tea-drinking stamper

As I wrote last night, our Adult Bible Fellowship emcee decided to retire, but she wasn't the only one to retire. Our long-time teacher and class coordinator also decided to retire this year. That meant another large card to be passed around and signed by class members. So for Henry I needed something more masculine, although my father would have appreciated flowers and so would my brother but my husband doesn't think they are appropriate. Anyway, I chose to use the Sheltering Tree stamp set and some leftover designer paper from the English Garden pack. Actually, I liked that paper so much that I have another unopened pack just waiting to be used. Because of the colors used in that paper, I chose Mossy Meadow and Old Olive for the greens. Soft Suede was perfect for the tree trunks. Because of the size of the card, I stamped three trees and then added a sun with my sponge dauber and some Crushed Curry ink. That wasn't in my original plan, but the upper corner needed someth...

One of the great things about making cards is that I am much more aware of how much they are appreciated, especially when the cards express how much individuals are appreciated. This card was designed for the woman who is stepping down from her position opening our ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship) each Sunday, sharing something humorous, gathering prayer requests and making sure all announcements are made. No one was willing to step into her position, so we who are the rotating teachers will try to cover those needs. We will miss her openings and felt we needed to give members of our group an opportunity to share some of their thoughts. Consequently, I made this large card (5-1/2" x 8-1/2" closed) to pass around on the sly before giving it to her. I stamped my own "designer" paper. When I went to mount it on the Tranquil Tide card stock, I discovered I had been off in my measurement of Whisper White. The enamel shapes were a perfect cover-up. I think the basket of s...

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.

Every once in a while there arises a need for a large card that's blank inside so the individuals in a certain group can write their own greeting. This card was designed for just such a time, the occasion of a teaching director in the local Community Bible Study stepping down from his position. I was asked to make the card for this group. For this card, I folded a full sheet of Crumb Cake card stock in half, added a strip of Midnight Muse, which I embossed twice; you can't even see the extra crease unless you look very closely. The dsp is from a discontinued paper stack and the ribbon will be retiring along with the 2012-14 In Colors, which include Midnight Muse. I loved having the little banner punch from the Sale-a-Bration brochure for this card; the banners added the needed extra touch. I fear the stamps are also retired, stamps I will always keep for these types of cards. The Window Frames Collection of Framelits Dies was perfect for the cover verse.

I recently covered a few more cans with designer series paper, cans for storing my loose tea. I chose some of my prettiest but retired dsp for the task and now I can't put away the scraps without using them! In fact, the sheet of paper used in these cards was the reason I purchased the Berry Blossoms pack of dsp in the first place! I designed the first card and then decided I liked it so much, I decided I would make a large card for use in our ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship). As part of my ministry, I make cards we can pass around for everyone to sign when one of our members is ill or has lost a loved one or whatever. I'm showing both here. The Bible verse is from a stamp set we carried a number of years ago. I never get rid of my Scripture stamps. you wouldn't know from the way these cards come through that the bottom one is made with one full sheet of Wisteria Wonder card stock while the top one is the usual half sheet! Wisteria Wonder card stock is now one of our...

Our Finger Lakes Community Bible Study is losing a member of Leadership Council because her husband's job is moving them away. So I was "commissioned" to make a large card to pass around and write messages in. I used the retired Concord Crush paper and some designer series paper from a couple summers ago. And, once again, I used those Secret Garden stamps and framelits! Just can't avoid them lately! I was originally going to use the image of a chair with basket of flowers from the Cherish Friendship stamp set. I even spent a long time painting it and the flowers with my blender pens. I envisioned that as the centerpiece of the card with the flowers surrounding it and chose my flowers accordingly. I think I should have put the denser flowers on the bottom with the Concord Crush daisy-like flowers above, but it's done now. My other colors are Raspberry Ripple and Always Artichoke, along with Very Vanilla.

Another year of Community Bible Study is beginning this week and I like to have large cards on hand for those occasions when and if one of my ladies needs a card for special encouragement in sickness or other difficulties. This is one I've made to keep available in my folder. Once again I am using up some of our retired designer series paper. Products Used: Thoughts & Prayers stamp set (8), W 113252, $25.95; C 127805, $18.95 Naturals Ivory 8½" x 11" card stock (40) 101849, $7.50 Soft Suede 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 115318, $6.95 Pink Pirouette 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 111351, $6.95 Beau Chateau 12" x 12" designer series paper, discontinued Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad, 126978, $5.95 Elegant Bird Bigz Die, 125593, $21.95 Fancy Fan Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 127751, $7.95 Apothecary Accents Framelits (4), 127003, $24.95

I decided I should make a full-sized card that would be appropriate for a man, should the occasion arise in our Adult Bible Fellowship. This is what I came up with. Between the simplicity, the embossing and the style of bow, I think this card has a touch of elegance. The ¼" black grosgrain ribbon and the Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper are not in the new catalog, which goes into effect June 1—Friday. That's just three days from now, which means you only have two more days (three if we count the rest of today) to order from the current Idea Book and Catalog. Products Used: Thoughts & Prayers stamp set (8), W 113252, $25.95' C 127805, $18.95 Crumb Cake 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 120953, $6.95 Basic Black 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 121045, $6.95 Mocha Morning 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (12), 122366, $12.95 (retiring) VersaMark Ink Pad, 102283, $7.50 Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, 109133 (½ ounce), 109133, $4.75...

Just had to share this last large card made with that beautiful Springtime Vintage designer series paper from 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog. But this time I used a stamp set, Papaya Collage, from the new core catalog going into effect June 1st. Products Used: Thoughts & Prayers stamp set (8), W 113252, $25.95; C 127805, $18.95 Papaya Collage stamp set (7), W 126610, $31.95; C 126612, $23.95 Pear Pizzazz 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 119795, $6.95 (retiring 5/31) Rose Red 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 102544, $6.95 Rose Red ¼" grosgrain ribbon (15 yards), 124322, $4.95 (retiring 5/31) Springtime Vintage dsp & adornments from discontinued 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad, 119784, $5.95 (retiring 5/31) Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad, 101778, $5.95 Rose Red Stampin' Write Marker, 100063, $3.50 2010-2012 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (5), 119801, $14.95 Large Oval Punch, 119855, $15.95

Why, oh why didn't I use that beautiful paper while it was still current? Here is another large card made with last year's Springtime Vintage designer series paper. So sorry you can't still order it! Once again I colored my stamp before applying it to my Very Vanilla card stock. And I love the looks of the elegant bow below—it just finishes off this card. Products Used: Thoughts & Prayers stamp set (8), W 113252, $25.95; C 127805, $18.95 Elements of Style stamp set (5), W 118611, $27.95; C 120045, $19.95 Springtime Vintage 12" x 12" designer series paper, expired 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog Very Vanilla 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 101650, $8.50 Marina Mist 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 124279, $6.95 Marina Mist 5/8" satin ribbon, no longer available Marina Mist Stampin' Write Marker, 119679, $3.50 2010-12 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (5), 119801, $14.95 (retiring May 31) Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad 115657, $5.95

I'm on a mission to use my stored dsp! I loved the Springtime Vintage designer series paper in last year's Occasions Mini Catalog (2011) and still have most of it left. I also had a lot of strips left from a technique I taught over a year ago at one of my classes and decided to use them in this card. And because I have so much of that paper left, I decided to make an envelope using the measurements that come with the diagonal plate for our Simply Scored Scoring Tool. Yes, it includes measurements for those large cards (8½" x 5½")! I've been designing large cards to restock our supply at church. We often pass them around our ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship, aka adult Sunday school) so everyone can write a brief note to whoever is in need of prayer and encouragement. This is one of them. Products Used: Thoughts & Prayers stamp set (8), W 113252, $25.95; C 127805, $18.95 Springtime Vintage designer series paper (2011 Occasions Mini Catalog) Pear Pizzazz 8½" x 1...

I was asked to make a large thank you card to be signed by a group of people at our Community Bible Study. This is one of the two I designed. Blake chose this because she thought of the bird as representative of the Holy Spirit. I used one full sheet of Very Vanilla card stock folded in half. As you can see, I used the Big Shot for the bulk of the card. Why was it I didn't think I wanted a Big Shot? lol The striped background and the paper for the bird's wing is from the pack of Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper, one of the Sale-A-Bration offerings that is no longer available.  I really like that paper and will continue to use it for personal items even if I can't use it for demonstrating. To antique my solid card stocks, I sponged on a little Soft Suede classic ink so it would coordiate better with the dsp.  Products Used: Perfectly Penned stamp set, W 122890, $16.95; C 122892, $12.95 Very Vanilla 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 101650, $8.50 Ev...

I try to keep our ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship) supplied with large cards that can be sent around for everyone to sign when someone is ill or in need of some encouragement or whatever. This is my latest, using some of that gorgeous Designer Series Paper, Spice Cake, from the expired Holiday Mini Catalog. I punched all the squares out with our 1-3/8" square punch. Haphazardly added various brads and then stamped below with the Day of Gratitude stamp set (page 28 in 2011-12 Idea Book and Catalog). The greeting is from the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set (page 160, IB&C). This card has been sent to one of our members who was in an accident in Florida. Many broken bones and lots of pain. I trust our prayers and notes will cheer her up as she recovers and goes through physical therapy.

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...

Oh, how I've fallen in love again with those retiring colors! I've had so much fun playing with card designs using the colors I'll never have access to again. Just one and a half months left to use the Brocade Blue in this card. Once again, I've made a large card for many people to sign, folding a full sheet of 8-1/2" x 11" Brocade Blue card stock in half. Using the Scallop Edge punch (112091, $15.95) on the Whisper White card stock, made the coordinating designer paper (Patterns Pack II) stand out. The bird and motif are part of the Elements of Style stamp set found in the Summer Mini Catalog. I've started ordering my stamps in the clear mount version. An advantage is that I could put both the motif and the bird on one clear block, arranging them exactly as I wanted them before stamping. I used markers to get the different colors on the motif but used the ink pad on the bird. Once again, the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set provided the greeting. I used the t...

I needed a quick card to pass around my Bible study group when a relative of one of my ladies passed away. I grabbed a piece of Crushed Curry card stock (I have a large supply to use up before July 1), some coordinating designer paper (Razzleberry Lemonade, 115675, $9.95), Rich Razzleberry card stock, my Eyelet Border punch (113692, $15.95), Bella's Bloom stamp set (111600, $12.95), Whisper White card stock, Rich Razzleberry classic ink pad, Crushed Curry and Old Olive markers and some Crushed Curry Polka Dot Gingham Ribbon (115614, $9.95, 15 yards). Oh, I also used the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set (113252, $25.95). This is the result, put together while I ate my breakfast.

I needed a large sympathy card so all the ladies in my Bible study group could sign it for another of our members. I was able to make this one very quickly before leaving for the study. I used one full sheet of Very Vanilla cardstock folded in half for the card itself. The designer paper, however, is retired, but you can choose any designer paper you like in its place. I used the Big Shot and the Top Note bigz die to cut Very Vanilla and Mellow Moss cardstock. Notice how I cut on the perforations of one Very Vanilla Top Note and attached it to the untrimmed Mellow Moss Top Note. I then cut the whole label in half, stamping the verse on the top half. Gold brads and Mellow Moss 1/4" grosgrain ribbon embellish the card. The verse and greeting are on the outside so there is plenty of room inside for women to write their own personal messages. Some find it difficult to create full-sized cards, so I'm going to try to make and post a few more in the future.