May 11, 2018 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Today’s card is a sneak peek at the Painted Glass Bundle.
I received my second Stampin’ Up! pre-order yesterday, and it had the dies I accidentally omitted from my first order. I couldn’t wait to try the Stained Glass Dies! I was delightfully surprised at how easy they were to cut. I used the tip from the Stampin’ Up! video, to place the die with the cutting side up, and it worked really well. See the beautiful, intricate pattern?
Stained Glass Birthday Card
Once I had my three Basic Black window pieces, I chose to highlight them on a Thick Whisper White card base. To add texture, I added a top layer, which I ran through the Big Shot using the Simple Stripes Embossing Folder. It doesn’t show well in the first picture, but you can see it here:
The Painted Glass Stamp Set includes this adorable, little, stained glass bird. I wanted to add pop to my black and white, and red is the perfect color for that. It’s also a color I wanted to use because of this week’s Tic Tac Toe challenge. Can you see I chose “spring-red-die cut?”
Stampin’ Blends were used for coloring the bird.
There are several great sentiments in this stamp set, and I chose “Have a beautiful birthday” for this spring time card. The little bird found its perch on the “B.”
I used the square Stitched Shapes Die for cutting the sentiment, turning it around to make the rectangle. For a touch more red, I added some Baker’s Twine. I think the bird frayed the ends, trying to get some twine to make a nest.
I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek of the Painted Glass Bundle. I think it’s going to be one of my favorites. I’d love to hear what you think. Please click to leave a COMMENT HERE.
May 9, 2018 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Welcome to our Pals Blog Hop, May 2018. This month we’ll be “Stepping Up with Textures or Techniques.” What’s that? Projects that are “stepped up” by using textures or fun techniques. Who knows, maybe both! Join us in the fun while the we inspire you to step up your creations.
You may be starting the hop here or coming from a previous Pal’s blog. Either way, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll find the the full line-up below to help you move, or “hop” along from Pal to Pal.
For today’s project, I chose the Polished Stone Technique, as a background for my Bloomin’ Heart, which gives the heart a new look. I also added some Vellum, Linen Thread, and Pearls for texture.
I remember the first time I ran this Bloomin’ Heart die through the Big Shot. I was new to Stampin’ Up, and thrilled with the Big Shot’s capability of producing this intricate heart. I immediately took a picture, and sent it to a friend. She was so complimentary, you would have thought I designed the die! Since that day, I’ve used this die many times, and it continues to amaze me. Maybe I’m being sentimental, because it’s going into retirement.
Polished Stone Technique Bloomin’ Heart Mother’s Day Card
There are several different ways of doing the Polished Stone Technique, but this seems the simplest to me:
You start with a piece of Glossy White cardstock, ink re-fills in the colors you want to use, some cotton pads, and regular rubbing alcohol. Disposable gloves are nice, if you don’t want inky fingers.
Trim the Glossy White Cardstock to the size you want to use for your project. I’m using 5 1/4″ X 4″.
Saturate the cotton with alcohol, then drop spots of re-fill ink onto the cotton. I used Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron and Sahara Sand. Leave a bit of space between the dots, because they’ll blend together soon enough. Next, pat the inked cotton all over the Glossy cardstock. You can leave it alone at this point, or add more color. Use a dry cotton pad to soak up extra moisture. The fun thing is, it’s just like real stone with each piece being unique.
Once the polished stone was finished, I added detail to the top with a Card Front Builder Die. This die is from my most used set from the Holiday Catalog, which will also be retiring. The die makes such a pretty border, any time of year.
I tied Linen Thread around the bottom, before gluing it to the Sahara Sand card base.
Now for my Bloomin’ Heart. I used the die to cut two hearts; one from Vellum, and one from Pink Pirouette cardstock, a retiring color. The vellum is glued on top of the Pink Pirouette Heart, where the five flowers are located. The glue is hidden beneath the flowers, plus it leaves the edges free for softness and dimension. I stamped the three small flowers and two larger flowers in Blushing Bride and Sahara Sand ink, cut them with their dies, and glued them in position. I placed dimensionals underneath the five flowers, and attached the heart to the polished stone background.
The stamp set I’ve used more than any other from the Annual Catalog is also retiring, Teeny Tiny Wishes. It has 24 small sentiments that fit perfectly in the space of the Classic Punch. I stamped “happy mother’s day” in Chocolate Chip Ink. Yes, this ink color is retiring too.
I added Pearl Embellishments to the flowers, and I’m happy with the new look for my Bloomin’ Heart.
Now it’s time to see how the rest of the Pals are Stepping up with Textures or Techniques. Please use the Blog Hop Line-Up below to move from blog to blog. Don’t forget to show us some love by commenting on our creations. Please click to leave a COMMENT HERE.
Mark your calendars for June 13, 2018 where we feature projects for Babies, Birthdays and Brides. You’ll probably even see products from Stampin’ Up!s new 2018-2019 Annual Catalog. Don’t miss it!
- Mary Fish at Stampin’ Pretty
- Peggy Noe at Pretty Paper Cards
- Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
- Su Mohr at Aromas and Art
- Linda Suarez at All Night Stamping
- Debbie Mageed at Secrets to Stamping
- Stesha Bloodhart at Stampin’ Hoot!
- Leah O’Brien at Stamp by the Bay
- Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping
- Beth McCullough at Stamping Mom
- Pamela Sadler at Stampin’ Pink Rose
- Mary Hanson at Up North Stampin’
- Nina King at Ink Paper Sequins
- Karen Hallam at Karen’s Stamping Habit
- Wendy Klein at Doggone Delightful Stampin’
- Jennifer Michalski at Stamping Serenity
No need to be sad about the retiring items. You can order them now through May 31st, while supplies last. Clicking on the Shop button will take you to my store.
May 8, 2018 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
This month’s theme is appreciation and encouragement for Sara Douglas. Sara is the CEO of Stampin’ Up, sharing what she loves, and an inspiration to demonstrators throughout the world. I will be sending this card to Sara, thanking her for all that she does.
Tea Party for Sara Douglass
Everyone deserves a respite from every day responsibilities, so I thought it would be lovely for Sara to feel she could “come and sit a while with me.” This whole idea developed from the “Tea Party” challenge over at Paper Players this week:
The Paper Player’s photo could be my collection of antique cups and saucers. It looks like my grandmother’s, which I added to over the years. The cabinet is maxed out now, so the collecting has stopped. I think she’s happy I’ve continued to enjoy them.
I found the paper china cups for my project in the Designer Series Paper, Just Add Ink. Zeroing in on the three, stacked, cups, I die cut a section with a Stitched Shape Square. I used a smaller Stitched Shape Square to die cut the cups on each side. Two sheets of the same images were used. Does this picture make it clear? A picture is worth a thousand words. Right?
The cup on the right has dots that reminded me of a piece of our Tutti-Frutti Designer Series Paper, and that would be my background. Tea parties must have doilies, so I added one to the upper right corner, and trimmed it to fit the border.
Keeping with the feminine theme, I taped some Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon around the bottom, and added a bow with a Glue Dot. My layer was ready to glue to the Pink Pirouette card base. This ribbon is just too sweet!
I positioned the three die-cut squares, so they would match up, and glued the two side cups. Next, I had the fun of coloring the cups in Light shades of the Stampin’ Blends. I popped this up on dimensionals, which is “off” when viewing from an angle, but pretty good straight on.
The sentiment, “come and sit a while with me,” is from the Sitting Here Stamp Set. The Petals & More Die Set provided the die for cutting. I love this shape, and it is the right size for so many sentiments.
To complete the sentiment on the inside, I stamped, “We are cut out to be friends,” from the Crafting Forever Stamp Set. I used our new Detailed Trio Punch for the “cut out” corners. The envelope called for some decoration, so I used the same Powder Pink Fresh Florals DSP that is in the background of my photos.
Just one more detail to add, the Iridescent Sequins. They have to be the prettiest sequins of all time!
I will write a personal note for Sara, letting her know how much I appreciate her dedication to sharing what she loves. Stampin’ Up! has filled my life with creativity, and a bunch of new friends. I am truly grateful.
May 6, 2018 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
The first thing I thought of when seeing this week’s CASE this sketch Challenge was our Banners For You Stamp Set. Here’s the sketch:
And, here’s my finished project:
Happy Birthday Banners for You
This triple banner is great, because it gives you room to write (stamp) so many different sentiments. The banner is in the Banners For You Stamp Set, which is carrying over to the new catalog, page 64, and page 32 in the 2017-2018 catalog. Yay! I stamped it in Tranquil Tide on Thick Whisper White cardstock. I’ll show you how I stamped the words:
I lined up “Happy Birthday To You” on top of the banner. Then, I pressed the acrylic block on top of the four words to pick them up. I inked the words and stamped them on the banner at the same time. Make sense? The words are from a retired stamp set, Crazy About You, but the possibility with other stamp sets is limitless.
Another great thing about this Banners for You Stamp Set is, it has the Bunch of Banners Die Set for cutting.
Now, my beautiful, birthday banner needed a beautiful background, and I chose this leaf print from the new Nature’s Poem Designer Series Paper. I can’t get over how pretty these papers are! I layered it on Whisper White, matching the banner, and a Sahara Sand card base, matching a leaf. Guess I’m into matching, LOL.
Before raising the leaf layer on dimensionals, I tied a piece of Crumb Cake Nature’s Twine around it. Love this twine!
While I was raising, I also added dimensionals to the banner.
I completed the inside by stamping “You’re Awesome” from the Epic Celebrations Stamp Set. I can’t seem to let go of this Sale-A-Bration stamp set.
The pretty leaf is from the Rooted in Nature Stamp Set, which I stamped in Sahara Sand.
I embossed the envelope flap with a leaf in the Nature’s Roots Die Set. This set has several dies that are meant for embossing, rather than cutting. I just ordered the new Embossing Mats, and I’m anxious to see how they work.
If you’re wondering about the paper you see in the background of my photographs, it’s the backside of the leaf print. You have so many options with Stampin’ Up’s two-sided Designer Series paper.
Off to post my project at the CASE this sketch Challenge. Thanks for stopping by!
May 4, 2018 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
When I was at OnStage (a Stampin’ Up! event) in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to see and experience a number of new products. The product I’m featuring in today’s post is one that was at the top of my pre-order list. I was excited to have it in my hands at home, so I could start experimenting with it. It was the first time I’d seen paper like this, Delightfully Detailed Laser-Cut Specialty Paper. It was so pretty, with all of the intricate patterns. It was white on one side, and vanilla on the other. My big question; would I be able to color it?
My answer came quickly, without destroying a single piece of it:
How to Color Delightfully Detailed Laser-Cut Specialty Paper
I used three Stampin’ Blends (Light Bermuda Bay, Dark Bermuda Bay and Dark Smoky Slate) and one Stampin’ Write Marker (Lemon Lime Twist). How do you like the colors? I’m really liking this color combination, but I can’t take credit for it, because it’s from Fab Friday’s Color Challenge.
I placed scrap paper beneath the section of Laser-Cut Paper, and used the brush end of the markers to paint across the flowers and sprigs. The brush end gives good coverage, and you don’t even have to worry about staying in the lines. I was careful around the borders, though.
I left the leaves white, liking the contrast, and used pin dots of Tombow glue to attach the Laser-Cut piece to Smoky Slate cardstock. This was layered on Bermuda Bay cardstock, layered on Lemon Lime Twist cardstock, and layered on a Smoky Slate card base.
For the sentiment, I snipped the word “friend” from the oval in our Lovely Words Die Set. This set is retiring May 31st, so order it now while supplies last. The set also has “hugs” in a circle, and “lovely” in a heart. I’ve used the words many times, and even snipped the “ly” off of “lovely.” When making cards, paper words are a must!
Basic Gray in the challenge is represented by the Dark Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blend. I saturated the color so it would be darker like Basic Gray, and stand out.
I decorated the envelope with a piece of Fresh Florals Designer Series Paper, which will also be retiring. But, the five in-colors that it matches will be in the new catalog, so I’ll continue to get lots of use from it.
If you’re wondering about ordering the Delightfully Detailed Laser-Cut Paper, it is available NOW for demonstrators, or anyone who wants to join my team, and sign up for the Starter Kit. It’s available, along with all the products in the new catalog, for EVERYONE on June 1st.
Click my Shop button for all the news!
Thanks for visiting me today. I love sharing new products!
May 3, 2018 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
I’m in a cheery, citrus mood today. Stampin’ Up has some wonderful Designer Paper named Tutti-Frutti that is a collection of bright, fun, paper. I was instantly attracted to this Paper Stack from the Occasions Catalog. It will be retiring May 31st, but you can order it now, while supplies last.
The three patterns I’m choosing for today’s card go perfectly with our Lemon Zest Stamp Set.
Tutti-Frutti Lemon Zest Birthday Card
First, I’m stamping the lemon from the Lemon Zest Stamp Set, cutting it with a Layering Circles Die, and then hand-cutting the circle into quarters with scissors.
Next, I’m using a Layering Squares Dies to cut four squares from the Lemon Lime Twist Tutti-Frutti DSP. I’m gluing the quartered lemons into the corners of this paper. Then, I’m using a scalloped edge Layering Squares Die to cut four squares from Whisper White cardstock, and more gluing.
I want the colors to stand out, so the card base is Thick Whisper White. I’m layering it with orange Tutti Frutti DSP, followed by my favorite Tutti-Frutti citrus print.
While I’m was piecing my card together, I’m thinking about what I want to say. Let’s choose, “Squeeze it for all it’s worth!” I’m finding in the Lemon Zest Stamp Set, and it will go with “Happy Birthday” on the inside.
I don’t know about you, but I like to squeeze my birthday for all it’s worth. It will last at least a week, and sometimes the entire month!
I ink up the sentiment, stamp it in Lemon Lime Twist ink on Whisper White, and use a Layering Squares Die for cutting. TIP: I turn the die around and make a second cut for making a rectangle.
I like dimension, so I pop up my five scalloped edge pieces on Dimensionals. Before adhering it all together, I tie some Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine around the layers, and add a bow.
I stamp a corner of the lemon to the inside, stamp Happy Birthday, add a piece of DSP to the envelope flap, and it’s ready to mail.
This whole idea began with this week’s Global Design Project challenge. We were to CASE Allison Okamitsu’s design. I think she likes the Tutti-Frutti paper as much as I do! Can you see why I wanted to cut my lemon into quarters?
Thank you for the inspiration, Allison. I wouldn’t have thought to quarter my lemon without you!
