

- Come back often for more creative inspiration. 

'Merry Banner'

Here's another fun banner project of mine.  This was super fun to create and I have it hanging it my studio.

I 'painted' a background onto the watercolor paper piece (after die cutting it) using Cherry Cobbler reinker.

I die cut and used 2 sizes of stars throughout the banner.   I used a nice assortment of ribbons at each end of the banner, as well as a little bow at the top of each piece.

I die cut letters from black CS to go behind my embossed letters.  The Cherry Cobbler CS letters were embossed (3 X each) with clear EP.  Click here to learn more about embossed letters.

I used gold embossing to add some stamped texture behind my letters.  Before attaching the letters, I spritzed each piece with my shimmer mixture.  Once the letters were attached, I went back and added Wink of Stella to each embossed letter.  I'd say I used quite a LOT of ways to add sparkle!!!

My banner started out like the one below, but I didn't think the embossed stars on each end showed up enough, so I went back and die cut stars to go over them.  Love it!

This is even prettier in real life, but I think you get the idea.

Exciting News:

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PLEASE NOTE:  
If you have a coupon from Toby Joe for $10. off an upcoming class, you may use it for $10. off the card kits shown below.  I have just one remaining kit!!!  Be sure whenever you use a coupon that you have it with you.  I need these for tax records.

Christmas Card Kits for sale!

 

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

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

- Look on the left for sneak peeks and registration policies. 

- Please sign up to follow my blog and/or leave a comment. 

- Come  back often for more creative inspiration. 

Double the Fun... in TWO Ways!!!

I have double the fun for you today... a double ornament card and good news for two (OR MAYBE SIX) lucky people.  Keep reading to learn about the card AND the good news.  Some lucky people are going to be very surprised today!!!  First, the card: 

This is a closer look at one of the cards we'll be making at my Nov. 21 Christmas Retreat.  Instead of stamping on the inside of the card, this time I chose to add a strip of our Glimmer Paper at the bottom of the CS inside the card.  It looks really pretty on it and coordinates nicely with the card front.  

The ornaments are embossed with Silver EP onto CS and then cut out with our thinlits.

Drum roll, please.  Here comes a big surprise for TWO lucky people (per prize)... as in double the fun!!!  I mentioned at the beginning of 2015 that I would have a big surprise toward the end of the year and I'll bet no one even remembers me announcing this in my classes.  Good!  Now, it's even more of a surprise.  I wanted to do something really special this year, in appreciation for my customers who have loyally attended my classes throughout the year and have placed orders with me throughout the year, as well.  I have been saving up names for my own secret drawing.  I had the furry babies help me with the drawing.  (Talk about a challenge!)  I decided to have 3 prize categories, with two winners at each category.  Here's who the furry babies chose as our winners.  Another drum roll, please.

TWO FIRST PLACE WINNERS:
Marsha White
Elaine Beam 
FIRST PLACE PRIZES --- ATTEND MY NOV. 21 CHRISTMAS RETREAT AS MY GUEST!!!!!

TWO SECOND PLACE WINNERS:
Priscilla Snelson
Sheila Witts-Mannweiler 
SECOND PLACE PRIZES -- $25. SHOPPING SPREE AT MY $1.00 SALE.  Call to arrange your time to come shop!!!!! 

TWO THIRD PLACE WINNERS:
Cherie Lowhorn
Brenda Clark 
THIRD PLACE PRIZES --- Take $10. off a class of your choice... good through July 2016!!!

THESE PRIZES MAY NOT BE USED WITH OTHER COUPONS, PRIZES, OR TOKENS OR EXCHANGED FOR ANY OTHER CHOICES.  HOPEFULLY, YOU'LL ENJOY THEM AS GIVEN.
 
So you see... it's double fun at first, second, AND third place for our winners.  Congrats!  I hope you enjoyed my double fun post today.

- 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 look on the left for sneak peeks. 

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

Dotty Angles, Card 2

It's a good thing today's card is quick and simple because I spent pretty much the entire day yesterday helping my daughter get more items for our Christmas Shoppe for this Saturday at our church.  The kids are going to have a lot of fun!  Today's card is a variation from the card in my previous post.

Same color story ... Real Red, Bermuda Bay ... same envelope with Washi Tape.

... different background ...  different text ... different embellishments ...

... and Card #1 ...

Today's plan:
..... Take Toby Joe to the vet (where my huge doggy will try to hide under the little bench and disappear) and then off to the grocery store and just maybe to find a replacement tree for our large (main) tree that died on Tuesday.  It just became a hopeless mess.  Aaron is quite worried about where we'll put our presents, so I must ease his sweet, little mind before he develops wrinkles at the age of 7.

Yesterday, in addition to shopping for the Christmas Shoppe, Jenn helped me redo my fireplace hearth.  I went a different direction from last year with the mantel and it looked like I had 2 different decor approaches going between the mantel and the hearth... both nice but not working together.  Before, I had more of a rustic look going and this year I went with an elegant champagne color story, with angels (large, beautiful, new angels) and lots of elegant sparkle.  We replaced the rustic vase with a beautiful, sparkly one and then found new, smaller decor items to place on each side with it.  I love it.  I'll post some photos once I've finished with the new tree I hope to find today.

My plan for once the tree is in place... more stamping and creative work.  It is my work, but it's almost impossible to call it that because it's so much fun!!!

- 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.

Stamp-A-Stack for Christmas... Card 4

I'm so excited to be heading for the Forsyth Library today for a big holiday cards class.  This will be a fun day.  Before I take off, I want to share another card from my Christmas Stamp-A-Stack class.  This card has some very subtle and very gorgeous shimmer to it, as well as the silver glimmer.

The texture comes from an extra tone-on-tone layer of Always Artichoke, embossed with tiny polka dots.  The subtle shimmer comes from stamping the tree on Shimmery White CS and the silver glimmer is from our Glimmer Paper.  I think I've gone through about 5 or 6 packs of it this week.  Expect to see a lot of gorgeous silver glimmer in the near future:)  I also added two strips of our gorgeous silver ribbon.

Come back to see a closer look at the snowman card and then I'll be moving on to other projects to share with you.  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.

First Day of School

Today, I find myself filled with a multitude of memories and emotions.  Today is the first day of school for my sweet little boys -- Kindergarten and third grade.  Where has time gone?  I find myself thinking about getting more done with them in school and yet being so glad that they only have a half day today so I can spend all afternoon with them.  I can't wait to hear about their day!  I am also remembering when my own children started school.  Mine didn't ride a bus, so today was different in that way.  Anyway, I feel the need to post a Fall card because school starting makes you realize that Fall is just around the corner. 

 

This card uses our new Core'dinations Card Stock.  It has a slightly lighter core, so you can emboss or tear it to see the lighter color.  When you use our new sanding block, you can sand it lightly and really bring out the texture of the embossing.  I love it!  I used the stamp set Wonderfall and then cut the leaves with the new Autumn Accents Bigz Die.  I cut some of the leaves with our champagne glimmer paper.  I absolutely love its shimmer!!!  The other leaves are stamped and cut from soft suede and cajun craze.  

Have a great day and I hope you'll get to stamp something fun today!  Be sure to check out my schedule for my next classes.  The Fun Friday Project Classes are really going to be great!!!  

Gnome Fun

I didn't need to do an extra post today, but was inspired by a color challenge I saw while blogging.  I had to rise to the challenge because I love Cherry Cobbler and Daffodil Delight together and the challenge included these 2 yummy colors AND Lucky Limeade working together in vivid, perfect harmony.  I earned the Gnome Sweet Gnome stamp set with some free Hostess Dollars and wanted to play around with it.   My design was inspired by a quirky little sketch challenge that I thought lends itself to some whimsical fun.  Here's my little yard ornament:

I used some Lucky Limeade DSP scraps for the 2 strips in the background.  The diagonal strip is textured Lucky Limeade CS.  I wanted to add the flowers to the strip for some extra fun and texture.  The Daffodil Delight flowers are from the Fruit and Flowers stamp set.

I stamped an extra hat for my little fellow and attached it with glue dots, for added dimension.  I did the same for the 2 mushrooms.  My little guy is holding a punched glimmer paper flower ('painted' with Lucky Limeade reinker).  I added a clear button over the sparkling flower and then added touches of clear Dazzling Details sparkle to the flowers, my gnome's belt buckle, the frog's eyes, and the polka dots on the mushrooms.  The card front is framed with the Framed Tulips embossing folder.  I finished off the project with a little knotted bow of Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon.

So, once again...

Christmas Ornaments

Here's an easy way to add some fun and sparkle to your Christmas tree.

I made clear and frosted glass ornaments.  You can buy these at most any craft supply store.

Attach sticky strip to the center of the ribbon.  This is our beautiful Whisper White organza ribbon (#114319).   It looks elegant on anything!  Attach the ribbon right around the middle of the ornament.  I used a 9" piece of ribbon to fit my ornament.  When you attach your punched snowflakes, place one of them over the place where the ribbon overlaps, to hide the seam.

Punch snowflakes with the Doily Triple Layer punch (#122465) and attach them with our Liquid Tombow glue.
Tip:
If you're having difficulty punching through the glimmer paper, peel off the backing and it is much easier to punch.
Additional tips:
Always use the Triple Layer punches right side up.
Always use BOTH hands, one over the other, to punch.
Always do it standing up, so you can apply more pressure.

I used silver glimmer paper on the frosted ornaments and red glimmer paper on the clear ornaments.

Hold the snowflake in place until it can grab hold of the ribbon.  Be patient and it WILL hold.

I added 'snowflake' filler to the bottom of the clear ornament.  You could also add our mica flakes or even some Dazzling Diamonds glitter, for some added sparkle.
When you're finished, tie another piece of ribbon around the top of the ornament.  I just made a knotted tie around mine.  It only takes 5 or 6" of ribbon to just knot it around the top.  You could use more ribbon and make a fancy bow.

December 11 and counting...

Happy stamping!