Whatever Wednesday - Photo Book Mark

Today's Whatever Wednesday post is a photo bookmark I made for myself. I can see all my children! There are pics on both sides.

here's the front

here's the back!

I cut two frames the same size out of heavy designer cs. This is done easily by inserting the cs (one at a time) in a paper trimmer. Line it up & pay close attention to where you are on the paper trimmer measuring ruler. Slide the cutter blade from point A to point B (your decision how big the "window" will be). Turn the cs around & slide the blade again on the other side - begin & end exactly at the point where you did on the other side.

Now, connect the dots (well, connect the cuts). Slide the blade so you cut in between the two sliced lines. Do this on both ends. Those are your frame pieces.

Apply a thin line of adhesive around the bottom edge and both side edges. Press both frames together.

Now you need to make the insert. Cut your insert from heavy designer cs - you need to weight to keep it sturdy. The size should be slightly larger than the rectangle that you cut out from the cs frame. You want the photo insert to stay put, yet you do not want it to be touching the adhesive you applied within the frame.

Center your photos onto the insert & adhere (use both sides!).

Punch a hole with a Crop-o-dile near the top of the insert & tie in some pretty ribbon.

Carefully slide the photos into the frame - when you get near to the bottom section, you may have to guide the photo cs into it.

I hope you get a chance to make one of these bookmarks for yourself! It's always nice to pull out my book to read & see those 4 smiling faces when I open up the book and when I put it away.

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Top Note Purse Card

Cute card, huh? I made this birthday card for my son's girlfriend. She adores purses (and shoes).

Stamp a background - I used the word "celebrate".

Use the Big Shot Top Note die to die cut either one double-sided dsp or two different coordinated dsp's or cs's. If your paper is double sided, you can just fold it to see the flap on the purse. If using two different papers, just cut them. The larger piece will need some trimming - the little points on the long sides need to be cut away so they don't peek out from underneath the flap once the purse is completed.

Cut a short length of ribbon for the purse strap, lay it on the table & insert a brad through both the paper "flap" and the ribbon end - do this on both the right and left ends of the purse handle.

Assemble the two pieces on the card front & adhere.

Punch out a little circle for the clasp & adhere with a dimensional. You could stamp something little or just use designer paper.

This is a fun card to make - enjoy!

Linda

Map It Monday - Elegant Coral Thank You

This layout is terrific for a simple stamped image that you want to be the center of attention. Just plop it in the center of the card & give it a stage. Then, add a bow to make it really pop!

The image is created using Stampin' Write markers direct to the rubber stamp - Cameo Coral and Basic Black. A multi-colored word image looks fantastic. I have layered my image a couple of times & used a ticket corner punch.

Linda

SNEAK PEAK at the upcoming SPECIAL PROJECTS CAMP October 14 7pm, Wednesday

You will not want to miss my Special Projects Camp on Wednesday evening, October 14th! I finally have designed the projects & thought I'd give you a sneak peak!

We will be making three projects.

The first project is a Halloween treat box. You could leave off the jack-o-lantern faces & kitty cat to make a Thanksgiving pumpkin treat box if you prefer. It'd make a cute hostess gift when you go to Thanksgiving dinner with homemade cookies or candies inside. College kids might love to receive this little Halloween treat box from mom & dad too!

The second project is a gift card purse. Once I show you how to make this sweet card, you can make one any time you give a gift card (probably for females only?).

I wanted to show you how a gift card is inserted into this purse, so I cut a little piece of cs to be the size of a standard gift card & I just realized that I wrote "credit card" on it instead of "gift card". That's funny! Who would give someone their credit card? Now, THAT would be a fantastic gift! Despite my little mix-up, the purse card is shown here. Isn't it sweet?

The third and final unique and beautiful project is really the main focus of the evening. Instead of just a set of handstamped note cards, give someone special this Desktop Organizer with its cards inside that match! Or, you could just place it on your own desk to tidy things up! There's a place in this Desk Secretary Organizer for an address book, full-size note cards & envelopes, stamps, post-it notes, and whatever else needs to be kept in an organized caddy! It looks very pretty. We'll make a lid for it so it can be "boxed up" for gift giving or when you want to neaten up your desk!





Camp cost: $15

Email me today to let me know you will attend this camp! Bring a friend!

Oh, and there are still a couple of spots left for this Thursday's Stamp Camp. I named it a "Fall Festival Stamp Camp" because we'll make cards for Halloween, Thanksgiving, a tiny Halloween candy favor, and a few Autumn-looking note cards, PLUS a Sweetest Day card, since I just remembered recently that this special day is coming up soon! Email me to register for this $15 stamp camp too!

Have a great day!

Linda

Scrapbook Saturday - Wintergreen Casey

It's been awhile since I have posted on Scrapbook Saturday. This layout has some S U retired designer paper called Wintergreen (if I remember it correctly). I saw those colors in the photos, so I used a soft yellow base & the soft greens.


I cut out a little dog bone from black cs & adhered it with dimensionals. I also added three tiny buttons. I corner rounded the designer paper at the to6.

For the title, I used creative journaling with a black journaling marker.

Hope you like it!

Linda

Fast Friday - Gate Fold Leaves

The Fast Friday post today is fast, yet it has an extra special look about it. The gate fold on this card is punched with the eyelet border punch.

Have you tried a gate fold card? It's scored in two places & the "gates" are folded inward. The bottom line is that you want the finished dimensions to be the standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" if you want it to fit inside a standard A2 envelope. You can experiment with it to make the "gates" different sizes.

For this particular gate fold card, I cut strips of dsp & adhered them beside the punched edges.

Stamp leaves from the Falling Leaves stamp set, punch out with a circle punch & adhere!

Linda :)

Think About Color Thursday - Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango & Mellow Moss

This week's color combo consists of two new In Colors and a soft muted green:

Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango & Mellow Moss




The card is Dusty Durango. Cut a piece of Crushed Curry cs to 3 3/4" x 5", then round the edges of the card and the Crushed Curry cs.


I have used embossing folders to dry emboss two squares of Mellow Moss cs. I also rounded the corners with a corner rounder punch.


Sponge Dusty Durango lightly onto the raised embossed cs's. The embossing comes to life!


I cut some Dusty Durango squares a little larger than the embossed square & mounted the embossed squares with dimensionals onto them to give even more depth.


Add ribbon from the Ribbon Originals Orchard. The way I added the ribbon is to cut ribbon about an inch longer than the Crushed Curry cs. Then, I cut a separate piece of ribbon several inches long & tied it around the longer piece. Adjust the knot so it looks neat. Adhere the long ribbon to the Crushed Curry cs, tucking the ends underneath.


Adhere all layers to the card.


Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Stamp-a-ma-jig

Do you own a Stamp-a-ma-jig?



This is what it looks like & I could not stamp without it – at least, not stamp very well. A Stamp-a-ma-jig helps to align your stamp in the correct place. Alphabet letters can be lined up precisely in line to form words or word stamps can be linked to form messages with this tool. No more misaligned messages or crooked letters! Multi-part images can be stamped with ease - like the petals, stem, center, and leaves on a flower! My stamp-a-ma-jig takes the guesswork out of exactly where my images will end up!

Here's a card I made today. I stamped the little flip flops from Life's a Breeze stamp set in Melon Mambo, Only Orange, and Taken with Teal. I'll show you how I used the stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the words so they are lined up next to each other.

The package contains the stamp-a-ma-jig and a plastic imaging sheet onto which you stamp the same image that you will be stamping on your project. Place the corner of the plastic imaging sheet into either corner of the tool (personal preference based on whether you are right or left handed & what feels comfortable to you). Then stamp an image onto the imaging sheet, making sure you wedge the stamp into that same corner.


Lay the stamped imaging sheet onto your project so the image is exactly where you want your final stamped image.

Hold the plastic down onto the card while you place the "jig" against the corner of the imaging sheet, just like you had it set up before.

Carefully remove the imaging sheet while holding down the tool on the project. Ink up your stamp & press it again into that same corner. The reason that I wanted to use the stamp-a-ma-jig is that I wanted the words to be in different colors. I inked one word at a time with a Stampin' Write marker - the new Melon Mambo marker and Taken with Teal.

Do the same thing for the other word. The beauty of the jig is that both words will be aligned evenly in a row, with nothing crooked!

Just about any stamp can be used in conjunction with a stamp-a-ma-jig, however, many stamps don't need to be aligned precisely, so the tool is unnecessary. It is extremely useful for Stampin’ Up’s two-step stampin' sets. Those sets have an outline stamp and a solid inner stamp, such as a flower outline and then a solid flower that gets stamped inside the outlined image. Things can get lined up very easily using the "jig". You can look at the inside front cover of the catalog & notice there is a symbol for 2-step stampin' sets. That symbol shows up throughout the catty whenever a stamp set is a 2-step stampin' set! That's be a clue for us to pick up that "jig"!

Here's a tip for you: In many of my stamp sets, I also store a stamp-a-ma-jigged image on small squares of vellum. I stamp (in black Stazon ink) the images that often need very exact alignment onto vellum to keep permanently, so I avoid stamping that image over & over again on the imaging sheet. Each time you stamp an image onto the imaging sheet, you just clean it off with water or stamp cleaner.

Linda

TUESDAY TIPS - Mix Rub Ons and a Simply Scrappin' Kit

We all have rubons and Simply Scrappin' kits that have leftover parts. Combine them & come up with a unique card!

Here's one I made. My scrapbook club last month made a layout with the Sunshine Garden (retired) Simply Scrappin' Kit. The stickers in the kit can be used for cards for a variety of occasions.

I chose a chocolate chip rubon, so I added a strip of chocolate chip cs along the edge of the card to tie the color in. If I had chosen to use Old Olive of White rubons, I wouldn't need to add that chocolate chip cs.

Linda

Map It Monday - Birdie's Under the Weather

Today's Map It Monday post is once again that cute little birdie I love so much. My friend Teri gave me a card very similar to this. I switched it up a little bit to transform the design into a "get well" card - I thought the umbrella looked cute being held by the birdie "under the rainy weather". Thanks for a great card, Teri! I never would have paired Bashful Blue with Pacific Point, but it sure works!

The map is very versatile for just about any large stamp image. The circle can be used for a message, another small image, or even an embellishment such as a big button or flower.

I used the "Good Friend" stamp set to stamp the bird with Pacific Point ink, and I stamped the wing a second time in Bashful Blue. I cut out the wing & adhered it with dimensionals. The umbrella from "A Little Birdie Told Me" stamp set is stamped & trimmed, then adhered under the bird's wing with dimensionals. I added a slot for ribbon to go through with the horizontal slot punch. Then I set aside this main image piece & prepared the card.

The card is Pacific Point cs, with a Bashful Blue dry embossed cs measuring 4" x 5 1/4". You could use any of the new embossing folders or a texture plate for whatever embossed design you might want. I laid the ribbon across the card before adhering that embossed cs. I matted a piece of matching dsp onto Pacific Point cs & adhered it going vertically. Then I adhered more blue layers! That will be the base for the bird.

The ribbon is run under & up through the big bird white cs piece & that piece is adhered with dimensionals. Tie the ribbon into a double knot and adhere the message, which is layered onto Bashful Blue cs, & with dimensionals.

Have a great day!

Linda

Fast Friday - Thanks for the Party

I made this card for a friend after she hosted a fantastic party. Apparently I had a background stamp that I didn't remember I had - I think I found it in a dollar bin somewhere in a random store a really long time ago. It definitely is an interesting mix or mod tile pieces.

I think it screams "PARTY!", so it a great partner to the "party time" stamp from the Stampin' Up Perfect Timing stamp set. I stamped a simple "thank you" on the inside of this card.

The card is the new in-color called Dusty Durango. The color combination here is intriguing and unusual - Elegant Eggplant & Bravo Burgundy alongside the Dusty Durango.

The "Party time" is adhered with dimensionals.

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Kraft, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Rose Red

Isn't this a cute card? It's one of the cards from last week's stamp camp.

You'll Need:

cs: Kraft card & cs, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Rose Red

stamps: happy birthday from just about any set, Darling Dots retired hostess set

inks: Classic Stampin' Pads - Rose Red, Stampin' Write Markers - Rose Red, Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink

punches: Scallop Square, small oval

Other: ribbon, brad, dimensionals, glitter, 2-way glue pen

Punch four scallop squares with the Stampin' Up Scallop Square punch, two of white & two of kraft cs.

I colored directly onto the rubber to ink up the cupcake stamps. Remember to "huff" onto the rubber before stamping! Stamp on the white scallop squares. After stamping, I added a bit of glitter onto the cupcakes using a 2-way glue pen.

The happy birthday consists of two small ovals that are offset a bit to give the appearance of a shadow. It's always amazes me how many ways a punch as simple as an oval can be used! Insert a brad through both layers before adhering the oval set with dimensionals.

Line up & adhere the scallop squares onto pink cs, then layer it onto a slightly larger kraft cs layer. The ribbon is wrapped around at this point.

Layer the piece onto one additional white cs layer, slightly larger, then onto the card.

Have a happy day!

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Decorated Notepad

Did you see the decorated frame that I posted yesterday? Well, this notepad goes with it! They are decorated with matching paper & went together as a gift set.

The front cover says "Do everything now" - don't you sometimes feel like everything has to be done & has to be done now?! If you want to know how to make a notepad like this, let me know & we can make some at an upcoming camp!

Linda

Tuesday Tips: Designer Frame

TUESDAY TIP:
Do you have any of those card-board style frames that professional photographers give you when you purchase photographs? I had some black frames from my son's graduation photo package deal, so I have decorated one of them.

I cut designer series paper (this particular paper has been retired for quite awhile now - can't even remember that the name of it is). I punched varied sizes of flowers from solid cs and matching dsp in 3 coordinated colors.

Brads are added to the flower layers & the finished flowers are adhered with glue dots.

Simple triangle photo corners are cut from matching solid cs.

It turned out cute, don't you think? Mine was a gift for a friend - it is a beautiful, inexpensive gift to make that'll let someone know you really care & took some time out to think of her.

Try it! Find an old frame & have fun!

Linda :)

Map It Monday - Doggie Paws

Here's a card we made at last week's stamp camp. Lots of pink & lots of doggy.

This card opens from a front split.

I just got back from the Stampin' Up Regional Convention & have sooooo many new ideas, card inspiration, and new techniques to make! I just prepared the Scrapbook Club layout for this week's event - very beautiful! More to come!

Linda

Fast Friday - Autumn Falling Leaves

It's time to cave in & get with the season - moving on from summer & on the Autumn.....

This card is so quick. I have used one of my new all-time favorite stamp sets - Falling Leaves.

Each leaf has a different cute pattern on it. Just have three fall colored inkpads lined up. I used the new Dusty Durango, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip inkpads.

Card stock is simply kraft brown - a card & a tiny scrap.

Stamp three different leaves using your choice of color in 3 columns down the card front.

After doing that, clean off the chocolate chip ink from the "thankful" stamp & re-ink it with Dusty Durango ink. Stamp the "thankful" leaf again, trim around it & adhere it with dimensionals right on top of the leaf that's been stamped in chocolate chip ink.

Done!

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Night of Navy, Barely Banana, Chocolate Chip

Today's color combo has two dark colors, with a very pale yellow to soften it.

SUPPLIES:

stamp sets: Love Bug - current level 1 Hostess Set (you can get it too!), Falling Leaves

cs: card - Night of Navy, Whisper White (the bugs & a rectangle cut for the interior of the card for a writing surface), Barely Banana

inks: Classic Stampin' Pad - Chocolate chip, Stampin' Write Markers - Rose Red, Barely Banana, Brocade Blue, Blush Blossom

punches: scallop edge, slot

other: 3/8" Taffeta ribbon - Chocolate Chip, dimensionals

How to make this card:

Stamp the leaves stamp from Falling Leaves in Chocolate Chip ink randomly on a Barely Banana cs strip that measures 4 1/4" x 2". Stamp the leaves again on a scrap cs (you could use either Barely Banana or even Whisper White).

Stamp "love bugs" from the Love Bug stamp set.

Stamp the two little bugs from the Love Bug stamp set onto white cs scraps, color them in with Stampin' Write markers & cut out. While you have the trimming scissors out, trim around the separate little leaf also.

Punch a one inch strip of Barely Banana cs along the scallop edge punch. Adhere that to the Night of Navy card.

Just beneath that Banana cs strip on the folded edge, punch the slot punch partially into the fold. It should be just a half punch just into the fold itself so you only have one slot when the card is open. Slide the ribbon through the slot & tie adhere it around the card. The ends of the ribbon should meet in the front & are hidden directly under where you will now adhere the single separate leaf image.

Adhere the larger banana cs & adhere the bugs with dimensionals.

I have stamped an anniversary message on the inside.

Until tomorrow,

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Snowflake Peek-a-Boo Card

Hold on now - don't shoot the messenger. I may be bringing you a "snow" card, but it is a BEAUTIFUL snow card. I just love Bashful Blue & white - it seems snow/wintery to me.

This peek-a-boo card has a 3-D circle on the inside. It fits perfectly inside the peek-a-boo hole & then it surprises you when you open up the card!

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:

stamp sets: Season of Joy stamp set (in the current catalog) & Perfect Presentation (retired hostess set)

cs: Whisper White, Bashful Blue

Inks: Classic Stampin' Pad - Bashful Blue

Punches: scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle

other: dimensionals, 1/4" grosgrain ribbon - Bashful Blue

HOW TO MAKE THIS CARD:

Stamp the square snowflake repeatedly on the card front. Stamp the round snowflake on scrap whisper white cs & punch out with a 1 3/8" circle punch. Punch a scallop circle from Bashful Blue cs & layer the white circle on it using dimensionals.

Close the card & add some adhesive right inside the hole (adhesive will actually be applied to the interior of the card, yet only to the little area that is the peek-a-boo spot). Keeping the card closed tightly, fit the Bashful Blue scallop circle into the hole of the same shape (like fitting a piece into a puzzle).

Now, you will not only see the popped up snowflake on the card front, but when you open the card, you will have this pretty little snowflake decoration on the inside!

Tie on the bashful blue ribbon into a double knot on the right side through the hole.

Have a great day!

Linda :)

Tuesday Tips - Water Bottle Hang Tag

LOOK HOW CUTE!

I made these water bottles for a party for my friend's birthday. If you saw my blog last Friday, you may notice that this bottle hang tag matches the little party favor on that post.

How to make this topper:

• Start out with cs measuring 2 1/4" x 7 3/4"
• Score at 2" on both ends
• Cut coordinating dsp (or you could use cs) a bit smaller than the middle section & adhere it, centered. I have used Sunshine Garden dsp (retired).
• Stamp a message or image onto white cs & punch it out with 1 3/8" circle punch
• Fold bottom section upward, apply adhesive along the side edges & press to adhere in order to make a pocket for the Crystal Light packet
• Punch two scallop circles from coordinating cs (I have used Yoyo Yellow here)
• Adhere a scalloped circle to the bottom portion & then adhere the stamped white circle
• Fold portion above the top scored line away from you (backward) & adhere the other scalloped circle, making sure adhesive is applied to the scalloped petals
• Now, punch through both layers (hang tag with scallop circle adhered) with a 1 3/8" circle punch so you have a large hole within the scallop circle. That hole will go over the bottle so it hangs there!

Here's the funny part......party guests were given these water bottle favors, and the guest of honor who turned 50 (I'm not naming names) was given the same thing, except her Crystal Light powder pack was replaced with a Benefiber powder pack. What a hoot!

Linda

Fast Friday - Party Favor Pixie Sticks

The F A S T project for today's Fast Friday post are these cute little party favors that I made for a birthday party. And, they indeed are f a s t!

Here's how you can make them for your party.....

What you'll need -

cs: 2 colors cs (whatever your party colors are), white cs scraps
stamps: Family Accessories (page 84 catty) stamp set
punches: scallop circle, 1/2" and 1 3/8" circles, slit punch
other: pixie sticks, inkpad to match cs, Tombo Multi-Purpose Adhesive

Punch scalloped circle and 1 3/8" circle from coordinated colors of cs. Punch slit punch thru the 1 3/8" circle only, then apply adhesive above the slit on the wrong side of the circle. Press it together with the scallop circle.

Stamp party hat stamp onto white cs & punch hat out with 1/2" circle punch. Those small white cs scraps that we keep saving work out perfectly for these tiny stamped images! Apply a dot of Tombo Multi-Purpose Adhesive to the back of the hat circle & press on.

Slide a pixie stick through the slit.

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Bashful Blue, Kraft, White, Basic Black

The soft Bashful Blue really pops with some basic black behind it, don't you think so?.

You could use solid Bashful Blue cs or any designer series paper in Bashful Blue, or a combination of both. Contrast that soft blue with the black, white & put it all on a Kraft card.

Punches used: Designer label, Curly label (underneath the "Happy Birthday to you"), and a 1" circle punch (Basic Black)

Do you notice how dramatic the black-inked snowboarder is? A deeper, darker shade of black can be achieved when using Craft Ink. It takes a little longer to dry, but with a little patience, the stamped image is more pronounced.

I also scalloped the right edge of the card with the scallop edge punch.

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Holy Swap

I am obviously feeling quite creative in my writing today - Holy Swap?! Well, there are lots of little holes & it is a swap card.

You'll Need:

cs: Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
stamp sets: Razzle Dazzle
ink: Soft Suede
punches: 1/2" circle, 1" circle, word window, Modern Label, Eyelet border, corner rounder
Other: Build-a-Brad, dimensionals, mat pack & paper piercing tool

I recently attended a Stampin' Up event & participated in a card "swap" with fellow Stampin' Up demonstrators. This is the card I designed to swap. I am quite pleased with how it turned out. What do you think?

The entire Bermuda Bay cs piece was completed before adhering it to the Soft Suede card. The only addition I saved for last was to adhere the layered message with dimensionals.

The first thing I did was to punch the eyelet sides with the eyelet border punch. I will be honest with you - it took me two tries to get the corner to look alright. I know there is a trick to it, but I forgot what the trick was. It still isn't perfectly lined up, but I'll take it! Stamping is meant to be relaxing and enjoyable, not maddening. lol Go ahead, see for yourself lol.

The next thing I did was to use the mat pack & paper piercing tool partially up the side & bottom of the Bermuda Bay cs. I even got pierce-happy & added another row of holes down the side. I think this intricate detail really sets this card apart from others.

I stamped the large Razzle Dazzle flowers twice on the Bermuda Bay cs, then stamped the small flower onto a Bermuda Bay scrap, as well as onto Soft Suede cs. The 1" circle punch is used to punch out the small Soft Suede flower. A 1/2" circle punch was used on the Bermuda Bay small flower so it would be the perfect size to use inside a Build-a-Brad! I built my brad & placed it onto the Soft Suede circle, then offset it onto another 1" circle punched from Whisper White.

I also corner-rounded two of the corners on this one.

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Medallion Wish

My tip for today:

Alphabet stamps are not just for scrapbooking.....Pair an alphabet letter stamp with a definition or message on a card!

I paired the Defining Alphabet and the Define Your Life stamp sets to achieve this well-put-together look. The two stamp sets are designed to be used together, though both sets work well as stand-alone sets. The W is inked in Crushed Curry, while the definition is inked in Soft Suede to "pop" a bit more.

You just must get a hold of this Medallion stamp!!!!! Isn't it gorgeous!!!?!

This birthday card combines two of the current "in colors" of Crushed Curry and Soft Suede.

I punched a curly label from Soft Suede cs & cut off just a small portion, then adhered it to the card as an underline for the definition. I also adhered a thin strip of Soft Suede along the card's edge.

Linda