Thursday, November 29, 2007

Bringing you a Season of Joy!



I really like this card...it had very clean lines making the focal image pop out at you. The stamps are from the Season of Joy set that is in the Winter Mini catalog...only one more day to get things from this catalog...I can't believe the mini is almost over and then a retirement list Saturday.


What?!?!?!? A retirement list??!?!??!


That's right! The retirement list will be released on Saturday, December 1st. I can't believe it is time for a new catalog. It better be as awesome as this one......I'm positive that it will be!


Well...back on track with this card.


It starts with a base of Old Olive. I stamped the sentiment in Elegant Eggplant on the bottom right hand corner. That's' it...the entire base...can you believe it?


The Swirly Tree is stamped in Old Olive onto Very Vanilla. I matted that onto Elegant Eggplant leaving the bottom portion of the mat longer than the rest so I could tie that pretty little bow. The bow is tied with the Burgundy 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon right at the base of the tree image. I then matted that entire thing onto More Mustard and then to the card base.


Oh my! I forgot about the stippling around the tree on the main image! All I did for that was took my Stipple Brush and rubbed it into my ink pads (I used Old Olive and then Bravo Burgundy here) and then "pounced" it onto the main image. Stippling really softens the starkness of open spaces. You will have to try it out!


Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Back to Christmas Joy...Season of Joy that is!


This card was fun fun fun to do! it was a very simple fold but can create quite a presentation!
Start with a regular side fold card base and cut off a bit of the front panel. I didn't measure it...i just cut what i thought would fit the tree image on the right hand side...so adapt this to any stamp set you are using. I then folded back 1 inch of the card front. Here it is Old Olive, by the way...forgot to mention that! sorry :( Then take a piece of Dashing Patterned Paper (that you bought on sale this month.....) and cut it to fit the left hand side of the card front.
Sorry this post is vague with the directions but all of the measurements depend on which stamp set you will use on the back panel......
Now for some fun stuff!
Take your 1/8"Circle Handheld Punch and punch a hole past your the flap of the card front (on the Dashing Paper...). I then tied bows through those holes around that folded flap with Red Gingham Ribbon. How cute is that?????
For the card inside:
I cut a piece of Real Red card stock to 4x5 1/4. I stamped the sentiment "Merry Christmas" from the Season of Joy stamp set in Real Red in the bottom right hand corner. The tree was stamped in Old Olive onto Very Vanilla and simply cut it out. I also stamped the star with "hand stamped" under it from Season of Joy in More Mustard and cut out the star portion. I adhered both to the card inert with SNAIL adhesive. I then took that insert and adhered it to the inside of the card with SNAIL also.
That's it!
If you don't have the Season of Joy stamp set and would like to get it...this is the last few days to order it. November 30th is the last day to order from the Winter Mini Catalog.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Black Weekend sales!!!!!

Hello everyone! If you are reading this...then you will know about my "Black Weekend" sale!


For every order placed with me over $25, you will receive a certificate valued at 10% of your order to spend on your next order.

I know I LOVE free stuff!

Email or call me with your orders before 5:00pm Monday to qualify for your "Black Weekend" sale!

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!


This was my Thanksgiving card this year. I used my beloved With Gratitude stamp set. I love those leaves!!!!!

The card base is More Mustard with the large maple leaf stamped in More Mustard in the bottom corner only. I stamped "Happy Thanksgiving" from Holidays and Wishes in Chocolate Chip over the leaf image. For the main image, I stamped various leaves in Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke and More Mustard randomly over Very Vanilla. I did a texturizing technique which will leave you hanging until the next Hostess Club meeting...I will teach you then! :)


See the close up:

I can see myself being very addicted to this technique.....

Anyway - That was matted on Old Olive. I made a "faux" band on the front of the card by adhering a small piece of Close to Cocoa on the left side and took another piece of Close to Cocoa card stock and rounded the two edges with the 3/16th inch Corner Rounder and adhered that to the right hand side of the card. To add a little touch of texture without using the standard ribbon knot, I took two pieces of twine ans tied a single knot around then and adhered that to the "band" with a Mini Glue Dot.

Easy, huh?

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving....

Email or call me tomorrow if you would like to order any of the promotions that were listed in the previous entry or anything in the Winter Mini Catalog...This is the last week to order from that catalog.

Until then...Happy Stampin'!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Giving Thanks...With Gratitude!

Sorry I haven't posted a stamped creation in a while...so today - I give you two! Both cards use the same Stamp set - With Gratitude. I think this stamp set is very elegant, rustic, simple...hard to believe one set can have so many qualities!




This card uses More Mustard as a base. I stamped a leaf image in More Mustard randomly on the background. I stamped "With Gratitude" In Elegant Eggplant in the bottom corner.

The main image is stamped on Very Vanilla. I took three different leaf images and stamped them in Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant and More Mustard in a random pattern. After that I took a Stampin' Sponge and "pounced" the sponge with it's respecting color over the leaves. I did the More mustard last and filled in any empty spaces with that color. I matted that image onto Elegant Eggplant and tied a simple knot around it with 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon in Eggplant. I think this card is VERY simple for the "wow factor" it punches. I hope you agree.

Next I decided to tone things down a bit:



This card starts with a Really Rust base folded on the side. I tore off the front cover sponged all of the edges with Chocolate Chip. Isn't it fun to "dirty things up?" For the card insert I took a piece of Very Vanilla and cut it to 4x11. I folded it in half and tore off the outer edges. I stamped the leaves randomly in More Mustard, Really rust and Old Olive. Then with the Tiniest Dot pattern in Itty Bitty Backgrounds I stamped over all of the leaves with Creamy Caramel. Stamp the sentiment in Chocolate Chip and sponge all the edges like the card base.

Now back to the card base:
I took my 1/16th inch Hand Held Punch and punched two holes on either end of the card front. I took two Aged Copper brads ad slipped them into the holes and wrapped twine around them and tied a simple knot before securing the brads to the card front. Now that you have your card front finished, adhere the insert to the card front towards the "spine" of the card.

There you have two simple cards that pack "some punch." I hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving, We all have so much to be grateful for!

Happy Stampin'!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Wrapping up the Holidays Campaign!

Hello everyone....sorry no stamped goodies to post today....I wanted to let you know of a promotion that Stampin' Up! is offering starting November 23rd. Black Friday...can you believe it is here already!??!?!?!? I can't!

Holiday Tag Bundle (item 112409) - A new item just for this promotion!This bundle includes several pre-cut pieces from the Holiday Glitz kit and makes 15 quick and easy toppers for gift giving.

Empty Accents and Elements Tin-3 Pack (item 112410) A new item chosen just for this promotion!

Tags for All Stamp Set* (item 110380) 20% off!

Hand Selected Accents & Elements (item 110228) 25% off!

Designer Gift Cards* (item 110264) 30% off!

Purely Pomegranate (item109863) and Chocolate Chip (item 109862) Satin Ribbon* Buy 1, get 1 free!

This is all of the information I have so far...If they give me pictures...i will be sure to post them.
I can't believe the Satin Ribbon Promo!!!!!! That ribbon is gorgeous!

Wow - what great deals! Call or email me if you would like to get in on any of these great promotions!

Oh yeah...can you believe that the retirement list comes out in only 11 days? That is right - 11 days!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Oh Girls....wait til you see what is coming our way!

I just got a glimpse of the Spring/Summer preview brochure showcasing some of the new goodies coming our way. All I can say is...OH MY!

We are getting rub ons that coordinate with our stamp sets...how awesome is that ?????

The new Designer Series Paper....Delicious!

New large star punch....I can't get enough tools, right??????

Oh yeah...NEW RUBBER....beautiful things, cutesie things and a nursery collection that could be used for babies or children....that is what I call versatility!

I know from the last Preview Brochure that what is in it will be just the tip of the ice burg for the new Idea Book and Catalog coming out in January. I can't wait! Don't forget...if you are in one of my hostess Clubs - you will be getting your new catalog for free! Do the perks get any better??!??!???

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Oh, So Lovely... (and a few tips...)








I made this card for a special customer that was in a car accident last Friday after leaving a Stamp Camp. She is doing pretty good though (still a little sore and need to follow up with her doctor) and that is all that matters! A car can be replaced.....





Now for the lighter stuff....



I stamped the flowers from the Level 1 Hostess Set Oh, So Lovely randomly with Black Staz-On ink on Whisper White. I water colored the flowers using classic inks squeezed out onto the ink pad lid with an Aquapainter. I absolutely love that technique!



I matted the main image onto Brocade Blue and then on a thin mat of Basic Black. The "from the heart" sentiment is from Holidays and Wishes. That was stamped in Mellow Moss and punched with the Large Oval Punch. I matted it with So Saffron and trimmed it out by hand.





Are you wondering yet how that ribbon is attached? I punched a hole using the large hole punch and hammer from the Tool Kit. (My Hand Held Circle Punch wouldn't make a hole that far in on the card.) I threaded the ribbon around the edge of the card and through that hole and tied a bow. Easy as that! The ribbon is Mellow Moss 1/4" Grosgrain, by the way! The card base is Mellow Moss as well...I forgot to mention that!





Check out the dimension on the sentiment:



Instead of using Stampin' Dimensionals...which I love, by the way...I used a piece of left over rubber from trimming the stamps. You can save the larger pieces and peel off the rubber and then adhere that to your image and peel off the paper backing and adhere to your project. So don't throw the big pieces or rubber away...ever...I tell you - keep 'em in a baggie...I'm serious! No, really...they are much thicker than Stampin' Dimensionals if you need your images to pop out further then a Dimensional will take you.


Until later....Happy Stampin'!


Tuesday, November 13, 2007

We have a winner....Karen! (Again! :) )

This was the door prize at the Giftable 2 Stamp Camp last Sunday. Our winner was Karen F. She won the awesome Holiday Organizer I posted earlier at the last Giftable Stamp Camp. I told her I was going to take her to Wheeling...what do you think?

Her ensemble was a stamped gift bag, a matching topper that keeps the bag closed and a coordinating gift tag. She also won a sheet of those awesome adhesive tags stamped with the Tags and More gift tag stamps. Remember that post earlier???

You can see the close up of that tag below and the details of how I got that large scalloped circle using one of your cutting tools and a punch. Intrigued yet?

Also in the picture is a portfolio that houses a set of matching thank you cards that coordinate with the gift bag.

Here are the deets on the projects:
bag: I used the Snow Jumbo Wheel from the Holiday Mini in Night of Navy ink onto Brocade Blue card stock. The topper is Whisper White folded in half with a scalloped edge using the 3/16" Corner Rounder. (Can't get enough scallops!!!!!!) The Night of Navy card stock is also wheeled with the Snow Jumbo Wheel, but it is hard to see in the picture. That was matted with Whisper White and Brocade Blue. I next used my Paper Trimmer to slice a slit on the fold not cutting through the left and right sides so I could slip it over the handles of the gift bag. This will keep the handles together and cover your gift inside.




Here is a close up of the gift tag. I learned this past week if you cut a circle with your Colluzzle on an odd number (ex. the 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc... ring from the center) you can take the guard off of your corner rounder and punch around the circle creating a scalloped circle! Isn't that amazing?!???!??! we now can have more than one size scalloped punch! Unbelievable...I know! Well enough patting myself on the back, lol! So I did just that using the 5th ring on the Colluzzle Circle Template and added a tiny white dot with the White Gel Pen. I cut a circle in Whisper White on the fourth ring and stamped a snowflake from The Snowflake Spot in Brocade Blue off the edge. I used a stamp from the Tags and More from the Holiday Mini for the "To: From:" and took my Night of Navy Stampin' Write Marker to ink only those words and stamped that on the tag. Voila! Instant Gift tag!


Wow...I seem very long winded today! The card and the portfolio was done in the same colors. We will have to get into that another day.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Look what we made.....


Look at the amazing projects everyone made yesterday at my Giftable 2 Stamp Camp. All the attendees made three of each gift.
Congratulations ladies...you are that much closer to having your Holiday shopping done!
Happy Stampin' everyone!!!!

Friday, November 9, 2007

Here's a discovery tip for you!



These stamps are from the Tags and More set in the Holiday Mini Catalog. These are just two of many awesome stamps in this set. The images all coordinate with other stamp sets in the Idea Book and Catalog so you can create coordinating gift sets if you would like. I can't imagine you not "liking" to do that???? Just kiddin'! Seriously, I was excited to see a gift tag stamp set that was coordinating with other stamp sets!

It is hard to see in the picture but the images were stamped on Avery's return address labels....it is like Avery made these labels waiting for Stampin' Up! to fill them with wonderful stamps!!!!!

I stamped the Ornament tag in both Old Olive and Real Red. The snowflake tag was stamped in Brocade Blue.

I am still in awe of Avery's ability to predict that Stampin' Up! would create a stamp in the future that would fit their labels perfectly.

If you want to create your very own adhesive tags for quick Holiday wrapping...call me and order this set right away...this is the last month to order from the Holiday Mini Catalog!

Tonight is the first Holiday Card Camp so if you are registered to come, congratulations! You will be ahead of the game at the end of the night with your holiday cards being under way...now if i just had a Camp that addressed them all and sent them out.........

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

It's Fabulous! ( if I say so myself :) )

This is the gift bag and coordinating bag I made for my Mother's Birthday gift. Her favorite colors are Black, White and Red, so I went to work. Her gift will look great in this gift bag! I can't wait to give it to her.


Can you get over all of the Bling??? The pictures don't give it justice, that is for sure!



You can't tell in the picture but I stamped all of the black card stock with a flower from Fabulous Flowers in Versamark Ink and embossed with Hallogram Highlights Embossing Powder.

Both projects have a lot of the same attributes. First I stamped Tres Chic Background in Basic Grey on Whisper White. Those panels were matted on Basic Grey. The Main Flower is from Fabulous Flowers inked in Real Red and cut out. Then for the bling--- I used the 2 Way Glue Pen on all of the petals and put the Romantic Red Stampin' Glitter. for the flower center I used a bunch of Black Brads to make a cluster.

Here is a close up of all that bling:













For the bag Handles I punched the Round Tab Punch with both Basic Grey and Real Red and layered the red under the Basic Grey to set off the grey a little bit. I put two Black Brads on the top of each handle tab and adhered a piece of Basic Black card stock for the handles.

I absolutely love this flower in Fabulous Flowers...I can see a lot f awesome projects come from this one stamp set!

There it is...Hope she like it! Leave me a comment and let me know hwt you think :)

Until Later...Happy Stampin'!

Monday, November 5, 2007

Like a treat?



Here are the gifts that the ladies that attended the last Giftable Stamp Camp. I thought they may have needed a special chocolate "pick - me - up" during the marathon stampin'!
I hope all of you enjoyed your tasty treats!
What will the special gift be for attending the next Giftable Stamp Camp? Hmmm..... I Wonder????

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Unbelievable Deal!


Can you believe this new promotion with Stampin' Up!?
Purchase any three Designer Series Papers and get the fourth one ($9.95 value!) FREE! No limits, no restrictions!
Now is the time to stock up!