tea-drinking stamper

What fun we had making Christmas gift tags and designer mugs and little lanterns that hold tea lights! More details in a future post.

The third card made by the girls at my class last week featured a butterfly. [Actually, it was the second one we made, but it is the third to be posted.] I cut the banners and the butterflies, both layers, ahead of time using my Big Shot. All the girls had to do was put the card together and stamp the greetings. When my granddaughter spotted the floral stamp in the Birthday Blossoms stamp set, she wanted to stamp them inside, which mean they all had to do so. Such creativity. Once again I was using retired products. I still love the Blackberry Bliss former In Color.

During my February card class we will be making these cards. All birthday cards because we always need birthday cards. All four of these cards include techniques, either special folds or using masks. The classes are Thursday evening, February 23, and Saturday morning, February 25, whichever date fits schedules best. I've already had responses and have given Wednesday, February 15 as the deadline for response. We always have so much fun! Cards will vary somewhat, depending on the designer paper.

Designing for my August class featuring the Flourishing Phrases bundle, I found myself with seven designs I love but can only use four. So, help me choose by voting for four of the seven! My regular customers are being sent to this blog and can vote through my e-mail, but I would love the input of others. Some are more difficult than others, but the easiest is also very elegant. This class is also the first class I am planning to sell as a to-go class, where all supplies are included and the die-cutting is completed. I'll have two prices: one for just the supplies and one that includes the featured bundle. Instructions are part of the class either way. I will number them with a brief comment on each. This first one is number 1 and is simple but elegant.  Number 2 is so soft in its colors with only the Rich Razzleberry to add contrast. I think I need to re-ink my ink pad, but you get the idea. I'm also using up my candy dots, so they won't be included with the suppli...

Having ordered the Spiral Flower Originals Die from the mini catalog, I wasn't exactly sure how to use it. Then I found this adorable chocolate holder on Kay Kalthoff's blog (www.stampingtoshare.com)! I copied it for use at my February stamp class. So fun! Products Used: Basic Black 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 121045, $6.95 Garden Green 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 102584, $6.95 Cherry Cobbler 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 119685, $6.95 2012-2014 In Color Core'dinations card stock (20), 129957, $11.95 Spiral Flower Originals Die, 129379, $17.95 Secret Garden Framelits (6), 129372, $24.95 Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, 133324, $22.95 Primrose Petals 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon (10 yds.), 126844, $8.95 Simply Scored Scoring Tool, 122334, $29.95

The busyness of the holidays is essentially over and I am in the process of designing cards for my next class, which will be product-based. We will be making cards with a coordinating box (using the envelope punch board for the box), all incorporating paper from the pack of Venetian Romance designer series paper. Each attendee will pay for and receive her own pack of dsp plus Very Vanilla envelopes. I will provide the miscellaneous items to make the set of cards. Of course, my problem is always that I design more cards that we can possibly make in one night, but they will see the extras. That said, this first card uses punches for the basic design. Simple, but fun card. Products Used: Trust God stamp set (7), W 132094, $19.95; C 126702, $14.95 Very Vanilla 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 101650, $8.50 Island Indigo 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 122923, $6.95 Venetian Romance 12" x 12" designer series paper (12), 130144, $10.95 Island Indigo Classic S...

I love the Modern Mosaic Embossing folder and the coordinating Mosaic Madness stamp set and Mosaic punch! But I found it difficult to come up with designs I really liked. But it's coming together now. I have to admit, I spent quite a bit of time looking at designs on the web, but now the ideas are coming. This first card employs a new technique, which I plan to teach at my August stamp class. If you're interested in joining us, contact me for details. This card is made with Wisteria Wonder and Whisper White, along with a little Elegant Eggplant ink. In all honesty, it is very similar to one designed by Dayanna Donng. I may vary the design somewhat for my class, but the technique will be the same. I'm having fun playing around with it.

I just made a huge pre-order from Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Catalog in anticipation of Christmas in July. I am so excited by all the ideas floating around in my head. So be sure to join me on Thursday evening, July 26, at 6:30. I need an RSVP by July 15th, however. My plan is one ornament and 5 Christmas cards. I know we will have a great time. Once I receive my supplies, you'll be seeing previews. Of course, I always design more than we actually can make in one evening... That's because I have so much fun designing! Why else would I be a demonstrator?

When preparing for my August class on wheels, I wanted to show different ways to use them. For this card, we used Post-It notes to help us mitre the corners. Once the technique is grasped, the card is a very simple one. While designing, I couldn't resist the temptation to play around with the same wheel and colors to come up with a totally different look. I decided this one would take more time to make, so we made the previous card and I simply showed this one. In retrospect, this might have been easier simply because there was only one corner to mitre. Products Used: Baroque Border Standard Wheel, 109675, $6.50 Baroque Motifs Stamp Set, 113490, $27.95 Elizabeth Stamp, 117120, $9.95 Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set, 115370, $36.95 Very Vanilla Card Stock, 101650, $8.50, 40 sheets, 8½" x 11" Bravo Burgundy Card Stock, 105123, $6.95, 24 sheets, 8½" x 11" Bravo Burgundy Classic Stampin' Pad, 105214, $5.95 Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad, 105219, $5.95...

Here are some more cards made with the leftovers from my half of the Playful Polka Dots Simply Scrappin' Kit from the Summer Mini Catalog, the same kit we're using for the stamp class on June 27th. This first card has pearls on it, but they look like brads. The stamp sets I've used on these cards are Fabulous Phrases and Apple Blossoms (level 2 hostess set).

In my last post, I shared information about my upcoming class using the Playful Polka Dots Simply Scrappin' Kit available in the Summer Mini Catalog. Each attendee receives half a kit plus a sheet of Basic Rhinestones plus other miscellaneous essentials for the eight cards we will make during the evening. However, there will be lots of leftover items from that half kit for personal use, either in more cards or for scrapbooking. I've made seven additional cards so far and still have two whole sheets and one partial sheet of designer series paper left as well as a number of stickers. The cards I'm showing today have been made with the leftovers. When I first received my Blossom Petals Punch, I wondered if I could make a tulip with it. Well, two of the stickers in the half kit are the same shape, although slightly smaller, as the blossom. So I merely punched out another blossom petal and added the printed sticker petals to form the tulip gracing the front of the card below: Th...

Just click on the image below to read all about the fun class I have planned for the end of this month. Come, make the cards and see the brand new Idea Book & Catalog.