Cards

Valentine: You Plus Me

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It’s January, it’s cold outside….real cold!  Do NOT ask me what I’m doing in MN in January.  Just call me crazy.  I can assure you….if we didn’t have family in this beautiful state we would not be here in January.

009Anyway….since it is January and we have to deal with the cold it’s probably time to start thinking about all those Valentines you want to make this year.  The You Plus Me stamp set is pretty darn cute and you can purchase it in a bundle with the COORDINATING Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack.  Not only does the designer paper coordinate with the stamp set but the Stacked with Love Designer Washi Tape coordinates with BOTH!  Woo Hoo!  You know how much I love COORDINATION!  🙂

I made this adorable little valentine using one of the Crumb Cake note cards.  I actually made a whole mess of little valentines using the Crumb Cake note cards.  They went so fast and turned out so cute!   You really must check out all these products.

Have a warm and cozy day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Wood You Be Mine?

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001Here it is!  My favorite item from the new 2015 Occasions Catalog!  The Wood You Be Mine stamp set.  How can I not LOVE this stamp set?  Being from MN and the land of Paul Bunyan the lumberjack from this stamp set just seemed to scream “buy me”!  Ha!

I had to make this card for my husband for his birthday last week.  I just changed the saying.  A few days before his birthday he was reading online that metrosexuals aren’t “in” these days….lumbersexuals are.  Ha!  Grow a beard and dress in flannel.  My husband also cuts a lot of wood when we’re at the cabin so this little lumberjack was perfect for him.

When you stamp the image of the lumberjack (ax included) you get the plaid portion of the shirt and there’s a separate solid stamp for the color of the shirt.  Since it’s a photopolymer stamp set you can line things up perfectly!  I colored the rest of the image with my Blendabilites.  🙂

I did a really neat technique for the background.  I first stamped the Hardwood image on Chocolate Chip card stock with Early Espresso ink.  Then I took my Hello Honey ink pad and dragged it over the card stock.  I started at the top on one side and dragged down and then repeated on the other side.  It really warms up the look of the “wood”.  Give it a try!

Now go grab a flannel shirt and let’s get some stamping done!  Have a great day!

 

Big News Birthday

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I never seem to have a birthday card (or at least the right birthday card) around when I need one and when I do have one I forget to mail it.  Sheesh!  I held a birthday card Stamp-a-Stack class back in December so people could stock up on their birthday cards.  We made 15 cards (3 each of 5 different designs) so it was a good start to their birthday card stash.  Since we make so many cards at one time they need to be simple or at least pretty easy.  I really have a hard time designing simple cards.  I love layers and ribbon and dies!

067Today’s card is pretty simple and it still has ribbon on it!  🙂  Not only ribbon….it also has washi tape!

The stamp set is Big News from the main catalog.  The ribbon is the beautiful Blackberry Bliss Striped Satin Ribbon and the washi tape is the Color Me Autumn Washi Tape from the Holiday Catalog.

Today’s the last day to order from the Holiday Catalog and it’s also the last day to get some really great deals from the Year-End Closeout Sale on the Clearance Rack.  Here’s the link to my store if you want to shop.

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

A Wedding Sneak Peek!

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It’s a neighborhood wedding today!  Our of the neighbor boys is getting married.  It’s pretty scary when you can remember these young adults as little kids.  Does that mean I’m getting old?  Never!  Ha! The wedding will be beautiful.  I’ll fill you in tomorrow and maybe even remember to post a photo or two!

When I first saw the upcoming Occasions Catalog I had a hard time deciding which item(s) I needed (wanted) to order first.  Then when I got to the back of the catalog I saw all of the beautiful wedding items and knew I had to start there since Tim & Emily’s wedding was coming up.

003I finally decided on the Your Perfect Day stamp set which you’ll be able to find on page 44 of the upcoming Occasions Catalog.  Here’s the card I came up with.  The wedding invitations were black and gold so I wanted to try and stick with those colors.  I just love how the Gold Foil sheets coordinate so well with the Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum.  I used a piece of Whisper White card stock under the designer vellum to make it pop.  To adhere them together I cut Mini Glue Dots in half and placed them under the little hearts.

I don’t have any other weddings coming up but I know I’ll be playing with this stamp set again soon!  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Birthday Surprise!

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Hello!  Yesterday I was talking about resolutions.  One that I should have, seeing as I make cards “for a living”, is to actually send out cards for birthdays and other occasions.  I’m terrible about this!  I have tons of cards on hand but never seem to get them in the mail.  🙁

062Today’s card is a birthday card that is easy to duplicate and that I could make a ton of to have on hand and actually send out.  Will I?  Probably not.  I’m too busy creating new cards!  Ha!

I used the Birthday Surprise stamp set for this card.  It’s a great birthday set.  Besides the balloons there is a party hat, a gift and a cupcake along with “surprise”.  Perfect for any birthday card!  I actually made this same card for my friend Michelle back in November but I used Tangelo Twist and Island Indigo.    That turned out real nice too.

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!  Send someone a card!  🙂

Happy New Year!

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Wow!  2015 has arrived!  Are you ready!  I am!  Have you made any resolutions?  I’ve made the usual of not eating so much, exercising more and organizing my house.  You’ll be happy to know that I’m also going to try extra-hard to keep current on my blog posts!  Yikes!

074I designed today’s card for a birthday card Stamp-a-Stack class but you could definitely use it today to celebrate the New Year.  Just leave off the words under “celebrate”.

It’s a fun and sparkly card.  I used the new Confetti Stars Border Punch from the Holiday Catalog.  Don’t fret….you’ll find it again in the upcoming Occasions Catalog as it’s perfect for celebrations like birthdays and graduations.  After I punched my stars, stamped my sentiment (from the Fabulous Four stamp set) and added my ribbon I layered the Whisper White card stock over a piece of Gold Glimmer Paper.  That way all those sparkly stars I punched out showed through.  🙂

Speaking of the Holiday Catalog….don’t forget that Monday, January 5th is the last day to order from it.  Monday is also the last day of the Year-End Clearance.  Boy….there are some really good deals to be found there!  There are even some items from the Holiday Catalog on clearance.  Check it out here and place your order today!  Don’t miss out!

Happy New Year!

Christmas Gift Card Holder

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Busy, busy, busy….

Yep!  You and me both.   I had three classes this week but I did get my Christmas cards addressed!  Now to remember to put them in the mail!  🙂

003 004On Sunday we had our team Holiday Party.  Make-n-Takes, food and a gift exchange.  It’s always fun to see the gifts, especially the homemade ones.  I like to try to come up with something wonderful but this year time and imagination weren’t on my side.  I bought the ever-popular Starbucks Gift Card.  Since my gift was so lame I had to come up with a cute idea for the packaging.  I used the Gift Card Envelope & Trims Thinlits Die.  I will admit that I CASEd the design but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do!

Instead of folding and adhering all the sides to make an actual envelope I left one side open then slipped the gift card in with a ribbon wrapped around it to make it easier to pull out.  Clever idea.  I wish I knew who to give the credit to.  Hmmm…..

008Of course I couldn’t just give the gift card as is.  I needed to wrap it so I came up with this simple and fun idea using the Polka Dot Tag a Bag Gift Bags.  Love those things!  To jazz it up I added a banner, a label and the GORGEOUS new White Jute Ribbon that will be in the new Occasions Catalog in January.  This ribbon is beautiful and I know you’ll love it as much as I do!

Now, it’s time to get ready to hit the mall.  YIKES!  I hate to do it at this late date but when you’re behind in your shopping…….

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Newborn King

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Hello on a snowy Sunday morning!  Yes!  Winter has finally returned to Colorado.  Not to complain but we were in a warm weather rut for a few weeks.    I like cool weather and gorgeous days but we had that cold snap about a month ago and it got me ready for cold!  Besides, it needs to be cold enough on Christmas to snow!  Not enough to bugger up the travelers, just a nice, light Christmas snow.  🙂

002Speaking of Christmas….is there anything else on our minds this time of year?….here’s an easy, yet beautiful Christmas card for you.  The stamp set is Newborn King.  This was the first stamp set I knew I needed from the Holiday Catalog.  Can you picture all of the gorgeous cards you could make with this?  Especially with gold and silver embossing powder!  On my card I just stamped the image in Early Espresso and layered it with Brushed Gold card stock and Early Espresso card stock.  If you had the patience and the time you could color it too.  Of course I have neither time nor patience.  Ha!

Tonight I need to wrap the gifts heading to the MN homeland so I can hit the post office tomorrow along with everyone else!  Yikes!  I better work on finding some of that time and patience!  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Simple Saturday: Festival of Trees

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Wow….I can’t even post for a week straight.  I tell you…I’m trying!  Don’t give up on me!  There’s this little holiday called Christmas that is right around the corner and I’m not quite ready for it.  It didn’t help that I was under-the-weather the other day.  Things are coming together though and I’m pretty sure everything will turn out fine.  🙂

012Here’s an easy card for Simple Saturday.  Don’t have those Christmas cards done yet?  You can whip this one up in no time.  Just stamp your tree from the Festival of Trees stamp set, add the ornaments and punch it out with your Tree Punch.  Add a banner and a sentiment, layer it up and you’re done!

I’ll have to remember this one when I find I don’t have quite enough cards made.  (wink, wink!)

I may get around to addressing my cards tomorrow night after our team Christmas party.  Then again….

Are you done with your Christmas cards?  Be sure to let me know and rub it in!  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Many Merry Stars

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016It’s embossed!  I can’t remember the last time I got out my embossing powder and heat tool!  This card called for it though.

This card is made using the Many Merry Stars stamp set that COORDINATES with the Many Merry Stars Kit from the Holiday Supplement.  That kit is SO cute.  One of these days I’m going to actually complete mine!  Hopefully before Christmas!  Ha!  🙂

I just love this combination of colors.  Crumb Cake, Soft Sky and Whisper White.  It’s just so soft and soothing.

After the difficult part of randomly stamping the snowflakes on the Crumb Cake card stock (see yesterday’s post) I punched the tree from a piece of the All is Calm Designer Series Paper with the new Tree Punch.  Then I die cut the circle around it with the Circle Framelits.  This makes it so much easier to get that tree centered.  That’s the only tricky part of this card.

I did get my Christmas cards started yesterday and made pretty good progress on them.  The difficult thing about it is that today I should receive my pre-order from the Occasions Catalog and I know I’m going to want to play with my new toys.  Hmmm…..what’s a girl to do?

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Adorable Punch Art Snowman

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011Who doesn’t love a snowman?!  This guy get my Cindy Russell seal of approval….TSC!  Too Stinkin’ Cute!

I saw this snowman online and knew I had to recreate him.  Isn’t he adorable?  And he’s SO easy!  His head is a half circle die cut with the Circles Framelits for the Big Shot.  His eyes are punched with the Owl Builder Punch (I think I used the medium circle) and the tails of the scarf are punched with the Banner Punch!  Easy Peasy!

For me, the hardest part of the card was stamping the snowflakes randomly on the Crumb Cake card stock.  I just can’t do random!  Sheesh!  The second most difficult part was free-hand cutting the nose….like I said….it’s not a difficult card!  🙂

The perfect little sentiment is from the Project Life Holiday Cheer Stamp Set.  Can I say it again?  TSC!  It’s a shame that we won’t be making any snowmen here in Denver in the near future.  The highs for this week are suppose to be in upper 50’s.  Not good weather for snowmen!  Ha!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

I AM Alive!

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I bet you were wondering what happened to me.  I post, I disappear, I post and then poof!  I’m gone!  Well, I’m NOT gone!  November just happened to be one of the busiest months I’ve had in a long time.  It was busy in a good way.  No deaths, no illnesses, just busy with Stampin’ Up! classes and workshops.  Then you have to throw in Thanksgiving at my house.  My son and his wife came for the holiday which meant I had to clean out the extra bedroom I had taken over.  Yikes!  What to do with all those boxes of retired Stampin’ Up! things?!

It’s December now and things have slowed down a bit….yes, I still need to make my Christmas cards, send my Christmas cards and do all of my Christmas shopping but I don’t feel quite as overwhelmed as I did last month.  We’re not traveling back to MN and the families until early January so I think I’ll survive.

008I really haven’t had time to play with all of the fabulous things I have from the Holiday Catalog.  Bummer!  This is a fun and easy card that I designed for a class but didn’t use.

I used the Merry Everything stamp set on this card along with the COORDINATING new Note Tag Punch!  There’s my favorite word again!  🙂

I wanted to try something a little different on this card.  I thought I’d try a little side border embossed with the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder.  I liked it but I needed to make it pop so I added a thin little strip of black.  Easy-Peasy!

I did have a sneak peek at the upcoming Occasions Catalog and the Sale-a-bration Brochure.  Let me just way WOO HOO!!!!!!  You’re going to LOVE them!  Once I get a little more organized and fine a bit of time (and get my pre-order) I’ll start teasing you with samples.  In the mean time have a great day!

Are You Ready For Some Fabulous Deals?

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2014 Online Extravaganza.1114Are you ready for some FABULOUS deals?  Monday is the beginning of Stampin’ Up!’s annual Online Extravaganza.  Don’t miss out!  Click here to see THREE pages of deals, most lasting all week!  There are a few Door Buster Deals available only on Monday, November 24th and different Door Buster Deals available only on Monday December 1st.

There are items anywhere from 20% – 50%  off!  Start that shopping list TODAY!  I know I will!

 

 

Get Your Santa On!

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021What an adorable stamp set?  Have you played with the Get Your Santa On stamp set yet?  The little Santa is so adorable and this set is perfect for using with your Blendabilities!

That’s just what we did in class a few weeks ago.  The image is small enough for people to get a little taste of how the Blendabilities work without getting overwhelmed.

This is another CASEd card that I changed up to make my own.  A little tweak here, a little tweak there.  That’s how to do it.  I love to CASE or at least find ideas that I like and tweak them.  It’s so much easier than starting from scratch.

Where do you start when you design a card?  Do you start with a blank slate or do you see a cute card like I do and then take off from there?  Leave a comment and let me know!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Gorgeous Ornamental Pine

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020How are you surviving the deep freeze of 2014?  It’s been COLD here!  Luckily it warmed up yesterday a bit but today it’s back down to chilly.  I know….I’m whining.  We’re just not used to extreme cold here in the beautiful state of Colorado.

Speaking of beautiful…..what do you think of today’s card made with the Ornamental Pine stamp set?  Elegant is the word that comes to my mind.  This layered technique is so pretty and then add the Brushed Gold card stock to it along with the gold ribbon it’s striking.   After we made this card in class a number of people decided they needed this stamp set for their Christmas cards.

Speaking of Christmas cards….have you decided on what you’re doing for yours?  I think I’ve finally come up with my card.  I’ll be sure to share it once I start making them.  I guess that better be sooner rather than later….November is half over already!  Yikes!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!