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!

Christmas in April (finally!)

Click on any image to enlarge

Here's one (of the set of four) of the cards I made this month for my personal monthly Christmas card challenge. I CASEd this card from the SCS gallery. I just loved the blue, and snowflakes are my favorite! I did change it a little, since I didn't want it to be a total knock-off, LOL. The blue frame around the Peace sentiment is a shade darker than the card base, and I opted to use Ice Stickles on the punched snowflake and leave off the flowers. Sorry for the off-colors. It's been overcast the past few days, and I can't get the settings right on my camera.

This view shows the Stickles a little better:

Cardstock: Close to My Heart Heavenly Blue, Paper Co (name unknown), Neenah Solar White
Stamps: Snowflakes and sentiment from Papertrey Ink's Snowflake Serenade
Ink: VersaMagic Sea Breeze
Embellishments: Crystal Dots from Sally, EK Success snowflake punch, Ice Stickles Arctic Ice

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

SCS Challenge "Rock, Paper, Scissors"

This card was a bit of a stretch for me, for sure! I made it for the SCS challenge LSC189. What?! We can't use ribbon??? And no Cuttlebug embossing or Nesties? You have severely handicapped me, ya know! LOL. Fortunately we could use decorative scissors, plus brads, pearls, glitter, etc. Otherwise, I'd have never been able to make the card!

I just got some wonderful Pearlescent Watercolors today from My Favorite Things. After coloring the image with Prismacolor pencils and odorless paint thinner, I used some to add shimmer to the iceberg the bears are on. The starry sky has silver star adhesive brads, tiny silver ball adhesive brads and adhesive rhinestones. I added some swirls with a Copic Spica clear glitter pen. A touch of Stickles was used on the baby bear's scarf. You can't see it, but both bears have shiny noses, courtesy of Judi Kins Diamond Glaze.

The cardstock layers were cut with Stampin' Up! wavy scissors. I wanted it to look like waves in the sea. What do you think? Did you think of waves? ;-)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up, CTMH, STardream Metallic
Ink: SU Basic Black Classic and Not Quit Navy Classic
Stamps: Image- Stampin' Up! (I don't know the name of it), Sentiment- Inkadinkado "Warm Holiday Wishes"

Terrific Tuesday to You!

We're supposed to have hot weather for the next couple of days, and then (I hope) we'll settle into more autumn-like weather. I don't like it when it's hot....I get cranky and irritable, just ask my DH! LOL

Anyway, here's another couple of cards I made for the World Card Making Day challenges at Splitcoast Stampers. I sure had fun doing those challenges! There were a couple that I wasn't going to do - either because I didn't like the colors chosen, or because I wasn't sure I could do something using the required technique. This lavender card is from the Technique Lover's Challenge WCMDTLC08, called Nested Flowers. I think it turned out okay.

Paper: Paper Co, Provo Craft, HOTP
Sentiment: Hero Arts "Anytime Messages"
Ink: SU Eggplant Envy
Embellishments: Square Rhinestones- Making Memories, Round brad- Doodlebug, Ribbon- Michael's

Thank You Swap

This one was made today for a Thank You card swap on SCS. What?! You say you have never heard of SCS (also known as Splitcoaststampers)? I highly recommend you pay a visit over there! You will be blown away by the talented members, and I can guarantee you will come away inspired!

The card inspiration came from the SheetLoad of Cards (gotta love that name!) August newsletter. If you need to make a bunch of cards all the same (and Christmas IS right around the corner, you know), this is a terrific resource. Check 'em out! On the left is the archive where you can download past issues. BTW, their sponsor for September is High Hopes Stamps, an absolutely wonderful stamp company up in Canada. I placed an order with them and had it within a week, all the way from Canada to San Diego!


Cardstock - DCWV linen textured and glitter stack, gold foil (unknown mfr.) die cut with Spellbinder's Scalloped Square Nestabilities
Pattern paper - ProvoCraft "Illuminations", vellum by HOTP Paper Pizazz "Vellum Dots"
Flower stamp - Stampin' Up! "Garden Blocks" stamped in SU Pumpkin Pie Craft ink on pale gold parchment from Paper Co.
Sentiment Stamp - Penny Black "Salutations" stamped in gold EP and heat embossed
Bow - gold cord I had in my sewing stash ;-)
Ribbon - also from my sewing stash