Watercolor Sky Fab Friday Challenge

  After weeks of anticipation today is the day!!  It is the first Fab Friday Challenge!  I'm thrilled to be a part of this awesome group and I'm looking forward to creating projects using Mindy's great challenges.   We hope you'll join in on the fun with us over at Fab Friday Challenge.

  For our very first challenge Mindy has given us this great sketch to work with. 

  I think this layout could be used for so many different cards.  The large panel definitely gives a lot of room to work with.  And I've been very partial to the little banner flags for a while now so of course I love that element as well.

  I was inspired by Bonnie's card (and great tutorial!).  What a fun technique and a wonderful look using the Shimmery White cardstock and reinkers.  It's kind of like the re-inker spread technique used on this card from a long time ago!  I love how rich the colors look and the bit of sparkle from the cardstock is kind of an unexpected surprise.  I kept the rest of the card very clean and simple to not take away from the main panel.

  After using the reinkers and Aquapainter and drying my "sky" with my heat tool I stamped the branch from Serene Silhouettes in Stazon.  I added a scalloped piece that was cut with the large scallop edgelit.   It's hard to see in the photo but I pierced the scallops using the coordinating piercing template.

  And never one to shy away from ribbon I added a length of organza to cover the seam between the top panel and the scallop piece.  Following the sketch, I stamped the thank you on a little banner with Midnight Muse and then embellished it with a faceted button with a rhinestone in its center.

  Thanks for a great sketch Mindy!  Head on over to Fab Friday and play along with us!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Serene Silhouettes, Just Believe (sentiment)

Ink: Pool Party, Midnight Muse, Rich Razzleberry, Stazon

Paper: Whisper White, Shimmery White

Accessories: large scallop edgelit, organza ribbon, faceted button, rhinestone, paper piercing template

Merry Christmas Bird

  This has been a busy and exciting week in my stamping world.  On Tuesday I had my first Craft & Chat night where some of my customers brought over projects (stamping and scrapbooking) that they were currently working on and we just sat around and ate and chatted while we worked.  I must admit that I didn't get a whole lot done....I guess I'm more of a chatter!  But it was fun to get to sit down and stamp alongside my customers since during my regular classes I'm usually running around to the 3 project tables helping. 

  Then I was notified that I had won a stamping contest!  Shelli Gardner the co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up! posts stamping challenges to her blog and then picks several winners for each challenge.  She chose one of my cards for her "New to You" challenge.  The card that I submitted was one we did at my new catalog party Serene Gumball Trees.  I used a ton of new products on this card and I guess Shelli liked it!  I'm totally honored...I think there were over 100 entries!  Now I just have to decide on my prize...any stamp set!  Is there one I haven't already bought!  =)

  And the final thing that is making this week exciting is that I am part of a brand new stamping challenge design team!  You all know that I love challenges!  Tomorrow will be the first challenge so check back here to see my project and for all the details so you can play along.  This is an awesome group of stampers and I know you'll be seeing lots of great projects!

  After all that you're probably thankful that I'm finally getting around to card huh!?  This is for the CAS-ual Friday Challenge to use flags or banners on our Clean and Simple (CAS) project. 

   I know it's still August and I really should be thinking more about fall and Halloween but I just can't resist these cute birds in the For the Birds set.  It's a great all occasion set that covers a lot of events but the images can be used separately from the greetings making it even more versatile!

  The base is Crumb Cake with rounded corners at the bottom.  The image was stamped in Stazon onto Watercolor paper.  I used the Windows Framelits to cut it out and then colored it with markers.  I also used the edge of the Not Quite Navy marker brush tip to color the edge of the watercolor paper.  I made my little flags out of various scraps of DSP (great way to use up those narrow strips you just can't bear to throw away!).  Before adding the brad I positioned my die cut where I wanted it and then used the matching paper piercing template to pierce all the way around skipping where the fags were.  Then I added my antique brad and popped the whole thing up with dimensionals.

   
 I very much wanted to add some other embellishments but held back since this is for a CAS challenge after all.

  Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for the challenge!!  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: For the Birds

Ink: Stazon Markers- Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy

Paper: Crumb Cake, watercolor paper, Summer Smooches DSP, First Ed. Specialty DSP, Twitterpated DSP

Accessories: Windows Framelits, Antique brad, dimensionals, paper piercing template

Happy Mail

  Don't you just love to get happy mail?  A pretty card, a sweet note or a beautiful photo?  I send out more cards than I get but I guess that's to be expected since I make a ton of cards but when I do receive a handmade card I prop it up on my desk for a few weeks and continue to enjoy the warm fuzzies.  Over the last several months I've received a few cards from customers and friends and I wanted to share them with you.

Made by Kristen

  I think the Blossom punch is only one I don't own!  Kristen's card is making me re-think that!  Love these colors and how she used the satin ribbon layered over another piece of DSP.

Made by Marie

  Again with this punch and Mixed Bunch stamp set!  Love the Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade together.  And the half embossed top panel divided by the ribbon is really cool too!

Made by Jenn

 Who doesn't love a baby hippo??  The sentiment stamped over the flower stem gives a nice layered look.  A perfect thank you card from a busy mom!

Made by Beth

 This is great use of this year's Sale-a-Bration Designer Series paper Everyday Enchantment.  Love the rounded corners and the top squares are popped up to give great dimension!  I'm still hoarding a whole pack of this paper!

  I know you all have a few cards sitting there waiting to be sent out...go ahead and get them in the mail today and let someone know you're thinking about them!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Snowman Catalog CASE

  Wow!  Where have I been right?  Did You Stamp Today? has been a wasteland for the last week!  I was away on vacation at the beach with our families.  I had fully intended to schedule some posts since I had plenty of projects to share but the time before vacation just got away from me so I thought I would post a few times while away....Nope!  It just didn't happen.  I had plenty of time and opportunity but my brain was on total vacation mode so anything besides food, drink and covering the boys in sunblock just didn't happen.  But thanks for checking back in with me! 

  My card today is one I made 10 of to go in my Christmas card stash.  I'm getting closer to my goal but need to get going or I'm going to run out of time!

    I didn't get to make any Christmas cards with the Snow Much Fun set last year since I didn't get it until after Christmas (I choose it as my free stamp set after winning a contest) so I wanted to make sure it got a little love this year.

  My inspiration for this card is a combination of the samples on page 14 of the catalog.  I liked the layout for the Greeting Card Kids sample and I like the embossed snowman and colors in the Snow Much Fun sample. 

  The base of the card is Cherry Cobbler, then a layer of Lucky Limeade.  Next I embossed a piece of Naturals White with the Northern Flurry embossing folder.  Then I stamped the snowman in Versamark and embossed him with the awesome Pewter embossing powder.  It's a great in between color...not as shiny as silver and not as dark as black.

  I colored the snowman in with markers and then added the sponged sentiment banner at the top.  The final touches are the Glimmer Brad and Pool Party baker's twine. 

  I'm off to continue the great vacation clean up and try to get myself organized for my Craft & Chat session tonight!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Snow Much Fun

Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobler (sponging) Markers- Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Naturals White

Accessories: Northern Flurry e.f., Pool Party Baker's twine, Glimmer Brad, Pewter e.p.

Sailing the Ocean Blue

  Just a quick post today to share this card that I made for the CAS-ual Friday challenge which is to make a card with something you would see in or at the ocean.  This was a tough one for me...I don't have many beach or ocean themed stamps but I carried on and got something made.



  Once again I went with the Moving Forward stamp set.  It was really my only choice...I don't see many flowers, dinosaurs or Christmas ornaments at the beach!

 I was inspired by a layout in the catalog that had a nice clean layout which works perfectly for this challenge.  The sailboat was stamped in Lucky Limeade and then I stamped it again in Pool Party and Island Indigo.  I cut out the other pieces and adhered them to the mail boat panel.  A mini silver brad finishes off the details on the boat.

  I was able to use up a few strips of scraps (don't you love to do that!?) to embellish the edge of the boat panel.  First a tiny bit of Chocolate Chip, then a strip of Pool Party run through the Big Shot with the Tasteful Trim Die and finally some Island Indigo also run through the Big Shot with the Tasteful Trim die.

  Other embellishments are the Itty Bitty button threaded with Island Indigo baker's twine and the "hello" tag stamped with Chocolate Chip.  The top panel of Very Vanilla also has scoring around all four sides to frame the sailboat panel which is hard to see but is a nice detail.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Moving Forward

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Tasteful Trim die, Itty Bitty button, Baker's Twine, mini brad, Simple Scored, dimensionals

Rainbow Get Well

  I have gotten a ton of use out of my pack of Summer Smooches DSP since it was released earlier this year prior to the new catalog coming out.  I made a whole stationery set as well as various cards and most recently a whole lot of tags to put on my stamping ladies order bags from last month.  Now I'm just down to smaller sized scraps.  Somewhere out in blogland I saw a card that had a shape cut out and had Designer Series Paper backing the shape.  I thought that it looked pretty neat and wanted to try it out.  I used my Summer Smooches DSP and matching colors to give it a go.

 The rainbow colors in this pattern are so bright and cheerful I thought I would make a Get Well card to brighten someone's day.  I used the Windows Framelits to make my opening in the top panel of Island Indigo and then added my piece of Summer Smooches.  I stamped the sentiment in Island Indigo on Whisper White and then cut that out with a smaller framelit.  I attached the sentiment with dimensionals.

  I punched out flowers with my Itty Bitty punch pack, curled up the petals slightly by pressing my Simply Scored stylus into each center while it was on top of the foam piercing mat.  I added a rhinestone to each flower center and then adhered them to the sentiment panel.  I used my Simply Scored to score 3 lines at the top.  And to balance out the bottom I added a stitched grosgrain ribbon and bow.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Delightful Dozen

Ink: Island Indigo

Paper: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP, Tangerine Tango, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories: Windows Framelits, rhinestones, Itty Bitty punch pack, dimensionals, stitched grosgrain ribbon, Simply Scored

Square Moving Forward Birthday

 We've had quite the busy week!  My cousin and her two kids came down from CT for their annual summer visit which we've named "Richmond Fun Week".  We do all sorts of fun stuff with the kids and are super busy while they are here so there just wasn't enough time to get any projects posted.  They left this morning and now I'm trying to get back on track.

 


  I wanted to get this card posted in time to be able to share it over at CAS ual Friday challenge which was to make a square card.  I hadn't inked up my Moving Forward set yet but it is super cute.  This is the annual Ronald McDonald House Charities stamp set that Stampin' Up! creates.  Stampin' Up! donates $3 to RMHC for each stamp set sold.  How generous!!  It's wonderful to "work" (how can stamping be work right?) for such an awesome company that gives back to the community any chance it has.

  I stamped and hand cut the blimp/balloon and the basket and propeller and adhered them to die cut circle.  The background is the Chevron e.f.  I threaded 3 lengths of Island Indigo baker's twine through the Real Red button before adhering the ends behind the Chevron panel.  My other last detail is the mini silver brad in the center of the propeller.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Moving Forward

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, black

Paper: Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White

Accessories: Chevron e.f., button, baker's twine, mini brad, Circles #2 die

Water Stamping Sympathy

  I tried a fun technique yesterday that I saw on Splitcoaststampers this past week:  Water Stamping!  It's pretty cool and I want to try it with some other colors and stamps to see how it turns out.  Just sponge your colors onto cardstock and then "ink" up your stamp with water by tapping it on a wet paper towel.  Pretty cool!  I combined the water stamping with the colors from Colour Q this week.

 It seems that I've been using Midnight Muse a lot lately!  I don't know if it's because I love it (which I do!) or because I just haven't put the paper back in my drawer and it's handy on my desk!  I haven't used Certainly Celery in a long time and it was nice to get that old favorite out.  The Certainly Celery ink pad was the first full sized pad that I bought way back when it was a newer color!  That seems like a long time ago!

 
  First I inked my background with Certainly Celery and Gumball Green in a random way.  Then I stamped the large flower stamp from Just Believe several times across my sponging using the Water Stamping technique.  I dried it with my heat tool and rounded the edges.  Next, I stamped the large flower stamp again this time right on my background with Midnight Muse ink.  I really like how you can see the faint images of the stamp and it gives a neat depth to the background.  Almost like a shadow or ghost.

  I cut some butterflies from the Beautiful Wings embosslit using another one of the challenge colors Summer Starfruit.  I dressed them up a bit with pearls.  To anchor the sympathy sentiment I used a length Midnight Muse stitched ribbon.  The sentiment from Petite Pairs was stamped and then cut with one of the Apothecary Accents framelits.  I snipped off the extra from the shape and adhered it under the ribbon.  Another butterfly on the sentiment balances out the rest of the card.

  Thankfully I don't have a need for a sympathy card right now but I so much prefer to have one already made just because I was stamping than to have to sit down and make one.  I find it hard to find inspiration at times like those.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Just Believe, Petite Pairs

Ink: Gumball Green, Certainly Celery, Midnight Muse

Paper: Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Summer Starfruit

Accessories: corner rounder, Midnight Muse stitched ribbon, Beautiful Wings embosslit, adhesive pearls, Apothecary Accents framelits

Christmas Tree Forest

  I guess I've been on a Christmas kick lately after realizing that I was behind on my goal of getting my cards finished well before December 25.  As usual, I used a challenge as my jumping off point for this card design.  The color challenge at Splitcoaststampers this week is to use Midnight Muse, Old Olive and Raspberry Ripple. 

  
 I don't know why but this card was really hard to photograph...maybe the contrast between the Midnight Muse frame and the Whisper White "snow"??  Anyway, the base is Midnight Muse and then I cut another smaller layer of Midnight Muse and cut a frame from the center.  I really like this shape from the Apothecary Accents Framelits set.  Then I embossed the frame with the new Woodgrain embossing folder.  I backed the frame with an embossed piece of Whisper White using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  I tore some scraps of Whisper White and adhered Dazzling Diamonds to mimic snow on the ground.  Just layer two separate scraps to give more depth to your "snow".

 
  The trees were all stamped in Old Olive onto either Whisper White or Old Olive cardstock with the Pennant Parade stamp set.  I punched them out using the matching Pennant punch and arranged them on my hills of snow.  For the larger tree I punched that one out with the scalloped pennant and added Dazzling Details and hand cut the base. Both are popped on dimensionals.

  The finishing touches for this card are the mini silver brads in the four corners, the Raspberry Ripple stitched ribbon knot on the right side and the "merry" punched out with the jewelry tag punch.  The only thing I think this card is missing is a punched star on the top of the big tree but the mini Christmas punches in the Holiday catalog are the only things I didn't order!  They might find their way onto my next order though just so I can use that star on this card!

  I've got the card parts for 9 more of these cards strewn about my stamping desk.  I'm getting closer to my Christmas card goal!

  I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend and that you get to spend a lot of time stamping!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Pennant Parade

Ink: Old Olive, Raspberry Ripple, teeny tiny bit of Early Espresso for the tree trunk

Paper: Midnight Muse, Old Olive, Whisper White

Accessories: Perfect Polka Dot & Woodgrain e.f., Dazzling Details, Dazzling Diamonds, min brads, Apothecary Accents Framelits, In Color Stitched ribbon, Pennant punch, Jewelry tag punch

Elegant (and Easy!) Ornament

  I've been slacking off on getting ahead on my Christmas cards so far this year.  Last year I joined the Christmas card challenge over on Splitcoaststampers and it really spurred me on to make some cards ever month so I would be all set when Christmas rolled around.  It was wonderful to just mail them out and not have to add that one (large) item to my to Christmas do list.  Well this year I started off pretty good but got sidetracked with other projects.  I'm trying to get back on track and this week's Clean and Simple challenge using dark blue and white seemed like a great start.

  This card comes together really quick if you need to make multiples.  The base is Midnight Muse with a layer of Whisper White on top.  I rounded the corners of the Whisper White panel and then ran it through the Big Shot with the new Holiday Frame embossing folder.  Next, I sprayed the whole layer with Shimmer Mist using rubbing alcohol and shimmer paint.  It's hard to see in the photo but it has a nice all over sparkle. 

  For the ornament I stamped it in Midnight Muse and used the matching Holiday Ornament Framelit and cut it out.  I added a taffeta ribbon hanger and a fork bow (click HERE for a tutorial).  The ornament is popped up on dimensionals.

  The Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and the matching Holiday Ornaments Framelits are on page 3 of the Holiday catalog.  It's awesome that Stampin' Up! is offering them as a bundle to save 15% on the cost!  Very cool.  With the different sizes of ornaments I think this set has so many possibilities.  Remember, if you'd like to place an order please visit my online store and make sure my name is listed as the demonstrator.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes

Ink: Midnight Muse

Paper: Midnight Muse, Whisper White

Accessories: taffeta ribbon, dimensionals, Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Shimmer Mist

It Finally Happened! A Visit from the Tooth Fairy

  After about a month of wiggling, Ryan lost his first tooth!  This past week he had been wiggling it more and more and had asked Matt and I to try to pull it out.  The tooth was so little and slippery that we couldn't get a good grip on it.  We even had a pair of pliers at the ready but the tooth held on!  We were ready to try the string tied to the tooth tied to the door trick on Sunday until Matt ruined the moment by Googling if it was a good idea or not.  Darned internet!  Anyway after eating an apple at lunch yesterday the poor tooth was just barely hanging on and after dinner Ryan let Matt give it a quick pull!  Out it came!

 

 

 

Get out your magnifying glass...the smallest tooth ever!

New Smile! The adult tooth is already starting to peek out!

   I'm already paranoid that the new tooth is terribly crooked!  That's a mom for you right?  I better sell some more stamps so I will be able to pay the orthodontist!  =)

  Of course we had to put the tooth in a very special place so the tooth fairy could find it while Ryan was asleep.  Knowing that this day would eventually come I was actually prepared with a special tooth holder (is that what you even call these things?? We're entering new territory here!) that I made a few weeks ago. 

 

  I just made this little tooth fairy box out of an empty Stampin' Up! embellishment container (because I just can't bring myself to recycle them!).  A few die cut circles, a hand drawn tooth, a bit of Dazzling Details and a reminder to smile and we've got a tooth holder.  This was a really simple, fast project except for drawing the tooth.  I am not an artist, not even a doodler...that's why I stamp.  I don't have to draw since Stampin' Up! has such great images but since Stampin' Up! is lacking in the "giant tooth" stamp department I had to go out on my own.  I probably drew about 9 or 10 to get the right look and size to fit on top of the container.  When I finally got one I liked I glued it down on the Midnight Muse circle so fast I forgot to emboss the top like I was intending!  Oh well....Ryan is 6 and I'm sure he doesn't really care about the design!

  I outlined the tooth with Dazzling Details and added a face.  I wrapped some retired Real Red grosgrain around the outside of the container.  I inked up the "smile" portion of a sentiment from Petite Pairs with my Midnight Muse marker and stamped it on Whisper White and punched it out with the jewelry tag punch.  I adhered it to the top of the box with a red brad.  The paper piercing tool goes right through the plastic lid by the way.

  Using My Digital Studio I created a circle template the same size as the inside of the lid.  I made a blank list so that we can write in the date of when each tooth comes out.  I thought it would be fun to see the progression from first lost tooth to the last one.  Of course I matched the color of the printing to the rest of the project...a great perk with MDS, you can keep everything matching in Stampin' Up! colors!

  I'm happy to report that the Tooth Fairy made a stop at our house last night and found the tooth holder just fine.  She left Ryan a fancy gold $1 coin!  Which Alex swiped when Ryan showed it to him, ran upstairs and shoved the coin in his own piggy bank!  Bratty little brother!  =)

  Check out some of my other projects using empty embellishment containers: Mini Album, Baker's Twine Holders, Personalized Gifts.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Petite Pairs

Ink: markers: Midnight Muse, Black

Paper: Whisper White, Midnight Muse

Accessories: Circles #2 die, jewelry tag punch, brad, Dazzling Details, grosgrain ribbon, My Digital Studio, empty SU embellishment container

Bird Love

 I'm combining two fun challenges for this card today.  The Colour Q challenge this week is to use Lucky Limeade, Pink Pirouette, Tangerine Tango and Poppy Parade.  The second challenge is from CAS-ual Fridays.  This is the first time I've played along with them only having just discovered this challenge blog over the weekend!  The challenge there is to make a Clean and Simple (CAS) card using something you'd see in the sky.  The bright colors from Colour Q paired with a CAS card seemed like a great combination!

 

 When using bright colors like these I always find my cards turn out better if I leave a lot of white or "open" space.  I try not to fill up the whole card as it just ends up looking too busy.  So what do you think?  Did I fulfill both challenges?

 The base of the card is Whisper White and then a smaller layer of Whisper White embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  I added a narrow strip of Designer Series Paper from the Summer Smooches pack.

  For the image panel I stamped the birds from For the Birds in black Stazon.  I used the new Apothecary Accents framelits to cut out the tag.  The matching piercing template made the piercing really easy and fast.  I colored in the image with my markers.  I added a tiny little bit of Dazzling Details to the heart.

  For the final details I put 2 silver brads in the label and then added a little Lucky Limeade baker's twine bow to the top.  I popped the label up with dimensionals so it wouldn't get lost against the white background.

 I didn't use a sentiment but can add that later depending on the occasion I need the card for.  

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: For the Birds

Ink: Black Stazon, markers- Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade, Tangerine Tango, Pink Pirouette

Paper: Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP

Accessories: Perfect Polka Dot e.f., Apothecary Accents Framelits, Paper piercing template, silver brads, baker's twine, dimensionals, Dazzling Details

Simple Flower

  Happy Saturday!  I hope your weekend is off to a good start.  We had our neighbors over last night for some smores on the firepit so all the kids certainly had fun.  How can a sugar sandwich not be fun right?  It looks like it's going to be hot here in Central Virginia today so I think the pool is calling our names. 

  I really like how this card turned out.  It's super simple but the texture on the vase and the rhinestones on the flowers really give it some interest.

  I used the ornament punch to make the vase.  After I punched it out of the new Core'dination cardstock I snipped of the point of the ornament and then ran it through the Big Shot using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  The Core'dinations cardstock is so cool...you can sand down the raised part of the embossing and there is a lighter colored core that shows through.  It comes in Early Espresso, Gumball Green and Cherry Cobbler.  Check it out in the new Holiday Catalog.

  I inked up one of the stem stamps in the Bright Blossoms set with my Lucky Limeade marker and stamped it onto Whisper White.  To make the flowers I used one of the Itty Bitty Punch pack flowers and the Rich Razzleberry pattern from the Summer Smooches DSP.  I tried to line the punch up in the same place on the pattern so the flowers look alike.  I adhered them with a tiny dab of Mono Multi glue and then added the rhinestones.

  I used the corner rounder on the top two layers and then added the "thinking of you" sentiment from Sweet Essentials (my favorite sentiment set right now- I just love the font and the size is just right!).

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Bright Blossoms, Sweet Essentials

Ink: Early Espresso

Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Core'dinations Early Espresso, Summer Smooches DSP

Accessories: ornament punch, Itty Bitty Punch pack, rhinestones, corner rounder, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder

Faux Linen Postage Due

  I hope my local ladies aren't bored with seeing all the projects they made on Tuesday.  This is the last one then I'll be sharing some new things I've been working on.

  When the new catalog first came out I didn't even notice the Postage Due set.  Then I saw a sample or two around the internet and I thought it was cool and figured that it was a retired set that I didn't recognize.  Come to find out it's a brand new set that I completely overlooked in my initial browsing of the catalog.  It's a great set for vintage inspired cards, travel scrapbooking and masculine cards. 

  I wanted to teach my stamping ladies the Faux Linen technique as I had a pile of glossy cardstock that I wanted to do something with.  I bought it a REALLY long time ago for some technique or other and didn't use hardly any of it.  This is a really easy technique that gives a cool look to your card.  You can see a step by step tutorial HERE at Splitcoaststampers.  And what makes this even easier is the new sanding block that is in the Holiday catalog.  You can replace the pieces of sandpaper when they wear out and the foam block is easy to hold.

  The base of the card is Soft Suede.  We used the Labels Framelits to cut labels out of Cajun Craze and our stamped piece of Glossy cardstock.  After you have your labels cut you want to do the sanding on the glossy cardstock.  Go across the label and then up and down to get the linen look.  Then sponge some ink on (doesn't have to be perfectly even) and sand the same way again, across and then up and down getting all the gloss of.  You can always add more sponging and sand again to get your desired look.

  We stamped one of the postage stamps and punched it out with the postage stamp punch.  There is a little bit of sponging around the edges of the stamp to keep with the vintage feel of the card.  The light weight seam binding is perfect finishing touch for this card.

  I think I may use this technique to make a handful of notecards to have on hand for last minute occasions. 

  I just want to take a minute to welcome all of the new followers to Did You Stamp Today.  It seems over the last 2 months there have been quite a few new faces added.  If you have any questions about any of my projects or Stampin' Up! promotions going on just leave a comment or send me an e-mail and I'd be happy to help.  I'm glad you've joined us here at Did You Stamp Today!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Postage Due

Ink: Soft Suede, Early Espresso (now that I'm looking closer at my photos I think I forgot to put Early Espresso out for my stamping ladies on Tuesday for the background image.  They used Soft Suede for stamping and sponging...it works fine either way!  That's what I get for designing projects too far ahead of time...I forget exactly what I used!)

Paper: Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Glossy White, Very Vanilla


Accessories: sanding block, Labels Framelits, seam binding ribbon, postage stamp punch, dimensionals

Spooktacular Offer from Stampin' Up!

Wow!  Stampin' Up! is making it even sweeter to join as a Demonstrator during the month of August!  If you sign up during August you'll receive this really cool printer's tray Halloween project.  You'll get everything (except the ink) to make this fun decorative tray.  It's a $60 value and is exclusive to Stampin' Up!  How fun!



  Now I know some of you are thinking..."Geez, that's a great project.  I'd love to get it but I don't want to have to sell anything."  Well guess what, when you sign up you never have to sell a thing...not even to yourself.  But you might enjoy the 20% off demonstrator discount!  There is never any obligation when you join, everything in your kit is yours to keep regardless of if you want to build a business or just want to get everything on your wish list (you know you have one!). 

  People join for lots of reasons:

•  to get $125 worth of Stampin' Up! products for just $99
• for the 20% off discount
• to be able to see all the sneak peeks before the public
• access to Stampin' Connection (the demostrator only online forum)
• to be invited to exclusive Stampin' Up! events

  Contact me to learn more about the benefits of becoming a demonstrator.  If you're local to the Richmond area I'd love to get together with to to chat more about this promotion.

  If you're ready to join my team head over to my Demonstrator website and Click "Join the Fun"

3x3 For the Birds Birthday

  All of these late nights watching the Olympics are starting to catch up to me!  The dog and I haven't gotten up to do our usual early morning walks the last 2 mornings.  I've felt the need to sleep in a bit later to be able to make it through the day because the boys certainly seem to have the same amount of energy!

  The card I'm sharing today is another one we did on Tuesday at stamp club.  The For the Birds set is so cute and covers a lot of occasions.  I've decided to separate the sentiments from the images so I can mix and match more easily and not have to worry about masking off the sentiments....I always make a mess of that!  The images are so cute in this set and just take a moment to color.

 The base of this 3x3 card is Baja Breeze that was run through the Big Shot with the new Chevron embossing folder.  A strip of Midnight Muse edged with the new scallop edgelit die and then paper pierced along the edge using the piercing templates (hard to see in the photo).  We used a length of new stitched In Color ribbon in Primrose Petals to accent the straight side of the scalloped piece.

  For the image, we stamped with Stazon onto Whisper White cardstock, colored in the birds with markers and then punched it out with the large oval punch.  Of course we have to pop the oval up since it's one of my cards and I just can't say no to dimensionals (I guess there are worse things to be addicted to right?).  The finishing touch is a rhinestone.

  I pulled my color combination for this card from the Patio Party DSP and wanted to teach my ladies how to make their own envelopes to match the card using the Simply Scored Diagonal plate.  We took a 5x5 piece of DSP and and scored across all 4 corners at 2 3/8".  Then just cut out the tiny bit of area where the score lines intersect to make nice clean folds and then adhere with just a bit of Tombow glue along 3 flaps.  Super easy.  I think it takes longer to write it out than to actually do it.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: For the Birds

Ink: Stazon markers- Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals

Paper: Patio Party DSP, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Midnight Muse


Accessories: oval punch, Chevron embossing folder, stitched Primrose Petals ribbon, rhinstone, Simply Scored w/ Diagonal plate, dimensionals

Triple Time Stamping

  I had my monthly stamp club yesterday and it was wonderful too see everyone and show my stamping ladies some great new things! 

  For one of our projects I taught them how to do Dawn Olchefske's Triple Time Stamping technique.  Dawn created this wonderful tutorial HERE.  Check out her video to see how to do this fun and quick stamping technique.  Her card is absolutely gorgeous!  For the class we used the Reason to Smile stamp set that was the special promotion for July. 

  The base and colored layers are Raspberry Ripple paired with layers of Whisper White for the stamping.  We stamped the flower outline stamp in Crumb Cake.  On the left we tied a Crumb Cake seam binding knot.  On this card I stamped the solid flower in Crumb Cake and then used Raspberry Ripple to outline it.  After taking this photo I decided that I liked having the solid flower in the Raspberry Ripple and the outline in Crumb Cake so I switched it for class but didn't have time to take a new photo.  This also saved some chaos of having to clean the stamps between each person using them.  When you have 15+ people using the same supplies less complicated is definitely the way to go!  We punched the flower out with the scalloped circle punch and then popped it up with dimensionals.  And you can't see well in this photo but there is some Dazzling Details in the center of the flower.

  The final touch is a sentiment from Sweet Essentials stamped in Raspberry Ripple. 

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Reason to Smile, Sweet Essentials

Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Crumb Cake

Paper: Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple

Accessories: Scalloped circle punch, dimensionals, Seam binding ribbon, Dazzling Details