Archive for August, 2009:
Tour de Freaks Blog Tour & Bloggers Challenge 113
It’s here! The 20th of the month, which means Tour de Freaks Blog Tour! It also doubles as my Bloggers Challenge this week which is to use die cuts on your card!
This month you’ll have 13 stops on the tour…I’m stop #4. You’ve probably just come from Shona Watson’s BLOG. I know you will enjoy the projects we have lined up for you to view! The theme this month is In Colors! The gals in this group ALWAYS do awesome work! I’m so happy to have been invited to be a member of the Control Freaks Swap Group…it has been FOUR years this month! Hard to believe!
My first project is a little birdhouse ornament. Wouldn’t these look cute hanging on your Christmas tree? Can you tell what I used? Yes, the Matchbox XL Bigz Die! I’ve had this idea in my head since I first saw the Matchbox die. In fact, I did submit a similar one to Stampin’ Up!
For the outside cover I used Bermuda Bay and punched a Scallop Oval in the top panel, then added some Thoroughly Modern Designer Paper on each side. The inside box is Real Red. I made a little scene with two birds from Cheep Talk and the Leaves Sizzlet die. The nest is small slivers of Kraft cardstock crimped and curled into a ball, then stuck on with Mini Glue Dots. The Cardinals are stamped in Real Red, with their beaks colored in with Pumpkin Pie and legs with Close to Cocoa. I added a little roof made from Soft Suede cardstock and covered it with Designer Paper, too. Before I put the two sides of the roof together, I added a ribbon hanger at the top. (Check back next week for a little tutorial on how this was all put together!)
Finally, to finish decorating the outside, I added the Snowflake punched from Faux Diamond Dust paper (Iridescent Ice EP over Whisper White). Then stamped the trio of snowflakes from the hostess set Christmas Punch in Bermuda Bay and punched them out with the Boho Blossoms punch (did you know they fit perfectly???) Added some Red Mini Brads to the centers of the snowflakes.
This next card is a wiper card (purely coincidental that SCS has the tutorial this week)…mine has been done for ages! I used the stamp set For All You Do and stamped the stems in Old Olive and the flowers in Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry. The tag says Thank You and is punched with the Modern Label punch from Melon Mambo cardstock. The Whisper White panel is layered onto Rich Razzleberry cardstock. The base part of the Wiper Card is Crushed Curry and I ran the front and back panels thru the Big Shot with my Finial Press Embossing Folder for some extra texture! The inside "wiper" is made from Whisper White and I stamped the greeting on it and rounded the corners with the Corner Rounder punch. Then I stamped the butterfly with Melon Mambo and cut it out and adhered it to the right right corner of the wiper. When you press the sides together in and out, the wiper pops up, then hides inside the two sides. Cute project to make for class!
My last project was also a card for my niece’s birthday last weekend! I started with a base of Melon Mambo and adhered a layer of Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper across the bottom. Some Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon hides the seam. I used the Flower Layers Bigz Die and cut flowers from Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Leaves (from Build A Flower Sizzlet die) from Old Olive. I ran all of the pieces thru my Big Shot with the Finial Press Embossing Folder. I used dimensionals between the layers when I stacked them together and added a Summer Sun Corduroy Button in the center! I LOVE the outside…but wait until you see the inside!
I used the new Look Here XL Bigz Die cut from Rich Razzleberry. I took the picture without the gift card so you could see it better. I lined the back and bottom front panel with more Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper. I punched the Butterfly from the purple pattern of Razzleberry Lemonade and added a Melon Mambo body with my Slot Punch. And, finally I added the Birthday Greetings from On Your Birthday stamped on Crushed Curry and rounded the corners with my Corner Rounder. She LOVED it! (I’ll show you her brother’s card next week!)
Next stop is Mary Brown at StamperCamper Blog! I’m sure she will has some FABULOUS ideas!
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Leave me Smiling
This is a new digital image from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps that you can purchase and download right to your computer! Very fast and easy! I think it is a darling bear and I’m partial to fall images!
I printed him out on Neehan Solar White cardstock and started coloring him with my Copic Sketch markers. For some reason I have a TON of different shades of brown, so I had a great time with him. I also love the varigation of colors in the leaves he is raking. The base cardstock is Stampin’ Up! Creamy Caramel. The name of the designer paper I used is Autumn Vine, but it retired last year. I layered it on Dusty Durango. Thankful for you was punched with the 1 1/4 circle, layered on 1 3/8 circle of Chocolate Chip and finally layered on a Dusty Durango Scallop Circle. I pierced each of the scallops in the circle. Then it was popped on with dimensionals.
I had fun with this card! Hope you enjoy!
Come back tomorrow for the Tour de Freaks Blog Tour featuring projects and cards using In Colors! (August 20th!)
Card Published and Designer Paper Shares!
I received notice a couple weeks ago that I had a card published in Stampers Sampler Magazine for August/September 2009. It is always exciting to actually receive the publication and see your card in print!
I used one of my favorite Halloween sets, Eat, Drink & Be Scary (#111764, $18.95) and combined it with Good Friends (#113740). But my challenge was how to make that cute little bird scary enough for Halloween! I know! Turn him into a crow with Black Chunky Essentials Glitter for his body! I used Heat & Stick Powder adhesive so the chunky glitter would really stay on!
The hat was stamped with Black Craft and cut out. I added a band of Pumpkin Pie cardstock. And I stamped the Eat, Drink & Be Merry with Black Craft on Whisper White, and punched it with the Curly Label Punch. I also punched two black Curly Label Punch pieces and placed them behind the white one for a layered look.
The three different kinds of Designer Paper are retired from a couple years ago (still one of my favorite Halloween papers, but easy enough to replace it with other DSP). The base of the card is Pumpkin Pie. I had a blast making this card…hope you enjoy it! If you’d like to order the sets or materials used to make this card, use my SHOP NOW online ordering system or email me!
Wow…did you know that there are just TWO more days (August 20) until the Tour de Freaks? Be prepared to have your socks knocked off this month with awesome cards and projects featuring the In Colors! Blog Tour brought to you by your Control Freak swappers!
I’m also offering a Designer Series Paper Share for a limited time.
’09-’10 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SHARES
DESIGNER PAPER SHARES: There are 12 new designer paper packs in the new catalog, and 6 designer paper packs returning from the previous catalog. These Designer Paper Shares include designer paper packs on pgs. 160-163, excluding the Patterns Designer Series Paper Packs.
Each paper share includes a 6" x 6" sampling of each pattern from each pack (each pack is cut to make eight shares). The Write Stuff Specialty Designer Paper Pack includes 3 die-cut sheets. You will receive four miscellaneous diecuts.
I’m offering a choice of TWO designer paper shares:
DESIGNER PAPER SHARE #1. INCLUDES the paper packs returning from the previous Idea Book & Catalog (Pink Flamingo, Tea Party, Flock Together, Bella Bleu, Jackpot, and To The Nines). You will receive 105 – 6" x 6" designer paper sheets from 18 packs + 4 die cuts from The Write Stuff Specialty Designer Paper.
$30.00 plus Shipping $5.00.
DESIGNER PAPER SHARE #2. Does NOT include the returning paper packs (
Pink Flamingo, Tea Party, Flock Together, Bella Bleu, Jackpot, and To The Nines). You will receive 69 – 6" x 6" designer paper sheets from 12 packs + the 4 die cuts from The Write Stuff Specialty Designer Paper.$20.00 plus Shipping $5.00.
I will order the paper packs shares on or after August 24 or as soon as groups of four are complete (you will be added to a group when I receive your payment). Backorders and shipping time from Stampin’ Up! to me are out of my control, but you can trust that the cutting, sorting, and mailing will be turned around as efficiently as possible on my end.
Tale Tales quick card
My friend, Mary and I, were able to play some challenges this weekend. It had been a long time since we did! What fun! I needed to make up some cards for posting, too, so it came at a good time!
This card was inspired by a layout that Mary found over on SCS. VERY simple. In fact, I joked that I would be done in two seconds. But, sometimes I find the simple ones are harder for me to do. Too many directions I could go with not a lot of design room. But, this one did come together pretty easy.
Almost no stamping. I used a base of Old Olive. Cut a strip of Tale Tales Designer Paper and layered it on Chocolate Chip cardstock. Stamped the Happy Birthday greeting from On Your Birthday with Chocolate Chip ink. Then I used Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper scrap laying on my desk and the Cherry Blossom Embosslit die for the flower, sanding it a little for some extra texture, then adding a Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button in the center of the flower! Finally, punched the 5 petal flower from Old Olive and cut two of the petals off for the leaves. I sponged Melon Mambo around the flower and Always Artichoke around the leaves for extra dimension. It is popped up with dimensionals on the front of the card.
Busy week for me….I have to get ready for Punch Class on Wednesday night and my Acrylic Mini Scrapbook Album class on Sunday! Plus, we have two business dinners to attend on Friday and Saturday night. Yuk!
Have a wonderful week!
Animal Stories
This week’s Design Team Challenge on Late Night Stampers has us creating a Kid theme card from a card we CASED (Copy and Steal Everything) from the Catalog! I chose to CASE the card on page 129 of the catalog. We were supposed to change at least two things. I decided to use the layout, but changed up the colors and set that I used!
I started with a base card of Not Quite Navy. I added two strips of Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon around the Thoroughly Modern Designer Paper and layered that onto the base. I cut the "water" from the Swirly Long Strip Die with my Big Shot and used the left over piece from the Bermuda Bay cardstock instead of the Swirl itself. It is layered over Not Quite Navy and then layered on an extra wide piece of Going Gray cardstock. I wrapped the tag from Lots of Tags Sizzlit around the Going Gray and placed a button from the Sherbet Designer Buttons package (tied with Linen Thread first). Finally, I stamped the whale from Animal Stories Stamp Set with Versamark, then Going Gray ink and embossed it with Clear Embossing Powder for a shiny finish!
I was going to add a greeting under the tag, but decided to leave it blank until I needed a card.
Mary Brown, my awesome stamper friend, also played along with this challenge. Make sure to check out her Blog. You will be amazed that we both used the same layout, but the result is TOTALLY different!
REMINDER: The deadline for my August Card Kit of the Month is August 21st! Reserve yours today! Click HERE for details.
Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge 112
It is Saturday and time for the Stamping 411 weekly sketch challenge! I was really excited to try this sketch. The layout appeals to me! After working on it, I know it is one that I’ll keep to use again. Hope you’ll take a minute and do the Stamping 411 challenge with us! And check out what the other operators have done.
My card uses the stamp set, Branch Out. It isn’t in the new catalog, but it IS still available to purchase because it is on the dormant list! I’m glad. I received it a couple months ago, but this was the first time I actually inked it up! I know…bad! I love the fall cards I’ve seen made with it, so I had to make my own.
I expanded the size of the insert panel in the sketch a little bit longer in order to use the entire tree image from Branch Out. The tree base is stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock with Soft Suede ink. Then I added Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango ink "leaves" over the tree base. I also added the little bird house in Soft Suede. This panel was layered onto Dusty Durango and I used my Cutter Kit Distressing Tool around the edges. I wrapped some Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon around this panel. The base card is Soft Suede with a layer of Crushed Curry that I ran thru the Big Shot with my Texturz plate. If you look closely, I also lightly rubbed my Dusty Durango ink pad over the highlights of the texture and used the Cutter Kit Distressing Tool, too! On top of that I added the Soft Suede panel and stamped my Birthday Wishes greeting from On Your Birthday stamp set around the top stamped element in Basic Brown ink. Finally, I used the Flower Fusion Sizzlet Die with Crushed Curry cardstock, sponged around the edges with Dusty Durango and added a Clear Rhinestone brad in the center. It is popped up with dimensionals in the corner.
I’m pretty happy that my card turned out as I pictured it in my head!
Bloggers’ Challenge – It’s Your Birthday!
Wow…another Friday has rolled around. Where did the week go? Seems I’ve been in slow mode trying to catch up after being at Convention all week!
Today’s Bloggers’ Challenge theme is It’s Your Birthday. I looked for inspiration outside my family room window where all my yellow daisies are in full bloom! Like Meg Ryan says in You’ve Got Mail…daisies are so cheerful! They just make you smile!
Not a lot of stamping on here. Instead I’ve used my Big Shot quite a bit! The base card is Crushed Curry. I ran a layer of Chocolate Chip cardstock thru my Big Shot with the new Finial Press embossing folder. Next I cut the Whisper White cardstock with Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die…I had to trim off just a couple of the top scallops to get it to fit as I wanted. Then I used the new exclusive Two Tags Bigz die with some Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper to get the scallop tag. I stamped On Your Birthday in the lower right corner, added a reinforcement made from Chocolate Chip cardstock (1/4 and 1/2 circle punches), then added the Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon.
For the daisies, I punched Scallop Circles from Crushed Curry, cut the scallops to the center to make petals and sponged each one with Crushed Curry ink. The centers are 1/2 circle punches from Chocolate Chip, then I used a Pop Dot in the center and pressed on Clear Micro Beads for a little sparkle and shine! I used the 5 petal punch for the leaves from Old Olive and sponged Always Artichoke ink along the edges.
I love how it turned out! My SIL’s birthday is coming up soon and I’ll give this to her.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Remember to check back tomorrow for Stamping 411 sketch challenge!
Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps – School Girl
First…thank you to everyone who commented on yesterday’s Totally Tools Tool Box! I’m so happy you liked it…definitely made me feel better! Yes, the front has only faux drawers…they don’t open up. The base is made with two XL Box #2 diecuts stacked on top of each other. The Basic Black and Brushed Silver layers help hold it together.
This is the new digital image that will be available for purchase over at Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps next week! I think she is SO cute! I showed this card to my son’s girlfriend who is a teacher…she loved it!
I printed out the image and used a variety of Copic Sketch Markers to color her in. I did use Stampin’ Up!’s Modern Label punch to punch out the School is Cool words…then layered it on the Modern Label Movers & Shakers diecut! It fits perfectly behind it! The base card is Real Red, with a layer of Soft Sky (matched the marker colors in her dress!), then East Coast Prep Designer Paper from Stampin’ Up! is matted with Wild Wasabi cardstock. Finally, I added the Red Riding Hood Taffeta Ribbon.
FUN…and a big reminder that school will be starting soon! Oh my…where has the summer gone?
Totally Tools Tool Chest
Yeah! I get to stamp today! I have the whole day set aside…well, I may run to the store real quick, too. I’m also going to need to spend some time photographing cards! I’m running out of photos to show you! I know I’ve spent a lot of time creating them, just not the details of photographing!
I haven’t shared this with you before. I sent it in for a Stampin’ Up! monthly contest, but didn’t win…bummer! I’m disappointed because I thought it was very original. However, you just never know what competition you are facing when you send things in!
I made the little manly tool chest from two #2 Boxes die cuts from Real Red cardstock and adhered them together on top of each other. I ran the Brushed Silver cardstock thru the Big Shot with the diamond pattern Texturz plate and covered the front and back. I added small strips of black folded in half for the long drawer handles on the front. The sides, I took a silver Small Grommet and cut it in half, then placed it in the Basic Black cardstock along each side. I watercolored the tools and cut them out, randomly adhering them inside the tool box. I used an elongated Word Window for the words. You can’t see from these pictures, but the bottom has four Silver Jumbo Brads for the "feet".
Unfortunately, I sent the only one I had in for the contest, so I don’t have the measurements or anything. Leave me a comment and tell me what YOU think about this project!!! I thought it looked pretty realistic!
Reminder that the Control Freaks Tour de Freaks Blog Hop is coming up on August 20th! Mark your calendar so you can tour the 13 Blogs on that day! I know I always get AWESOME inspiration from these gals. I was happy that I got to meet up with several of them at Convention this year! Fun to put faces with names!
Peace Within swap card
Good morning! I am feeling a LOT perkier today. I slept well again last night and have sort of caught up on emails, orders, etc. I need to finish getting ready for my Technique Class tonight…my studio definately needs cleaned up…it is a mess from working on swaps before I left!
Here is a design that I made for Sherrill Graff’s swap cards a couple months ago. She hired me to make 20 cards for her to take to Convention. I decided to use one of my favorite new sets, Peace Within.
I started with a base card of Dusty Durango (othewise known as Brent Steele if you were at Convention! lol!) Then I took a layer of Always Artichoke and ran it thru the Big Shot with my Texturz Plate. I added a layer of Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper matted on Crushed Curry cardstock. For the focal piece, I stamped the basket image from Peace Within with Stazon Black on Shimmer White cardstock, then watercolored with my Stampin’ Up! markers and AquaPainter. I distressed the edges with my Distressing Tool, then layered it on Dusty Durango cardstock. I added the greeting stamped with Dusty Durango on Shimmer White, then punched with the large Oval Punch and layered on the Scallop Oval punch from Always Artichoke cardstock. Finally, I added 1/2 a Modern Tag punched from Crushed Curry with Gold Mini Brad to the front.
I’m happy with how it turned out!
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