Fall Break

Hi everyone!

I am taking a week off.  Check back next week!

Linda :)

FAST FRIDAY - Quick BIG Monogram

It's Fast Friday again - the weeks are going by too fast!

Get your hands on some "on board" letters (Stampin' Up's chip board)!  They are so versatile. 

I turned the "b" chip board letter over onto cs & traced it & cut it out.

I added some hardware & a piece of matching Stampin' Up ribbon that I tied in a knot.

The fancy "b" is then adhered to the front of my card.

Brittany (my college daughter), if you want your monogrammed note card, come home for a weekend to visit soon! lol

Linda

THINK ABOUT COLOR THURSDAY - Brocade Blue, Soft Suede, Bravo Burgundy

The rich colors in the color combo remind me of  Winter.

Not sure how the photo ended up looking a little "off".  Here's the card, despite its spooky appearance!

I have used the So Tweet On Board Chipboard.  There's always such cute chipboard available in the catalog!

The Bravo Burgundy card is stamped with a stamp from the Wings of Friendship hostess stamp set in Soft Suede ink.  The Brocade Blue cs edges are sponged with Soft Suede.

The owl's face is also made from On Board chipboard and cs.  The chipboard eye circles are made of 1/2" circles punched from Brocade Blue cs & then adhered to the chipboard.  The little hearts are colored with a Bravo Burgundy Stampin' Write marker.  The chipboard beak is covered with Bravo Burgundy cs.

The Wings of Friendship stamp set has this pretty message that I stamped in Soft Suede ink onto Brocade Blue cs.  It is punched out using the Curly Label punch & the edges are sponged with Soft Suede ink.

To add a finishing touch, I trimmed a Brocade Blue 1/2" circle, added some polka dot ribbon & a brad.  It is adhered with a glue dot.

Linda

WHATEVER WEDNESDAY - Embossed Vellum

Try embossing on vellum.  Isn't this a pretty card? 

I cut vellum to just a bit smaller than my card.  I ran the vellum and the embossing folder called Manhattan through the Cuttlebug (or if you are lucky enough to own the Stampin' Up Big Shot Machine, you could use that!).

When adhering vellum to paper, I sometimes use vellum tape because it doesn't show through like regular adhesive would.  I added vellum tape to each corner of the vellum & pressed the vellum onto the card.

The punched cs is stamped with a message from the Upsy Daisy stamp set.   The punch I used is actually retired - you can use any of Stampin' Up's punches, as long as they fit the size of the message you are using.  The message is then adhered to the card.

Diecuts & embossing can be a simple, beautiful focal point of a card.

Linda

TUESDAY TIPS - Recreate Something You Like

The Tuesday Tip for this week is simple:

Recreate what you like!

What do I mean?  Well, I received this little green & white thank you note several months ago.  I liked its simplicity and clean style so much, so I kept it in my inspiration pile.  I just found it & decided to create a card similar to it.

Want to create a card like this?  It's easy!!!!  So easy that it should be a Fast Friday card.  Ink up a stamp (I used an acorn stamp from that retired Autumn Fest stamp set, but any Autumn-inspired stamp will work great), color some Creamy Caramel Stampin' Write marker directly over the inked rubber on only the top of the acorn & stamp it on a kraft card.  Do this four times.  Then, add squiggly lines to connect the four acorns, forming a square.

Add  a letter stamp to the center to make it a monogrammed note card!

Linda

MAP IT MONDAY - Designer Prints Patterns Pack

Now that my newly designed blogsite is finished, here's a Map It Monday card design.

I have used the Stampin' Up Designer Paper Patterns Pack papers in Brocade Blue.  These cute little paper pads are great to get your hands on - they have a handful of S U designer paper prints that all match each other in different patterns. 

What an easy card today - I just cut some rectangles of that paper & adhered them.  Then, I stamped a leaf from the retired Autumn Fest stamp set in Riding Hood Red & cut around it and adhered it to the card.

I added a layered message with additional designer paper.

Have a great day!

Linda

NEW LOOK!!!

Hi everyone !

I hope you like my blog's new facelift! I absolutely adore how it turned out !!!

Let me know what you think!

Linda

FAST FRIDAY - Eyelet Little Leaves

It's Fast Friday once again!

 

If you have a diecutting machine (Big Shot, Cuttlebug, etc.), then you probably occasionally have extra diecuts that you made & haven't used yet.  When I remember to, I like to diecut more than just one piece of paper at a time.  I was diecutting a few weeks ago with the "Little Leaves" from Stampin' Up & ran extra designer paper through the Cuttlebug.  So, since I already had a little leaves diecut ready & waiting, this Fast Friday card was just waiting to happen.

 

 

Do you want to make this card?  Add a strip of white cs that has been punched with the eyelet border punch to a Close to Cocoa card.  Use a 2-way glue pen to add a dab of glue to the little leaves & stems.   Adhere it to a piece of white cs, letting the leaves cross over the white cs.  Paper pierce a design in the corner & adhere it to the card, letting the diecut spill over onto the card.

 

Lastly, stamp a message in Close to Cocoa.  Here I have stamped the message from a retired Stampin' Up stamp set called "Polka Dots & Paisley".

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa, & Certainly Celery

When I was contemplating what color combination to feature today, I remembered yesterday's card. The soft color combination deserves to be featured on a Think About Color Thursday:

Close to Cocoa

Blush Blossom

Certainly Celery

So, here's another card using this fantastic combo......

Here I have used a new stamp set from the Holiday Mini Catty - "Charming".  It IS charming! 

For the main image, I punched out a large oval from scrap paper & placed it over white cs.  I sponged around it with Certainly Celery ink & removed the oval.  I was left with a white oval in the middle of the cs.  I adore this tiny little butterly in flight stamp from this stamp set!  Dimensionals give his card depth!

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Circle Stand Up Card

I used the Coluzzle template to create this card. You can use the technique shown below to get very creative with the stand-up circle. Here's what I came up with.

Tools I used to make this card:
Coluzzle circle template & Exacto knife
paper trimmer with scoring blade
card measuring 4 1/4" x 9"

How I made this card:
Insert card with long edge against the paper trimmer’s top edge. Slide cs over so the scoring blade will score at 4 ½” (4 ½” should actually be the halfway point on this 9” card). Score at ONE & AN EIGHTH INCH from each edge:

Lay the card on a cutting mat. Center a Coluzzle circle template on top of the score lines, with the template “circle stops” on top of the score lines that you just made.

It’s time to cut the half circle into the track that is the 3rd circle track from the center on the template. Use a cutting knife (Exacto) to cut ONLY on one side of the circle, running the knife in the template groove from one “circle stop” to the other “circle stop” – don’t continue around the other half of the circle on the template.

Fold your card on the score lines, making sure you don’t fold on the circle. This is how it looks at this point:

Decorate the card. Try to incorporate the circle that shows through in a creative way. I punched circles using the 1 ¾” and 1 3/8” circle punches to adhere onto the card’s circle with dimensionals.

Linda :)

TUESDAY TIPS - Label Maker Card

Did you know you can use a label maker to spice up a card? This label maker.....




is the one I use to label things in my studio. Lots of stuff needs lots of labels. Today I pulled out the labelmaker to use it on a card & thought you'd like to see my card! The label tape is red - I just peeled it & stuck it on the card! I've used something old to create something new!



I also have used something NEW to create this card!!!! I ordered two of the Stampin' Up first October deals of the week punches & they just arrived!! I love the My Way (arrow) punch & the 3 little flowers on the Trio Flower punch. I couldn't pass them up. I've used them both on this card!

Tip for today: try a labelmaker when you make a card!

Linda

MAP IT MONDAY - Cute as a Curried Bug

Isn't this little stamp set called "Love Bug" cute as a bug? It is a Level 1 Hostess Stamp set, so if you ever have a really big order, you can find it in the hostess pages of the Idea Book & Catalog.

Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo pair well together! What a bright, cheery card! I used the scallop border punch on the Crushed Curry cs, then I paper pierced every scallop.

It was fun coloring the bugs with the new In Color markers on watercolor paper. I first stamped the big bug with black Stazon ink, along with the message. The watercolor paper is layered onto black cs. Then I layered both the Crushed Curry and black cs pieces onto a piece of Melon Mambo that had one corner rounded with a corner rounder punch.

I punched three BIG buttons with a circle punch on black cs. They are adhered with dimensionals. Onto the Crushed Curry it all went!

I hope you like it!

Linda :)

SCRAPBOOK SATURDAY - Tiny Apples

It's Scrapbook Saturday once again!

I have so many pictures of apple picking through the years. I remembered that I have a cute little stamp set called One Smart Cookie. The set has a little apple in it.

I decided to use every corner of the page & cut around the pics in silhouette. It's a different style that is fun to do.

Circles & scallop circles are layered on both sides of the center picture.

I stamped tiny little apples & punched them out with a 1/2" circle punch. Little apples are adhered in a row & also layered on each end of the title.

One of the stamps in this stamp set says "sweeter than apple pie". It is stamped & punched out with the new Modern Label punch. I've added it at the bottom of the page.

A journaling marker adds a subsued title.

Linda

Fast Friday - Rusty Brads

SUPPIES:
card: Really Rust

other cs color: Barely Banana

ink: Elegant Eggplant & Really Rust Classic Stampin' Pads

stamp set: Falling Leaves

other: eyelets, scallop circle punch, dimensionals,




Add a strip of dsp, do some stamping in two different colors, stamp a scallop circle with a leaf, add 2 eyelets & stick it on the card with dimensionals. Viola! Fast!

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Sage Shadow, Kraft & Very Vanilla

Kraft cs looks warm & romantic when paired with the color Sage Shadow. Here is a card that demonstrates this.

I recently purchased the new Note to Self stamp set shown in the current Holiday Mini Catalog! I like two of the stamps for backgrounds. Plus, there is a stamp in the set with 3 lines so I can add journaling anywhere. My favorite stamp in this set is a little stamp with the word "notes". I have been using that stamp on mini notepads, among other projects I am working on for the holidays!

I also incorporated a definition stamp ("lucky") from the Define Your Life stamp set.

Sage Shadow cs is punched on one side with the eyelet border punch. I added some Naturals Ivory cs to lighten up the card & punched those strips also with the eyelet border punch.

Lastly, I rounded corners of this card with a corner rounder punch to soften it further.

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Tea Time Card

Here's a darling card to give a neighbor or friend that has a pocket for a tea bag! Maybe someone is feeling ill, or you just want to cheer her up. Maybe you want to give her something to say "I'm thinking of you" or "You're a good friend".

It's a little teabag card! Instead of folding the card in half like usual, I scored it just on both sides of the center point, to make a spine like on a book. This way, a bulky tea bag will fit inside & yet the card will fold & close neatly.

I added a triangle of scrap dsp & punched out some decorations for the front. I also found a Christmas stamp that I have from years ago that says "Gingerbread time". I used a Stampin' Write marker to stamp the word "time" on the front of the card. Then I used a Stamp-a-ma-jig and imaging sheet to stamp the letters t, e, & a to form the word "tea".



I made a small pocket by adhering some dsp - only adhere the edges of the sides & bottom, then insert a tea bag. You can write a note on the inside front flap.

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Chalkboard

Have you tried a stamping technique called “Chalkboard”? It is a fun stamping technique that I seldom use, yet it offers a unique look to a card. Can you guess why it’s called “chalkboard”? The “chalkboard” is actually a piece of dark cs – black cs on this particular card. Here’s how you can make this card & try this technique!

Use a Craft Whisper White Stampin’ Pad for the ink. Stamp an image onto dark cs.

Load a chalk applicator (sponge dauber or even a cosmetic applicator) with your color choice of Stampin’ Pastels. Be generous with the chalk – you want a thick coating. Dab the chalk-laden applicator onto your inked image, making sure you do not rub. Rubbing may smear the ink.

Once you have an even coat of chalk, you can remove extra chalk around the image easily with either a dry tissue or a Swiffer dry cloth. Since craft ink does not dry quickly, you can spray your project with a fixative or use a heat tool briefly to prevent smudging or smearing.

Have fun experimenting with this stamping technique! My finished card is designed with Garden Green and Close to Cocoa colors. I added a leaf brad onto small and large ovals punched out of Garden Green cs and Close to Cocoa Designer Series Prints paper. As always, I enjoy seeing what you create – send me a pic in an email or show me what you made if you attend my stamp camp!

Have a great day!

Linda

Map It Monday - French Scallop

The background on this card is stamped with a French script background stamp. It has a great look for a notecard.

Did you ever know that there were sooooo many ways a card can be mapped? This style of card is a great way to use any extra embellishments or card parts that you have laying around from past projects......a strip of cs here, an oval there, maybe run cs through a diecutting machine for yet another layer (Elegant Eggplant is embossed in an embossing folder), then add some matching brads.

Linda

ANNOUNCEMENT: Deal of the Week is Back for the Month of October!

Just a quick post to let you know.......

During the month of October, Stampin' Up! will offer several discounted products as "Deals of the Week." No limits and no minimum purchase required. If you see a "deal of the week" that you would like to order, simply email me & I would be happy to place the order.

All Deals of the Week are current products and featured in the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog - this is different than the "online clearance rack" announced in my October Stamping News.

This week's deals are:

Trio Flower Punch $10.99
5-Petal Flower Punch $10.99
My Way Punch (arrows) $11.99

Check back to the Stampin' Up website weekly for the announcements of the Deals of the Week all month (announcement days are 10/1, 10/12, 10/19, & 10/26).

I just love Stampin' Up during these tough economic times! They sure are making it easier for us to purchase what we love!

I am placing an order tomorrow, in case you know you want one of these great punches ASAP!

Linda

Fast Friday - Lotta You From Me

Have you ever used a message as the main image on a card? This was a stretch for me, yet I am quite happy with how it turned out.


I think the key here is to use very bright colors to give the card interest. Choose a second bright color cs to layer on the front of your card.

Use matching bright color ink stamp the message, alternating black ink & the other color.

Tie some black & white ribbon around the white cs and adhere it with dimensionals. Add a message inside if you want.

Time's up - fast enough?

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Dusty Durango, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip & Kraft

Think about these colors together:

Dusty Durango
Old Olive
Chocolate Chip
Kraft

Aren't they just SO Autumn?

To make this card, begin with a Kraft card & stamp a background only partially across the card. I have used the polka dot background stamp from the retired Stampin' Up Polka Dots & Paisley stamp set.

Stamp the Dusty Durango, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip strips separately with any of the leaf stamps from Falling Leaves stamp set. Then adhere the strips to the card.

For an embellishment, I adhered a scallop circle punched piece of Dusty Durango cs that had been stamped with a leaf.

There's also some paper piercing on this card to give it some detail - I think it is not easy to see in the picture.

Linda