Birthday Blessings

I shared with you HERE and HERE the cards I made my daughter and son for our big family birthday celebration last weekend.  Now I get to share with you the cards I received!

The first one was made by my daughter-in-law, Kim Huels.  Kim used her Big Shot and Big Bold Cupcakes Sizzlits to create this great card.  I love her addition of the wide Chocolate Chip Stripe Ribbon at the side using the Slot Punch.

Here's my card from Aly.  When we saw Shelli's presentation on vintage stamping at Leadership, it was as if the Heaven's had parted!   Now she can't stop with the collage cards!  Isn't this card magnificent?!  There's so much going on, that I just can't list it all!  Some components are:  Pretties Kit flowers, pearls and hat pin; rhinestone from Eggcellent Eggs Kit; Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware; flower from Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch; punching also from Curly Label Punch and Designer Label Punch; stamping from Vintage Labels, Charming and Tiny Tags stamp sets; and Kaleidoscope Designer Paper.

Here's my gift box that she decorated to coordinate:

And guess what was inside!  My very own Simply Adorned bracelet and charms!  I'll show that off another day!

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend! Click HERE for more details and to register!
  
• To sign up for the Spring Card Class!  Click HERE for more details and to register.
  
• To sign up for the March Card Kit!  Click HERE for more details and to purchase!

Aly’s Birthday Gift Card Holder

We celebrated lots of birthdays in the family this past weekend, and one of them is my daughter, Aly's birthday which was back in January!  We've all been either sick, out of town or very busy, so this is the first chance we've had to get together.

While at Leadership Convention in Phoenix in January, I bought Aly the Stampin' Up! watch we could get at Memento Mall this year.  It has four different watch bands that are all Stampin' Up! ribbons!  So for this weekend's celebration, I got her a gift card to a local clothing store for a little something special to wear.  And in Stampin' Up! style, the packaging is everything, right?  Well, here's what I did with the gift card:

I used our beautiful Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper and coordinating stamp set, With All My Heart, along with the new Sending Love Epoxy Brads in Real Red.  The new Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch coordinates with the stamp set to punch out the cute image on the front.  I used markers to ink up the sentiment that comes with the set and punched it out with the Modern Label Punch.  Here's how you make the base: 

• Cut the designer paper or card stock 4-1/4" x 11"
• Score that paper at 3", 5-1/2" and 8"
• Determine which side of the paper you want on the outside and which you'd prefer on the inside.
• Fold in half and then fold the outside flaps backwards in toward the center.
• Then apply Sticky Strip to the inside second panel on the 3 edges that do not create the fold for the gift card.  Adhere the two center panels together.
• Using the 1/2" Circle Punch and the Word Window Punch, create the slit and notch for the gift card to fit into.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 117153 Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper   $11.95
Item No. 118134 With All My Heart stamp set   $13.95
Item No. 118073 Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch   $15.95
Item No. 117270 Real Red 1/2" Sending Love Epoxy Brads   $4.95
Item No. 109052 Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon   $7.95

Don't Forget!

* To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend! Click HERE for more details!
* To sign up for the Spring Card Class!  Click HERE for more details and to register.

Enjoy your birthday

Here's a birthday card I made for my son Christopher's birthday.  The new Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack is the bomb!  It's great for masculine and feminine projects, as well as card making and scrapbooking.  So versatile!

I chose my color scheme from the fabulous piece of striped designer paper in this packet — Sahara Sand, Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise.  The orange print is the reverse side of the striped paper, making it really easy to coordinate!  I used the same colors in 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbons.  The sentiment doubles for the focal point of the card and is from Enjoy Every Moment stamp set.  I picked up the star image from Wanted stamp set.  The coordinating button is from Sherbet Designer Buttons pack.  "Every moment" is stamped and punched out with the Scallop Oval Punch.  Don't forget to order Mini Glue Dots to make adhering your buttons a snap, and some Linen Thread for the centers.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 113622 Enjoy Every Moment   $31.95
Item No. 115106 Wanted   $23.95
Item No. 117161 Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack   $24.95
Item No. 114889 Scallop Oval Punch   $15.95
Item No. 103683 Mini Glue Dots   $4.95
Item No. 104199 Linen Thread   $4.50
Item No. 109030 Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon   $4.95
Item No. 109038 Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon   $4.95
Item No. Sherbet Designer Buttons   $7.95

Don't Forget!

* To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend! Click HERE for more details!
* To sign up for the Spring Card Class!  Click HERE for more details and to register.

Syracuse NY Regional Shoe Box Swap

We have so many events planned around the fabulous all-day Stampin' Up! Regional Convention this coming Friday!  I can't believe how much we're packing into just 2 short days!  One of the fun things I'm getting ready for is a shoe box swap Friday night after the Regional and after a very special dinner!  Here's the swap I'm bringing with me:

My card base is my favorite color — Old Olive.  I layered on three strips of card stock in Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise and Dusty Durango that have first been run through the Big Shot using the Textured Impressions Folder Perfect Polka Dots.  I rounded the bottom corners with the 3/16" Corner Rounder and under the Dusty Durango strip, tucked a piece of Crushed Curry punched out with the Scallop Circle Punch.  The present is from Holiday Blitz stamp set, and I stamped it in Melon Mambo and added some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter with a 2-Way Glue Pen.  That image is backed with Old Olive punched with a 1-3/8" Circle Punch.  The package image is on Dimensionals.  The "h" is a piece of chipboard and Basic Black card stock run through the Big Shot using the Alphabet Simple Letters die.  I know that this set of dies is a real investment, but I can honestly say that there isn't any other die that I use more often!  It's so handy having any letter you want at your finger tips!  And cut in virtually any material you can think of!  I added 3 Silver Brads to the leg of the "h" then mounted it to the card with Mini Glue Dots.  The sentiment comes from A Little Birthday Cheer stamp set and I just slid the "h" under the big "h".  I finished off the card by tying a piece of Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon around the entire card. 

There'll be over 50 people gathered for this shoe box swap!  I hope everyone has fun making this card!  Can't wait to show you all the cards I'll be making — stay tuned!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 117355 Textured Impressions Folder Perfect Polka Dots   $7.95
Item No. 113439 Bit Shot Die-Cut Machine   $99.95 — When you purchase this machine during Sale-A-Bration, you'll receive TWO free stamp sets!  Click HERE to find out how!
Item No. 115614 Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon   $9.95
Item No. 115960 Alphabet Simple Letters dies   $89.95
Item No. 111062 A Little Birthday Cheer stamp set   $13.95 – Make a purchase of $50 during Sale-A-Bration, and receive this cute little stamp set for FREE!  Click HERE to find out how!
Item No. 114982 Holiday Blitz stamp set   $38.95
Item No. 109043 Scallop Circle Punch   $15.95
Item No. 104401 1-3/8" Circle Punch   $15.95
Item No. 104403 1-1/4" Circle Punch   $15.95
Item No. 109047 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch   $6.95
Item No. 104336 Silver Brads   $6.95
Item No. 102023 Dazzling Diamonds Glitter   $4.50
 

Don't Forget!

To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend! Click HERE for more details!
To sign up for the Spring Card Class!  Click HERE for more details and to register.

Caution: New Toys

I got some new toys the other day, and I've just gotta show you what Stampin' Up! is putting on the outside of their boxes — ain't that the truth!  Too funny!

Both of the cards I made use the Welcome Neighbor Designer Series Paper Pad and Happy Moments stamp set, both FREE with a purchase of $50 or more during Sale-A-Bration.  And both of these cards use the same layout!  I wanted to show you how different a card can look using the same layout with different colors.

The first one uses a base of So Saffron card stock.  I ran a piece of the same color through the Big Shot with the Textured Impressions Folder Perfect Polka Dots and adhered it in place.  Next came a piece of Melon Mambo card stock with Melon Mambo 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon knotted then wrapped around it.  The Bermuda Bay designer paper is from the Welcome Neighbors Sale-A-Bration designer paper pack.  The image is from Happy Moments and is stamped with Staz-On ink on Watercolor Paper and colored in with an Aqua Painter, then punched out with the 1-3/4" Circle Punch and adhered with Dimensionals.  The "thank you" is also from Happy Moments and is stamped in Staz-On Ink.  I really prefer this type of ink over our Basic Black Classic Ink for two reasons.  On any image you're going to use watercoloring, the ink doesn't run, and with sentiments, you get  fine, crisp lettering.

This card starts with a base of Rich Razzleberry card stock and is stamped tone-on-tone with the Pretty Petals background stamp.  Next comes a piece of Crushed Curry Textured card stock wrapped with a knotted piece of Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon.  I added a 1/2" piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock because it just looked like it needed a bit more color.  The designer paper is again from the Welcome Neighbors Sale-A-Bration paper pack.  I haven't used this terrific sentiment set in a long time — it's Heard from the Heart — but it was exactly the right size and the right saying for my birthday card.  It's stamped in Whisper White Craft ink and heat embossed with White Embossing Powder.  I stamped the image from Happy Moments on Watercolor Paper with Staz-On ink, but this time, I colored in the image with various stamp pads and a Blender Pen. 

Using Watercolor Paper really makes a difference!  It's a little pricey, but when you're using just a bit for an image, it's still economical.  And the results are fabulous!  I wanted to show you the images up close and also to show you the difference between using the Aqua Painter and the Blender Pen.

Here are the flowers colored in with an Aqua Painter.

And here's the birthday cake colored in with a Blender Pen.  Both use the ink from the Classic Stamp Pads.  There isn't a big difference, but people seem to definitely prefer one over the other.

Leave me a comment and let me know which tool you like to use!  It'll be fun to see the results!

Happy Birthday, Aly!

I made this quick, cute card for my daughter, Aly's birthday.

This is the first chance I've had to use my new clear mount stamps, and boy, can I just say, it's love at first sight (or use)!!!  Ladies, THIS is what we've been waiting for!  I used the new stamp set called Well Scripted from the Occasions Mini Catalog for the sentiment and was able to line it up just where I wanted it.  Here's how the stamp set looks and one of the stamps mounted on the clear mount block.

I used the Level 1 hostess stamp set, Out of the Box, to create the heart images.  The colors I chose are Crushed Curry, Brocade Blue, Old Olive and Melon Mambo.  Here's a close-up of how I got some dimension by stamping the Melon Mambo heart twice, cutting out one and adhering it with Dimensionals.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No.115342 Out of the Box – Hostess Level 1 stamp set
Item No. 118601 Well Scripted Clear Mount stamp set   $14.95
Item No. 118486 Clear Mount Block C   $6.95
Item No. 112091 Scallop Edge Punch   $15.95
Item No. 104199 Linen Thread   $4.50
Item No. 112160 Old Olive Patterns Designer Series Paper   $9.95

Don't Forget!   

• To register for the Valentines (and more!) Class — click HERE!  Registration is due by January 22nd.

Sketch layout challenge

If you'll recall, back HERE I challenged my blog readers to come up with a card using a particular layout.  I received these two fabulous cards from Phyl Lyons of Seneca Falls, NY. 

In this first card, Phyl used Forest Friends stamp set.  At only $14.95, this stamp set is a great buy!

The card below uses a Level 1 hostess stamp set called Of the Earth.  The same tree image from Forest Friends is stamped tone-on-tone.  I love Phyl's bright color scheme in this one!

Beautiful cards, Phyl!  Just love what you came up with!  Thanks so much for sharing them with us!

Don't Forget!   

• Be sure to register for the Birthday Card Class – click HERE!  Registration is due by December 27th.

Thank you from Kim

Here's a beautiful thank you card my daughter-in-law, Kim made!  I especially wanted to share it with you now because Kim chose a stamp set that will retire on January 4th.  It's called Garden Greetings and is such a fun stamp set!

Be sure to check out THIS POST for more stamp sets that are scheduled to retire, and order your Garden Greetings while you still can!

Don't Forget!   

• To order your retiring stamp sets before they're gone forever on January 4th – click HERE for the listing!
• To order your discounted Big Shot Dies and Vinyl Sheets until December 22nd ony — click HERE for the listing!
• To register for the Birthday Card Class – click HERE!  Registration is due by December 27th.
• To register for the Winter Scrapbooking Class  – click HERE!  Registration is due by January 4th.
• To register for the More than Valentines Class — click HERE!  Registration is due by January 22nd.

January Card Kit of the Month

The January Card Kit of the Month is now available! Here's a look at the 2 sample cards for this month.

You can purchase the January Card Kit of the Month online today – for more details click HERE!

Don't Forget!   

• To order your retiring stamp sets before they're gone forever on January 4th – click HERE for the listing!
• To order your discounted Big Shot Dies and Vinyl Sheets until December 22nd ony — click HERE for the listing!
• To register for the Birthday Card Class – click HERE!  Registration is due by December 27th.
• To register for the Winter Scrapbooking Class  – click HERE!  Registration is due by January 4th.
• To register for the More than Valentines Class — click HERE!  Registration is due by January 22nd.

Deb’s Birthday

Lots of birthdays this month!  So I thought I'd share the card I made for my good friend and downline team member, Deb Ansuini.

My goal this next month is to use some of the stamp sets I have on my shelf that haven't seen the light of day for a very long time!  And this card uses two wonderful stamp sets that I've sort of forgotten about.  The first is the flower image; it comes from Close as a Memory which has been around quite awhile but is still a beautiful set to have.  It's designed as a sympathy stamp set, but I just love the flower image.  We don't really have anything quite like it in any other stamp set.  Here, I've inked up the rubber stamp with Stampin' Write Makers in So Saffron, Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red and Sage Shadow and stamped it three times across the width of the Very Vanilla card stock.  I borrowed the sentiment from another tried and true set called Fun & Fast Notes.  Paper piercing really adds a lot to this simple little card, and I've included a nice piece of Elegant Eggplant 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon as well.  (I'm always so happy when I can coordinate our beautiful accessories with the same color card stock and ink!)

I wanted to make this a special card for a special lady, so I added a coordinating stamped image on the inside of the card where I'll write my message and lined a Very Vanilla envelope using some gorgeous Rose Red Patterns Designer Series Paper.  It's so easy to line an envelope.  Just start out with a piece of designer paper that is just a "smidge" narrower than the envelope and wide enough to slide down into the envelope.  Then just insert the designer paper, lick the envelope, stick the designer paper to the envelope and trim away the excess.  When you're ready to send your card, simply use your SNAIL adhesive to close the envelope!  Easy as can be!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 114946 Close as a Memory stamp set   $20.95
Item No. 113500 Fun & Fast Notes stamp set   $33.95
Item No. 105110 Elegant Eggplant Stampin" Write Marker   $3.25
Item No. 100040 Sage Shadow Stampin' Write Marker   $3.25
Item No. 105114 So Saffron Stampin' Write Marker   $3.25
Item No. 100063 Rose Red Stampin' Write Marker   $3.25
OR puchase the large set of 48 colors
Item No. 105541 Many Marvelous Markers Set   $125.95
Item No. 109039 Elegant Eggplant 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon   $4.95
Item No. 105826 Mat Pack   $9.95
Item No. 116631 Paper Piercing Tool   $3.50
Item No. 107300 Very Vanilla Medium Envelopes   $6.50
Item No. 112162 Rose Red Patterns Designer Series Paper   $9.95

Don't Forget!

    * To ask for the Many Marvelous Markers set for Christmas – Orders placed before Dec. 15th will arrive on time!
    * To register for the Birthday Card Class – click HERE!  Registration is due by December 27th.