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Showing posts from August, 2015

Kind Koala Stamp and Sale-a-Bration DSP

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I supply large cards for groups I'm in to write messages for people who need our prayers and/or encouragement. Since our Adult Bible Fellowship is out of those cards, I needed to make a couple more to have on hand. When I designed this one, I used pieces of designer paper I had left over from Sale-a-Bration with matching ribbon and inks. I believe this card would be appropriate for male or female.

Trellis Effect

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I've been wanting to experiment with the Chevron Border punch to make a trellis and decided this was the time to do so. I cut two strips 1¼" wide, inverted one and put them together. I discovered on-line that some use the pieces that are punched out to overlay them on the strip. That would save paper but take a little more work. Anyway, I'm still using up bits and pieces of my favorite dsp, Painted Blooms. The fact that Blackberry Bliss is also a favorite color helps. Since the flower centers are Daffodil Delight, I chose to use that color cardstock for the butterflies. I am always in need of sympathy cards and I use my Thoughts & Prayers stamp set a lot. I've had it for such a long time that my set is still the double sided wooden set. I often wish I had the newer version so I could use it as a clear mount.  Products Used: Thoughts & Prayers stamp set (8), W 128751, $26.00; C 127805, $19.00 Papillon Potpourri stamp set (7), W 132058, $19.00; C 123759,

Christmas Cardinal Preview

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One of my customers chuckled as she realized I was trying to talk myself out of ordering some of the stamp sets in the Holiday Catalog, which goes into effect September 1st. I fear I'm in love with way too many things in this issue! And there's just something about the cardinal... Plus, I think the cardinal could be part of any card because they appear at my bird feeder all year round. Of course, with a name like "Joyful Season", the stamp set is intended to be for Christmas. Products Used: Joyful Season stamp set (11 photopolymer stamps), 139770, $21.00 Whisper White 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $8.50 Cherry Cobbler 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 119685, $7.00 Tuxedo Black Memento Pad, 132708, $6.00 Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad, 126966, $6.50 Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad, 126972, $6.50 Woodland 6" x 6" Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 139673, $8.50

In the Forest

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Fall is fast approaching and it's time to design cards accordingly. I know this idea is not new and I've been wanting to try my hand at it. It turned out so well and wasn't hard at all, so I taught it to my stamp class last week. Although it doesn't show up as well in this photo, I sponged chocolate chip along the bottom and between the trees to look like a path. Using a sponge dauber, I added sunlight. Admittedly, I used scrap paper to mask parts of the tree when stamping it elsewhere. My original intent was to make what would look like a very large tree, but I like the "forest" result. Products Used: Sheltering Tree stamp set (14), P 137163, $25.00 For All Things stamp set (8), W 135152, $25.00; C 135155, $18.00 Very Vanilla 8½" x 11" cardstock (40), 101650, $8.50 Pumpkin Pie 8½" x 11" cardstock (24), 105117, $7.00 Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, 126974, $6.50 Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad, 126979, $6.50 Pear

Looking Happy

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I saw a similar card on someone's blog and adapted it, using remnants of Designer Series Paper. Although this Real Red polka-dotted paper is from a couple years ago, there are dots on paper in our paper stacks for each family that would work just as well. In a sense, this card is punch art since the strawberry used the Sweetheart punch and one of the Itty Bitty Accents punches. The 1¾" Circle punch and the 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch provided the base for the strawberry. Products Used: Crazy About You stamp set (33), W 138856, $52.00; C 138859, $39.00; P 137137, $25.00 Sahara Sand 8½" x 11" cardstock (24), 121043, $7.00 Real Red 8½" x 11" cardstock (24), 102482, $7.00 Old Olive 8½" x 11" cardstock (24), 100702, $7.00 Whisper White 8½" x 11" cardstock (40), 100730, $8.50 Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad, 126949, $6.50 Sweetheart Punch, 133786, $16.00 Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (3), 133787, $17.00 1-3/4" Circle

Creative Opportunity

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I often tell my class attendees, "There's no such thing as a mistake—just creative opportunities!" This card is an example of just such a thing. I had cut a butterfly (Butterflies Thinlits, 137360, $25.00) from our Gold Foil Sheets (132622, $4.00), but it slipped when going through the Big Shot and one wing was clipped. So I cut it in half and designed a card to use it (no sense wasting the gold foil and intricate cutting). I liked the result so much I chose to make the card at my August class. Yes, the Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper is retired (oh, how I love that paper), but many of my regulars had ordered that paper before. Regardless, you can always use a different floral print for the same results. When I designed this card, I was also anxious to use my new Fluttering Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (139304, $8.50) and the Banner Triple punch(138292, $23.00), both of which were used on the Pacific Point Banner. I know: the greeting is also retired (Itty

Tagged Tree

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Once again, Aly came up with a design that is totally unexpected. I think this is my favorite. Such a simple idea, but the shapes and bling just add so much to the same stamp set we've been using—Sprinkles of Life. Plus the new In Colors and more Cherry On Top dsp. Products Used: Sprinkles of Life photopolymer stamp set (22), 139971, $21.00 Tip Top Taupe 8½" x 11" cardstock (24), 138336, $7.00 Cucumber Crush 8½" x 11" cardstock (24), 138335, $7.00 Watermelon Wonder 8½" x 11" cardstock, (24), 138323, $7.00 Whisper White 8½" x 11" cardstock (40), 100730, $8.50 Cherry on Top 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Stack (48), 138443, $8.00 Cucumber Crush Classic Stampin' Pad, 138324, $6.50 Tip Top Taupe Classic Stampin' Pad, 138325, $6.50 Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad, 138323, $6.50 VersaMark Pad, 102283, $7.50 White Stampin' Emboss Powder (½ oz.), 109132, $5.00 White Perfect Accents (75), 138416, $5.00

Sprinkles on the Cupcake of Life

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Such fun with all these cards using the Sprinkles of Life stamp set! I have to admit that we were getting to the end of our allotted time to make all our cards and I was a little careless in my haste to finish. I had already put my frosting on the cupcake when I remembered we were supposed to emboss sprinkles on top. A necessity due to the saying on front. Even there, I did a poor job of inking my stamp and had to fix the letters with a coordinating marker when I got home. But unless you look closely, you won't even notice. And it looks like my card was placed crookedly in my scanner, but you get the idea. Oh, we also were able to use the new Banner Triple punch. This punch allows you to dovetail your cardstock or designer paper perfectly and is set for three different sizes. I don't have one yet, but it's on my next order! Products Used:  Pool Party 8½" x 11" cardstock (24), 122924, $7.00 Crushed Curry 8½" x 11" cardstock (24), 131199, $7.00 W

Stacks of Ice Cream

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So many cards made with the Sprinkles of Life stamp set and the Cherry on Top designer series paper stack! And they are quite quick and easy to put together. Doesn't this card make you hungry for an ice cream cone? Maybe I'm thinking in those terms because it is so hot outside (I am very thankful for air conditioning!). The ice cream cone itself needed to be cut with paper snips, but it's quite easy to do. The layers of ice cream and the cherry were all punched out using the Tree Builder punch. That sounds crazy, but the ice cream layers are the same shape and size as the tree's leaves and flowers. Plus, you can use the same stamp and punch to make clouds! Products Used: Sprinkles of Life photopolymer stamp set (22), 139971, $21.00 Watermelon Wonder 8½" x 11" cardstock (24), 138334, $7.00 Whisper White 8½" x 11" cardstock (40), 100730, $8.50 Pink Pirouette 8½" x 11" cardstock (24), 111351, $7.00 Tip Top Taupe 8½" x 11" c

Sprinkles of Life Stamp Set

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These next few posts will highlight the Sprinkles of Life stamp set. The set is so versatile and its purchase provides a $3 donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities. We made these cards at a gathering of demonstrators under Aly Schilling, who is so creative and helpful to us all. This first one puts elements of the set together to make a flower basket. I had tried that once before, but mine still looked like a cupcake. Aly's design includes stamped and punched flowers, which make all the difference in its appearance. I'm sure the Baker's Twine helps, too. This card also uses one of the new White Perfect Accents. What I love about these is that they are flatter than the pearls and don't poke through the envelope. Plus they come in three different sizes on one sheet.  The Tree Builder punch makes it so easy to add elements, like the flowers. Products Used: Sprinkles of Life photopolymer stamp set (22), 139971, $21.00 Bermuda Bay 8½" x 11" cardstock