Make Mine Stamps

Birthday Thank Yous!

You may remember that I posted the birthday card I created for Andy for his 18th.  And I was right -- the card didn't mean a thing, but he loved the contents!  He opened the envelope, did not so much as glance at the card, but opened it up to find his gift.  Do I know my child or what?

He did mention that he liked the colors, but I knew that too -- Green and White.  This is the card I created for him to send his Thank Yous.  I am happy to say the cards were mailed the Tuesday after his Saturday birthday -- at least he was on top of getting them out! 

I started with a base card of Whisper White and layered on a Glorious Green front.  I first put this front card through my Big Shot using the Cuttlebug folder "Swiss Dots" (my favorite -- thank you Laura!).  Next I cut a layer of Whisper White and pierced it top and bottom.  I used a layer of Glorious Green to wheel the swirled star background in Craft Whisper White and then added this to the Whisper White layer.  All of this was then adhered to the card.  Finally, I stamped the sentiment "Thank You" on the bottom in Whisper White craft ink.

Okay, I'm cranked and ready -- I get to view and order the new catalog sneak peeks tonight after midnight!  You can bet I'll be expediting that order so I can have some new toys to play with this week.  I cannot wait -- I'm ready for some new stuff!  And since I've got to make room in an already stuffed scrap room, remember to mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 1 -- that is when you can get your free copy of the new catalog, make some projects using new sets, have some munchies and take a dive into the treasure chest.  I'll also have some surprises but you won't know what those are unless you come and see for yourself.  The time is 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and you can drop by whenever you want during that time.  If you know some folks who like to stamp or scrap, bring them along and earn more trips through the treasure chest -- the more the merrier!

Enjoy your day and be a blessing to someone who needs you!

So Long Baha Breeze!

I'm not sure how you feel about the In Colors, but I love them!  Baja Breeze has been one of my favorites and I especially love it with the Parisian Breeze Designer Series Papers.  Keep in mind that all of your current In Colors are retiring on June 30, never to be seen again!  If you need any cardstock, ink pads or refills, buttons, ribbon or any of the other In Color items, let me know!

As I look around my stamp room, I see way too much cardstock, designer series papers, ribbon, buttons, etc. in the In Colors and I'm going to make a concentrated effort to use them up.  After all, I can't order more after June 30 and I'm certain to fall in love with the new In colors debuting July 1!

With that in mind, I created this card for a Diva Coffee Break Design Sketch Challenge.   I started with a base card of Kraft cardstock (this card measures 5 x 7).  I layered on a piece of the Parisian Breeze floral cardstock.  Next, I used the scalloped notes in Baja Breeze and cut this in half.  I used the Pick A Petal Brass Stencil (pg 186) and pierced the scallop around.  Next, I used the stencil to emboss the circles in each actual scallop.  This stencil is amazing and I didn't have to use a light box -- super easy!  I cut a piece of Kraft cardstock 7" across and pierced it top and bottom.  I tied the Baja Breeze striped grosgrain ribbon around the kraft piece and adhered it to my basecard.  Next, I added adhesive only to the top of the scallop and slipped it in underneath the kraft strip.  Using the trio heart punch, I punched hearts out of scraps of the Parisian Breeze DSP and attached them using adhesive and some mounting tape.  Finally, I stamped the sentiment from Wagon Full of Fun from the current mini in Chocolate Chip Ink.  This couldn't have been easier!

I really like this sketch and will probably use it again.  It rather lends itself to a larger card though, but comes together easily, especially when using DSP.

Keep in mind that on Monday, June 1, the Limited Time Only list is coming out.  If there is a set you have been watching and you find it on this list (I'll be emailing my customers), don't wait!  Seriously, once these sets sell out, they are gone!

Also, remember to mark your calendars for July 1 -- New Catalog Unveiling!  Stop over and enjoy making some free projects you are sure to love, eat some munchies, get some freebies and see what is new in the Stampin' Up! world in your complimentary copy of the new catalog.  There are sure to be some fun surprises but you won't know unless you drop in, so make time between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to drop on by!

Enjoy this weekend and rest -- we always make up for a three day weekend by cramming 5 days of work into 4.  Don't get me wrong -- LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a three day weekend, but by Friday of the following week, I'm exhausted!

Hugs to you all and many blessings!

What can you do with this?

I've been playing with several techniques that fascinate me for the past couple of weeks.  As a result, I've got some "starts" as my upline calls them sitting around waiting for me to figure out how to use them.  And, because of Andy's birthday, the holiday and life happening all around me, I wasn't able to summon any creative juices.  So, here is one of those cards I created as I was working back into my stamping mojo.  I have several cards I'm happy with to share with you over the next week, but I still haven't found the time to get them photographed.  So, don't despair -- some good ones are in the pipeline.

This is a technique called "ReInker Splash" and it's one we will be learning in June at my Technique Classes.  I love the technique, but I've been trying to do something new and exciting with it.  I crated this piece and wasn't crazy about how it turned out so I decided to stamp on the cardstock in Versamark and emboss it with clear embossing powder.  Next, I brayered Night of Navy all over the cardstock and then I cut out the flower (from Flower Fancy).  It isn't awful, but it isn't what I thought it would be either. 

This card started with a Night of Navy base.  I randomly stamped the small flower from Flower Fancy in Whisper White Craft Ink on the upper portion of the card.  Next, I cut and scalloped a piece of Bashful Blue cardstock, piercing it before I wrapped a piece of Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon around it and adhered this to my card base,  I popped the flower onto dimensionals and attached it to my card.  Then, because I couldn't help myself, I painted the small flowers you can see with iridescent ice nail polish to give them some pop.  They really do sparkle in real life. 

Now to give you an idea of how BLAH the cards are I created the first day I was able to stamp last weekend, Thom's comment to all of them was "Hmm."  I got nothing else and that translates to "I am not impressed."  I guess we all have those days and I take them with a grain of salt. Truthfully, the more you stamp, the better you become.  I'm back to stamping almost daily and that is when I am happiest.  I am hopeful I'll have time to stamp this weekend as well since the weather is supposed to be a bit iffy on Saturday and Sunday.

Monday, I will be placing an order for the New Idea Book sneak peeks!  I'm expediting this order because I want it all and I want it NOW -- I'm a woman!  However, my one complimentary copy of the new catalog will be IN THE ORDER!  Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!  Mark your calendar for July 1 (the original date was July 11, but somwhere we were given a bum steer on that date) as I will be having a new catalog unveiling!  Time is 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and there will be make and takes, dives into the treasure chest, munchies and more!  You'll receive a flyer about this event and I hope you will be able to come!  There is nothing better than seeing new stamps, papers and inks -- and I hope to have plenty of samples to share with you!

See you tomorrow and I pray you have a blessed day!

Time to use that DSP!

I realize that I'm a paper hoarder and feel guilty for using it ALL the time, but then I feel guilty if I don't save it!  I'm also realistic enough to know that all the DSP I have in my larder that contains the 2009 In Colors is soon to be retired and I need to use it up.  So, here's a quickie card that used some of the Good Morning Sunshine DSP and the Cheep Talk stamp set.

I should probably also tell you that I have hoards of chipboard too!  So, I decided I had to do something with some chipboard and here was the result.  Clean and simple, but certainly not a favorite!

I started with a base of Kiwi Kiss and punched squares with the 1 1/4" square punch.  I adhered them to the base.  Next, I used my Summer Sun craft ink spot to ink the Sunflower flower outside and embossed it with Glassy Glaze embossing powder.  I did the same with the sunflower circle, using Chocolate Chip craft ink.  Once they were both cool, I mounted them on the card with mounting tape.  I stamped the sentiment from the Cheep Talk set in the Summer Sun squares and called this one done.

If you have ever thought you would like to have all of the Stampin' Up! inks and don't want to spend the dollars for all those ink pads, consider the spots.  I have all of the craft spots, as well as the re-inkers and use them a great deal.  It's a very easy way to purchase a complete set of "inks" and spots, regular or craft, work just like the regular ink pads.

I was able to get some stamping in yesterday and I actually have some mojo back.  I didn't have time to photograph the cards, but you'll see them in the upcoming days.  Thanks so much for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

Hmmmmm...

I didn't find any time to stamp yesterday but once I get off work today, I'm stamping and that is my final answer!  This was one of those cards I worked on over the weekend when I did have some time to stamp.  It didn't come out of my fingers as my brain told it how it should look, but it was a jumping point for one of the cards we will be doing in my Technique Groups.

As you may know, although I love paper, I hate to always rely on patterned paper for my cards.  I feel like I'm "copping out" if I always grab patterned paper.  I am trying to get better about making my own backgrounds and using the supplies that I have everyday. 

This card starts with a base card of Gable Green.  I stamped an open flower from Flower Fancy on a Tempting Turquoise background using my Versamark pad.  Next, I cut a panel from a background I created using Gable Green, Apricot Appeal and Tempting Turquise reinkers and wrapped an Apricot Appeal ribbon around this panel.  I adhered it to the Tempting Turquoise panel and then adhered this entire panel to the base card.  Next, I cut a square of Glossy White and stamped the grass from the dormant set Inspired by Nature in Green Galore.  I mounted this on an Apricot Appeal mat and adhered this to the base card.  I recently purchased Heat and Stick Powder and decided to play with it a bit with chipboard and cosmic glitter.  That glitter is so bright and beautiful, but I didn't follow the directions...completely.  So, it didn't totally cover the chipboard.  In my next attempt, I will definitely follow the directions!  At any rate, I mounted the chipboard with mounting tape and adhered it to the card. 

Not a failed card -- the background did work.  However, the card design is outta here!  I'll be looking for a sketch challenge that speaks to me so I can use this technique in a class.  And, I've recently learned that some of my ladies would like to do more layering.  So, I'll see what I can come up with before we meet again!

Enjoy your day and make it God-filled!

Random Act of Kindness - RAK

You've probably heard the term Random Act of Kindness and in the stamp world, we refer to this as a RAK.  Stampers will send RAKs for any good reason -- a sunny day works!  On one of the stamping forums I belong to, a woman wrote that she had received a traveling RAK -- you receive it, sign in and put your city and state, and then send it on to someone else, who receives the same instructions.  Eventually, it will be sent to its original sender to see where the card has traveled and who it has touched.  This woman noted that her son was very distressed that he had to send the card on after he had signed it.  So, I emailed her and asked for her info and I'm sending him a card today -- he gets to keep this one!  It isn't a fabulous card, but hopefully, it will make up for him having to relinquish the card he treasured receiving!

Sorry about the glare!  I started with a base of Really Red and cut the square from the middle.  This card measures 4x4 so it was easy to figure where to cut the square.  I stamped the image from Animal Crackers onto acetate and adherd it to the back of the square.  I tried to color the acetate, but as you can see, it didn't really work well and I was in a hurry, so I let it go.  Once it was adhered, I cut a 3 3/4" square and put it over that side of the card so the acetate window would show up well.  Smile is from a retired sentiment set that I don't know if I can ever pass on -- I love the font of the words in this set and they are so easy to reach for and use for so many occasions!

I used Crystal Effects to simulate drips from the ice block and I hope that Luka gets it!  Hopefully, if he doesn't, his mom will point out to him what they are supposed to be. 

Now, I know this isn't a FAB card; however, when you are his age, just getting mail is a big deal.  Until I can really get into my room and stamp for an extended period of time, this will have to do.  I know it will brighten his day because his name is the one going on the envelope.

Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend and that you are rested for the remainder of the week!  Enjoy!

Good News!

Well, I got the answering machine message late Friday when I walked into the bedroom -- my MRI was clear!  Nothing like finding out on the 8th anniversary of your mastectomy that the MRI is clear!  Praise God!

I apologize for not posting in so long.  Andy is here to celebrate his 18th birthday and we had a blast with my family.  He received gift cards and cash -- what better gifts! -- and he has already spent all of his Kohl's gift cards on clothes.  (God is smiling on me these days!)  He even bought ... GASP...DRESS CLOTHES!  He bought plaid shorts versus sports shorts.  He bought sports shorts too, but this is a first and I'm lovin' it!

The worst part?  I haven't stamped in over a week and when I hit my stamping room yesterday, I had to clean up after the cyclone went through.  When I finally started stamping, I HAD NOTHING!  I lost my mojo!  The more I stamp, the more quickly the ideas come.  The less I stamp, it's like my brain goes on vacation and I can't come up with anything.  I am hopeful I can come up with something today, but I've got three days worth of ironing to do as well so we'll see if that hinders the creative process!

You've probably seen these all over the web and that is because they are easy and fun to make.  This is a quilt card, made using 1 1/4" punches and the Top Note Die.  I started with a base of Bashful Blue and ran a piece of Chocolate Chip through the Big Shot using the Texturz Plates.  You can barely see the texture -- I should have rubbed some Whisper White craft ink over this to bring out the texture, but this will have to suffice.  I punched twelve 1 1/4" squares from the retired DSP from Christmas and adhered them to a piece of Whisper White, making certain they were all glued down very solid.  My trick is to just punch the squares and cover the Whisper White with my adhesive and then place the squares.  Next, I ran this piece through the Big Shot using the Top Note Die and voila!  I adhered this to the base with mounting tape.  I used the Oval Scallop Punch to punch a piece of Tangerine Tango, stamped the sentiment from the Oval All set onto Whisper White and colored it using my inkpads and blender pens.  I turned my oval punch over so I could see proper placement for punching and punched it out.  I adhered this with mounting tape to the scallop and then used mounting tape to adhere the scallop to the front of the card.  Call that one done!

Hopefully, I'll get some things worthy of blogging stamped today.  Andy goes home this afternoon and it is always hard for me to get over him leaving.  However, his father loves him as much as I do and he has to be back for school.  He'll officially be a senior starting on June 3 and I think he can't wait!  I absolutely positively can!

Enjoy the remainder of this holiday and stay safe!

It's My Anniversary and I forgot!

Just a quick note:  It was May 22, 2001 that I had a bi-lateral mastectomy!  I was fortunate that they "got it all" and chose not to undergo chemotherapy and radiation.  I took Tamoxifen for a year and because it was causing me joint pain, I quit taking it.  So, happy anniversary to me! 

Coincidentally, yesterday I had an MRI because I am experiencing some pain underneath and below my left reconstructed breast and we are ruling out bone cancer.  I am fairly calm and trust that God has healed me of all sickness and disease and hope to find out it is scar tissue causing my pain.  However, if you believe in the power of prayer as I do, please put my name before God and ask that my results be negative for bone cancer and anything else that might be a problem.  Thank you and God Bless!

Chalkboarding

I haven't stamped all week and I'm going through serious withdrawal!  It's been a week of track meets, events with Thom, medical tests and more serious than the fact that I haven't stamped, I haven't done laundry -- it's a good thing we have enough clothes to last more than one week!  And to top it off, I pick Andy up this afternoon and we celebrate his 18th birthday tomorrow with my family -- here!  A trip to the grocery is in order and when I'll fit that in, I am not certain.

At any rate, because I haven't had time to stamp, I'm pulling out an old card to show you.  I love the simplicy of this card and it's a quick one.  Sorry that it kind of gets lost in the white space!

Chalkboarding is an easy technique and is best done when you use a solid stamp.  This image, from Christ is Born, was an easy one to use.  First, you stamp your image in Whisper White Craft Ink.  (I haven't tried it, but I would think that Very Vanilla Craft ink would give you the same effect, but might change your end color just a bit.)  Next, dip your sponge dauber into the color you want and pounce it all over your image.  The chalk sticks to the craft ink and it looks pretty cool.  Once you have this done, wipe the image with a used dryer sheet to take off the chalk around the image.  I rather liked the soft look so I omitted this step on this card.

For this card, I used a base card of black, but I think any of the dark colors would be gorgeous (Chocolate Chip, Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy, Handsome Hunter, Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant and so on).  I used the Crop A Dile to punch the centers from Brushed Gold and actually adhered them to the card using Crystal Effects.  I used our White Satin Ribbon to give the card some design and stamped my sentiment in Whisper White Craft as well.  Remember that you might want to heat set the sentiment in order to get it to dry more quickly so it doesn't rub off onto other cards. 

Wouldn't this be pretty with a Christmas plaid ribbon?  Perhaps Stampin' Up! will give us a plaid some day!

I've got to get moving if I'm going to get everything in and done this weekend.  Have a fabulous, God-filled day and stay safe this Memorial Day weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

You're On My Mind

When Baroque Motifs first hit the catalog, I fell in love with this set, but it hasn't seen much ink.  I don't know why I don't reach for it more often, but I have got to start using it more frequently.  When I do use it, I like it!

I started with a base of So Saffron (my absolute FAVE!) and used Baroque Motifs in the corners for interest.  Next, I used a piece of So Saffron DSP and used the same stamp from Baroque Motifs to add some interest to this piece.  I cut it into quarters and mounted it on Always Artichoke with mounting tape,attaching this to the base card. 

For the circle image, I stamped the grass in Mellow Moss onto the Shimmery White circle (cut with my Coluzzle).  Next, I used the Upsy Daisy set and colored it with my markers.  You may notice the splotches of brown -- my version of cattails -- I adore them!  I colored with Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, Chocolate Chip and Always Artichoke.  Once this was stamped, I mounted it onto the squares with...you guessed it -- Mounting Tape!

Finally, I stamped my sentiment in Elegant Eggplant on Shimmery White and punched it out with my Designer Label punch -- it fit perfectly into the Hodgepodge Hardware.  I used ribbon to attach this to my card.

No, not as crazy about how this turned out as it was pictured in my head, but it's okay.  And, at least it doesn't look like the last three cards!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy a blessed, God-filled day!