Jul 11, 2009 | Colored Brads, Stamper's Club, Stamps, SU Ribbon, Techniques, Wanted |
I know 4th of July has passed but we can always use a fun Red, White and Blue card any time. And this could be easily changed to some other color and make a great birthday card. Actually this idea is from a birthday card that my sister-in-law, Stephanie, sent to Tyler for his birthday one year – he has an August birthday – I have been saving it because I liked the pinwheel on it.
I used Real Red and Night of Navy and added the star brad in the center. I have been trying to find a project for the star brads and this was the perfect one. While it isn’t in this picture – I actually took the brad and smooshed it into a craft ink pad (I had to use Ruby Red since I didn’t have Real Red) and got ink all into the grooves of the brad and then wiped it with a paper towel so that ink in the grooves stayed but the other ink wiped off. I’ll get a picture later today and add it to this post later.
The new modern label punch worked great with the Family Phrases set where the “let’s celebrate” is from. I always fall back to using my Itty Bitty Backgrounds splatter stamp when I think my project needs something and it finished this one off nicely – atleast I thought it did.
This was one of our club projects last night for my Stamper’s Club meeting. We have one more meeting for this round in August and then I’ll start a new group in September. If you are not in the club now and want to join please let me know and I’ll send you all the details.
Have a fun weekend!
Jul 10, 2009 | Circle Scissor Plus, Designer Series Paper, Great Friend, In Colors, Occasions Mini 2009, Rock 'n Roll, Stamps, SU Ribbon, Techniques |
I made this cute box the other day. The pattern and idea came from an online class that I am taking called Simply Babies by Heather Summers who is a demonstrator in Canada. While her projects are all baby related and I don’t really need baby projects her work is so great and most things can be adapted to anything you want. I haven’t been able to create all the projects – there is a new one each day – but I have made a few.
This one is a cupcake box that I made for my friend Gina who had a birthday while I was away on vacation. Gina likes bright colors so I thought the new Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper would be just perfect for her. I used three of the new In-Colors – Melon Mambo (the pink color), Crushed Curry (the yellow color), and Rich Razzleberry (the purple color). The stamp set is the Great Friend stamp set – one of my favorites as you can tell because I am using it a lot. It debuted in the Occasions mini catalog. The butterfly is done with the Rock ‘n’ Roll technique because I wanted it to kind of look like the paper which has the Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry colors blending together.
To do the Rock ‘n Roll technique follow these easy steps:
- Choose two colors of ink that will work together – one lighter than the other. In this case mine are Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry – where Melon Mambo is the lighter color.
- Tap your solid image stamp into the light-colored ink – Melon Mambo.
- Press the edges of the stamp in a rolling motion on the darker ink pad – Rich Razzleberry, being careful not to ink the center of the stamp.
This gives the lighter Melon Mambo color in the center of the butterfly and the Rich Razzleberry around the edges. I cut out the butterfly and added cross-stitch thread to the center to create a body and antenna for the butterfly. The tag is made using one of the large sized metal edge tags. The 1-3/4″ circle punch is the perfect circle to fit on the tag – I used Crushed Curry and stamped “for you” in Rich Razzleberry ink. The butterfly is attached with Stampin’ Dimensionals to give it a 3-D effect.
I created my lid a bit differently than Heather made her orignal design – I changed two things. First before assembling the lid I used the Scallop Edge punch on each edge to create the lid border. Make sure to trim the tabs on so that they can be attached inside without seeing them behind the scallops. Also before assemble I punched a slit using the Horizontal slot punch on two sides of the box – these are in the edge corner where the side fold down. I made them wide enough to slide my ribbon through. This allowed me to tie the ribbon through the lid of the box and it doesn’t have to be untied to remove the lid. I am so bad at tying bows once I “get it” I don’t want to undo it.
The inside of the box has an insert with a circle cut out of the center – used the Circle Scissor Plus – that holds the cupcake in place so it doesn’t slide around. The picture doesn’t actually have the cupcake inside – just the liner to show you. I was able to add the cupcake with a candle in it – the box was tall enough for that.
I really loved how it all turned out and think this would be a cute little birthday present to give someone that maybe you wouldn’t normally buy a gift for but want to acknowledge them with a special surprise!
I took Gina her cupcake yesterday afternoon and she was surprised to find it inside when she opened the box. We lit the candle and she made a wish – but to her surprise (and actually to mine) – the candle re-lit! My boys like to use the trick candles and when I grabbed one it never crossed my mind that it would be one of those. I just picked one with pink colored stripes – which of course are the leftovers since I have boys we don’t usually use the pink candles unless they make a cake for me.
Anyway – hope you day is full of fun and surprises!
Jun 24, 2009 | Blooming with Love, class, Designer Series Paper, Masking, Retired List, Stamps, Techniques |
Well I should be back on schedule now to get something new posted each day. Greg seems to be improving and actually went in to work today – he has been home for a week and a half – so I’m glad that he feels well and can drive today. We will go back to the doctor on Thursday. It seems that it is an infection and is now responding to the medication that he is on – it just took a while. The steroid boost he got on Monday seems to have really helped. I think the worst is over now and maybe we can figure out what is causing these infections. He had one last year too – not exactly the same situation but still….
Now on to some stamping……
Blooming with Love is the third main stamp set that I featured in my Stamp-a-Stack class last week. We made two beautiful cards using this set and the Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series Paper. I love this set and have had it since early this year and this was the first time I had a chance to use it. Everything I have ever seen with this set is just beautiful. Why did I wait so long to buy it and why did I wait so long to use it??? Now it is on the Last Chance List and it won’t be available for sale after the end of June. But I do have mine, so if you want one too don’t forget to order it. And the Parisian Breeze paper is so pretty and it works well for both female and male cards – why – because every pattern that has flowers (girly) on the back side (it is double-sided paper) there is a more manly design like stripes.
So here are the two cards we made – the designs are slightly altered from cards created by a demonstrator named Becky Roberts. The greeting on this first card is actually a Rub-on from the Chit Chat Rub-ons – I love this collection of Rub-Ons you get over 200 different greetings – one sheet is White and the other is Chocolate Chip. The pots are stamped on scraps of the Parisian Breeze paper and cut out – then adhered with Stampin’ Dimensionals ontop of the pots stamped on the Whisper White card stock. Use an aquapainter and some Sahara Sand ink to add the shadows around the plants and pots and on the ground.
This second card uses the “masking” technique. Use this technique to make the pots sit inside the wheelbarrow and the flowers sit inside the pots. You need to use post it notes when doing this technique.
First stamp the image you want in the foreground – in this case the wheelbarrow. Stamp it again on a post it note and cut out exactly on the lines – or just inside the lines of the image – this is your “mask”. Then cover the image that you stamped on your card stock.
Next stamp the second layer – in this case the center pot inside the wheelbarrow. Also stamp one on a post it note and cut it out – you may want more than one since we are working with multiple pots or you’ll have to move the one around. Leave the mask on the wheel barrow and add a mask over the center pot.
Now stamp the third layer – which is the other two pots in the wheelbarrow – they appear behind the center pot and all appear to be sitting inside the wheelbarrow. To add the flowers inside each pot you need to cover each one with a mask before stamping the flower.
Also stamp the pot behind the wheel before lifting the mask covering the wheel portion of the wheelbarrow. Once you have stamped all the pieces then remove all the masks and color in the images. When watercoloring with the Aquapainter use Stazon ink for all your stamping. I used both classic ink and Watercolor Wonder Crayons to color these.
On this particular card I stamped the wheelbarrow image onto a piece of the Parisian Breeze paper (the chocolate chip print) and cut it out. It was adhered to the original image with stampin’ dimensionals. And a vintage brad is in the center of the wheel.
The circle image with the Thank You is from another stamp set that is on the Last Chance List – it is called Seeing Spots. For a complete list of Last Chance items click on the page on the right side bar under Helpful Information – you can see the stamp sets, Decor Elements and accessories that are on the last chance list. It is your last chance to buy them….before they are gone. You can email me or go to my website and order online by clicking the SHOP NOW button.
I hope you like these beautiful cards. The masking technique is a real “Wow” technique and fun to use – so give it a try.
Have a Bloomin’ Beautiful Day!
May 31, 2009 | Lifes a Breeze, Masking, Occasions Mini 2009, Stamps, Wild About You |
My share for today is one of those projects that covers several things that I wanted to accomplish this weekend. As it turned out I didn’t do any stamping yesterday – I cleaned the house, did laundry and then we went to a graduation party and then ended up at another party until late. So no stamping and no blog post for yesterday. 
Today I wanted to stamp and decided to combine my ideas. First the Late Night Stampers group had a weekly challenge to create a summer themed card. Then there is a new blog – stamping411.blogspot.com – with a weekly sketch challenge that I wanted to try. And I had an idea from a friend that I wanted to turn into something too. So combining those three things here is my card that I just finished:
A few weeks ago I met a new friend, Patty, that came to one of my classes and she came up with an idea to combine the float from the Life’s a Breeze stamp set with the Giraffe from the Wild About You stamp set but she didn’t know how to do that. “I can do that and what a great idea!” I told her. I used the “masking technique” to create the float by stamping the float first on a piece of Whisper White card stock and then on a piece of post -it note. I cut out the post-it note and stuck it on top of the one that I stamped on the card stock. Then stamp the giraffe image over it so the head is where you want it on the float – and the body and legs are on the post-it note. When you peel up the post-it note you end up with a giraffe float! I cut it out to add to my card. A trick for cutting out the center of the float is to first punch a hole in the center with a handheld punch and then use your paper snips to cut. I do this instead of trying to poke a hole with the tip of my scissors which always bends the card stock.
The dock-post is one slat from the wagon in the Wagon Full of Fun stamp set. It is watercolored (actually a left over from a different project.) I tied linen thread around the float – using a knot I learned as a girl at sailing camp – yes we took knot tying as part of camp which helped later on when I was a cub scout leader for my boys – I taught them all how to tie basic knots. And now I use some of those knots in my stamping projects!
Here is the complete list of supplies for this card:
- Pacific Point card stock and classic ink
- Pumpkin Pie card stock and classic ink
- Bashful Blue card stock and classic ink
- Whisper White card stock
- Life’s a Breeze stamp set
- Something Fishy jumbo wheel and handle
- Wild About you stamp set
- Wagon Full of Fun stamp set
- Linen Thread
- Stampin’ Dimensionals
- Aqua Painter
- Close to Cocoa classic ink
- Paper snips
I think I accomplished all three tasks – now I need to go add my entries in the appropriate places and I have one more that I’m trying to do today. I’ll be working on my newsletter – so look for that tomorrow if you are on my email list and the Last Chance list will be out tomorrow too – I’ll add that to my blog on the Last Chance page and send via email to my email list.
We are having a beautiful weekend and I hope you are too!
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!
Apr 19, 2009 | Circle Scissor Plus, Colored Brads, Stamps, Techniques, Wow Flowers |
As I was preparing for my class on Thursday I cleaned my craft table and made a pile of card stock scraps to put away in my scrap folders. I noticed three colors that I had lying together and thought what a good color combination. It was Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss and Rose Red. I’m sure that somewhere else that combination has already been found but that was how I happened upon it – so I set the scraps aside because I wanted to make a card using those colors. As I look through the catalog – this color combination or something close to it is already in the catalog – the new Bright Delights rub-ons have Rose Red, Tangerine Tango and Kiwi Kiss; the Flower Fusion has Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red and Old Olive; even the Retro Fresh Style Watch includes these colors – I guess I wasn’t so original after all. Tonight I took a few minutes and put together a quick card. This would make a great one-sheet wonder idea.
Supplies:
- Wow Flowers stamp set
- Pumpkin Pie card stock
- Kiwi Kiss card stock
- Rose Red card stock
- Whisper White card stock
- Classic Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red
- Stampin’ Write Marker: Rose Red
- Punches: Scallop Circle, 1-3/8″ Circle punch, 1-1/4″ Circle punch, 1/8″ handheld punch, 1/16″ handheld punch
- Circle Scissors Plus & Glass Mat
- Flower Designer Brads
- Crystal Effects
- Tombo glue
- Stampin’ Dimensionals
Instructions:
- Randomly stamp Whisper White card stock using Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss and Rose Red ink with the flower image.
- Adhere to Rose Red card stock. Adhere to Kiwi Kiss card stock. And adhere to the front of the Pumpkin Pie card base.
- Stamp “Thank You” image on Whisper White card stock using Kiwi Kiss ink and punch out with the 1-1/4″ circle punch. Adhere to a 1-3/8″ Rose Red circle.
- To create the flower brad go ahead and punch a 1/16″ circle in the center of the flower and insert the small
flower brad. Color the flower petals with a Rose Red Stampin’ Write Marker and then cover with Crystal Effects. Let dry. Punch a 1/8″ circle from a piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock. Use a small drop of Tombo glue to adhere to the center of the flower. Carefully add a small “bubble” of Crystal Effects on top. Let dry. - Cut a 2″ circle from Pumpkin Pie card stock using the Circle Scissor Plus and a Glass Mat.
- Punch a Scallop Circle from Kiwi Kiss card stock. Adhere to the Pumpkin Pie circle. Adhere to the front of the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- When the Crystal effects has dried add the Rose Red circle to the center of the Kiwi Kiss Scallop Circle using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- Stamp a matching envelope.
I love how the little flower brad turned out! I hope you like it too.
