Christmas Card*inal, Take 3

Here's a suprisingly lovely no-layer card. The reverse masking technique and tear of the right-hand edge give it dimension that belies the fact that there are no layers to this card. I threw a bunch of these together for a door prize.

For the reverse masking, make a mask by cutting an oval out of the center of a card-front sized piece of scrap cardstock. Place this mask on your cardfront, and hold in place while you sponge Old Olive onto the card. Keeping the mask in place, stamp an image - I used the holly stamp and kept the Old Olive color light by stamping off once onto scrap, then stamping inside the oval. Then, just remove the mask, and stamp a focal image in a darker color on top.
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STAMP SET: A CARDINAL CHRISTMAS
CARDSTOCK: NATURAL WHITE
INK: OLD OLIVE, BASIC BLACK
ACCESSORIES: OLD OLIVE POLYTWILL RIBBON

Christmas Card*inal, Take 2

I really LOVE this card. I can't put my finger on it, but it's lovely, classy, and simple!! It's a CASE of a KristaTracy card I saw on scs. I used Real Red, double stitched Chocolate Chip ribbon and a Botique button. The Top Note Die for my SU Big Shot cuts this lovely Kraft panel in no time!!!
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STAMP SET: A CARDINAL CHRISTMAS
CARDSTOCK: REAL RED, KRAFT
INK: REAL RED & CHOCOLATE CHIP CLASSIC
ACCESSORIES: TOP NOTE DIE, DOUBLE STITCHED CHOCOLATE CHIP RIBBON, BUTTON BOTIQUE

Christmas Card*inal, Take 1

Thanksgiving is over, and Christmastime is officially here!!! But I know I'd better get a move-on with my projects. My usual crafting time has been drastically cut back this year. My son's 8th birthday (& party) is coming up next week, we're having a SIL and her 3 kids stay in town for over a week, my Stamp Club to prepare for, family Christmas Pictures to take & develop, and 40 cards to stamp and send. Plus, there's the decorating, wrapping & mailing of gifts. Yikes.

But I'm still not set on a design. Here's Take 1 - a Free Standing Pop Up Card, and I've wanted to try one forever, but it looked too complicated. Guess what?! It's really VERY simple, thanks to this splitcoaststampers tutorial . I've used my favorite set from the Holiday Mini - A Cardinal Christmas - and a Faux Stained Glass Technique.
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STAMP SET: A CARDINAL CHRISTMAS
CARDSTOCK: OLD OLIVE, BASIC BLACK, WHISPER WHITE, VELLUM CARDSTOCK
INK: OLD OLIVE, CHOCOLATE CHIP, REAL RED, SO SAFFRON SW MARKERS
ACCESSORIES: OLD OLIVE WIDE GROSGRAIN RIBBON, BLACK HEMP TWINE, BLACK DETAIL EMBOSSING POWDER, HEAT TOOL, STICKY STRIP

Elf Packaging

There are genius stampers out there ... with artistic eyes that can look at the Bag on a Box pattern below ... and translate it into the most adorable Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Elf bags. I am not one of those genius ladies ... though I can do a pretty good CASE! I saw these by Patti Lee on splitcoaststampers.com & added real Hodgepodge buckles, Pretties pearls & Boquet buttons. TFS, PattiLee!***************CARDSTOCK: REAL RED, BASIC BLACK, OLD OLIVE, TEXTURED WHISPER WHITE; ACCESSORIES: SCALLOP EDGE, ROUND TAB & SCALLOP CIRCLE PUNCH, KIWI KISS RIBBON, BUTTON BOQUET, BUILD-A-BRAD, PRETTIES KIT

Bag on a Box

Hello, again! I'm back! Here's one of my Stamp Club projects from last week - it's an adorable Bag on a Box Gift Bag. The tutorial came from splitcoaststampers.com resource forum. This is just a simple, easy and FAST project ... and what a way to package your gifts this season.
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CARDSTOCK: REAL RED, BAJA BREEZE, CHOCOLATE CHIP DSDP; ACCESSORIES: BAJA BREEZE STRIPED RIBBON, ROUND TAB PUNCH, SCALLOP EDGE PUNCH, BUILD A BRAD, SNOW FLURRIES, GEL PEN, AND LOTS OF STICKY STRIP!

Mini-Man in Summer Sun

Well, this has to be one of my absolute favorite projects! This is my son, Ranger, dressed as a Lego mini-man.

I color matched the little plastic guy to our exclusive colors and Summer Sun is the perfect mini-figure shade!! The head is a recycled toy packaging, lined with Summer Sun 12" x 12" textured cardstock. I cut out the glasses with my SU Hobby Blade, and put a panel of Whisper White behind the glasses, with holes punched with my 1 3/8" Circle Punch. His hands were free cut, laminated, and then I used coordinating Summer Sun brads to secure elastic to the cardstock. This lazer is Basic Grey!

We all had such fun with this costume - I love my SU! and my adorable mini-man!

MEMORIES (of all sizes) BEGIN WITH THIS

YIPPEE! After long last, I've got an official Crop Night! I've found a small group of fun, friendly girls, and we got together at the neighborhood clubhouse to scrapbook.

I demonstrated a 6" x 6" scrapbook page, and let the other croppers make one of their own. The Bonus Layout on the Demo Website was perfect for these pictures of my happy Reesie-Pie and his favorite pool noodle.

I love putting on events like this, because it challenges me to create - to complete pages & preserve these beautiful memories piling up so fast.

I wanted to take the original page into larger sized layouts. Here, I added pictures of Rylee and Ranger, more rub-ons, chipboard dates and what I think is an awesome circle collage at the bottom - see the textured cardstock, covered chipboard, Build-a-Brad tops, and crystal effects dots.

Next, up to a 12" x 12" layout. Another picture - this time all 3 of my little darlings in the pool together, swimming with those famous noodles. I added Pacific Point stitched ribbon, another half circle, and a few more of my Crystal Effects droplets.

I can't tell which one is my favorite - but I can say I've gotten 3 pages done even BEFORE the crop starts, and I'm pretty happy about that!

STAMP CLUB - August

I'll admit, I hadn't stamped too much since coming home from Convention. We had family trips, appointments, and the back-to-school chaos. There's nothing like an upcoming Stamp Club meeting to get me motivated again.

Here are our stamp club projects - are they gorgeous? The bookmark was a convention project - I just changed up the colors and Designer Papers. The card is a case of the Embrace Life card on page 91 of the Fall/Winter 08 catty - down to the bleaching technique behind the main image. Bleaching our heavywieght cardstock brings a different look to different colors: Blush Blossoms turns white: Sage Shadow turns a perfect vanilla; and apparently Not Quite Navy turns grey! It's a fun technique to experiment with.
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STAMP SET: EASTERN BLOOMS, CARDSTOCK: NOT QUITE NAVY, BASIC GREY, KIWI KISS, WHISPER WHITE; INK: BASIC GREY, KIWI KISS, BAJA BREEZE; ACCESSORIES: BASIC GRAY TAFFETA RIBBON, BUTTON BOUQUET, CRYSTAL EFFECTS

New Catty Glee

Well, I know I've been quiet lately. Don't want to bore you all with my trips, travels, turmoils. Just now getting around to posting some of my convention pictures. Here's my mom and I, pouring over the beautiful, brand-new Catalog. See how happy it makes us?!

HAPPY DEMO DAY

This was NOT the card we weres supposed to make at today's Stamp-A-Stack. You see, I'd spent a whole week researching, designing, and preparing projects for this class. I even had a whole Faux Wood project (20 of 'em) cut and prepared to do today. The only thing I was missing was the For Father stamp set from the current Mini. Well, my mom said she had it, and mailed it Priority up from Texas. I should have known better than to count my chickens before they hatched (or, stamps before they were inked). Anyway, when Mom's mailer arrived, I found Dad's Day, instead of For Father. Oh, no!!! An absolutely different style: watercoloring classics vs. modern bold. I was in trouble. My prepped material wouldn't work with this set. I was going to have to come up with something new altogether. I went to bed super-worried, but woke up with the idea of reworking this template from swente with a color combo I liked from the last Stampin' Success. So, here it is - my last-minute save that turned into my fave of the day.
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STAMP SET: DAD'S DAY: CARDSTOCK: MORE MUSTARD, BASIC GRAY, BASIC BLACK; INK: MORE MUSTARD, BASIC GRAY; ACCESSORIES: SPIRAL & DESIGNER LABEL BUNCHES, JERSEY RIBBON ORIGINAL

BROCADE - revised

I asked for the critique, and I sure got some. I was going to give up on this card and never look back again, but I just couldn't. So, I took my stamp camp leftovers, and changed the Ugly Duckling a bit.
BECCA'S TIP: MOVE SENTIMENT TO THE RIGHT, SO THE WORDS FLOW TOGETHER BETTER; LYNDA'S TIP: TIGHTEN UP THE THREE POINTS OF INTEREST TO MAKE A "TRIANGLE OF INTEREST" THAT'S EASIER ON THE EYE ... AND TONE DOWN THE RIBBON; CAROL'S TIP: RECONSIDER THE COLORS (OR QUANTITY OF EACH). *THERE IS A GALLON/QUART/PINT RULE TO COLOR COMBOS. JENNIFER & MARA'S THOUGHTS: THE ORIGINAL WAS GOOD (OR SALVAGABLE?) So, just like the dancers from DWTS, I applied the critique. I do think this one is better. Do you?

UGLY DUCKLING?

Okay, I've got to know ... what do *you* think of this card?!

It was my Stamp Club design for the month. I was trying to accomplish three things here: 1) use a challenging, different color combination, 2) feature chipboard, as it's on sale this month, and 3) demonstrate a new technique called Grid Technique. It's different, granted - but I still think it's kind of cool.
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STAMP SET: BAROQUE MOTIFS, WONDERFUL FAVORITES; CARDSTOCK: PURELY POMEGRANITE, BRAVO BURGANDY, OLD OLIVE, PALE PLUM, VERY VANILLA, KRAFT; INK: PURELY POMEGRANITE, PALE PLUM & OLD OLIVE CLASSIC; BRAVO BURGANDY CRAFT; ACCESSORIES: ON BOARD ACCENTS, IRR. ICE EP, PEWTER HH & JUMBO EYELETS, GROSGRAIN RIBBON, & SU! PUNCHES

TUG, TUG DADDY!

Our stamp club challenge was to CASE the card on page 44 of the catty. Here's my take - a colorful, fun Father's Day card. Cute, huh?
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STAMP SET: BOATLOADS OF LOVE, WONDERFUL FAVORITES; CARDSTOCK: OLD OLIVE, BASHFUL BLUE (TEXTURED), PUMPKIN PIE, WHISPER WHITE, SUMMPER PICNIC DSDP; INK: BASIC BLACK & OLD OLIVE CLASSIC PAD; GOING GRAY, OLD OLIVE, REAL RED, PUMPKIN PIE, BASHFUL BLUE STAMPIN' WRITE MARKERS; ACCESSORIES: VINTAGE BRADS, PEWTER HODGEPODGE HARDWARE, RED GROSGAIN RIBBON

GENUINE DAD

Here's another Father's Day submission, using the Stamp of Authenticity Stamp Set. I like it's simple & casual thrown-together look ... like I just went out to the garage for the rivets and labels and twine! The rectangle around the "D" is actually a window, so when you open the card, there's the library card panel, with plenty of room for sentiment.
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STAMP SETS: STAMP OF AUTHENTICITY, ROUGH EDGES ALPHA; CARDSTOCK: ALWAYS ARTICHOKE, MARIGOLD MORNING (RET), REALLY RUST KRAFT, VERY VANILLA; ACCESSORIES: BRADS, EYELETS, BLACK GROSGRAIN, HEMP TWINE, PAPER PIERCING TOOL & TEMPLATE

FATHER'S DAY FLAIR

I messed up Mother's Day. That's the truth - just completely blew it! That's usually one of my most stamp-a-riffic holidays. I love sending hand-stamped cards to my favorite moms - my actual moms, my sistas and SILs, my friends, my customers. But, this year, there was too much going on. I got a few out, but not nearly enough.

So, I'm determined to redeem myself on Father's Day (usually my least-stamped holiday). So, to get the creative juices flowing, I'm starting a Father's Day card series here on the blog. This is my first entry: Father's Day Flair.

I'm in love with this card, so don't dog it. The belt idea is from reneejul1 on splitcoaststampers. The oval shape on the belt end is from the Large Oval Punch. Pocket is a Large Tab Punch. And the "flair?" It's a 1 3/8" Circle Punch embossed three times over with Glassy Glaze EP, and bent in a little in the middle, in an attempt to mimic a campaign/brag button. Did it work?
***************************************************** STAMP SETS: CLASSIC BGS, CANVAS BG, SHORT ORDER #S, WONDERFUL FAVORITES; CARDSTOCK: SOFT SKY, BLUE BAYOU, CREAMY CARAMEL, CHOCOLATE CHIP; INK: SOFT SKY, BLUE BAYOU, CHOCOLATE CHIP; ACCESSORIES: ANTIQUE BRASS HODGEPODGE, 1 3/8" CIRCLE PUNCH, LARGE TAG PUNCH, LARGE OVAL PUNCH