Retiring List

Hi there!  I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to link the pdf of the retired list to my blog.  I haven't figured it out yet, but you can go to my Demonstrator Website and if you click Shop Now, you can see the stamp sets that are retiring.  The only problem with that is that it will take longer to mark your book (if you mark the retiring stamps in your catalog like I do).  I can email the pdf to you, so if you'd like, you can post a comment with your email address, and I'll send you the attachment...

Aviary Here for You

I have really liked the Aviary stamp set, ever since it came out in the full line catalog.  I don't own it, but have received a few cards here and there as swaps featuring it.

This is a swap that I received, and I really like the layout she chose to use.  Not too fussy, but with some added texture.

Recipe:  Aviary stamp set
Cardstock:  Bashful Blue, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Top Note Bigz Die

Belated Birthday Card

I can be really bad at getting cards to family members on time.  And I have a wonderful neice whose birthday is on Christmas Day.  I almost always miss giving her her birthday card, in the business of getting ready for Christmas....  This year, I even had her gift bought early, but still didn't give it to her on time.  Then, once I miss it, I seem to put off correcting my mistake...

But I am working on it!

Anyway, I wanted to try something fun for my neice's belated birthday card.  This ended up not being as girly as planned, and I'll have to try this technique with other papers, but overall, this is a pretty cool technique.  This background technique is called Bargello.  I found it on Splitcoast Stamper's website, HERE'S the link for complete instructions.  You basically take thin strips of paper, and lay them out on a sheet of paper, but I think I'll try our Sizzix Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets next time.  Then you cut that up at a 90* angle, so instead of strips of designs, you now have strips with little blocks of the designs....the instruction photots show it much better than I can explain.

I think I will try this again with some girlier paper patterns!  Small patterns work best; even those larger polka dots are almost too big...

Recipe:

Stamps:  Bring on the Cake

Cardstock:  Cajun Craze, Basic Black, Old Olive, Whisper White, Frightful Sight DSP

Accessories:  Labels Collections Framelits, Big Shot, Cajun Craze 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler Scallop Dots Ribbon, Stampin' Sponge

Regionals Swap

Today's card is one of my swaps from Regionals in Columbus, OH.  I made about 20 or so of this card and no matter how many cards I get finished, I always wish I had more to swap!  This card features the Apothecary Arts stamp set, and the Frames Collection Framelits.  This particular stamp is made to be used in the larger frame, but I wanted to be able to layer it....so I stamped the image, and then cut it down smaller, so it would fit the next layer.  The flowers took a bit of time to color, but they were just colored with my Stampin' Write Markers.  I used the writing side and just kind of scribbled a bit on the flowers, adding more color to the insides, to deepen the color.  I spent a good deal of time on these, and so when I decided that I wanted more swaps to trade, I knew I would have to come up with something simpler....but I haven't photographed that one yet....I'll get back to you with my other swap another day!

Elegant Lines card

 Today's card features the Embossing Folder Elegant Lines.  I first embossed a layer of Whisper White cardstock.  Then, I cut it into 3 equal pieces, and layered it onto a piece of In Color Cardstock. 

Add a piece of Poly-Twill ribbon tied with Baker's Twine,(shown at right).  A few butterflies (Beautiful Wings Embosslit) and Rhinestone Jewels add the finishing touches to this multi-purpose card.

You can use this card for a number of occasions, even leaving it blank until needed.  You can add the banner with Happy Birthday whenever you are ready to use it.

Below, I have it shown in Pear Pizzazz and Poppy Parade, but at my stamp-a-stack, I had all the In Colors available.  We decided that the Blushing Bride card made a lovely baby card, and the Concord Crush card was very striking, being such a deep rich color.

Extra Easter Cards

I decided to send a few extra Easter cards this year, and I didn't have enough time to make more of yesterday's card.  So my solution was to pull from my blank card stash.  I often make several of the same or similar card, and then leave them blank, with no sentiment inside or out.  Then, when I need a card for a particular occasion, I have several to choose from.

This card was made with Pick a Petal stamp set (retired) with the Large Oval Punch, and the 1" (or 1 3/8") circle punch for the center of the flower.

The Daffodil Delight layer is embossed with the Bouquet embossing folder, and I also embossed a scrap piece, to punch the centers of the circles.

 The brad is from the Fire Circle Brads, and gives just the right touch to this flower.

The DSP is retired, but it was lovely, and had several wonderful colors...Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz....  When I originally had this card at a stamp-a-stack, it was a big hit, and I had several different pieces of the DSP available for the flowers and for the rick rack.

That rick rack scalloped edge was made with the Tasteful Trim die.  It is $42.95 in the catalog, but I have found that it has been well worth the price.  I often use the rick racks instead of ribbon, thus saving me lots of $$ in ribbon!

This card uses the same DSP as the card above, but also incorporates the Build a Flower Punch, and a flower Bigz die (I'm sorry, I'm not home as I'm blogging, and am without my catalog).

 These cards both incorporate Cottage Wall DSP (retired), and the bottom one features a window sheet that coordinates with the same DSP.  I have it attached to a Whisper White piece of cardstock, so that it will show up nicely.  I have made several of these cards, following a few similar layouts, and they are nice to have on hand to suit whatever occasion I may need them on.  Eery once in a while, I like to sit down with a pack of retired DSP, with the intention of using it up!  I often hoard and hoard, and then as I'm trying to use it up, I realize that each card doesn't take all that much paper, and my stash doesn't get all used up!  I'm trying to not hoard as much, but I have lots of product still to be used up.

My Easter Card for 2012

 Christ is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!
I hope that you have a day full of blessings, on this most wonderful day of grace!

I made about a dozen of this card, and I wish I had time to make a dozen more.  You could put anything in that framelit....Happy Birthday, Thanks, Thinking of You...

I wish I had a REJOICE stamp, but the closest I had was JOY, so I went with that.  I will have to invest in a new Easter stamp set once the new catalog comes out.

I have wanted to try this quilted look for a while, but just hadn't done it.  These colors worked well together.

Easter Cards...

Hippity Hoppin', Easter's on its Way!

I made this card last year at a stamp event in Nashville when I was there for Leadership with Stampin' Up!.  This is  simple and fun, using Forest Friends stamp set, and Playdate DSP.  I added the inside sentiment from Words of Wisdom stamp set.

I received this card at a swap this year at Leadership in San Antonio.  I had to make a few adjustments to it to be able to layer it onto a cardbase.  (a swap is usually just the card front, so it must be trimmed down to fit onto a card base)

That punch is new; it is available in the Occasions Mini catalog.

I love how the embossing frame was used to frame the bunny.  So cute!

 

I sent this card to my mother-in-law or her Easter card.  This was a swap I received last year, and the DSP is now retired, but it is lovely.

To get the girl's silhouette to be pink AND sparkly, you can ink your stamp in Rose Red CRAFT ink, then sprinkle Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder over the image.  Heat to set the EP.  You have a lovely sparkly image.  If you don't have the craft ink, you can stamp in Versa Mark, then Rose Red ink, then emboss.

Here's another shot of the card, with the flash on.  It catches more of the sparkle in the Embossing Powder.

I hope you have a blessed Easter!  I will have a few more cards, including the ones I made for this year's Easter card that gets sent to my family.

Easter's on it's Way!

Once in a while, I get to attend my downline, Jennifer's, Stamp-a-Stacks.  She always has great projects, some that she creates, some that she CASES.  I always enjoy going, as I get to see some of my original stamping group, that started with me 8+ years ago.  I also get to visit with Jennifer, whom I love to pieces.  She took over the group when I moved away (4 moves ago!)

Anyway, here are her beautiful Easter Cards!!!

Recipe:
Stamp set:  Everybunny
Cardstock:  Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Paper Snips, Blush Blossom Pleated Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Pastels

I love this card, and I enjoyed using the Stampin' Pastels...I don't get mine out often enough.  Jennifer had a great tool to use with the chalks:  cotton swabs with one end that comes to a tip.  They worked great!  I could color the smaller areas with precision, and then color the larger areas will the rounded end.  Great card, Jennifer!

Recipe: 1 3/4", 1", 1/2" Circle Punches, Large and Small Oval Punches, Word Window Punch,
Scallop Oval Punch, Scallop Border Punch
Big Shot, Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, SAB DSP, and SAB Brads, White Gel Pen

Punch Recipe:
2 Ornament Punches (head and belly)
Large Oval Punch (bill)
Small Oval Punch - retired - (bill)
Scallop Circle Punch - (wings and feet)
Boho Blossoms - (tuft)
Word Window - (sign post)

Great job, Jen!  I really enjoyed making these Easter cards!  Now I'm off to finish getting my envelopes all addressed....tomorrow I will show some of the rest of the Easter cards I made to send out to friends and family.

A Reason to Act...

This week I had an unexpected death in my family.  My uncle had been struggling in a few different areas of his life recently, health included, but we did not guess that it would end this way, at least not so quickly.  All of us in the family have been struck by this, in some way or another.  One thing that I most hope to take away from this, is to not put things off.  I had been thinking of my uncle, with the intention of sending him a cheerful card.  But I didn't; I put it off, and now it's too late.  So I am going to try to send out at least 2 cards each week, to friends, family, or whoever comes to mind.  Perhaps I will look for a ministry that could use this type of encouragement.  But in the mean-time, I will just work at getting better at sending birthday cards, and encouragement cards to friends and family.

Cards for Wanda - Gift Card

Today's card is a fun little project, if you have some time to dedicate to making a special card.

This was one of the Make and Take cards that we made at Regionals, for Stampin' Up!.  I was fortunate to be able to attend 2 Regional events, and they were similar in presentation, and had the same Make and Takes.  So I now have 2 of this same card.  I don't know if you have trouble with this, but when I have a special card, especially if it took a while to make, I am less than eager to part with it.  But since I have 2, giving one away was easier. 

There are lots of details to this card.  The dots are made by laying the Mat Pack template down and then using it with the Stampin' Write Markers.

Are you wondering what that little piece of  white is sticking out of the side of the card?  Well, it has a purpose....it is a circle, under the larger white panel.  It is attached to the Basic Gray card base with a mini brad so that it can be moved in a circle.  We had a template to follow, and knew where to punch the hole, so the kites could show through.

 We stamped the kites last, so they could be placed perfectly with the tail of the kite.  Here are the 3 kites that I chose to use from the stamp set, Send Me Soaring, in the current Occasions Mini Catalog.  A little of the new Baker's Twine, in Lucky Limeade accents the kite's tail.

Below, you can see the detail for the envelope.  Isn't that cute?  We punched 2 Pool Party hearts, pierced them with the Paper Piercing Tool, and then attached a white brad to each.  A foot or so of Baker's Twine, in Calypso Coral, holds the envelope closed.  Of course you can't mail this type of envelope, which makes it perfect to use as a gift card to go with Wanda's box of cards.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Send Me Soaring
Cardstock:  Basic Gray (base), Whisper White, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Beerry Blossoms DSP
Accessories:  Small Heart Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Circles #2 Originals Die, Big Shot, Scallop Border Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack (template), Stampin' Write Markers (Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade), Baker's Twine (Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral), Neutrals Brads, Mini Brads

I hope you've enjoyed Wanda's cards!  This one was for her daughter to write in as the gift card to go along with the box.  I do have one more pack of cards that I sent along in the same package, that were from me to Wanda, so I'll show those tomorrow.  If you are the praying kind, and these cards come to mind, I hope they remind you of Wanda, and that you say a prayer of healing and comfort for her.