Holiday Mini Cards - More

Playing around with some more of my Holiday mini pre-orders tonight. I was trying to make at least one sample from each pre-item I purchased to have available for my workshop this coming Tuesday night -- September 1st. Here are two of them.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Beary Nice Wishes
Ink: Cameo Coral
Paper: Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Pink Flamingo DSP
Punches: Modern Label
Other: Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Bear Bigz Die, Beary Essentials Bigz Die, Beary Girl Sizzlit Die


Ingredients:
Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Simple Snowflake, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Silver
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Brushed Silver, Bordering Blue
Punches: Snowflake, Modern Label, Word Window
Other: Frost White Shimmer Paint, Sponge, Silver Rhinestone (from Pretties Kit), Dimensionals

Finally, I had a workshop today and I thought it would be a great time for us to play with my new Elegant Bouquet embossing folder. My clients were thrilled to get to play with it. These are what they made.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Great Friend
Ink: Apricot Appeal
Paper: Apricot Appeal, Taken with Teal, Very Vanilla
Punches: Designer Label
Other: Big Shot, Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, Pastels, Vanilla Hodpodge Hardware and Brads

Inspired by Penny Ginnery, Mini Purse Favor Project

I was so inspired by Penny Ginnery's Medallion card that I couldn't resist playing with this much loved background stamp again. Penny suggested stamping on glossy paper, and I'll admit it makes a big difference. Even my husband noticed and loved the difference. Ingredients below.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Medallion, Kind & Caring Thoughts
Ink: Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Ballet Blue
Paper: So Saffron, Ballet Blue, Glossy White
Other: Sponge, 5/16" Neutral Brad, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, SNAIL

I also love this month's Stampin' Up! project and finally sat down to make it. So easy and quick and would be perfect for little favor bags for a little girl's birthday party.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Bugs & Kisses
Ink: So Saffron
Paper: So Saffron DSP, Whisper White, Bashful Blue
Punches: 3/16" Corner Rounder, 3/4" Circle
Ribbon: Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain
Other: Template, Red Line Tape, Crystal Effect, Button Latte, Dimensional, Velcro Spot, Scissors, Stylus

3-D Objects

I've been wanting to make both of these 3-D projects ever since I saw them. Well, I finally made it by the store to pick up some Modge Podge today and I finally got my Graveyard Gala stamp set in.

I first saw these card tin boxes at my Upline's home and have been asking her to do her workshop on them. She has been so busy what with her new job, etc., so I finally found them on Splitcoaststampers and ordered the tin in. It was so much fun to make. This is just my first stab at it. I am still working on the index cards on the inside and want to order the pens that you put matching DSP paper in to attach to the inside lid. Emily Giovanni wrote the tutorial.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Schoolbook Serif Alphabet
Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Parisian Breeze DSP, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze
Stamps: 5-Petal Flower, 1/2" Circle, Scallop Edge
Ribbon: Double Stitched Chocolate chip
Other: Acrylic Paint, Modge Podge, Glue Dogs, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, Sponge, Template

Then when I saw this adorable (can you use adorable when referencing a tombstone?) matchbox tombstone designed by Sandi MacIver.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Graveyard Gala, Halloween Hoot
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Old Olive, Only Orange, Cast-A-Spell DSP
Ribbon: Old Olive Striped Grosgrain
Other: Big Shot, Matchbox Die Cut, Scissors, Dimensionals, SNAIL

4 x 4 Envelopes

Its that time again -- cold season. I went to my 30th class reunion and must have caught a cold on the plane ride home. Drats. Finally feeling a little bit better so thought I'd tackle the problem of a 4 x 4 envelope to go with my 4 x 4 cards I made. I have several people comment how much they liked the cards, but asked what would I do for envelopes. I guess you could probably order them somewhere, I honestly didn't check. But taking one Stampin' Up!'s regular A-2 size envelopes. Seal the envelope shut. Then cut the envelope at 4-1/8" with the paper cutter. When you turn the cut envelope on its side the sliced part will be at the top.

Cut a piece of coordinating DSP paper 2-1/2 x 4-3/8. Score at 1" the full length of the DSP strip. glue the 1" strip along the top front of the envelope. Use the corner rounder punch on the two back corners of the DSP and there you have an adorable coordinating envelope.


Then I couldn't resist jumping on the bandwagon and making the adorable frog from this month's SU magazine So cute.


Now I'm off to play with my new shimmering paint from the Mini Catalog.

Holiday Mini Preview

Now that the Holiday Mini catalogs are being mailed out I wanted to show some of the projects I've made with my pre-order. I still have more to make, but wanted to post what I've made up to this point.

This first card is based from an original design by Juanita Crain. I just love the new Autumn colors. See below each card to find the Ingredient list.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Gobble, Gobble
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Markers: Basic Black
Paper: More Mustard, Really Rust, Taken with Teal, Autumn Meadows DSP
Punches: 1-1/4” Square
Other: Scissors, Button Latte, Linen Thread, Stamp-a-ma-Jig, SNAIL, Crystal Effects

This next card was originally designed by Gretchen Barron. I didn't have all the same ingredients that she used, but I am still happy with the card.

Stamps: Delightful Decorations, Serene Snowflakes, Heard from the Heart
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White, Taken with Teal, Sahara Sand
Punches: Ornament
Other: Gold Embossing Powder, Silver Embossing Powder, Real Red ¼” Grosgrain, Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy, Powder Pal, SNAIL, Dimensionals

This next card is so much fun to make and I can definitely see lots and lots of possibilities. Although I made the hot air balloon, there is also the possibility of making a flower, a Christmas ornament, a Valentine card or a Halloween treat. Lots of options which makes this stamp set a really good value.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Sweet Centers, Wings of Friendship (Hostess Level II)
Ink: Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue
Paper: Brilliant Blue, Whisper White, Patterns Pack III (Hostess Level II)
Punches: 1-3/4” Circle, Scallop Circle
Other: Sweet Treat Cup, Stamp-a-ma-Jig, Sponge, Candy, SNAIL

I don't use the stampin around wheels often, but I couldn't resist this Halloween jumbo wheel. Then just using ink pads and a baby wipe I just sponged in color. Couldn't have been easier, especially using the Top Note Bigz Die Cut.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Haunting Hill
Ink: Basic Black, Dusty Durango, Summer Sun, Going Gray, Close to Cocoa, Garden Green
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Whisper White
Punches: Small Oval, Horizontal Slot
Other: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, Baby Wipes, Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen, Stampin Around Jump Wheel Handle, SNAIL

Build A Bear and Stampin' Up! have joined up and I suspect we will see lots of adorable cards with the stamps and die cuts that will be available. Here is one sample with the stamp set. It is made as a spinner card so the bear travels across the card.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Beary Best Friends, Teeny, Tiny Wishes, Circle Circus
Ink: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa
Markers: Real Red, Night of Navy, Creamy Caramel
Paper: Creamy Caramel, Real Red, Garden Green
Punches: Modern Label, Word Window, Trio Flower
Ribbon: Real Red 5/8” Grosgrain
Other: Big Shot, Movers & Shapers, Punch Windows, Half Back Pearl, Crystal Effect, Dimensionals, SNAIL, 2 Pennies

Finally, another use of the Serene Snowflakes and one of my favorite techniques, Reverse Masking.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Lovely As a Tree, Season of Joy
Ink: Night of Navy, Real Red, Bordering Blue, Silver, Red Marker and Versamark Marker
Paper: Real Red, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Other: Coluzzle, Sponge, SNAIL, Silver Embossing Powder, Stamp-a-ma-Jig

Simply Scrappin' - Conversion to Cards

When I signed up to become a demo this past May, part of my start-up kit contained the Petal Party Simply Scrappin Kit. Eventually I hope to get into scrapbooking, not only to market those crafters, but to also deal with the boxes of photographs I own. But someone posted a link to Patty's site which shows a Simply Scrappin kit having been broke down into cards. So, I thought I'd give it a try. It was really fun and not one card is alike. I was able to make 32 cards (I only had 8 pieces of 12 x 12 cardstock, not 9 as stated in Patty's tutorial), and I still have two 12 x 12 designer pages left and tons of stickers. The cards are 4 x 4.
Here is a shot of all the cards...

And here are shots of the cards in groups so that you can see what I did more closely.











Ingredients:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Flight of the Butterfly, Smarty Pants, Warm Words
Ink: Old Olive, Basic Black, Pixie Pink, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Versamark
Paper: Simply Scrappin' Petal Party, Whisper White
Ribbon: Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain and Striped Grosgrain, So Saffron Striped Grosgrain, Old Olive Striped Grosgrain, and Rose Red Double Stitched Grosgrain on one card. Wrong color but I didn't have Pixie Pink.
Punches: 1-3/4 Circle, 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, 3/4 Circle, 1/2 Circle, Ticket Corner, Word Window, Modern Label, Tag, Large Tag, Photo corners, Horizontal Slot, Eyelet Border, Double Rectangle, Scallop Edge, Small Oval, Large Oval, Scallop Oval, Butterfly, Keytag, 5-Petal Flower, Wide Oval
Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Brads, Dimensionals, Tape, SNAIL

With the purchase of a Simply Scrappin' kit and two ribbons (excluding punches, shipping and tax), each card literally cost $1.03 to make. If we all get together for a stamping party and pull our punches together, the cost will remain that way. I'm thinking soon.

Playing with my Stamps

I hate that I can't show any of the projects I've been making with the stamps I pre-ordered from the Mini Catalog, but soon!!! I have had fun casing some new cards today. This first is a Wiper Card that I designed based on Beate Johns' design. It was really fun to make and I thought it would be a great way to use my Halloween stamps.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Halloween Hoot
Ink: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Brown, Chocolate Chip
Markers: Green Galore, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Cast-A-Spell DSP
Punches: Square Scallop, Scallop Edge
Ribbon: Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain
Other: Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, SNAIL, Dimensionals, Scissors, Red-Line Tape, Paper Cutter, Scoring Tool

This next card was loosely based on the Diva Coffee Break Challenge -- and more specifically off of Tana Conley's design. I wish I had Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon to tie onto the card rather than white, but it was a first shot at a new design for me.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Dream Gardens
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
Paper: Whisper White, Pretty In Pink, Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive
Punches: Photo Corner
Ribbon: Whisper White Taffeta
Other: Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Pink Fire Stone Rhinestone Brads, Dimensionals

The last card that I can show today is a blatant direct casing off of today's Stampers Showcase and originally designed by Brenda Zeddun.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Rich Razzelberry, Orchid Opulence, Cottage Wall DSP
Ribbon: Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
Punches: Double Slot

Some new Designs

Casing again. Today I saw an adorable card on the Stampers Showcase on the Stampin' Up! website that I had to case. Although I didn't get the measurements exactly right, I still think it came out cute. I'll try it again with some different colors and tweak it until I get the measurements right. This card was designed by Juanita Crain, but I don't know if she has a blog or not. I did a search without luck. I'll be happy to send out the measurements on my card if you like, but the ingredient list is below. You might want to wait until I make it again with the correct measurements though.


Ingredients:
Stamps: Puns from the Past
Ink: Basic Black and Basic Black Marker
Paper: Cameo Coral, Real Red, Whisper White, Pink Flamingo DSP
Other: Square Fire Rhinestone Brad, Ruler, Stamp-a-ma-jig

I was also playing around with my new All In the Family Stamp set and came up with this little quickie!

Ingredients:
Stamps: All In the Family, Warm Words
Ink: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue Marker
Paper: Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Punches: Full Heart, Word Window, Modern Label
Ribbon: Bashful Blue Striped Grosgrain
Other: Big Shot, Movers and Shapers, Punch Windows

Darn it, I was going to post two other cards I've made but I just realized they are from the new Holiday Mini which will be coming out soon to the public...so no peeking yet. I'll post them in September!

My Card Made it to Stampers Showcase!

I was thrilled when I looked at Stampers Showcase on the Stampin' Up website this past Sunday and saw my card there! This is the card that they posted:



So of course, it motivated me to make more cards. Here are some new cards I have been playing with...

I love the Stampin' Up Pretties Kit, but I always have tons of those large flowers that I never know what to do with. I'll admit, I'm not a big fan of them. However I did enjoy making this card with them. I'm still tweaking the card as I'm not happy with the Crushed Curry painted flower, but I've just ordered the reinker of the Summer Sun and think that will make a much prettier, brighter flower.


Ingredients:
Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Bloomin' Beautiful, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Old Olive, Crushed Curry Reinker, Crushed Curry and Soft Suede Markers
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Summer Sun
Ribbon: Crushed Curry Polka Dot Grosgrain
Punches: Large Oval, Small Oval, Scallop Edge
Misc: Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons, Aquapainter, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer

This next card was originally designed by Susan Campfield. I'm sorry that I don't have a blog to go and find it, and I can't remember where I first saw it. I love it though.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Kraft, To the Nines DSP, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Sage Shadow
Punches: Round Tab, Small Oval, Large Oval, Square
Misc.: Vintage Brad, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dimensional

A friend of mine loaned me a copy of the Stampers' Sampler "Take Ten" magazine. This card was based off a design by Barbara Hammerstad in the Autumn 2007 issue.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Season of Joy, Wonderful Favorites
Ink: Whisper White, Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Yoyo Yellow
Punches: 3/4" Punch
Misc.: Circle Cutter

And finally, I was trying to use the hat pins from my Pretties Kit for the first time. I'm not crazy about this card, but it is a start. I think I want to try it again, on Vellum, with the smaller butterfly and perhaps embossed rather than stamped.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, Medallion
Ink: Ballet Blue, White Stazon
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Bashful Blue DSP
Ribbon: Bashful Blue 1/4" Grosgrain
Other: Pretties Kit, Stamps-a-ma-jig, Big Shot, Big Beautiful Butterflies Die Cut

Casing...A Sad State

Its a pretty sad thing when, upon finding that at 2:00 a.m. I can't fall back asleep I get up, get a drink of water, and then think I'll just check and see if there are any e-mails when I come across a photo of this adorable bunny card sent straight from convention. Do you think I can go back to sleep. Heck no! I had to case the card immediately. I know. Pitiful. Anyway, here she is...

Ingredients:
Stamps: None
Ink: Regal Rose, Black Marker, White Gel Pen
Paper: Whisper White, Pretty In Pink, Only Orange, Glorious Green, Rose Red, Basic Black
Ribbon: Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain
Punches: Wide Oval, Large Oval, 1/2" Circle, small heart in Heart to Heart, 5-Petal Flower, Large Heart in Heart to Heart (cut in half for carrot), Scallop Circle
Other: SNAIL, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Button Sherbet, Big Shot, Top Note Die Cut

Then I also came across this adorable, and very simple, little baby card that I couldn't resist making. This was designed by Angela Jones.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Out of the Box, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue
Paper: Kraft, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue DSP
Ribbon: Bashful Blue 1/4" Grosgrain
Other: SNAIL, Dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Casing, Hostess Gifts and New Technique

While the rest of the Demonstrators are at convention this week :(, I'm creating. I do have workshops scheduled though so that makes me happy. Also, I've had fun casing cards, making some more hostess gifts and working on learning new techniques. First, a card that I cased from Sandi MacIver. You really need to go to her blog and see her card -- it is just beautiful. I'm not sold on my card yet, I think it still needs some tweaking -- probably I just needed a more substantial second color in the butterfly. My second color is so light that I don't know if you can really see it. But I love Sandi's idea of punching the butterfly out of a stamped Medallion stamp.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Medallion, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Blush Blossom
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Punches: Butterfly Punch, Scallop Oval, Scallop Edge, Large Oval, Small Oval
Ribbon: Baby Blue 1/4" Grosgrain, Natural Hemp
Other: Big Shot, Background Texturz Plate #1 (Damask), Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals, SNAIL

This next card is a result of teaching myself the technique called "Emerging Color". I actually like it better than I thought. I actually wished I had Burgundy ribbon to go on it, but I'm a new demo and still building my stock.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Great Friend, Medallion
Ink: Pretty In Pink, Creamy Caramel, Verzamark, Bravo Burgundy
Paper: Sage Shadow, Whisper White
Punch: Ticket Corner
Ribbon: Pretty In Pink Striped Grosgrain
Other: SNAIL, Clear Embossing Powder, Brayer, Heat Gun, Tissue

And finally, I've discovered that I really enjoy making little boxes. This is just my first stab at a 3 x 3 box from my favorite designer, Andrea Wolford. Again, it is just a "first stab", but its the learning process that makes this all so much fun.

Holiday Workshop

Today I was excited to attend a workshop at my Upline's home. She (Donna), is always so inspirational and I always learn many new techniques. I wanted to share the cards that we made in her workshop today.








Then I was playing around with the Reverse Masking Technique and made these two cards. This is a really fun technique and I can see myself doing this technique often.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Warm Words
Ink: Real Red, Gold Metallic, Rich Razzleberry and Black Marker
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, Real Red
Punch: Round Tab, Ticket Corner
Other: Template with a 2-1/2" circle cut out, Two-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, SNAIL Adhesive, Crimper, sponge

And this card I found on Splitcoast Stampers.
Other:

Ingredients:
Stamps: Lovely As a Tree
Ink: Sage Shadow, Hunter Green, Verzamark
Paper: Sage Shadow, Hunter Green, Very Vanilla
Punch: Photo Corners
Other: Oval template cut out with a Coluzzle, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, SNAIL Adhesive, sponge