Fast Friday - Red Riding Hood Fleur

Oh, how I love bringing back Riding Hood Red!  Better yet, we now have an even deeper cherry red to play with called Cherry Cobbler!  The new Stampin' Up color collections are awesome!

So, today Riding Hood Red reigns.   Begin this card by adhering a thin strip of Riding Hood Red cs vertically onto a RHR (Riding Hood Red) card.  Then, stamp two images separately, either on Crumb Cake or on Sahara Sand cs.  I have stamped the fleur de lis from the Friends 24-7 stamp set and the "for you" from the Elements of Style stamp set.

Over lap the stamped images to adhere.

Fast enough for you?

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - So Saffron, Melon Mambo, Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White

My color combination this week is:

So Saffron, Melon Mambo, Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White

The stamp set is called "It's the Thought".   It is a Level 1 Hostess Set from the Summer Mini Catalog.   Let me know if you would like to hostess a stamping event & you could maybe earn this stamp set for yourself with hostess rewards!

The "long time, no see" is stamped in Early Espresso ink, which is one of the new core Neutrals collection colors.  An Early Espresso cs strip is adhered across the top of the card.  I mixed two shades of brown on this card, adding a Chocolate Chip epoxy brad and laying a length of Chocolate Chip 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon across the giraffe piece.  This same ribbon is now available in the big catalog in Early Espresso and several other new gorgeous colors !

A Top Note shape is die cut from So Saffron cs and adhered to the Whisper White card front.
The last thing I did to decorate this card was to give it an unexpected pop.  Some Fancy Flower punched Melon Mambo flowers get the job done.

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Fancy Robin

I see pretty little cardinals every time I visit my friend Lynne's home.  So, I made this little red bird card in her honor.  :)

If you read my blog regularly, then you will notice that I tend to find a new favorite stamp set very often.  This stamp set, called Friends 24-7, is on my long list of favorites!  I admired it for quite a long time before I purchased it!  Now I sure am glad that I own it!

Card Stock Colors:  Basic Gray, Real Red, Crumb Cake

Inks:  Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad, Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Gray Stampin' Write Marker

Stamping and layering, that's all.   Stamp the Basic Gray card front with the swirly stamp and stamp the Real Red cs with the fleur de lis stamp.  Stamp the Crumb Cake cs with Real Red ink - clean the stamp and turn it in the other direction so the design is going the opposite direction.  Layer cs pieces onto the Basic Gray card.

Ink the bird stamp with Real Red classic ink, then use a cotton swab to "erase" the red ink from the branch portion of the rubber.  Color the rubber with a Basic Gray Stampin' Write marker only on the branch where you want it to be gray on the finished image.  Remoisten the rubber with your breath and stamp the bird onto Crumb Cake cs.

Layer the bird onto Basic Gray cs and then adhere it to the card.

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Softening the Color of Stampin' Write Markers

The Tuesday Tip this week is for using Stampin' Write markers.  If you have ever colored an image with markers, yet you wished the colors were toned down a bit, this tip is for you.  Let's take a look at two cards I made today.  Both cards are decorated with a cute spaceship stamp from the Pun Fun stamp set in the 2010/2011 Idea Book & Catalog.  I am so happy this stamp set has not retired yet.....each stamp is so cute & makes me chuckle. 

The card that has the little white brad is colored with Stampin' Write markers.  I just colored in the spaceship as I would color with crayons.  Actually, I color in circular strokes.  I stamped the spaceship image with Black Stazon ink onto watercolor paper.   I like using watercolor paper and Stazon ink when I am going to be watercoloring because I know the colors will not smear or run.  The Stazon/watercolor paper combo is a great duo for blender pens as well.

Now, notice the difference between the first spaceship image and the one with the ribbon and clippie.....no, this is not one of those games where you find the differences between the two pictures.  (hee hee)  Just notice the coloring of the spaceship.  The reason the coloring looks different is because the second card is colored with blender pens that are inked from a color palette created with Stampin' Write markers, instead of coloring directly onto the paper with the Stampin' Write markers.

It's easy.........

Color a few strokes of your Stampin' Write marker onto either the plastic cover of an inkpad, a clear-mount acrylic block (you'll need to make sure you damp-wipe it when you're done), the lid of a Stampin' Up plastic stamp set case, or even a plastic plate.  Here's a picture of my color palette for this card, which I scribbled with Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, and Tempting Turquoise Stampin' Write markers onto a stamp set case.

Now, load the blender pen with your color of choice......scribble a few strokes with the blender pen directly into the puddle of color on your color palette to pick up or "load" the color.

Now, rather than coloring with the Stampin' Write marker, color with the blender pen, onto your stamped image.  The color will be soft and pale, unlike the vibrant color when using a Stampin' Write marker directly onto cs.

You will find that the color will disappear from the blender pen tip very rapidly, so you will need to reload the blender pen quite often.

One more tip - make sure you scribble the blender pen tip onto scrap paper until it draws clear, uncolored lines, every time you change colors, in order to get  true Stampin' Up color.

Have a great day!

Linda

Map It Monday - Olive Fleurs and Herringbone

The Map It Monday post for this week is this bright & handsome card that would be a nice greeting card to give either a man or a woman.  Isn't it a smart look?  The herringbone tweed designer series paper is from the Spring Mini Catalog's Sweet Pea Designer Paper Stack (sorry, it's retired, but look at the new Idea Book & Catalog for some equally cute designer papers!).  I love those Sweet Pea papers so much that I keep saving them instead of using them.  Finally I asked myself, "Self.....what good are those sweet papers if you don't use them?"  Hopefully you bought that paper stack too!

This map utilizes a Top Note Diecut in Whisper White cs.  Stamp a little design from the Tiny Tags stamp set on page 130 of the Idea Book & Catalog in Old Olive Classic Ink.   Stamp "praying for you" from the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set with either a Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad or White Stazon Ink.  Punch the message with an oval punch, then layer onto Old Olive cs & adhere to card.

Let me know if you try this map & how it looks!


Linda

Fast Friday - Bermuda Suede Leaves

OK, I know that I am posting quite a few cards using recently retired colors.  I have a stack of cards that I've made recently & still want to post for you.  The new Stampin' Up colors will be coming along in between!

Do you remember the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set that I really love?  Though it is generally intended to be used for sympathy, get well, and prolonged illness cards, I have used part of the tree stamp for a masculine birthday card!  I really like the way it turned out.

A few interesting punched edges & a decorative ribbon dress it up.  The colors are Soft Suede, Old Olive, and Bermuda Bay.

Best of all, this card is a fairly quick one to make!


Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Poppy Parade, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede

I love this color combination.  It combines some of the Stampin' Up new "In Colors" and new core colors.  These new colors are beginning to win my heart.


Remember this card that was a freebie to make at my New Catalog Open House?  The card happens to be the same colors as my colors of the week, so here it is!

Supplies:

card: Whisper White
other cs:  Marina Mist, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede
featured stamp set:  Long Fellows (Level 3 Hostess Set)
inks:  Soft Suede, Marina Mist
other:  1 3/4" circle punch, Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, dimensionals

This card is mostly adhering layers of card stock - easy peasy.  The only two layers that are adhered with dimensionals are the Poppy parade circle and the Marina Mist strip.  The ribbon is looped & adhered underneath the Pear Pizzazz cs layer.

The "happy birthday" is stamped in Soft Suede ink.  The whale is stamped in Marina Mist.

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Lattice Top Note

I think I have been using my Lattice Bigz Die a bit too much.  Actually, everything I have done with this die has been outstanding, so maybe I cannot possibly use it enough.  In any event, here it today's card, once again, using the Lattice Bigz Die!

The card shape is the Top Note die.  I die cut two Whisper White Top Notes to make the card front and back.

In order to get the card to open easily and fold well, simply lay one of the top notes across a paper trimmer.  Using the scoring blade only, run the blade across the top note about an inch down from the upper edge of the top note.  Crease along this score line.  This Top note will become the front of the card.

Choose some coordinating or complementary ribbon to tie around the card front above the crease.  You'll want a little bit of adhesive to keep it in place.  If you'd rather tie the ribbon a bit lower on the card, you can tie on the ribbon around the card as your last step.  If you do it this way, there will not be a need for adhesive on the ribbon, since the ribbon should stay in place within the curve of the Top Note card shape.

To assemble the card, simply apply adhesive to the small portion of the scored Top Note, above the crease only, then press both Top Notes together.  Now, when you open the card, the bottom of the card lays flat, while the front of the card fold easily to open.

You will get plenty of practice with diecutting for this card......run the lattice die and Old Olive cs through your Big Shot or Cuttlebug & adhere it with a 2-Way Glue Pen to the front of the card.  It fits just perfectly!

Stamp a message and punch out with the Modern Label punch.  Adhere to the card front, either flush to the card or with dimensionals.

Linda

Tuesday Tips - A Little Ribbon Can Go a Long Way

Today's card mixes creamy colors like Very Vanilla, Whisper White & Crushed Curry with Soft Suede.  That gorgeous Stampin' Up Polka Dot Ribbon needn't get used up all at once.  A little bit of ribbon can be just as effective as tying a long length of ribbon across the card.  It adds that little pop of color and fun!

Linda

Map It Monday - Hello from My Open House

This sweet card is one of two greetings cards that I offered as free make-n-takes at my New Catalog Open House recently.  The card is a fun & quick card to create.  Here's how:

Supplies:
Stamp Set:  Hello Again
Card Stock:  Whisper White, Green Galore, Melon Mambo
Inkds:  Classic Stampin' Pads - Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo; Stampin' Write Markers - Crushed Curry, Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore
Other:  1 3/4" circle punch

How to make this card:

1.  Stamp the star or "jack" (as in the old game of jacks - remember?) in Tempting Turquoise several times in the upper left corner of the card.  Also stamp the word "hello" in the lower right corner.

2.  Adhere Green Galore cs to card.

3.  Color the flower stamp with direct marker to rubber inking.  Coloring the Crushed Curry, or lightest color, first onto the rubber will prevent light colored markers from getting discolored with darker colors.  Moisten the rubber with your breath & stamp the flower onto the small cs.

4.  Stamp the butterfly with Melon Mambo Classic Ink.

5.  Adhere the stamped white cs to the Green Galore cs.

6.  Punch a partial circle with the circle punch into Melon Mambo cs.  Tuck it under the white layer on the card.

Linda

Fast Friday - Felt Flower and White Hearts

The Fast Friday card for this week is just too darn cute.  Why not make it yourself?!

I have used the Sweet Pea Stitched Felt Flowers from the recently retired Occasions Mini Catalog.  Hopefully you ordered some of those cute little flowers and still have some on hand.  If not, you can use any flower that has an extra "pop"...... maybe the Fleurettes Ii Accents & Elements or
the new Paper Daisies Accents or a sticker from a Simply Scrappin' Kit or even a stamped flower, such as a bold flower in the Petal Pizzazz stamp set  or Cottage Garden stamp set. 

The only thing you need to do before adhering your flower is to adhere a rectangle of Old Olive cs at the bottom of the Rose Red card, and stamp a message and some little designs in White Craft ink.  You could use any little design.  I have chosen a tiny heart.

Lastly, adhere whatever flower you chose, with dimensionals if desired.

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Faux Tile

At my WOW Stamp Camp last week we tried out several fun and different stamping techniques.  One of them is called Faux Tile.  I showed the ladies several different ways to use this technique.  The card we created using this technique is shown here.

Put simply, the technique part of this card is to score cs in two directions (tic-tac-toe style).  As you stamp on the "tiled card stock", the "grout lines" are highlighted.

The stamp set we used for this card is a Level One Hostess Stamp Set from the new IB&C (catalog) called Because I Care.  I think the hydrangea is absolutely breath-taking and the messages are great!  Did you notice the tiny rows of flowers & dots that I stamped down the card?  That is another stamp in the set!  You gotta love it!

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Simple Lattice

A detailed die cut can really add elegance to a card.  Here I have embellished today's card with a lattice design that I die cut from Stampin' Up's Lattice Bigz Die. 

Find a thin scrap of cs, any color, as long as it compliments the lattice color.  Adhere it to a card. 

Now, run your lattice die through a diecutting machine with Old Olive cs.  Doing this step ahead of time makes it all a breeze!  Apply a few dots of 2-Way Glue Pen on the back of the lattice design and adhere lattice to the card, just below the scrap of cs.

Lastly, stamp a message and punch it with the Modern Label punch.  Alternatively, try one of our other punches, such as a circle punch, Designer Label punch, or Scallop Oval punch.   Adhere the punched message with a dimensional.

Linda

Map It Monday - Olive Elements

The card and card map this week.........

take advantage of that amazing stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog called Elements of Style! 

I have used the fantastic Lattic Bigz Die.  The Old Olive lattice is adhered to the card using the 2-way Glue Pen.  

One way to get the splattered look, as this card has on the top section with the Sahara Sand bird, is to apply the splatter with a Color Spritzer tool.  If you don't have that tool, you could try a stiff paintbrush and either a very juicy inkpad or a dab of reinker.  Just pick up the color, set the card into a deep box or Color Catcher, then separate the bristles with your finger to splash some of the ink onto the cardstock. 

The message is stamped and then punched with the Modern Label punch.  A second Modern Label is punched from Old Olive cs as a "shadow" and layered underneath the Whisper White label.  Dimensionals give it a lift. 

Corner rounding the corners on this cards also softens it a bit.

Linda

Fast Friday - Sorrowful Butterflies

Hopefully you have a Stampin' Up Big Shot machine or a Cuttlebug.  That will be your main tool to make this card.  Besides the diecutting, the Fast Friday card this week has just a quick message stamped onto a Modern Label.  The label is then trimmed on the right side to abut the edge of colored cs.

Insert your choice of card stock cut slightly smaller than the card (I chose Crushed Curry here today) into an embossing folder.  You might want to consider one of Stampin' Up's newest embossing folders called Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions! Crank the embossing folder through your diecutting machine.  Adhere the dry embossed cs to a Whisper White card.

The next thing you will want to do is die cut the butterflies from Whisper White card stock.  The stunningly beautiful butterflies get embossed with elegant detail in the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die.  Each crank through your diecutting machine gives you five tiny butterflies, each with a slightly different pattern! 

Now, adhere the butterflies.  I like to use Crystal Effects for these small butterflies.  Just a tiny dab in the center of the butterfly is all you need - the butterfly wings can even be curled with a bone folder for a 3-D effect!

I also rounded off two of the corners on this card.

Once you have a diecutting machine out on the table, this card is QUICK from start to finish!

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Bermuda Bay & Basic Gray

I think today's card is just right as a masculine birthday or simple masculine "thinking of you" card.

The color combination of Bermuda Bay & Basic Gray work together so well.  OK, I know Bermuda Bay is last year's In Color, but hopefully we all have the inkpad and have some of the Bermuda Paper card stock left over.  If you are extremely lucky, you might have a sheet of the Herringbone dsp from the Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack!  I love, love, love this paper stack.  Sorry, it's retired :(       The good news is that there are lots more new gorgeous designer papers in the new catalog!

This card is easy to make.....just punch a decorative edge on the Bermuda Bay paper, punch a Modern Label with an appropriate message, then layer away!

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Framed Flower

I made another card using the Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper with a frame that I cut out from Whisper White cs.

Real Red cs cut to 6" x 6" is used for this card.  It is then folded to become a 3" x 6" card that will fit inside a Stampin' Up small open-end envelope.

I cut a frame with a paper trimmer and cutting blade from Whisper White cs.  Then, I adhered a small square of Sending Love Specialty designer series paper to the back of the frame.

The In the Spotlight stamp set (retired) has a tiny circle with the word "hello", so I stamped it onto Whisper White cs in Real Red Classic ink. If you don't have that stamp set, you could substitute any stamp that has a small design or message, such as Itty Bitty Bits, Wanted,  Short & Sweet, or Always. Then I punched it out, off set so a crescent of the white cs shows, with a 1/2" circle punch.  The little circle is adhered to the center of the dsp flower with a dimensional.

I set aside the framed flower and dry embossed three lines across the center of the card front.  The photograph doesn't show this feature clearly, but I scored only the card front across at 2 3/4", 3", and 3 1/4".

The last thing I did was adhere the framed art with dimensionals to the card front.

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Decor' Stencils

Have you tried stenciling on a card instead of stamping?  I recently purchased one of Stampin' Up's stencils called Folk Flowers Décor Stencils. Wow!  The surface area is large & smooth, wipes easily, and the image is full of detail.  This card was sooooo easy.

I merely laid the stencil onto the card front & sponged Perfect Plum and Always Artichoke onto the stencil openings.  You may want to use some masking tape or Dotto Adhesive to help keep the stencil in place. 

I also stamped a mini message & punched it out with the Jewelry Tag Punch.  After wrapping Always Artichoke ribbon around the card, I tied on the tag with silver cording.

I am now looking forward to stenciling on other items....furniture, a wall, who knows what else will be graced by the two pretty stencils from my

Folk Flowers Décor Stencils package!

Linda

Map It Monday - Today's Tree

This week's map is "simple with a spin".  Have you seen the new Big Idea Book & Catalog?!   Only one word describes it - A M A Z I N G !!!!  There is a scallop circle slightly larger than the scallop circle from prior catalogs available now!  You may want to check it out!  For today's card, I have diecut a large scallop circle, however, you certainly could use that new larger scallop circle punch instead if you stamp a slightly smaller image.  The punch is called the 2 3/8 inch scallop circle PUNCH. 

One of the nice things on this card is that you can use just a little scrap of ribbon.  I have a see-thru bag filled with short ribbon scraps that are too small to use on the majority of cards.  I just pulled out a ribbon scrap that matched my card!

The stamp set I used for this card is called Thoughts & Prayers - it includes lovely stamps for both sympathy, praying for you, and for extended illness.  Several of the messages are very appropriate for someone living with a terminal illness.

Are you wondering what stamping method I used for the tree?  I simply inked up the tree stamp with Old Olive ink, wiped off the tree trunk & main branches so the green disappeared, then colored those branches and trunk with a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker!  When there is a spot on a stamp that you want to be a different color than the remainder of the image area, especially if it is a fairly small area, a Q-tip applicator, sponge dauber, makeup applicator, or even a finger all get the job done.

The only cs I adhered to the card front is a Scallop Border Punched Chocolate Chip cs and the Very Vanilla large diecut scalloped circle.  By the way, if you don't own the Scallop Circle punch yet,  you can now purchase it in the redesigned punch body.  That new punch design is slimline and has a raised shape on the top for ease of storage and stacking, and it punches with such ease using even & only slight pressure.

Linda

ANNOUNCING LAST NIGHT'S OPEN HOUSE DOOR PRIZE WINNERS !

Last night's Open House was so relaxing & fun.  Thank you to everyone that stopped by.

Door prize winners will be contacted via email, however, if your name is on the list below, you have a prize waiting!  The first two names pulled from the basket won the stamp sets!  Names are listed below in the order the entries were pulled from the basket.

1.  Karen H
2.  Patty Z
3.  Teri E
4.  Lisa M
5.  Debbie C
6.  Donna K

Are you planning on attending any stamp camps in the near future?  If so, remind me to round up your prize when you are at my studio!

If you aren't yet registered for WEDNESDAY's 1-3pm WOW Stamp Camp (July 7, 2010), let me know if you want to attend - project/technique ideas are finalized & I think the projects are the best ever!




By the way, yes, there are three blog posts today. 

Linda

Fast Friday - Just Stickers

The Fast Friday card this week requires no stamping.

When you have stickers left over from a Simply Scrappin' Kit (which is every time because we all know that a Simply Scrappin' Kit has more stickers than one person can use in a lifetime), create a card!

The Sunshine Garden Simply Scrappin' kit (Spring/Summer 2009 IB&C) has all the stickers I needed to put together a pretty flower and message!

I tied a scrap of Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon into a knot and adhered it with a small snippet of Sticky Strip!

Linda

Need a Day Off?

SUMMER

STAMPING ESCAPE

Did you enjoy the Open House?

Come back for a day of rest, relaxation & fun!

Limited Spots Available – register today…..

Saturday,July 24

10am-4pm

Summer Stamping Escape

(Mini “Ladies Day Out” Stamping Vacation!)

FUN, FOOD, RELAXATION and STAMPING!

·         Come for the day 10am-4pm OR come and go as you need to.

·         Unique projects to create:  DVD Tin Scrapbook, mini scrapbook, beautiful 3-D gifts to give, designer embellishments, technique demonstrations and unusual card ideas.

·         Coffee, tea, water, and snacks available throughout the day

·         Lunch provided.

·         Door Prize Raffles!

·         Things to bring with you to this event:
Stamping kit (adhesive & refill, scissors, paper trimmer if you have one)

Make sure all of your supplies are labeled with your name

·         $55 including all supplies, lunch, & beverages

Think About Color Thursday - So Saffron & Soft Suede AND YIPPEE, IT'S OPEN HOUSE DAY!

This week's color combination celebrates soft and beautiful Soft Suede's membership initiation into Stampin' Up's core colors!  Yes, this versatile color is no longer an "In Color", but is a core color for years to come!

Soft Suede and So Saffron

Quite a pair, aren't they?  This duo would be a nice color combination for an Autumn card too!

Celebrating Soft Suede's membership into the core colors segues into my celebratory announcement for today......

Helllllooooo NEW 2010/2011 Idea Book & Catalog!!!!! Yes, today is the day we stampers have been waiting for!  This new catalog is now available for your perusal and ordering pleasure!  I don't know which items to add to my wish list first!  If you can stop by at my Open House today between 4pm and 7:30pm, please do so & you can see the catalog "in person"!  Check out my blog post from last Saturday for details!  Email if you need directions to my studio.

Also, you can view this catalog online at the Stampin' Up website any time.

Now, for the card:

Punch some Soft Suede cs circles with any size circle punch bigger than your butterflies.  Diecut some lovely little Whisper White cs butterflies using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit.  Adhere the circles, then the butterflies.  Lastly, wrap Soft Suede Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon around the card & double knot.  It's that easy!

Have a great day & enjoy looking through the new catalog!  As always, if you'd like to place a Stampin' Up order or if you need ready-to-give greeting cards, please give me a call or send me an email.

Linda