merry christmas to all of my blog friends

Christmas blessings to you all.

I hope you each have a lovely, happy, peaceful holiday.


Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Silver, Night of Navy, Whisper White

This week's color combination is:

Silver

Night of Navy

Whisper White

This is a Christmas card that I created for my mother to send this year.  I think the silver glitter paper enhances the card and gives it elegance.  

The main image is also silver, though this image is stamped with Versamark and heat embossed using silver embossing powder.

The Come to Bethlehem stamp set is featured on this card.  The scene in silhouette makes it ideal to heat emboss.

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Scallop Square Set

Here's a cute little set of note cards that I made and have been wanting to share with you.  The cards are square, scallop square to be exact.  They are die cut using the Stampin' Up Big Shot scallop square die.  The dsp is all from the same collection, Sweet Pea (retired).  You can make a set of cards similar to this using just about any dsp collection, a few punches, and a few stamps.  Circles dies also can be used as I have done here.

Need a last minute Christmas gift to give?  Maybe a sweet note card collection will be just the thing you can do!

Linda

Map It Monday - Wide Ribbon Thank You

It's Map It Monday and it is also the last Monday prior to Christmas.  Yikes.  No baking done yet.  No wrapping done yet.  Time to kick it into high gear.

This Christmas card is a nice Christmas gift thank you card to send after you've been a good girl and received a really nice Christmas present.  Don't you love, love, love the wide striped grosgrain ribbon?!?!

You can use that holiday themed designer series paper on today's card that you have left over from Christmas cards and holiday projects.

If you have Stampin' Up's ornament punch, you can use any of our ornament stamp designs to create this card.  If not, you can get yourself a Christmas gift and ask me to order it for you!

Have a great, busy pre-Christmas week!

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Dry Embossing over Stamping

You have stamped and you may have dry embossed, but have you stamped & dry embossed on the same piece of card stock?  Here I have stamped snowflakes onto Whisper White cs and then embossed it in a snowflake embossing folder through the Big Shot die cutting system.  You get more snowflakes per square inch that way! :)

I layered a tag with the three colors in the color combination {Pool Party, Riding Hood Red, and Whisper White}, and then I wrapped up the card with a long piece of the beautiful 1 1/4" striped grosgrain Riding Hood Red ribbon.  The style and the color combo of this card are gorgeous!

If you have your Christmas cards mailed already, why not make this card for a holiday thank you note?!

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Concord Crush, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive

This week's color combination is a rich Christmas trio:

 Concord Crush, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive.

The neutral card is Very Vanilla; the richness of the color combination here required a light color to soften it.  Here are my notes if you'd like to give this card a try at home.

NOTES:

Stamp Sets:  Tags Til Christmas, Heard From the Heart

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad

Cs:  Very Vanilla, Concord Crush, Cherry Crush, Old Olive

dsp:  Patterns dsp - Concord Crush

Punches:  Ornament, 1/2" circle, snowflake

Ribbon:  3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon - Cherry Cobbler

Other:  Snowflake Embossing Folder, Vintage Mini Tags, Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

Decorating the house for Christmas today FINALLY!

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Embellished Treat Box

I am featuring one more project that the gals stamped at my recent "Christmas Buffet" stamp camp.  I found these large bakery treat boxes on clearance at a discount store and snatched them up to save for this particular stamp camp.   So many people like to give home baked treats for the holidays as a hostess gift or to neighbors and friends.  You can purchase plain Chinese takeout boxes or bakery boxes and embellish them yourself at a fraction of the cost of what it could cost to purchase giftwrap options at a retail store!

Here I simply adhered strips of dsp on all four sides near the bottom and then trimmed the dsp with paper snips so it would be angled like the box.  The dsp on the top of the box is a large diecut from the Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die.  Just add some ribbon and embellishments and fill with something yummy!

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Matchbox "Double Drawers"

Here's a great way to give jewelry as a Christmas gift!  {Or anything else of similar size!}.....make a darling little two drawer gift box and add a special something in each drawer!  It is so easy to make this gift box if you have the Stampin' Up Bigz Matchbox Die and a Big Shot diecutting machine!  This little box is one of the projects the gals made at my recent "Christmas Buffet" stamp camp!

You will need to die cut two sets of the matchbox and sleeve.  The Riding Hood Red little tag is actually one of three tag shapes that are also cut in the matchbox die!  So that matchbox die is really both a matchbox AND a tag shape die!  I love the curvy shapes of each of the tags on that die!  Here I layered tag shapes and topped it with a round message!  Cute as a button!

Be sure to insert and secure the buttons {mine are pearly brads!} before assembling the matchbox if you want to hide the wings of the brad.  Adhere the two box "sleeves" together, then wrap around a strip of cs.  A wide ribbon secures everything!

Wouldn't it be terrific to hide a pair of earrings in one drawer and a necklace or bracelet in the second drawer and give it as a gift?!

Linda

Fast Friday - Kind Days

Recently I had a fun day stamping with friends at my friend Ellie's home.  We used some non Stampin' Up scrapbook papers that she has had floating around in her paper collection and attempted to match them up with Stampin' Up colors.  It is not easy to get a color match, so that challenge made me thankful for Stampin' Up's color collections!  Have I told you recently how awesome it is that Stampin' Up's inks match the card stock, which matches the designer series papers, which matches the ribbons, which matches the brads, which matches embellishments, which match embossing powders, which matches Stampin' Write markers, which matches....................need I say more?

So, this is one of the cards I created on that happy day - using the Autumn Days stamp set, Baroque Motifs stamp set, and Crumb Cake card stock.  If you like this card style, make your own!  Stamping with one ink color and only one or two stamps keeps the card moving quickly.  Simply cut and layer a few strips/pieces of cs and dsp, then diecut or punch 2 layers of a shape of your choice and add Stampin' Dimensionals.  That's fast!

Have a great weekend!

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Got Ruffles?

This photo of a ruffled draped fabric on a home-designing blog inspired me to create a few cards with ruffled ribbon.  There are several ways to create the look of ruffled ribbon on your cards.  Today's card ruffle was created using sticky strip and ribbon.

 

Lay a piece of sticky strip across the card on the place where the ribbon will be and remove the red liner from the tape.  Beginning with the end of the ribbon, smooth down about an inch of it onto the end of the sticky strip.  Gather a loop of the ribbon and press down with your finger onto the ribbon once again on the next sticky area in the row of sticky strip - just press about a half inch worth.  Make a second loop and press the ribbon down again, repeating all the way across the sticky strip.  You will have a looped {ruffled} ribbon across your card.  Trim the edges of the ribbon.  I like to insert a very small piece of sticky strip in between the loops so the loops lay down instead of stand up.

Ruffled ribbon and ribbon flowers can also be created by pulling a thread from the ribbon ends and gathering the ribbon all the way down the length of it.

I'd love to see your ruffled card creations!

Linda

Fast Friday - "Hi" on Stampin' Up Card Stock

Love the card, Hate the cheap non Stampin' Up card stock

Happy Fast Friday and Happy Black Friday!  I must be in a time warp because I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas season is upon us!  Time sure flies!

This week's Fast Friday post serves two purposes:  (1) to offer you another quick card idea, and (2) to display the benefit of Stampin' Up quality card stock.

First, the card stock........  I accidentally stamped this card onto white card stock that was not Stampin' Up cs.  Do you see how the Lucky Limeade "hi" scallop square image is mottled and blotchy?  That is the result of poor quality card stock.  There is a definite difference between the quality of an image stamped onto Stampin' Up's Whisper White cs and that of an image stamped on other cs.  Isn't it astounding to see?  I wish I had stamped another image on Stampin' Up cs to show you its visual distinctive quality, but I'm sure you can imagine a perfect looking Lucky Limeade stamped image just the same.

I also want to point out that using Stampin' Up cs is of even more importance when using a solid image stamp {line image stamped image quality is important too, but you can notice the quality difference much more in a solid stamped image}.  The difference is remarkable.  So, make sure you always have Whisper White Stampin' Up card stock {and Very Vanilla} on hand for your most beautiful, professional-looking stamping!

Stampin' Up card stock high-quality benefits:

Super smooth

Cuts cleanly

Creases well
dyed with pure color all the way through

No white core

80-lb. Weight

acid free, lignin free, and buffered

Now, on to the card design.  What could be quicker?  Punch a bright strip of cs with a border or edge punch, and stamp one image on the card!  This card will take two minutes!

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Regal Rose, Whisper White

Add caption

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you and your family have a blessed, healthy and happy Thanksgiving and holiday season.  True friends are just one of my many blessings.  Today's card post is a shout out to those friends to say "you are a blessing".

The color combination:

Cherry Cobbler
Night of Navy
Regal Rose
Whisper White

This card was a swap card at a recent Stampin' Up meeting.  Stampin' Up's new denim ribbon is featured on it, along with two current stamp sets from the 2011/2012 IB&C, Lean on Me and Charming {the tiny butterfly}.  I wanted more than solid color, so I substituted a little piece of both Night of Navy and Regal Rose Patterns dsp instead of plain solid card stock.  I love how easy that is to do with Stampin' Up's color collections! 

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Nugget Box

Four chocolate nugget candies in one box!

First of all, please excuse the poor quality photo.  If I get a few minutes later, I will try to remember to take another pic & repost.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity to show you this absolutely scrumptious treat project!  My friend, Ellie, and I made these the other day and can't wait to give them away!

I may give you an opportunity to make one of these decorated for Valentines Day at my Valentines Day stamp camp in late January or early February! 

Happy Thanksgiving prep!

Linda

Fast Friday - Turquoise and Trellis

Today my inspiration comes from a turquoise cushioned white wicker chair on the Honey We're Home blog.  Does it qualify for a "Fast Friday" post?  This card was finished in less than 5 minutes.


Don't you think the Bigz Lattice die and Tempting Turquoise patterns dsp mimic the chair nicely?  The stamp is called "Elegant Thank you" AND can be found on page 20 of the current IB&C.

Have a great weekend!

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Simply Soft Espresso

Room design to card design

My inspiration today comes from a beautiful warm bedroom on the I-Village website.
I have transferred the colors, shapes, and lines from the room design to an anniversary card design.

I used the Hostess Stamp Set called Simply Soft for the first time on today's card.....and I SIMPLY love it!  This 2-step stamp set really does give a softened effect to your stamped flower images.  Here I have stamped the line image stamp with Sahara Sand classic ink and stamped the solid image with Peach Parfait classic ink.

Various paper strips of card stock and designer series paper in the color scheme of Early Espresso, Peach Parfait, and Sahara Sand pull everything together.  The message of "love" from the Pennant Parade stamp set is stamped in Early Espresso classic ink onto Peach Parfait Patterns dsp and punched with the small oval punch.

A clear bitty button in the shape of a heart, on a glue dot, embellishes the message.  Stampin' Dimensionals have been used under both the message and the cameo element.

I hope you have a happy day!

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Wreath Petals

I finally just recently purchased the Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder from Stampin' Up, and I don't know what took me so long!  I am getting creative with using this embossing folder as a background, as embossed paper, and for making wreaths!

Give it a try!  Use a sponge dauber and Stampin' Pastels to dab green chalk directly onto white cs that has been pre-embossed through the Big Shot in the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder.  Dab the chalk into a donut shape, but it doesn't need to be exact.  Once you have a wreath shape the way you like it, blow off the stray chalk powder and/or tap the card stock to remove the powder.  Sometimes a very gentle rub of a tissue can help - just be careful not to smear.

I wanted berries on my wreath, so I added small flecks of Real Red Stampin' Write marker around the wreath.  Dress up the wreath in a pretty ribbon or whatever embellishments you have on hand.  I had some of last year's Polka Dot red brads left, so I added one with the bow.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!  Are you registered for Thursday evening's Christmas card Stamp-a-Stack event?  If not, get in touch with me asap!  Why not send out your own handmade holiday cards this year?  You can make 25 of them on Thursday evening (if you need more than 25, you can let me know in advance & make additional card sets in bundles of 10).  I have such pretty cards lined up to make!

Linda

Map It Monday - Pumpkin Clothespin

Today I am posting one of the cards we stamped at last week's Thankful Thoughts stamp camp.  I absolutely love this card!  The map layout is so unique.  Here is a map to help you make another card using the same layout.

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Concord Crush

This week's featured color combination:

Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Concord Crush

 Here is an untraditional Christmas card that is sure to attract attention.  The Concord Crush and the Tempting Turquoise are a nice change from the usual holiday red and green.

The Petite Penants punch is used on Old Olive cs.   I did stamp the tree trunk with Pennant Parade stamp set, however, I did not stamp the tree itself.  Only the punch is used to create the tree.  I also punched holes with a Crop-o-dile in the tree to give the appearance of ornaments.  After matting the tree onto Tempting Turquoise cs, the turquoise "ornaments" show through the punched holes.  I also punched some holes along the edge of the Tempting Turquoise cs and matted it onto Whisper White cs, so the white shows through the edge punched holes.  It is an interesting look, don't you think?

The Concord Crush background layer needed some interest, so I have embossed it.  You could use an embossing folder, texture plate, or even Stampin' Up's Simply Scored platform to create a criss-cross pattern.

The "merry" message is from the Pennant Parade stamp set.  The pennants really are designed to also become Christmas trees; I haven't come up with this idea on my own!

The  eyelet border punch also decorates the edge of the Old Olive cs.

Stamp camp soon - gotta run!


Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Lattice Leaves {yes Lattice, not Lettuce}

An Autumn card is a must today since I looked out the window and was amazed by the beautiful and breathtaking red leaves on a tree in my front yard.  If only I could somehow stamp leaves exactly like the real ones!

I've colored the leaf stamp with Stampin' Write markers and applied Dazzling Details glitter glue for a bit of sparkle.  The lattice diecut is not just a background for the leaves.......the leaves are inserted into the lattice slots.

Another element on today's card that I want to point out is the Hodgepodge Hardware.  The ribbon slide hardware is colored with Tangerine Tango, which is the same color ink that I used for the message, the sponging, and on the leaves.  How did I color it?  I squeezed a dime sized puddle of Crystal Effects into a plastic brad container, then added a drop of Tangerine Tango reinker to the puddle, mixed it with a paint brush, and applied the "tangerine crystal glue" to the tops of the hardware.  Make sure to let the hardware dry on a surface that it won't stick to.

We will be stamping this card at tomorrow evening's stamp camp!  If you haven't registered, let me know if you still want to attend!

linda

Tuesday Tips - Edge Punching with non-edge punches

fabric inspiration

I saw a beautiful gray and black fabric on the Designers Guild website that inspired today's card.  The Decorative Label punch creates a decorative design on both the card's bottom edge and the main white element on the card front.   To create this look on a card, insert the punch only partially into the cs and press the punch, then simply align the punch across the cs, each time punching while "eyeballing" the spacing so the punch is always lined up with the same spot on your punched cs.  Give it a try on some scrap card stock until you have an appealing border!  It's fun!  If you would like a detailed instruction post, let me know.

The main white element on this card is stamped with the Parlor Prints background stamp in the current Stampin' Up IB&C.  It is a lovely vintage print.  Stamping in Basic Gray and then sponging the white cs with Blushing Bride ink gives it a distressed, vintage appearance.


The message element consists of a stamp from the Petite Pairs stamp set, along with one of the stamps from the Four Frames stamp set.  The "frame" can be stamped once or layered for a jazzed up message piece like I've done here!

Linda

Map It Monday - Gently Falling Tree

There, I did it.......I have posted a Christmas card!   Whew!  Christmas is right around the corner and the first week of November is over.  That means we need to get stamping on our Thanksgiving and Christmas cards and gifts!  Lots of stamping!

I don't have a map today for Map It Monday........simply stamp across the card front, adhere a strip of something pretty across the bottom edge, and then wrap the card with 5/8" satin ribbon.

The trees are actually leaves from the Gently Falling stamp set.  Isn't that cool?  I sponged Pool Party classic ink around the trees, dotted tiny specks of Dazzling Details glitter glue, and added an adhesive rhinestone jewel to the top of one of the trees.

Linda

Fast Friday - Happy Yellow Ottoman

Happy Fast Friday!

I generally think of heat embossing as a technique that requires a few extra minutes and certainly not an alternative for a Fast Friday post.  However, today is an exception.  After a couple of blah colored cards this week, I decided to bring you some sunshine, in the form of this card!

I heat embossed with a Versamark inkpad and white embossing powder on bright yellow card stock.  If you have Daffodil Delight cs, it is the perfect color!  A retired hostess stamp set from last year's IB&C is my stamp choice, however, here are some great alternatives of a solid image stamp ideal for today's card design that you may currently own in your stamp collection or that you might want to email me to order for you.


Array of Sunhine Hostess Stamp Set in the current 2011-2012 IB&C (only $11)
Tags Til Christmas or Delightful Decorations (current IB&C - for a unique, untraditional holiday card)
I Heart Hearts (current IB&C - Valentine's Day alternative)
Button Buddies
Funky Four
Fox & Friends, Look Who's Turning, or Barnyard Buddies (for a baby card or young child's birthday)
Friends Never Fade
Baroque Motifs

And, those are just a few ideas......there are numerous other bold solid images that would work well.

This cheerful yellow upholstered Ottoman inspired today's card post.  Inspiration from the Lather. Write. Repeat blog. 

 

Have a great weekend!

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray, Whisper White

I've been back from convention for five days now and have been itching to get into my studio to create beautiful cards with the inspirational ideas I brought back with me.  My son had some minor surgery this week and my studio remained dark and lonely, but today that changed!  I have made time for stamping!  My inspiration today comes from a card I saw at convention, and a blog picture from the Miss Mustard Seed blog inspired the color combination and pearl adornment.

Color Combination of the Week (blah like the sky today):
Chocolate Chip
Basic Gray
Whisper White

These colors caught my eye on this cloudy day.

NOTES:

Stamp sets:  Medallion, Petite Pairs, Delicate Doilies

Inks:  Classic Stampin' Pads - Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray; Stampin' Write Markers - Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray

cs:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray

punches used:  small and large oval, 2 3/8" scallop circle, 1" and 1 3/4" circle 

other:  Stampin' Dimensionals, Basic Pearl Jewels

How did I create the multi-colored "medallion"?  I inked the rubber on the Medallion stamp with the Basic Gray inkpad, wiped around the edges of the rubber to remove some of the gray ink, then colored the outer edges of the rubber image with a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write marker.

Notice the center "doily" image?  The Delicate Doily image stamp is inked with a Chocolate Chip inkpad, then the center portion of the rubber is colored with Basic Gray Stampin' Write marker without rubbing off the Chocolate Chip ink on that area.  The gray appears darker here than the gray on the medallion.

Finishing Touches:  Bling!  I added a touch of elegance with Stampin' Up Basic Pearl Jewels!

Linda

Map It Monday - Button Chateau

French Country Shabby Chic gets a taste of Sweet & Sour

What do you think a card would look like if you mixed a bright, contemporary teen-inspired designer series paper with a French country shabby chic style?  To me, that doesn't sound very appealing.  But as you can see on today's card, it sure turned out beautiful!  The polka dotted dsp is a design from the Beau Chateau dsp (current 2011-2012 IB&C), and the orange dsp is from a recently retired Sweet & Sour Specialty dsp (last year's 2010-2011 IB&C).

The flower is created by crumpling up the dsp, flattening it out & punching circles with circle punches.  The inner petals are partially punched circles.  The edges of all punched circles are distressed and sponged with Soft Suede.  A bright orange button & hemp twine decorates the center of the flower.  I also frayed the ends of the twine knot.

It's not obvious on the photo, but the bottom cs is actually More Mustard cs that had been embossing in the polka dotted embossing folder through the Big Shot.

You may notice a design on the orange dsp.  I did nothing to that piece of dsp - the paper itself has shiny embossed designs on it.

I chose a Crumb Cake card to further add to the shabby chic look of the card.  Edges of the card are also sponged with Soft Suede.  I didn't meet the photo quality challenge today - my apologies for the blurriness.

Notice the beautiful fabric in the background?  The fabric is Stampin' Up's "Spice Cake" designer fabric from the current 2011 Holiday Mini Catty.  Beautiful cannot even begin to describe this fabric!  I've been having fun cutting, tearing & fraying this fabric into strips and faux ribbon to use on greeting cards.  It's a fun change of pace from ribbon.  If you'd like to order this fabric or the similar Christmas themed fabric in the same catalog, send me an email.

The map layout for this card:

Happy Monday!

Linda

Guess Where I Have Been?

I just arrived home last night from the Stampin' Up! Regional Convention in Louisville, Kentucky!  I'll be catching up on some things at home for a couple of days, but I hope to find some time to post a few stamping ideas that inspired me from the convention!

It was a fun filled trip with fellow Stampin' Up demonstrators.  We packed in lots of inspiration, new stamping and technique ideas, fun project ideas, laughs, chats, inspiration, and, of course, we stamped!  I now have countless ideas spinning in my head of stamping and papercrafting projects to blog about for quite a while!

Do you know what that means?  I also have countless project ideas to offer you at my stamping events!

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Cutting Tools

Hi stampers!

When you have paper punches and cutting dies for the Big Shot diecutting machine, a trio like this one is created with ease.  Isn't the little mummy treat box adorable?  All of these projects are 3 of the 6 projects that the ladies made at last week's "Inspired by Autumn" stamp camp.  The spooky white card has a pop-up window created with the new Stampin' Up Peek-a-boo frame die.
When you open the peek-a-boo window on that spooky card.....

What a hoot!  Love it!

The pumpkin card is made with a Crumb Cake cs base, Pumpkin Pie cs punched with the large oval punch, and a diecut scrap becomes the stem!  The edges of the pumkin are sponged with Soft Suede classic ink to soften it a bit.  The "ribbon" is actually a cut strip of Stampin' Up's Spice Cake Designer Fabric!  The dsp is also from the same Spice Cake suite.

I hope you can join me at my November stamp camp when we will make six more lovely projects!

Linda

Map It Monday - Furry Top Note

Hi stampers,

Today I am working on swap cards for Stampin' Up!'s Regional Convention.  This is the first card I made and I think I shall ponder a few other ideas.  I thought I'd share it with you.

 

The chair is stamped in Soft Suede ink onto Very Vanilla cs before running the cs through the Big Shot machine in the Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  I also ran the embossed cs through the Big Shot one additional time on the Top Note die to cut the top note shape.

Cutting out the little pup is a bit tedious, but quick.  She is sitting on stamping dimensionals & I added Stampin' Up's new "Dazzling Details" glitter to the collar for bling.  Not sure if you can see that in my photo.  I also included a little piece of Stampin' Up's new velvet Very Vanilla ribbon under the Poppy Parade oval.  {It is furry like the pup.}  :)

A map you can use if you like this card and want to make a similar one, is this:

Back to the drawing board.......  have a great Autumn day!

Linda

Fast Friday - A Quick Tour of a Party

Have you noticed that my blog has been stagnant for a little over a week?  I spent weeks preparing for an 80th birthday brunch for my dear mother and this week I've been catching up on some other tasks that had been procrastinated.   So, today I'm back!


Instead of the traditional "Fast Friday" post {a quick & easy project}, I'm showing you some of the decorations I made for the party!  Ready?  Here they come at a "fast" pace......

Dipped Pretzel Favors (fresh, not 80 year old pretzels)

Desserts !  Notice the cute diecut butterflies on the cupcakes?!?!  Thank you, Big Shot Machine!

Little tabletop signs were everywhere showing what life was like 80 years ago !

Pretty banner to welcome guests and congratulate the birthday girl !  Ooooh, notice the pom-poms hanging from the light fixture?  They were adorable !!!

 

 

Well, I hope you liked seeing just a few of my decorations.  It was so much fun creating party decorations using Stampin' Up card stock and the Big Shot dies and Big Shot Diecutting Machine !

Hope you have a happy weekend.

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Boxer Shorts

At this evening's stamp camp, this boxer shorts card was one of the great cards we stamped!  Isn't it cute?

The Valentine Defined stamp set's clothesline of hearts stamp is the perfect width for the waistband! To soften the brightness of the waistband strip, I sponged the edges.

The "fly" is made by punching  a large oval and  then cutting it in half lengthwise.  I also sponged the edges of the "fly".  Faux stitching is done with a Stampin' Write marker.

I showed the gals at stamp camp the secret to drawing a straight "faux stitching" line.......rest the pinky side of your hand on the table while you draw short dashes down the paper, as far as is comfortable, which should be only a few inches at most.  At that time, slide the side of your hand downward on the paper & draw another inch or two of dashes.  Pretty soon, you've drawn a long row of stitches!

If you are wondering how the card itself is made, I drew a pattern for the boxers, traced it onto the wrong side of dsp, cut it out & adhered the dsp boxers onto a standard A2 card.  I then used a scissors to cut along the boxer sides & between the legs so the card itself was shaped like boxers!

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Pocket Trilogy Card

3 pockets made from A2 envelopes!

Have you begun to think about your Christmas gift list?  If you have college aged or adult children, or even teenagers, it can be a struggle to figure out exactly what the perfect gift would be.  There have been times when there is no "wish list".  Pocket Trilogy Card to the rescue!  A card with three slots for gift cards (or cash and gift cards) might be a fantastic Christmas gift for a college student or teen or "adult child"!  I know my college students absolutely love getting restaurant gift cards!  You can even pick up gift cards while at the grocery store & accumulate the benefits of your frequent shopper cards!  Have fun stamping your card, then stuff three gift cards inside!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE THIS CARD:

stamp set:  Pines & Poinsettias (current 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog!) 

Crumb Cake card: 7 3/4" x  5 1/2", scored along the long edge at 3 1/2"

other cs:  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

dsp:  Holly Berry Bouquet

punches:  Scallop Circle, Eyelet Border, 1" circle

Stampin' Write markers:  Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, Real Red

other:  Stampin' Dimensionals, paper snips or trimming scissors, paper trimmer and scoring blade (or Stampin' Up's new Simply Scored platform!), two A2 envelopes (sealed shut), pencil

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.   Mark the halfway point across the top edge of the envelopes with a pencil.

2.   Cut both envelopes in half, cutting where your pencil mark is.  You will have four little pockets.  Set one aside for another project - you will only need 3 of pockets for this project.

3.   Now, you want to trim one-quarter inch from the cut edge of one of the pockets and one-half inch from the cut edge of another pocket.  Your pockets now will each be a different height.

4.   Punch a partial 1" circle in the front along the top edge of each pocket to act as a finger pull area.

5.   Adhere all 3 pockets together with the shortest one on top & the tallest pocket at the bottom (like little stairsteps).

6.   I put adhesive onto the seamed side of each pocket & then the top does not have a seam.

7.   Cut dsp: 1" x 5" and 3 1/4" x 5".

8.   Cut from a coordinating dsp pattern: 1" x 5".

9.   Make a "finger pull" area in the 3 1/4" x 5" dsp - the easiest way to do this is to slide the dsp into the top pocket, lining up the top edges of the dsp & the pocket, then slide the 1" circle punch in & punch.  Both punched finger pull half circle areas will be aligned!

10. Adhere the dsp pieces onto the card.

11. Adhere the back of the pocket trio piece to the card interior, making sure the bottom edge of the pocket is about 1/8" higher than the bottom edge of the card front when the card is shut. Doing that will ensure the white pockets are hanging out from underneath.

12.Now decorate the card front.  I used Pines & Poinsettias, which is a lovely vintage Christmas stamp set from the current Holiday Mini Catalog 2011!

So, when the kids say they don't know what they want for a Christmas or birthday gift, make a Pocket Trilogy Card and fill it with a few gift cards!  Marvelous!

Linda