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Showing posts from January, 2011

My Newest Toy!

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When I received this year's Occasions Mini Catalog, I knew I was going to go broke! Too many wonerful things in it. But, I had to rein in my wants and only order a few things to begin with. Maybe still a few too many... Anyway, the Build a Blossom stamp set and the coordinating Blossom Petals Punch make such incredible cards! This card uses retired Grooms' Specialty Designer Paper, but you can come close to the same effect using the Big Shot and one of the Texturz Plates, such as Perfect Details or Backgrounds 1. For the 3-D flower, I stamped the petals on Whisper White card stock with So Saffron Ink. I added detail with More Mustard ink and another stamp from the set. Each petal was curled around a paintbrush handle and popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals. The leaves are stamped with Certainly Celery and Always Artichoke inks. I love the effect of the Antique Brad as the flower center. To make this a sympathy card, I used stamps from the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set

Just for Valentine Candy

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Those who have signed up for my Valentine class will be making these cute candy holders. The two smaller items are made using the Big Shot and the Matchbox Bigz XL Die and the Two Tags Bigz Die (there is a Hershey's Miniature Chocolate inside the tag holder). When you pull the ribbon on the larger item, a Hershey milk chocolate bar comes with it. Every item but the candy is made with Stampin' Up! products. The label on the matchbox filled with M&Ms is cut with the same die. The other items use the Decorative Label Punch, originally offered in the Holiday Mini Catalog and continued for sale in the current Occasions Mini Catalog, as well as the Oval Extra-Large punch. The stamp set is such a fun set! Since I'm a chocolate-holic, when I found this stamp set called "Eat Chocolate" in the new Occasions Mini Catalog, I knew I just had to have it. If you want more specific instructions, you'll have to sign up for my class Monday evening, January 31, at 6:30 PM.

Thinking of You With All My Heart

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I have so many odds and ends of designer series paper that I decided it's time to try to use some of it up. My problem is that I order more than I can use because Stampin' Up! comes up with such pretty stuff! Anyway, this was specialty paper from last year's Occasions Mini Catalog. You probably can't see, but this paper has lots of sparkle on it, so I decided I needed to add a glimmer brad to the center of my stamped image. This card is also one of my large cards made to be passed around for many to sign. I haven't decided if I'm going to keep it for use, should the occasion arise, in my core group, Community Bible Study, or if I'll take it to church for our Adult Bible Fellowship aka adult Sunday School. When I make these cards, I merely fold one sheet of 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (usually Very Vanilla, as in this card, or Whisper White, but sometimes a subtle color so comments will be easy to read) and decorate the front. I put all verses on the ou
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I have been playing around with the hostess Designer Series Paper Pack - In Color. When I looked at the busier design, I just knew the Hello Again stamp set was the one to use with it. This fun card features Concord Crush for the dsp, card stock, ink, and ribbon. I colored the flower and butterfly stamps with my markers, using Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait and Concord Crush. I chose to make my card 3-1/4" x 6-1/4" size so I could use half a sheet of the dsp. It fits nicely in our Small Open-End Envelopes. Products Used: Hello Again stamp set, 113780, $12.95 Stampin' Write Markers, 119801, $14.95 for all 5 in colors Whisper White card stock, 100730, $8.50 for 40 sheets 8-1/2" x 11" Concord Crush card stock, 119792, $6.95 for 24 sheets 8-1/2" x 11" Concord Crush 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, 119266, $8.95 for 15 yards Designer Series Paper Pack - In Color, free hostess gift, Level 1

Because I Care

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My poor son didn't know how neglected he would be when he brought Kyla home with him over Thanksgiving and then Christmas! She was anxious to try stamping with me at Thanksgiving and then decided to sign up as a demonstrator when Stampin ' Up! offered the kit at such a low price. When she came after Christmas, we spent most of our free time stamping. I've posted several cards we did together. Kyla chose the colors for this card (Soft Suede, Concord Crush and Pear Pizzazz ). We used the same resources and came up with different cards. This is mine. We ran the fronts of our cards through the Big Shot using the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. Then we cut our designer paper and Concord Crush card stock with the Top Note die for the Big Shot. We went our own ways from there, both using the Because I Care Level 1 hostess stamp set. We chose different sheets from the Designer Series Paper Pack - In Color, Level 1 (another hostess offering), cutting the perferra

You Mean Everything to Me

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As much as I prefer scanning my cards over photographing them, I find there are some disadvantages. My little banner that is stamped with "you mean everything to me" loses the 3D look as it gets flattened by the cover of the scanner. Kyla and I were just playing around with ideas while she was visiting (did I mention, she's my new recruit?) and this was one of the cards I designed. Gathering the ribbon slightly, cutting out the heart image and folding and trimming the "banner" across the heart meant a little extra fussing, but I really like the result. When I was all finished with the card, I decided to add a little sparkle by spraying it with a mixture of Champagne Shimmer Paint and rubbing alcohol. If you look closely, you can see some of the sparkle that added to the card, including the ribbon. When you actually hold it in your hands, you can see the glittery shimmer much more easily. Although I'm thinking about Valentine's Day, this card is not exclu

Adorable Penguin

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What a delight to find this little guy in my mailbox this afternoon! Missy Shipman (my upline's upline) sent me this card for being one of the top 10 sellers on the Glad Heart Stampers Team during the month of October (yes, she's a little behind). The ribbon around his neck extends past the edges of the card and I chopped them off when I scanned the card. It is also ribbon from last year's catalog, so it is not current. Note: there isn't one stamp used on this card! Everything is punched out and assembled to create this adorable image! Here is a list of the products I believe Missy used to create this card: Marina Mist card stock, 119682, $6.95 for 24 sheets, 8-1/2" x 11" Tangerine Tango card stock, 113349, $6.95 for 24 sheets, 8-1/2" x 11" Basic Black card stock 121045, $6.95 for 24 sheets, 8-1/2" x 11" Whisper White card stock, 100730, $8.50 for 40 sheets, 8-1/2" x 11" Top Note Bigz Die, 113463, $21.95 Big Shot Die-Cutting Ma

Elizabethan Valentine

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I love the Elizabeth stamp featured on this card, also designed when Kyla and I were stamping together. I used the glossy white card stock for the Scalloped Heart of Hearts and the stamped image. Although our water-based inks dry immediately, you do need to allow a little extra time when stamping on the glossy card stock. I cut out the Elizabeth stamped image and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals. Time to order more of those! Products Used: Elizabeth stamp, 117120, $9.95, wood mount only Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, 115370, $36.95, wood mount only Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit Die, 117332, $11.95 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, 113439, $99.95 Oval Large Punch, 119855, $$15.95 Full Heart Extra Large Punch, 119883, $16.95 Whisper White card stock, 100730, $8.50 for 40 sheets, 8-1/2" x 11" Glossy White card stock, 102599, $5.95 for 25 sheets, 8-1/2" x 11" Poppy Parade card stock, 119793, $$6.95 for 24 sheets, 8-1/2" x 11" Poppy Parade Stampin&#