Stamping In My Neighborhood

Where Did I Go?

Nowhere...time just slipped away.  I know I promised to show you two other cards that featured Urban Garden DSP.  Honestly, I didn't post because I had forgotten about that and thought I didn't have anything new to show you...and I had no time to make something new.  But, I was wrong.

This card took me almost no time to make.  I decided to use up some of my scraps...just couldn't let that gorgeous Urban Garden DSP go to waste.  I punched four squares out of my scraps and arranged them in the grid shown on top of a layer of Not Quite Navy cardstock.  The sentiment (from Say It With Scallops) was stamped in Not Quite Navy on Whisper White, punched out with the Square Scallop punch and mounted to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals.

If you're ever in a bind for a quick card, this layout will save you.  Don't have any DSP scraps?  Stamp some images on a piece of cardstock and make your own!  Or use solid colors of cardstock instead.  Stamping doesn't have to be complicated...in fact, it usually isn't!

The end of my Summer STAMPede registration is a week away...have you reserved your spot yet?  Space is limited to 15 participants per session.  After June 4th, the price goes from $15 to $20, and there are no guarantees that there will be room at that price.  Contact me today to let me know you will be attending!

It's a Guy Thing

Do you struggle with making cards for guys?  Most of us probably lean toward making floral cards, or other such "girly"-themed cards.  But, let's face it, guys might not care for that stuff all that much.  That doesn't mean I don't send the men in my life (really, I'm a good girl) cards done with flowers, I just try to use those images sparingly and with the right color combinations.

But this card is perfect for a guy.  Yes, I know it can work for a female too.  But look at the theme and the colors.  And, as you can see, it's one of those minimalist cards.  Very quick and easy to make.  I used the new Totally Tool set.  This set has some great images as well as cute little punny phrases to go with them. 

The base is an Old Olive card with a strip from the Urban Garden Designer Series Paper.  The image was stamped in Black StazOn and was colored using Watercolor Wonder Crayons with an AquaPainter on Whisper White cardstock, and mounted on a slightly larger piece of Not Quite Navy.

I've got two more cards to show you in the coming days that also features the Urban Garden DSP.  I think it's one of those papers you need to stock up on before it goes away on July 1st.  And there's no better time than now since we're in a "Buy 3, Get 1 Free" DSP promotion.  Contact me for more details.

Another Gift Idea

Here's a cool project courtesy another fabulous Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  Stampin' Up! has been having contests monthly (or so) for project ideas and this one was submitted by Betty Traciak for the contest pertaining to the Occasions Mini Catalog.  Well, actually, this is the one I made, based on one that Betty submitted. 

There are five note cards with envelopes in this box, plus 10 smaller ovals and 10 larger scalloped ovals complete with Dimensionals on the back so all the recipient has to do is pick a sentiment, layer on a scallop  and then layer onto the card.  Below and to the right is a sample of a finished card.

I absolutely adore the Oval All stamp set and the Scallop Oval punch, and I think that this month's fabulous deal on Designer Series Paper (buy 3, get 1 free) makes this project an economical way to give something special to someone.  Best of all, it's the kind of gift that keeps on giving!

I'm thinking that this may be my STAMPede idea if that's what my STAMPeders want.  Right now the poll I sent my customers is 2-1 in favor of one larger project (such as this) and a treat holder as opposed to the four smaller projects that I normally do.  If you live near southern Maine and would like to attend my Summer STAMPede (either June 19th, 7-9 PM or June 20th, 9-11 AM), contact me today.  The cost is $15 and includes all supplies. There will be displays and door prizes too!

The project above uses the Bella Rose Designer Series Paper (gorgeous, isn't it?), Riding Hood Red cardstock, scraps of Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red and Whisper White, and the Whisper White Note Cards and Envelopes.  Oval All was theonly stamp set used.  Other accessories were Riding Hood Red striped grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, Large Oval and Scalloped Oval punches and 1/2" circle punch.

Finally got around to it

About a year ago, fellow demonstrator Jackie Topa shared directions to her now-famous stationery box.  I've had it bookmarked for a long time with the thought that "one of these days I'll get around to making it."  Well, I finally got around to it.  It was simple and quick.  And I got to use up quite a few of the scraps I had left from one of my favorite DSP packs, Sweet Always.  If you want a closer look, just click on the images.

The "box" looks pretty basic, right?  But when you open it, you realize it's not just a box!  It's almost a desk!  There are variations for what you can include, but this one includes 4 full-size cards with envelopes, 4 3x3 cards with envelopes, 4 tags, an address book, stamps and a pen. 

Wouldn't this make a nice gift for a teacher or a special friend?  You could even change it up and make it into a wedding-themed box to give to a bride-to-be so she could organize her "to do" list.  Or change it up and make it more of a "birthday party in a box" project.

If you'd like to learn how to create this fun project, contact me today.  This would make a fun class for sure!

Roses I can't kill

I do not have a green thumb.  At all.  If you give me a plant, it WILL die.  Unless, of course, my husband is put in charge of it, then it'll probably make it.  But look at these roses.  They'll last forever.

Once again I was inspired by fellow demonstrator Patty Bennett.  It's a technique that is a take off of one I use in one of my advanced technique classes but it incorporates one of my favorite Big Shot items...the Manhattan Flowers Textured Impressions Die.  This item, which is only $7.95 by the way, makes gorgeous rose impressions every time.  For those of you who own it, you can use it with no tabs and you'll get a great impression, so if you're running it through your Big Shot and it's feeling tight (and the impression you gets distorts the paper some), try using the thinnest setting of the platform, which is no tabs.

To create this card, I brayered Summer Sun, Rose Red and Cameo Coral on the cardstock.  I did not apply even layers, and I was a little selective in where I put some of the darker areas.  The photo didn't come out very well for some reason so you can't necessarily notice those facts.  The leaves are from God's Beauty, a Level 1 hostess set.

Contact me today if you would like to schedule a workshop and learn, first-hand, how to create this card AND have the opportunity to earn that hostess set (among other things) for free!

Shoebox Swap (7)

Finally, this is the Shoebox Swap that I prepared for everyone.  It featured the Urban Garden DSP (love it) and the Matchbox die from the Occasions Mini.  I also used the Matchbox Messages set from the Occasions Mini.

The Matchbox die for the Big Shot makes making treat containers really quick and easy.  If you recall, I banged out several for Matthew's teachers in no time at all.  Matchbox and DSP...doesn't get any better or easier!

Have you taken advantage of the Buy 3, Get 1 Free Designer Series Paper promotion or got in on the Big Shot craze?  Contact me so you aren't left out in the cold!  Summer's here...everyone should be warm.  And having these items will make you feel all nice and warm inside. 

Shoebox Swap #6

This card, designed by Lauri Coons, took a long detour through the postal system so it was actually a late arrival.  The packaging looked like it had traveled across country, instead of just from NH.   I'll be getting these cards to those who participated in the Shoebox Swap at or before our next meeting.

Lauri used the Sweet Stems stamp set.  The sentiment is from Heard from the Heart.  The colors are Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Very Vanilla and Whisper White.  The DSP is from Bella Rose.  She watercolored the images using Watercolor Wonder Crayons and an AquaPainter.

As you can see, she used the Scallop Oval punch that quite a few of us used.  It really is a great punch.  I have an order going in at the end of the week if you locals would like to get it and save some money on shipping at the same time.  Just give me a call or e-mail!

Shoebox Swap (5)

This is the card that team member Jessica Grabowski shared with us at our monthly meeting.  It features the awesome(!) Designer Series Paper, Rockabilly Specialty.  This is "specialty" paper because it has texture.  Some of the cherries are glossy and raised, as are some stripes.  It's one of my absolute favorites, not only because of the texture but because of the color combination of Basic Black, Riding Hood Red and Old Olive. 

To create this card, we punched out two white cherry squares and two black cherry squares using the 1 1/4" square punch.  We then punched out four Old Olive squares and mounted the patterns on top.  We arranged them on a layer of Basic Black, which was on a layer of Riding Hood Red atop a Basic Black card.

A sentiment from Short & Sweet was stamped on a scrap of Whisper White and mounted on a scalloped oval (love the scallop oval punch in the Occasions mini) of Riding Hood Red, which was punched from the middle of the Riding Hood Red layer you see on the card (being green...saving cardstock).

Remember, NOW is the time to order DSP if you've been wanting some.  Buy 3, get 1 free!  You can mix and match all you want.  Contact me if you'd like to see some DSP in person or if you have questions.

Shoebox Swap (4)

This card was designed by Charlotte Robinson.  The base card is Real Red with a layer of So Saffron then a layer of retired Designer Series Paper.  The Just B images, "just", "cuz" and "B", were stamped in Real Red on scraps of So Saffron.  We applied Iridescent Ice embossing powder to the "B" image after it had been inked all over with Versarmark, then cut it out.  The final accent came from the 5-Petal Flower punch used on a piece of Real Red cardstock that had been stamped in Whisper White Craft ink using the flower from Just B.  It was accented with a gold brad and attached to the card using a dimensional.

During the month of May, Stampin' Up! has a great promotion...Buy 3, Get 1 Free on the Designer Series Paper.  Our DSPs have such great designs...you should use this opportunity to stock up!  You can order online by clicking the Shop Now image in the upper left of my blog and then the "shop now" button on my business website, or you can place your order by contacting my directly.

Shoebox Swap (3)

Today's Shoebox Swap is one done by my adopted downline, Heather Riley.  She is not officially on my team as far as Stampin' Up! is concerned, but she's a wonderful woman (and demo) who wanted to partake of team meetings.

This card uses one of my favorite sets, Fifth Avenue Florals.  The flowers are stamped in Versamark on the Basic Black cardstock and embossed with clear embossing powder.

The sentiment was stamped in Basic Black on Very Vanilla cardstock and layered onto Basic Black then So Saffron.  All layers were punched using the Ticket Corner Punch (before layering, obviously).  A piece of So Saffron grosgrain (from Sale-A-Bration) was knotted and added to the card, with the sentiment layered on top of that.  All layers were attached to a Very Vanilla base. 

Very classy.  Would also make a nice sympathy card, although you'd clearly want to change the sentiment.

If you'd like to see heat embossing done in person, contact me and we can schedule a class or workshop!