Let's Talk Cards, Part 3

I've been sharing the cards we'll be making at one of my upcoming classes.  Today, let's take a look at yet another one of the cards from this upcoming class.  This card features flowers stamped onto watercolor paper, with a technique resulting in an Impressionistic style.  Let's take a look:

This card brings back fond memories of my Art Appreciation class in my undergrad work at Millikin University.  I loved that class and, while others struggled to deal with it at all, it brought out my love of art and all the wonderful art masters over the ages.  They used so many different and wonderful styles and techniques.  It's great when I can try my hand at one of their techniques, using rubber stamps to help me.  While I loved my class, I learned in a later art class that my talent with watercolor painting was, as a talent... not so much.  The great thing about using rubber stamp images to help you with your projects is that you don't have to be limited by inability to paint or draw your own images.

I'd like to throw out a big thank you to my friend, Sushi, for reminding me to try this technique again.  It's been a while since I used this technique and I really enjoyed doing it again.

Click here to see what Sushi created using this technique.

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.

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.

Let's Talk Cards, Part 1

While I have been recovering from my knee surgery, I have had a little more time to explore new techniques, revisit old favorites and try some cards with more detail and some 'wow factor' for some of my next classes.

Today, let's talk about my Friday Night Cards Class.  I am bumping up this class, by featuring a smaller number of cards we'll make, to allow time to create cards with more detail, new techniques, and/or special 'wow factor' details... all of which require more time.  I feel like my group is ready to bump it up a bit.  Here's a sneak peek at what we'll be making for our March 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.  Would you like a closer look at one of the cards?  OK, here you go!

After our harsh winter that shows no end in sight, these colors are a welcome sight.  My color story:
- Pool Party
- Crisp Cantaloupe
- Pistachio Pudding

By the way, the class includes envelopes and all materials to make the cards, except your adhesive.

- 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.

Matchbook Mini Album

I have another mini album to share with you today.  This one is a wonderful color story of Coastal Cabana and Real Red.  It is made with our little Sweetheart Treat Bags.  You could use any small sized treat bag to create a project like this.  I figured out my dimensions by working around the size of the bags and planning how many bags I wanted to use in my book.  It was a pretty easy project to create.

After I made the one below, I went back and added an embossed strip.  I just felt it begged for another bit of texture.  These cute little bags are no longer available but, as I mentioned, you could use any size little treat bag for a similar project.  If they were taller than you wanted, you could cut them down.  I actually did cut these down a bit.

I hope this inspires you to try a mini album of your own.  If you live in the area, you can come and make this one at my April Scraps and Prayers 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.

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.

Good As Gold Mini Album

Let's take another look today at my little mini album.  This is made with 5 little note cards from our Good As Gold Card Kit.  The cover is made with Bermuda Bay, with an extra layer that is embossed.  I have been using a lot of Bermuda Bay lately because it does a good job of chasing away that winter blah feeling you get this time of year.

This little mini album is the one we'll be making at my March 10 Scraps and Prayers class.   I've had a lot of comments and compliments on it, so I am really looking forward to making it at our class.

I also made a Tangerine Tango album and used parts of a Good As Gold card for the extra layer on the front and back covers.  These little albums are so cute and would be great to carry in your purse or brief case as a little brag book.  The one on the left has an unexpected sparkle that the camera didn't pick up too well.  Some of the polka dots are a shiny gold.  This works well for a cover.

I was just thinking:  The kit comes with 8 cards.  You could make a mini album like my Bermuda Bay album + 2 cards and then use the last card to make the Tangerine Tango album on the left.  You'd have to use white pages inside or get another kit to make the sparkle pages.  This makes a kit go pretty far!  Of course, if you got the second kit, you could have a few cards left over and make some of the cute treat bags or other projects I showed you here.

- 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.

Good As Gold!

In my last post, I shared with you a kit that I really, really liked.  Today, I have another great kit and I got this one for FREE... during our Sale-A-Bration promotion.  I like this one because I made lots of projects with it... way beyond just cute little note cards.  Here are some of the projects I've made with this kit so far:

... cards, of course, with gorgeous (gold lined!) envelopes:

... a variety of 3-D projects:

... a tiny treat, from a left over scrap:

... several more projects:

... a cute little mini album:

... the calendar below, on the left:

...and a mini album with an embossed cover.  We are actually making the mini album below at our March 10 Scraps and Prayers class.

I really had fun making all these projects.  I'm sure I'll think of more things to make with this great card kit.  This one is a winner.  Would you like a kit... for free?  Order $50. during Sale-A-Bration and this could be your choice for a free item.

- 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.

Happenings!

My 'Happenings' today are from our Happenings Simply Created Card Kit.  I will admit that I often have mixed feelings about kits.  They can hold back my creativity or they are too simple, so I may not like them as much as 'starting from scratch' ... OR... I DO like them for the challenge of trying to make something different than the originally intended projects... OR... I DO like them because I can make some great projects in a short amount of time... OR... I DO like them because they are just really great projects... AND at a reasonable price.

This kit falls into the 'really great projects' category for me.  I think they are really, really nice cards... AND you still have some flexibility of changing them up a bit.  I think my 'do like' list is longer than my 'not so much' list.

Here's what I made:

 ... and this...

 ... and this...

... and I stamped coordinating envelopes...

The kit includes enough card bases, envelopes and embellishments to make 15 cards!  Another reason to like this kit... the price.  In my next post, I'll share some more creative ideas using another kit!

- 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.

... and more goodies... made by me!

Here are a couple more shots of the goodies I made for my Prairie Treasures booth at the Root Cellar (in the Wildflour).  I love making all these projects and love sharing them with you.  I've also collected a bunch of antique and/or vintage finds that would be good for use in a project of your own.  If you're in the area, I hope you'll go down and check it out.  Pssst... I have some good sales going on right now.

If you missed my other post of my Prairie Treasures goodies, you can click here to see them.  Enjoy!

More important news:
There has been some confusion as to the date and time for my Winter Open House Party.  
It is this Sunday afternoon, February 23, from 2:00-5:00.  RSVP by February 22 and let me know if you're bringing a friend or two.

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 my upcoming classes and events.

... and yet more treats!

Yes, I did.  I made more treat holders.  These are just stinkin' cute!  The first treats were made with the Scalloped Tag Topper punch and the box-shaped treat holder has a treat bag inside from our Twisty Treats kit (free Sale-A-Bration item).  I have Hershey Kisses inside my treat boxes, but they would hold a variety of little goodies. 

I knew how to make a treat holder, but Julie Davison showed how to make a little box inside it, so the treats are held nicely in place.

I've seen a lot of boxes and treat holders online lately and lots with the word bubbles on them.  I added a word bubble to my tag, as well.  The tag is part of the Twisty Treats kit.

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.