Folded Star

First of all, I would like to thank our veterans (and active military) for their service today. Without you we would not be here, so from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU and Happy Veteran's Day.

A few months ago Beate Johns from Splitcoast Stampers asked if I would do a tutorial on the folded star for the Holiday Blitz. Of course I said "Yes!", and promptly put it on the back burner, since it wasn't due for a few months. Life happened, Dad died, things came up, and suddenly it was almost due, and I hadn't even started it. Panic time!!!

Lucky for me, this is a super simple project, and I was able to finish the tutorial without giving Beate a stress-induced heart attack from being late. I even got the video finished in time!

This is one I made to use as a gift tag on a bottle of wine.  You can't see it, but there's some shimmer spray on the vellum to make it even more glitzy. Here's the back view:

I hope you all give it a try. It really is so simple, and can be used in so many ways (Hanukkah, holiday ornament, greeting card, etc.)

Stamps (for back of gift tag): Snowflake Soiree, More Merry Messages, Fabulous Phrases

Cardstock: Early Espresso DSP, Very Vanilla, Champagne Glimmer Paper, Cardstock Vellum

Ink: Soft Suede, Early Espresso

Accessories: Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Big Shot, Snow Flurry Bigz Die, Stampin' Trimmer, Early Espresso Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, Brushed Bronze Designer Buttons, Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

HYCCT1201A, Show What You're Made Of

A little late on this Hope You Can Cling To Challenge, but better late than never, right? Lydia's challenge was for us to show the world what we're made of, artistically speaking.

I guess I'm a blue, blingy, bows and butterflies kinda gal, with some Big Shot thrown in. I love textures, and layers, and my fave color is blue, so I think this card covers it all, pretty much.  (Though I couldn't quite figure out how to work in my warped sense of humor. I'll have to give that one more thought, hee hee!)

Stamps: Daydream Medallions, Fabulous Phrases
Cardstock: Marina Mist, Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Marina Mist DSP
Ink: Midnight Muse, Marina Mist
Accessories: Big Shot, Floral Frames Framelits, Argyle and Square Lattice embossing folders, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Whisper White 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (retired), Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

A Technique & a Sneak Peek!

Today's card uses the Double Embossed Enamel technique, as featured in this week's Weekly Inkling on Splitcoast Stampers. The video tutorial for this technique can be found here on You Tube. It's a fun, easy technique, yet it has a lot of wow factor.

This is also another sneak peek at two more 2012 Occasions Mini catalog items. The flower is from a set called Mixed Bunch, which coordinates with the new Blossom Punch! The flowers in this set are gorgeous; each one is completely different!

Stamps: Mixed Bunch (available 1/4), Word Play
Cardstock: Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: VersaMark, Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots embossing folder, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Basic Black button (Neutrals Designer Buttons Collection), Calypso Coral 1/8" Organdy Ribbon (FREE Sale-A-Bration item, available 1/24)

Spooky Slider Cup Card

This is the card that was made for the Treat Cup Slider Tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.  I was so thrilled to be asked by Beate Johns to do the tutorial!  (There will be another one for a different technique coming in December, so keep an eye out!) Thank you, Beate. And thanks also to Lydia for doing the video I wasn't able to get done before going to Montana!

The spider web from Wicked Cool was stamped in Staz-On on the treat cup and set aside while the hat and shoes were stamped and embossed. They were cut out and mounted with Stampin' Dimensionals at the end. The Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta was used to tie on the linen thread from the tag, and then the ends were frayed.  The very edge curls up and looks kinda cool!

This technique can be adapted to put the pull-out slider on any side; it doesn't have to be at the top. And it doesn't have to be a card, either! Here is a bunny treat I made for my grandson's preschool class. They pulled the ears to open the slider in back.

Stamps: Wicked Cool
Cardstock: Lucky Limeade, Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, (retired) Halloween DSP
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, VersaMark
Accessories:  Sweet Treat Cup, Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Pumpkin Pie Brad (Brights Collection), Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Linen Thread, Tag Corner Punch, 1/8" Circle Handheld Punch, Round Tab Punch, Corner Rounder Punch

What a Weekend!

The first-ever gathering of Moovers and Shakers from SCS took place last weekend, and we managed to get six of us together for a weekend of stamping fun, food and laughter. Oh my, I haven't laughed that much in a long time...my insides got a good workout! I was the hostess, but I hardly had to do anything. The ladies pitched right in and made themselves at home. Jill made supper Saturday night, and everyone helped clean up, whilst I sat on my as.., um, butt. Dawna even had to make her own bed with fresh linens, lol. I tried to compensate for my laziness by leaving a chocolate mint on her pillow. Hope it was enough. :-)

We did a shoebox swap (my first!), and every project was fabulous!  Christine showed us how to make a waterfall card, which I had been itching to try. It was almost like she read my mind! Betty's classy black and white card and ATC was an "enabler" for me - now I have to get that Nestabilities Lacey Circles die. Dawna's technique using chalk inks to make a background the looked reminiscent of mother-of-pearl was way-cool. Jill didn't have to enable me, since I already possess that Build a Blossom punch and stamp set, But now I'm inspired to ink it up! These cards (and a lot more) are going to Operation Write Home this week!

Punchy Stand-up Card (SCS TLC228)

Had a little fun with the punches on this card. It seems like I always forget to use them and, Lord knows, I've amassed quite a collection of them! **Hello, my name is Cindy and I'm addicted to punches (and stamps... and Copics... and paper... and ribbon... and...well, you get the idea)**

A couple days ago, while exploring color combinations, I found that Stampin' Up! Rich Razzleberry and Dusty Durango go quite well with So Saffron! Who knew?! My camera doesn't capture it well, but if you have some, pull out the cardstock and check for yourself. The So Saffron I used is from the Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper pack.

I got the idea for doing a stand-up card while perusing the Splitcoast Stampers Challenges. This was TLC228, from 3 weeks ago. I tell you, if you are EVER stuck for an idea, or think you've lost your mojo, please visit the SCS Gallery or Challenge Thread for a kick-in-the-pants shot of inspiration! I guarantee you will find something that sparks your fancy. :-D

BTW, the instructions and template for making a stand-up card can be found HERE.

I was teaching my granddaughter water-color techniques, and chose this Penny Black Kickin' image. It turned out so cute, I went ahead and used it for the card. I used an Aqua Painter with the Dusty Durango and Creamy Cocoa Classic ink, then added the other colors from my Derwent Watercolor pencils. I really need to add more SU colors to my collection. **Hmmmm, I think I also need to add "ink" to my list of addictions, lol!**

The Nestabilities Labels 4 cut/embossed the image, but the next size up (to use for a mat) was too big, so I traced around the outer edge of the die I used for the image and cut it out by hand. Worked pretty well, I think! I'll be doing that again. ;-)

Used the Nesties Curved Rectangle die for the Rich Razzleberry background and ran it through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder.

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Rich Razzleberry and Duisty Durango, Strathmore 140 lb. watercolor paper
Pattern Paper: Stampin' Up! So Saffrom Designer Series
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Rich Razzleberry, Dusty Durango and Creamy Cocoa
Stamps: Image- Penny Black Kickin' (3829H), Sentiment- Stampin' Up! Embrace Life
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Labels 4 and Curved Rectangles, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, SU Word Window punch, tiny flower punch (mfr. unknown), adhesive pearls

Heartfelt Wishes - Three Challenges!

This card manages to cover three challenges - First is the SCS Featured Stamper FS104, featuring none other than the infamous Bev, from the All the Things I Love blog (of which I am a fanatic devotee!). Her use of all the materials to which I am addicted (ribbon, flowers, charms, sparkly stuff), and her mastery of coloring the images is something I aspire to! This is Bev's card that I chose to CASE. I reversed the layout, and used different colors, image and elements (ovals instead of circles, etc.)

The second challenge is Papertake Weekly's Hearts & Flowers, in which we were to use hearts, or flowers, or both. I think that is pretty well covered on this card! In fact, I don't think I could have crammed many more in without it looking totally tacky.

And last, but certainly not least, is the OCC weekly challenge Crazy for Hearts (must have 2 or more hearts), which I also think I've got covered lol.

I really wanted something more than the traditional red and white, or pink Valentine's card....something a little more daring and sexy. So I came up with red, black and white. The image is Melinda Blowing Kisses from Whiff of Joy Stamps, stamped in Versafine Onyx Black ink and heat embossed with JudiKins Detail Clear EP. I colored it with Copic markers, cut and embossed the ovals with Nestabilities Petite Ovals and popped the image using Stampin' Dimensionals. I used Sakura Stardust Clear Gelly Roll glitter pen on her wings.

The sentiment was printed on my printer, cut and embossed and matted as for the image. Prima flowers, punch flowers, Queen & Co. red pearls and silver filigree bead caps dressed it up a bit. I can't remember where I got the heart brads, but I'm sure I got a good deal. :-D The red lace and black satin ribbon were from my sewing stash.

The Copic Sketch markers I used are shown to the right.>>>>>>>>>

Cardstock: SU Basic Black and Real Red
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black
Stamp: Whiff of Joy

Bella Rose, SCS IC164 Challenge

I think I'm gonna give this card to DH for Valentine's day, since it turned out so purty, LOL! This was the Saturday inspiration challenge on Splitcoast Stampers. We were to use any of the Lang calendars as inspiration for our card. I chose a page from the Cottage Garden calendar. If you click on "More Images" on that page, it's the third row, second column. So, do you think the card looks similar? ;-)

I had just bought that rose stamp on sale at Michael's last week, and it turned out to be perfect for this challenge. The Paper Tole method seemd to be the right thing for this card, so I stamped it three times, colored it with Copic markers and then cut it out. The first cut was the entire rose, with rosebud and leaves. The second cut was the rose sans outer petals, the outer petal of the rosebud, and the bottom leaves (separate). The third cut was the center of the rose, and the rosebud with stem, which I used to add another bud above the rose (along with the extra leaves). I cupped the layered petals a bit to add dimension, but didn't do it nearly as much as shown in the tutorial linked above.

The background to the rose is a scrap of Anna Griffin DP I had, which was run through the Cuttlebug with the Argyle embossing folder. The green DP is also Anna Griffin, but I stamped the Bella Toile background from Stampin' Up! on it with Old Olive Classic ink.

Copic colors used in photo to right:


Cardstock: SU Very Vanilla, Bazzill
DP: Anna Griffin
Stamps: Rose- Inkadinkado Fine Line Classics #90575X, Background- Stampin' Up! Bella Toile, Sentiment- H&M Stamps "Our Love" set
Ink: Brilliance Graphite, Stampin' Up! Old Olive Classic
Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, Textured Trios ribbon and Recollections pearl brads, both from Michael's

WoJ Challenge #15 and SCS Challenge WT202

Yippeee! I was able to kill two birds (thanks, Shannon) accomplish two challenges in one shot! This card is for both the Splitcoast Stampers Challenge WT202 (Pattern Pizzaz), and the Whiff of Joy Challenge #15, Katharina's sketch (love that sketch, Katharina!).

The SCS Pattern Pizzazz challenge was to take a pattern paper and dress it up with glitter, flocking, heat embossing or whatever, and make it special. Starting with some cardstock from the Die Cuts With a View Luxury Stack that was already pretty special with its pearlized finish, I added some heat embossed cupcakes (SU Chocolate Chip Craft ink) and colored in the cherries on each one.

The adorable little mouse image, called Henry Celebrating Mouse, is new from the Whiff of Joy Stamps Party Animal collection. He was so much fun to color!

He was stamped in VersaFine Onyx Black and heat embossed with JudiKins Detail Clear EP, then colored with Copics. I added some Diamond Glaze on the chocolate sprinkles on the cupcake to highlight them a bit.

Copic colors used shown in photo to right:

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, Whisper White
DP: DCWV The Luxury Stack
Stamps: Mouse image- WoJ "Henry Celebrating Mouse", Small cupcakes- Sweet n' Sassy Stamps "Chocoholic", Sentiment- Hero Arts "Cupcakes"
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, SU Chocolate Chip & Ruby Red
Embellishments: CTMH brads, SU Chocolate Chip ¼" grosgrain ribbon, Martha Stewart Camelia Pink craft seam binding, Nestabilities dies

SCS Challenge SC212

First, let me apologize for the lousy photo. I just can't get the setting right on my camera to make the colors turn out correctly. =( I take about a dozen pictures, using different settings, hoping one will turn out. Thank goodness for digital cameras! Can you imagine the cost if we still used film cameras?!

I thought I'd participate in a Splitcoast Stampers challenge, for a change. I still have to get about three more birthday cards finished, so I'm using the challenges as inspiration. This is the SC212 sketch challenge for this week. I almost turned this sketch on its side, but I think it looks better this way.

The cupcake is from the Hero Arts Clear Design set called (what else?) "Cupcakes". I stamped it on white cardstock using VersaMark Dazzle Frost, because I wanted just the barest outline to follow with the Liquid Applique pen. After letting it dry overnight, I used the heat gun to puff it up, and then cut out just the 'frosting'. Using the same ink, I stamped it again on the darker turquoise cardstock, cut out the bottom part of the cupcake and ran it through the Fiskars paper crimper to make it look like a cupcake paper. After gluing it to the textured background, the frosting was adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals for added depth. The sprinkles (from JoAnn) were adhered with JudiKins Diamond Glaze.

Cardstock: Paper Company orchid, DCWV Robin #2 and Mediterranean
DP: glitter background DCWV Sweet Stack, floral background Provo Craft Bitty Scrap Pads
Stamps: Image- Hero Arts "Cupcakes", Sentiment- H & M Stamps "All-About Birthdays"
Ink: Stampin' Up Tempting Turquoise, VersaMark Dazzle Frost
Embellishments: Liquid Applique, sugared brads, sprinkles from JoAnn, ribbon from my sewing stash

Yikes! One Week Until Christmas!

I have been frantically trying to get my Christmas cards finished and in the mail. I'd have them all done, if I didn't have a million other things I have to do, as well (laundry, shopping, cleaning, etc.). And this year, since I have made so many new friends on SCS, I have even more cards to send than usual.

My New Year's resolution will be to complete at least 5 Christmas cards every month, starting in January. ;-)

That being said, here's one that I finished earlier this week. I love that image from Impression Obsession - it just cracks me up every time I see it! I used Stampin' Up! Not Quite Navy Classic ink to stamp the image and blender pens to move the color where I wanted it. The scarf and hats were colored with CTMH markers and I added Stickles to the pompoms on the hats. The image was matted on DCWV glitter CS, then Not Quite Navy CS. Underneath it all is embossed Snowflakes done on the Cuttlebug. The glitter snowflakes were punched out using Marvy snowflake punches. Ribbon from Michael's.

One for Three!

This card was made to participate in THREE challenges! The first is the Whiff of Joy Challenge which is the sketch I used for the card layout.

The second is the SCS color combo challenge CC187, which are the colors I used. The colors were Stampin' Up!'s Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango and Kiwi Kiss (or Old Olive - I used both).

And the third challenge is from OCC's Bling on the BLING! challenge, which explains the rhinestones, gold EP and beads, LOL!

This card was a lot of fun to do, combining all the elements. The image (Whiff of Joy's "Willow With Hot Chocolate") was stamped in black pigment ink and heat embossed with clear EP, then colored with Copic markers. I added some Diamond Glaze over the mug to make it shiny, but I don't think it shows in the photo very well. I carefully cut out the image and fastened it to the Kiwi Kiss background with pop dots. Old Olive was used as a border, the edges inked with SU Pumpkin Pie Classic ink.

I used VersaMark ink to stamp the swirls on the three background panels, and heat embossed them with gold EP. The pattern paper is from SU's "Haiku" pack. Lots of yummy patterns/colors in that pack!!!

After fastening the three swirled panels to the pattern paper, I added the ribbon and threaded the beads on the gold chain which, very conveniently, fit on one prong of each of the brads. Ta-DA!!!

The sentiment was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink on Tangerine Tango CS, the edges inked in Pumpkin Pie ink. I dipped the edges of the Chocolate Chip background in VersaMark and heat embossed in gold EP.

After it was all assembled, I decided it needed a little more "bling", so I added the rhinestone flowers. And there you have it! So, what do you think? Please leave a comment!

Cardstock: SU Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive. Glitter cardstock from DCWV
Pattern paper: SU "Haiku"
Stamps: Image- Whiff of Joy "Willow With Hot Chocolate", Sentiment- Penny Black "Salutations", Swirls- Stampabilities "Swirls & Curls"
Ink: VersaMark, SU Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black
EP: JoAnn Gold Detail, Clear
Ribbon: SU Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon
Rhinestone Flowers: Hero Arts Small Blossoms

Another Card

This is the other card for the SCS challenge. This Limited Supplies challenge was called WCMDLSC08 "No P's Please". Meaning we couldn't use patterned paper, or any pastel colors. After I uploaded the card to the gallery, I realized there was a 'P' in Peace. Oh well, at least the materials used didn't include anything with a P!

I used my Nestabilities Large Rectangle die to cut the scalloped edges on the card. The scallop edge on the red cardstock was made with Stampin' Up!'s new border punch. The embossing was done with the Cuttlebug "Just My Type" embossing folder, and I used a SU Real Red marker on the berries.

Cardstock: SU Whisper White and Real Red, gold foil (unknown manufacturer)
Stamps: Bird image- Inkadinkado "Birds Galore", sentiment- Inkadinkado "Warm Holiday Wishes"
Ink: SU Real Red Classic and Whisper White Craft
Embellishments: Cuttlebug embossing, ribbon- Michael's