May 26, 2011 | Big Shot, Cards, Pocket Silhouettes, Punch Art, Summer Mini 2011, Thank You |
More with the Blossom Bouquet Triple Punch…
Traditionally I don’t use a lot of the purples in my stamping projects – I don’t really know why. In fact when I was little I loved purple – my bedroom had wallpaper with a floral print in purple and brown and I had a canopy bed and it was all decked out in purple. I must have liked purple at some point in time. But a while back when I did an inventory of my ink and card stock the ones that were missing – were all shades of purple. But I have rediscovered Perfect Plum so you may start seeing more projects with some purple.
This card came from a card I saw on Heather Summers blog. Her’s was a big square card and I think she got the idea from someone else. These were the colors that she used and they really were pretty together – Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery, and Baja Breeze. I wanted a card that would fit in the open-ended envelopes and ended up with this creation.
I used Pocket Silhouettes to create the greenery. The “thanks so much” is the new hostess set in the Summer Mini Catalog called Swirls & Curls Verses. Then I punched out flowers with the Blossom Bouquet Triple Punch and layered the pieces and added some details.
flower 1 is Perfect Plum base, Certainly Celery for the middle and Baja Breeze for the top with a Certainly Celery brad in the center.
flower 2 is Certainly Celery base that has been cut in between the petals, the center is the Bitty Punch circle that was embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder
flower 3 is a Baja Breeze base that was embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder, the top is Perfect Plum and then a Bitty Button threaded with White Bakers Twine for the center.
Have a nice day – we are expecting rain and storms this afternoon/evening – ugh – hopefully no tornados.
May 9, 2011 | Cards, Punch Art, Summer Mini 2011, Thank You |
Hey everyone – I decided to take the weekend off from blogging – I spent Saturday with my mom (also saw my dad, my niece & nephew, my brother and my sister-in-law). Sunday I was home and all my boys were here – they cooked dinner last night and mostly cleaned up. Just a nice relaxing sort of day.
Have you seen the new Triple Layer Punches in the Stampin’ Up! Summer Mini Catalog? I bought the Blossom Bouquet punch and it is so much fun – it is called a Triple Layer punch because it punches out three coordinating images from one punch – actually I think this one you could consider it to punch 4 – two of the layers actually punch out two pieces – the inside of the flower and the outside rim are actually separate. So here is a card I made for some of my classes this month based on a card in the Stampin’ Success magazine (the magazine that us demonstrators get).
I added an inside panel that is stamped with the Bold Blossom stamp set that coordinates nicely with the Blossom Bouquet punch. You can make lots of different flower combinations with this one punch. Let’s see if I can point out the different pieces – the first image you can punch is the large flower – in this card I have it as the background of each of the three flowers – one is Peach Parfait, one is Early Espresso, and one is Crumb Cake. The second image you can punch is a smaller flower with a flower ring around it – in this card there is a Crumb Cake ring on the Early Espresso flower. And it doesn’t look like I used the smaller flower on this card – but wait a minute and you’ll see it on my next version of this card. The third image is a small flower with the tear drops punched out and the ring again – on this card there is one in Daffodil Delight and one in Old Olive – the tear drop flower that is. The small circle punch is from the Bitty Punch set.
The great thing about crafting is that there really aren’t any mistakes – if something doesn’t happen the way you planned it is just a chance for you to get more creative – to come up with a different idea – no one else will know that you started out with a different plan other than yourself. And sometimes the new creation is something you like better than what you originally set out to do. So I took this card to a class on May 1st and ran into not one but two chances to get more creative – first I forgot the 3/4″ circle punch that I used to punch out the little flower stamped image – but who wants to cut that flower out – not me (well on some occasions I would but not this time) and forget trying to cut out a circle – its not going to happen. So what was the solution – to use the small flower image that is punched from the Blossom Bouquet punch. Problem number 2 – while demonstrating the punch – on the third image you have to make sure you push down until you hear the third click – if you don’t you get a partially punched tear drop flower – but after looking at it – I decided it would make a pretty flower just the way it was so i used it on a card too. So here is my second version of this card:
On this one I used the small flower twice – once underneath the Old Olive and once on the Early Espresso with a stamped flower in the center of it. And here is a close up of the partially punched flower –
See how the little tear drops didn’t punch out on one end. So what I did was put a dimensional under the center so it would pop up and allow the cut end of the tear drop to hang down. I actually like how it looks.
These punches are fun but you do need to understand how they work so that you can use them correctly and get the results that you want. First the punch should be used sitting flat on the table – not held upside down in your hand like we usually do with the old punches. Then you need to slide the selector to the image that you want and notice that there are stoppers for the 1st and 2nd punch so that it doesn’t go down all the way. It helps to listen for the clicks and practice a bit. In order to close the punch and lock it you need to have the selector in the third position – if you don’t it won’t lock shut because it will catch on one of the stoppers. It comes with instructions but it helps to see someone else using it. I’ve already started demonstrating in my classes and workshops – call me today if you would like to schedule your own.
Apr 5, 2011 | Big Shot, Birthday, Cards, SU Ribbon, Thank You, UDI Color Challenge |
This weeks Utah Diva’s Color Challenge was much easier for me than some of the others that we have had. I could have made lots of different things with these colors. Early Espresso, Real Red, Crumb Cake, and Very Vanilla. 
Click on this link to go to the Utah Diva’s Color Challenge blog. There you can see the creations from the entire design team and add a link to your creation if you decide to play along. This week I decided to use the Sneak Peek stamp set – Four Frames that you can earn free as a workshop hostess or purchase with a $20 order during the month of April. All four images in the stamp set fit inside the Decorative Label punch so you can make quick cards with it. My project is a whole set of cards with a matching box that holds the cards and the envelopes.
The box is actually two boxes glued together – one that holds the 4-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ cards and the other holds the envelopes. On the front panel you’ll see one of the four images from the Four Frames stamp set. I added the Vanilla Rosettes to the front. To color them I tried first using my Real Red reinker with some water and soaking the rosettes – this didn’t really work with the Real Red – I think other colors would be ok; but the red just looked like blood to me. So then I tried just coloring them with my Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker and that gave me a better color – they actually look Real Red now. This method leaves a few uncolored spots unless you really take time to get your marker in between all the layers of the flower. I attached them with a small drop of Crystal Effects to the front of the box. The cards are two different designs – one is the same as the front of the box and the other I just used the ribbon differently but the parts are the same. So here are pictures of all the cards:
I hope you’ll visit the UDI site and play along with us this week.
Stampin’ Up! Supplies:
- Card stock: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Very Vanilla
- Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Real Red, Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker
- Stamp sets: Four Frames, Teeny Tiny Wishes
- Accessories: Decorative Label punch, Scallop Trim Border punch, Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Early Espresso and Real Red Taffeta ribbon, Vanilla Rosettes, Crystal Effects, Stampin’ Dimensionals.
To order Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project click here.
Apr 4, 2011 | Cards, In Colors, Thank You |
This cute little stamp set is called a Flower For All Seasons.
I love the different images and that you can use one for each season. I used this card last month for a class right before St. Patrick’s Day. I managed to include a shade of green in every card we made that night and none of the cards were actually St. Patrick’s Day cards though. This card was inspired by a sample I saw on Stampin’ Connection created by Jen Timko.
The card base is Pear Pizzazz with a layer of Crumb Cake on top that was punched with the Scallop Trim Border punch on one side – little white gel pen dots accent the scalloped end. I covered that end with a piece of Pear Pizzazz Patterned paper and tied a piece of Pear Pizzazz ribbon around it.
The stamped image is on Watercolor paper – stamped with Black StazOn and Water-colored with an Aqua Painter and classic ink. The centers of the flowers are a More Mustard Stampin’ Write marker. Layer that piece on More Mustard and then on Pear Pizzazz and add to the front of the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
I am checking on my Spring Bingo game – I had planned to play through the end of March – that’s why I didn’t call any more pieces but I also wanted to give away 5 prizes and so far I’ve only had 3 winners come forward. You may want to double check your cards today – if I don’t get anymore winners I’ll call one more piece tomorrow and see if that will bring me to 5.
My little Magnolia is a the vet right now. I took her and Aspen in earlier today for their annual check-up and vaccines. We came home, ate lunch and the dogs were sleeping – stressful day making a trip to the vet. I walked by Magnolia sleeping in the foyer and had to do a double-take. Her face was all swollen! I called the vet back and they said to bring her right back so I did. She was having an allergic reaction and they wanted to keep her for the rest of the day. I’ll go back before they close to pick her up. Poor thing she looked so pitiful with her puffy face.
Now back to some spring cleaning – today we are tackling Ryan’s room.
Mar 16, 2011 | Big Shot, Bingo, Cards, Occasions Mini 2011, Thank You, Wildlife |
When the Stampin’ Up! Occasions Mini Catalog first came out there was one stamp set that I just loved. Can you guess which one?
It is the Nature Walk stamp set – and I got the wood version because I think it is so pretty that I can just set the stamps out on a shelf for decoration if I want to. I have been using the set but I’m not sure if I have shared any on my blog. Today I have a card that is similar to one that we saw at Leadership. It was a card that Shelli showed us on stage – I think hers was possibly a 3×3 card – mine is actually a 4-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ card. I have been making this size card lately and like that it is a square but it still fits in our medium sized envelopes.
The card base is Cherry Cobbler. There is a strip of Basic Black that was textured with the Square Lattice textured embossing folder.
The scallop circle is a Big Shot die cut from White Naturals card stock. Then the Nature Walk stamp set is sort of stamped as a collage on the scallop circle. The bird cage in Crumb Cake, the floral in Always Artichoke, the bee in Basic Black, the number in Cherry Cobbler. I added a thank you greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes but you could use this for many different things. 
The inside is stamped to match. On both pieces I used the Color Spritzer with the Stampin’ Write marker to add some more speckles. At the top of the scallop I punched two holes and threaded a piece of Linen Thread through it – then I created a cheater bow – I’ll have to try to find the blog that I saw this on – basically you take your ribbon and hold it like the cancer ribbon with the loop at the top and the ends crossed. Then you take the center of the loop and bring it down to the crossed part. Take and place that in between the Linen Thread and then tie the thread around it until it is tight – adjust the loops and tails to get the bow you want.
There is been some bird activity around my bird houses. Here are a couple of pictures of House #1 – one is a tufted titmouse from a couple of days ago and the other the female bluebird from last week.
Tufted Titmouse
House #2 and #3 have also had some visitors.
Bluebird
And I’ve even had some lookers at the Woodpecker house – that is exciting because it is new – I didn’t have it last spring.
There is also a new house that my friend Sue gave me – it looks like a cat and the birds go in and out through the mouth. I haven’t seen any birds near it yet. The dogs do check it out occasionally making sure it isn’t a real cat hanging there.
Spring Bingo players – is anyone getting close – any three or four in a row – or is there a 5 in a row winner today?
Here are the next two pieces –
images copyright Stampin' Up!
images copyright Stampin' Up!
Have a great day!
Jan 4, 2011 | Cards, Occasions Mini 2011, Thank You, UDI Color Challenge |
I almost forgot to create my Color Challenge card. With Christmas, New Year and everyone home the days just sort of run together and I’m not sure when is a week day or when its a weekend – they are all the same during that time. Gretchen wants us to have our challenge cards ready by Sunday night – well let just say that didn’t happen (and I’m not the only one either). But I did get it done on Monday afternoon and sent in to Gretchen. And today I get to share it with you.
We are on #17 of the Utah Diva’s Color Challenge. Click on this link to go to the Utah Diva’s Color Challenge blog. This is the inspiration that Gretchen gave us this week –
These colors make me think of birds and nature and the new Nature Walk stamp set in the Stampin’ Up! Occasions Mini catalog that starts TODAY! So that was what I used for my creation. The inspiration piece has kind of a collage look to it so I went with that on my card too.
It’s a little busy – maybe I needed another strip of Marina Mist across the middle so the bird and thank you stand out more. I’ll try that and perhaps add another picture to this post later. Here is a close up of the details with a few things to note:
The eye on the bird is one of the Basic Pearls and I just ran the Marina Mist marker over it to give a blue hue – how do you like that?
I decided to make it look like the bird was carrying a tag in his beak with the “thank you” so I tied the Linen Thread to the top and just attached it right under the beak – it isn’t really tied to the beak at all.
The ribbon is Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding – also in the new Mini Catalog. I decided to try the ruffles that I have seen everyone doing lately on their cards. Needless to say I wasn’t very good at making a straight line across my card…
Yes I did go back and make a slight change to the card – and I do like this second version better – I added a Marina Mist strip above the ruffled ribbon so the bird and tag were easier to see. Here it is:
I hope you like this weeks card. I have been playing a lot with this stamp set and using it for several of my swaps for the Stampin’ Up! Leadership conference next week – oh my it really is just over a week away. Now it is your turn to play with these colors – then go to the UDI blog and add your creation to the linky section.
Stampin’ Up! Supplies:
- Card stock: Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
- Ink: Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzazz, Stampin’ Write Markers: Marina Mist
- Stamp sets: Nature’s Walk (Occasions 2011), Teeny Tiny Wishes
- Accessories: Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding (Occasions 2011), Basic Pearls, Linen Thread, Stampin’ Sponge, the little oval punch that I can’t find the exact name of right now, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Paper Piercer
To order Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project click here.
More with the Blossom Bouquet Triple Punch…
