Friday, January 27, 2012

Sale A Bration Blog Hop


Hello and welcome to Stampin' Addicts Sale A Bration Blog Hop.
The blog hop starts at noon on Friday so all the posts may not be up yet.
If you have been following the hop in order you have just arrived from Shelley's Blog where she also created beautiful projects with the Elementary Elegance set.  We allowed 2 blog spots for the exclusive SAB items.  That's why there are 2 stops for some items.

. There are 18 stops on the hop and I am stop #13. So if you are just beginning with my blog be sure and hop all the way around until you come back to my blog so you won't miss any of the beautiful projects everyone has created to share with you.
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First up a few cards.  One masculine . . .


 . . . and one feminine. 
I do love this paper offered for SAB!  It's got designs
for guys and gals in the paper pack.  I used the Top Note die
and cut it twice to get the fancy square layer on the 2 cards. 
***
For one of my 3D items I created a Birthday Banner.
I used the Perfect Pennants Bigz Die and circle punches
to create layers and dimension on the banner.  I did some shadow
stamping to make the images more impressive.
It's all strung on white grosgrain ribbon.  Festive and fun! 
Who wants cake?

***
My wow moment item!  A stamped bracelet.
I was so stuck for a WOW item to make with this set. Then I remembered this bracelet in my jewelry drawer. I made these a few years back for friends at convention. I had stamped flower centers from Greenhouse Gardens on the shell disks but was able to get the inked images off. I then stamped the small images from this set on them. These small stamps are perfect for jewelry!

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Thanks for hopping along! 
Please feel free to sign up to be a blog follower, or check back Monday for the how tos for the projects I created.  Hop on over to Krystal's blog now to see the amazing things she has done with the Stripes Embossing Folder.  Another great item you can get free during SAB.


Happy stamping!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Start Designing With My Digital Studio . . .

FOR FREE!

My Digital Studio Express has never been easier!
Stampin' Up! is offering a 30-day My Digital Studio Express trial version
beginning February 1, that you can take advantage of.
The best part is this is an ongoing offer!
sample page - Winter Fun

With the FREE trial, you'll get:
Full access to the software at NO COST.
Full design functionality.
Opportunity to purchase additional downloads from designer templates
to stamp brush sets--and everything in between.
Access to our professional print services.
Some MDS card ideas.
 
Watch for more information on February 1.
If you don't already have the My Digital Studio software,
make sure to take advantage of the free trial!
sample page - Sled Racing
Here is a print out I created in MDS, for customers last year.


 
Tomorrow at noon the blig hop starts!
Happy stamping!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Winter Wonder

We are finally getting some snow around here. 
Cold temps and freezing rain too, but hey, the good with the bad.  lol
Another Hobby Lobby class card.  This was such a fun punch art card. 
I saw this online somewhere and knew I had to make it. 

 I used embossing folders I had in my "other store" box.  This card could be used for a winter birthday, a baby card, or just a "wish you were here" for someone in a warmer location.  haha

I used the smallest punch shape from the Boho Blossom punch, a Jumbo oval, and a strip 1/2" x 1 3/4". to create the hat.  I cut and punched after I embossed a larger sheet.  Much easier to get it to stay in the embossing folder.

I sponged around the edge of the brown circle so it would pop against the brown square.  There are also Dimemsionals under the circle and the pom on the hat.  I like the tone on tone effect of this card.  The banners were strips cut to size then embossed so they would layer over certain words in that folds.  I showed the gals in class how to cut the ends in the V using the 1" square punch.

Slid your strip in at the corner. 
Center the point on the strip.  Make sure the ends are even and punch.

Easy, peasy, instant banner ends.  I can punch up to 3 at a time.

Happy stamping!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Surprise Pop Up

A pop up card from a Hobby Lobby class. 
I like to have one easy technique in each class.

A great card for a teen who is getting their driver's license around their birthday.  What's better to wish for than a truck?  :)  Well maybe not this style truck.

This is such an easy pop up.  It is the technique  found on Catherine Pooler's blog.  I just oriented the card a different direction.  You still punch in from each side with the Word Window Punch.

*****
January 27th, starting at noon, Stampin' Addict's  will be
having a blog hop featuring the free items from Sale A Bration. 
Come on back then and check it out.
Happy stamping!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Carry my heart . . .

I really questioned why I bought this die when I got my order. 
I had in mind to make birds to decorate a Christmas tree,
but that never got done.  Good intentions, you know?
I saw Shelli Gardner's post (she owns Stampin' Up!) about what she did with this die
She showed 6 great ideas so that inspired me to come up with a card for the die.
Shelli's ideas:  I really like #5.  Next years tree!
idea #1     idea #2      idea #3     
idea #4     idea #5     idea #6
My card. 
I love this bird embossed.  There is so much more to it.

I used the new Edgelits Die and Embossing folders to create the cool edge
on the card front.  I also cut the piece for inside to match the edge.


Elegant Bird Bigz Die 
Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders

Adorning Accents Edgelits Die

Happy stamping!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

SAB - Fresh Vintage


Another card made for a swap.  This one uses the Fresh Vintage set. 
The dsp, ribbon, and brads are also SAB products.  I just love this color combination.

This was what my work area looked like after make 8 sets of swap card fronts
and, lol, I'd already started putting stuff away.  I like the quote, "A messy desk is
a sign of creative mind".  Not sure what my messy house represents.  :D


Happy stamping! 
I'm off to do some cleaning.  :)

Monday, January 16, 2012

Sneak Peek Elementary Elegance

A card using the new Sale A Bration designer paper
and a sentiment from Elementary Elegance.
See all those mini images on the Pool Party layer? 
They are also part of the Elementary Elegance set. 
They work great in the Simply Adormed Charms too!

I'm loving the new Labels Collection Framelit Dies.
They work with just about everything.  Wait until you see
what I've been working on wiht the heart shapes. 
I've been busy creating samples for upcoming classes. 

Until later, happy stamping!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Fun mail!

I got a fun package in the mail today! 
Check out the packaging!

See all that yummy ribbon in there!!!  I love these colors.

I didn't want to take it out of there, to take a photo,
I don't think I'll get it back in the container. 
I guess I need to make a card with it.  :)

The brads and the 1/8" Calypso Coral ribbon are some of the FREE stuff
you can get during Sale A Bration.

I participated in a Christmas card challenge this past year.  The organizer, Hey Cindy!, gave away a small prize.  We earned an entry for each month we completed our cards.  I was picked int he Radom.org drawing.  Thank you for the cool prize Cindy!

If you'd like to particpate in the Christmas Card challenge for 2012. 
(It's a great way to get your Christmas cards done ahead of time!)
Click here to go to thread at Stampin' Addicts where we chat about it.

That is the Blossom Box Bigz Die that she packaged the container into.  Cool idea!

Oh and the cute card!  I love the polka dots.
I think we need to make this card at stamp night this month.
Don't you?

Happy stamping!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

More Bunnies!

This is another card created for a swap. 
I again used the bunnies from Heaven Blessed.

It gave me a chance to use a layout I was wanting to try. 
It uses the 2 smaller pennants from the Perfect Pennants Bigz Die.
Perect Pennants Bigz Die 123126  $32.95
This is also the die I used to cut out doilies for the Bordering on Romance card.

For this card I used the Twitterpated - Flowers on Grey dsp,
Regal Rose, W. White, and Marina Mist CS.

The words are stamped and layered as an offset on Modern Label punch shapes.  Accented by a brad.  The scallops along the triangles are die cut from the Tastelfully Trim die.  The image is layered on the 3", 3.5", and a scallop circle from the Scallops #2 die.  These could all be circles and be cut out with a  circle cutter too.

I do like these bunnies.
Happy stamping!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Stampin' Addicts Sketch Challenge 118 - 1/5/2012

I'm going to try and do some of the challenges posted
around the net each week.  Here is the sketch from the Stampin' Addict's website.  It's a very friendly, SU oriented, stamping site.

If you'd like to see more about the sketch challenges click here:

Here is my card. 


Inside view

Stamps: Single Stamp S.W.A.K. 120861 $5.95
Sentiment set: Petite Pairs 122495 $28.95
Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder 120175 $7.95
Cardstock: Black, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red
Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents 119246 $4.95
NEW! Labels Collection Framelits Dies 125598 $26.95

Happy stamping!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Watercolored Flowers

I taught this today at the technique class. When planning the class it inspired reminded me, I could use it for this swap card.  This is also an outline stamp.  It is the new Bordering On Romance stamp set in the Occasion Mini.  Which starts today!
These are my finished flowers.  Messy, eh?
I used Baja Blue, and Celery first.  Let them dry.  I used Pink Pirouette on some small blossoms.  Then added Not Quite Navy and Old Olive as accents.  For all of this I used a fine mist spray bottle and a fine tip watercolor brush as the detail areas are small.  To add the accent colors I worked with a fairly dry brush.  I kept a tissue handy to blot up excess ink right away.

I punched out the images with the 1 3/4" Circle punch and layered them on a doily from the Perfect Pennants Bigz Die.  The designer paper is the new Twitterpated dsp.  Baja Blue Seam Binding ribbon, Black and Basic Gray cs as the base layers.  The Basic Grey is embossed with the Square Lattice Textured Impression folder.

Here's the whole swap group.

I'm really pleased with how they turned out.

Happy stamping!

Monday, January 2, 2012

How-tos Occasion Mini Blog Hop 2012

The Nursery Set

These were created with the new Designer Rosette Bigz XL die. 
It cuts a panel that measures 5" tall by 12" long.

 I cut my strips 4" tall.  I could get 3 out of each 12"x12" sheet.
I just laid them a hair above the top edge of the die.

The die cuts, and scores all lines for you.  I was able to cut 3 sheets of dsp at one time.  You should test this, as every die cut machine is different. 
Copy paper doesn't score or fold well. 


I used the Crop A Dile to punch through the straight ends
to create an opening to thread the Bakers Twine through.
 

Fold the 3 strips on all score lines. 
Attach the 3 pieces together with Sticky Strip tape,
overlapping just one fold section at each end.

Thread Baker's Twine through holes.  After it was threaded all the way around, I threaded back through the starting point. In green parenthesis.  I gently pulled the Bakers Twine through, gathering the cone as I  pulled.  I didn't cut the Baker's Twine off the package until I was done.  You only need a short piece to tie the cone together but you need a long piece for threading around!

Gather the cone so it is pulled tight. 
Too large an opening and the cone just flops around.

If you forget and have the ends on the outside, tie off the twine and slide it between 2 layers of an overlap section.  It would be best to have the knot end up on the inside of the cone.

Thread ribbon through 1/2 circle openings at top edge. Seam Binding ribbon worked great.  Anything heavier in this width would have torn the paper.  After I had threaded the ribbon through the openings.  (Sorry forgot to take a picture at this point.)  I pulled some out at each side to create the handles.  About 4" on each side.  You need to tie a knot next to the cone so the ribbon doesn't pull back through.  Then tie a bow in front. 
If you place a cotton ball in the bottom you can use the basket to hold small stuff or just hold cotton balls.  You could also place a plastic glass insid eif you have one the right size.

I stamped and attached the tags with 4 glue dots on the raised ridges.
The punched scallop circle is the new White Waffle paper.

*****
The night light is only one die cut section.  See this style night light has side sections that the paper slides into.  I attached the paper to a piece of clear plastic to have a buffer between it and the bulb.  The plastic stays curved so the paper cannot rest on the bulb.  Fire safety at all times.  I only threaded the top edge with the Seam Binding Ribbon, that and the taped at the sides holds it in place.
The image was stamped on the White Waffle paper with Black Stazon ink, 
then colored in with the Watercolor pencils and Blender Pen.
It was too hard to photograph at night but this is what I got. 
The image does glow through beautifully. 

Again sorry but I do not know where you can find this style night light. 
I bought it on clearance a few years ago.

*****
There is a great tutorial on you tube by Dawn Olchefske for the Scallop Easel card.

*****
The scrapbook card is so easy.  Cut dsp 6" x 12".  Score at 6" and fold.  This is your page base.  Cut another layer of dsp 5.5" x 5.5".  Stamp your sentiment and image on a neutral color, then layer that on a contrasting color.  My image is a funky shape because I left a big smear of brown ink on one corner of the rectangle.  I just trimmed it and the background piece.  You'd never have known I goofed if you hadn't been told.  :)

The inside is just a white piece to place a photo on. 

Cut this to be 1/2" wider that your photo in each direction.  If your photo is 4" x 5", cut the white layer 4.5" x 5.5".  You can add another sentiment here or just a handwritten note.  After you've displayed your holiday card, cut the card in half to create 2 - 6" x6" pages to place in an album.

*****
The last was just my swap card, which should be easy to case
(copy and share everything) by looking at the picture.

Thanks for stopping by.
Happy stamping!