Constantly Stamping

Timeless Beau Chateau

I have a lot of people tell me that they are paper collectors. They purchase designer series papers and then never even open them because they are "too pretty to mess up". Typically when I order DSP for myself, I open the packages right away, cut one sheet of each pattern in half, and then cut one of those halves in half. That gives me a 6"x6" square of each pattern that I can use without feeling guilty. That being said, I realized the other day that I had several unopened packages of DSP sitting on the shelf. Eeeeek! What was I thinking? I guess I was in "clean up" mode and put them away without taking out my traditional 6-inch squares. Once I realized my grevious error, I got them all back out and completed my ritual. Whew!

I was inspired immediately to create this card using the Timeless Portrait DSP and Beau Chateau Side Note. This was a "no stamp" card, but it wasn't exactly quick. I really debated whether to add the pearls and roses, or just leave it simple. As you can see, the feminine side of me won the argument and I blinged it up with pearls and satin roses (retired).  Wow, its only September and I have my Valentine's Day card ready.

 

CASEing Kittie Caracciolo

By now you probably know that I strive to be true to my Stampin' Up! heritage, but that doesn't mean I don't look at some of the beautiful non-SU things out there. Every once in a while I see something that I love and I think, "I bet I can make that". Such is the case with this card by Kittie Caracciolo. I especially love the way she makes many of her cards look like they are picture frames. I decided to see if I could achieve a similar effect by using all Stampin' Up! products. I think it turned out rather well.

I started with an Old Olive card base. I stamped the background with the Parlor Prints background stamp (#122525). I also distressed the edges and then sponged on more Old Olive ink. For the top layers I used a piece of Old Olive CS (approx. 4 3/8"x3 1/8") and used the Framed Tulips embossing folder on Very Vanilla CS to create the frame (approx. 4 1/4"x3") and sponged on more ink. I cut the center of the frame out and backed it with another piece of Old Olive CS that I embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder (#119976).

Kittie likes to use an evergreen punch on many of her creations, so I substituted one of the snowflakes from the Northern Frost Decorative Strip Die (#120901) and cut out several pieces different colors of green card stock. I die cut two flowers from Paisley Petals DSP (#122367) with the Fun Flowers die (#121812). I finished off the flower with a button from the Holly Berry Bouquet collection (#125636) found in the Holiday Mini catalog. The greeting is from the Perfectly Penned stamp set (#122890w/122892c) stamped in Old Olive ink on Very Vanilla card stock. I added basic pearls colored with a peach permanent marker to the button center and on the frame. In the end, this card isn't all that difficult, but it does have quite a few steps. You can purchase all the supplies you need for this card at my online store. Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Falling Leaves Emboss Resist

Typically you won't see me making cards that are "messy" to create. I honestly don't like dragging out all of my supplies and getting knuckle deep in ink and then having to put everything back up again. So why did I do it with this card? Well, I have been enrolled in an online technique class with stamp artist extrodinare, Jennifer McQuire. Let me tell you, she is one talented gal, but oh my word, the project we are making in class requires just about every stamp supply I have ever purchased and then some.

I was just playing around with several embossing techniques when I created this strip of embossed resist that I really liked, so I decided to turn it into a card. I really love the Falling Leaves set from the Holiday Mini catalog. This is a two-step stamp set, so I used one of the leaf outlines and stamped several times on glossy card stock with Basic Black craft ink and then heat embossed it with black embossing powder. Then I used sponge daubers to sponge More Mustard, Old Olive, and Cherry Cobbler classic ink all over. After the ink had dried, I used a VersaMarker pen to color over each leaf and then I heat embossed just the leaves with clear embossing powder. The results were so pretty. I love how just the leaves are even glossier than the background paper.

I also used the oval frame from the new Designer Frames embossing folder set in the catalog. I've seen several other demonstrators tear the edges of the frame, so I decided to give it a try...LOVE IT! I stamped a greeting from the Blessings from Heaven set in Basic Black ink and punched it out with the Wide Oval punch. I sponged the edges of everything with More Mustard ink and assembled it. I had a leaf left-over so I trimmed it out and used it as an embellishment. To add balance to the card I colored three half-back pearls with a red Sharpie marker and added them to the lower right corner. As an after thought, I threaded some Linen Thread through the tiny holes on a Vintage Trinket brad and added it to the sentiment with a Mini Glue dot.

Hope you have enjoyed todays card. If you don't have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I would love have your business. You can purchase all of today's supplies on my on-line store by clicking the "shop 24/7" button in the top righthand corner of my blog. Thanks...and happy stamping!

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Place Cards

A few weeks ago I got a phone call from a friend who lives in my neighborhood. Great news...her son is getting married. Not so great news...she desperately needed help with the place cards for the rehearsal dinner that was only a few weeks away. You see, they had purchased the rehearsal dinner invitations online, but were sad to learn that there wasn't a coordinating place card. So after getting my hands on the invitation and a discussion about exactly what they were looking for, I was able to lend my assistance.

Our bride was looking for traditional elegance with a modern twist. I used My Digital Studio to create the table tent and the medallion centers. I made a run to the craft store and purchased several sheets of black scrapbook paper that has thin gold stripes. When I paired that with the brushed gold cardstock, it was the perfect hint of elegance. In the close up above, you can see where I added two tiny pearls for the final touch that took this project over the top.

With the rehearsal dinner only a few days away, I am thrilled to report that I finished everything last night. This is a large dinner with sixty guests, so it wasn't exactly a small task, but it was certainly doable. I even made several extra medallions for them to use in various ways with the table decorations and such.

I have enjoyed making these so much, that I have decided to turn this into a small side business. So if you are having a wedding and need custom decorations and favors, then please contact me for a quote.

Sweet Floral Bouquet Card

When I first saw the Sweet Floral background stamp (#122855) in the catalog, it was love at first sight. I adore this beautiful stamp. I knew that I loved the image, but honestly this thing is really big and can be a little intimidating to work with. I have seen some beautiful, simple cards made with this stamp, but you know me...I just had to be different. Not that this card is difficult, it is actually fairly easy to make, but it is time consuming due to all the cutting!

To create this card, I stamped the main image once on Crumb Cake card stock with Chocolate Chip ink. I stamped it again on Pretty in Pink CS and trimmed out the flowers for the bottom layer. Then I stamped it again several times (5-6) on Blushing Bride CS, cut them all out and layered the flowers over and over again until it had the look of a floral bouquet. I used dimensionals to give some lift between the layers. Then I sponged some Chocolate Chip ink around the edges and mounted everything on some Chocolate Chip CS.

 

I know for one thing for sure, I won't be making a ton of these, but for someone very special, this card is definitely worth every minute.

Holiday Mini Catalog Is Now Online!

  
 
Today is September 1st and you know what that means...the new Holiday Mini Catalog is here and it is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! I personally think this is one of the best holiday catalogs ever! Stampin' Up! gives demonstrators the opportunity to purchase items one month in advance, and let me tell you, I had a difficult time restraining myself. I wanted practically one of everything and I know you will too, so be sure to check it out. You can download a pdf of the new catalog here.

 

I was recently asked to participate in a Holiday Mini swap and this is what I made. Aren't these little stocking adorable? They are made using the new Bigz L Holiday Stocking Die (#124098) and the Stocking Accents Die (124099). I used some Frostwood Lodge DSP (124002), some Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green card stock, and the new Snow Burst Texture Impressions Embossing Folder (#124096).

I turned the top of the card into a flap so that you can open it and insert a gift card (or money) and then close it. In order to keep it closed, I used a really cool new product from Scotch called Removable Clear Mounting Squares. They are much more attractive than velcro and they are tacky enough to keep the flap shut over and over. The tree embellishment is made with the Stocking Accents die. I embossed it and added some rhinestones that I colored with a red Sharpie marker.

I didn't have enough of any one paper to make all the stockings alike, so I used several different combinations of DSP and card stock. I love the gingham holly leaves on this one...so much fun. I sponged the edges of everything with Chocolate Chip ink to give it an aged, country Christmas feel. I even inked the bakers twine (#123125) with some Chocolate Chip ink. Get started on Christmas early this year. Head on over to my online store to get everything you need to make these fun gift card holders.

Stamp Sets: Tiny Tags; Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, & Whisper White CS; Frostwood Lodge DSP; Ink: Chocolate Chip & Cherry Cobbler; Accessories: Holiday Stocking & Stocking Accents Die, Snow Burst Embossing Folder, Rhinestones, Bakers Twine, Jewelry Tag & Scallop Edge Border Punch, Regals Designer Buttons, Dimensionals; Other: Scotch Removable Clear Mounting Squares , Red Sharpie Marker.