Make Mine Stamps

Blogger's Challenge - White, Black and ?

Well you have to have guessed that for me it would be red.  I love the elegance of Red, White and Black.  And when I think of these colors together, I automatically think wedding.  Here's my version for this week's challenge.

Hello, my name is Tami, and I'm a hoarder!  I've been hoarding this Night and Day Specialty Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up since I bought it last year.  I've seen other demos who are seeking entire packs (I have three and one I've opened!) for their clients.  Can't....do....it!  I won't sell my paper which is so precious it hangs in my closet! 

I started with a basecard of Basic Black.  I cut a layer of Real Red and then layered on the Houndstooth pattern.  (Truly, I love houndstooth in just about any color combo!)  I wrapped the Whisper White Satin ribbon around this layer and adhered it to the card.  Next, I used my Three Heart Punch to punch out the black hearts and used a scrap of Real Red to punch the small heart.  I adhered these with dimensionals and glued the small Real Red heart onto the larger hearts.

Using Whisper White craft ink and Teeny Tiny Messages, as well as my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, I stamped the sentiment on the front.  The inside contains a Whisper White liner panel with the sentiment from the new set, A Word For You, that reads, "Congratulations on finding one another!"   Awwwwww......

I'm going to make this one of the card kits for the Ronald McDonald House Card benefit as well.  I even purchased a second Stamp-A-Ma-Jig so we won't have to share. 

Let me ask you:  If you had $105 in Stampin' Up! dollars to spend, what would you choose from that luscious new Idea Book and Catty?  If you book and hold a workshop with $350 in product sales, you can answer that question!  The workshop must be booked, held and closed by August 31 in order to qualify for the current hostess special.  If I haven't asked you, then please call me!  I'll even have a special gift for you because you had to ask!  So, is there something in the Occasions Mini you've had your eye on but haven't purchased?  As you looked at the new Idea Book & Catalog, did you make a list?  Are you nodding your head?  Have you been waiting for a special to try Decor Elements?  Want some new Big Shot products?  If so,...WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!

Have a blessed weekend!  I'll see you again on Monday.  I've got to go check out the other Blogger's Challenge ladies -- talk about a group of uber-talented women....I'm not certain how I got into this group, but I want to make sure they don't kick me out!

The Cards Are Winning!

Yes they are!  And it's a good thing because we can't make 1,000+ cards if we don't have the supplies cut and ready to go. Here's the tag that I promised to share with you and this was sent to me by the uber-talented Wendy Affleck.  Thanks Wendy!

Wendy chose some fabulous colors to work with her Designer Series Papers. I love that she stamped on the DSP and then used punches to pop them out.  Notice the color smash in the background to tone down the Whisper White?  Love the colors and how fresh this card is when you see it.  This is not a card I would ever come up with on my own and I love that in sharing with other demos, we get all types of styles of cards.  It makes me want to think outside my little style box. 

I'm sharing a couple of cards that we'll be making at the Ronald McDonald Event.  Okay, so we have until next Saturday and you won't have to see these cards anymore -- bear with me.  Right now, I'm consumed with this event but it is for a good cause.

The first card uses paper that was donated to me by my fabulous SIL - Laura.  Laura is a special case -- she NEVER makes the same card twice and she is coming to help make cards on Saturday, August 7.  This is a supreme sacrifice for her because she will have to make multiples of the same card and that hurts her -- trust me!  She makes cards for every darned occasion and I'm jealous -- I don't do cards for Fourth of July or Halloween, or other "holidays" unless Blogger's Challenge forces me to.  But she is super creative and I was bound and determined I was using this "ugly" paper to craft a pretty card.

What do you think?  I pulled out all of the colors and tried to blend them.  I'm fairly satisfied with the results.  The sentiment is from Well Scripted and I used the Three Heart Punch to get the hearts.  The smallest of the hearts in the trio is on the inside of the card.

The final share for today is a very simple sketch.  I've been pulling out all my sketches that I've saved throughout the year and I'm very glad I created my own sketch books from the challenges I've done.  I have two 2" binders full of sketches -- perhaps I should check them more often...

  

I adore this sentiment.  It fits so many situations and it is one I've used frequently.  The set is Hope Happens and as soon as I saw it, I knew I would make it a member of my ever growing stamp collection. This paper is gentle and serene to me and I love the colors. 

Tomorrow is Blogger's Challenge -- look for something in black and white with whatever color I choose to accent.  Don't know where I'm going with this one YET but when I sit down this afternoon in the stamp room, I'm hoping God has a plan!

Have a blessed Thursday!

Another Day, Another Card...

I have card kits stashed in all of my secret places.  We will definitely have the supplies to get 1,000 cards made on Saturday, August 7, at the Card Benefit for the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus.  I guess I'm setting my sights just a bit higher at this point, but we will see what happens!

I know I promised you a picture of the tag I received, but I'm reneging.  Andy is here and I just did not get the opportunity to get the card photographed.  I treated he and Thom to a seafood dinner last night and while they dined, I ate salad and a baked potato.  I do not eat seafood of any kind and these two were just sucking it up.  At least they were happy when the meal was done!

Here are two more pictures using the same paper that I used yesterday. 

Because I have so much of this paper, this card will have a version that says "Happy Anniversary", a version that says "I'm Sorry" and a version that says "Friend to Friend".  Those will all be outside sentiments and each one is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, one of our most versatile sets.  The inside of this particular card looks like this:

It's called Word Play and I love it.  Kind of says "Let's get together!"  I'm thinking that when your child is at the Ronald McDonald House, you might have one parent staying at the House to be near your child at the hospital, while the other parent is at home working in order to maintain some sort of budget.  While I know the other parent will also be visiting the hospital and the house, I have a feeling that parents don't get to spend too much time together and perhaps this card will be appropriate.  Hopefully, you follow my thinking. 

The "I'm Sorry" version will include a verse from the sentiment set Hard to Say which is one of my very favorite sets.  It was new last year and it was one of the first sets I purchased.  The inside of that card will read, "You know that thing I said?  I wish I hadn't.  I'm sorry."  I know that when I'm stressed, words come out of my mouth even as I'm trying to pull them back and then I feel horrible afterward.  There can't be too much more stress than praying, hoping and wishing that your child is healed from all sickness and disease.  I'm willing to bet that other people are just like me and have said things while under this type of stress that they wish they hadn't. 

The final version of this card, "Friend to Friend" will have an inside sentiment that reads, "Sometimes the only thing making life's darkest moments bearable is having someone by your side reminding you that it will be okay.  Thank you for being that kind of friend."  Perfect!

And the last card I've crafted from this paper is this one.

I love black, khaki and white together and I think that is why this grouping of paper just really spoke to me.   Simple, easy to put together and classy -- or at least that is what I think!

Here's the inside of this one.

Did I mention that I'm a font ho too? If the font is pretty and I like the verse, the stamp is a MUST HAVE.  Can you guess how many MUST HAVE's I must have in my stash?  Don't even try -- just know that the number is a large one!  Thank goodness I have lots of storage space for sentiment stamps, and line stamps, and solid stamps, and background stamps, and....  Well, you get the picture!

Tomorrow, I promise to show you a card I received and whatever else I get to take pictures of this afternoon.  And Friday is Blogger's Challenge.  I didn't play last week, but I definitely am playing this week.  Our challenge is to use Black and White and any other color -- I have to be able to come up with something for that challenge!

Please say a prayer again for Julie -- her surgery is upcoming.  We are praying that they are able to remove all of the tumor, that it is benign, and that she has a quick, complete recovery with no complications.  Please also include a prayer for my father, Phil, who is having biopsies taken on August 6.  We are praying that his biopsies all return benign, that no radiation is needed, and that he has no complications and a complete and speedy recovery.  Thanks bunches and God Bless!

Cards, Cards and More Cards!

I think I'm creating myself dry!  Not really, but I'm continuing to put together card kits and am trying to use my supplies in such a way that when someone grabs a kit to make those cards, they don't have to wait on an inkpad or the Big Shot or whatever the supply might be.  I'm finding that I really use my StazOn Timber Brown and Chocolate Chip pads moreso than any of the others as I have to keep getting up and pulling it out of the packet it is already assigned to.  I think I'm going to have to come up with another plan and it is swirling around in my brain as I type.

Here are more cards I put together yesterday.  I loved this paper and decided that it seems somewhat masculine so I really went with it. I think these cards will be able to go male or female.

Clean and Simple, Super Easy!  I love this one!  I really didn't want to have to bring the Whisper White and Very Vanilla craft pads, but they've made the list now.  I will never get rid of Heartfelt Thanks even thought it has retired.  I use the Heartfelt portion of this set all the time.  I've used it for Christmas, for Thinking of You, for Praying for You...it's an all around loved sentiment, perfect for this card.  I'm leaving the inside blank so a personal note can be written. If I were to stamp a sentiment, it might not be the right one.  This way, whatever is in your heart can be written on the inside and you can personalize this card.

Here's another using the same set of papers.

I cut the paper wrong and ended up with a width of 3 3/4" and I was determined that I was using this paper.  Here's the result of that happy accident!

Yes, I realize the flower is black, but it works with the paper and it is just an image after all.  I like it, I have the supplies and this is going to the event.  If no one can bring themselves to stamp it at the event, I'll do it at home.  However, that black flower doesn't bother me at all -- it's kind of like creative license, you know?

The sentiment is perfect though!  And since it is a clear mount, no need to have to resort to the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig! 

I'll be back at it tomorrow and I received a gorgeous tag from one of the ladies in my tagging group.  You'll see it tomorrow as well as some more cards created with this paper kit.

Have a fabulous Tuesday!  God Bless!

Watercolor Trio - Retired Colors

Yep, still working on cards for the Central Ohio Ronald McDonald House Card Benefit.  It appears we will have a very successful event if sign-ups are any indication.  Here's a card using more of my retired cardstock (Lord -- I think it's breeding!).

I have always loved Sage Shadow and I am getting down to the bottom of this stack.  I love the Watercolor Trio set from the mini and decided I would use it because I just needed to stamp with something that wasn't retired.

I inked up the stamp in Sage Shadow and stamped down the left hand side of the card, not reinking between impressions.  You're seeing first, second and third generation stamping here.

Next, I cut a Very Vanilla panel and stamped the first image in Sage Shadow ink after stamping off a couple of times.  I inked the floral stamp with my Sage Shadow and Pale Plum markers, using my Close to Cocoa marker for the dots, and then stamped the image.  I mounted this on a Pale Plum mat and added the Sage Shadow ribbon.

I used another retired stamp sentiment and stamped this in Sage Shadow.  I chose not to use the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig and should have, but again, this is a hand-stamped card and it isn't perfect -- just has a lot of love and prayer added!

I have to remember that the gals who come to help on August 7 may be beginning stampers and it is important to me that they have immediate success.  All of the card templates being used are easy, simple and clean.  I know that some of the gals who come will be more experienced stampers and I am hopeful they don't get frustrated.  My other goal is that these cards need to be able to mail for one stamp -- when your child is critically ill, you don't want to have to worry about finding an additional .20 stamp for a card that is too thick or too bulky.  You want to get the right card in the mail with one stamp and get back to caring for your child.  Thankfully, I've never had a critically ill child and if I can use my card making hobby as a way to help those who do, then I will make cards from sun-up to sun-down!

God Bless those of you who have donated cards and those of you who are coming to help -- I am so indebted to you for sharing your time and talents with us in whatever way you are able.  Have a fabulous day -- see you on Tuesday! 

Benefit for Ronald McDonald House

Here's another card I designed for the benefit on August 7.  I want to use as many retired sets and colors as possible because I have so many, but I do make many cards and give them away.  As a result, the retired paper is A-okay with me.

I used a base of Sage Shadow, which is one of my favorite colors and I'm rapidly approaching the bottom of my paper stack.  I used a retired wheel with a Handsome Hunter ink cell  -- I love this wheel!  I've never ever gotten rid of a wheel because there are so many uses for them and they are simple to use!

Next, I cut a piece of Handsome Hunter cardstock and then a layer of Very Vanilla cardstock.

I used another retired set, Close As a Memory, which is one of my absolute, all-time favorites.  In order to keep things as simple as possible and to have the most kits ready for stampers, I am trying to keep colors on each card to a minimum.  As a result, I stamped the image in Handsome Hunter onto Very Vanilla cardstock and mounted this on the Handsome Hunter cardstock layer.  This was added to the card with dimensionals after stamping the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Simple, Easy and Pretty! How do you like that ink smudge?  I groaned deeply when I realized I had done it, but this card is the sample in the package and it is a hand-made card.  Nothing says hand-made more than an ink smudge! 

Tomorrow is Blogger's Challenge and our theme is recycled.  I've got ideas, but nothing has happened yet.  Tune in tomorrow to see what I can come up with -- and pray today that my fingers will work with the instruction from my brain!  God Bless You!

Guest Designer and Shamless Bribe!

Well, today you are in for a treat!  The Fabulous Francie Holdren, aka "my dear friend" has been at it again!  She cannot be at the Card Benefit for the Ronald McDonald House so she is donating cards.  She told me to go through them and "toss the ones that aren't good enough!"  AS IF THERE WOULD BE ANY NOT GOOD ENOUGH!  AS IF I WOULD TOSS A HANDMADE CARD!  Judge for yourself!

Is that crab the cutest thing ever?  I will admit that I thought about keeping this and sending to my nephew, Braydon, for his birthday.  HE WOULD LOVE THIS!  The eyeballs just make it for me and the way she cut out the cloud and popped it on here is adorable.  And as for the flower pot card -- this is what you call Clean and Simple -- Simply Adorable!  I love these cards and all the others she donated.  You're certain to see more of them as I busy myself getting ready for the event and classes and workshops I have upcoming.  Not only is she a fabulous stamper, she is one of God's own children and it shows -- so unselfish and so supportive and loving to everyone.  She is what I call "Good People" and I have so many stamping friends that fall into this category. 

So, I haven't seen the Press Release in the paper and I really want to get the word out about this event to as many people as I can.  I had some great ideas today which I will put into place, but they don't get cards made for my blog.  Here's is one of the shameless bribes I put together yesterday to BEG people to come and help in our goal of 1,000 cards.

If these were any easier to create, it would be a crime to call them hand-made.  The white behind the chocolate is a small flier plugging the event.  I'm asking everyone I hand them out to if they aren't interested in crafting and helping, to please accept the chocolate as my bribe for them to pass the flier on to someone who might be interested in helping.  Shameless?  Yes.  Results?  Yes!  It was created with the Petal Card Die and my Big Shot.  I did 12 of them in about 20 minutes and used old ribbon I've been hanging onto.  Do you get the idea I'm a hoarder?  Someday you're going to see my horrified face on that hoarding show -- wait and see!  Just so long as my hubby doesn't enter me on that show about being the worst cook on the planet...

So, I'm off to make more kits.  I think Pat may be over to help again today and she just quietly works away (I almost feel guilty!) while I can't keep my mouth shut.  It isn't often I allow anyone into my stamp room and I've sworn her to secrecy about where my stashes are stored. 

And one more thing:  Say a prayer today and in the upcoming days for Julie and her two children.  She is facing surgery on August 4 to remove a mass in her brain and she's a single mom.  Please say a prayer that this is a benign mass and that she receives complete healing.  Please also pray that her children are comforted and that God grants this entire family peace in the upcoming months as they deal with this issue.  Thanks bunches!  Our God is a good God and He performs miracles today just as when He was walking this earth.  His word is as alive today as when He said it and I know the power of praying His words back to Him.  God Bless You and Yours!

CASE - Copy and Share Everything

I use acronyms that I think most stampers are quite familiar with but I also try to make certain I'm letting you know what it means...just in case.  CASE means Copy and Share Everything and in most cases, you'll find that Stampin' Up! Demos share everything willingly!

Funny story -- Thom sees me getting and sending mail with "RAK" written on the front or back of it.  I explained that RAK means Random Act of Kindness and that I'm sending a card because someone has requested a card shower, because someone is having trouble or "Just because".  While we were in Seattle on vacation, we were talking about something and he said, "If we did that, it would be a RAK" and went on conversing as if it was nothing.  I practically dropped my teeth -- the man used a stamping term and it wasn't said in any kind of snide manner or with teasing at all.  There is hope yet!

I am casing the August issue of Stampin' Success today.  As demos, we receive this free publication (which I would gladly subscribe to!) that has tons of ideas for cards, scrapbooks, projects, 3D, Home Decor and more.  It's packed full -- I never get rid of them but keep them all tucked away for when I want inspiration.  If I never had an original card idea again, it wouldn't matter because there are so many ideas on the demo website and in Stampin' Success, as well as on Stampin' Connection, a demo sharing site hosted by Stampin' Up! that I could CASE like crazy.  This was on the August cover, but I've changed the colors and added a couple of my own touches.

This is a set I really like but haven't inked much.  The background is Pink Pirouette.  I random stamped in Pink Pirouette with the flower from All You Do.  Notice I didn't do a fantastic job but it still looks okay.  I think I need to re-ink the pad and will get that done later today.  I cut a layer of Rose Red and added a torn edged Certainly Celery layer.  Next, I stamped the dots in Certainly Celery on Whisper White cardstock and then stamped the stem in Certainly Celery as well.

I stamped the flowers on Whisper White in Rose Red ink and fussy cut them out.  The larger two blooms are added with dimensionals and the smaller two are just glued right onto the cardstock.  I added the rhinestone centers and colored the smaller centers with my So Saffron marker.  I tied a knot in my Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon before adhering it to my card.  Once the ribbon was attached, I added the top panel.  The sentiment is stamped in Rose Red ink and as you can see, it's another Thank You card.  Heaven knows I need bunches of these!

I'm off to put together some more card kits for the Ronald McDonald Card event.  Would LUV to see you there!

Have a fabulous Tuesday and may God richly bless you!

Clean and Simple 10 Minute Card

I'm frantically looking for my new In Color Pads.  They have disappeared and I didn't realize it until I reached for them today.  So....I'll have to pray about this and see if God can find them for me -- just color me frustrated and clueless at this point!

I had an idea in my mind and wanted to create it in Cherry Cobbler but when I went looking for paper, Melon Mambo and Regal Rose were together -- very pretty combination.  I wasn't certain what Regal Rose would bleach down to and here's the result.

The basecard is Melon Mambo.  I cut the Regal Rose layer and stamped it in Melon Mambo ink with En Francais.  Nothing says love like the French, right? 

Next, I used an aqua painter that I keep filled with bleach to color the image from Water Color Trio.  I stamped the panel, repeating the process three times.  Now I am wondering how it would look to try just second and third generation bleach stamping, but I didn't think of it while sitting at my table.  Something new to try....  It bleached down to Very Vanilla so I stamped my sentiment on a textured Very Vanila panel in Melon Mambo Ink and punched it out with the Large Heart Punch.  This sentiment is from Well Scripted.  Once my heart was punched, I added it to the basecard with dimensionals.  Simple and it took about 7 minutes!  I like those every now and then.

Still working on the cards for the Ronald McDonald House event on August 7.  I am very fortunate that I have stampers who are helping as well.  A HUGE SHOUT OUT to Pat Palmer and Francie Holdren for helping to put the kits together, and for their donation of some fabulous cards.  I'll be showcasing some of them later this week.

If you love Designer Series Papers like I love Designer Series Papers, read on.  I'm doing a Paper Share!  How's that work?  I'm ordering all of the Designer Series Papers that Stampin' Up! is offering in the new Idea Book and Catalog and am offering them in 6x6 shares.  You'll get 96 pieces of 6x6 paper, along with a template that will show you how to create six cards using only one piece of DSP, but you will have to add solid color cardstock as well.  The cost is $25 and I've only got two shares left.  This does not include the Printed Pattern Packs, but I'm doing a share with them as well for larger pieces and the cost is the same.  If you are interested in the details of either share, please email me and I'll give you the details.  I've ordered the paper, am anxiously awaiting delivery, and once I receive it, I'll turn the shares around and get them sent within 5 days, if not sooner.  That's a lot of paper to cut!  But, you'll have a piece of every designer series paper and that includes the specials too -- it's a fabulous deal if you like DSP and don't want to buy it all yourself.  Shipping, if you aren't local, will be via priority mail and is $4.90.

If you haven't committed your calendar date of August 7, consider joining us at the John McIntire Library in Muskingum County.  Our goal is 1,000 cards for the Central Ohio Ronald McDonald House and we are already well on our way with the donations we've received to date.  No stamping experience is necessary...all supplies provided...door prizes...ages 16 and up only please.  Card kits will provide everything you need and if you need to learn, we'll be happy to show you how to stamp and make some great cards for a fabulous cause!  Come when you can, leave when you must -- we'll be working from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and we'd love for you to share your talent with us for this very worthy cause!

Have a blessed day!  See you tomorrow!

Bloggers Challenge - Sketch Challenge

I am surprised these ladies haven't kicked me off the list since I've haven't participated in the past three weeks.  I'm glad they didn't because I love the creativity of this group!

Today, we had a sketch challenge.  Let's see if I can get a copy to magically appear in this post:

  Here is what I saw in this sketch and it came to me pretty darned quick.

I was "creating" a month or so ago and played with some cardstock vellum because I couldn't find all my glossy cardstock (yep, I have a God's plenty, but I couldn't locate the first sheet!).  This was the result of my Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango and Melon Mambo reinker splash technique.  I hated it at the time but I just couldn't throw it away.  I tossed it to the side and just kept looking at it, determined that I could fix it.  Well, shimmer mist to the rescue!  Isn't it true that everything looks better with some bling?  You can't see it because I can't photo it that well -- and as far as that photoing getting better...fugghedaboutit.  I spend my time stamping -- not trying to figure out the camera!

I started with a Pacific Point base and added a layer of Whisper White which was texturized through the Big Shot with the Polka Dots Embossing Folder.  Next, I cut my vellum down and stamped the focal imagefrom For All You Do in Pacific Point and mounted this to a Melon Mambo mat.  I added this to the card with regular adhesive.  I stamped the words in Pacific Point, used my 1 3/8 Circle Punch to punch out the words, and matted them on a Pacific Point Punched Circle Scallop.  Of course I popped this up with dimensionals.  I'm going through withdrawl big time always trying to make these cards that are flat so they can be mailed for 44 cents -- I'm working on it -- not cured!

I added a Whisper White panel on the inside and embellished the piece with some small flowers stamped in Pacific Point.  I'll use this card for writing a personal message.  I love these colors together and am not certain if this is related to something in my hormones or what -- but brights are the choice this week!

Off to do some more stamping!  Enjoy your day and show someone some love -- they'll wonder what you're up to for sure!  God Bless!