Dec 22, 2009 | Christmas, Embossing, Holiday Mini Catalog 2009 |
I wanted to share with a card made by my friend, Yvonne. She sent this to me for Christmas and it is gorgeous. I call it a fancy fold card. The front is scored and folded back. The ornament outline is cut on one half only so that the ornament image shows through on the front and the inside. The images from Delightful Decorations are stamped and embossed in White. The one on the inside has the half pearl from the Pretties Kit in the center.
Yvonne added some silver cord at that fold so it sits at the top of the ornament. Either side of the card has a piece of the Flocked paper from the Christmas Cocoa Specialty paper and a layer of Whisper White card stock that was punched with the Eyelet border punch.
This card turned out great and I haven’t made one like this yet. I’m going to have to try one of these. I think the Movers & Shapers die with the various windows would work for this idea.
Thank you Yvonne for sending me this beautiful card.
I shared this on Late Night Stampers as day 11 in the 12 Days of Christmas Challenge.
Have a great day – Christmas is almost here…..

Nov 16, 2009 | Baroque Motifs, Big Shot, Christmas, Contest Winner, Embossing, Stamper's Club |
This is the best project! So much fun to make and they will be awesome gifts for almost anyone. I have been wanting to make the tile coasters with the tumbled tiles for awhile now. I made them a couple of years ago using StazOn ink and Stampin’ Pastels but I’ve seen other people making them with craft ink. I had planned on the tiles being one of the projects for my Stamper’s Club this time since we were working on gift giving ideas. In the Simply Holidays class that Heather Summers had she showed us a tumbled tile project that included a box to hold the tiles – it was perfect! I made sure I had Craft Ink and Clear Embossing Powder and I went and bought the tiles and was ready to roll. I decided to use the Dasher stamp set on the tiles and was very happy with how they turned out.

Stampin’ Up! supplies include:
– Dasher stamp set
– Tree Trimmings stamp set
– Baroque Motifs stamp set
– Warm Words stamp set
– Winter Post stamp set (for the tag)
– Craft ink in Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Real Red
– Clear Embossing Powder
– Chocolate Chip card stock for the box
– Kraft card stock for the tag
– Old Olive or Chocolate Chip 1-1/4″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
– Big Shot and Stampin’ Up! Two Tags die
– Red hemp cord (retired SU product)
And non-SU are the Tumbled Tiles and the felt tabs for the bottom of the tiles.
I made up about 4 more sets the weekend after we had our club meeting and I do plan to make some more to have for gifts this Holiday season.
UPDATE: I have been getting some questions on these so here is an explanation of how they were made.
I stamped the images with Craft ink and then covered them with Clear Embossing Powder. Since I was making a bunch I put them all on a cookie sheet (lined with parchment paper) and put them in the oven – I think each oven varies so you may need to test the temp and time for yours. I started at 300 degrees and it was taking a very long time so I increased the temp to 350. It took about 8 minutes for each batch of tiles – I have large cookie sheets so I think I had at least 8 or 10 tiles on it. You do want them all to lie flat on the tray – I did one batch where I had one leaning up on the edge and it took much longer to heat the embossing powder. You can see the powder change from powdery to a shiny finish. If you leave them too long they start to bubble so you do need to keep an eye on them. Then I took them out of the oven and I had a large towel doubled on my counter – I used a spatula to take them off the tray and place on the towel to cool – they will be HOT – don’t touch them! After they cool completely add the little felt pads to the bottom so they don’t scratch the table when you use them. I bought my tumbled tiles at Home Depot and they were about $5 for a box of 9.
Happy Stampin’!

Jul 25, 2009 | Chipboard, class, Designer Series Paper, Embellishments, Embossing, SU Ribbon, Upsy Daisy |
I made the cutest little desk frame out of two 4×4 coasters the other day. This is one of the projects we made/are making in my class this month. 
The paper is from the Pink Flamingo paper and I used the Summer Sun print with the flowers. Each piece is cut to 4×4 and I used an Anywhere Glue stick to adhere the paper to the coasters. I trimmed the edges with my paper snips. The reason I don’t use my corner rounder punch is because it is not the same corner as the coasters so it is easier to just use paper snips. Then I like to sand the edges with a sanding block. We embossed on the designer paper using the Upsy Daisy stamp set – stamp in VersaMark ink and use white embossing powder. Then heat set the embossing powder. I did one before applying the paper to the coaster and I did another one after applying the paper to the coaster. I felt like the heat tool caused the coaster to warp a little but after lying flat over night it wasn’t noticeable any more so it might not really make a difference. I put the two coaster together and marked and punched the holes using my Crop-A-Dile. Then tied the Bermuda Bay ribbon through to hold the two coaster together. I stamped “always on my mind, forever in my heart” from the Stem Sayings stamp set using the Bermuda Bay ink above my flowers. The Bermuda Bay card stock is corner rounded with the corner punch and stuck on the right side with Stampin’ Dimensionals. My pictures is actually just held on by the little clip from the Clips Assortment. I tied a piece of the Bermuda Bay Polka Dot Ribbon on the clip.
The picture is Greg and I at the beach earlier this month. You might remember me telling you about the infection Greg had in his lymph nodes/neck area. If you look carefully at the picture you can see that on the left side of the picture his neck is swollen and the other side his neck is normal. In this picture he was already getting better (it was worse the week before) and now it is almost completely gone. I think he has one more follow up with the doctor in a couple of weeks.
Don’t forget to join me for the ROYAL BLOG TOUR that starts at midnight!
Have a great 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!

Feb 23, 2009 | Embossing, Sale-A-Bration 2009, SU Buttons |
Hi everyone! It’s Monday and the kids are back in school – we just had a week long winter break and I’m glad we can all get back to a routine again. Morning came early but we all got up and out the door and no one was late!
Here is a Sale-A-Bration project that I created as part of my entry into the next Stampin’ Up! class challenge. Remember the embossed colored buttons from a few weeks ago (click here) – well I decided to use that idea again on some little 3×3 love notes – I made one in each of the colors featured in the Sale-A-Bration Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper – So Saffron, Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery. The buttons using those colors didn’t have the pop of color that I wanted because they were so light. So I turned to my Color Wheel to look at the Dynamic Duos and find a darker color that coordinated. And the colors I used to marker my buttons were More Mustard, Brilliant Blue and Old Olive. Here is a close up of the blue button:

Blue Button
The stamped flowers are stamped in VersaMark ink and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. Then punched with the 5-petal flower punch and sponged on the edges. I think they turned out so cute.

SAB Love Notes
Supplies:
Polka Dot Punches Stamp Set (SAB)
Sahara Sand card stock: 6” x 3” (3 pieces); 2” x 2” (3 pieces)
Bashful Blue card stock: 5-1/2” x 4-1/4”
So Saffron card stock: 5-1/2” x 4-1/4”
Certainly Celery card stock: 5-1/2” x 4-1/4”
Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper (SAB): 2-1/2” x 2-1/2” – one each of the Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and So Saffron designs.
5 petal flower punch
VersaMark® ink
Clear Embossing Powder
Heat Tool
Button Latte buttons
Classic Ink: Sahara Sand,Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Certainly Celery – used for sponging flowers
More Mustard Stampin’ Write Marker
Brilliant Blue Stampin’ Write Marker
Old Olive Stampin’ Write Marker
Craft Tweezers
Stampin’ Sponge
Stampin’ Dimensionals
Mini Glue Dots
White Embroidery Thread
Have a Happy Stampin’ Day!
Monika
[email protected]
www.monika.stampinup.net
Feb 8, 2009 | Dreams du Jour, Embossing, Stained Glass, Techniques |
I told you about my embossed colored button the other day. I showed my stamp club girls Friday night and showed my downline tonight. I had both groups make the same card which also included the Stained Glass technique. Some time ago I had started a Technique Book – in my classes and club meetings when I introduced a new technique they could also create a technique card for their books. Each card is a quarter sheet of card stock and fits in a small 4×6 photo album. I pre-printed the instructions and then in the class they would create a small sample to place on their card along with a full sized card (or project) that used the technique. I had gotten away from the techniques a bit so I’m trying to make sure to include them again. So for this months club meeting I showed them the Stained Glass technique. I also used one of the new Texture Plates for the Big Shot – I LOVE those! I went back to a stamp set that I haven’t used recently – Dreams du Jour – remember that one? Here is the card we made:

Stained Glass card
Supplies:
- Stamp Sets: Dreams du Jour
- Inks: Versamark®, Stampin’ Write Markers: Old Olive, Regal Rose, Rose Red
- Paper: Old Olive, Rose Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Vellum Paper
- Other: 1-3/4” circle punch, Eyelet Border punch, Black embossing Powder, Powder Pals, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Button Latte, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Stampin’ Up! Backgrounds 1 Texturz plates, Texturz Impressions Pad, Texturz Silicone Rubber, mini glue dots, clear embossing powder, small container, craft tweezers, embroidery thread
Stained Glass Technique:
Rub an embossing buddy over a piece of Vellum paper. Stamp image in Versamark® ink and cover with black embossing powder or use a dark Craft ink with clear embossing powder. Tap off the excess and heat set. Flip the Vellum over and color the back of the image with markers. Let dry.
Adhere the Vellum piece to neutral cardstock with the embossed side face up.
I hope you like it!
Happy Stamping!
Monika