Family, Friends and Stampin' Up!

Horse Scrapbook Page

2010-05-18T14:26:00.000-07:00

Here is another Digital Scrapbook Page using SU!'s program. LOVE it! SU! software makes scrap booking a synch. Hope you like!
SU! software comes with everything you need to creat awesome pages. From simple, to elaborate. For this page I used the following...all included in the SU! My Digital Studio Software:
Cheap Talk digital stamped image

Corner Punches

Scallop border punches

Sunny Day Designer Series Paper

First Day of School Scrapbook pages

2010-05-17T04:44:00.000-07:00

I LOOOOOVE Stampin' Up's digital scrap booking program!!!

Hello My crafty friends!! I haven't posted in AGES! It is my 6 children that keep me so busy! I have 5 in sports right now and one of them is in two sports! Four baseball players, and my daughter plays LaCross and travel Volleyball!

Here are a couple of my first digital scrapbook pages using SU! software. I have been digital scrap booking for a few years. Tried different programs. The one I usually used was Photoshop Elements. This is strictly a photo program. I had to find all my digital elements myself for my pages. I thought the program was great and told everyone about it.....

MOVE OVER photoshop elements! It is time for STAMPIN' UP!' S DIGITAL SOFTWARE PROGRAM!!!

Stampin' Up!'s program is not only cheaper than the photoshop elements but it comes with oodles and oodles of elements! Papers, ribbons, eyelets, brushsets, punches... It is the very best I have ever used. SO easy and fast! I did ALL my Christmas eve pages and Christmas Day scrapbook pages in one weekend!!!

I will definitely be back later with more information on this awesome program. But for now, I must go get my children off to school!

Happy Scrappin' and Happy Stampin'!

Andi Mead

More scrapbook pages!

2009-05-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Stampin' Friends!! Here are some more scrapbook page ideas for you guys. I guess you can really get an idea of my style. Lots of hidden photo's. Sometimes it is really hard to capture an event with just two photo's. I couldn't decide which ones to use, and I really wanted to use them all....so I did. I just cut into the clear protector so that the hidden photo's can be revealed. In this layout, I actually used a little decorative circle punch to 'show' where to lift. After you lift up this photo of Ty, three more photos are revealed!! Plus journalling.

These pages show off the Simply Scrappin' Kit Love Stories. I looked outside the box on this scrapbooking kit. The catalog primarily shows this kit as a wedding or 'couple' type paper kit. I used it on my children. The pastels are really nice. The sayings can be applied to my children too. I do after all, LOVE them!!!

Hope you like! Hope you are getting some ideas and the creative juices are flowing!

Happy Stampin'

Andi

True Friend Thank U

2009-05-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

Hello! Here is a bright card for you guys! Just LOVE the set True Friends from Stampin' UP!I used the 'In Color' Tangerine Tango and Pacific Point. The green is actually Old Olive since I do not have the kiwi Kiss ink. The flower is from the Sticky Cuts Letters. The center is actually one of those Build a Brads! I used a sticky cut in the brad. It is the center of a letter. The bold white flowers all the way to the left of the card are Stampin' Up!'s Rub-On's. These particular ones are from a SAB a couple years ago. Lots of glitter on the card too. Paper Piercing and White Gel Pen doodling help finish the Thank ' U ' off. Hope you like these bold colors! Happy Stampin' , Andi

Scrapbook pages

2009-05-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

Hello Stampin' friends! Here are a few more scrapbook pages I stamped out. I used Stampin' Up!'s Enjoy Every Moment set. My color scheme is Real Red, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, with Black accents and Craft White Stampin' Pad for my ink. I used a lot of punch for this series of pages.

# 109042 Photo Corners

# 112082 Wide Oval

3/4 and 1/2" circles

#109047 corner rounder for scallops on kiwi Kiss paper (under flap)

1 3/4" circle (under the wide oval)

# 108341 Spiral

I used the crop-a-dile large side hole punch for all the little punches through out the pages.

The second and third shots of these two pages show how I like to 'hide' photo's on my scrapbook pages. I cut the protector page so that it can be lifted to reveal the hidden photo's and journaling.

I hope you enjoyed this post!

Happy Stampin'

Andi

Mother's Day Card for 09

2009-04-30T03:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Stampin' friends!! Here is a project I created for Mother's Day! I LOVE the new set, Great Friend by Stampin' Up! Had to use it!! I thought I would try and make it pretty. So I went with soft pastels and used the chalks for the images. For the cover of my Mother's Day card, I used Stampin' Up! Rub-on's. I think they are the best. The colors are so bold. And they are easy to apply.

To apply Rub-ons: (this is how I do it)

First decide which piece to use from your sheet of Rub-on's

Next, cut the piece you plan on using off the sheet of the Rub-on's - be sure to keep protecting back on while you cut.

After you have the piece cut from the sheet, with the protecting back still under your desired image, move around the piece you cut and place it where you want it.

Next, remove the protecting backing

Finally, with your fingers rub the image where you want it. That will temporarily adhere it to your project. Then you can rub it with the stick
I also used the clear window sheets for the cover. I thought this dressed the card up a bit. When stamping on the clear window sheets, you need to use the Stazon ink. It is a little sticky. So be careful when stamping on the window sheets with it. Stamp straight down and then lift straight up!!

For the inside of the mini album, I wanted soft images. I inked up the butterfly's in VersaMark ink, then stamped them on my cardstock. I then used my pastel chalks over the ink. The VersaMark ink is somewhat sticky and adheres the chalk to the images. The stems are chalked too! For the greeting, I used the Occassions Mini catalog set, Oval All and Oval scallop punch.
Open up my card again, and I have a couple spots for some photos. You can only see one since I had a hard time filming it!

Taylors Board Book pages

2009-04-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

Hello Stampin' Friends!! Here is a shot of one of my latest projects. I have intentions of doing one of these for each children. I wanted to capture who they are and then journal a bit about them. These photos of Taylor aren't like 'rock star' gorgeous shots really. But it shows her compassion for her brothers. (she is holding Q so he can look at the little baby bird they found in the lawn). This page shows one of my techniques I use a lot. I like to hide photos underneath each other.

I also wanted to show the great Simply Scrappin' kits off that Stampin' Up! has available. There is no stampin' in this project!!! I used only the kit.

For this project, I used:

Board Book Basics (large)

Love Stories Simply Scrappin' Kit

Sticky Cut Letters

Ultra Fine glitter (sorry, I don't have my catty with me to tell you which color I used)

Rhinestone brads for some bling...plus they hold the window sheet on top

Window sheet to protect the photo

Heidi's Card box

2009-04-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

Hello Stampin' Friends! I thought this was a neat project. I bought a card box from Wal-Mart. A nice sturdy one. It is nice and high too so different sized cards will fit in the box. The card box actually came with store bought cards and dividers. I thought the dividers were cool and would come in handy.

I covered the card box with SU! designer paper. The adorable stamp I used is actually retired. I made this for my sister and thought that stamp suited us quite well. Seaside Sketches is the stamp set by Stampin' Up! For the girls, I first water colored them using the aqua painter. I then went over them with the VersaMark pen so I could clear emboss them. This way I could brayer a nice sky behind them. I added some seagulls simply by the flick of my Night Quite Navy Stampin' Up! Marker and my gel pen. Very easy. Give it a try! I also used the felt flowers called Flower Fusion, by Stampin' Up!. Those are a lot of fun to use! The brad is great. I used the Build a Brad.

Hope you like!!

Happy Stampin'

Andi

Priceless Scrapbook Spead

2009-04-20T07:35:00.000-07:00

Hello Stampin' Friends!! Here are some scrapbook pages I created using Stampin' Up!'s Priceless stamp set. What a wonderful set. I love the bold images. This made creating this page a snap. I decided to get into some of my old 35mm photos and scrap some of those memories! There are several more pages coming up. In these scrapbook posts, you will get a look at my 'style' of scrapping. I think it is unique. You can be the judge!! I like to use my knife and cut around images so that my photos or journal fit behind the stamped image...as seen with the butterflies. These two pages also have a lot of distress on the edges.

Hope you like!!

Happy Stampin'

Andi

Tin project

2009-04-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hello Stampin' Friends!! Sorry this photo turned out not so great. I guess I really can't take photo's in my office. I really need that natural light and there is NONE in there. NO windows.

This made the perfect little tin for a little gift. It is the tin from Stampin' Up!'s felt flowers, Flower Fusion I think they are called. Of course, I am not home (no internet there) and so I do not have my catty to check. I used the Stampin' Up! rub on's. Ok, sorry, these particular ones are NOT available. BUT we have many more that are! I earned these from the SAB in 2008. Let me say this about SU!'s rub ons, LOVE THEM. Yes they are gorgeous. But isn't just that. They are SO opaque. You can rub them over a great background paper and still have a perfect turn out. I will show you that in another post. I made a card box for my sister... The other thing that I LOVE about SU! rub on's is they were so simple to use. I have tried other ones, not realizing there is a difference in quality.... the other brand did not rub off good at all. Took me a long time to get them onto my project, AND they weren't bright like SU! Once again, SU! is the BEST!!!

I used the Flower Fusion for the cute little pink felt flowers that dangle. Black gingham ribbon. LOVE that ribbon. So easy to use. Yes, there is a difference in ribbons. SU! is such great quality.

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Happy Stampin' Friends

Andi

a Thank You

2009-04-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

I think this card turned out cute. I love that little elephant. And the glittered butterflies! The color scheme for this card is:

Vanilla

black

Pink Pirouette

Pacific Point

Layout is simple, fun. I made use of punches here. I will let you in on a little secret { I actually goofed up the water coloring on the elephant. I over did the grey. This of course after I had the butterflies glittered and the flowers done too. I re-stamped the elephant on another piece of vanilla. Aqua painted it again. Then pasted it on top of the 'yucky elephant'. It gave my card more dimension that wasn't planned! } Shhhh, don't tell. It looks like I got it right the first time!! Don't you just love that. No one has to ever be perfect when creating a card!! Just flip it, cut it, paste over it... whatever it takes!

Happy Stampin' Friends

Andi

For my three year old

2009-04-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hello! Another Party Hearty card... this one dedicated to my 'baby' who is turning 3 this Sat.

I thought I would make a card with the in color, Kiwi Kiss. I haven't used that color yet. Love the textured cardstock. My other colors of cardstock are Robin Hood Red and Pacific Point. Also 'in colors'. I used vanilla for the neutral. This is such a simple card. Just repetition and glitter really.

Happy Stampin' Friends

Andi

Party Hearty Baby!!

2009-04-15T13:16:00.000-07:00

This is a simple card. Took me FOREVER to create. My first card in MONTHS. Once the building of our new home started, I just didn't get time to stamp. I absolutely love this set. I think it took me so long also because every stamp in this set is so cool I was trying to use them all instead of thinking, keep it simple.

My color scheme is the Stampin' Up! in colors Pacific Point (blue) , Pink Pirouette, and then the Always Artichoke color that is always available. My neutral was vanilla.

I stamped the "b' in Pretty in Pink for my main 'b' image. Then stamped it again on another piece of paper in the Always Artichoke. Cut out the 'is for birthday', and placed it over the pink 'is for birthday. I used the Build a Brad in the center of the 'b'. I LOVE those!! They add so much!

There is a lot of paper piercing, doodling with the white gel pen, and a bit of glitter too. All those techniques add 'pop' to a card!

Happy Stampin' Friends!

PS, I don't actually have internet hooked up at our new home. Please bare with me if posts are scattered here and there!!

Andi

My new Stampin' Room!!

2009-04-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

Hello Stampin' Friends! I thought you might like to see my new 'office'. My stampin' room! I think it could be about twice the size... but I also thought I needed a mudroom, bedrooms, kitchen.... g-whiz. So many rooms to go into a home! I couldn't quite get it all in the photos. The ceilings are high, so I try to take advantage of that. I might even add another shelf. I use cabinets for storing my rubber stamps...Stampin' Up! of course!! They are all along the top. The base cabinets are housing some other supplies like my Stampin' Around Wheels, and other containers with accessories. There isn't much actual 'work' space, so I can't have a ton out on the one counter that is in there. Although I suppose you may laugh at that since the counter is full....ooops. Can't help it I guess. Everything has a home in this room. Lo-ove it!!

oh, under the wall cabinets, I have some of the cards from other people displayed. This really is not only a room to create, but a room that is full of photo's of my family, and artwork from my children and friends!

The cool display shelf was created by my father. I use to have all my stamps on it. Yes, way back about 12 years ago, they all fit on that 3' X 3' shelf! I prefer to keep my SU! sets together in the containers now so I can find them easier. So I have a few non - Stampin' Up! stamps up there and some more artwork from my kiddo's displayed on it.

Happy Stampin'

Andi

Easter Card

2009-04-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

Hello Stampin' Friends! I am ba-ack! I have a bunch of new cards and projects to post over the next couple months. Our new home is built, we aren't totally moved in, but we are living there. Been crazy. I will say, my stamping room is complete...so let the stampin' begin!!

Here are a couple of my Easter Cards this year. I used the same Stampin' Up! set for both cards, just changed the layout on them.

The stamp set I chose is Loads of Love, by Stampin' Up! Both of these cards feature the same techniques, use of the brayer, embossing with the versamark pen, and a lot of markers for the background.

The first thing I did was stamp the truck, eggs and girl with basic black. I then water colored the truck and girl using the aqua painter. The eggs I wanted bright, so I used the markers to color them in. After coloring in my stamped image, I used my ersamark pen, went over the entire truck, girl and eggs, then embossed them with the clear powder. This created a nice mask for my image. I was then able to brayer the background with out ruining my water coloring!

The backgrounds are brayered with So Saffron, Bliss Blue and Pacific Point. I also brayered some grass using Certainly Celery.

My birds, grass and flowers were created with markers. I simply 'flicked' the wings of the birds and the grass with the small end of the markers. The flowers were just dots. Again, using the small end of the markers.

Thanks for visiting! This blog post is a little crazy yet. I haven't posted anything in so long I have to remember all the tricks....PLUS I don't have internet set up at my home yet, so I am working away from home. Bare with me!! I will get back into the swing of things!!

Happy Stampin'

Andi

Error

2008-07-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! I am SO SORRY! I posted the wrong link to Dawn Griffiths blog aka: Dawns Stamping Thoughts. There is another Dawn out there with the same title for her blog/website. There was a link to her site for the pop up Crab card and the plastic bag double slider, I fixed those links so they are now correct. I also changed the address in 'my favorite blogs'. If you notice any more incorrect links, please let me know! Thank you!!
Andi

Where have I gone???

2008-07-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! I thought I would pop in to let you all know I am way too busy with my family right now to stamp! Summer is here and so are all the kids!!! Plus extras like neices, nephews and lots of the kids friends!! We spend most of our time at the pond, pool, or parks!!

I am also still crazy with building our home! Here are some pics.

I know this is a stampin' site, but thought you might like a peek! Have a great summer and I will be back in full swing in September!!

Simple Thank You

2008-06-19T02:55:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!! Here is a simple Thank you I made for one of

my friends that placed an order with me. It is a 3 X 3. Those are a really fun size to make! I used the One of a Kind set by Stampin' Up! My color scheme is this weeks splitcoast color challenge. I should have tried the kraft....think I will tomorrow!!! I used Creamy Caramel, Soft Sky and Basic Black. The flower was actually stamped on Soft Sky with 1) Versa Mark pad 2) basic black. Then clear embossed. The flower in the center of the larger flower is from Boho Backgrounds by Stampin' Up! I thought it matched the tiny flower on the 'for you' stamp. The 'for you' image was punched out with the Window Word Punch. I used the Photo Corner punch in the corner of the note. The dots and the flower were colored in with Gel pens I picked up at Sams club. I am happy with them so far! They are Pilot G2 retractable gel ink rolling ball pen. 20 pens, assorted colors!! (just in case you wanted to know) I think that sums it up!

Happy Stampin'

Graduation card

2008-06-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! Here is a graduation card I made for a friend that is graduating! A simple card. White, Night of Navy and So Saffron were my colors. I first stamped the images in Versa Mark, then in the Night of navy. I then clear embossed them. The diploma and the caps were then colored in with the So Saffron Stampin' Write Marker, colored in with Versa Mark Marker, and clear embossed. I wanted to shine up the card and make sure it wasn't borring! I really like the books in the background. I highlighted them a bit and wrote '2008' on them. I am not sure about the circles I added with the '2008'. It needed something more, but, what???

Happy Stampin' Friends!!!

Andi

NEW RETIRED LIST IS AVAILABLE

2008-06-16T03:56:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!!! The Stampin' Up! Retired list is NOW available!! Check it out! Don't let those stamp sets you've been 'waiting' to order disappear! Contact me and place an order!
Happy Stampin' !!

For my Sister's Birthday

2008-06-16T01:49:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! My sister's birthday is coming up in another week or so. Thought I better get on her card!! Can't wait til the last minute these days or it might not get done. I may not be home to do it!! We have been at the pond quite a lot lately!!

My sister likes horses, and green. (yes, so does my other sister that I made THIS and THIS for ) I didn't want to make it just like Heidi's stuff, so I went with Equestrian Dreams. I have to say. NEVER made a really nice card with this set. I really like the images, just haven't known quite what to do with it. I was really nervous. I liked Heidi's card so much, I felt like the bar was 'high'.

I started with Vanilla card stock. Stamped the horses in Basic Brown. Then simply highlighted the running horses, and added a little more color to the row of them. A bit of Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Basic Grey, all water colored onto the image. Then I took my Versa Mark Marker and went over the images so I could clear emboss them both. That really sharpened up those images and made them 'pop'. Added so much to them!! I then brayered the sky onto the images. The embossing made it resist any ink that I brayered on. Perfect. After I got my images complete, it all came together easy. I could see that I was really liking this card. I roughed up some edges with my distress tool. Added some Chocolate Chip behind the images. Double matted the running horses with Always Artichoke. This was actually mainly because I wanted to faux stitch. I knew it wouldn't show up as good on the dark brown, so I added the green. I added some photo corners, thanks to my Photo Corner Punch. The greeting is from a retired set, and I added a build-a-brad in the middle of that. Yes, love those build-a-brad's!! The style of my greeting is a little different, but I wanted something small that wouldn't be the first thing to grab your eye.

Well, hope you like!! Happy Stampin' and thanks for visiting!!

4th of July Invitations

2008-06-14T16:37:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!!! Wow, another card! Wish I could say I was back in the game, but I am not sure! There will be another post tomorrow, but after that, they will be more sporadic again :( Just SO busy! I hope you are all busy too and understand ;)

Isn't this just the CUTEST invitation for a summer party! I found it HERE. I don't have a stamp that is small that says 'you're invited' like this Kristen, but I think it is still cute! Thanks Kristen for the awesome idea! It took like NO time at all!!! So easy and great to do with the decorative paper!!

The Strawberry is from Stampin' Up!'s retired DD Fruit Medley. I used the scallop punch for the 'bite', corner rounder for the other side, and a couple circle punches, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4". The inside is from SU! retired Dot Invitaion.

Happy Stampin' Friends!!

Father in Laws Fathers Day Card

2008-06-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hello Stampin' Friends!! LOOOOONG time no stamp? Sorry. I guess that is how it is going to be this summer. I will get to stampin' when I can. But the weather is HOT, the kids will be home.... lots of swimming to let them do, building a house, outside work. You know the drill!

SO! I finally stamped up my father in laws card. I was just brain dead. Couldn't figure out what stamp set to use. Wanted it to be one I thought he would like. I hope he likes the card. I think my mother in law will, and she will be the one that actually keeps it ;)

I used an old retired set, DD Pines by Stampin' Up! I THOUGHT I used a sketch challenge, but can't seem to find it. So did I make this sketch up! I swear I did not!!! The first step I did for this card is ink up those two large trees! I inked them in Versa Mark ink, then in Always Artichoke. I wanted to add texture, so BEFORE I stamped the trees, I then took the pine needle stamp, inked it in Basic Black, then stamped it directly on the rubber that is already inked with the Versa Mark and Artichoke. THEN I stamped it on the White Card stock!! I then clear embossed it. This is so I could create the sky and grass with out ruining the trees! I then positioned my circle cutter system and cut a partial circle, leaving the trees uncut so I could use my exacto knife and leave them 'out of the circle'. After the trees and the circle were cut, sponged a bit of So Saffron, then the Wild Wasabi Green for the grass. The sky is Soft Sky and Blue Bayou. I added a bit of grass with a Stampin' Mark marker and some flowers are just dots with the Brocade Blue Stampin' Write Marker. That piece is done. The diamond is Always Artichoke textured with the Cuttlebug embossing folder. I then placed that layering section on top of my white card stock so I could get an idea of where I wanted the bear to be positioned. I then inked up my bear in Versa Mark ink,Creamy Caramel on the face and feet, and Choco Chip on the body. I took the pine needles again and textured it with the Close to Cocoa ink. I added some black around the nose and edges of feet and back before FINALLY stamping him on the white!! Then I clear embossed him!!! Once he was embossed, I could brayer the sky and grass. Draw in some flowers. The geese were stamped in Basic Black, directly over the brayered sky. I used my white gel pen to added the white back to the geese. I guess the rest is just layering, gluing, and doodling!

Happy Stampin' guys!! Sorry I am not posting every day like before! I just have so much family life right now to attend too!!

Final Card for 3 card challenge

2008-06-03T01:49:00.000-07:00

Hello! Here is the last of the 3 card challenge! Hope you have enjoyed them!
My main stamp set is One of a Kind by Stampin' Up! I used the Prints Background stamp again for this one. I inked it in Pink Passion, then marked it up a bit with the Real Red. The flower was first stamped on Vanilla in Basic Black. Then I stamped it on Real Red, then on Pink Passion. I cut out the Flower and paper pieced it. The center was created with Build a Brad. (AGAIN!!) I did a bit of paper piercing around the edges and corners of the main image. Layered it with Real Red and then Pink Passion. Dotted a bit of Black around the edges. Gingham Ribbon was added. The I inked up the 'for you' with Versa Mark Pad, then used markers directly over the versa mark ink on the rubber so I could emboss the image in clear. I punched it out with the Key Tag punch then added some black doodles. That sums this card up!! Hope you like!!!
Happy Stampin'

Second of Three card challenge

2008-06-02T02:38:00.000-07:00

Hello! Here is the second card for the challenge: Three cards, same stamp set, same colors. Must use hardware and ribbon. My stamp set is One of a Kind and my color scheme is Real Red and Pink Passion. All three of my cards also feature the 'Build a Brad'. I just bought them. They are great fun!! I love them in the middle of this great flower from One of a Kind.

For this card, I incorporated SCS Sketch Challenge SC178. The background for this card was created with a cuttlebug embossing folder. I do not own this GREAT TOOL, but my good friend Casey embossed a bunch of colors for me! Wow!! Thanks!!!

I used the punches Key Tag and Designer Label for this card. Just like my last one!! The large flower is stamped off the corner of the 'diamond'. I popped out he middle of the flower and added the build a brad. Hmmm. Pretty simple card. Gingham Ribbon again. White doodling. Black doodling. Lots of layers. I will admit. The inside of each of these layers is cut out. Saves paper and saves $ with the post if the card isn't too heavy. Hope you like!

Happy Stampin'

Three in One Challenge 1 of 3

2008-05-31T17:42:00.000-07:00

Hello! These next few posts are all part of one challenge! We were to create three cards. All using the same set, and the same colors. I liked this challenge. It was unique! I chose to combine some other challenges with this one. For my first card, I also did a sketch challenge.

My color scheme for these cards is Real Red and Pink Passion. These colors came from the inspiration from Sandy's card in a previous post. My stamp set is One of a Kind by Stampin' Up! The background stamp is Print Pattern by Stampin' Up!. I inked that large stamp in Pink Passion and then stamped the smaller flowers scattered about in Real Red. I added a bit of Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the centers of them.
I stamped the main flower image in Basic Black and water colored with Pink Passion. The Red is colored in solid with Real Red Stampin' Write Marker. The full flower is embossed using the versa mark marker and clear powder. I LOVE this technique. Makes your image really pop. In the center of the flower I used 'Build a Brad'. Pretty cool. I just got these for the first time. I am really happy with them! What fun! I used them in all three cards! I backed up this main flower with Black and distressed the edges with my distressed tool. I also paper pierced all around the square.
For punches, I used the Designer Label punch and the Key Tag punch. The ribbon is the black and white gingham. I love this ribbon. It is super easy to work with. Not stiff at all. I added a brad from the pewter Hodgepodge Hardware set. Some white doodling all around, and I am done! Do you like!?! I had so much fun with these colors!
Happy Stampin'

A simple card

2008-05-31T04:01:00.000-07:00

Hello! gosh, I really hope I haven't posted this card before! I haven't been stamping since I am so busy. I thought I would post a few I made already! If it rains today, I will stamp....hope my kids aren't bouncing off the walls. They usually do when it rains!

This is a 3X3 note card. Very simple. I think it is very cute. I used Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip for my color scheme. I water colored some of the images. Added GLITTER, BLING, PAPER PIERCING and RIBBON. Those are the elements that make this card seem so special! This was not time consuming, anyone can do it. All those elements just really set off a card! If you don't have the mat pack and paper piercer, GET THEM ;) and get the bling!! get the glitter!!! Add a few of these things and your creation will look GREAT!!!

Happy Stampin' Friends!! Have a GREAT weekend! Hope we can all stamp!!

another oldie, but goodie

2008-05-31T01:33:00.000-07:00

Hello! So here is another 'oldie, but goodie'. I really like this card. I love the color combo! I have to say though, I made this awhile back. I am not sure the layout is my own. So no full credit for this one!!

I used the set All About U by Stampin' Up!. My color scheme is So Saffron and Real Red. The background was created with the background stamp, Canvas and then I stamped the small flower right on top of that. I used glossy card stock for the 'U'. I like the bold look it creates with those solid stamps!! I used the slot punch to create a little card onto of the card! Just a little added fun. I also used the slot punch to hold the red gingham ribbon in place.

This is a very simple card! But you gotta have those too!!

Happy Stampin'

A card to CASE

2008-05-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hello! Sorry I haven't had much time for myself lately. Not a lot of stamping time ;(

I thought however it might be nice to share with you a card that was sent to me a while back. One of my fav's!! My dear friend Sandy is such a wonderful Card Creater! She made this for me for Valentines Day. Not sure what year.... ha ha! It is an oldie, but goodie! I basically 'cased' this card and created an Easter Card with it. I created my card a couple years ago too. So no new 'hot' stuff! I think I will now have to stamp a card using those wild colors! I love the Real Red and Pink Passion together! Sandy's card is 'HOT HOT HOT'

For my card, I used Bliss Blue and Lavendar Lace. The stamp set is the retired set Spring Things. It is a real cute layout. Hope you like, and thanks for hangin in there with me. I am so busy with Kids, potty training, building a house, and 'spring things' !!

Happy Stampin' All!

busy busy busy

2008-05-28T04:13:00.000-07:00

Hello! I can't believe this stamped image isn't SU! Hee Hee. I have had this image since before I was a demo, so like what, 11 yrs or so? One of my fav's. I don't use it much, well, haven't used in probably 10yrs, but I just like looking at it up on my shelf. I can totally relate to the image...I think you can all see that. Only one problem. This is me, right?? Ok. But where am I? There are no kids on top of me, and aside from being almost passed out, there are no toys or clutter anywhere!!!!

I decided to do my first Mojo Monday sketch. Pretty cool sketch! I really like all the different elements on this one!
I also took the SplitcoastStampers Color Challenge, CC168, Vanilla, Sage, and Choco Chip. Really no challenge. Quite easy to work with! I had those cool colors in the DSP Outlaw. I thought the stripes would look good on the chair. The stamped image was actually stamped three times. Once on the vanilla, once on the striped paper and then once on the white. The only part I kept off the white paper is the 'don't ask'. It really 'pops' that way.
I added a bunch of details to this card while still keeping it very clean. No brayering. I added paper piercing all over. Some was used for faux stitching, some was actually pierced on the reverse side of the paper. For example: I actually placed the striped piece of paper, stripe side down onto my Mat Pack. Then poked the holes. I love the look. Basically, had I done it stripes up, you really wouldn't have seen the holes. The paper is too busy. Sometimes the paper is just too dark too. Reversing it gives more definition and you can actually see white around the holes, a natural highlight, if you will!! The holes around the circle punch are reversed too.
I added some corners with my Photo Corner Punch, got into my Hodgepodge hardware and added some hardware and ribbon. I think that sums it up!
Hope this makes you smile ;)
Happy Stampin'
Andi

My Fathers Day card

2008-05-26T14:27:00.001-07:00

Hello! Here is my Fathers Day card. I need to make one for my father in law yet, but I think my dad will appreciate this one. He likes details. And I added a LOT of details onto this card! The tree is from Lovely as a Tree by Stampin Up! It is STILL available! This set has been around a long time. I stamped the tree in Basic Brown. This is a waterproof ink. I was able to then watercolor right on top of the brown. I added some Stampin' Write Marker, Gable Green directly on the tree. Just in spots. Then I added some Wild Wasabi with my Aqua Painter and tried to blend in the greens. I then added bits of Always Artichoke for more depth. Finally I added some flowers. Hey, it is spring and everything is in bloom here!!! The trunk was water colored with Creamy Caramel and then highlighted with Close to Cocoa Stampin' Write marker. I added some fallen blossoms onto the ground directly under the tree and water colored a bit of Wild Wasabi too. I then colored the entire image with the Versa Mark Marker and clear embossed the tree. After that, I brayered some Soft Sky into the sky. A bit of Tempting Turquoise was sponged in too. For the grass, I sponged Gable Green and Wild Wasabi. A few flowers and stems were drawn in. I used Pink Passion for all the pink flowers, I also added some Lavender Lace dots for another flower. This 'treatment' was also used for the background I created. Brayering, Sponging and drawing in stems & flowers with the Stampin' Write Marker small tip. The 'happy father day' was created with the Everyday Flexible Phrases, 2004 by Stampin' Up! This is retired.
I matted the card with Close to Cocoa and Always Artichoke. No ribbon on this card since it is for my dad. No scallops. Just some 'tough' Hodgepodge hardware!!
PS: Potty training is going better today. Praise the Lord! Q finally even went on the potty with out my asking him if he has to go potty! Whew. By golly, I think he is gunna get it after all. Not TOOOO many more grey hairs on my head ;).... make that TWICE he has gone all on his own! He just did it again! Yah, he gets a treat for that!
happy stampin' all, and happy life!!

Wish I was at that beach!

2008-05-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

Hello! This card was a Featured Stamper Challenge from Splicoatstampers. The featured stamper is Peanutbee. I chose a card she created, changed a couple things: I changed the stamp set, ribbon, added some punches, added some paper piercing, and created my own background. It is a lot of fun, pretty easy when someone else chooses the stamp image and colors! My stamp I used wasn't exact, but I stuck to the same idea, a beach scene.

My colors are Mellow Moss, So Saffron, Soft Sky (for the sky), Ballet Blue (sky again), Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa for the sand and weeds. After I colored in the girl, I embossed her with the Versa Mark Pen. Then I brayered the sky and sand. I used the Ticket Punch and punched out the top corners of the square with the girl. The 'make a wish' came from A Little Birthday Cheer set from Stampin' Up!. FYI, my wish is to be there, on the beach!!! I used the Designer Label punch and Key Tag punch for the greeting. Added some Paper Piercing there. The ribbon is DSR, Blue Bayou. The weeds were drawn in with Stampin' Write Marker, Close to Cocoa. The dots for sand are actually 'feed' from Best of Cluck set.

Get Well

2008-05-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! My Aunt has been stampin' up a storm! She got to me tonight and inspired me! I thought I would check out Splitcoast Stampers and find out what the color challenge was for this week. CC167, Certainly Celery, Blue Bayou and Soft Sky. I thought I would do Beate's Weekend Sketch challenge too. So for this card, Soft Sky is on top, Blue Bayou on the bottom, and Certainly Celery is used in the scalloped oval, and water colored onto the whale. The Whale is from Pun Fun by Stampin' Up!. I wrote the 'feeling green' and then punched it out with the 1" circle punch. I backed it up with the 1 1/4" circle punch and 1 3/8" circle punch. The double stitched ribbon is Soft Sky and Blue Bayou. I punched out 'get whale soon' with the window word punch and added two brads to dress it up. There is a bunch of paper piercing and white doodling.
I guess that is it! Pretty simple card. Fun to make!!

Happy Stampin'

Instructions for Pocket Fold Card

2008-05-22T07:43:00.001-07:00

Hello! Here are some instructions for the Pocket Fold Card. I hope they are easy for you to understand!!

I first made a template of this card since it has the rounded top. For this I used the white board that came in the packaging with the Designer Series Paper. I am not showing that on these photo's I took for this tutorial. Sorry, the white board wouldn't show up good, so I am showing it with the actually DSP.

You will need:

8 1/2" X 8" Designer Series Paper (Base of card)

A dish plate for a round template

Scoring tool

First cut your paper to size.
8 1/2" is the width of your card
score @ 1 1/2" and 7"
Flip card and then score @ 2" (flip back again so you are ready for next step
Place plate at top of card, center, and trace ( - again 8 1/2" is the width, 8" is the height)
cut out so your top of the card is rounded
cut out the rectangles at the bottom corners.
use your bone folder and fold in sides, then fold up bottom of card

The base is now ready! Time for you to create your card!

Happy Stampin'

A couple more pocket fold cards

2008-05-22T04:26:00.000-07:00

Hello! Here are a couple more of those pocket fold cards! They are such a great way to use and show off that wonderful double sided paper! And SOOO easy! Just by using different paper you can create a totally different look, as shown in my western mother's day card.
The this card I used the Porcelain Prints DSP. I stamped the flower from Heartfelt and then punched it out using the Key Tag Punch. I paper pierced all around the tag, punched the Horizontal Slot and then added the Blue Bayou DSR. The inside 'note' card has a Jumbo eyelet attached to the 1 3/8"circle and 1 1/4" circle punches.

For this Pocket Fold Card, I used the Le Jardin DSP. The greeting is from Sweet Serendipity, inked and stamped in Always Artichoke and then punched out with the Key Tag punch. I paper pierced a little on this to show dimension since I stamped and punched on the same background paper as the card. I used River Rock DSR on the top of the 'note'. The bird was punched out with the 1 1/4" circle punch right from the DSP. Then bordered with Bashful Blue with the 1 3/8" circle punch. I then punched a scallop with the Scallop punch out of Vanilla Cardstock.

Hmmm. Just got an idea for another one of these Pocket Fold cards! Better get to work!

Happy Stampin'

Just Moved....well, gunna...

2008-05-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

Ok, what is this set NOT good for??? Do you not just LoVe LOADS of LOVE by Stampin' Up!! I got the idea to add part of the truck in the back for a trailer from someone on Splitcoaststampers a while back. Can't remember who, but it stuck in my head. I had to add an extra yet. And count all the kids!!! I think this card turned out totally cute with all the children peeking out around the packed up stuff! We aren't moving for a couple months yet, but thought I would play around with an idea or two. This one is adorable, but took a lot of time. A lot of cutting out. Fine for a card, but for many more?? Hmmm. Not so sure about that. I stamped the truck on Buckaroo Blue three times, three times on white too for the bumpers. Stamped the girl out twice, the boy out 6 times! Three sets of furnishings. The family and furnishings were colored in with markers, and of cut out. ( now that I have the layout, if I were to make more of these, I think I could just stamp directly on the sketch and then mask over the kids or what ever image is in front) I punched out the wheels out of black paper with the 3/4 " circle punch. The insides of the wheels were punched out of the Buckaroo Blue. I had colored them in with white gel pen first. Dots were added to the truck with the Gel Pen too. The sky was brayered with Soft Sky and then Buckaroo Blue. The road is Creamy Caramel. I added doodling with Chocolate Chip on the road, and Brocade Blue around the top of the sky. The background paper is from the retired SSK Travel Time. I think this background paper is perfect. You can't see from the front, but the back of the card is full of route signs from a highway. Sure, we are moving just 3 miles away, but still! It is cute!! And it is a HUGE move for us! Very exciting.
Anyway! This was todays creation. Yesterdays wasn't so hot. I won't be posting that!! Hope you all like this one!
Happy Stampin'

Birthday card

2008-05-19T00:42:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! Here is yet another peek-a-boo card! The inside image is a cow. A lot was done to this card! I started off with Yo Yo Yellow! WOW is that bright! I am not really a bold brights person. As I am sure you can see if you check out my blog much! It is good to get out there and try things though, so Yo Yo Yellow it was. I thought that color would work good with Stampin' Up!'s retired On the Farm set. I made this card for a girl whose birthday is coming up and we bought her a webkinz pig. So this card is perfect for her!

The barn was stamped twice. I first colored and embossed the full barn, and the extra barn door and silo cap. Then I popped out the barn doors and the silo cap. My color scheme is Real Red (barn and bandana), Going Grey (roof), Bordering Blue (silo), Brilliant Blue (farmers shirt), and of course the Yo Yo for his over-all's and the hay. The background was created by brayering with Soft Sky, Ballet Blue and a touch of Brilliant Blue with a sponge. The grass is Wild Wasabi. I then layered the focal point with Real Red and Glorious Green. Added the embossed Farmer. Added some doodles, a Window Word Punch with a piece of Red Gingham and done. The bit on top was really needed. There was just too much bright yellow on top of the card.

I hope you like!!

Happy Stampin'

Grid Technique

2008-05-17T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!! I thought I would try the scored background AKA 'grid technique' for this card. It turned out kind of cool. I used my Score-Pal for the background behind the trees. I scored lines going one way, flipped the piece of paper, then scored some more lines! Check out the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers if you do not understand what I am saying!! My stamp sets I used are A little Birthday Cheer and Lovely as a Tree by Stampin' Up!

I also went with a Color Challenge, CC166 Ruby Red, Soft Sky and Pumpkin Pie. I guess the colors are ok. Kind of fall like. So I think I will save this card for a fall birthday. I didn't think the colors stood out enough in the trees, so I added little Pumpkin Pie and Ruby Red dots with my Stampin' Write Markers. I also used my Paper Piercer, Mat Pack and Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker to create a faux stitch. I think that turned out cool! Even in person it looks like I stitched it. You really need the mat pack for that!!

I think I discovered something really cool today! Ok, so you may all already know this and do this....but pretend you don't!! I was trying to figure out how I wanted the ribbon placed. I knew I was going to use the Stapler. I didn't really want the ribbon hangin' off the edge. So I got the bright idea to lay the ribbon out flat, staple it, THEN tie it in a knot. It is attached and ready to go that way, no glue for these knots! I love this!!

For punches, I used the 1" circle punch and the window word punch. The greeting 'celebrate u' came from A little Birthday Cheer. The stamp actually is 'celebrate you', but it wouldn't fit inside the window word punch, so I took out the 'y & o'.

I guess that is it! Happy Stampin'!

On Board Book Basics for Mother in Law

2008-05-16T01:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!! Here is the gift I never posted for my mother in law! We just had a colt, so I thought I would wait to add some more photo's. I am sure there will be lots with the kids and the baby horse!

I used the On Board Book Basics by Stampin' Up! They are on special this month!! May 2008, purchase $35 worth of goodies from our catalog and you can purchase as much On Board products as you want for 25% off!! Don't miss out on this deal! I love how all the On Board Book Basics gifts turned out for Mother's Day! My mom's gifts were posted earlier if you want to go back and check them out!
For this project, I used the retired paper's SSK Round Up and DSP Outlaw. LOTS of punches and LOTS of paper piercing!!
Happy Stampin' or Scrappin' what ever you are doin'!!

Photo Wallet for my sister

2008-05-15T01:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!! Here is a really simple and quick gift idea! A photo wallet!

For this project, I used my textured 12X12" card stock. You need 4 1/4" X 11" for the wallet base. I scored my wallet @ 3", 3 1/4", 7 1/4" and 7 1/2". For the inside, 4 X 12 scored @ 4" and 8". I added more paper to add onto the length. I think you don't have to. Especially if you put photo's on both sides. I used the DSP Outlaw and the SSK Round Up, both by Stampin' Up!

I used the scallop punch with a jumbo eyelet for a closure. The hemp is just wrapped around the wallet, then wrapped under the eyelet. Holds it perfect.

Happy Stampin'!

Peek-a-boo for my sister's birthday

2008-05-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!! I made a card this morning for my sister's birthday. Her fav color is green, so I started with that! I love the textured paper. I decided to go with Wild Wasabi, textured. Next I decided to create a peek-a-boo card. And FINALLY I decided on my stamp set! I went with Crab & Company by Stampin' Up! because she is down in FL, with those nice beaches!!

My color scheme is Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi, and Whisper White.

I stamped the crab three times. This is so I could pop out his little body and claws. (I ended up only popping him twice though)

His entire body was embossed using the Versa Mark Marker. Check out the tutorial on that for directions ;) This is so I could emboss resist. I then brayered the sky and sand with out messing up the color job I did on the crab! For the sky I used Soft Sky and Tempting Turquise. The sand is So Saffron and Creamy Caramel.

His extra claw and body were embossed too. I think it looks sharp that way! I cut out the extra body and claws, and used pop dots to adhere them directly over the 'main' body. The gift, hat and cake were embossed with the versa mark marker too.

I used my White Craft ink for the backgrounds with the shell and the star fish. Lots of doodles with my White Gel pen.

On the inside I used the punches: Designer Label, Key Tag and 1 3/8" circle punch. You will also need the 1 1/4" circle punch for the 'peek-a-boo' card. Check out the tutorial on this card to discover how to create it!

Happy Stampin'!

tutorial on emboss resist

2008-05-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

Hello! This is a way you can emboss resist.

stamp your image you want to be 'on top'. Color it in. Color in again with Versa Mark Marker. Sprinkle Clear embossing power over it and then use heat gun to emboss!
Stamp image you want 'under' right on top of the embossed image.
Wipe away any ink left on 'top' image

TIP: I stamped a little too quick. My embossed image wasn't quite cool. I accidentally smeared the ink a bit. You can't tell after I colored in the image though!!

Now you try!!

Tutorial on Embossing Colored in images

2008-05-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

Hello! This is how you emboss images you have colored in!
1st: Use your Versa Mark Marker and color in image (after you have colored it in already with marker, crayon, pencil, whatever...)
2nd: sprinkle CLEAR embossing powder over Versa Marked image
3rd: Heat powder until all shiny with a heat gun
That is it!!
Tip: For larger images, I emboss parts at a time. For example, I embossed the shrimp body, then went back and embossed the hat!

For GG and Pop

2008-05-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! So sorry the lighting wasn't quite right on this one. I made this card for my grandparents in FL. I use to make my Grandpa Snicker Doodle's when I was little. Now, he is much older (of course) and not doing so well. I thought he might like some cookies. This is the card to go along with them ;) I used Crab & Company by Stampin' Up!
My color scheme again, was SCS challenge, Certainly Celery, Lovely Lilac, and Pretty in Pink. I used the Prints DSP Certainly Celery for the Crab's body and part of the claws. Very Simple card. I relied on the little extra touches to really set this card off. Lots of paper piercing, lots of doodling (sorry you can't see it very well - I doodled all around the card with Pretty in Pink marker, and along the Key Tag too) I also used the white gel pen for some doodles! The scallop edge was created with the slit punch, check out my tutorial on that if you do not know how to create that yet. I added Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, and a couple Lovely Lilac eyelets. I see the lilac eyelets are discontinued, but you could add rhinestone brads instead, and they would look nice!
Happy Stampin'!

Heartfelt

2008-05-12T03:29:00.000-07:00

Is Heartfelt Thanks not just one of the most beautiful sets by Stampin' Up? This is a very simple card, you need those!!! My color scheme is Orchid, Brocade Blue, and Wild Wasabi. I used the Misting Markers technique. (color your solid image with markers, then hold your stamp away from you about 12", rubber facing you, mist water at it 1 to 2 times, then stamp!)

For punches I used the Photo Corner punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, and Scallop Punch. The scallops were created with my slot punch. Check out the tutorial I created for my blog for instructions on that.

I used my Paper Piercer and Mat Pack for added details, along with a little doodling with my gel pen. Hope you like!

Happy Stampin'

Andi

My Mother's Day cards

2008-05-11T02:41:00.000-07:00

Hello! Here are my mom's Mother's Day cards! They were such simple cards to create, and I LOVE the use of the double sided DSP!!

Check out the directions for this card!

For my Mom's card, I used a retired piece of paper. Stampin' Up! has the same pattern in their current catalog, only it is called Azure (it is blue obviously!!) Gorgeous paper!! The stamps I used for this card are Sweet Serendipity and Happy Mother's Day is from an All Year Cheer set I bought YEARS ago. Not sure of the date on that one! I apologize, I didn't' put it away correctly and can't seem to find it or, I would let you know the date on the stamp!

The punches I used for this card are the 3/4" circle ( for the faux scallop), the Key Tag punch, Designer Label and the Scallop Punch.

I added some gingham ribbon, some bling, and then that was it!

For my Mother in Laws, I used the Outlaw DSP (retired, check out the Western Sky DSP, just as cool), and I used the retired SSK Round Up.

I added brads across the inside layer of the card, and a jumbo eyelet in the center of the star. Some hemp really 'tied' this card off! I stamped "wonderful friend" on the inside (you can just see it) from Boho Backgrounds.

Happy Stampin' Friends!

bugs and kisses for my niece

2008-05-10T05:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! This is an adorable stamp set. I haven't used Bugs & Kisses in forever!! I picked it out because of the solid images. The grass hopper was stamped three times. First for the base, second for the body, third just for the head. All three layers were layered directly on top of each other with pop dots for dimension. My color scheme was a SCS challenge: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, and Lovely Lilac. A lot of unches were used here: Photo Corner, Window Word, 1 1/4" circle, Designer Label, Key Tag, and I used the corner rounder for the scallops.
I used the Jumbo Wheel Daisy Dash for the background. The insides of the flowers were colored in with my white gel pen.
Hope you like my cute girly card. I thought my niece would like to get some mail this week, so this one is for her ;)
Happy Stampin'
Andi

Circle Challenge

2008-05-05T04:41:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! This card was inspired by Splitcoaststampers Limited Supply Challenge, LSC166. We had to use CIRCLE punches only! I am not too good at working with circles, so I thought this would be a great challenge. Took me three shots to get this card right! NOW I like it! Don't know what happened to those other ideas in my head. Should have kept them there ;)
The set I chose to use is Enjoy Every Moment by Stampin' Up! I LOOOOVE it! This is a great set! I really like how the dotted circles look with the flower stamped off-center.
My color scheme is Bashful Blue card, with Always Artichoke and Brilliant Blue. I used my white gel pen to add accents to the "enjoy", and the center's of the little blue flowers. Plus I added dots around the card perimeter. The punches I used are the scallop (It is circle shaped right?), 1 3/8", 1 1/4", 3/4", 1/2" circles. The scallops on the bottom of the card were created with the 1/2" circle. The other half of the circle is glued onto the inside of the card. A little Bling to the center of the dot on the 'J', and I think that is it!
Hope you like :) Gotta get those dishes done!!!
Happy Stampin'

Unfroggettable

2008-05-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

ok, so I am back to 'cute' cards ;)

Hello Friends!! I have to get stampin' with this set because it is borrowed from my sister in law!! I created a card this morning for my Aunt. She has been ordering a lot of SU! stuff from me lately. I wanted to make a special card to 'thank' her.

I used the Unfrogettable stamp set from Stampin' Up! My color scheme is Pink Passion, Gable Green for the grass, Yo Yo yellow for the mushroom and the sky is Soft Sky and Tempting Turquoise.

I had some paper I had done the shaving cream technique to. I created the swirl YEARS ago! For some reason it was sitting on my counter where I stamp. I thought, hmmm, wonder what it would look like if I used it for the shell of the slug....and for the mushroom. So that is what I used some of it for! I stamped the snail on the Pink Passion swirl, then cut the shell out. I stamped the snail again on white, colored in his body with the VersaMark Pen, then clear embossed him to give him a nice shine. The mushroom was stamped in the yellow swirl then cut out. I will have to do a technique section for you all. I don't have the time to go through the shaving cream technique right now...sorry!! The frog was stamped on Pink Passion. I added dots with my White Uni-ball gel pen, then cut him out. The grass was created with my slit punch. I posted tutorial on that previously. The sky was brayered with the colors mentioned above....I did a ton of paper piercing...gotta get the Mat Pack from SU! if you don't already have it!!! I LOOOOOVE it! The punches I used were Designer Label and the 1 3/8" circle punch. I framed my brayered scene with Tempting Turquoise. I think that sums it up!! I hope you like!

Happy Stampin' Friends, come visit me again!!

Mother's Day Gift...completed

2008-05-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

Whew, one mother down, one mother to go ;) I won't be posting my next Mother's Day project until after Mother's Day. I have a sneaky feeling, she might peak!! I have completed my first project. I know I have already posted the one page with Ethan, but I wanted to show that I added it to this group. All of these photo's I have used were of the children decorating Easter Eggs this spring. My sister and her family were here, so I was able to add them into the memory frame book. I don't know what to call it!! I used the On Board Book Basics { On sale this Month!! May 2008, check out my Stampin' Up! website for more details ;)

This is Ty's page. All of the pages are simple. I stuck to one theme of photo's, and one DSP set. I chose Le Jardin. I thought it was elegant, but not too girly. Most of the pages do not have a bunch of scallops because I was working with boys. I also tried to keep the floral images to a minimum. Except for Taylor's page, I got to even add bling to that page ;) For Ty, I added Always Artichoke behind his photo. Then I had another mat created with Bashful Blue and Basic Black. I love the look of the thin mat using Basic Black. I basically stacked paper for his page, and added some doodling with my white gel pen. I will say this: TIP ALERT : I punched out all different shapes under those layers. I did not waste any paper in all this layering!! For example, directly behind Ty's photo is Always Artichoke. Before gluing Ty to the A.A. paper, I punched out photo corner's, circle's, what ever punch would fit and not be seen!! I do that for all my layers. I have a container that holds all my punched out shapes. Most of them I turn right around and use for the project I am working one, but in this case, looks like I didn't use punches. This page is with Bowen and Spencer. Ok, they aren't actually decorating eggs, you can tell because they aren't wearing tye dye like the other kids. But it is the same time frame, and they are just ADORABLE. I really like this shot, so I added it. Another simple page. Just added journal and white doodles.
Gotta say, this is one of my fav's. Lots of punches used here. I should go back and add punches to Ty and the cousins pages.... think I will ;) They add so much, as you can see!! Plus, I love blue, and Q's page has blue through out it. The face he is making is priceless. The concentration! Whew, what had work it is dipping eggs into dye!

That sums up my Mother's Day projects for my mom!! Can I get back to card making now??? Hee Hee

Happy Stampin' Friends!

Andi

Mother's Day gift...continued ;)

2008-04-30T17:03:00.001-07:00

Hello! I have been BUSY BUSY! We are building a house this summer, Mother's Day is around the corner....and of course, I have all my children to attend too ;) So I apologize for not posting so much lately! Here is 1/2 of my gift to my mother. I know the one photo was already posted in an earlier post (Quinten),
but I connected it with the others posted here in this post. I used the On Board Book Basics Chipboard (ON SALE THE MONTH OF MAY 2008, check it out!!!). I decided to double side these with photo's. My mom can change it up when ever she feels like it. My photo's are Black and White so that I could coordinate the DSP on all sides. I did try and leave Taylor's photo in full color, it was hideous. Not the photo, but the colors I would have had to go with would have looked awful with the papers I chose. My children were all wearing Tye Dye t-shirts. So I had to re-print her photo in bl & wh. The Designer Series Paper I went with for this project is the Le Jardin paper. I also used Clear Transparency Sheets to protect the photo's and pages. Their names were stamped with Black Stazon directly on the transparency sheets.Working on Taylor's "page" was a lot of fun! I got to use flowers and bling!! A lot of punches were used for his project. The Scallop Punch was used on Taylors along with the retired Spring Bouquet flower trio punch. The 1 3/8"circle and the 1 1/2" circle punches were used on Tay's too.For Elliott's 'page': The 1 3/8 circle, 1 1/2 circle, 1/2" circle punch (used for the faux scallop), Photo Corner Punch, Key Tag Punch (behind the Designer Label punch), Designer Label Punch, and Ticket Corner Punch were all used!!
For Ewan's page, a lot of Paper Piercing was used! What?!? No punches?? must have been a mistake ;) I doodled with my white gel pen, had a bit to journal as well. The Double Stitched River Rock Ribbon was used to hold this project together. I was able to punch through the chip board EASY with my Crop-a-Dile!!
Hope you like!! Happy Stampin'

For a friend

2008-04-28T03:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a cute card! I haven't used this set in a long time! Thought is was perfect for a friend of mine that is having hard times. The set is called Hang In There. It is a retired Stampin' Up! set.
My color scheme, is Pretty In Pink, Soft Sky and Basic Black. I like how a bit of black bordering ties everything together. It works great because the image was first inked in Basic Black! I then water colored the image with Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink (for the cheeks and birdie), Certainly Celery for leaves of tree, and Close to Cocoa. The sky was brayered Sky Blue with a touch of Pretty in Pink. The grass is Certainly Celery with Pretty in Pink Flowers, and Always Artichoke stems. I added some white doodling on the flowers with my gel pen. There is a bit of paper piercing on everything! The tag was created with my Window Word Punch, Scallop Punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, and 1 1/2 circle punch. I also used the Photo Corners punch!
For emboss resist technique:
I went over the entire cat, branch and bird with VersaMark marker. Then I sprinkled clear embossing powder over the stamped image and embossed. This was done so I could then brayer the sky over the cat with out messing up the job I did with coloring. I also just love the touch it adds when you emboss your images. The stamped image is glossy, and just pops!
Hope you like!!
Happy Stampin'

Simple Simple

2008-04-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

Hello! Here is another simple card. I used the set Simply Said by Stampin' Up! I really liked this color scheme, and the way it turned out. You can't see it very well, but the background was stamped in Whisper White Craft. It looks nice :)

My color scheme Groovy Guava and Bashful Blue. I stamped the strip with those colors, and for the solid stamps, I first inked them in VersaMark, then in the Groovy Guava or Bashful Blue. This was done so I could emboss those images. That made the simple card a bit more special. I love the look of the clear embossing over the bold stamps. They really pop with that added shine. I created the scallops with the corner rounder, then added dots with my white gel pen. I like the look of the doodling around the Key Tag punch too. All the added touches really improve a card. After some Hodgepodge Hardware and some Double Stitched Groovy Guava, my card was complete.

What do you all think of the simple cards I have been making? I think it is important to know, not all cards need to take hours to create. You need to know, a quick and simple card can be made at anytime. You don't need to run to the card shop to pick up a quick card for an occasion that snuck up on you. Just make it, and pop it in the mail!! I know I need to know quick cards are good to make. I have a lot of children and plan to spend a lot of time with them. The weather has been BEAUTIFUL!! Time to play outside ;)

Happy Stampin' Friends~

Another Simple card

2008-04-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

Hey! Yet another SIMPLE card! You have to have simple cards too. Some days, you just don't have a ton of time. Here is an idea for you that times hardly any! I used Polka Dots & Paisleys. My color scheme was Blue Bayou, Groovy Guava, and White. I simply stamped the background in Whisper White Craft. Then I used the Groovy Guava pad and inked up the top of the flower, took the Brocade Blue Stampin' Write Marker and added some blue right on top of the Guava, held my stamp about 12" away from me, rubber facing me, then squirted a water bottle at it. After that, I stamped the image on white. It looks water colored! The outline of the flower was inked in Blue Bayou. I did a lot of Paper Piercing and a bit of punching. For punches I used the Scallop Punch, Key Tag Punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, and 1 1/2" circle punch. The ribbon is the Blue Bayou Double Stitched ribbon.

Happy Stampin'

joy

2008-04-25T15:57:00.000-07:00

Hello!! Now THIS is a EASY and QUICK card! And I love it! I used Polka Dots & Paisley by Stampin' Up! (still trying NOT to use all those cutsie stamps ) and then my fav color is blue, so I started with those!

Card base is 6 X 6 for a 3X6 finished card. I used Blue Bayou and stamped with Whisper White Craft Ink. The dots and doodling were created with my gel pen. The scallop was punched in Groovy Guava. Then the Blue Bayou was punched using the 1 3/8" circle punch. The saying was inked in Groovy Guava, and then punched with the Key Tag Punch. I added a few brads from Hodgepodge Hardware, and that is it! How easy is that? Everyone has time to make this card!!!

Hope you like it!

Happy Stampin'

Credit Card Orders for SU!

2008-04-25T04:35:00.000-07:00

Stampin' Up! is now allowing demonstrators to accept credit card orders from customers!!! I can now keep your credit card on file (encrypt on SU! site) and you can place an order EASY and have it shipped directly to you in no time!! Woo Hoo!! This is GREAT!
Happy Stampin'!

Pretty

2008-04-24T05:12:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! I decided to start stamping some "pretty" cards since I have been stamping "cute" cards lately. So my next few posts are more floral.
The stamp set I chose to use here is one of my all time favorites. Heartfelt Thanks by Stampin' Up! If you don't have this set, you just have to get it before it is retired. (no retired list, I am just saying if you see it on there this year, grab it!!) I LOVE it. It is absolutely beautiful. The image just makes the card spectacular every time.
My color scheme is Bashful Blue and Groovy Guava. I just LOVE how that main flower turned out. I first inked it in Bashful Blue, then added Groovy Guava around the edges. The stem I used Green Galore Stampin' Write Marker. I held the stamp, rubber side facing me, about 12" and then sprayed a mist of water on it with my water bottle. You then immediately stamp the image. "Misting With Marker's" is the technique. I think it turned out fabulous. Looks like I water colored the image! The outline of the flower is Groovy Guava and Always Artichoke. The "heartfelt" is Blue Bayou. To get the oval, I used the Creative Memories Cutting System. It is the only thing I use of Creative Memories. I love their cutting system. I cut the top of the oval, skipped the lettering for the heartfelt, WITH OUT MOVING THE CUTTING TEMPLATE, and then continued cutting the bottom of the oval. It was easy to do. The next two ovals, were cut in full.
I am not very good at using circles and ovals. It took me a while to come up with a layout/sketch. I decided squares on the side looked good, and I just knew I wanted to use my scallop punch. I will create a label for my cards where I used circles and ovals. That way if you aren't comfy with them either, you can see what I have done with them, and maybe it will help you!
I stamped the outline of the single flower head all over the back with White Craft ink. That made a nice background. A little hard to see in the photo. There is a lot of Paper Piercing and White doodling with the gel pen. The ribbon is the Double Stitched Blue Bayou Ribbon.
Hope you like my card! Sorry I didn't get on the computer yesterday. Wednesday is a busy day for me. And then we end it with Church in the evening. I was just whipped after church. Have fun stampin'! I hope I have inspired you to get that "Heartfelt Thanks" stamp set out!!
Andi

Shore do Love you

2008-04-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Here is yet another card using the Crab & Company stamp set by Stampin' Up! What a fun set!! I plan to make a bunch of cards for my sister for her birthday. That is the #1 reason I bought this set. I love gifts like that. I keep the set and get years and years of use with them, my friends and family get the cards. They love the cards, because they are all done and ready to send. It is "win, win" ;)

This card's color scheme is Taken with Teal and Chocolate Chip. Love that color combo!! I stamped the crab twice, once for the main image, and once so I could cut out the claws and then pop them out to hold the sign (Key Tag Punch was used to create sign). I used my Aqua Pen to water color the crab. The clam was colored in full with the Taken with Teal Stampin' Write Marker. I added doodling with my white gel pen to the clam, the crab's claws, and around the border of the full card. The scallops were created using my Slit Punch. I have taken a couple photo's of the process to help show you how.

I used my Paper Piercer and Mat Pack for some more details, and the Taken with Teal Stampin' Write Marker was used for details around the Key Tag Punch.

What do you think?? Isn't this crab cute!! Cute stamps are so fun and easy!!

Have fun Stampin' ;)

Crabby Birthday color challenge CC161

2008-04-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

Hey! I saw this color combo challenge a few weeks ago and was like "NO WAY" how can you make a card NOT look like a Christmas card when you use Real Red and Glorious Green? I guess I liked the idea of this challenge more than I thought, because I kept thinking about it, and then today I took the challenge!! SO! Here it is! Splitcoastchallenge CC161 Glorious Green, Real Red and Night of Navy. Whew! A challenge indeed. I chose to use Crab & Company. My newest addition to my stamp collection. I really, really like how this card turned out. Glad I took the challenge. I did a bit of Paper Tole (stamped the image twice and cut out the face to pop it out, and then cut out part of the claws to pop them out) The face, claws, cake and gift are all embossed. I wanted them to stand out. I off set the google eyes to make him humorous! The eyes were too large for the shrimp, so I added some glaze to the shrimps eyes. The hat was actually punched out using SU!'s retired Birthday Hat punch. It worked perfectly! I added some doodling with my white Gel Pen, and some red gingham ribbon.

Hope you like it! What do you think about those color's?!?

Happy Stampin' Friends ;)

Featured Stamper Challenge

2008-04-20T11:53:00.001-07:00

Hello! This is the first time I have ever tried the Featured Stampers Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I chose a card, and used it for inspiration. I kept the same color scheme and sketch. My stamps are different, and I used flower eyelets and a lot of piercing. I THINK I followed the rules! The card I featured was first created by Jodi, AKA KHARAGIRL

I used Pretty Princess, retired by Stampin' Up!. The princess was stamped with Basic Black onto white card stock. I then stamped her again on Almost Amethyst and Pretty in Pink. the crown & top of the dress was cut out of the Almost Amethyst, and the heart from her crown, and star were cut out of Pretty in Pink. I water colored the dress that was stamped on white with those colors as well. I used my paper piercer and Mat Pack to create a border around the girl and the card. The larger crown was stamped twice. Once on white, and once on Pretty In Pink. I punched out a scallop out of Almost Amethysts, and two circles, one 1 3/8 out of Pretty in Pink, and 1 1/2 with the crown centered on the white. The ribb0n is Stampin' Up's Gingham ribbon. LOOOVE it! The eyelets are retired :( Sorry! Some white doodling with my gel pen, and I think that sums it up! Thanks for looking! Happy Stampin'

Crabby Pop up card

2008-04-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

Hey! We had a nice day. Sun was shining, kids were good, and the stampin' was fun! I created a pop-up card as shown by Dawn. Check out her cute card and her tutorial!

I used crab from Crab & Company. First time using this set! It really is cute! I chose my color scheme from the Color Challenge CC162 on splitcoaststampers. Basic Grey (I had to substitute Going Gray for Basic Grey), Blush Blossom, and Groovy Guava. I also used a Paper Tole (I call it paper piecing ) technique/ challenge TLC162 and an emboss resist technique for the crab. For the layering technique, I first stamped the crab on white. I colored him all in using my aquapainter and SU! Groovy Guava & Going Grey ink pads. Then I stamped him AGAIN. I colored in his face, and his claws. I then stamped him AGAIN, this time I colored in half of his claw. Next for the embossing. I used my VersaMark marker, colored over the images, sprinkled clear embossing powder over the crabs, and then heat embossed with my embossing gun. This seals in the coloring I did earlier. Time for a bit of brayering. I brayered the sky Soft Sky. The sand is Blush Blossom. Very simple. No shading or anything. A bit of Groovy Guava was added to the the top and sides. Time for some Piercing! I got my piercer out and my Mat Pack and pierced around Mr. Crab. I then continued with my layering technique. I cut out the face and claws I had colored in separate. To adhere them, I used Pop Dots. Mr. Crab is very dimensional!! Googly eyes added some life to the party crab too. Lets see, Groovy Guava and Going Gray border Mr. Crab and I paper pierced that too ;) The piece behind Mr. Crab is SIMPLE. I just took the shell and stamped all over for a background. I used Going Grey on the Blush Blossom Card Stock, backed that up with Going Grey.

This is such a cute card, and it closes up flat, fits right into a regular sized envelope! Check out Dawns Blog for instructions!! She has video, so I will let her do the tutorials ;)

Quinten's birthday shots

2008-04-19T04:27:00.001-07:00

Hey! I know this is't stampin', and that is what my blog is all about....but...I thought you might like it if I shared my cutie with you??? Don't you just love the blue frosting and chocolate icecream dripping from his chin to his little fingers! Yesterday was his birthday. I was really busy the whole day! Today I will stamp. I already have the card cut out...just have to stamp and decorate. I am having a get together to stamp today, so I will post tonight! See you then!! Now Get STAMPIN'

Mother's Day Gift 2

2008-04-18T03:08:00.001-07:00

Hello! I apologize for not getting this posted yesterday! It was completed, but I didn't get a chance to get on my blog! I am really loving this project. I am loving how fast it is. I hope they still look really good even though they are not as involved as my cards. I got some great snaps of Quinten while we were decorating eggs. There will be two of him. The sun was coming in bright while we were decorating. I love all the shadowing. Of course, hard to really capture through a photo. The transparency sheet really wants to glare and reflect...

Starting off with the On Board Book Basics, I stuck to the plan to use the same DSP through out this project. I am using Le Jardin DSP. The colors I chose to compliment are So Saffron and Basic Black. I stamped the "Quinten" with Basic Black onto a transparency sheet. Pure and Simple Alphabet was used. This set is retired, but any nice solid lined, clear print alphabet would work. I guess that is it for stamps. I decorated with all my punches (Slit punch for the scallops, Tag & small Tag punches), and I used my uni-ball White Gel Pen for doodling, some brads, and of course, some piercing. I love the mat pack to go along with the piercer. It really helps to make those holes all line up perfect. I also pierced the scallops.

Hope you like! Happy Stampin'!

Mother's Day gift part 1

2008-04-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a sneak peak at my Mother's Day gift for "mom's mom" as my little ones call her!! This is my first attempt at decorating chipboard. The chipboard is 5 X7 On Board Book Basics . I thought they would make a great gift for my mothers. This is like the first of about 8! There are 4 "pages" and then double sided.... I thought they could be used like frames and they could rotate them around for a different photo. I will hook them together when I have them all done.

One Scrapbook basic for me is, if the photo is black and white, it is much easier to group a bunch of photos together to "unite" them all. Actually, that is a basic for my for any photo project. For example, one of the walls in my home is full of 5X7 photos of my children. All at different ages, different seasons. They all match because they are in the same frames, and all the photos are black and white. Had the photos been all full color, my wall would be crazy. Just way too much. I keep the same idea for my scrapbooking. That way, you can match up photos that wouldn't normally match, or pick out background paper that you really like, and not have to worry about it matching the color of the shirt your child it wearing...Ethan is wearing Tie-dye in this photo! Bright colors would look great with him if it were full color photo, but then the bright colors really wouldn't match my mother and her home decor. WHEW, now that I explained that!!!
SO, I used the On Board Basics, Photo Corner Punch, Key Tag punch, Tab punch, Le Jardin DSP, Mellow Moss, and Basic Black card stocks. Pretty simple design really. The final touches really set it off. What I really like about this "page" is that I used the clear transparency sheet right on top of the page. This way, not only will it protect the photo, but I stamped Ethan's name right on the transparency sheet with Black Stazon ink. It really looks sharp. I plan to carry this technique through out the pages. Hope you like it!!
Happy Stampin' and craftin' y'all!!

Thank you for my mother

2008-04-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! What a gorgeous day here in upstate NY!! I just got back with a couple of my kids from a bike ride. It is breezy out, but nice and sunny ;)

I made a thank you for my mother. She watched all of my boys at the drop of a hat this weekend. My family is all great. They are all always there for me!! The weekend, my mom gave me the opportunity to take my daughter shopping at the mall. This is a rare thing. With one daughter and five boys, the mall just isn't appealing to me!! Much more fun with just my daughter! ;)

I decided to make another Surprise Pop-Up card. The other one is already in the mail, so I figure, she hasn't seen this yet, so!, a good design to make again!! My mother really likes pink, so I went with Close to Cocoa and Pretty in Pink for my color scheme. I used the Stampin' Up! set Because of You (sorry, retired). I haven't really ever used this set yet, and it really spoke to me last night. Perfect for my mom! She LOVES flowers, and the saying is right on! I colored one of the flowers, Almost Amethyst & Pretty in Pink, and the other flower I colored Apricot Appeal and a bit of Pretty in Pink again with the Close to Cocoa in the middle. The butterfly's are amethyst and pink. I went over the flowers and the butterfly's with the VersaMark marker so I could emboss them and the brayer the background a bit. I used Certainly Celery for the grass, and Soft Sky with a touch of Pretty in Pink for the sky. Some of the grass was hand drawn, some was with the stamp that came with the set. I used Always Artichoke for that. A bit of white doodling with my handy dandy gel pen, and I think that sums it up! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

Happy Stampin'

Birthday card for a Friend

2008-04-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends! Here is a card I made for a friend who has a little cutie that is turning 2 just before my little cutie!! Literally JUST before! We were in the hospital together. Only I always say, she "cheated" because she had her little boy 3 weeks early and I had to go the full 9 months!! ha ha ;)

The card I made today is a suprise pop - up card. Pull the ribbon and the inside is revealed.

You can find instructions for this type of card in the gallery under resource. This Stampin' Up! set is old. The boy is actually holding a ice slushy, I didn't ink that up. I inked up the balloon the little girl in the set is holding. I did this twice so he could be holding up "2" balloons. Going with the "two" theme here!! Two balloons, two brads and the number "2". My color scheme is Wild Wasabi and Apricot Appeal. I stamped the balloons on the white with the little boy (we'll call him Matthew), then one on Wild Wasabi, and one on Apricot Appeal. I cut them out of the colored paper, then pasted them on the white. The white dots were added with gel pen. I also paper pieced the little coverals. I stamped the little boy a second time onto Certainly Celery Designers Series Prints, then cut the overals out and pasted them onto "Matthew"on the white paper. I framed the image with Black and Apricot Appeal. The dots are with my gel pen. I added glitter to the popcorn. Glitter always seems to mess my photo's up, but I think you get the idea.
Hope you like it!! Hope Matthew likes it!!
Happy Stampin' !!

My baby is almost TWO

2008-04-13T04:23:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends! I am sorry I have been away from my blog for a couple days :( Friday was crazy. I was really busy with my little ones. Then I had a workshop that afternoon. Saturday my daughter had a tournament all day. I did stamp, but by the time the card was done, it was too dark to take a photo! I just LOVE this card. (can I toot my own horn?) There is a lot of inspiration with this card. My baby is turning 2 this week. I thought I would make him a card. I don't always make cards for my children. I feel like I am making a card for myself. I think I will do something with this card after his birthday, maybe add a photo to it and scrap them together? Or something with chip board and have a them framed together? More inspiration came from Beate's technique "thumping". The title of her technique was intriguing. I thought maybe I had done it before and just didn't call it anything. Maybe I have....I don't know. BUT I wouldn't have last night if I weren't on Split Coast Stampers, checking out what is new! Check it out!! Very cool Technique and I think it turned out great on this card. My other inspiration came from the sketch challenge. I checked out this weeks sketch, then went on to figure out what would go with it! I had the idea to use 2 cupcakes (the cupcake is from Treat Yourself by Stampin' Up!), I wanted to use my Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon, and the Print Pattern Background stamp. Wild Wasabi Ribbon started me off on a color scheme. Night of Navy I thought would look great with it and I chose some DSP for the cupcakes - Certainly Celery and So Saffron. I stamped the Cupcakes on white card stock. Then again on the Celery DSP and on the So Saffron paper. From the images stamped on the DSP, I cut out the cupcake bottoms, the little flame, and the cupcake tops. The only thing I water colored in is the candle, with Night of Navy. Because the cupcakes are so large, I trimmed them close. Not trying to over do it, I only paper pierced a bit in the corners on these pieces. I trimmed some Night of Navy behind them closely too in hopes to keep them looking as "one" piece. (as shown on sketch) I then used Wild Wasabi behind the navy, leaving enough border so that I could paper pierce. I used the "thumping" technique on the large background stamp. I first inked it in Wild Wasabi, then took my Night of Navy marker and started tapping the side of it onto the already inked stamp. It left navy markings all over. I "huffed" on the stamp to make sure the ink was moist enough before stamping, and then stamped it, trimmed it to size, and added some Wasabi behind it. I then tried the same technique with the #2 from Pure & Simple Numbers. I inked it in Wild Wasabi and then added Night of Navy taps from the marker. I stamped it on white, then cut it out leaving a border around the #2. I stamped the "you're" from the Family Phrases stamp "you're invited". I did this by taking my Night of Navy marker and only inking the "you're" and omitting the invited. The window punch worked perfectly for this image. I wanted it to really tie the two cupcakes in together, so I placed it touching both cupcakes, added the #2 right on top, and then added a couple brads to really drill the "2" theme in!! I think the whole card just says "2" to me!! Two squares, two cupcakes, two brads, two corners with ribbon, and of course the number 2!! Add some white doodling, some Dazzling Diamonds glitter, and I think that sums it all up!!

I hope you like my card!!

Happy Stampin'

Birthday card with bookmark for my cousin

2008-04-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! I got the idea to add a bookmark as shown, from Mary Jones. I like the idea of having a circle behind the scalloped bookmark. I don't think this card photographed well, I used a lot of Glaze and the card glared a lot with the camera. Sorry. I think you get the idea though.

I made this card for my cousin. She is pretty young, so I wanted to make it girly and cutsie. Happy Heart Day I thought would be perfect!! I knew I had some of this retired DSP left from Stampin' Up! I used that as a starting point and pulled out Tempting Turquoise, Yo Yo Yellow and Orchid Opulence for my color scheme. There is a lot of paper piecing in this card. I used the floral Orchid paper for the shirt of the mouse, and for the butterfly wings. Both of those then have glaze right over the paper. The heart is paper pieced with another DSP from the same set of papers. I think the DSP is called Sweet. I colored in the flower on the heart with Tempting Turquoise and then added glaze on top of it to make it pop. The birthday hat is actually from Crab & Company. The Happy Birthday is from Family Phrases. It is cute, I doodled around the HB with Yo Yo Yellow. You can't really see it in the photo. I also did a lot of paper piercing. You really can't see it all in the photo. I paper pierced around the large floral square, around the oval, under the scallop bookmark, the large white piece is paper pierced and so are the dots on the butterfly's "journey". The flower on the bookmark has glaze as well. I water colored in the flower and then added glaze. As for punches, I used the Scallop Punch, Word Window Punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, 1 1/4 circle punch and the Key Tag Punch.

It is a bummer it didn't photo well. I tried several shots and just couldn't get it to photograph. Must be because there is so much glaze. It really is a cute card...hope you like it anyway!

Happy Stampin'

Andi

Tutorial on Plastic Bag Double Slider

2008-04-08T16:10:00.001-07:00

Here is the tutorial I promised. Dawn has created one on video if you can't understand mine. I am still a new blogger. I haven't gotten into video yet!! I took photo's of every stage. In this tutorial, I am going to let you into my head....my thought process of this card. Are you scared??

Here is a photo of supplies.

Your card front layout, approx size for my card is 3 1/2 by 5 1/2

card base, for my card I used 5 1/2 by 11"

Sticky strip tape, this is recommended because it is so strong

strip from grocery bag, about 1" wide, about 12" long

I started with my color scheme. This card is for my sister, her favorite color is green. So I started with Always Artichoke. From there I used my color coach. GOTTA HAVE ONE!! I got the idea to use Brilliant Blue and Bravo Burgundy with the green. CRAZY!! Bright blue??? I know! But, I like it. I really do. Next, the stamp set. I really wanted to use True Friend. I have seen so many cards with that set that I really like. I wanted to try and make one I could be proud of. Then I just started choosing stamps and working the colors in. Fist stamp I used is the "Thank U" stamp. I really wanted to make it POP, so I wanted to emboss it. I couldn't find my VersaMark pad, so I tried something new...I used my pen directly on the rubber stamp. I wasn't sure if it would work... I went over the stamp with the pen, then with the Brilliant Blue on "thank" and the inside of the "U". I then used the Always Artichoke and tapped the "AA" pen on the rest of the stamp. It kind of looks COOL. I then stamped it on white, and used clear powder to emboss the image. I then trimmed the image, added a piece of Brilliant Blue close cut, and then Always Artichoke, with a larger border so I could paper pierce. You have to kind of plan for these things. I really like close borders, but for paper piercing, the border should be larger. The next image I played with is the large flower with stem. I used my markers and colored the image in. No embossing. I just wanted the one image to "pop". I bordered it tightly with Always Artichoke, and then with a larger border using Bravo Burgundy. I used the white gel pen and doodled a bit on the Burgundy. Then I stamped the small flower's with the circle border. I inked them with markers too. Then punched them out with the 1 1/4 punch, the blue is with the 1 3/8 punch.

ok, next, I set my pieces out and figured out how I wanted them to be on my card front.

Next, I placed them on the Always Artichoke Paper, cut 12 X 5 1/2 and then Scored my card.

Score at 1", 4 1/2, 8" and then at 11" the last inch will be cut off so the total dimension of card is 5 1/2 X 11

Ok, this photo is confusing. There isn't much shadowing on the photo, so it LOOKS like there are only three sections, in reality, there are FOUR sections. The fourth is folded over the third. SO SORRY. I didn't notice until now. The piece of plastic bag is wrapped around the FOURTH section. It goes like this

first section (I scalloped it) is the flap that folds over the BACK of the card to keep the card shut

the second section is the FRONT of the card

the third section is the BACK of the card

the fourth section is the piece that goes in the MIDDLE of the card (wrap the plastic bag here, use sticky tape to keep it wrapped together, make sure it slides around the card good )

You will need two pieces for the inside of your card. The total size on these is about 3 X 5 1/2. You want the inside pieces to be a little less wide than your card so they can slide easy. On one inside piece, you stamp your image at the top. This piece will slide up the top. The other piece, stamp image at bottom. It will slide out bottom.

This is a better shot. You can see the construction here.

Here I am attempting to show you how you put the inside pieces in. These are not taped yet. I just want you to see what the inside of the card will look like while it is opened up.

Ok, the sticky tape against the scalloped side is the BACK FLAP. The next section is actually the inside of the FRONT. Next you can see a bit of the pull-out section that pulls out to the bottom. You will tape the inside piece that pops UP to the plastic bag, on the BOTTOM. The piece that pops DOWN will be stuck to the plastic bag on the TOP.

Here is a photo showing you the sticky strip on the TOP of the baggy strip.

I ended up stamping the large flower in Always Artichoke all over my card front and back. Then added a bit of white with the gel pen. The little circle flowers were not needed after that.

I added some ribbon at top of card to encourage you to pull up. When you pull the ribbon up, the inside of the card pop's up, and down pop's down, at the same time! Really need a video to show how cool this card is. Check out Dawns blog if you want to see it in action!! Her address is in my favorite blogs...

WHEW!!

Happy Stampin' All!!

cute 3X3 cards

2008-04-08T16:01:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends! Here are a couple cute little 3X3 cards. Now I know why Beate loves them so much. They ARE cute and FUN to make. They work great with the Pun Fun Stampin' Up! set! WHICH IS ON SPECIAL this month. If you buy the set, you get the coordinately wheel FREE!!! Contact me if you are interested in the set!! The special is through the end of April, 2008.

The Birdie's color scheme is Regal Rose, Certainly Celery and So Saffron. I water colored the bird in with my Aqua Painter, did some Paper Piercing, and added a bit of ribbon. Boom, done.

The Latte color scheme was Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip and Regal Rose. Very simple cards. But cute. I used the Word Window punch, and some brads. Boom, done. Hee Hee! Hope you like!!

Thank Ewe for sister

2008-04-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!! I'm ba-ack!! I had a really nice trip with my sister this weekend. Another sister of mine kept a couple of my children so I didn't have to travel with all of my kids. I thought I would make her a thank you. Here it is. It really needs a tutorial. In fact, I saw this card made on Dawns blog, remembered the "gist" of it and made it from memory....that is, made it wrong from memory. I had to rip part of it apart and fix it ;) I will create tutorial for it tomorrow. I am still backed up with laundry and kitchen work today, I only had time to create the card, not tutorial ;)
SO!

My color scheme is Old Olive, and Pink Passion to match the Flower Fusion on the lower right corner. I stamped the cute ewe in black Stazon then colored over it with VersaMark so I could emboss resist. I used Gable Green and Old Olive for the grass (Always Artichoke Marker for individual blades) My flowers were Pink Passion Marker. The sky is Sky Blue with Pink Passion highlights. I finished the card off with my Photo Corner Punch, some Paper Piercing, the Flower Fusion flowers and some brads. On the inside of the card, the top pull-out reads "Thank Ewe" in pink passion. I decorated with the Rub-On's for the SAB. I have never used rub on's before. They were fun! And I think they look cool. I used the Double Stitched Soft Sky ribbon at the top of the card to encourage the receiver to pull up on inside tab.
When you pull the top of the card, the bottom comes out at the same time! Very Cool. I promise to do a tutorial for this card. If you would like to check it NOW, check out Dawn's blog. She has a bunch of tutorials on her blog, including the Plastic Bag Double Slider card!!
Happy Stampin' Friends and I hope you like my card!!

Baskets made by my mom and sister ;)

2008-04-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

Hello! Here are the baskets I told you about yesterday. My mother and sister came over yesterday and I taught them how to make that adorable basket. I think they had fun. The baskets they made turned out GREAT!!

Debby's color scheme is Chocolate Chip and Bashful Blue. She used a few different stamp sets together. Debby used Boho Backgrounds for the background. The flower is from Priceless, and the cute little purse is from A Little Love. I don't use that set much, but how adorable on this little basket! Great job!

Heidi's color scheme is Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip, White and So Saffron. The Stampin' Up! set she used is Boho Backgrounds. The flower in the center was created by first inking up with VersaMark ink and then with Chocolate Chip right on top. She then embossed with clear powder. This allowed her to then color in the image with So Saffron with out smearing brown. Heidi paper pierced the handle and added some white with the uniball white gel pen.
This basket Heidi created using Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip, with Bashful Blue as an accent. The two stamp sets used are Boho Backgrounds and A Little Love. Heidi crimped some Bashful Blue for the inside of the basket!
All turned out GREAT!
Thanks for looking. I think I am going away for the full weekend, so I won't be stamping and posting....sorry!
Have a great weekend!
As always, happy stampin'

Cute basket and matching note card

2008-04-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

Hello! I know I posted a basket yesterday. Yesterday I was trying to post a more "elegant" basket. Today's basket is CUTE. I used Stampin' Up!'s Pun Fun. There is a cute note card to match. My color scheme is Regal Rose, Certainly Celery and Whisper White. I colored the skunk in with Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery and Regal Rose. A bit of paper piercing, some punches, and a bit of ribbon, and DONE! Quick and EASY! ;)

....upcoming for tomorrow....MORE baskets. I have to share. My sister and mom came over and stamped a bit. Their baskets, yes same pattern, are different yet! So great. My house is a disaster, I must clean tomorrow, and FOLD LAUNDRY!!! So I am posting my mom and sisters baskets tomorrow! Better come back and check them out too ;)

Happy Stampin' Friends!!

Andi

Pretty Basket

2008-04-01T15:46:00.001-07:00

Hey, I thought this was a cute basket when I saw it made up for Easter. I had never made one before. I thought I would attempt to make a favor for a wedding (?) I wanted to make it pretty. A friend of mine is looking for ideas....

This was SOOOO easy. If you like the look of it, TRY IT! Wow, easy. Another friend was looking for a project to make for 60 guests, this would be great. It is quick and easy, REALLY!!

For this project, my color scheme is Close to Cocoa and Taken with Teal. I used two different wheels. The wheel on the left is (LOVE LOVE LOVE the jumbo wheels! Contact me for more info on Stampin' Up!'s FREE WHEELING promotion!!) Jumbo Petals the wheel on the right is Jumbo So Swirly. The stamp sets I used are Polka Dots & Paisley and Priceless. Ok, the flowers aren't a perfect match...but I didn't want to add candy. I wanted it to have more of an elegant look rather than just cute. If the flowers matched, I think it would be better...;)

I made directions up with a photo.
REVISED!! OH MY I forgot to tell you how big the square is!!
The base of the basket is a 5 1/2 square! Score all sides at 1 3/4

#1 are the strips for the handle measuring 3/4" and 1/4"
#2 wheel or stamp out background
#3 score all around 1 3/4"
#4 add sticky strip pieces to inside corners of outer corners
#5 round corners if you want (only one shown)
#6 cut into center corner (4 cuts)
I hope this helps!

Below I was trying to show how you pull up ends and then adhere to the middle square. Do this on both sides. Adhere the strip for a handle and you are done!

Happy Stampin' Friends!!

Time for Spring!!

2008-03-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Is it Time for Spring?!? I think so!! I really like this Unfrogettable set I am borrowing from my sister Tammi. I thought would try and put him in some water and create a bit of a scene. I should have stamped the flower that came with the set and then colored it in too, but didn't think to add flowers until after the scene was brayered so I went with the flower from Priceless. The words "time for spring" are from Everyday Flexible Sayings. My color scheme is hmmm, well, that is tough to say! My papers are Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, Black and then the water color paper. I water colored the frog with Wild Wasabi, his cheeks are Groovy Guava with a touch of Purely Pomegranate in the center of the cheek. The dragonflies are Orchid Opulence, Purely Pomegranate and Yo Yo yellow! The colors I sponged and brayered into the sky are Yo Yo yellow, Blush Blossom, and Groovy Guava (In that order, and the Yo Yo is only on the bottom, against the grass). I used Soft Sky, Bordering Blue and Night of Navy for the water. The grass is Wild Wasabi and bit of Always Artichoke (grass is Always Artichoke Marker) Those are all the colors! (I think ;) !!) I like to use the Versamark Pen after I color in my little guys and then emboss them with clear powder so I can brayer or sponge right over them with out loosing my color job. I Paper Pierced a bit, added some double stitched Wild Wasabi ribbon, scalloped using my corner rounder... and boom, done! This type of card is a lot faster for me then those ones I have to think about and actually come up with a sketch or a layout for! I hope you like it. I thought it was super cute. Thanks to Stampin' Up! for such adorable images!! ;)

I should be cleaning...but it is so nice to stamp!!

2008-03-31T10:29:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends!!! Well, yes, I should be cleaning, but I am here posting for you all ;) I have SO much to do so I will try not to talk too much! Quinten keeps climbing out of his crib, and since I don't fit in the crib too well to lay down with him until he falls asleep....I thought I would move beds around AGAIN! You have no idea how many times beds have been moved from room to room, floor to floor here. I have six children, and let me tell you, nothing is permanent! ;) I did mop my floors today...so I guess I can share with you a couple of my latest cards ;)

My first card I created was for a splitcoast sketch challenge. Basically, I needed some help creating with True Friend set from Stampin' Up! I think I am better at water coloring images in and going from there. I LOVE this set, I think it is beautiful, but I need help with it because there isn't much coloring. I hope you like my creations! I made two. One was the sketch SC169. To see more sketches like this one, check out http://splitcoaststampers.com/ and look up SC169

Ok for the recipe: My color scheme is Brocade Blue, Close to Cocoa and Groovy Guava. I stamped the large flower in Versamark Ink and then in Close to Cocoa. This way I could emboss the flower so that when I colored it in, the brown wouldn't run. I painted it in with Guava and Brocade. The smaller flowers were done using the misting with markers technique as explained in earlier post. Same colors were used. The Groovy Guava background was created with the cuttlebugs embossing template birthdays. THANK YOU CASEY for letting me use the cuttlebug!! Then I started putting it all together and adding finishing touches....like the paper piercing LOVE LOVE LOVE that tool kit from Stampin' Up! Love having a guide! I added a jumbo eyelet with bling in the middle, some more hodgepodge hardware, and then some double stitched Groovy Guava Ribbon. Hope you like!!

My next card, not as pretty, but I am glad I tried it. I wanted to try the True Friends flower stamp as a flower in a field. It is ok. I don't think it is BAD, but I don't think I will try this flower used this way again. I like the layout though...I used the Misting with Markers technique again and then the versamark pen to emboss the flowers so I could emboss resist with a brayer. My colors are the same as above for the flowers, Groovy Guava, Brocade Blue and Close to Cocoa. My card base is Soft Sky and the piece behind the watercolor paper is Wild Wasabi...which by the way, I am WILD about! LOVE that color!! The cute little butterflies are from Small Sayings. What a wonderful set!

I guess that is it for today...

I have another card I made this morning....you better come back tomorrow. Boy is it cute! I am waiting on posting it since I have so much work to do. I may not get to stamp tomorrow. You know, I don't have a
Stampin' room. So what a mess I have made. I am just as bad as the kids! Only I clean their messes up AND mine ;)

Happy Stampin' Friends and thanks for looking!!!

OH!! I am so proud! I figured out how to move my photos around on my posts. So they won't be all bunched up at the top anymore! YIPPY!!!

Flowers and flowers

2008-03-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

This is my second attempt at the Misting with Marker Technique. It is ok. I think I like the first one better. I went over the main flower with the versamark marker and embossed it, so it is shiny in the photo and you can't really see the full color. For colors, I used Close to Cocoa, Soft Sky and Orchid. A much simpler card, I used less punches! Just the retired Spring Bouquet punch for this one. A bit of ribbon and some Hodgepodge Hardware for finishing touches.

Have a wonderful day friends ;)

Happy Stampin'

Truely a Friend

2008-03-29T14:19:00.000-07:00

Hello! I still had my orchid scraps out so I thought I would use some of them up! I tried the Misting with Markers technique from the Try a New Technique on http://splitcoaststampers.com Very cool. What you do is simple. Use a bold image such as the flower I chose. Take markers and color the image in. Instead of "huffing" on the inked image when you are done, hold the stamp away from you about 12" and then mist it with a water filled spray bottle. You can spray the air and then "catch" the water mist onto the inked up image too. Then just stamp it out. I used watercolor paper because I am really getting into the textured papers. I went ahead and went over the flowers with the versamark marker and then embossed it. I then sponged some Soft Sky. The colors I chose for this project are Orchid Opulence, Soft Sky, Brocade Blue, and Wild Wasabi. I used a bunch of punches ;) Here are a list of them: Ticket Corner, Key Tag, Photo Corners, Corner Rounder for scallops, 1" and 1 1/4 " circle, Designer Label and Spring Flowers (retired). Add some doodling, and some bling, and done!! I hope you enjoy this card idea. I hope it inspires you to stamp! Try the Misting with Markers Technique!

Happy Stampin'

challenge

2008-03-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

Hello out there! I did a double challenge this morning. I took on the Flap Fold Card and Color Challenge from SCS. I haven't made one of these Flap Fold Cards in a LONG time. I think when I did make one, I didn't know there was a name for it. It was probably 8 yrs ago. So this was fun to create one of these cards. If you would like exact details on size and scoring, check out http://scor-pal.com for tutorials. I made my card a little wider, but the gist is there! The color challenge was Orchid, Sage Shadow and Kraft. Honestly, I didn't think it would be that difficult. I really like Orchid, Kraft is a neutral, and I thought I would use the Unfrogettable set I borrowed from my sister, so Sage should fit in easy. HUH!! I admit, it took me A LOT longer than I thought to put it all together. The frog on the scallop was challenging. I kept adding too much white details. So finally I just outlined around the 1 3/4 punch, and left the frog alone. I had wanted to add white dots on him, but it was too much. I added some bling onto the ribbon. They are the rhinestone brads from SU!. I didn't punch a hole in the ribbon though. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, so I wrapped the brad around it instead. I think it looks cool. Like a belt. I paper pierced a bit on the top, and that is it! Not too much to say since the colors are just Orchid, Sage and Kraft!! Hope you like the final product! I think I will send this to my sister in Honduras. It is bright and cheery and I think she could use a "pick me up"!

Happy Stampin' Friends!!

Heidi's Birthday Card

2008-03-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hello! Well, I think this is one of those cards you say "I guess...." The first time I stamped it, my ink needed to be re-inked, so the image wasn't dark enough...but I didn't realize this until AFTER I brayered the image. Then the second time I stamped and brayered the image, I added a color I think I shouldn't have. So then I thought I would try a third time. I think it is fine, I just wish there was some rust in the ground. I think the sky is a little boring too, but didn't know what to add. So, "I guess..."

I used Stampin' Up! Bronc Buster. Cool image of the cowboy and horse. I inked him in Versamark, then Close to Cocoa so I could emboss-resist. I heat embossed the image with clear powder. Then I brayered the sky with Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, and Not Quite Navy. The ground is Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa and Basic Black. Then I started to assemble my card and added punches and Hodgepodge Hardware! I used the retired Outlaw DSP and a strip of the retired Round Up SSK. Cardstock colors are Creamy Caramel and Not Quite Navy. I doodled with Black Marker. Hope you like it! Most importantly, I hope Heidi likes her birthday card to go along with her birthday tin in an earlier post!

Happy Stampin'

for my niece

2008-03-22T06:12:00.000-07:00

Hello! I stamped this a couple days ago and colored it when I colored the ewe from yesterday's post. I water colored the kitty from Pun Fun on watercolor paper with Only Orange and Purely Pomegranate on cheeks, and then embossed it with the versamark pen and clear powder. After that, it was ready to be finished when ever....that when ever was this morning! The base of the card is Certainly Celery. I brayered the sky So Saffron, Apricot Appeal, Summer Sun, Only Orange and Purely Pomegranate. For the grass, I brayered Green Galore (then masked off "Purrrfect so it wouldn't be buried in ink), Certainly Celery, and Wild Wasabi. I stamped the flowers from Priceless with Purely Pomegranate and added a little white gel pen in the centers. I then hand drew in some stems and grass with Always Artichoke. The Kitty piece was all done, then I started putting my card together and playing with my punches! I faux scalloped the side with 3/4" circles, the Window Word punch was used at the top and bottom, and the 3/4 circle & 1" circle were used for the tag. I added some ribbon from SU!'s Ribbon Originals "Sherbet", and some bling to the circle. Some Barely Banana eyelets, and some doodling finished this card off.

I thought if I added the tag, this card would qualify for the Way To Use It challenge on htttp://www.splitcoaststampers.com If you want to see more samples, check out WT158 in the search Field at splitcoaststampers.

I hope you enjoyed this card. You may not hear from me for awhile. My sister and her family are coming to town for this week and I plan on spending lots of time with them!! Happy Easter to all!!! God Bless!!!

Thank Ewe!!

2008-03-21T16:51:00.001-07:00

Hello blogger friends! I almost didn't get this one posted today. I almost missed the sunlight! I started it this morning, but I was SO busy, I didn't get it done until this evening, so kind of a late post. But you never know with me. I post anytime of the day! Stay home mom...

I am happy with how this turned out. I used my brayer. Zindorf has really really really inspired me to be creative again. She does INCREDIBLE art with stamps, ink and brayer! If you haven't checked out her stuff, you definitely should!! http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com I am a very picky stamper, and let me tell you, she will WOW you. Every card she makes is gorgeous...actually, better. I don't even know what words to use!

Anyway....I was inspired and started being creative again! I started off with watercolor paper, then stamped the lamb with basic black * I should have used Stazon...I will explain why later. I water colored with the ewe with Groovy Guava, and the heart is Wild Wasabi. Then I used the band colored over the entire image * this is why I wish I used the Stazon ink, some of the BB ink got pulled into the ewe. I backed up the ewe with Taken With Teal that I had distressed with my Cutter Tool Kit. Then masked the bottom off and started to brayer. I used Soft Sky first, then a bit of Tempting Turquoise. Taken with Teal was last. I added more on the corners. For the bottom, I brayered Green Galore and Wild Wasabi. Then I used my Always Artichoke marker and hand drew in some grass (FUN FUN FUN!!) I added some Always Artichoke with sponge onto corners for more depth. My card base is Wild Wasabi (textured) and Groovy Guava {textured and embossed with cuttlebug, "Thank you Casey for letting me borrow it ;) " I finished the card off with some Hodgepodge Hardware, the Photo Corner Punch, Slit Punch, Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon and some doodling with my gel pen.

I hope you enjoy this post!

Happy Stampin' ;)

For my sisters birthday

2008-03-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

This is the side, I tried getting it posted with the last post and had trouble. Maybe someday I will stop posting stuff backwards!! I like the details on the side, that is why I am adding this....

Happy Stampin' All!!

For my Sister's Birthday...

2008-03-20T06:34:00.000-07:00

Howdy! I was working on this yesterday, so I wasn't able to post it until I was done! My sister's birthday is creeping up and I thought I would make a little something for her. I had a small Paint Can here, and thought it was a good challenge. I have not ever decorated a paint can before! I bought this paint can at Lowes. I think it was like $2. Cheap. It would be nice filled with chocolate or jellybeans. Heidi likes fruity stuff, so I made a little goodie bag to go in the can, filled with jelly beans. I didn't want to over sugar her...we are all trying to get our beach bodies back!!! Ha Ha!! Heidi has always liked western stuff, so I went with the Cowboy Kid set again from SU!

My papers were the retired SSK Round Up. I have a lot of that kit left, so you may see a lot of samples using that kit. You can just substitute the papers, or, I am sure I am not the only one out there with this kit!! Before I forget, I used a transparency sheet again. I stamped the cowboy with Stazon onto the transparency sheet. It is lined up on top of my cowboy that is stamped on the white. This makes the little boy "pop" My colors for the cowboy were Sage Shadow on his boots, hat, holster. I actually colored them right in with the marker. I usually water color everything....wow, I didn't this time! I tried decorating the hat and boots with a white gel pen, but it didn't show up real well. The little candy bag turned out better with those details. I stamped the hat on Creamy Caramel, and then cut it out. The white gel pen showed up good on that so I drew a feather on his hat. Back to the can, I used Blue Bayou for his shirt and then added details with Close to Cocoa marker. Really Rust on his scarf, and Close to Cocoa on his shorts. For punches, I used the photo corner punch, scallop punch and 1 3/4 & 1 1/2 circle punches. There is a jumbo eyelet in the middle of the 1/2 scallop punch and some hemp. I think the details of a project can really step it up. So I was sure to add a lot of fine details. It was FUN. Reminded me of when I use to paint! Hope you enjoy my post! Now go get a paint can and get creative!!!

Happy Stampin'

Easter Card

2008-03-18T11:49:00.001-07:00

Hello! I can't believe Easter is just a few days away. I have been so busy checking my calender and making sure I haven't missed birthdays, I almost missed Easter Cards! I got them done this morning. I will have them in the mail this afternoon. I think they turned out cute. I used an old idea with some old DSP. I haven't made this kind of card in a LONG time!!! The card looks a little plain on the front, until you pull the little tab to the right of the card, and the truck "magically" comes to life, full of color! I had a hard time finding clear window sheets/acetate, so what I finally found and used is Transparency Sheets from an office store! There is like 100 sheets per box. I think it will take me a long time to use up these!!! Maybe I will start making clear boxes and bags with them???

Card Recipe:

My color scheme for this card is Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum, So Saffron and White. I stamped the truck from Loads Of Love with Stazon Black onto the clear transparency sheet. Then I stamped with Basic Black onto Whisper White. I used my Aquapainter to color in the girl, boy, eggs, and wheels. I stamped the truck again on DSP, cut it out, and then glued it onto the truck I had stamped on the white paper. I masked over the truck and then added Soft Sky and Ballet Blue with a brayer and sponge for the sky. Then I added Green Galore and Glorious Green for the grass.

Love those punches! I used my scallop punch, 1 1/4 circle punch and 1 3/4 circle punch for the greeting. The 3/4 and 1" circle punches worked great for the chick. I found the cute chick in the Bunny Hugs set. A few more details, like the Perfect Plum eyelets (set with the Crop-a-Dile), some white doodles with my Uniball White Gel Pen, and a white ribbon, and I think we are set! Oh! And I used the Photo Corner Punch too! I think those punches really make the cards come together with ease.

Happy Stampin'! I hope you are all inspired!!

Giving Credit to Michelle Ide

2008-03-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

I just went back onto Dawn Griffith's blog and found the name of the person she originally got the instructions for the Peek-A-Boo card. I wanted to be sure to give credit where credit is due!!! Beautiful, FUN design Michelle Ide!! Here is her blog address:

http://www.granitestatestamper.com

Instructions with photo's for Peek a Boo card

2008-03-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

For the Peek-a-Boo card you need two pieces of paper.
1) 5 1/2" X 11" scored at 3 1/2" and 7"
2) 6 1/8" X 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"

Howdy!

2008-03-17T07:30:00.001-07:00

Howdy!! Cowboy Kid is such an adorable set. Sorry, it is discontinued, you will just have to use this card idea! I think this card turned out SOOO cute. The front of the card shows a little sheriffs badge in the circle punch. When you open the card up, the little boys face (not the same face from the front of the card) slides into the circle punch area...hence the "peek-a-boo" effect!! I got the idea from Dawn, http://dawnsstampingthoughts.com/ . Only the measurements were incorrect on her site. So I have been trying to make this card, and it kept coming out wrong. I finally took the time to figure it out, and corrected it. THANK YOU Dawn for the awesome idea!!! I will post the measurements at the bottom of this post. You can check out her site for the video tutorial, just be sure to keep my measurements!!

My colors didn't come out perfectly true when I took the photo of the front of the card. I should have waited until this afternoon for the correct lighting... My color scheme for this card is Creamy Caramel, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Real Rust and So Saffron for the little sheriffs badge. I used the Simply Scrappin' Kit (SSK) Round Up for inspiration. I know this kit is discontinued, but I haven't used it yet! I used some of the borders for the front and for the inside of the card. The Uniball White Gel Pen was also used for highlighting some of the paisleys on the front of the card. I also used my Paper Piercing kit for the piercing borders.

Now for the measurements!!

use two pieces of 8 1/2 X 11 cardstock

cut one piece 5 1/2 X 11 score this piece @ 3 1/2 and 7 (I used my awesome score-pall!! http://www.score-pal.com/

cut the next piece 6 1/8 X 5 1/2 score this piece @ 4 1/4

fold at each of the scored lines

Take your piece that is 6 1/8 X 5 1/2, after you have folded at the scored lines, and punch a 1 1/4 circle from the top, RIGHT next to the folded flap. Your punch will be centered. Set this aside

Take your "Z" folded paper. The wider piece is the back of the card.

Line up the piece you already punched a hole in with the front of the "Z" folded piece. Line it up to the right side, then punch a hole into the front of the "Z" using the circle punch hole as a guide from the piece you already punched a hole into. Now, remove that first piece (it is the front of your actual card) and used the "Z" piece as a guide for your next hole. Just punch one more hole into the middle of the "Z" piece.

add glue on front of "Z" card, then adhere the first piece you punched a hole in (all the way to right of card.

Add one strip of Sticky Strip glue to last fold in "Z" card, all the way to the right, in the crease. Then insert the little flap from the smaller piece. The glue will keep the back of the card shut, and the flap in place so that it slides.

I hope these instructions help. I am going to have Ethan take some snaps to go along with the instructions.

Happy Stampin'!!

Happy Birthday Belt Buckle Card

2008-03-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, STILL loving this set! My color combo is Only Orange, Green Galore, and Purely Pomegranate. I used my Aquapainter for the hippo, and added some googly eyes. Her toe nails are orange...you can't see them, but they are cute! The "buckle" was created using my Window Word Punch. I wheeled Dilly Dally Birthday on the buckle and finished it off with Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched Ribbon. The background was created with the Priceless set. I used the Bold Eyelets Only Orange and Green Galore and my Crop-a-Dile. Pretty Simple!

Happy Stampin'!!

You're A Great Friend tri-fold card

2008-03-16T13:34:00.001-07:00

Hello! Here is my tri-fold Card using Stampin' Up!'s Tag Time set. If I may toot my own horn, I really like this card. I like the DSP paper Fall Flowers. That worked out great for this layout (sketch). My primary colors for this card are Mello Moss and Not Quite Navy. I used those colors for papers and for water coloring with my Aquapainters. I also used Craft White for the little butterfly's that I added to the front of the card and for the greeting in the middle of the card. Along with the Uniball White Gel pen, I think the butterfly from Small Sayings worked great. For the middle of the card, I used the Scallop Punch and the Slit Punch. I do not own the Ticket Corner punch....YET. The inside of the card has some Hodgpodge Hardware, River Rock Double Stitch Ribbon, and some scallops using my 3/4 circle punch. Hope you like!!!

(I don't know what happened, some how the cards are out of order....I DID upload them in the correct order. SORRY!

Happy Stampin'

My daughter and Sons creations at my workshop!

2008-03-16T00:11:00.000-07:00

I just HAD to share what creations I had left at the house! Since my children are all young, of course theirs are here! I am posting my 4yr old sons envelope basket, and my daughters basket. Spencer LOVES to stamp with us. He does so every time we all get together. My daughter however; hasn't been stamping with us. She use to stamp with me all the time when she was little. Saturday she wanted to make the project, so I helped her a little. She got it all done, and then IMMEDIATELY asks, "WHERE'S THE CANDY?!?!" (for the basket) I had to chuckle. Now I understood! Ha ha!!

Stamping with my friends and family today!!!

2008-03-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! I tried posting Saturday after my workshop, but my blogger wasn't working....sorry. A day late, I am !

I am just KICKING myself for not taking pictures of every ones projects. We created Envelope Baskets. They turned out GREAT!!! OH I WISH I TOOK PHOTOS OF EVERYONE WORK!!! I do have photos of my kids work....I am going to have to post them. I know they would be proud to have their art on the web! I created a Never Ending Card. Those are great. The first time I made this card, I used a set that "had" to be colored in. This time I used Priceless set by Stampin' Up! This way I could get a lot of color easily. I wheeled the front of the card with Dilly Dally Friends Jumbo wheel. Then colored in bits and pieces with SU! Markers. For all of the other views I used Priceless. It is all about the folding. What a simple card. So much fun to look through! Kids look through it over and over again! I first saw this card on http://dawnsstampingthoughts.com/ She first say it on the DIY network. Thanks for the fun idea Dawn!!

Instructions: I will try to give instructions!! If you can't figure them out, Dawn has a video on her blog!! She is GREAT with those video's!!

1st: You need (4) 3 X 6 pieces of card stock

2nd: Score each piece: 1 1/2 inches the long way (when you are looking at the piece, it is 3" wide and 6" long) and then 1 1/2 inches on both ends the short way (when you look at the pieces, they are 6" wide and 3" long).

3rd Lay out two pieces side by side, each piece 3"across, 6" length.
Together, they will be 6X6.

4th Lay the last two pieces on top of the two pieces you have already made side by side. THIS TIME lay them in the opposite direction. Instead of them being 3" across, make them 6" across, 3" length

5th glue at each corner of the card. The scoring you have already done, has created a square for the glue. Use something strong and fast drying. NOT A GLUE STICK!!

Finally, start folding it and then decorate!!! I really hope this helps! You can check out Dawns Never Ending Card instructions. She has created a video!! That makes it easy!! Have fun with this! I know we have!!

I have taken a photo of the card on the last "page", just starting to open up to show that you are at the beginning again. Thought that might help to explain how the card is never ending!

Filmstrip Card

2008-03-12T15:46:00.000-07:00

Hello! I guess I have time to post a card today! This was a really really quick card. I got the filmstrip idea from http://danniesdesigns.com/ I don't have a square punch that would go deep enough into my black paper, so I actually stamped my image on white, then punched out the birds with a square punch (or just use your cutter and cute squares). I then glued them on top of the black. The punches were created with my Spiral Punch. Great for making fancy spiral journals...haven't tried that yet! I used colored pencils. Very simple. I don't think it gets much simpler than this. Again, I punched the flowers with my Spring Flower punch, and then curled the petals for dimension. After I shot this picture, I actually went back and did a little gel pen details on the Purely Pomegrante circle. Hope you like!

Have a great weekend!

Spring Bag

2008-03-12T13:20:00.001-07:00

Hello!! Sorry I have been away for a few days... I HAD to clean up and organize my stamping papers! I will be going to an indoor water park Thurs. and Friday, so I won't be able to post again until possibly Saturday! Stay tuned, I will return!

This is a sneak peak for all my stampin' buddies! This is the project we are creating on Saturday. I found the idea on http://splitcoaststampers.com/ I took the challenge "try a new technique". If you would like to check out more of these envelope pouches, check out TLC156 once you get to the splitcoaststampers website!

OK, now for details!!! SOOO easy! You use an envelope! I will post directions for this Saturday!! I haven't snapped shots of the steps yet!

Today I will let you know the the details of the decorating that I did. I used the "In Color" textured papers, Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky and Wild Wasabi. The butterflies are from SU! Priceless set. I first stamped them in versamark ink, then in Wild Wasabi and THEN touched the edges with the Purely Pomegranate. After I stamped the image, I sprinkled clear embossing powder and embossed the butterflies. I next stamped the small flower with versamark and embossed them in clear too. This way I could do the "resist" technique. I used my brayer to brayer the Gable Green and Wild Wasabi for grass. Soft Sky and Blue Bayou were brayerd for the sky. I used So Swirly jumbo wheel and Purely Pomegranate for the background of the envelope. LOVE that scallop circle punch! Used that to show case the flower....hmmmm. Double stitched ribbon, some bling...I guess that somes it up! Oh, I curled the flower with my bone folder. I love that effect. There is some crimped grass along with candy in my pouch! Hope you enjoy this idea!

Happy Stampin'

Pun Fun

2008-03-08T11:47:00.000-08:00

Hey! I didn't really plan on posting this weekend. I checked out Beate's blog and had to put a card together. I did her weekend challenge. Technically, I didn't stamp. The skunk was already stamped and c0lored in!! I just put the card together! I wasn't sure what to do with the skunk, so THANK YOU for the layout!! The challenge is WSC38. You can check out more cards with this design at http://splitcoaststampers.com/ The challenge came from http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

So! Once again I used the Pun Fun. My colors are Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery and So Saffron. I stamped the skunk in basic black on Whisper White and used my aqua painter to color him in. The background paper is Certainly Celery Designer Series Prints. I used the flowers are from the Spring Bouquet Punch. I curled the petals with the bone folder, added a foam mount behind it for dimension, and a brad in the center. The ribbon is Certainly Celery grosgrain. Love that everything matches!! I used the Crop-a-dile to set my eyelets (Perfect Plum from the soft subtle collection). The corners of the skunk piece were actually created using my slit punch. I don't own the Ticket Corner punch... Slit punch works, just a little more effort and you have to have an "eye". Some of the edges were distressed with the Cutter Kit tool. That is a really nifty little accessory! I added some bling in the flower, a little Rhinestone brad.

Hope you like my post! What do you think???

Happy Stamping!!

Birthday cards sent to me! "thank you"!

2008-03-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

So Kind

2008-03-06T08:34:00.000-08:00

Hello again for today! I said I was in the mood for a blue card to go with the blueberries we ate this morning...and here it is! I used Splitcoast challenge SC166 http://www.splitcoaststampers.com look for the layout idea. This card came together easy since the layout was already out there.

I used my Priceless stamp set. What a nice set! The butterflies were stamped in Craft White ink. I used Beate's chalkboard effect for the butterflies. http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ Check out her blog! It is AWESOME. I messed up the butterfly on the right a little and the effect was lost. I thought I would go over the chalk with Versamark pen and then emboss the whole image. The colors of the chalk were then lost....however! I did like how the butterfly image had an outlined look. So I outined the other butterfly with the Versamark pen, and colored in the details as well (with the versamark pen). That really helped the butterfly "pop". The colors I chose for this card are Blue Bayou (Prints DSP too), Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. I used my Photo Corner punch (again!), Double Stitched Blue Bayou ribbon, and the Distress Tool for some of the edges.

Let me know what you think! Hope you like!

from me to you...Pun Fun by Stampin' Up!

2008-03-06T03:36:00.000-08:00

Oh I just LOVE this set!!! You will be seeing a lot of it. I haven't even stamped all the images yet!

I am trying to use my DSP. Here I used the Prints DSP, So Saffron and Certainly Celery. The cardstock and inks are in the same colors, along with White. I used the Star eyelets I bought way back when for one of my sons birth announcements...wow. Long time ago! They are discontinued. The ribbon is double stitched Blue Bayou. I used the distressing tool for around the So Saffron DSP. The punches I used are the Photo Corner punch and the Word Window punch. Love those punches!! Add a little Dazzling Diamonds glitter, and done!

I hope you enjoyed this layout! My next creation will have to involve blue. I just made a bunch of blueberry's with pancake AKA blueberry pancakes, but I just filled them so full of blueberries, there was hardly any pancake! Mmmmm. Kids love those pancakes! Now we just need the maple syrup to be ready....Maple Festival is right around the corner...

Happy Stampin'

Time Well Spent Triangle Tri-fold

2008-03-06T03:02:00.000-08:00

Hey! Here is a sample of a Tri-Fold Card. Host a workshop of $500 or more and the set "Time Well Spent" could be yours! Contact me for more information...

This is a really simple fold. You use just a 4X12 piece of cardstock. So you could make 3 cards out of a 12X12 sheet. Each cards finished sized is 4" square. Score your 4X12 card at 4" and at 8". On each end, score diagnal, from top left to bottom right. The key to this is to score each end square the same. So if you were to score from top right corner to bottom left, just be sure to score in the same direction on the other side of the card. Fold at the scored lines and you should be ready to decorate.

I kept this card simple and used Stampin' Up!'s double sided Designer Series Paper, Porcelain Prints, Not Quite Navy and Whisper White. The images are the hostess set Time Well Spent. I colored in the flower and greeting on the inside using my aquapainter and Not Quite Navy, Purely Pomegranate, and Mellow Moss for the "friends". The butterflies were stamped in Not Quite Navy and then highlighted with the Uniball white gel pen. I lightly shaded them in with white Watercolor Wonder crayons. Added a little bling with a Rhinestone Brad, and some double stitched Purely Pomegranate ribbon and I was done!

Happy Birdie with Pun Fun set by Stampin' Up!

2008-03-05T04:29:00.001-08:00

I was going to upload a different card....but decided to go with the Happy Birthday since it is my birthday today...."happy birthday to me..." My 4 year old had a birthday in January. He was so cute. He told us all, we didn't have to sing Happy Birthday to him...he could sing it to himself! He was so proud he knew the words. Very cute.

I wasn't tickled with this card, but I think it is still nice and I will use send it to someone. I had an idea, and it just didn't all come together.

Still loving the Pun Fun set, I used the little birdie again. I stamped him in Basic Black and then used my aqua painter and So Saffron, Chocolate Chip and Certainly Celery inks. I added Dazzling Diamonds glitter to his body. For card stocks, I used So Saffron for the base and Chocolate Chip behind the birdie, along with So Saffron and Certainly Celery Prints Designer Series Paper. For accessories, I used my Hodgpodge Hardware and the Photo Corner punch along with some grosgrain ribbon. I guess that is it. The card is pretty self explanatory.

As always, happy stampin!

Andi