Home » 2016

Yearly Archives: 2016

Elizabeth Stamp A Stacks

Merry Christmas Stamping Friends,

December isn’t quite normal for us this year as our father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and we have been driving over the mountains as often as possible to be with him and with mom and the family.  We are headed back again today but have the joy of spending a Christmas Eve with family!  I posted the three cards we made at the Elizabeth Stamp A Stack for the post that went out before Christmas but have now added all the details of construction.  If you love one of the cards and would like to make it next year be sure and go to the store and order the supplies before they are discontinued.  The bundles that are discontinued may not necessarily mean the stamps themselves are discontinued but it would be good to get them now for next year if it is something you love!  You can check out the retiring list on the website.  Click the computer image at the end of the post.

Santa hitched up Rudolph, loaded the sleigh with ornaments and started decorating the trees at the North Pole!  It is a Z fold card and the trees, sleigh, sleigh top detailed layer and Rudolph are all in the Santa’s Sleigh Thinlits bundle – page 24 of the Holiday catalog.  The North Pole sign and the greeting come from the Christmas Magic Stamp Set – page 22 of the Holiday Catalog.  The houses are the Candy Cane Lane DSP (Designer Series Paper)!  The greeting uses the new red glitter embossing powder.  The santa is from the retired Jolliest Time Of The Year set.

It was so popular I am going to make my first attempt at selling cards on Etsy with this one!

The base is Cherry Cobbler cut at 11 X 4 1/4   and scored at 2 3/4 X 5 1/2.

Left and middle DSP (designer series paper) top mats=  (2)  3  X  2 1/2

Top right DSP mat  5 1/4  X  2  3/16; the houses made it a bit tricky so there wasn’t much wiggle room on the cuts.

The following Whisper White pieces are run through the Big Shot with the Softly Falling embossing folder and then fussy cut along the top to look like snow piling up:

Bottom right below the houses:  2 X 5 1/4 in Whisper White, embossed and fussy cut along the top

Middle:  2 1/2  X  1 7/8  then cut the left 1 7/8 side down to 1 3/8  to create the hill going from the right hand side to the left hand side.

Z Fold Strip:  10 3/4  X  1 1/2  in Whisper White, embossed and fussy cut along the top and scored at 5 3/8 and 8 1/8.

Santa and the North Pole sign were stamped on a piece of 3 X 4 Whisper White using Black Memento ink and then colored with Real Red, Garden Green and Crumb Cake markers. Clear and red colored rhinestones were put on the wreath of the North Pole sign.

The Base of the sleigh is cut using the sleigh framelit from a Basic Black piece  2 3/4  X  4 1/4

The Gold Sleigh overlay is cut with the detailed sleigh framelit from Gold Foil paper  3 1/4  X  2

Trees – I stamped in Memento black and then cut with a framelit- two full and one partial using Always Artichoke  4 1/4  X  5  1/2

The deer is stamped in Memento black and then cut with a framelit using Soft Suede 3  X  2 1/4

Bow:  Red Foil Scrap cut with a framelit from the same Santa’s Sleigh set

Red Glimmer Bakers Twine  12″.  Use glue dots to position the twine around the tree and into Santa’s hand.

Gold Thread 8″ again I used glue dots starting the thread under where the deer’s bow will be, then through a hole punched in the sleigh, and back behind the neck of the deer and into Santa’s hand. I tap the glue dots with the embossing buddy to prevent sticking to the card when closed.

The ornaments are not Stampin’ Up! but could have been stamped from the Wrapped in Warmth stamp set, Be Jolly By Golly or any of the many stamps we have that have little ornaments.  For the sake of time at the Stamp A Stack I purchased a set of sticker ornaments.  There are six ornaments in the sleigh.  And don’t forget to add a colored pearl for Rudolph’s nose!

The next card was a case from Juanacreates using the Star of Light bundle on page 9 of the catalog.

This star was centered on a #5 Banner Framelit but the saying just barely fit.  The #6 Framelit was so big the stamped saying at the bottom wouldn’t have fit so we made a template from cardboard that was 2 3/8″ wide and used it to cut the top white banner.

The star was moved over so that the beautiful tail was completely visible.

The star is a layer of silver foil paper and dazzling diamonds glitter paper, two more silver foil stars and a rhinestone on top!  The star could be removed from the card and hung on the tree for an ornament.

These are the layers using the fabulous framelits.  The good news is that this set and framelits carrys over!

And what a set it is with awesome greetings and various sizes of stars!  I love it and will use it again.

The base is Night of Navy  4 1/4 X 11  scored at 5 1/2

The Banner is Whisper White 2 3/8 X 5 1/4  cut using a handmade template.  Hmmm… I wonder if the triple layer banner punch would have been just the right size.

The little silver banner is Silver Foil paper 1 3/4  X  1 1/4  cut using Framelit #2 of the Banners Framelits.

Emboss the greeting at the top of the Whisper White Banner with white embossing powder and then sponge with Marina Mist going down about 1 3/4 inches on the banner and then sponge the top with Night of Navy.  Wipe the greeting with a paper towel when through sponging.

The tails to the top of the star are embossed with white and the tails on the banner are stamped in Night of Navy.  The greeting at the bottom is embossed with the white.

The little stars are cut with a smaller framelit using Silver Foil paper.  A 3 X 3 piece will be enough to cut out the large background star.  Turn your star framelit diagonally to cut the silver outline star and one of the smaller detail stars.  The silver foil star on top needs a piece 1 3/4 X 1 3/4.  The Dazzling Diamond detailed layer needs a piece 3 X 3.

The inside is a standard 4 X 5 1/4 Whisper White layer.  The instructions will be clear as you look at the stamp set and important to follow so that you leave room for the greeting in the middle.

  • Stamp the star in the upper left corner first – tail of 4 diamonds down, 3 diamonds to side. Don’t use the longest tail of the star stamp.
  • Right Corner next – Stamp top star tail using the 3 larger stars that are in amongst the small stars to guide you in positioning the tail
  • Turn the stamp upside down and stamp lining up the thin tails to match
  • Now you can place the Peaceful and Bright greeting close to the bottom of the tails leaving room for Merry Christmas
  • Finally, stamp the Merry Christmas

It is worth the extra effort to create this stunning card.

The third card was to highlight the Cable Knit Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, page 13 of the Holiday catalog, #143537, $10.  I am a knitter and loved using this embossing folder.  I made pullover sweaters with Christmas tree fronts and a white stocking cap and this cardigan for the Elizabeth Stamp A Stack.  (I will post the other creations on the next post).

The new product:  Stitched Framelits came in while I was doing my personal cards so I am able to show you the difference a little stitching makes.  Here is the one we did in Elizabeth without stitching…..  and one with stitching…..

The set has four circle, four square and four oval stitched framelits.  It will be available to order again on January 16th.  Item #145372.  Thank you Dawn for this great set of measurements!

 

The Cable Knit folder is a new 3D type folder and requires a different set up before running through the Big Shot.  You spritz your paper with a bit of water before running it through the Big Shot and you don’t use the bottom acrylic plate.

The main card base is Cherry Cobbler  11  X  4 1/4  scored at 5 1/2

Once again we got out a piece of cardboard and made a template for the sweater front. Starting with a piece that was 5 1/2  X  4 1/4, we marked over 1″ from the right and from the left for the shoulders. We marked the middle of the V  down 1 1/4 inches and over 2 1/8 from the side and then fussy cut from the 1″ marks to the middle V mark.  The template will be stored with the Cable Embossing Folder for making more!

Garden Green of 5 1/2  X  4 1/4 was cut and then the V neck cut with the template.  Spritz and emboss.

The pocket was cut on Garden Green with another cardboard template that was  1 3/8″  X  1 5/8″ with a 1/4″ diagonal on each side of the bottom creating a 5/8″ bottom edge.

Using the Work of Art stamp set and the Stamp A Ma Jig I stamped a Cherry Cobbler turtle neck right in the middle of the card base.

I cut 1/2″ strips of Garden Green and used the retired Crimper to create the ribbed pieces.  Just score your strips on every groove of the Simply Scored Scoring Tool to get the same effect.  Strips needed:

Ribbing:   Bottom Front and Inside:   4 1/4″         V neck pieces  2 1/4″     Front Button strip  4 1/8″   Pocket 1 1/2″

Use the Bow Punch and our lovely Warmth and Cheer Designer Series Paper to make the front and inside bows.  Use a piece that is 4 3/4″ X 2″ and punch twice. Use the tails for the inside bow with a regular 3D bow on the sweater.

The Merry Christmas wish is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and stamped on a piece 3/8″ X 2 1/2″ and then the top of the strip only is slid in the retired Jewelry Tag Punch.

Use a piece of black twine 8 1/2″ and a needle threader to thread the twine through two little bells and tie it on the candy cane.

The candy cane is stamped on a piece of Whisper White  1 1/2 X 2 1/2 using the retired Scentsational Season Stamp Set with matching framelits.  The Candy Cane could be taken out and used for an ornament.

The deer is from the Santa’s Sleigh stamp set with matching framelits and is being carried over!  Yay!  Soft Suede  3 X 2 1/4

The greeting is from the Wrapped in Warmth stamp set and stamped on Whisper White 3 X 3 then cut with the # 6 circle framelit or the largest of the new stitched framelits and popped up in the middle with dimensionals.  I stamped to the bottom of the cardstock so I had room for the bow.

Rudolph’s nose needs a colored pearl and with three buttons held on with several glue dots, you are done!

We had two great Stamp A Stacks with these cards.  I made each guest at the first event a candy cane sleigh for a thank you gift.  It has a Kit Kat base, then a pack of gum, a tin of mints, two chocolates and then another chocolate on the top.

And a snowman for a door prize:

At the next event I made little mugs out of Designer Series Paper for thank you gifts:

Aren’t they cute?  Thank you Traci Cornelius for this pattern on Pinterest!

Base:  4 1/2  X  8  3/8   Scored 1 1/2″ on bottom long side of your Designer Series Paper.  It is directional so be careful here.

Turn your paper lengthwise on the Simply Scored and score at each inch: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8  leaving a 3/8 inch tab at one side. Remove the section of tab at the bottom of the mug.  Cut each score line to the 1 1/2″ horizontal score line.  Put Tear and Tape on 3/8 inch side tab and lay flat to join sides.  Put more Tear and Tape on front and back of half (4) of the bottom tabs and join with the opposite tabs that have no sticky tape being careful not to push the mug out of shape.  Cut a #5 circle framelit to glue on the bottom and then attach to a doily!

Handle:  1  X  4 1/2  attached with Tear and Tape

For a fee of $20 you had six cards, two of each of the above, and a fun take home gift, possibly a door prize, and a wonderful afternoon stamping with friends!  Don’t you wish you had come?

Shall I do another?

Have a wonderful Merry Christmas and remember the most important gift you can give is the gift of your time – time spent worshiping Jesus and time spent being with your family!

SAL,    Soak in A Lot of Love

Karen Online Store

 

 

 

Paper Pumpkin November 2016

Hello Stamping Friends,

Thanks to Paper Pumpkin, I am eight cards closer to completing my Christmas cards!

paperpumpkinnov16

I chose to add a Basic Black background (4 1/4″ X 3″) to the layers instead of the velum layer over the base as the kit instructed.   I needed a little star and found the one in The Newborn King retired set to be just the right size.  A medium size rhinestone gave emphasis to the star and added that little sparkle I like to have on cards.  The kit had white sequins for the sky that now go to my stash!

For the inside I used the Peaceful Pines stamp set – still available, see page 28, and a scripture verse from the Every Blessing retired stamp set.

paperpumpkinnov16a

paperpumpkinnovb

It feels good to look at the whole set of cards and know you only have a few dozen left to make!

paperpumpkinnovc

My next set of cards will be the Stamp A Stacks that we did in Elizabeth!

SAL,

Karen

Online Store

Christmas Magic Diamond Fold Card Class

Hello Stamping Friends,

Today I will spotlight the Christmas Magic Diamond Fold Card Class I held in November.  The class fee included your choice of the wood or clear Christmas Magic Stamp set, card instructions, two kits and a luncheon.  I loved this stamp set.  It reminded me of the Polar Express train and the Polar Express production my third grade class put on years ago.

The tables are set:

imag0653I am ready to go:

imag0654The Diamond Fold card with the Christmas Magic Stamp set as designed by Stephanie Fischer:

christmasmagic

christmasmagic2I changed a few things on the front and used a Garden Green background.  The banner is mounted so the card stands nicely like an easel card.  I added two sizes of rhinestones for the front train lights and I used a silver Sharpie to add dimension to the bell.  I stamped just a little of the train smoke on the North Pole side to make it look like a scene.  Our Acrylic Block size D was exactly the size of the middle square making it easy to position the train.  The three little red dots on the greeting use the retired cupcake punch and red glimmer paper and the leaf is from the Square Pillow Box Thinlits as is the snowflake shown here:

christmasmagic3

Not having to design the front gave me opportunity to design something special for the back to truly make it a  “Carin’ Card” as my husband so fondly states:

christmasmagicdiamond-foldAbove is the card which I used at the class and had drawn in the red and white striped ribbon between the bells.  When I made more to send I used the other greeting from the set and drew in a solid red ribbon since I ran out of the little white striped ribbon (retired product).

christmasmagic4The bells are stamped just like a Triple Time Technique.  Use just a bit of snail to hold the white in place and stamp on the white and green.  After stamping the bell, remove the white and mount to the black border then reattach to the green for a great image!  If you measure carefully on the second bell on each side, when you close the card you will get two ribbons that match, (I am asking Santa for a camera so I don’t struggle focusing my phone camera).  I love the bells in the Christmas Magic stamp set.  I used them on the envelopes as well.

christmasmagic5This is a diagram of the fold:

imag0663And here is a printable pdf file for your folder just click on the blue:

diamond-fold-card

We broke at noon for salad and baked potato broccoli cheddar soup.

imag0662

Thanks for coming Kris, Virginia and Sheri!  It was a fun day!

SAL,

Karen

Online Store

 

Fall Warm Wishes Card with Leaves Acrostic

Hello Stamping Friends,

Thank you to all who were able to take part in the online extravaganza!  Now that December is here Stampin’ Up! has closeout specials with some, not all, products on sale for a great price!  They have a new category in the online store:

screen-shot-2016-12-06-at-12-30-56-pm

The Year-End Closeout contains the Clearance Rack Items, Holiday Retiring Items, and excess inventory items.  Here is a list in an excel file which shows which category each product falls in: clearance, excess or retiring.  However, bundles that retire do not mean the stamp and framelits retire, just the bundle with its discount.

year-end-closeout-list

or click on the picture above to go directly to the store where you can see pictures of the products.

While sales are fun, card examples are even more inspiring and I have been slack in posting all the fun cards and techniques we have been doing.

October Club:

thanksgivingwishes

leavesacrostic

I know October seems so long ago and though the card we made is for fall, imagine doing the same Watercolor Wash technique with Christmas colors and making ornaments instead of leaves.  Send me an example if you do!

The Watercolor Wash technique comes from a video by Patty Bennett on pattystamps.com

http://www.pattystamps.com/pattys_stamping_spot/2016/09/fall-leaf-watercolor-wash-background-video-tutorial.html

I did a few things differently than Patty.  I used the retired spider web embossing folder to emboss the leaves after cutting them out, you could get the same effect by scoring, and I used the retired “Think Happy” stamp set for the little smiles on the leaves, though it would be quite easy to draw them in.

The acrostic was one I wrote when teaching poetry to my third graders one lovely fall afternoon.  I wrote the above for the example and then had them all sit outside and write their own acrostic from something they saw, or smelled, or touched, or heard – hopefully not tasted!  What a fun memory!

Stampin’ Up’s Watercolor Paper #122959 is 6″ X 9″ and makes enough leaves for two cards.  You could also use Shimmery White cardstock #101910.  Remember to leave enough room to stamp and punch out your greeting from the paper.

Watercolor Wash Technique

Step 1)  Put 4 drops of various reinkers in a paint palette (or a cool whip lid)

I used Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze, Pear Pizzaz

Step 2)  Wet one side of the paper and then the other side so it lies flat

Step 3)  Dip a paintbrush in the ink and then dab it on your paper, wash out the brush and apply a different color,

repeat until the watercolor paper is covered.  Let dry.

Step 4)  Using Gold Wink of Stella Glitter Brush #141898 flick gold flecks on your dried sheet by flicking the brush against the edge of its case

Step 5)  Cut out your leaves with the Leaflets Framelits #138283 and cut out one leaf with the Pumpkin Pie Glimmer Paper #142029

-note, cut the leaf with the glimmer side of the paper facing down so the framelit cuts into the white backside to protect your framelit.

The base of the card is Cajun Craze  4 1/4 X  11  Scored at 5 1/2

The Woodland Embossing Folder is used with Very Vanilla card stock  4 X 5 1/4  for a great background to the leaves.  I typed the acrostic on Word, making four card insides from one sheet of Very Vanilla.

The greeting is from the Butterfly Basics stamp set (pg. 113) and is punched out of the watercolored paper with the Decorative Label Punch #120907. Remember, stamp first -then punch. A small dab of glue is run around the edges and then the label is dipped in Pumpkin Pie glitter.

A little piece of burlap ribbon #141487 is glued on the Very Vanilla, the leaves are added with glue dots, and a gold ribbon tied on top.

Faux Icing/Snow Technique

The Technique I taught at club came from last spring’s Stampin’ Up! convention where we learned how to make faux icing.

faux-icing-snow

faux-icing-snow-instrutions

My glitter was not Dazzling Diamonds #133751 so it has a rose tint.  Lesson learned!  Stay with the best!  The cupcake and the tree are from the Sprinkles of Life stamp set, pg. 106.  I loved how the ink from the stamped image bled through the ‘icing’ to give the shadowed effect.  Be careful that your mixture isn’t too thick or you won’t get that result.  If you store the leftover mixture in a jar be sure and add a bit of water to make up for what has evaporated.  The Tree Builder Punch #138295 was used for the birds and the cherry on top.  I wish you could see the 3D effect of the snowman built from the Owl Punch 5/16″ circle on top of the 3/8″ circle punch.

And finally,  I must put in a plug for Paper Pumpkin, the October kit was a set of 8 shaker cards and the kit was exceptional!

 

paperpumpkinoct16

Go to paperpumpkin.com to sign up before December 10 and you will receive your kit around Christmas.  Last year the December kit was a calendar for each month of the new year with a gold display stand.  It was an exceptional kit.  Hmmmm…I think I am saying that about all of them!

I will be posting again soon with the details of the Magic Christmas class I held at the first of November and then the Stamp A Stacks held in Elizabeth.

Stay tuned for more….

SAL,

Karen

Online Store

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double Z Fold Box Card & Clearance Rack

Hello Stamping Friends,  (Click little SAL to go to the full blog if you are on your phone)

Salt001Stampin’ Up! just added lots and lots of goodies to the clearance rack.  They will be available while supplies last.  I will post screen shots at the end of this post to entice you!  If your order is $150 you earn hostess rewards; if it is under $150 use the hostess code FCZSQ336 and get a treat from me!

For now let me show you my version of a Double Z fold box card.  The standard double Z fold card base is cut and scored like this:

imag0535Do you see how the base is a Z fold one way and then the 1″ on the bottom is Z folded the other way.

Base card is 9 3/4″  X  4″   (This gives you the option of adhering the entire card to a base of 5 1/2″ X 4 1/4″)

Cuts:  Using your Stampin’ Trimmer, with the 4″ side on top, cut at 1″ starting at 3″ to 7 1/2″.  (I love how our Stampin’ Trimmer has the inches marked on the vertical bar to guide us.)   Turn to long side and score at 3″ down to the cut line and then score at 5 1/4″ all the way top to bottom.  Lastly, score at the 7 1/2″ from cut line down to bottom.  That is a standard Double Z fold.

I chose to do a Double Z fold “Box” card instead of having an open middle as shown above so I could add a middle box strip to put on a jar of flowers.  Our stamping friend, Terri, is getting married this month and her colors are gray and hot pink.  Congratulations Terri!

floral-flourish-wedding

Base Card:  9 3/4″  X  4″    Score at 3″ and 5 1/4″ all the way top to bottom. Basic Gray used here.

Bottom Strip:  9 3/4″ X 1″   Score at 5 1/4″ and 7 1/2″.  Basic Gray.

Box Strip:  4 1/4″  X  1″.  Score at 1″ and 3 1/4″.  Basic Gray.

Front Panel:  2 3/4″ X 3 3/4″  to glue on before the 1″ bottom strip is adhered.  Pop of Pink Designer Series Paper (DSP).

Back Panel:  4 1/4″ X 3 3/4″ to glue on before the 1″ bottom strip is adhered.  Pop of Pink DSP.

Bottom Strip DSP:  9 1/2″ X 3/4″  Score at 5 1/8″ and 7 3/8″.  Pop of Pink DSP.

Whisper White cardstock was used for all the embellishments with the bow on the heart stamped first in Melon Mambo then cut with the bow framelit in the Everyday Jars Framelit set .  I cut one full Flourish Thinlit for the front, and for the bouquet I used the top of another full Flourish thinlit for two of the flowers, one of the single Flourish thinlit flowers and one of the single stem bud Flourish thinlits.  I cut off a few of the extra buds that made it a bit too busy.

The jar is stamped twice from the Jar of Love stamp set and cut out with the shortest of the Eyeryday Jars Framelits.  I stamped the bow in Melon Mambo on one of the jars and then put sticky tape/glue dots on the top of the back of the jar to hold the flowers as I arranged them, being careful to not place a flower too far to the left where it would be crunched in the fold.  I attached the back jar to the front jar just at the top and slid the two over the middle gray box strip adhering both sides with Tombow glue.

The border comes from the Flourish Thinlits set.

The Heart and Congrats are from the Sunshine Wishes Thinlits.

I found it easy to adhere all the thinlits by putting a few drops of Tombow glue on our Silicone Craft Sheet and then using a toothpick to put glue on the thinlit.  The glue in the new Fine Tip Glue pen has a tendency to dry too fast for my slow speed.

floral-flourish-rose-wonderThe greeting comes from the Rose Wonder stamp set.  It should be stamped on the middle of the base before adding the embellishments.  I had to add a 3″ X 2 3/16″ panel with the greeting.  Design opportunity…..I could have used a different cardstock,  but you know how I like the monochromatic look.  (If you don’t get the card mailed in time for a wedding, you could easily add a panel that says Happy Birthday!)

Questions?  Email [email protected] or text 303-815-0838

screen-shot-2016-09-16-at-11-34-54-amOnly good while supplies last:

screen-shot-2016-09-16-at-11-35-17-amscreen-shot-2016-09-16-at-11-35-34-amscreen-shot-2016-09-16-at-11-35-49-amscreen-shot-2016-09-16-at-11-36-11-amscreen-shot-2016-09-16-at-11-36-25-amscreen-shot-2016-09-16-at-11-36-36-amscreen-shot-2016-09-16-at-11-37-02-amscreen-shot-2016-09-16-at-11-37-26-amscreen-shot-2016-09-16-at-11-37-45-amscreen-shot-2016-09-16-at-11-38-02-amscreen-shot-2016-09-16-at-11-38-14-am

Just remember it is only while supplies last and while you are at the Clearance Rack check out the weekly specials in September!

SAL, (Save A Lot)

Karen

Online Store

New In Colors, In Color Bookmark and Flip Flop using all the In Colors, Club Cards & More

(Note: Click on the little SAL image to redirect to the main site where all links are active)

Hello Stamping Friends,

I have neglected you this past month but I return now with a plethora of new ideas for card making.  Hold on…..

First the new In Colors introduced at the catalog launch:

In Color SheetAren’t they fabulous colors?  Email me with your email if you would like the Excel sheet to make all the color collections.  See my last post for how I use these sheets to organize my paper stock in an Elfa 18″ storage system.

In Color BookmarkI chose my two favorite colors, Dapper Denim and Emerald Envy for the new 3/8″ Ruched Ribbon in this year’s In Color Bookmark.  The Swirly Scribble Thinlits made a perfect bouquet so I could use all the colors.  After attaching them to the Dapper Denim layer with the Fine Tip Glue Pen  I ran that layer through the Big Shot with the Softly Falling Embossing Folder, keeping it to the edge that had lots of dots. The Awesome is from the new stamp set “Marquee Messages” stamped on Sweet Sugarplum.

If that is a bit too bold for you how about a Flip Flop using all the new In Colors and using one of the new Floral Affection Embossing Folders to add pizzaz to the straps…..

In Color Flip FlopDoesn’t that show how well all the colors go together?  The template is on Pinterest, I just scaled it to 130% for a bigger card.  The smaller flowers and the greenery are from the “Bloomin’ Love Stamp Set and the Larger one from the “Birthday Blossoms” set.  The Flower Shop Stamp Set was used for the large flower on the strap and punched out with the Pansy punch with a “Petite Petal” flower stamped and punched to go on top.  The flowers on the new Floral Affection embossing Folder aligned perfectly on the straps to give them dimension.  That was a bit of serendipity.

I must thank Lucille Kearin for the beautiful Thank You card she made for me!  At the catalog launch I also stage a crafting garage sale and Lucille and several of the stampers brought items to sell.  Isn’t Lucille’s card beautiful? Okay I do need lessons in focusing…

Lucille's CardLucille has a lovely blog and has won different contests with her cards.  Check it out here: http://www.whitepoints.blogspot.com

My grandson needed a special card and I found just the thing at Stephanie Fisher’s blog http://www.thecraftythinker.com.au

Seaside Shore

Seaside Shore inside

Isn’t it just so much fun?  You use blue hair gel in a little jewelry bag that you sandwich between two layers,  The stamp set is “Seaside Shore” and the banner is from “Banners For You”.   The fish is stamped on a window sheet with Staz On. I colored him yellow with a permanent marker on my first card but the yellow bled in the hair gel and it looked like he had peed in the water.  So this fish didn’t get colored. Visit Stephanie’s blog for detailed directions.

For club this month I chose the Jacob’s Coat technique for my technique sheet and then made this card to show an example to you.

Joseph's Coat

This technique starts with sponging colors on a neutral color of cardstock, I chose Shimmery White cardstock and used Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry….

Joseph's Coat StartYou let the ink dry, or dry it by heating with the heat tool and then coat it well with the embossing buddy.  I forgot that step on one card and had a mess so be sure and use the embossing buddy and then stamp your images with Versa Mark.  I used “Moroccan Nights” for my images and the new stamp set “Scenic Sayings” for Hey There Friend.  Apply Clear Embossing Powder to your images and then heat set.  Use your brayer and a dark ink, I used Elegant Eggplant, and brayer over and over until all the background is colored.  Take a paper towel and wipe off your images and I guarantee you will gasp at how fabulous they look!  I decorated with the new Enamel Shapes.  They are brighter and shinier than the candy dots we used to have and I am loving them!!

Our card for club is the now infamous “Magic Card”….

Magic CardEven correctly focused it is pretty strange at first look to see black images but wait….pull up the top tab and voila….

Magic Card Openthe images are colored magically!  It is a layer of Window Sheet stamped with outline images in Stazon and a white piece of cardstock stamped with the full image and then both the window sheet and cardstock are hooked together at the top with a tab and then laced in front of and behind a middle piece of card stock. The new “Fresh Fruit” stamp set has both the outline and the full images- I wonder which came first the technique or the design of the stamp set?!   We embellished with the new Metallic Enamel Shapes and used the “Banners For You” stamp set with matching framelits.  This is a must have set with words for many occasions and four different sizes of banners.  Hint:  I struggled with stamping on the window sheet and getting the ink to stick until I cleaned the stamp with Staz On cleaner before inking.  Then when I inked and stamped, the image stamped well.  I think the cleaner adds just enough of an oil to keep the Stazon ink from sticking to the stamp instead of the paper.  For all the details there is a wonderful YouTube video by Stampin’ Up!

I used the framelit from “Seasonal Frame Thinlits” to cut out the rectangle front.  It is on sale in the Clearance Rack right now and saves so much time over cutting out the rectangle with the paper cutter.

 

Screen Shot 2016-07-23 at 4.47.17 PM

So enjoy these techniques and let me know what you have made!

SAL,

Karen

Click to shop and don’t forget to check out the Clearance Rack:

Online Store

Catalog Launch Open House Craft Sale

Hello Stamping Friends,

This coming Saturday, June 18, from 10am to 2pm I will have an open house to introduce the new catalog and the new In Colors.  We will make a new In Color color sheet:

Color Sheets

It is a great organization tool if you store your paper by color family as I do.  An 18″ Elfa drawer stores two sets side by side:

Paper Storage

You can make a bookmark for your new catalog with the In Colors and the new Swirly Scribbles Thinlits Dies and  there will be a quick make and take card using the new Floral Affection Embossing Folder.  A fun day with no entrance fee!!

I am going to part with a few of my Stampin’ Up! stamp sets and Big Shot dies and will have them for sale at the open house.  You are invited to set up a table of your own sales items if you would like.

Join the fun and pick up your catalog this Saturday!   (Click to view it in PDF form)

Screen Shot 2016-06-09 at 1.57.50 PM

SAL,   (See A Lot, Save A Little)

Karen

Online Store

 

 

May Club Cards and Stamp A Stack Cards

Hello Stamping Friends,

(This is a post; click on the SAL icon to go to the full blog)

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!   Hopefully your vacation day is a sunny one.

This post will include cards from our bimonthly club and the Elizabeth Stamp A Stack.  Check back in a couple weeks for recipes. Today I will just show you the cards so you can decide if you want to make that last purchase from the catalog before savings and product are gone forever!  Tuesday, May 31, is the last day to place an order from the Occasions catalog and the big catalog. Several items have already sold out so hurry!

My favorite project was the Birthday Blooms Surprise Pull Out card.  I saw this card on My Tanglewood Cottage and the directions are on Splitcoast Stampers.  Scroll through the Splitcoast Stampers pictured instructions to go down to the video (click here) to get the measurements I used.

BirthdayBloomsThe flower image is stamped with Stazon black on a piece of Shimmery White cardstock and colored with Blender Pens using Blushing Bride and Wild Wasabi Ink.  The bottom parts of the image’s leaves are fussy cut and then the oval framelit #4 is slipped under the cutout and run through the Big Shot.  When you run the stamped image through the Big Shot you will get a nice indentation to fussy cut the oval between the two large leaves.  The little flowers in the corner are the top flowers of the image stamped a second time, fussy cut, and mounted on greenery from The Bird Builder Punch.  The butterfly is from the hostess Best Thoughts set.  It is stamped on vellum and then placed upside down on the Stampin’ Pierce Mat and rubbed with the Stylus to give a nice white color.

When you pull on the ribbon – Voila!

BirthdayBlooms2

The inside words come from the Best Thoughts hostess set which has the butterfly we used on the front:

BirthdayBloomsInsideRetiring Products:  The Bird Builder Punch (117191), The Best Thoughts hostess set (139234), The Curvy Corner Trio Punch (139683) that made both the corner and the ribbon slider hole, and It’s My Party Designer Series Paper Stack (140552) from which I pulled the green striped paper.  You will see more of this paper in another card.  The Paper Stack has 48 sheets with 4 each of 12 double-sided 12X12 designs.

The masculine version of the Surprise Pull Out card uses Butterfly Basics, In The Meadow and Guy Greetings stamp sets, all of which carryover to the new catalog- Yay!  Once again it uses the “Think outside the Framelit” technique to stamp an image, cut out a little of the image and then slip the framelit under the cutout part and run through the Big Shot.

InTheMeadow

InTheMeadow2

InTheMeadowInsideI will miss the Blackberry Bliss cardstock which is part of the retiring In Colors (see page 137).

Our technique sheet for club was the Mirror Image technique:

HeyGirl

We mirrored the little yorky from the Hey Girl stamp set (#138706) which is retiring.  I used the retiring Oval Scallop punch(#119856) to create the clouds.  Join my team, or the bimonthly club, and you will make the technique sheets at our meetings.  If you live far away or can’t make the meetings, I will mail you a completed technique sheet.

The Stamp A Stack held at the Elizabeth library was another fun time of stamping!  Here is the first card:

Sunburst

SunburstInside

The Sunburst Sayings stamp set and Sunburst Thinlits Die used on this card are currently bundled for a 15% discount.  See page 25 of the Occasions catalog.  Though both products are in the new catalog, there is no longer a bundle.  Blackberry Bliss and Hello Honey are used together on this card and both are retiring colors in only three days.  See page 137 for all the In Color retiring products.

The second card:  (Stampers make six cards- two each of three designs for $20)

ButterflyBasics

ButterflyBasicsInside

What could be better than Bermuda Bay with a black accent?!  The flower is from the Butterfly Basics stamp set which is carried over to the new catalog, however the Honeycomb Embossing Folder (#129378) is retiring, as well as the Honeycomb Hello stamp set (#134075) which has the little “hello” and a cute little bumble bee that a couple of my stampers added to their card front.  The Curvy Corner Trio punch is retiring (#139683) and the Candy Brads (page 161) are being replaced with shaped enamel dots.

The third card demonstrates the Drapery Fold Technique, modified from that found on Laura’s Stamp Pad:

DraperyFoldGirly

DraperyFoldInside

Once again I have used the retiring It’s My Party Designer Series Paper Stack (#140552).  Sadly, all the Scallop Circle Punches are retiring (see page 165).   I used the 1 3/4″ scallop circle punch and punched the white inside layer of the card so that the main card stock showed.  I then stamped “make a wish” in Basic Black with the Party Wishes retiring stamp set (#140651).  The ‘It’s My Party’ enamel dots  (#140554) are retiring as well.  The Happy Birthday is from the Rose Wonder stamp set (#140697) and thankfully it is NOT retiring.  If you wanted a stamp set with words that fit many different occasions, this set is a must have.  See page 18 of the Occasions catalog.  The more masculine version of this card:

DraperyFoldGuys

DraperyFoldGuysInside

The balloons are from the Balloon Bouquet punch (#140609) and will still be available in the next catalog but the mini balloon punch in the Party Punch Pack (#140608) on page 4 of the Occasions catalog is retiring.  The punch pack and the Party Wishes stamp set used for the “make a wish” shown above is available as a bundle at a 15% discount in a wood mount (#141073) or clear mount (#141071).

The drapery fold starts with a piece of Designer Series Paper (DSP)  that is 4″ X 11 1/2″ so you can get three cuts out of a 12X12. Be careful if your design is one that shouldn’t be upside down.  (Yes, I learned that the hard way!)

Score your DSP on the long 11 1/2″ side at:  3″,  4″ ,  6″ , 7″ ,  9″ , and 10″ .

Turn the paper to the short 4″ side closest to the 10″ score line and make a small score mark or pencil mark at 1″.

Use your cutter to cut diagonally from the 1″ mark to the bottom of the 3″ score line.  Make a z fold. I trimmed the right side of the top of the folded DSP to 5 3/8″  so I could have a border around each edge.

I love the way the drapery fold shows both sides of our pretty Designer Series Paper.  There are many different fold sizes you can make.  I would love to see one you have made!

My next event is the catalog launch on June 18 from 10:00 – 2:00, open house style.  I will have catalogs, and you can make new In Color sheets, a bookmark for the catalog and a quick make and take with a new product.   Retired product will be available for purchase.

Have a wonderful weekend and remember all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

SAL  (Salute A Life)

Karen

Click on SAL to be redirected to the online store:

Online Store

 

 

 

 

The Wedding and SU Convention

Hello Stamping Friends,

Did you miss me?  It was a flurry of a month in more ways than one!  We spent 10 days of April at my daughter Stacia’s and Jonathan’s wedding in Puerto Rico, returned home for one evening and then I flew out to the Stampin’ Up! convention in Salt Lake City.  A major snowstorm hit Colorado and I was stranded for an extra day in Salt Lake—rough, one more day to be with friends, eat pizza and soak in the hot tub.

So we left this scene in Puerto Rico:

IMG_0569

And returned to this scene in Castle Rock:

IMAG0365

A little more than a flurry I would say!

Convention was so much fun.  Jean and Wendy attended with me and those two beloved friends knew I hadn’t had time to make swaps before I left for Puerto Rico so they got together and made a whole sack of swaps for me.  Thank you both so much!

Look at this fabulous swap card they made:

IMG_0781The inside says “and eat cookies”.  Both greetings are from the Balloon Celebration stamp set.

Here we are at the photo booth:

IMAG0270And here they are winning the prize patrol:

IMAG0273I walked the stage to celebrate making Silver Elite status:

imagejpeg_0_3 (1)

IMG_1372And was part of the many stampers honored at the Grand Hotel with a five course formal dinner:

IMAG0244followed by entertainment from the Dueling Pianos- a funny, witty and amazingly talented couple:

IMAG0247

There were chandeliers and marble everywhere – even in the bathrooms!!  As the bus left to go back to the convention center they handed each of us a really awesome bag.  Thank you to everyone who has supported me and helped me to this level.

IMG_0777 (1)

And look at the stash I brought home:

IMG_0794Stampin’ Up! welcomed us with streamers that popped out and flew all over the auditorium so I saved a few.

Stamp sets and pens and markers and ribbon and buttons and bookmarks and a calendar notebook and two bags!

The Paper Pumpkin booth was a fun surprise with a business kit and a party kit to buy:

IMG_0801And a sneak peak at future products:

IMAG0266Grid paper?!  Woo hoo!!

There was even a Paper Pumpkin make and take – a sneak peak at the May kit!  Hurry- sign up by tomorrow.  If you buy a three month subscription (or maintain your subscription for three months) I will send you a snail adhesive, a pen, a bag and a case for your stamps.  To sign up for a one month subscription you can go to http://www.paperpumpkin.com and choose me as your demonstrator or for a three month subscription go to my online store and enter item #137859.  You will receive an email with a code and you will go to the paper pumpkin site and enter that code.  Deadline is tomorrow, May 10th for the May kit with this cool card:

IMG_0783You could make it a birthday card, too, but we didn’t see what the other stamps were so there is still a little surprise.

There were four other make and takes showing upcoming products:

A new all inclusive kit;  this card has a fun fold as the heart goes up and the next layer down to reveal the inside:

IMG_0785A cool new two pack of Embossing Folders and beautiful Designer Series Paper (DSP).

IMG_0784A confetti punch and foam adhesive strips to make shaker cards:

IMG_0786You will love the new catalog!  Come to my catalog launch on June 18th, 10 – 2,  and we will have fun as we ooh and ahh and play with the new products!  Last but not least  – a make and take with the new In Colors:

IMG_0782These events are the icing on the cake after becoming a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator.  Join my team as we make plans for the November On Stage Local in Kansas City.  The more the merrier!

IMAG0264

After returning home I received this stunning card from Jean thanking me for the roommate gifts!  I have looked at it daily and it is like having a bouquet of flowers (that never die)!  Love it!  Thank you, Jean!  This uses the Flower Patch Stamp set and the greeting is from Birthday Blooms:

IMG_0791 You can scroll through all this pretty fast so I am going to risk overload and show you a few wedding pictures.

My daughter, Stacia, was married to Jonathan Whitehead on April 8, 2016 at Tres Palmas in Rincon, Puerto Rico.

IMG_0680

IMG_0681

IMG_0683

IMG_0684

IMG_0691

IMG_0770

IMG_0771The End (for this post)!  A great beginning for the two of them.

SAL   (Such A Love)

Karen

Online Store

March Cards

Hello Stamping Friends,

March was a fun month with the Elizabeth Stamp A Stack, the bimonthly club, and Sale A Bration events!  You have through tomorrow, March 31, to place an order of at least $50 and get a free stamp set.  Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin for three months and you would qualify for the free Sale A Bration set.  The April Paper Pumpkin will include two stamp sets to celebrate Paper Pumpkin’s third birthday and shipment of their one millionth kit!  The kits just keep getting better and the three month subscription is on sale for $55.  Go to my online store and use item #137859.  Instructions will be sent to your email with a redemption code for the 3 months you have purchased.

 

Screen Shot 2016-01-07 at 11.15.11 AM

The most popular Sale A Bration free set in my events was the “What I Love” stamp set.  I did a Triple Time Stamping card to demonstrate this stamp set.

What I Love

What I Love Inside

For the next card, I used the Party Wishes stamp set,  the Confetti Embossing Folder and the Party Punch Pack casing the card in the Occasions catalog:

Party WishesParty Wishes Inside

The embossing folder is sponged in the three colors, Melon Mambo, Pool Party, and Crushed Curry before running it through the Big Shot.  Sponge the side with the indents if you want the confetti to be white like it is here.  The confetti behind the cake is created by coloring only the confetti of the Make a Wish stamp with a marker.   For the inside Happy Birthday, I used the Wet Wipe Technique, placing several drops of reinker on a wet wipe (placed on a silicone sheet to protect your work surface) and then use that for your ink pad!  Voila!  Lots of random color!  The Melon Mambo balloon is stamped and punched, the cupcakes are colored with a marker, stamped and punched, and the candle on the cake is colored, stamped and punched.  All three punches come in the Party Punch Pack.  The cake is fussy cut and popped up after attaching thick twine with glue dots!   One stamper used Perfect Plum instead of Melon Mambo for a more masculine card.

The following card uses another embossing folder technique-Stamping With An Embossing Folder.  This is simply inking up your embossing folder and then using it to stamp on your card.  I used the Honeycomb Embossing Folder and Sahara Sand Ink and purposely left some areas of the folder uninked for a subtle background:

Kinda Eclectic 2Kinda Eclectic 2 InsideThe Whisper White paper is cut at 8″ X 5 1/4″ and scored at 4″.  It is adhered to a piece of Blackberry Bliss cut at 4 1/4″ X 5 1/2″.  This gives a nice alternative to our standard layering.  The greetings are from the Rose Wonder stamp set and stampers could choose from a variety of greetings in that stamp set to create the perfect card.  Kinda Eclectic was used for the sunbeams and greenery, and the butterflies are from the stamp set Papillon Potpourri. There are matching small and large punches to make quick and beautiful butterflies.  The little flowers are from the Itty Bitty Punch set and gold metallic thread is looped behind the greeting.  The silver metallic thread is used for antennae on the large butterfly.

My favorite card for this month is a birthday card using the Party Pop Up Thinlits Dies:

Party Pop UpParty Pop Up InsideThe paper is from the “It’s My Party Designer Series Paper Stack”.  Page 5 of the Occasions catalog.  The Hip Hip Hooray is cut out using the Thinlit Die.  The confetti pieces from cutting it out were used on the inside for a little extra bit of celebration!

“A Day All About You” is from the Birthday Blossoms stamp set on page 8 of the big catalog.  It is cut out with one of the Handpicked Framelits.  “make a WISH” is from the Party Wishes stamp set and the banners are made using the little banner punch.  The “make a WISH” greeting is colored with a black marker and stamped on a piece of the Designer Series Paper which has matching confetti on a white background instead of black.  A black frame is made with the 1 1/2″ circle punch.  A piece of black confetti Designer Series Paper measuring 3 3/4″ X 5″ is placed behind the cut out, just down from the candle flames so the flames in the back of the cutout show the Crushed Curry cardstock.  The strips on the side are 3/8″ X 5 1/4″.  I was conserving paper by making strips.  You could just as well have an 8 1/4″ X 5 1/4″ piece of the designer paper adhered to the main card stock.  Cut a piece of copy paper 3 3/4″ wide to slip under the Happy Birthday cutout so that you can sponge the base, the words and the candles.  Use sticky notes to protect the sides so you don’t sponge more than you want colored.

The balloons are punched with our new large balloon punch.  The sides are sponged and a sparkle is added with the white gel pen.  A glue dot holds the twine on the back of the balloon and a bow is added on top.

Main Cardstock:  Crushed Curry  8 1/2″  X  5 1/2″  Scored at 4 14″

Black Confetti Designer Series Paper:  5 3/8″  X  4 1/8″

Shimmery White Cardstock for outside:  4 1/2″  X 3 1/2″

Scrap of same at least 3 1/2″ long for the greeting

Shimmery White for inside:  8 1/4″  X 5 1/4″

This is a fun card to make!

Click HERE to see a video from Stampin’ Up!

Have a great day and click below to go to the online store.

SAL,

Karen

Online Store

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to my blog!

Sal Window to Products

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 158 other subscribers

Categories