Victims of CircumSTAMPS

Another RS Baby Card

2008-01-20T21:17:00.000-05:00

Used the same color scheme as the engagement cards I made the same day

Stamps: Rubber Soul Baby Collection
CS: blush blossom, white, moss, retired SU DP (?spring flowers/showers)
Ink: Palette Noir, blush (for sponged heart)
Markers: moss (on dad), pretty in pink, banana (on baby blanket)
Other: Sakura glitter pen (on baby blanket)

Rubber Soul Baby Cards

2008-01-20T12:58:00.001-05:00

More Pregnancy cards - and more cute RS stick people! I really like the option you have with clear polymer stamps (a/k/a "acrylic" stamps, although they aren't acrylic, just the blocks are) to bend the sentiments around the image, like I did below with "bun in the oven"

Stamps: Rubber Soul Baby collection
CS: banana, not quite navy, white, retired SU DP
Ink: Palette Noir
Markers: celery, pretty in pink
Other: celery grosgrain, wide white grosgrain, corner rounder, ticket corner punch, banana brads, Sakura glitter pen (on her dress)

Rubber Soul Engagement/Love

2008-01-20T12:28:00.000-05:00

I have a friend who got engaged at Christmas, so I had a reason to break out my other Rubber Soul stick people! I am crazy about these cute people. The 'so happy for you' sentiment is from the Baby collection, the rest from the Love collection

I cut a heart shape out of a scrap piece of CS to sponge the heart in Blush Blossom ink. Really like how it turned out! (I am a horribly uneven heart shape-cutter, so I drew one side of a heart, and cut, then laid that cut half of the heart on the other side and cut around it to make it evenly shaped. I was all proud of that. I'm easily pleased).

Stamps: Rubber Soul Love Collection & Baby Collection (sentiment)
CS: blush blossom, white, moss, retired SU DP (?spring showers/flowers)
Ink: Palette Noir, blush (sponged heart)
Markers: moss, pretty in pink
Other: stardust Stickles (on bouquet), Making Memories velvet ribbon (pink and brown)

More Bellas

2008-01-20T11:12:00.000-05:00

I used a Christmas rub-on to be sarcastic with Ms. Grumpy

Stamp: Grumpabella, Paisley Print bkgd
CS: moss, rose red, black, white
Ink: stazon black
Markers: moss, rose red, blush, caramel, going gray
Other: Making Memories rub-on sentiment

I found this holi-tini ribbon at Michael's over Thanksgiving, and knew I had to have it for Cosmobella

Stamp: Cosmobella
CS: gable green, pink passion, white, black
Ink: stazon jet black
Markers: turquoise, gable, passion, blush, caramel, going gray
Other: ticket corner punch, Making Memories bling brads, Michael's ribbon, stardust Stickles on bella's top and drink

Faux Stitched Sidekick Sayings

2008-01-17T16:52:00.000-05:00

I just about completely CASEd these cards from one posted by mrsparker on SCS here.

Stamps: Sidekick Sayings (retired Hostess)
CS: wasabi, white, banana, not quite navy
Ink: not quite navy, wasabi & banana on flower w/ aquapainters, not quite navy marker for faux stitching
Other: photo corner punch, banana brads, mat pack for piercing

Big Baby News

2008-01-16T20:49:00.001-05:00

I have several pregnant co-workers, and made the card above for a basic Congrats card, and the pink/blue cards below for the day they get their ultrasounds and find out the sex of the babies.

I love the Think Big stamp set, and trying to figure out different images to replace the "i" in Big. I just bought a load of $1 Michael's stamps that are vertical so I can try to fit them in this set for different occasions, so stay tuned.

Close-up of two of the baby feet cards:

Stamps: Think Big (retired), Stampendous baby foot, $1 Michael's stamp
CS: white, banana, apricot, pretty in pink, Lasting Impressions patterned CS, bashful blue, Candy DP (retired)
Ink: black, apricot, sage, pretty in pink, bashful blue
Other: wasabi stitched ribbon, circle punches, scallop punch, stardust Stickles, bashful brads, white grosgrain, pink grosgrain, white gel pen

Stampendous Gift

2008-01-15T22:20:00.001-05:00

One of my co-workers found out I was a stamp addict and brought me 4 ink pads and a Stampendous rubber stamp that is a big 4-sided wooden cube with different background images on each side that she never used. As a thank you, I made some notecards for her using the stamp. Pretty simple, nothing exciting:

A little more close-up pics:

Stamps: Stampendous Foliage Cube, Sincere Salutations
CS: white, ruby red, perfect plum, black, silver, going gray
Ink: silver, gold
Other: lg and small black eyelets, lg silver eyelets, small gold eyelets, nonSU silver ribbon, photo corner punch, ticket corner punch, silver cord, narrow black organdy, narrow gold organdy, gold cord

More Carolers

2008-01-15T20:52:00.000-05:00

Forgot about these cards too:

This 2nd card was a quickie, no-big-deal card. Not very exciting, but thought I'd post anyway.The tree image is a single tree in the Carolers set, and thanks to the joy of clear stamps, I was able to place a row of 3 trees without effort - or stampamajig. Again, not crazy about the gray shadow under their feet with the markers; plan to sponge it next time.

Stamps: Rubber Soul Carolers set
CS: Cricut holiday paper, white, ruby red, gable green, yoyo yellow
Ink: Palette Noir
Markers: ruby red, pumpkin, garden green, not quite navy, coral, going gray
Other: photo corner punch, banana brads

Google Reader

2008-01-14T13:33:00.000-05:00

Ya'll, if you are still checking your favorite stamping blogs manually, or 'subscribing' to emails for updates of each blog you like, let me share something with you:
Google Reader
which will make your surfing SO much more productive, and one-stop-shopping-ish. And relieve you of a boatload of emails in your inbox~

You will love it, I promise you.

It works like an email account for all the blogs you read - they are all in one place (the ones that have new content are bolded, just like when an email is unread). You can read all your blogs from here (photos too!) and never have to surf around again (except when you want to add a new blog to your Reader list)

Note: this is NOT some paid-blog-ad thing. I just happen to LOVE me some Google Reader, and let you know about it.

Rubber Soul Carolers

2008-01-14T10:11:00.000-05:00

I have a new love (besides Stamping Bella) - it's the Rubber Soul Stick People stamps. I HEART them sooooo much!

I'll be posting a LOAD of cards with different stick people over the next few days, but thought I'd better get ALL my Christmas themed projects grouped together in posts, then move on to non-holiday cards.

This image is from the Carolers set, aren't they so cute?

I'm not terribly thrilled with my 'shadow' coloring underneath their feet (too dark and streaky) - will sponge next time with a reverse-mask oval, I think.

The inside sentiment is from a $1 Michael's clear set (I love those!) and it fits perfectly in the large oval punch (raised on a pop-up glue dot).

And they are ::gasp!:: clear polymer stamps, which I NEVER thought I would use. Perish the thought! A few years ago, I would have scoffed -pfft!- at using clear unmounted stamps, but the technology (and inks!) have come a long way, and I am really enjoying them (and seeing EXACTLY where your image is being stamped is AWESOME (more on that in future card posts)~

Plus, hello? Totally cost-effective compared to wood-mounted rubber. 11 images for $14 retail - woot! (yes, I am a tightwad)

I'm a wood-mounted traitor, who woulda ever thunk it? Not I. (I'm actually :::gasp again!::: mulling over unmounting all my SU stamps in the interest of space and image placement - like the Bellas, which are unmounted rubber stamps. No action plan yet, still considering, as that would be a HUGE undertaking).

Stamps: Rubber Soul Carolers set, $1 Michael's clear sentiment
Ink: Palette Noir
Markers: turquoise, green galore, yoyo yellow, amethyst, orange
CS: white, celery, Cricut holiday DP pack
Other: stardust & orange Stickles, colored snaps, lg. oval punch, pop-up glue

Wreathabella ... again

2008-01-14T09:55:00.001-05:00

Yes, it's January, and these will sit in my card bin for 11 months, but I DON'T CARE! I love her, stamped and colored a bunch of images in November and am still using them. So I'm ahead for 2008, yes? (just noticed I still need to color her dress, and Stickle her pompoms- will do!)

Stamps: Wreathabella
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Markers: real red, olive, celery, blush, caramel
CS: real red, olive, white, Dashing DP
Other: mat pack (piercing), corner rounder, wide red grosgrain ribbon

Holiday Jars

2008-01-13T15:23:00.000-05:00

I washed & saved spaghetti sauce jars for months, and here's what happened to them in December. My children and I made white chocolate covered pretzel rods (with red/green sprinkles), and filled these jars for teachers and incidental gifts. Was nice to have them on hand for an oh-I-should-give-them-something gift. These took a while to make, only b/c I was creating a bunch of different designs for fun; if I had made them all the same, it would have gone much faster!

Stamp Sets: Cold Play (retired), Riveting (retired Hostess),
CS: Holiday Thyme DSP (retired), Dashing DSP (retired), bashful blue, brilliant blue, old olive, white
Ink: Olive, Cranberry, Real Red
Ribbon: cranberry stitched (retired), wide red grosgrain, narrow white organdy, nonSU wide organdy, blue grosgrain, silver cord
Punches: word window, scallop, large oval, circle (3/4", 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8")
Other: various sauce jars (Bertolli, Ragu, Paul Newman), white gel pen, crimper, ATG 714 gun, paper snips

More Wreathabellas a/k/a Love my Crop-a-Dile

2007-12-24T22:11:00.000-05:00

OMGosh, what was I waiting for? I just recently purchased a crop-a-dile (finally) and I will be using every eyelet I own in short order. EASY PEASY, so fast and quiet, and no getting out tools and making noise, etc. Woot! Love this tool, use it every time I enter my stamp room now! Get thee a crop-a-dile, stamping friends!

Stamps: Wreathabella
CS: Dashing DP, white, real red, celery, olive
Ink: stazon jet black, markers: blush, celery, olive, red
other: Making Memories word ribbons, ticket corner punch, slit punch, white eyelets, wide red grosgrain, gold cord

Holiday Think Big

2007-12-24T21:55:00.000-05:00

Stamps: Think Big (retired), $1 Michael's candy cane
CS: white, black, celery, cricut Christmas patterened papers
Ink: old olive pad & marker, real red
other: red gingham, gold cord, large red eyelet, corner punch, 3/4" and 1" circle punches, stardust stickles on 'wish', red stickles on candy cane stripes

Why You Should Enter Swaps

2007-12-09T22:06:00.000-05:00

I participated in a Christmas card swap a few years back, and this design was one of the cards I received. Fast forward: I am selling cards at two different storefronts this season (YAY for SU changing their angel policy last month to allow this!), and had one of the baskets of cards at work to hand off to the business owner that day. This card was one of the designs in the basket, and it almost WASN'T because I wasn't sure if I liked it enough to include, not my style, blah blah...

Well, sure enough, one of my co-workers is looking through the basket and says "I love this card! I want to order some for Christmas cards" and voila, another sale! Woot! An all around good card-selling day was had by moi. And now that I made a bunch of them today, they grew on me.

Took this photo to show you the layer of vanilla on the inside of the card to write upon. I like to do that with the darker cards.

Stamp Set: On Angel Wings (retired Hostess Appreciation set)
CS: handsome hunter, bravo burgundy, vanilla
Ink: versamark, hunter (sentiment), burgundy (on edges of sentiment piece and on envelope)
Other: gold EP, dazzling diamonds glitter (on wings), white gel pen (on dove), non-SU gold ribbon

'Support' card

2007-12-09T20:48:00.001-05:00

The inside says "for your support" with Karen Foster snap stamps. Yeah, it's cheesy and been done before, but a customer wanted it and therefore I made one and am sharing it with you. Looks less tacky in person, I swear. So there. (If you've been under a rock, the bra is made with the ice cream scoop and candle stamps from the Perfect Party set)

Stamp Set: Perfect Party, Think Big (for 'Thanks), Teeny Tiny (for flowers on background and envelope) - all retired sets, Karen Foster mini snap stamps (for inside sentiment)
CS: white, cameo coral, black, gable green
Ink: tempting turquoise (craft & classic), gable green
Other: flower punch (that matches Looks Like Spring set, can't remember its name), glitter glue (looks better IRL!), turquoise and celery grosgrain ribbon

Wreathabella

2007-12-01T22:02:00.002-05:00

This is the Bella stamp that got me off my rump to place an order, since this one was "time-sensitive" and I loved her! I love my others, but they are year round and I kept thinking I'd order Someday, of course I would, lalala.... and then Wreathabella appeared and I had to have her in time for Christmas, so I got all the Bellas I'd been wanting at once!

Her tee-tiny little dress is paper pieced with Dashing DP, you can see it better in the close-up pic. I'm waiting for my Stardust Stickles order to arrive, and then her little pompoms on her boots and hat will be all sparkly!

Stamp: Wreathabella (stampingbella.com)
CS: Confetti white base (not seen), garden green, Dashing DP
Ink: Stazon jet black, markers: old olive, certainly celery, real red, blush blossom (skin), creamy caramel (hair)
Other: slit punch, 5/8" red grosgrain ribbon, rub-on sentiment (Memory Makers)

Pink & Wasabi Snow

2007-12-01T21:43:00.001-05:00

The color challenge at Splitcoast a few weeks ago was Wasabi and Pretty in Pink, which I like together very much. This card is an almost complete CASE of a card by SCS stamper casacastes (see her card here) with a few minor changes. She used crystal effects on the big 'snow' word, and I didn't have the patience for it so I used dazzling diamonds and glue. And of course a matching envelope - wheeled on the back flap.

Stamps: Jumbo Snow Wheel (holiday mini 2007)
CS: White, Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi
Ink: Pretty in Pink
Other: pink organdy ribbon, double-stitched wasabi ribbon, snowflake brad (wrapped around ribbon), 2-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter

Grumpabella: Better Not Pout!

2007-11-26T22:46:00.001-05:00

OMGosh, ya'll, I completely crack myself up! I'm likely the only one who thinks this card is hilarious.

I found these holiday rub-ons at Big Lots and KNEW I had to use Grumpabella. Only problem was she was ordered but not yet here ... I have waited for WEEKS for her to arrive, just to get this card out of my head.

But here she is: my first Bella card ever!

LOVE the Dashing Paper, and I dressed her in a coordinating robe of paper pieced Dashing as well (see closeup pic). Also, as always, I must stamp the envelope and circle punch the flap whenever possible.

Stamps: Grumpabella, Riveting (retired)
CS: white, Real Red, Old Olive, Dashing DP
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Red (for envelope), Markers: Red, Celery, Olive, Blush
Other: wide red grosgrain ribbon, ticket corner punch, 1 1/4" circle punch (for envelope flap), Making Memories rub-on sentiment

Lovely Linen

2007-11-22T17:53:00.000-05:00

I just got the Linen background stamp, and while it doesn't photograph all that well, it sure looks great. I've stamped it on just about every layer of CS, but you can only see the creamy caramel on white in the pics. It adds yummy texture to the entire card.

I'm going to use these as Thank You cards for some family members after the Thanksgiving weekend we're spending with them. I also used my new photo corner punch; that certainly simplifies the process, I'm glad I got it!

Stamp Sets: Linen, Print Pattern, Lovely as a Tree, Small Script (retired)
CS: White, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Bravo Burgundy, Mellow Moss
Ink: Artichoke, Creamy Caramel, Versamark, Chocolate Chip marker
Other: vintage bronze brads, copper brads, photo corner punch, mat pack (paper piercing)

Jumbo Snow Wheel

2007-11-22T09:44:00.001-05:00

I couldn't resist the jumbo wheel from the holiday mini - I'm a jumbo wheel fanatic. I have the SU wheel guide, and this is the only wheel I had to break it out for. I'm usually a decent eyeball-it kind of wheeler, but since this one had words and I wanted them ever-so-straight, I used the wheel guide.

You can't see it well, but the white snowflakes also have iridescent EP embossed on them for some bling, too. I like the combo of subtle colors with lots of sparkle. And, of course, I stamped the envelopes to match:

Stamp Sets: Snowflakes (retired), Jumbo Snow Wheel (holiday mini 2007)
CS: Night of Navy, Bravo Burgundy
Ink: White Craft, Versamark, Navy (on envelope)
Other: Iridescent Ice EP, ticket corner punch, nonSU snowman ribbon

My Stamping Space

2007-11-20T21:56:00.000-05:00

I enjoy looking at everyone else's stamping spaces, so I thought I'd finally share mine. I used to have the whole basement to myself and, while it sounds ideal, it was a nightmare in retrospect. If any object could live on a horizontal surface, it did. Stacks of stuff I never put away. And I ended up stamping on the floor a lot. Or the surface of my guillotine cutter, because it was the only free space on a 6-foot table. It was ridiculous.

I am a stamping slob.

So.
Last year we finished off half of the basement for my husband's home office, and built into that room a VERY large closet for me. One that would force me to clean up after every project, basically, with a folding table I put out and fold up after each stamping session. Sounds awful? It works perfectly for me. The doors are purchased but not hung yet, so it's an open closet at this point.

Here's a full frontal view.
The permanent table is not where I stamp, but where my trimmers & cardstock live. At the back left are 2 hanging file crates with cardstock. Underneath the table are rolling drawer carts (2 deep, there's one behind them) where my stamps, gift supplies (raw materials like empty jars, blank candles, composition notebooks, etc), and current projects live. See the ATG gun peeking out from on top of one of them? LOVE that thing!

At the back wall are my DZyntec (sp?) ink/marker/dauber holders. I have 5 of them, one for each SU color group. I have all inks and markers, but still working on reinkers/daubers/sponges for each color. They don't make these holders anymore, but when they were going out of business the enablers at SCS whipped us all into an ordering frenzy. I do love them, though. Under the ink holders are my beloved Tilt Bins (more detailed pics of those in a minute).

Okay, now here you're looking to the right of my Center Stage, with tons of those stacking drawers and my New And Improved punch holders (details on that below). The drawers hold loose, small stamps, scissors, pieces of stamped art I need to complete, adhesives, eyelets/brads, tools (bone folder, mat pack, brayer, eyelet setters), applicators (aquapainters, sponges, blender pens), and my wheels/cartridges. Let me just give a big shout-out right here to the Wondrous thing called the Label Maker: one of those things I thought was frivolous and now cannot AT ALL live without.

To the left of Center Stage, you see my folding table that I actually stamp on (leaning against the door frame), shelves on the wall hold ribbon scraps (in jars), xyrons, pearlex spray, CE, color wheel, and -on 2nd shelf- my embossing powders and glitter in gladware. LOVE this idea, as the powder pal trays and I did not get along. I keep each color housed in its own container (nicely LABELED, of course) with its own plastic spoon. Pull out what I need, spoon the EP on the project over the container, and there's NO cleanup.

Here are the beloved Tilt Bins that I saw in another SU demo's stamping room at an NC SU demos quarterly meeting years ago in Greensboro, I think it was. The larger ones house both completed cards (LABELED by occasion) and larger scraps (LABELED by color family). The wee bins on top house smaller scraps by color family. Let me assure you, I ran RIGHT OUT after that meeting to the nearest Home Depot to find them. Actually found the small bins there, but had to order the larger ones online.

To the left of the Tilt Bins are my stacked SU ribbon holders. I really like them for what I need right now. Had I a zillion dollars, I would have bought the Craft Locker ribbon storage, but it works for me (I do have the Craft Locker Wheel and Handle locker on order, though!)

Here's my SupaCool punch 'rack'. I bought pre-cut dowel rods in an assortment pack at Walmart, came home and grabbed my husband's bullet level, and coffee mug hooks. In about 20 minutes, I hung these up, and wahoo! - punches all in a row. I LOVE it.

Thanks with a Side(kick) of Wasabi

2007-11-20T13:11:00.001-05:00

Finally had a minute to use my new Wasabi CS & ribbon, and the Sidekick Sayings stamp set. I love seeing textures on cards, but have to remember to put it into practice on my own cards - it doesn't come naturally to me. I always think it's going to be more effort than it actually turns out to be. I just got the Linen background, which will help a bunch with that on future cards.

Stamp Sets: Sidekick Sayings (hostess), Paisley Print & Canvas background stamps
CS: Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip ink & marker, White
Ink: Rose Red, Wasabi, Basic Brown
Other: Wasabi double-stitched ribbon, ticket corner punch, ribbon buckle (nonSU), aquapainter for highlighting flower & words in rose red ink, paper piercing template for faux stitching

Bundle Up a/k/a Farewell Cranberry Crisp

2007-11-19T22:22:00.000-05:00

I used up the last of my retired Cranberry Crisp cardstock on these fun cards. Embossed all the accessories in white, and then cut out to pop up on the cards. Really was easy to make, just a bit time consuming on the cutting, but it went quicker than I anticipated. I like them a lot:

Stamp Sets: Bundle Up, Merry (both retired)
CS: Cranberry Crisp (retired), Holiday Thyme DP (retired), Old Olive
Ink: Versamark
Other: Tag Corner Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, White EP, Cranberry Stitched Ribbon (ret.), pop up glue dots

Late Halloween

2007-11-18T22:10:00.001-05:00

I'm always behind on this holiday, so I made a stash for next year. Finally ordered Carved & Candlelit after wanting it for a few years! I love to stamp matching envelopes, too.

Stamps: Carved and Candlelit
CS: white & black
Ink: basic black
Other: 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" square punches, Halloween ribbon from Walmart, popup glue dot for middle face, 1 1/4" circle punch for envelope flap

This was just a whim. The Frankenstein was on the spool of Halloween ribbon I used for the last project. When the ribbon was out, I cut him out of the chipboard spool and mounted him on this weird orange scrap I'd saved from punching tags for my kids' Halloween treats. Pretty fun for an impulse card:

Stamps: Canvas, Just Jeans (retired), Karen Foster mini snap stamps (for "boo")
CS: only orange, white, black, orchid opulence
Ink: lovely lilac, orchid
Other: chipboard Frankie, popup glue dot, certainly celery brad

This was the first card I made, trying the jack faces in white, before I finalized the top cards.

Stamp Set: Carved and Candlelit, Karen Foster snap stamps (mini, casual font)
CS: white & black
Ink: basic black, craft white
Other: Halloween ribbon from Walmart, pop up glue dots

Big Baby

2007-10-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

I am soooooo overdue on my cousin's baby gift. Here's the 6x6 card I made to go with it. It was supposed to be a "quick" card, but the Crystal Effects slows things down with drying time. But it's so cute on the pacifiers, I just had to use it. And AFTER I made the card, I found a perfect baby footprint stamp by PSE that I could have used for the "i" in Big. Next time!

Stamp Sets: Think Big (retired), Little Layers Plus (ret), Twinkle wheel (ret)
Ink: Pretty in Pink
CS: White, Pretty in Pink
Other: Crystal Effects on pacifier nipples, 1 1/4" circle punch, paper snips, pop up glue dots, rhinstone for dotted "i"

Happy Jacks Treat

2007-10-21T22:51:00.000-04:00

I made over 50 of these for my kids' classes, so it had to be easy! Crimped the bottoms, filled with candy corn, stapled yarn tags to top. Stamped "From, xxx" with Karen Foster snap stamps - quick!

Stamps: Happy Jacks Wheel, Too Terrific Tags, Karen Foster snap stamps (mini casual font)
Ink: Only Orange, Basic Black
CS: heavy copy paper, orange, white
Other: large & small tag punches, 1/8" circle punch, black eyelash yarn, paper crimper

Merry Cards

2007-10-20T20:45:00.000-04:00

Completely inspired by this card:

Totally do NOT like how these pics turned out - yuck on the colors/detail, but we just bought a NEW camera after these were taken, woo!

Stamp Set: Merry
Ink: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst
CS: white, celery, amethyst
other: celery grosgrain ribbon, ticket corner punch, glitter glue on mittens, stampamajig

Oldie but Goodie Halloween Card

2007-10-11T20:28:00.000-04:00

This was CASEd from an old OnStage several years ago, and my stamp clubs made them in '04 I think. Anyway, I still have the last one that you can never bear to give away. It always makes me smile.

The 'ghost' was made by stamping the boy on a plain piece of paper and tracing in pencil where a ghost sheet would land on him. Then I just cut the ghost outline out, punched holes where his eyes were with a 1/8" punch, and used it as a template for the actual cardstock ghost: just trace & punch.

If you look closely, you can see we used a craft knife to cut around his hand, and 'tucked' the handles of his trick or treat bag underneath, so he's really holding it.

Stamps: Crayon Kids (retired), Brushstroke Alpha (retired), Tag Time
Ink: Black, Pumpkin Pie
CS: White, Kraft, Pumpkin
Other: 1/8" circle punch, hemp, mini glue dots (for the hemp to the pumpkin square)

Moss Baroque Motifs

2007-10-06T21:26:00.000-04:00

I was inspired by a card posted on SCS by chitcha here and used her idea to make some Mellow Moss Thank You/Thinking of You cards to replenish my stash.

The background was created on one 8.5 x 11 sheet and then trimmed for 4 card fronts. I stamped the small flower in moss and then the large swirl in versamark and embossed it in white. Same for the greeting layer. The tiny strips that I trimmed off the large sheet, I placed on the inside bottom of each card for a bit of continuity (plus I hated to waste any of that work!)

I also stamped the envelopes. I love to use paper envelopes for that reason. I have the clear envelopes and use them, but mostly love white, vanilla, or kraft envelopes with my cards so I can stamp them to match.

Stamp Sets: Baroque Motifs, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Mellow Moss, Versamark
CS: White, Moss
Other: White EP, non-SU green organdy

Where I've Been

2007-10-06T21:20:00.000-04:00

Sorry, internet! Stamping completely went out this window this summer. I lost my mom to a sudden, unexpected illness in July and the world came to a screeching halt as you can imagine.

I was very glad to have a large stash of Thank You cards, as I used every bit of them for the hospital staff, pastor, funeral director, family, friends, etc. Well over 30 I think.

I'm just now stamping again to re-up my stash of cards, and it's ever so therapeutic. I had forgotten just how accurate it was for me to call it my 'Art Therapy'.

Will upload my latest in a minute!

Refrigerator Message Center

2007-06-19T14:10:00.001-04:00

Here's another gift I made a while ago - no stamping involved, though.

I found this already-painted tile at a thrift store, and made the message center around that. The first photo is too bright, the 2nd too dark - somewhere in the middle is perfect exposure and I don't have the time to play with the pictures today, so you get both.

I mounted a piece of Lovely Lilac cardstock to a page-sized piece of chipboard with sitcky strip.

I mounted the tile to black cardstock with E5000 glue and clamped with tiny vice grips until dry. Then mounted to the lilac base.

Then the cork and post-it squares to black CS and then the base.

The thumbtacks are glass pebbles on top of 1/2" circles of lilac cardstock, on top of flat-head tacks. All adhered with crystal effects.

Thick magnet strips all over the back keep the heavy thing on the fridge!

Then a purple dry erase marker completes the set.

Merry Frame

2007-06-18T14:03:00.000-04:00

I forgot to share this project when I made it, so here's a little Christmas in June:

Stamp Set: Letterpress Alpha
Ink: Cranberry
CS: Holiday Thyme DP, vanilla, old olive
Other: Crystal Effects (to lacquer the hanging poinsettias), 1/8" hole punch, gold cord, cranberry stitched ribbon, narrow black organdy

Cup Cards

2007-05-16T14:34:00.000-04:00

I'm a few weeks behind on this new trend, but that's really on-top-of-it for me! But I needed some teacher gifts and it was the perfect time to test out this project for a stamp club:

Tutorial for the cup card is Here. Love me some stampin' fanatics over at SCS.

Here's a basic card for my daughter's teacher, for a gift of summertime stuff:

A hang-tag card on a gift for my daughter's assistant teacher:

It really does look harder than it is. Didn't take long at all, and not much stamping! I used 3 different retiring stamp sets, only one stamp out of each set.

The little faux-lime I made just cracked me up, as I had been wishing I had some sort of citrus stamp. That was a last minute inspiration, otherwise I would have changed the layout of the card to the straw in the middle of the two 'circles' (lime and moon). It's still cute and happy.

On the tag card (2nd pic) I rimmed the cup with microbeads as in the tutorial, on the standard card (top pic) I rimmed the cup with dazzling diamonds glitter. I think I like the glitter more (drat it all, it's so bloody messy!). And I put some stray lines of glitter in the sponged sand, too. The tutorial card has more ambitious sand, using real play sand mixed with glitter - but I was on a time crunch, so I downgraded.

Stamp Sets: Think Big for the 'lime' (Holiday Mini 2006), Simple Shapes for the sun (retiring), Petal Pushers for "smile" script (retiring)
CS: WWhite, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Vellum CS
Ink: Turquoise, Creamy Caramel, Regal Rose & Always Apricot (sponged on cup), Barely Banana & Summer Sun (on the sun)
Other: sticky strip, dazzling diamonds glitter, clear microbeads, 1/4" hole punch, nonSU ribbon, stampin' sponges, aquapainter

Anna Kate Name Frame

2007-04-08T00:25:00.000-04:00

My daughter's friend had a birthday recently and I've been wanting to make a name frame, so this was a perfect opportunity. I really wanted a white frame, but couldn't find one, and didn't have time to paint it, so this natural one was the best candidate:

Stamp Sets: Letterpress Alpha, Paisley, French Script, Print Pattern
CS: wwhite, barely banana, pretty in pink, Candy designer paper (retired)
Ink: banana, pink
Ribbon: pink gingham, pink grosgrain, white grosgrain, gold cord, pink organdy (nonSU)
Other: nonSU hardware, soft subtles buttons

Baby Cards

2007-04-07T21:18:00.000-04:00

Some quick cards~

This is a 3x3 gift card for a co-worker who had a baby boy. The pacifier is from the retired set Little Layers Plus. I used Crystal Effects on the nipple, and wrapped it with silver cord. The background is the little diaper pins from the Swell News set. The sentiment on the envelope is from the retired set Teeny Tiny:

This was a card for a friend who announced her pregnancy. I love the Swell News set girl. The designer paper is the retired Candy paper. The pale yellow organdy is non-SU:

Trifold Triangle & Pearl Ex Projects

2007-04-03T13:22:00.000-04:00

These were some of the projects for March's Stamp Clubs

A Triangle Trifold Card

And cards using Pearl Ex powders: the first one uses Painted Pearl Ex a/k/a Floored Pearl Ex (on the 3 flowers at the left, can't see the shimmer in the pic);

The last card uses Poppin' Pearls in the background. The shimmer of pearl ex is difficult to convey in photographs, but it gets lots of "ooh"s in real life!

Follow the linked text to wonderful tutorials on Splitcoast Stampers.

Bashful & Celery Harmony

2007-03-09T09:24:00.000-05:00

Shamelessly, shamelessly CASE'd card from SCS stamper MyPrecious. Such a pretty design!

Stamp Sets: Happy Harmony (SAB 2007 - retired), Canvas, French Script
CS: WWhite, Bashful Blue, BBlack, Certainly Celery
Ink: Bashful Blue, Celery Marker, Night of Navy
Other: celery brads, black gingham, ticket corner punch

Football Invitations

2007-03-08T21:46:00.000-05:00

There are no stamps involved here, but the white gel pen and large oval punch sure were - they make perfect little footballs!

These were the invitations to my son's birthday party - they were cute and not too labor intensive (unlike my daughter's invitations, which took forever and a long day to complete!)

CS: WWhite, Garden Green, Close to Cocoa

SAB 2007, We Hardly Knew Ye

2007-03-08T21:08:00.000-05:00

Of course, now that Sell-a-Bration is over, and these stamps sets won't be available ever again, I have some time to play with them. ::sigh::

This SAB stamp set is Happy Harmony -so pretty, and the color scheme of this set was inspired by SCS stamper tashers. I used the Thumping technique with these flowers and the background stamp, which worked really well with these colors and stamps.

Thumping is when you ink up a stamp in a light color, and take a darker colored marker and "thump" color on the rubber image before you stamp on your cardstock. I had fun making these cards, and I'm forcing myself to not hoard them. I have already used two!

Stamp Sets: Happy Harmony (SAB 2007 set - retired), Print Pattern
CS: WWhite, Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Choc Chip, Bashful Blue, Markers: Brilliant Blue, Choc. Chip, Craft: Brilliant Blue
Other: SU grosgrain ribbon (that matches ballet & brilliant blues), bashful brads, non-SU gingham ribbon, ticket corner punch

Happy One Sheet Wonder

2007-03-07T14:30:00.000-05:00

This entire card was completely CASED from Tah Dah! on SCS. I immediately adored it: happy and bright, but simple.

I did make the envelopes all on my own (ha!); love using the 1 1/4" circle punch to customize your envelopes (only works well with the flat-flap envelopes, not the cheapy v-point ones I used to get from Wally World).

I made a ton of these in pretty short order. Sending to my downline and some special friends this week.

Stamp Sets: Happy Everything, Seeing Spots, Spot On Jumbo Wheel
CS: WWhite, Only Orange
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Pink Passion, Yoyo Yellow (in uninked Jumbo cartridge for wheel), Green Galore, Only Orange
Other: Stampamajig (love that thing for perfect word placement!)

Both Way Thanks

2007-03-07T14:23:00.000-05:00

Inspired by PenelopePitstop on SCS. Needed some quick thank you notes and these fit the bill. Her cards were more like the center card, I just changed up the layout/matting is all. We needed to thank Kent's parents for child care this weekend, and he picked the rose card. I used the black Stampin' Write marker to ink the flowers (no chance for stray ink when you stamp!)

Stamp Sets: Both Way Blossoms (Hostess Set), All Year Cheer I (sentiment), All Natural (square)
CS: Regal Rose, So Saffron, WWhite, BBlack
Ink: Regal Rose, So Saffron, Basic Black
Other: Ticket Corner Punch

Julie's Magnet Board

2007-02-27T20:45:00.000-05:00

Another lookie, lookie what my friend Julie made - this was my Christmas present from her!

Although there's no stamping involved, you could easily incorporate some. She found the aluminum squares at Big Lots for $5 (and bought them out!).

Love the earthy striped ribbon she used, and the bottle caps have matching paper and buttons in them, and coated in Crystal Effects. SO cool, I love it.

Her Christmas present from me is STILL not finished. Because that's how we roll around here, but she loves me anyway. (I'll share it with you once I'm done!)

Black & White Thanks

2007-02-27T20:32:00.000-05:00

My dear friend (and fellow stamping addict), Julie, made me a set sampler for In Full Bloom a year or so ago. She made full cards for each design; I just couldn't keep them as set samplers for very long because I wanted to USE them!

This card is going postal this week and I wanted to show it to you. So simple and yet striking. Note the paper piercing around the black layer (had to get a close up so you could see it).

Stamp sets: In Full Bloom, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Black
CS: WWhite and Basic Black
Other: mat pack for paper piercing template

Crayon Resist Pears

2007-02-27T19:50:00.000-05:00

I love Crayon Resist; it's fun to do, easy and always impressive. This is a card from a stamp club sometime last year (that I surely CASE'd from SCS). I'm about to send this last one in the mail, and wanted a photo of it before it goes away!

Stamp Sets: All Natural (a perfect set for this technique), Sincere Salutations
Ink: Basic Black, Only Orange, Certainly Celery
CS: glossy white, basic black, Celery, Orange
Other: Black Gingham ribbon, staples, white crayon, sponge daubers for colored ink

For a tutorial on Crayon Resist, be sure to visit here.

Magnetic Bookmarks

2007-02-13T07:52:00.000-05:00

Another stamp club project - these little bookmarks clip to the page in the book via magnets so they don't slip out! Clever and easy!

Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley, Lots of Hearts Jumbo Wheel
CS: Real Red, Basic Black, WWhite
Ink: Black, Real Red
Other: Ticket Corner Punch, adhesive magnets

Many textured valentine

2007-02-12T11:45:00.000-05:00

Inspired by some fabulous stamper on SCS. I copied her layout, but she used designer papers in her backgrounds that I didn't have. So, I crimped the cocoa layer, and used Paisley (LOVE THIS STAMP!) on the rose layer. If you don't have Paisley, you are missing out. My 2 stamp clubs made these last month to showcase faux stitching. This was a popular card!

Stamp Sets: Happy Hearts, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Paisley Background
CS: WWhite, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Cocoa, Choc. Chip, Regal Rose
Other: Crimper, Word Window Punch, White gel pen, Paper Piercing Template, pop-up glue dots

Valentines Mailbox

2007-02-11T23:24:00.000-05:00

My sweet daughter and I made her mailbox today for 1st grade valentines arriving this week. She did all cutting, and stamped her name. Easy Peasy template from SCS (Qbee, I think), so cute! The door opens by untying the ribbon. There will be 3 prizes awarded, and she's convinced she'll win one!

Stamp Sets: Lots of Hearts Jumbo Wheel, Brushstroke Alpha
CS: WWhite, Real Red
Ink: Real Red
Other: Sticky Strip, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Horizontal Slot Punch, non-SU "lips" brad for flag.

Teacher Name Frames

2007-01-20T18:57:00.000-05:00

Christmas gifts for my kids' teachers. SO much fun to make; I'm way behind on this trend, but been eyeballing it for-evah!

Stamped Crayon Kids (retired) in white craft on black CS for the chalkboard background effect. I will never get rid of my Crayon Kids set! (and Crayon Alphabet lowercase!)

The rest is pretty self-explanatory, Headline Alpha for the names, Crayon alpha for the 'mrs' (on new smaller Tag Punch). Random eyelets, paper clips, ribbons.

They are all on display in classrooms, which is nice.

Snowman Pins

2007-01-07T19:46:00.000-05:00

Here is a pic of the bottlecap snowman pins I talked about a few posts ago. I made lots extra for teacher & random gifts as needed this season. Crystal Effects on the hat really strengthens the overall presentation (and makes it much more sturdy for wear!)

I used scrap cardstock to present them with, and punched holes with the 1/8" circle punch to attach to pins (last photo). They were well-received, which is nice!

Journal Jar

2006-12-22T21:15:00.000-05:00

A fun gift to give this Christmas, and so far very well received by the chosen few I decided would use it: a jar with journaling 'strips' (questions on paper, to answer in the matching journal). The instructions are printed on the jar with computer font (and the label on the jar is acutally inside the jar, preventing the headache of figuring out the adhesive to use on the jar).

This photo is yuck for color accuracy, but wanted a closeup of the journal front:

Stamp set: Sage Advice (retired)
CS: Confetti Cream, Black, Mellow Moss
Ink: Black and Moss
Other: Moss Grosgrain, Gold Cord, non-SU sheer ribbon
Adhered the CS to comp book with rubber cement b/c I'm low on sticky strip and it did well!

Big Engagement News

2006-12-21T10:13:00.000-05:00

A stamping friend of mine got engaged last weekend and I made her this card.

Stamps: Think Big, Happily Ever After, Paisley Bkgd
CS: WW, Black, Banana, Lilac
Ink: Lilac, Banana
Other: glue pen, DD glitter, non-SU sheer ribbon

I stamped the Paisley background in banana on the card base and also on the white focal image, though it may be hard to see in the photos. This was a fun card to make!

Eat Cake Thank You's

2006-12-11T23:08:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I forgot to post these cards here, I made them months ago!

These are the TY notes from my daughter's birthday party. I took apart a sample ring I had of Designer Paper and used the little squares to mount the present on. Easy Peasy! I just love this stamp set and 3x3 cards!

OOh, I got Famous!

2006-12-11T23:01:00.000-05:00

I got an early Christmas present:

The oh-so-famous Michelle Laycock featured me in her blog, here! Woo-to-the-OOT! And I really didn't have much to do with it, all a happy accident. I love those!

And P.S. - The Comment feature should NOW be working; I apparently almost enabled the comment feature the other day, but didn't really. Just testing you. ha.

Comments!

2006-12-03T16:43:00.000-05:00

I've had this blog for over a year, and have never put comments as an option, but decided I'd throw the gates open for them. If you have any thoughts or questions, you're now free to post. Thanks for looking!

November Stamp Club Projects

2006-12-02T22:35:00.000-05:00

As a thank you for the holidays, I made a little mini stamp camp for my Stamper Six clubs (we meet every other month, so next meeting is January). We made several projects using the Cold Play stamp set:

Snowman Soup packets

Tealight Luminary

Bottle Cap lapel pins - I forgot to take pics of the pins we made, but I CASE'd this from SCS stamper Cambria. All these designs are inspired from the talented stampers on SplitcoastStampers.com

My stamping friends~

Frosty Projects

2006-12-02T22:30:00.000-05:00

Look at these cute ideas my upline sent me. Love the Kleenex box, and the mitten card fits in a regular invitation-sized envelope!

Fall Big Buckle Card

2006-10-07T10:41:00.000-04:00

This was inspired by a card made by SCS stamper canzak. We did this card at my September Stamp Clubs. We added the extra step of putting vanilla cardstock on the inside, next to the gold metallic cardstock, in order to make a practical card that you can write on!

Get step-by-step instructions here.

Stamp Club Projects

2006-10-07T10:40:00.000-04:00

The newest stamp club made these projects early on.

Rock & Roll Technique:

Kissing Technique:

A Happy Fall card:

2006 Christmas Card Swap

2006-10-02T21:47:00.000-04:00

Look at the talented swappers in this exchange!! SU demo Jennifer Benton hosts the BEST swap each year; I LOVE these cards, and especially the use of the new Holiday Thyme Designer papers:
[if I've spelled your name wrong, or mis-credited a card, do let me know so I can correct it]
Mindy Gray
Tammy Howell
Terri Cooper
Nancy Carr
Heather Renninger
Kate Brannen
Debbie Porter
Carol Klinger
Leslie Orman

Eat Cake!

2006-09-03T23:30:00.000-04:00

Again, I say unto you: I LOVE this Eat Cake stamp set, the new Ribbon Originals, and colored brads. These are the little mini pocket invites I made for my daughter's 7th birthday party next Saturday (22 of them! Oy!) - inspired by the sample on page 55 of the new Idea Book & Catalog. As soon as I saw it, I had to buy this set:

Recent Workshop Make & Takes

2006-09-03T23:25:00.000-04:00

Ack! I have been remiss in posting!

(1) A Completely CASED card from a talented SCS stamper. Love my new Eat Cake and Happy Everything stamp sets
(2) An easy M&T for beginner stampers coloring with pastels and using the Tag Corner punch and pop-up glue dots
(3) Bagalope with the new Seeing Spots set and the matching jumbo wheel

My Z Becky Brown

2006-05-22T16:50:00.000-04:00

These little traincase-looking purses are all the rage with stampers & scrapbookers, and if you Google it: NO, I did not pay retail for it. (My life verse? "Only fools pay retail") You can stalk them at joann.com and get them at 40% off if you're vigilant.

I made a generic winter one, knowing I would be too lazy to change a Christmas theme before spring. Carry it all the time and receive compliments (though probably just because of the beautiful kids on it). Now I need to do a Spring/Summer one!

Really like the colors I used together (Eggplant, Navy, SIlver, White).

FRONT:

REAR:

Snowman Paperclip

2006-01-15T00:17:00.000-05:00

This waa CASE'd from some fabulous stamper on SCS, and used for one of my stamp clubs as a gift.

More Altered Clipboard & Domino Zipper Pull

2006-01-14T23:47:00.000-05:00

I'm in love with these things; here's the first one I did that doesn't function as a clipboard, but a post-it holder and mini bulletin board (with glass pebble thumbtacks). Then pen has a magnet to stick on the metal clip at the top.

And a backpack zipper pull (I am also currently in love with dominos and StazOn ink):

Pre-K Teacher Gift

2005-11-27T23:10:00.000-05:00

Front:

Top:

Back:

Accessories:

Retro Baby Card

2005-11-27T23:06:00.001-05:00

CASE'd from Jami on SCS with minor changes:

Girly Girl Birthday Gifts

2005-11-27T23:06:00.000-05:00

Personal Clipboard w/ matching pen, magnets, & clip (for someone ELSE named Joelle!):
Front:

Closeup of Top:

Closeup of Accessories:

Back:

Domino Necklace:

Gifts & Giving Stamp Camp

2005-11-27T23:05:00.000-05:00

November 2005

Mini Gift Card Tin w/Pen:

Three mini cards w/envelopes:

Tumbled Tile Magnets:

Domino Pendant Necklace:

Nighlight:

Corkboard w/matching pushpins:

Bonus Project/Gift Tags:

Holiday Display Board

2005-11-05T20:51:00.000-05:00

Teacher Treats

2005-10-30T07:38:00.000-05:00

Boo Box!

2005-10-30T07:31:00.000-05:00

New Baby Gifts

2005-10-14T07:02:00.000-04:00

Terrific Tags Stamp Set & Tag Punch Creations:

all stamped images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2005

Cradle!

2005-10-14T06:45:00.000-04:00

This darling favor was originally created by MelMel of Splitcoast Stampers. I made one for a cake topper at our Stamp Club surprise baby shower last week. Unbelievably easy for how complex it looks; I made it in about 15 minutes. The cradle rocks & the hood even moves back & forth!

all stamped images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2005

Recent Hostess Gifts

2005-10-14T06:20:00.000-04:00

Monogrammed Cards:

Post-It Holder w/ matching pen:

all stamped images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2005

Progressive Scrapbook Pages

2005-10-12T23:02:00.000-04:00

This was a demonstration I did at a workshop using the Hostess' personal photos.

From a 6x6 brag book page:

Transitioned into an 8.5x11 page:

And finally into a 12x12 layout:

all stamped images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2005

P.M.S. Basket (Pizza, Movie, & Stamping!)

2005-10-03T22:08:00.000-04:00

Packaging Demonstration for Direct Sales

2005-09-20T06:18:00.000-04:00

Hostess Paint Can & Lunch sack bag

3 sizes of 2-4-6-8 boxes

Book-to-Look 'sour cream containers'

Nugget holders

"Be a Smartee" booking incentive

Gift for my Knitting Friend~

2005-08-13T22:52:00.000-04:00

Project Gift Tags & Thank You Notes:

-all images copyright Stampin' UP! 1990-2005

Hostess Oasis

2005-08-13T22:45:00.000-04:00

2004 Top Hostesses Appreciation Night
July 2005

Seasonal Display Board

2005-08-13T22:21:00.000-04:00

Wedding Bells~

Paper Bag Book!

2005-08-13T16:45:00.001-04:00

Father's Day Gift 2005

So fun to make, too!
Tags inside the bag book are the last of the pics:

No-Time-To-Stamp Camp

2005-08-13T05:46:00.000-04:00

16+ Birthday Cards with the Polka Dot Party Simply Scrappin' Kit with TONS left over to make more!

Birthday Stamp-a-Stack

2005-08-12T22:41:00.000-04:00

Hostess Gifts & Door Prizes

2005-08-12T21:44:00.000-04:00

Winter to Spring 2005
1) Summer by the Sea pins w/ Pearl Ex
2)Shapes & Shadows post-it holder & matching pen

No-Time-To-Stamp Camp

2005-08-12T21:26:00.000-04:00

Christmas Layouts
Sparkling Holiday Simply Scrappin' Kit
January 2005

(just a few of the layouts shown here: some 6x6 brag book size and others 12x12 depending upon stampers' preference)

-all images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2005

Christmas Gifts Stamp Camp

2005-08-11T20:26:00.000-04:00

Christmas Stamp-a-Stack

2005-08-11T20:25:00.000-04:00

Birthday Stamp-a-Stack

2005-08-11T20:24:00.000-04:00

Stamp Camp

2005-08-11T20:21:00.000-04:00

Dollar Tree Re-vamps

2005-08-11T20:15:00.000-04:00

Look what you can do with Dollar Store finds and our "In the Wild" stamp set:

copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2005