Jun 14, 2009 | Big Shot, Blog Tour, class, In Colors, Retired List, Stamps, SU Ribbon, Wild About You |
Wild About You is another stamp set that is retiring this month and one that I think is so much fun. It works for cards, great for kids stuff and great for scrapbook pages too. Today is the last day for the Late Night Stamper’s challenge to use one retiring stamp set and create three different cards with it. So I just finished doing that with the Wild About You stamp set. We will make atleast one of these card at my Last Chance Stamp-a-Stack class on Friday.
The first card was an idea from Wendy that we made atleast 2 years ago and used the same 3-d layering technique that I did on the watercoloring cards I’ve shown lately. The lion gets stamped three times and you cut out his mane and his face seperately and layer with dimensionals.
The second card is a design from Stampin’ Up! and uses the In Colors – Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango and Pacific Point. The heart is punched with the Heart to Heart punch. The corduroy button in Pacific Point adds a little pop. The Tangerine Tango edge is done with the scallop border punch. Punch the edge once then slide it over and punch again and it gives it a jagged look like the teeth of the alligator – also a good way to cover up when you mess up aligning the scallop punch – you meant to do that!
The third card was my design – I have collected elephants since I was a little girl and love this little elephant.
Not sure why but I decided to do a pink and brown card and make it a new baby card. I don’t have any baby girls but the pink and brown seem to be popular for decorating these days when it comes to baby girls. I wanted the card to be a little frilly since it was a girl card so I added the eyelet border punch and the organdy ribbon. I also ran the littl close to cocoa piece through the big shot to give it some swirly texture. The Pink Pirouette DSP and the white layer of card stock are sponged on the edges with the Pink Pirouette ink. The elephant was edged with the Regal Rose marker before I stamped it but it is hard to see in the picture.
I have a new Class Kit to Go ready and will send that information out to my email list later today and post on my blog tomorrow. I hope you are having a good weekend.
Hey did you notice that I am a PRINCESS now? See the crown at the top of my side bar…
The girls that are on the next Blog Tour all have crowns! The tour will be in July for 3 days.
Happy Stampin’!

May 20, 2009 | Blog Tour, Occasions Mini 2009 |
I wanted to share some of my favorite projects from the blog tour last week. If you didn’t get to take the tour or maybe you didn’t have time (or realize) that there were actually three separate tours taking place at the same time then here is your chance to see a bit of what I saw. I was part of Tour #5 and there was also Tour #6 and Tour #7 – I had a link at the bottom of my tour post but I don’t know that everyone saw it. Since all the links have now been removed that connected the blogs together I just wanted to share some of my favorites so you could visit those blogs if you want to. I picked a few from each tour that were ‘WOW’ for me. I hope you like them too!
Tour #5
Tiffany Bauer – featured Forest Friends – one of my favorite little sets from the Occasions Mini Catalog
Barbara Dondero – featured Great Friends – another favorite set from the Occasions Mini Catalog
Eileen Lefevre – featured Paper Piercing techniques – I thought these were some great ideas
Tour #6
Tangii Crain – featured the Bloomin’ Beautiful stamp set
Stephanie Zeto – featured the Nursery Necessities stamp set – I wish I knew about Stampin’ Up! when my babies were born…
Tour #7
Nicole Tugrul – featured the Wild About You stamp set – I love these animals and just look at the diaper cake she made! I made a diaper cake once but it wasn’t this cute.
Amanda Coughlin – featured the Just Beachy stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog – check out her creativity! Love this little tackle box – probably my favorite project from all the tours.
Cindy Beach – Big Shot and Dies – yep one of my favorite sections in the catlog – the Big Shot and the dies – how do you like her idea with the new matchbox die!

Barbara Welch – featured the Best Ever Simply Scrappin’ Kit – you can do so much with one of these kits they really are a great deal!
So those are some of my favorite picks from the tours. I hope you enjoyed blog hopping and seeing lots of new ideas. Don’t be surprised to see some ideas creeping their way into my classes and projects….
Don’t forget to go to my Blog Candy post to enter to win.
Have a fun blog hoppin’ day!

May 19, 2009 | Blog Candy, Blog Tour |
The time has come to have some Blog Candy! A treat for you for visiting my blog and getting me to over 10,000 visits! Wow that is so exciting! It has only been a few months and I hope I can keep up the pace…. One lucky winner will receive my Blog Candy package so read on to find out what it is and how to win.
BLOG CANDY

What is it?
Well these are the consumable supplies you will need to complete the Embossed Tin & Note Card project that was featured in my blog tour. The complete instructions are in the post below this one. The supplies include one tin, one jumbo grommet, piece of Rose Red Double Stitched ribbon, piece of Linen Thread, four note cards with envelopes, Rose Red and Old Olive card stock – pre cut, and punched pieces. You can follow my instructions to complete the project at home using your own stamp set, ink, and embossing supplies.
How can you win?
Leave me a comment on this post between now and midnight Friday night (May 22nd, 2009). In your comment tell me what you like about my blog and where you live – I live in Woodstock, Georgia. And make sure I have a way to contact you back. That’s easy – right?
I’ll draw one winner randomly on Saturday and contact you to get your mailing information.
Thank you so much for boosting me up! I love to see comments on my blog and it makes me happy to know you are enjoying my blog, my projects and my pictures and updates.
Have a wonderful Stampin’ Day!

May 19, 2009 | Blog Tour, Embossing, Stamps, Techniques, Thoughts & Prayers |
I have put together the instructions for the Embossed Tin and Note Cards that I made as one of my projects on the blog tour a few days ago. The idea for the Embossed Tin came from a friend of mine who is also a demonstrator, her name is Laree, and she shared the idea at our group retreat that we had at the beginning of May. She made hers with the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set. Mine uses the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set that I featured on the blog tour.
May 2009 – Blog Tour
Embossed Tin and Note Cards
Monika Davis ([email protected])
All images © 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!®

Supplies:
- Stamp Sets: Thoughts & Prayers
- Inks: VersaMark ink, Old Olive classic ink and Stampin’ Write marker, Rose Red classic ink and Stampin’ Write marker
- Paper: Old Olive, Rose Red, Whisper White card stock, Note Cards & Envelopes
- Other: Clear Embossing Powder, Powder Pal, Heat Tool, Rose Red Double Stitched Ribbon, Linen Thread, Jumbo Grommet, Scallop Oval punch, Wide Oval punch, 1/16” handheld punch, White Gel Pen, Chit Chat Rub-ons, Stampin’ Sponge, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Paper Piercer, Cutter Kit, Tin
Note: The Tin that I used was the tin that held the Accents & Elements die cuts from the Stampin’ Up! catalog last year. The current tins with the felt flowers are a different size. The Note Cards & Envelopes are also a size that Stampin’ Up! has retired from their catalog. My suggestion if you would like to recreate this project is to find a tin and note cards that fit inside of it – or make your own envelopes for the size card that does fit in your tin. There are many different sizes of tins available so find the one that works for you and adjust the measurements that I have provided to work for your project.
Instructions:
To Create Tin and Belly Band:
- You want to use a clean, DRY tin – any moisture will cause the embossing powder to stick where you don’t want it. So if you clean the tin you will want to let it dry completely.
- Stamp image onto the tin with VersaMark ink. Hold over the Powder Pal tray and cover with clear embossing powder. Tap off excess powder.
- Set the tin down – don’t hold it because it will get hot – it’s metal! Heat the embossing powder with the heat tool until it melts – you should be able to see it change as you go along. I did get some “shadowing” around my image from the dust of the embossing powder – but it kind of adds to the effect. The picture isn’t that clear – I couldn’t get the camera to focus very well on the embossed tin.

- I cut a 1-1/2” wide x 12” long strip of Rose Red card stock and wrapped it around the tin – it is not secured or glued together – as is just fits. I sponged the edges of the strip with Rose Red ink. I used a piece of Rose Red double Stitched Ribbon around the card stock and this holds it on the tin.

- Take the white Jumbo Grommet and bend the prongs out and flat against the back of the grommet. I used a bone folder to do this. Pull both ends of the ribbon through the center of the grommet and tie a knot in the ribbon. Trim ends.

- If desired, you can add a rub-on to the ribbon. You have to really press hard when applying the rub-on to ensure it sticks to the ribbon – so take your time and make sure it has transferred. If you mess it up and want to remove the run-on use the adhesive remover to take it off.
- To create the tag I inked the flower stamp with Rose Red and Old Olive Stampin’ write markers. To do this use the fat tip of the Stampin’ Write marker to apply color to the portion of the stamp you want – flowers here are Rose Red and the stems and leaves are Old Olive. If needed “breathe” on the stamp to remoisten all of the ink. Stamp image on Whisper White card stock and punch out with Oval Scallop Punch. Sponge Rose Red ink around the edges. Punch out a piece of Old Olive card stock with the Wide Oval Punch. Use a White Gel Pen to add stitching around the edges. Use Stampin’ Dimensionals to add the scallop oval to the wide oval. Punch a small hole with the 1/16” handheld punch near the top of the oval tag. Thread with Linen Thread and tie to the Grommet.

To create cards:
I created 4 cards to fit inside my tin. There are basically two designs and I used the tree and flower image once for each design. I trimmed all four note cards down and added a “postcard” panel to the back. The Whisper White note card is the part that opens. Each note card (when folded) was 3-1/2” x 5” – I trimmed them to be 3-1/4” x 4-3/4”. Here are the details:
Embossed Cards: 
- Trim the Whisper White note cards to be 3-1/4” x 4-3/4” (when folded).
- On the inside of the note card stamp the tree image in Old Olive classic ink or the flower image with Old Olive and Rose Red Stampin’ Write Marker (same as the tag). Stamp greeting in Old Olive classic ink if desired – I varied the ones from the Thought’s & Prayers stamp set so I would have a variety of cards ready.
- Sponge the front edges of the note card. I used Old Olive ink on the tree card and Rose Red ink on the flower card.
- Adhere the note card to the 3-1/2” x 5” postcard piece of card stock. I used Old Olive for both.
- Distress the edge of the 4-5/8” x 3-1/8” card stock – one is Old Olive and one is Rose Red. Adhere this to the front of the note card. The Old Olive one goes on the flower note card and the Rose Red piece goes on the tree note card.
- To create the front of each card use a 3” x 4-1/4” piece of card stock – one is Old Olive and one is Rose Red. Stamp image in VersaMark ink, cover with clear embossing powder and heat set. Stamp the tree image on Old Olive and the flower image on Rose Red. Sponge the edges of each piece in the same color ink.
- Use a paper piercer to punch holes around the edges and then connect the holes with a White Gel Pen – this gives the effect that it was stitched.
- I added a greeting using the Chit Chat rub-ons. You could stamp a greeting from the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set instead.
- Adhere this front panel with Stampin’ Dimensionals to the front of each card – tree image on the tree note card and the flower image on the flower note card.
- Stamp a coordinating envelope for each card.
Stamped Cards:
- Trim the Whisper White note cards to be 3-1/4” x 4-3/4” (when folded).

- On the front and the inside of the note card stamp the tree image in Old Olive classic ink or the flower image with Old Olive and Rose Red Stampin’ Write Marker. Stamp greeting in Old Olive classic ink if desired – I varied the ones from the Thought’s & Prayers stamp set so I would have a variety of cards ready.
- Adhere the note card to the 3-1/2” x 5” postcard piece of card stock. I used Old Olive for the tree image and Rose Red for the flower image.
- Punch a piece of Old Olive card stock with the Wide Oval punch. Add faux stitching with the White Gel Pen around the oval.
- Stamp a greeting on Whisper White card stock or add a white Rub-On to Rose Red card stock and punch out with the Scallop Oval punch. Sponge the edges with Rose Red ink. Adhere to the front of the wide oval with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- Stamp a coordinating envelope for each card.
Thanks for stopping by!

May 17, 2009 | Blog Tour |
Wow what a tour that was! Since I put up my post Thursday night through the end of the tour I had over 1,700 visits to my blog!! I checked my stats on Friday and for WordPress my blog was #20 for the fastest growing blogs of the day! How amazing is that! I can’t believe I started this blog in January and I am a approaching 10,000 visits! THANK YOU to everyone who visits my blog! I’ll have to give away some blog candy when that happens so keep checking back as it will hopefully be soon.
I received many wonderful comments and was excited to read each and every one of them. I hope you will be back to read my blog again – I do try to post daily. I have had numerous requests to add a sign up so that you can recieve my blog updates through your email – I am looking into that and will post when I have that set up.
Come back later today for my May Class Kit to Go – it is ready and I’ll have all the information up later today. I’ll be posting masculine card ideas this week and more details about how I created the tin project for the tour. And who knows what else I’ll be adding this week.
Have a wonderful Sunday!

May 14, 2009 | Blog Tour, Thoughts & Prayers |

Welcome to the May 15th & 16th Blog Tour. Stop #10, Tour #5
This tour features 22 different blogs! Each blog will showcase a beautiful project using items from Stampin’ Up!’s – Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog, Occasions Mini Catalog or Decor Elements Catalog.
Don’t forget to bookmark your favorite blogs as the links that make up this tour will disappear at midnight on May 16th.
The tour is now over and the links have been removed. I hope you were able to join the ride and bookmark some of your favorite blogs – I know I did. I’ll be posting some of my favorite projects (and blogs) that I found on the tour later this week along with more details on my tin project. Please visit me again!
……………………………………..
The stamp set that I chose to feature is Thoughts & Prayers on page 58 in the Stampin’ Up! 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book. My first project was inspired by a project that a fellow demonstrator, Laree, shared at our group retreat earlier this month. It was a tin filled with Note Cards. Can you see the flowers on the cover of the tin? The tin is embossed on the outside and then has the belly band around it. There are four note cards with envelopes on the inside. The color combination came from the Stampin’ Up! sweater we were able to purchase at the Leadership Conference this year – it matches this stamp set and came in the Rose Red color. I will have more details about how I created this project on my blog next week – so be sure to bookmark this blog and come back.

My second project using the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set is one that I have had in my head for months now. And I finally got it out of my head and made it. Several demos out there have created the little paper holders – I think someone originally made one for little love notes and then others adapted it for regular sized cards. I wanted to use the paper holder idea too and I also wanted to do an Emergency Card Class using the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set. Sympathy and Get Well cards are always something you need unexpectedly and would be ideal to have a set on hand ready when you need them. So I put these two ideas together to create this project. This will be an upcoming class at my home so check back to see what date I schedule it for. The holder includes six cards with matching envelopes. There are three basic designs – one layout uses the flowers, one layout uses the tree and the third layout uses one of each.

I hope you liked my projects! Leave me a comment and come back to visit me again soon!

……………………………………..
Now, allow me introduce your next stop, Lynn Larson. Lynn’s blog features the Decor Stencils from Stampin’ Up! .
Click on the “Next Blog” icon below to start your excursion and travel to Lynn’s blog. This icon will be used through-out the tour to help you find your way to the next blog.
Grab your favorite cup of joe & enjoy the tour!
The Blog Tour is now over – Thanks so much for stopping by. I’ll post one day this week with some of my favorites from all three tours.
EXTRA SPECIAL TREAT
Did you know there are actually three tours running simultaneously? After you finish this tour, would you like an opportunity to see more beautiful designs? Since you have only 48 hours to visit these blogs, you might want to take advantage of this special treat. When you’ve completed this tour, click here to get information on the other tours.
This link will be available at all stops, so you can view the whole tour, then click the link on your last stop. You can then start your ride again with a whole new set of designs. Have fun!