More Birthdays and a Santa

I totally missed a very good friend's birthday in August. Her birthday is the very same day as my youngest son. I was talking to her a couple of days ago and wished her belated birthday greetings, but I wanted to send her a card with a note inside. I was not sure which stamp set and which layout I should use, but I was visiting the various blogs I love and when I opened Patty Bennett's I knew I had found the card. You can find Patty's card HERE. You will see that Patty used the Scallop Oval Frame die for the Big Shot. I do not have that die, but I do have Nestabilities so I used them. My image panel is smaller than Patty's, but the overall feel of the card is there. I love the way she used the new ornament punch to make the vase.
Recipe
Stamp Sets - Charming, Best Yet (retired)
Card Stock - Dusty Durango, Old Olive
Ink - Dusty Durango Classic, Old Olive and Dusty Durango markers
Other - Ornament Punch, Ribbon is from the Mistletoe Ribbon Originals set.

The stamp set (Charming), Ribbon and the punch are available in the Holiday Mini Catalogue.

This card is also for a very good friend. His birthday was September 26. I know he won't get the card on time, but I had totally forgotten his birthday as well. His wife is the friend for whom I made the card above. I feel awful, but know that they both understand. I will however make sure I don't forget their birthdays in the future.
I am really liking that beer mug in the Cheers to You set. I especially like using Liquid Appliqué to make the foam and crystal effects to make the mug look like glass. I even used some of my very carefully hoarded Kraft corduroy buttons! I was going to put a greeting on the front of the card, but it just made it look too busy so I left it alone.

I struggle with masculine cards, but I am really pleased with how this one turned out.

Recipe
Stamp Set - Cheers to You
Card Stock - Kraft, Always Artichoke, Manchester DSP (retired)
Ink - Black Stazon, So Saffron Marker
Other - Kraft Corduroy Buttons


This is my first attempt at Heather Summer's punched Santa. It was the final creation on her Simply Punches - Holidays on line class. I am pleased with how it turned out, but know that my next attempt will be better. Can you believe it is all punches? I won't list them, but you can probably guess what most of them are.

Recipe
Stamp Set - Christmas Greetins
Card Stock - Real Red, Basic Black, Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Brushed Gold

Have a good day!

Christmas Cocoa Stamp Camp

Andrea Walford has done it again! Each time she releases one of her class planners I say it is my favourite. Andrea is having a Stamp Camp in Cambridge, Ontario on Saturday, November 7 where you can spend the day making these 12 cards and matching tote. I live too far from there to be able to attend, but she has made the instructions available to fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators in the form of a class planner and is also offering it as a Stamp Class by email. You can find out more by visiting Andrea's Blog. This is the photo showing the 12 cards and the tote. There are 4 card designs - the participants will make three of each design.

I did not have on hand all of the stamp sets that Andrea uses, but I wanted to make the cards as soon as my planner arrived in my InBox so I had to make some adjustments (both to my cards and to my Wish List).

For the first card, Andrea used a beautiful stamp set - Scenic Season - page 35 in the current Stampin' Up! catalogue. I do not have that set, but I did have a nonSU stamp that I thought would be perfect. You could probably use Lovely as a Tree as a substitute, but I liked the look of the little village. I also used a stamp that is available in the SU Holiday Mini Catalogue (Sept 1 to Jan 4). Don't you just love Santa and his reindeer flying over the village? The real red CS layer should have been scalloped - I forgot to do that.


Recipe:
Stamps - Wandering Words (page 16 in the mini catalogue); nonSU Stamp
Ink - Soft Suede
Card Stock - Real Red, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa DSP
Other - 2 way glue pen and dazzling diamonds (I used my Stardust Gel pen)

The original instructions for this card call for the Serene Snowflakes stamp set in the Holiday Mini. I do not have that set so substituted the retired The Snowflake Spot. I also used glitter glue instead of the 2 way glue pen and dazzling diamonds glitter.

Recipe
Stamp Set - The Snowflake Spot (retired)
Ink - Soft Suede, Sahara Sand
Card Stock - Soft Suede, Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa DSP
Other - dimensionals

The next card also has substitutions - I don't have Tree Trimmings (page 28 in the SU catalogue), so I decided to use Delightful Decorations and it's coordinating punch. I think perhaps I should have used only one ornament, but I am very pleased with my card. I do not have the gold elastic cord available in the Holiday Mini so I used some non SU gold cord that I had on hand.

You can't really tell from the picture, but the DSP is flocked.

Recipe

Stamps - Delightful Decorations

Ink - Real Red, Soft Suede

Card Stock - Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa DSP

Other - Ornament Punch, Glitter Glue, Gold Cord


This, I think, is my most favourite of the cards. When I first saw this cardinal stamp set last year I was not sure if I wanted to buy it - I am not very good at colouring. My husband really wanted me to get it, so who am I to say no. I love the stamp set! I have used it on tumbled tiles and coloured it in. The lines in the stamp give some natural shading so it is not so bad to colour in. I have also stamped and embossed it on vellum and then coloured it on the back of the vellum (stained glass technique) and was very happy with those results. This by far is the best - I just stamped it and I was done! Andrea's notes say to colour the berries red (I did not read that part so did not colour them). I also forgot to adhere the image panel with dimensionals.

Recipe

Stamp Set - A Cardinal Christmas

Ink - Soft Suede, Real Red

Card Stock - Soft Suede, Real Red, Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa DSP

Other - Gold Brads



Have a great day!

Christmas Swap

This is what I have made for the second spot I signed up for in the 3 x 3 Christmas Swap. I really liked the little flowers Judy and I had made using Paula Goff's tutorial and thought they would be perfect on a 3 x 3. I am glad I decided to stamp the poinsettia image from the Patterned Pines set in the two corners. I only had to make 9 so it was not too time consuming. In fact, I had them all done in a couple of hours. These could very easily be used as tags, or mounted on a standard card base.


Recipe:
Stamp Set - Patterned Pines (Level 1 Hostess Set - Holiday Mini)
Card Stock - Real Red, Garden Green, Whisper White
Ink - Real Red and Garden Green Markers
Other - Gold Brad, Dimensionals, 5 Petal Punch

Tutorial for Poinsettias can be found here - Inking Addict

Thanks for stopping in.

Let's get organized

This week Judy and I got together on Tuesday rather than our usual Monday. After a lovely lunch of spinach salad and quiche we made 'Inventory Wallets' to help up keep track of our Stampin' Up! card stock, inks, markers, etc. I purchased the tutorial from Card à la Carte. It was great - detailed instructions including the inventory pages. We just had to print and cut them following the detailing cutting guidelines.


Recipe:
Stamp Set - Charming
Card Stock - Soft Sky, Blue Bayou (both retired)
Ink - Blue Bayou (retired)
Other - Modern Label Punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, 1 1/2 circle punch, 1/2 circle punch, scallop circle punch, Build a Brad, Silver brads

Here is a quick look at the inside front cover and the first page - notice the Wish List (empty now, but for how long?). The rest of the pages are organized by the SU colour families.

Thanks for looking.

Final Card - September Birthdays

This is the last card I have to make for the September birthdays in my family. In real life this shows up much better. I stamped the 'grove' of trees from the Lovely as a Tree set with Always Artichoke ink onto the same colour card stock. I then went over the branches with my Stardust glitter pen.



Recipe:
Stamp Set - Lovely as a Trees, Happy Everything
Card Stock - Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze (retired), Manchester DSP (retired)
Ink - Always Artichoke
Other - Gold Brads, Stardust Gel Pen

Another Birthday Card and a Christmas Swap

Here is another card for a September birthday. It is going to be late to the recipient who does not live in my city, but it should still get there in September (I hope!). I totally CASE'd this card - the only thing I changed was to leave off the greeting on the front. You can see the original card HERE The greeting is on the inside of the card.

Recipe:
Stamp Set - Razzle Dazzle, It's Your Birthday
Card Stock - Kraft, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede
Ink - Versamark, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede
Other - Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, 1 1/2 circle punch, dimenstionals

I decided to participate in another swap. For this one, for each spot, we have to make 9 3" x 3" squares with a Christmas Theme. I have signed up for two spots. This is my submission for the first swap. I am going to have to get the silver elastic cord from the mini catalogue to complete my swaps - they need to have a little bit of a bow around the neck of the ornament.

Recipe:
Stamp Set - Delightful Decorations
Card Stock - Real Red (Textured), Soft Suede, Whisper White
Ink - Real Red
Other - Petals a Plenty embossing folder, Ornament Punch, Clear Circle Rhinestone Brad

Thanks for stopping by.

More Birthday Cards

As I said in my last post - we have a lot of birthdays in September. Here are some more - I think I still have one to go.



Recipe:
Stamp Set - Charming, Teenie Tiny Wishes
Card Stock - Pale Plum, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink - Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry
Other - Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Stickles


Recipe:
Stamp Set - Sweet Stems, Sincere Salutations
Card Stock - Old Olive, Rose Red, Whisper White, Raspberry Tart DSP (retired)
Ink - Basic Black, Old Olive, Regal Rose
Other - Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4 inch circle punch, stickles


Recipe:
Stamp Sets - A Light unto My Path (retired), It's Your Birthday, Winds of Grace
Card Stock - Soft Sky (retired), Blue Bayou (retired), Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink - Blue Bayou (retired), Soft Sky (retired), Real Red, Going Gray, Real Rust, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel, So Saffron, Stardust Gel Pen


Recipe:
Stamp Sets - Manhattan Floral, Sincere Salutations
Card Stock - Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel
Other - Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch



Recipe:
Stamp Set - Razzle Dazzle, Teenie Tiny Wishes
Card Stock - Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry
Ink - Versamark, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry
Other - Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Circle # 2 die for the Big Shot, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Paper Piercer

September Birthdays

We have multiple birthdays during the month of September. I have started making the cards and here are the first three.

This card is for my brother-in law. I really enjoyed using the Cheers to You stamp set. See below to see a close up of the crystal effects I used on the beer mug, and the Liquid Appliqué for the foam. How fun is that? Recipe:
Stamp Set - Cheers to You
Card Stock - Baja Breeze (retired), Always Artichoke, Whisper White
DSP - Manchester (retired)
Ink - Black StazOn, Baja Breeze (retired), Summer Sun
Other - Crystal Effects, Liquid Appliqué, Styled Silver Hodgepodge

In the picture you can see where I used Crystal Effects. Don't you love how the Liquid Appliqué puffs up and looks like the foam on a glass of beer?

I made this next card for my niece. It is interactive - see that little bit of ribbon - well see the photo below to see what happens when you pull on it.

A tag pops out. Is this not clever? I saw this card HERE and knew I would have to CASE it!

Recipe:

Stamp Set - On a Pedestal

Card Stock - Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

DSP - Rose Red (from Patterns Pack)

Ink - Melon Mambo, Black StazOn, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun
Ribbon - 1/4 inch chocolate chip (retired)

This card is for my niece's daughter. No picture, but on the inside it says celebrate one cupcake at a time. I punched one of the cupcakes out with the 3/4 inch circle punch and popped it up with a dimensional. I also stamped one of the cupcakes on the inside of the card. I used nonSU rhinestones to embellish two of the cupcakes; dazzling diamonds glitter on two and crystal effects on one.

I used my ScorPal to score some lines to add a little bit more interest. Stamp Sets - The More the Merrier (level III Hostess set); Sweet Little Sentiments

Card Stock - Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper Whit

Ink - Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery

Ribbon - Melon Mambo Polka Dot

Other - Dazzling Diamonds, Rhinestones, Crystal Effects, Word Window & Modern Label punches.

Another Character from Heather Summers' Simply Punches - Holidays

This is the latest project I have made following the directions on Heather's online class. The little elf is made from punches! Heather's card had punched circles on the base card - I decided to use up some of the retired Dashing DSP that I had on hand. I think it works very well. The elf if adhered to the card using dimensionals. Stamps - Four the Holidays
Card Stock - Real Red, Old Olive, Blush Blossom, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla
DSP - Dashing (retired)
Ribbon - Real Red 1/2 inch grosgrain

Tulipe Die for the Big Shot

Up until now I had only over used the Tulipe die to make antlers for a punched reindeer face. Angie Juda shared this technique on her blog. See the video HERE
I was looking at Caroline Lebel's blog a few days ago and saw a card using the Tulipe die and Razzleberry Lemonade DSP - you will have to scroll down to the September 4, 2009 entry. I don't have that DSP, but I still have some of the retired Raspberry Tart so decided to team some of that up with Rich Razzleberry card stock. My finished card is 5 1/2 by 5 1/2. I cut the white base card (non SU 120 lb) to 5 1/2 X 11 and scored it at 5 1/2. The next layer is cameo coral cut to 5 1/4 x 5 1/4. The dsp and the Rich Razzleberry were both cut to 5 x 5. I ran the Rich Razzleberry through the Big Shot using the Tulipe die. I then assembled the layers. I swirled some Tombow glue on the DSP and sprinkled on some dazzling diamonds. Hope you like it.

Marjorie

Another Bell

I used the punched bell to decorate a box I had cut out using the Big Shot and the Box #2 dies. Would these not make a really cute table favour for Christmas dinner or pre-Christmas parties and gatherings.

More Punchies

More creations from Heather Summers' online class - Simply Punches - Holidays.

The card on the left is my version of Heather's reindeer peeking around a tree. I only did the head and used a nonSU punch for the antlers. Heather used pieces of the SU Jumbo Snowflake punch for her antlers and it is so cute. The head is made using the large oval punch; 1/2 inch circle punch for the nose and eyes; 1/4 inch circle punch for the eyeballs. My reindeer has no visible legs - the original does have them, but I could not make them work, so I have only the head peeking out. The tree is made using the Scallop Circle #2 die for Big Shot. It is cut into segments and then layered. I used the small star punch for the tree topper. The decoractions on the tree and the reindeer's nose use Xmas Red stickles glitter glue. The base card is Soft Sky (retired) and although they don't show well in this photo, there are snowflakes that have been stamped using Whisper White craft ink. The edges have also been sponged with White. The 'snowbank' is two layers of Whisper White CS that have been embossed using a snowflakes embossing folder (non SU). It is finished with a greeting from the Teenie Tiny Wishes stamp set and a piece of real red ribbon. The images were adhered to the card using dimensionals.

I love this tag! Who would have thought you could make a bell decorated with holly using punches. Heather Summers, that is who!

The bell is made using the wide oval as well as the large and small oval punches. The holly leaves are also made using the small oval punch. It is then further punched with 'bites' from the 1/2 circle punch. The berries are punched with the 1/4 inch circle punch. Heather's tag was made using the Two Tags die for the Big Shot(exclusive to SU). I don't have that die so I improvised. I punched a scallop circle and cut a piece of matching CS the same width as the punched scallop. I adhered half of the scallop to the top of that CS. When the bell was attached the seam is covered. The corners of the CS were rounded. Little highlights were added to the berries and the bell using the white Signo Gel pen.

Five Petal Punch

A few weeks ago when my friend Judy and I got together we made our own flowers to embellish our cards. Using the Five Petal punch we followed the directions on Paula Goff's blog.

A very cute and easy project to ensure you have flowers that match your card stock and DSP.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! except for the green brad.

CS - So Saffron, Certainly Celery

DSP - Delicate Dots (retired)

Stamp Set - Happy Everything

Punchy Snowmen

I am participating in an online class hosted by the amazing Heather Summers. All projects use Stampin' Up's punches and are holiday themed. One of the projects was for these cute snowmen using the wide oval punch. I am not sure I am completely happy with my choice of DSP, but overall I am pleased with the card. I was able to use up some retired CS, DSP and felt flurries (the snowflakes). Hope you like it.
Marjorie

Season of Friendship

I bought this set, mounted it and never used it. I decided to ink it up and make a set of cards - I am thinking I will have to make multiple sets as I am very pleased with the results. I think they would make great hostess gifts. I have not used a sentiment at all - thinking they could be used as note cards. The stamp set is on page 114 of the current Stampin' Up! catalogue and there is a lovely card displayed on that page as well. I then saw a couple of samples on a blog (unfortunately I cannot remember whose) and decided that I had to CASE them.

Spring
Recipe:
Card Stock - Handsome Hunter, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Handsome Hunter, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink
Other - Stampin' dimensionals, Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon
Tools - 3/4" circle punch

Summer

Recipe:

Card Stock - Rich Razzleberry, Perfect Plum, Whisper White

Ink - Chocolate Chip, Rich Razzleberry, Perfect Plum, So Saffron

Other - Stampin' dimensionals, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot ribbon, half pearls (non SU)

Tools - 3/4" circle punch

Autumn

Recipe:

Cardstock - Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla

Ink - Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie

Other - Stampin' dimensionals, Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon

Tools - 3/4" circle punch

Winter

Recipe:

Card Stock - Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Whisper White

Ink - Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Real Red

Other - Stampin' Dimensionals, 5/8" Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon, Glitter Glue (non SU)

Tools - 3/4" circle punch

Dimensions for all cards
Base Card 5 ½ x 8 ½ (scored at 4 ¼)
Layer 1 3 ¾ x 5
Layer 2 3 ½ x 4 ¾
Image Layer 3 ¼ x 4 ½

All of the cards have dark base cards so I will have to make a light coloured panel for the inside. I will probably just cut the lightest colour to 4 x 5 1/2, sponge the edges, and stamp a small image in the bottom corner.

Have a great day!

Marjorie

This card was created following directions from Heather Summers' Simply Punches - Holidays class. I had a lot of fun with this one - there were lots of techniques. Sponging, masking, using punches ...


Heather used a brayer to create the sky and she did not include a moon. I first sponged on a bit of So Saffron and then masked it with a 1 3/4" inch circle. I then sponged on more mustard, pumpkin pie and finally dusty durango. When I removed the mask I had a great big harvest moon!

Is Mr. Owl's little jack o lantern treat bucket not cute! I am still amazed at Heather's creations using a bit of paper, ink and imaginative use of punches.

Have a great day!

Marjorie

Dasher and Dashing

I have made another set of cards using the Exclusive Class Planner I received from Andrea Walford. For this set I used Dashing DSP (retired), Old Olive, Real Red and River Rock (retired) card stock. I hope you like them.

Card One: Card Two:

Card 3:

Card Four:

And finally the tote:

Marjorie

Christmas Tag Swap

I am participating in a swap where instead of making card fronts, we are making christmas tags. Each person has to make 10 + 1 tags, all identical or nearly so. In return we will get back 10 different tags. The extra tag goes to the hostess who is coordinating the swap.

We had to use stamp sets that were in the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue or in the holiday mini catalogue which was released on September 1. All products used had to be Stampin' Up.

I chose to use a set I had pre-ordered from the mini - Yuletide Christmas (set of 5). I cut the Kraft CS to 3 1/2 by 8 1/2 and folded it at 4 1/4. The edges of the tag were sponged with chocolate chip. The holly wreath was stamped directly onto the tag using old olive. The greeting was stamped onto Very Vanilla CS using markers. This was punched out using the scallop oval punch and it was adhered to the real red cardstock that was punched using the wide oval punch. I used stampin' dimensionals to adhere it to the centre of the wreath. I then tied a piece of the new Sleigh Bells Ribbon (also from the mini). There is also a cord (hemp twine) to attach the tag to a package or a gift bag.

Dasher Holiday Card Class

Andrea Walford, a very talented and creative demonstrator from Cambridge, Ontario creates wonderful and unique card classes. I subscribe and each month I receive a new class planner. As a bonus for her annual subscribers, Andrea has created this exclusive card class using the stamp Dasher and Holiday Lounge DSP. As with all of Andrea's class planners there are cards and a matching tote. The photo shows the four cards and the tote.

I love the Dasher stamp, the tote and the layouts, but the colour combinaation is a little out of my comfort zone for Christmas - I still like the reds, greens and golds. I did stretch myself a little bit and although I still have my red, I used blue! Blue for Christmas - I am still not quite sure about that, but I do know that I am very pleased with my cards. I was so anxious to share that the photos are not the very best. I have to do something about my lighting. All four of the cards and the tote use Baja Breeze (retired), Real Red and Whisper White card stock as well as Ski Slope DSP (retired). the stamp set used is Four the Holidays (in the Holiday Mini Catalogue). All products used are Stampin' Up!




On this card Dasher was stamped on Baja Breeae with versamark and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The Whisper White and Real red were layered onto the DSP and the ribbon was wrapped around and tied. A couple of red brads were used and then the whole panel was adhered to the base card. The greeting was stamped with black stazon. The base card was cut at 4.25 X 11. Scored at 5.5. The fold is to the left of the card.




The real red base for this card was cut at 4.25 X 11 and scored at 5.5. The fold is to the left. Dasher was stamped onto a piece of Baja breeze and heat embossed with white embossing powder. The greeting was stamped onto Whisper White and then layered onto a strip of Baja Breeze. A couple of silver brads add some interest on the right had side. The DSP was achered to the base card, then the Baja Breeze strip was attached and finally the image panel was adhered to the card.

The base card was cut a 4.25 X 11 and scored at 11. The fold is at the top. A piece of real red was punched on the top and bottom using the scallop border punch. Dasher was again stamped with versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder. A strip of DSP, a coupl of brads and a bit of ribbon and you have a fabulous card. The greeting was stamped with black stazon.

This card really takes me out of my comfort zone - a blue reindeer! I was really surprised that I liked it. I hope you do too. First I inked Dasher up with my versamark pad and then I inked him with Baja Breeze. Stamped him onto whisper white and then heat embossed with clear emobssing powder. The scallops on the baja breeze strip were pierced. The greeting was heat embossed with white embossing powder.

And now the tote! Is it not cute? I love the shape of the top. It was pretty easy to put together. The front is decorated with a piece of DSP layered onto whisper white and then real red. The greeting stamped in real red and the beautiful real red grosgrain complete the tote.

Changes

You may have noticed that I have reduced the number of links in the side bar of my blog. Stampin' Up has made some changes to the agreement demonstrators have to sign so I have had to remove some things in order to remain compliant.