Wednesday, February 29, 2012

The Paper Made Me Do It!

The minute I saw this paper from the "Attic Boutique" dsp collection in the occasions mini catalog I knew what I was going to do.  I love making these scrunched up flowers--I had to try out the new "Blossom Punch" and see what a flower made from its punches would look like.....result--CUTE!


I made the flower by punching 3 blossoms and then rubbing each with my bone folder until the paper separates--pull it apart and you have a suede look and a total of 6 flower pieces.  Layer them all on top of each other and hook together with a brad.  Scrunch each layer up to the center and then gently pull out and fluff.  I used the colors pool party, crumb cake and very vanilla.  I added a couple of leaves from the bird punch and made my ribbon from crumb cake seam binding.  The sentiment is from the set "Friendly Phrases" and is stamped with soft suede ink on very vanilla cardstock.  It's layered on a pool party scalloped oval which is on a wide oval punch from crumb cake.

My dog is nagging me to play with her so I'll be back with another card tomorrow!  

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Love at First Sight!

I found this card on Pinterest...which can be quite addicting. Let me know if you need an invite and you can join me!  =-)  I loved all the elements that it used and it was the card that made me realize that I absolutely had to own the SAB set "Fresh Vintage."  There are so many good things going on in this card that it's hard to remember them all....here's the photo of my card and after all the details I'll share my link so you can see the original (which to be truthful looks a bit nicer than mine).


My card has a base of poppy parade.  I then took a card front of crumb cake and glued on rectangles of lucky limeade and pool party then ran it through the big shot using my Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder that I had inked up with my crumb cake ink (I got a little heavy handed with it I think).  The hearts are from the Heart framelits.  I cut out one from poppy parade and then inked up the floral design from the Fresh Vintage set with my pool party, poppy parade and lucky limeade markers and stamped it on very vanilla.  After that was stamped I centered the heart framelit over the design the way I liked it and cut it out.    The flower piece is made from several flowers from the boho blossom punch and the leaves from the bird punch.  The ribbon is Victoria crochet trim and the sentiment is from "Kindness Matters" which is in the main catalog and is also a SAB set.  Enough---here's the link to the original which as you'll see I liked so much that I didn't make many changes.  Let me know if you have any questions!  

P.S.  Why is it that after you post you always see your mistakes?  I forgot to say that I added pearls to my floral design and then if you look closely you'll see how I tried to add a pearl to the top of my brad--judging by the picture I'm saying it isn't staying in place!  Ha!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Finally a Post!

Hi all!  Long time no blog.  So sorry, but the business of my job (1st grade teacher) combined with my sinus infection (yes, I'm still dealing with it--5 months and a lot of $$ later) have made it difficult to have the energy to craft and post.  However!!!  I think I'm getting a bit better and I do seem to have a bit more energy--the sunshine helps!

Here are the cards from the last party that I demonstrated at. It was so much fun!  We had a lot of new people come and our table was full!  I really enjoy these monthly parties and meeting new stamping friends!  I will post the link to each of the card ideas I shared because as you know I copy (case) just about every good idea that I find with just tiny touches that can be called my own!

My first card uses the "You're My Type" stamp set from the occasions mini on page 27.  The background paper comes from the First Edition dsp in the main catalog on pg. 183.  I also used the new embosslit--"Fashionable Hearts" and "Labels Collection" framelits dies.  Both are found in the occasions mini catalog.

Here's a picture of the front of the card -- and a picture of what the inside looks like also.















I absolutely had to emboss the typewriter in black--otherwise it just doesn't look like a typewriter to me!  
Here is where I got my inspiration for this card.  Just click on the word here in the previous sentence and it will take you there.

Colors used--Basic Black & Real Red



The next card I demonstrated also used the framelits--but this time the heart framelits from the occasions mini.  The heart was cut out of the card front and then pieced on the back with the cute "Sweet Shop" designer paper--also from the occasions mini. 


The card base is wisteria wonder with a layer of Pool Party.  The ribbon is the in color ruffled ribbon found on page 194 of the main catalog  I'm loving the simple delicate quality of the sentiments in the "Friendly Phrases" set on page 162 of the main catalog.  It's stamped in wisteria wonder.  Here's the link to the original card which I think is exactly the same except for the sentiment!


One of the simplest cards that I showed is very monochromatic in basic gray and pink pirouette.  It uses the "Perfect Polka Dots" embossing folder to give texture and is sponged with basic gray ink.  I stamped the daisies from "Upsy Daisy"(one of my all time favorite sets) in versamark and then embossed with white embossing powder--then punched a 1 3/4 " circle out of the embossed piece.  The sentiment is from "Everyday Wishes" found on page 193--it has the same look as the Friendly Phrases used in the above card.  Top it off with some taffeta ribbbon and you have a great looking card!  

                                   
Here's the link to where I got the idea for this card!  I'm so glad there as so many wonderful stampers out there so I can copy and share their ideas!  Well...I can't find who did this so when and if I do I'll be sure to put the link in!

The last card I shared at the party is a total CASE of Dawn Olcheske.  When I saw the "Mixed Bunch" stamp set in the occasions mini I thought--I don't need another flower set, but oh my goodness!  I have seen the nicest cards done with this set and of course the matching punch!  Both are found on page 17 of the mini.  Dawn has a video of how she did this card--love her blog!  I changed the flower used and the size of my designer paper (Twitterpated), but that's about it.  I used the Thanks from SAB set "Outlined Occasions."  The other thing I did was color my Thanks in using a blender pen--it just not as bold as using the marker.


Check out her card/video here!  Colors used are--pear pizzazz and daffodil delight.

Our make and take from the party was this cute 2 pocket folder made with a 6 x 6 piece of designer series paper.  My hostess Jan wanted something for St. Patrick's Day so I ended up using some older (way older) paper for the folders.  We then made a little card with a punch project leprechaun on it and a chocolate gold coin on the inside.  I don't have a picture of the card since I had to give my set away.  It's a great thing to have so many new stamping friends with us--Yay!  Anyway the card has to be 2.5 " square.  My picture shows the leprechaun in a larger size---unfortunately he didn't fit in the pocket of the folder!


The directions/tutorial for the folder is here (plus a bonus project).  I don't have anything for the leprechaun, but he's pretty self-explanatory.  I used the owl punch for the nose and eyes.

Finally--I'm done with the way overdue, but terribly long post!  Here's the other great thing!  I made some great cards that were "rejects" for the party (not due to beauty, but due to how long they'd take to make) so I have  a good number of posts coming in the next several weeks!!  Whew!  It will be good to be back to regular posting!  Shoot me an e-mail if you have any questions!  Dawn

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Free Stuff!

If you are a bargain hunter like me you might enjoy what Stampin' Up has to offer this month and beyond...not only has Sale-A- Bration begun (Jan. 24, 2012 - March 31, 2012) where you can get free stamps, ribbon, paper, brads and more for each $50 that you spend before tax and shipping and handling fees are added but you can also get....

 My Digital Studio - FREE for One Month Beginning Today!

Stampin' Up! is offering a 30-day  FREE TRIAL of My Digital Studio Express version beginning TODAY that everyone can take advantage of.
Have you ever thought about making a scrapbook, a card, a calendar, or other projects on your computer?
If this appeals to you, check it out by taking the program FREE for 30 days!
With the FREE trial, you'll get:
It's simple; add the free My Digital Studio Express trial (item 129600) to your online shopping cart, and then download and install it from your Download Manager.  There are many free tutorials out there that can help you in your use of MDS --I'd be glad to direct you in that direction!

Try it out and see the fun and ease of My Digital Studio!
Just give it a try and see if you like it!
Click here to order your My Digital Studio today!
When you get to my demonstrator website you will have to click on the shop now (blue rectangle) under my name at the top right.  The store page will come up-- then click on the MDS box in the upper right hand corner--download and let the fun begin!