A NEW LOOK AND A POSTING SCHEDULE FOR YOU

My blog will now be streamlined with a posting schedule. If it’s scrapbooking you are interested in, check the Saturday blog…..If you want color inspiration for your cards or scrapbook pages, visit the Thursday blogs. A particular focus each day!

Here’s the schedule:

MAP IT MONDAY – I’ll show you a specific layout map & what I made using it – you can come up with something on your own using the same map!
TUESDAY TIPS – I’ll focus on something specific & show you how (i.e. stamping techniques OR some kind of papercrafting tip)
WHATEVER WEDNESDAY - no explanation needed!
THINK ABOUT COLOR THURSDAY – a color combination for you to try
FAST FRIDAY – something quick & easy
SCRAPBOOK SATURDAY – I’ll share a scrapbook layout with you

If you email me a pic of something you create based on my blog, I might post it!
If you like my blog, you can subscribe to it (click on this little icon while visiting the blog )

or just go to http://www.lahinks.blogspot.com/ whenever you want to check in & see what's new! If you have technical trouble, please let me know. I will also try to keep you informed of anything new in between my monthly newsletter emails on my blog.

Hope you like it!

Linda :)

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS

I think it’s time to post some Christmas card ideas. If you plan to make your own Christmas cards, planning time is over! It’s time to create. Here’s an idea for you to use a beautiful holiday stamp set (page 34 of the current catty). It’s a set that was introduced last year, so you may have it ready to go!

CS: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Stamp set: Season of Joy
Inkpad: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red
Punches: Wide Oval, 5-Petal Flower, ½” circle
Other: Mat Pack, Sponge Dauber

I used the tiny poinsettia stamp to make a plain white cs into a designer paper – I stamped flowers in both Baja Breeze and Riding Hood Red. Then, I sponged the edges of the white cs to soften its look against the card & sponged the "Merry Christmas” oval while I was sponge-happy. I paper pierced the red strip with a Stampin' Up mat pack. If you don't have a mat pack and enjoy stamping, I would highly recommend getting one - for under $10, it can give any card a detailed look. When I adhered the red strip, I left a little of the Baja Breeze card showing in between the white cs & that red strip. I punched the center from the red 5-petal flower so the Baja flower shows through, creating the center of the flower.

This card is fairly quick to make & would be easy enough to make in a large quantity. Maybe I’ll get one in the mail from one of my customers?!

Time to get the Christmas tree out! Our turkey is in the oven & beginning to smell yummy! I just couldn’t have a Thanksgiving weekend without roasting a turkey. It sure was nice to not cook a turkey on Thanksgiving Day, though!

TTY on Monday!
Linda

CRAZY ORANGE CUPCAKE

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Here comes a nice happy, happy birthday card!

Recipe:
CS: white, brilliant blue, only orange, real red
Inks: Classic Stampin’ Pads - only orange, real red, brilliant blue, basic black, Stampin’ Write Markers – real red, only orange, brilliant blue
Stamp set: Crazy for Cupcakes
Other: dimensionals, real red grosgrain ribbon, mat pack

The base of this card was first stamped in both real red & only orange inks, using the birthday tooter horn stamp. I colored in just a little bit of each tooter. The paper piercing was done & the ribbon was tied around the blue cs before it was attached to the card base. The cupcake has a different piece of cs for each part. The candle was a bit difficult to adhere, but I just cut a tiny piece from a dimensional to give it depth. Frosting was stamped in basic black on white cs, and the sprinkles are colored with markers. The white "frosting" is popped up with dimensionals.

Linda :)

GIVING THANKS FOR SECOND GENERATION STAMPING

GIVING THANKS

A Thanksgiving card, what else? Make it for next year, or substitute another word on the tag & a different image for any time of year (birthday cupcakes, Easter bunnies, whatever).

RECIPE:
CS: really rust, very vanilla
Inks: Classlic Stampin' Pads - old olive, really rust, close to cocoa
Stamps: Fall Flair (Level 2 hostess set)
Punch: small or large oval, Crop-a-dile
Other: Hodgepodge Hardware oval ring clip (yep, each little type of hardware has its own name LOL), natural hemp twine

I did 2-step stamping for two of the leaves on vanilla cs with close to cocoa & really rust inks. The middle leaf was stamped in old olive, as were the “thanks”. The background leaves were stamped in second generation stamping, which means that after inking up my stamp, I stamped once (first generation) on scrap paper, then impressed a second time without re-inking my rubber stamp onto my card (second generation). It gives a more subtle & softer look so the main image on vanilla CS become a stand-out focus. I sponged the "thanks" tag with really rust.

I hope you have a blessed, happy, and peace-filled Thanksgiving. This blog gives me joy, so YOU are one of my blessings!

Linda

SWIRLY FOR YOU

Hello! Baking a pie in the oven - smells really good! This card looks regal, don't you think? It would make a nice card for just about any occasion - anniversary, get well, thinking of you, birthday, even a graduation!

RECIPE:
Cs: Note Quite Navy, Always Artichoke, whisper white
Stamp sets: Say It with Scallops, Baroque Motifs
Ink: always artichoke Classic Stampin’ Pad, VersaMark inkpad
Punches: scallop square, scallop edge
Other: heat tool, embossing buddy, clear EP, coluzzle circle cutter

I scallop edge punched the bottom edge of the card & adhered the artichoke CS strip just above the scallops. I cut only one large Not Quite Navy circle with the coluzzle cutter & then cut it apart. The big swirly motif is stamped in VM & embossed with clear EP. Circle edges are distressed to add dimension. After adding the circles, I adhered the "for you" with dimensionals.

BASHFUL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Good morning!

Today I am giving you a sneak peek at one of the cards we'll make at the December 9th Stamp Camp! Email me to register!

RECIPE:
cs: bashful blue (card), purely pomegranate, wild wasabi, whisper white
stamp sets: Upsy Daisy
ink: Classic Stampin’ Pads - bashful blue, purely pomegranate, wild wasabi, VersaMark inkpad
Punches: large oval, wide oval, designer label, ticket corner, ¼” circle or Cropo-a-dile
Ribbon: ¼” grosgrain – bashful blue
Other: heat tool, sponges, brads, embossing buddy, clear ep, dimensionals

I stamped the main image and verse with VM, then heat embossed with clear EP. The background was sponged (I'll show you how at camp. I adhered the layered image with dimensionals, and I punched a small hole on the card just below the image piece. After attaching the ribbon, I applied dimensionals between the wasabi & pomegranate punched pieces. The very bottom wasabi wide oval was adhered without dimensionals. Tada!

Have a nice day!

Linda :)

TRUE BLUE DENIM FRIEND

The blue on this card reminds me of a comfy pair of blue jeans.

RECIPE:
Cs: white, night of navy
Dsp: wintergreen
Stamp sets: Punches Three (Level 1 hostess set), Say It with Scallops
Ink: certainly celery, night of navy
Punches: scallop square, ticket corner
Other: mat pack, dimensionals

This card is paper pierced & layered. I think Night of Navy inked lightly on white CS gives the appearance of denim. When I paper pierced the "denim", the blue jeans got their stitching!

Have a great day!

Linda

TECHNICAL BLOG GLITCHES FIXED!!!!!!!!

Hi again!


Wow, my friends sure are quick to help! My friend Lisa gave me advice about my blog & I have followed her expertise. I think (HOPE) this will resolve the glitches, so everyone can both view my blog easily AND post a comment easily.


First of all, the original information I emailed/posted is NOT a correct link to my blog. Here is the CORRECT LINK:

http://www.lahinks.blogspot.com/

OK, I think that'll do it! Cross your fingers! If you continue to have problems with my blog, please let me know by emailing lahinks@gmail.com. Thank you for your patience.

Linda :)

TEMPTING BIRTHDAY

Hello!

Are you having any trouble either viewing my blog (in which case you might not even be reading this, would you?), or are you unable to comment on my blog? You are not alone. I'm not sure what the problem is, though I am checking into it. I hope to post the outcome of my mini investigation soon. I do know that my daughter at college has no trouble seeing my blog and has no trouble commenting. She actually uses g-mail and she has subscribed to my blog via google reader, so if you don't want to wait for my sleuthing, you could probably register for some kind of google & then have no trouble.

On to my card for today....

I love the overall look of this heat embossed card. I should have moved the words under the hardware down a little bit, but I'll take it.

RECIPE:
Cs: tempting turquoise, basic black, whisper white
Dsp: Patterns designer print paper – tempting turquoise
Stamp sets: Upsy Daisy, A Little Birdie Told Me
Ink: Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin’ Pad, VersaMark inkpad
Other: embossing buddy, Burgundy EP, Hodgepodge Hardware Small Rectangle holder & 2 matching brads, sponge, template, black grosgrain ribbon

I have some burgundy EP that I used with VersaMark to heat emboss the flower image. You could also use Stampin’ Up Craft Ink in Bravo Burgundy with clear EP. I sponged the sky with tempting turquoise. If you'd like to learn how to make a cloudy sky like this, email me & I will include a similar card at an upcoming stamp camp. I fastened the hardware to the dsp layer before adhering the patterns dsp to my card. I made a loop with ribbon & tucked it underneath.

Happy weekend!

Linda :)

HAPPY PUMPKIN PIE

Make some time today to try out one of my blog cards! This card would look great in any bold color paired with whisper white.

RECIPE:

cs: white

dsp: Patterns dsp - pumpkin pie (in honor of Thanksgiving)

ink: classic stampin' pad - pumpkin pie

stamp set: Birthday Whimsy (from last year's Sale-a-Bration)

Coluzzle Circle cutter

Jumbo eyelets

crop-a-dile

dimensionals

For this card, the ink & patterns dsp should be in the exact same color (here I used pumpkin pie). I first adhered some dsp to the card front, stamped "birthday" directly onto the dsp & stamped "happy" onto some white CS. I cut out & adhered the "happy" at a slight angle.

I added the jumbo eyelets with a crop-a-dile to the layered rectangular piece. Next, I layered the round coluzzle-cut pieces, adhered the right-hand portion of it to the rectangular piece & then adhered the entire thing with dimensionals to the card.

Later alligator!

Linda :)

NOVEMBER PICNIC

Hello,

I can’t believe the amount of snow we have! It almost reminds me of when my youngest child was born 12 years ago on November 9th – we had the blizzard of ’96. School was closed for several days while I was in the hospital! So, it can happen in November!

Today’s post is a quick thank you note using Stampin’ Up colors of real red, pumpkin pie, bashful blue & old olive – a cheery color combination! The Summer Picnic designer paper was from the Occasions ’08 catty (no longer available). If you don’t have that paper, substitute other bright papers.

RECIPE:

cs: real red, white

dsp: summer picnic

stamp set: cute & curly

punch: curly label

ink: real red classic stampin' pad

stapler/staples

I used the new curly label punch. I stamped the Cute & Curly "thank you" stamp, punched it out, then punched 2 curly labels from the pumpkin pie dsp. I cut the pumpkin pie curly labels in half & then adhered a piece underneath each of the four sides of the white curly label. Email or comment if you need more explanation. Don’t you love the stamp from the Cute & Curly stamp set? In this set there is also a plain striped stamp, Best wishes stamp, & a Merry Christmas Dear Friend stamp!

Scrapbook club at my studio this evening…..gotta go!

Linda :)

HAPPY LITTLE BIRD

Recipe:

Cs: white
DSP: wintergreen
Stamp set: Window Dressing
Ink: Certainly Celery Classic Stampin’ Pad, Stampin’ Write Markers – Certainly Celery & Pumpkin Pie
Dimensionals

I cut 3 identical strips of Wintergreen designer series paper (you could use whatever dsp you want & then use ink to match). I colored directly onto the rubber stamp with the markers & added a piece of that dsp to the little piece of cardstock with the bird. Dimensionals gave the bird flight . The “You make me smile” is actually meant to be stamped over an arched window in this stamp set, but I think it looks cute alone too!

Linda :)

SCALLOP FRAME

Good morning!

Well, I decided to have Sundays be my day off from blogging. Today's post is the last one in a group of posts featuring tangerine tango & the Wow Flowers stamp set, but I'm sure you'll see both of them again in the future some day.

RECIPE:

2 ¾” x 2 ¾” cs tangerine tango (for the scallop frame)
3 1/8” x 3 1/8” cs white
addtl cs: white, tangerine tango, kraft brown
punches: 1 ¼” circle, 1 3/8” circle, scallop circle, scallop edge
stamps: Wow Flowers stamp set
ink: tangerine tango Classic Stampin’ Pad
mat pack (page 184 Stampin’ Up catalog) & paper-piercing tool


This card is a square one (4 ¼” x 4 ¼”). I pierced holes on the front & in the corners of the scallop frame itself– piercing is easy when you line up the cs with the guide marks on a mat pack. Paper piercing gives cards such detail – that “wow” factor. But, there are 2 wows on this card – also the Wow Flowers “Happy Birthday” stamp. I popped up the kraft scallop circle with dimensionals.

Isn’t this scallop frame neat? You can make it using the new Stampin’ Up scallop edge punch & a square of card stock that is 2 ¾”. Just center the punch on each side of the square and, with one punch on each of 4 sides, you have your scallop frame! Easy!

Until tomorrow,

Linda :)

WONDERFUL SISTER

Today's post incorporates that awesome color combination of Tangerine Tango & Passion Pink & the Wonderful Favorites words again. The little flower comes from the nostalgic Sock Monkey set (no monkey today, but that monkey has 6 other little props in this stamp set besides the flower - so cute!). For this card & most of my blog cards, stamp whatever interior message you want based on the occasion (or leave it blank for a note card).


HERE'S THE RECIPE:

CS: white, passion pink, old olive
stamp sets: Wonderful Favorites ("wonderful", "sister"), Sock Monkey (little flower)
inks: Pink Passion Classic Stampin' Pad, Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin' Pad, pink passion & old olive stampin' write markers
punches: scallop circle, 3/4" circle, boho blossoms, word window, curly label, ticket corner (wow, that's a lot of punches!)
white brad
blender pen

For this card I used my new curly label punch - I love how it can make an image look framed when you use the negative part of the punched cs! The flower stamp was inked with the "direct-to-rubber" technique, coloring with markers directly onto the rubber stamp, then huffing breath on the stamp to re-moisten it a bit before impressing. I colored the flower center with a blender pen inked with Tangerine Tango to pull that color in. I stamped "wonderful" in both tangerine tango AND passion pink. Add your flower layers & brad right through your pink frame before adhering the frame with dimensionals. This picture doesn't do the card justice, however, the dimensionals give the framed flower depth. I hope you liked it! Post a comment or email if you have any questions, as always! I got my first comment - I was so excited! From my oldest baby! :)

Not sure whether I will post on Sundays or make that my day off......stay tuned!


Linda

SIMPLE YET STRIKING

Happy Friday! If you read my blog, I would love it if you email me at lahinks@gmail.com to let me know what you think of it. I am open to suggestions. Today's post is a really quick & simple thank you card.
I have included a pic of the front AND the inside.

RECIPE:
CS: Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, White
Ink: Tangerine Tango
Stamps: "Thank You" from Wow Flowers stamp set
Punches: Scallop Circle, slit, 1 3/8" circle, corner rounder
Ribbon: 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon - Tangerine Tango
Dimensionals

Can you tell I just love this Wow Flowers stamp set? And the Tangerine Tango ink color? I'm posting several cards this week featuring Wow Flowers and Tangerine Tango - it's helpful to see a stamp set or color's versatility. For instance, this set's stamps can be used for a main image or for backgrounds. I folded the card "gate-fold" style so it opens from the middle. I corner-rounded every corner, even in the gate fold itself. The ribbon was fed through a slit punched near the center edge of the card & a partial slit along the right edge of the card. The white circle was popped up with dimensionals. If you aren't familiar with dimensionals, they are double-sided adhesive foam dots that you use to have features of a card stand up a little bit, giving the card dimension (hence the name "dimensionals").



INSIDE OF CARD:













Have a fantastic weekend!

Linda :)

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

Good morning!





Today's post is called "I Can See Clearly Now". Why? It's a clear plastic card, aka acetate. I used a clear transparency for this card. The trick with acetate cards is to score your fold well in order for the card to stay closed.


RECIPE:

• CS - white, pink passion, tangerine tango, black
• Inks: Pink Passion Classic Stampin' Pad, Black StazOn Inkpad
• Punches - scallop square, 1 1/4" circle, 1 3/8" circle, scallop edge
• Stamp Sets - Wonderful Favorites & Wow Flowers
• Ribbon - 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Tangerine Tango
• Stampin' Dimensionals

I cut the white CS into 4 base pieces, each 3" x 4 1/4" & adhered them to the front, back, & both inside surfaces of the card. Align them exactly on top of one another, so the adhesive doesn't show. I punched two Passion Pink scallop squares & overlapped them. The "friend" stamp is from the Wonderful Favorites stamp set. I adhered the passion pink starburst/snowflake with dimensionals to give it some dimension - that stamp is in the Wow Flowers stamp set, along with the "birthday wishes". The ribbon was just wrapped around the card front. I plan to design a few other cards using Wow Flowers this week. It's quickly becoming one of my favorites for its bold look. This set is very economically priced at $12.95 (pg. 138 in Stampin' Up's current catalog). The Tangerine Tango ribbon was just wrapped around the card front. Tangerine Tango is one of this year's "in-colors" & it looks great paired with passion pink, don't you think?

If you need to reference any of the supplies in my recipe, you can see them in the Stampin' Up current catalog on the website at www.stampinup.com.

There are some acronyms/shorthand that stampers use frequently. I will be posting a shorthand guide on my blog to make things a little bit easier for beginning stampers.

Have a great day everyone!

Linda :)

PUMPKIN CENTERPIECE

Hello!
Well, this is officially my first post. This blogging thing is new to me, so I'll be learning as I post. I will attempt to post almost daily. What will I post? My creations! Today I am posting a Thanksgiving centerpiece that you can put on your table or on your mantle or just use as a decoration. If you store it away carefully, you can take it out year after year from Halloween to Thanksgiving! It couldn't be easier to make....give it a try & let me know how it turns out! Here goes.....

PUMPKIN CENTERPIECE

Supplies:

1 sheet 12" x 12" Stampin' Up Patterns Designer Series Paper - Pumpkin Pie

1 sheet 12" x 12" Stampin' Up Patterns Designer Series Paper - Old Olive

Always Artichoke Classic Stampin Pad

A leaf stamp (any medium or large-sized leaf stamp)

5" piece Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon 5/8"

Stampin' Up Rope Twine

Crop-a-Dile

2 eyelets (green, metal, or neutral color)

Trimming scissors

1. Cut Pumpkin Pie paper into 1" wide x 12" strips.

2. Stack strips in a pile & punch hole through strips at both ends using Cropo-A-Dile.

3. Knot bottom of 5/8" ribbon & thread unknotted end through a hole in the stack, then through hole at other end of stack. Knot top of ribbon & trim ribbon ends.



BOTTOM OF PUMPKIN

4. Spread out strips of paper to create pumpkin shape.

5. Stamp 4 leaves on old olive paper with Always Artichoke inkpad & cut out.

CLOSEUP OF LEAVES

6. Punch a hole with Crop-a-Dile through 2 overlapping leaves, then set eyelets with Crop-a-Dile. Repeat with remaining 2 leaves.

7. Thread twine through eyelets, knot & wind around pumpkin below 5/8" ribbon knot, allowing leaves to hang freely.

NOTE: I used leftover green rope twine from my scrap box, but the Stampin' Up rope twine from the Holiday Mini Catalog will look even better. If you don't own a Crop-a-Dile, you can use a hole punch & an eyelet setter, or order a Crop-a-Dile from me! If you need any other Stampin' Up products, please mailto:lahinks@gmail.com . Tomorrow I'll be posting a beautiful Thanksgiving card that you can make!

Until tomorrow,

Linda :)