Mar 13, 2011 | Bingo, My Digital Studio, Scrapbook Pages, Thoughts & Prayers |
I’m not sure that Ryan even remembers this anymore (he probably does – I’ll have to ask). These were pictures from 2003. We found this baby squirrel in the backyard and it was following Ryan around everywhere. It must have fallen out of a nest because he was all alone.
We decided to give it some food (birdseed) and a little cap filled with water. We put it on a paper plate – this was one of those small paper plates not the normal size – the are maybe 4 or 5 inches diameter – so he was still pretty small.
I really wasn’t sure what to do with him. We had out dogs in the house so I couldn’t bring him in there and we need to leave for something so I didn’t have time to take him anywhere. I finally decided just to leave him in the back yard – I didn’t think he would be able to get out of the fence and the dogs were inside so I thought he would be safe for the hour that we would be gone.
When we came back and searched for him he was still in the backyard but somehow had injured himself – he was now dragging his back legs. Not good. We got him into a shoebox and drove him up to the wild animal vet. Ryan was still pretty young so he didn’t really know that something was wrong. The vet said the squirrel had broken his back and wasn’t going to survive. It was so sad and I didn’t really have the heart to tell Ryan. So instead I just told him the vet was going to find a proper home for him and we left him there. It was several years later when Ryan was older before I told him what really happened to the baby squirrel. I still don’t know how he hurt himself unless he was climbing the trees while we were gone or a cat came into the yard and tried to get him.
The pictures were still very cute so I decided to drop them on this scrapbook layout – it was a sketch I found on a scrapbook blog somewhere. I created the rectangles – three photo boxes and three punched rectangles. I got them all to the exact same size by using the edit object and setting the height and width. Then I aligned them with one another using the align options in My Digital Studio – you align the top, the bottom, the centers, or left edge or right edge. On the left side is a rectangle punch filled with the Crumb Cake (Kraft) Textured card stock and then the scallop border punch (two of them overlapping). I added some chocolate chip stitching. The stamped images are from the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set. I played around with the drop shadow on the flowers and the title – changing the opacity and color until I got the effect that I wanted. Once I had everything on the page – I decided to add a text box at the bottom for my journaling – but when I was done the journaling was way to close to the bottom of the page so I wanted to move everything up to make the whole thing include the text be centered at the page. I didn’t want to move all the elements individually because I finally had it all lined up. So I figured out that I could go to the ARRANGE drop-down menu and have it SELECT ALL. Then with everything selected you can select GROUP – so it groups it all together. Then go to the Align Objects button and select to center vertically on the page and the horizontally on the page. This will move the whole group at once. Then you can ungroup and unselect. I hope that made sense!
Spring Bingo players here come your next two pieces – are you ready?
images copyright Stampin' Up!
images copyright Stampin' Up!
Is anyone close to a Bingo yet? Let me know when you get 5 in a row.
So remember yesterday I told you to change the clocks. So Greg changed the clock in our bedroom. What we didn’t know is that the clock actually changes itself – it has a setting that you turn on or off and it was on. So this morning we were TWO hours ahead – instead of just one. It is fixed back now but it’s good to know if we forget the clock will do it for us.
Aug 23, 2009 | Baroque Motifs, Circle Circus, Circle Scissor Plus, class, Demonstrator, Designer Series Paper, Flight of the Butterfly, Great Friend, In Colors, Masking, Stampin' Up! Events, Stamps, SU Ribbon, Techniques, Thoughts & Prayers |
At my class this month I decided to use cards that I received at convention – as I looked through them all I ended up pulling several that were my favorite and realized they represented most of the In-Colors so that ended up being my “theme” for the class. I chose cards that featured the In-Colors. We made 5 cards total (one card featured 2 of the In-Colors) and stamped matching envelopes for each card. I generally kept the card designs exactly the same as the original creator except one that I didn’t have the stamp set for – so I replaced it with one I did have that I thought would give the same results. Lisa came to class and added her own little twist to each card and this afternoon she signed up as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator – whoo hoo! Welcome Lisa to my PAWS team.
Most of the cards I used came from the Shoebox swap that I participated in – some of them I know who designed them and others I don’t. So if someone knows the original creator I’ll add their name here – just leave me a comment.
This first card features the Rich Razzleberry In-Color. The stamp set is Thoughts & Prayers and also Flight of the Butterfly. The Designer Series Paper is the Cottage Wall Paper. The original swap from convention used the Old Olive Patterns Designer Series Paper.
The stamp was inked up using the Stampin’ & Write Markers – Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry (yeah for In-Color Markers!) , and Pale Plum. The Pale Plum card stock was punched with the Eyelet Border Punch.
A little paper clip was tied with a piece of Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Ribbon.
The original card had a smaller “Thinking of You” stamped and punched with the Large Oval punch and then mounted on the Scallop Oval punched piece of Rich Razzleberry. I used the saying from the Thoughts & Prayers set which was larger – so mine is stamped and punched with the Scallop Oval and then mounted on a Wide Oval punched piece of Rich Razzleberry. Either one looked great.
The envelope was stamped to match the card.
I don’t know who designed this one – it was from the Shoebox Swap at the Shilo Hotel on Tuesday night before convention.
The second card features the Melon Mambo In-Color. The stamp sets I used was Baroque Motifs and Sincere Salutations.
This card was also from the Shoebox Swap and was designed by Janice Felty. Her original design used the large flower image from the Razzle Dazzle stamp set. Since I didn’t have that set I replaced it with one that I did have.
The Whisper White layer is punched on one side with the scallop edge punch. Then we positioned it on the front of the card and punched through the Whisper White and Melon Mambo card stock with the Scallop Oval punch to create a window.
Using a piece of Window Sheet and White StazOn ink the greeting from Sincere Salutations was stamped and then sandwiched between the two pieces of cardstock to make the window.
The Melon Mambo Polka Dot ribbon was tied in a knot and then wrapped around the front of the card and secured on the inside. The envelope was stamped to match the card.
This third card features Bermuda Bay In-Color. The stamp set is Great Friend that originally debuted in the Occasions Mini Catalog and is available in the new catalog too.
The card base on this one is Whisper White and then we cut three panels to adhere to the front – Bermuda Bay, Chocolate Chip, and Old Olive.
The butterfly is stamped on a Whisper White circle and mounted on a Chocolate Chip circle. For my class the circles were cut with the Circle Scissor Plus cutting system. But the original card used the Big Shot and the Circles #2 Originals Die. Since I don’t have that die we cut our circles.
Three silver brads were added up in the top right corner.
This card was designed by Michele Schmidt for the Shoebox Swap. Michele was also one of my roommates at convention.
This next card features the Dusty Durango In-Color. The stamp set is a Hostess Level 2 set called Asian Artistry. This card uses a masking technique to create the circle which was inked using a Brayer and the Dusty Durango ink.
The bird image was then stamped with Black StazOn ink and the right edge of the circle was sponged with Soft Suede ink to create the shadow.
Some highlights were added with the White Gel Pen to the leaves. We also used an Aquapainter to “paint” the bird – this causes some of the ink to lighten up.
The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and punched with the Word Window punch and layered on some Basic Black card stock that was punched with the Modern Label punch.
I do not know who designed this card – so if you know please leave me a comment and I’ll add it here. This was also a card we made at the Shoebox swap on Tuesday night. I told you I got some great cards that night….
And the last card features the Soft Suede and Crushed Curry In-Colors. This is the Circle Circus stamp set and I also used Teeny Tiny Wishes in my class. The Designer Series Paper is from the Razzleberry Lemonade set.
The images were stamped on Very Vanilla card stock and punched out with various circle punches. There is a small Crushed Curry flower that was punched using the Trio Flower punch and has a Clear Rhinestone Brad in the center.
Soft Suede Polka Dot ribbon was wrapped around the Designer Paper before it was adhered to the front of the card.
The greeting was punched with the Modern Label punch. We stamped a matching envelope.
This card was designed by Elizabeth Martinez and we made this at the STARZ meeting on Wednesday night of Convention.
Thanks to all these ladies for sharing their card designs at convention.
If you live near Woodstock, Georgia I hope you will join me for my next class. Check my calendar to see what’s coming up.
Happy Stampin’!
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 (monikastamp@bellsouth.net)
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 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!
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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!
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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!
Apr 7, 2009 | class, Thoughts & Prayers |
Greg needed a sympathy card for a co-worker last week and I made this card. I got this card idea from the Stamper’s Showcase from another demonstrator. I made a few minor changes from her original card but it is basically the same idea.
Ever since I saw this set in the new catalog I have been wanting to plan a class around it. I have already had a couple of “emergency card kit” classes and I think this set would be ideal to do another version. Sympathy and get well cards are usually needed on short notice and to have a stack of these ready to go will be helpful to many people. I’m working on my ideas and planning my class as well as when to have it. Once I decide on the date I’ll post it here, on my website and send it out in an email to those that are on my newsletter mailing list.
Our spring break is not as warm and sunny as we would like it to be. It has been very windy and down in the 30s last night and tonight. The weather is really wierd the sky in one direction is dark and stormy an
d in the other birght sunshine. We are mostly staying inside – sleeping, reading, playing games. I hope my birds are all doing well. Here is another picture I took of the male bluebird last weekend.
I’m also working on making more of the Easter Bunny baskets from my last hands-on class. I planning on 15 – one for each of the kids coming to my house on Easter Sunday. We are going to have a big crowd of family and some family friends next weekend. About 40 – 45 people!
Have a wonderful day!
