Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A Few More Variations

Here's another card (above) using the same materials as the cards I posted yesterday.  The cards posted below were made using leftover card kits from the other card we made in the workshop.  The first one (with the Old Olive matted sentiment) is the actual card, the second two are variations.  Like those cool corner bows? My Stampin' Addicts friend Jen created them, and I just had to CASE 'em.  Her tutorial for two awesome bows can be found HERE.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Ugh. Work.

So sorry I have been MIA for so long.  I have been forced to had the privilege of working for the past two weeks, which, if it didn't take so much time away from important things (like stamping), would be okay with me.  However, the fact that my craft room hasn't been graced with my presence for that amount of time is simply unacceptable!
Yesterday I had a lovely time teaching at a workshop, and had a few extra card kits to play with when I got home.  Since I actually had the weekend off this week, I got to play around with variations on a theme.  It's so much fun to take essentially the same ingredients, and turn them into different things.  Not unlike a baker, taking flour, sugar, butter and eggs, and making wonderful, different, creations with them!  (Mmmmm, cupcakes, brownies, cookies.....)
I'll try to post more in the next day or two.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Hoppy Easter (and a Lesson Learned)


This is the card I made for the Stampin' Club Swap this month.  The theme was, of course, Easter.  The image is from a retired Stampin' Up stamp set called Friends.  I was going to sell it, along with a bunch of other retired SU stamp sets, but I just couldn't part with it.  It was killing me to put my Stampin' Up Teddy Bear sets (Favorite Teddy Bear, Bear Necessities, Beary Best) on the auction block, and I just couldn't do this one, too.


The image was stamped on watercolor paper with Jet Black StazOn ink, and colored with Classic ink and an Aqua Painter. The edges were torn and the image matted on Pink Passion card stock.


Oh, the lesson learned?  I should never place an order late at night with my brain half asleep. I double-ordered Green Galore cardstock.  It's such a bright Spring green - something I won't be using very much, so I have enough to last me quite a while!


Stamp: Friends (retired)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pink Passion, Green Galore, watercolor paper
Ink: Classic Stampin' Pads - Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, Melon Mambo, Lavender Lace, Chocolate Chip, Jet Black StazOn
Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, Modern Label Punch, pink gingham ribbon, pink crystal stickers

Saturday, March 13, 2010

GRANDSON'S BIRTHDAY. AGAIN. ALREADY.

My grandson turned nine years old yesterday. Every year the birthdays seems to come sooner and sooner.  WHERE does the time go?!  This is the grandson that I made a confetti-flinger card for last time, so when we were talking about his card for this year, I said, "I don't know how I'm going to top that confetti-flinger.....maybe I need to make an exploding card this year."
His eyes got big, and he asked, "Can you make an exploding card, Grandma?!"  I had to laugh and tell him, no, I was just kidding.  Then we went on to discuss what he wanted for his birthday (I've heard all week about the various things he wants, after every toy commercial on the Cartoon Network, lol).  We decided that probably a gift card to Toys R Us would be best, so he can pick out what he wants, and Grandma doesn't blow it by getting the wrong thing.


His favorite colors are red and black, so I incorporated them in this surprise slider card.  When you pull on the ribbon on the left (he's left-handed), not only does the greeting slide out on that side, but the gift card slides out the other side at the same time.  Cool, huh?  I hope he thinks so!
Thanks for stopping by today, and don't forget, time is running out for the bonus deals if you join my Stampin' Up! team!


Stamps: Extreme Skateboard, Starring You
Cardstock: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White
DP: Night & Day Designer Series Paper (retired)
Ink: Basic Black Classic, Basic Black Craft
Accessories: Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Basic Black 1/4 inch Grosgrain Ribbon, Slit Punch, 1-3/8 inch Circle Punch, 1-1/4 inch Circle Punch, Large Star Punch

Thursday, March 11, 2010

WOW, SIX DAYS.....

.....since my last post!  I've taught four classes in the past two weeks, and this weekend is the monthly stamp club meeting, which I haven't finished my swaps for, yet.  In addition, the grandkids are in town for a couple weeks, and they've been here visiting grandma for the past three days, while their dad is at work and step-mom goes to school.  Needless to say, I haven't had a lot of time to stamp!

However, my granddaughter made a get-well card for her uncle, who severely injured his lower leg with a tree-climbing spike (MAJOR gash, severed muscle, much too ghastly to post a pic here).

So, here's the card, completely made by her own little hands.  (No, the stamp isn't from Stampin' Up!, but most of the materials are!)
She stamped the image in Jet Black StazOn, and I taught her the Magic Colored Pencil (Gamsol) technique.  She did everything!  I even showed her how to use the Stampin' Up! Mat Pack to space the brads evenly.  I think she shows a lot of promise as a card-maker, don't you?  (Yes, I am biased!!!)

Don't forget the sweet deal if you join my Stampin' Up! team.  You can read some of the details HERE.  I'd love to have you be a part of this great organization!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Join My Team, Plus Bonus(es)!

As you may or may not know, during Sale-A-Bration, Stampin' Up! offers a discount of 15% on their demonstrator starter kits.  And this time around, they are sweetening the deal with an added stamp set of your choice (up to $47.95) to the five stamp sets you already get in the Basic Starter Kit!

Well, I want to sweeten to pot even further by offering a bonus incentive.  If you my team before the end of March, you can choose either Clear-Mount Blocks C and D (a $15.45 value) OR a pack of Designer Series Paper or Specialty Designer Series Paper (up to $13.95) of your choice.  And to make it even better, if you join before March 15th, I'll add a pack of cardstock assortment from the color family of your choice and a ribbon sampler.

I mean really, how can you not take advantage of this fantastic deal???  Not only do you get all the wonderful products in your Starter Kit, you get to join an organization that is well known for its high quality and its commitment to supporting its demonstrators.  And who couldn't use a little extra spending money nowadays?

You can earn as little or as much income as you want, you choose your own hours, you get paid to PLAY.  I can't believe I get paid to do something I love and would do be doing anyway!!!  I just share my love of stamping and creating.

If you have questions, or just want to chat about this opportunity, send me an email and we can talk.  And don't be worried if you are in another part of the country.  I'll still be available to help you if you need it, and Stampin' Up! has a fantabulous Demonstrator Support Team, too.  I'll get you going with ideas for classes and workshops, and answer your questions about techniques or how to use a product.  I'm available pretty much 24/7 (one of the down sides of menopause - can't sleep, lol).

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

BLACK & WHITE, PERFECT HARMONY

Recently I have been drawn to B&W cards, which is probably a good thing, since I'm teaching two classes of black and white cards this month! The nice thing about them is, each element is more important, because you don't have a bunch of colors or embellishments or designer paper to rely on.  Here are two of the cards we made last Sunday, and will make in the class scheduled for this Thursday.
Oh, and please play along with this week's sketch challenge!

A Note of Thanks
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Thank You Kindly
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, black brads, Paper Cutter, adhesive

Thinking of You
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Die, Basic Black 1/4 inch Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Cutter, Stampin' Dimensionals, adhesive