Control Freaks Sale-A-Brating Continues!

Welcome to the January 2017 edition of the Tour de Freaks, featuring the awesome Occasions catalog, and equally awesome Sale-A-Bration brochure. We just had so much fun with this theme last month, and there is SO MUCH good stuff to share with you, that we're doing it again this month!

You may have hopped here from LeeAnn's blog, Flowerbug's Inkspot (weren't her project's sa-weet?!), or maybe you just started here. Either way, follow the links at the bottom of each blog to take the whole tour. There are fourteen stops today!

I had such a hard time figuring out what I wanted to use, because I wanted to use it ALL! I finally (with great reluctance) decided to focus on just one suite, and since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I went with the Sending Love Suite.

When he was working I used to tuck love notes in my hubby's lunch box every once in a while, so love notes is the focus today. Since he's retired now, I'll have to find some creative ways to hide them for him to find....like maybe inside his iPad case, or in his bathroom drawer, heh heh.

All of these cards are 3" x 3" and were made using the products on page 15 of the Occasions catalog.

The Stitched Shapes Framelits are back in stock, and using them with the Sending Love DSP Stack made the cards look like little teeny tiny quilts....so cute!

That's a wrap from me today. Now I'm off to find some good hiding places! Be sure to "chick" out the next stop, Lisa's blog, Get Your Stamp On!

LOVE

Love is Kindness, that is. This is one of the a la cart stamps in the the Occasions catalog that I just adore. It is so quick and easy to color with the Blendabilities markers, and depending on the colors used and other card elements, it can take on many different looks.

This stamp has the greeting attached, so I just masked it off with a bit of Washi tape, inked it up with Memento ink, and then stamped, after removing the Washi. Of course, the first time I did it, I forgot to remove the Washi before stamping, and had an ugly inky blob where there wasn't supposed to be! (Note to self......remove Washi before stamping!)

STAMPS: Love is Kindness, Hello Life

CARDSTOCK: Real Red, Whisper White, Stacked With Love DSP Stack
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cherry Cobbler Blendabilities, Old Olive Blendabilities, White Gel Pen
ACCESSORIES: Real Red 1/4" Cotton Ribbon, Glue Dots, retired Washi tape

Simply In Love With This Color Combination

And simply in love with all the new Sale-A-Bration goodies. Love exploded is blooming all over my craft room. Today I made FIVE Valentine-themed cards! I guess once I started looking up funny Valentine's greetings the other day, I 'got in the mood', so to speak.

The is one of those great mailable cards.  The square knot on the ribbon was tied loosely enough that I could flatten in onto the glue dot, thus reducing the bulk.  So, no extra postage needed for that envelope!

No need for a greeting, since I'm pretty sure the intent of the card is clear. I love, love, love this color combination, don't you?! It reminds me of a Fifties diner, though I have no idea how I could possibly know what colors were popular way back then. (Heehee!)

Stamp: Madison Avenue (FREE Sale-A-Bration item)
Cardstock: Pool Party, Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts Framelits, Hearts A Flutter Framelits, Square Lattice Folder, Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack (FREE Sale-A-Bration item)

So, what is your favorite color combination for Valentine's Day? Do you like the traditional red and/or pink & white? Do you go for a more dramatic combination like red, black, and white? Or are you totally into non-traditional combos, like orange and pink, or purple and black? Leave a comment about your favorite, and I have some blog candy for the winning comment. Winner will be announced Sunday evening.

SUO Challenge #38 - Valentine's Colors!

Wow, I nearly forgot! I've been so busy making cards for Stampin' Addicts swaps, Valentine mailboxes (commissioned work), and starting my swaps for the Stampin' Up! Regional in Phoenix this Saturday, that this post nearly slipped my mind.

The theme this week at SU-Only Challenges is a Valentine with two colors, plus a neutral or two. I've always liked red, pink, and white together, or red, black, and white together, so I decided to combine them on this card. The DSP is Real Red with pink stripes, so there's the two colors, and the black and white are the two neutrals.

The ruffle around the large Framelits heart is made from the new White Waffle Paper (pg. 28 in the Occasions Mini).  Love that stuff! I want to try stamping on it and maybe embossing it, too.  Oh! And maybe the Faux Silk technique would work, too! (Hmmmm, the wheels are turning in my head...too many ideas and not enough time!)

Stamps: Take It to Heart, Loving Thoughts
Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red DSP (Brights Collection Paper Stack)
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts Collection Framelits, Pearls Basic Jewels, Large Pearl Basic Jewels, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, White Waffle Paper, Stampin' Dimensionals

Yesterday was the best birthday! I stamped ALL day, and then my sweet husband took me out to dinner. Life doesn't get much better than that!

Filled with Love

New promotion!  Buy the Filled with Love Bundle and get the Bitty Buttons for FREE!  Note: the Filled with Love* stamp set is in the Holiday Mini Catalog, which ends January 3rd.  After that, you can only get it in the bundle, and only until January 24th!  This is a fabulous set for Valentine's Day, anniversaries, or even good friends ("THOUGHTS OF YOU WARM MY HEART" sentiment).  Click on the Filled with Love logo on the left for details!

* Filled with Love stamp set, pg. 43 Holiday Mini - Wood Mount #120839 or Clear Mount #121154

TREAT CUPS SLIDER WINDOWS

There have been a few requests for how to make the slider window in the Valentine's Treat Cup card seen on the blog hop, so here is the tutorial.

Click on pictures to enlarge

Punch the main focal point cardstock with the Full Heart Punch.

If you are using a mat under it, fasten the mat to the card front.  Position the punched cardstock on the mat/card front wherever you want it, and trace inside the heart.

Follow the directions for using the Movers & Shapers Punch Window found HERE to make the opening in the card.

Stamp, emboss or decorate the main cardstock as desired.

Apply sticky tape to the edges of the main cardstock as shown.  Be sure to leave an opening for the slider, and don't remove the backing just yet.

Don't remove the backing from the adhesive on the treat cup.  Using 1/8" sticky tape, adhere the Heart Treat Cup to the underside of the main cardstock.

Now remove the backing from the sticky tape and adhere the main cardstock to the card front, making sure your hearts line up.  It doesn't have to be exactly centered inside, as long as you can access the the cup from the inside to fill it.

The slider itself is 2" x 3", with a Round Tab punched tab attached.

Start by sliding the candy cover between the main cardstock and the mat/card front.  Open the card and add the candy, then slide the cover closed.

 

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Pretty in Pink Classic, Whisper White Craft

Accessories: Heart Treat Cups, Full Heart Punch, Movers & Shapers Heart Punch Window, Round Tab Punch, Small Heart Punch, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Pretty in Pink 5/8 inch Satin Ribbon, Chocolate Chip 1/4 inch Grosgrain Ribbon, Sticky Strip, Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive, Paper Cutter

LOVE BIRDS

Aren't these little birds just the cutest thing?  I just got the new Extra Large 2-Step Bird Punch and the first thing I thought of was love birds.  Might have something to do with Valentine's Day being right around the corner.  Or not. :-)  


This card reminds me a little bit of the Pennsylvania Dutch Hex signs you see on barns back in Pennsylvania.  There is some really beautiful folk art back there! 

Stamp: Well Scripted
Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel: Very Vintage
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Rose Red
Ink: VersaMark Jumbo Wheel Cartridge, Rose Red Classic, Brocade Blue Classic
Accessories: Certainly Celery 5/8 inch Satin Ribbon, Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Scallop Oval Punch, Matchbox Bigz XL Die (label), Heart to Heart Punch, Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals

VALENTINE VOTIVE TUTORIAL

The Valentine Votive has been very popular with the people I've given it to, so far.  If you want to make them for yourself, or to give as gifts, here's how I did it (and learn how you can use the Movers and Shapers Punch Windows without the Movers & Shapers platform!).  A complete list of materials and tools used is at the end.

Click on photos to enlarge.

1- On back side of DSP, score at 2 7/8", 5 3/4", 8 5/8" and 11½" from short edge.
2- Turn paper and score at 1½" from long edge.

3- Use Scallop Trim Border punch along top edge. (Yes, I know the photos below don't show it - I figured out after that it's better to punch the border first.)

4- Using the Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, cut the heart-shaped window (in the third panel from the fold-under tab) with the Heart Punch Window die.  Be sure to leave room at the top for the ribbon trim.  The sandwich I used is:

1. Texturz Impressions Pad on bottom
2. Clear cutting pad
3. DSP paper with design facing up
4. Punch window die facing down
5. Clear cutting pad on top. 
   

5- Punch heart in one piece of the smaller Real Red CS using Full Heart Punch, going in from short edge.
6- Using Real Red Craft ink, stamp "Love You Much" sentiment on Vellum CS; emboss with clear embossing powder.  (Hold the Heat Tool about 5" away to prevent vellum from warping.)

7- Place Sticky Strip around edge of heart window and remove backing.  Center the embossed sentiment and adhere. Trim excess vellum.

 8- On inside of DSP, place Sticky Strip around heart window and remove backing. With sentiment facing up on work surface, center in DSP heart window and adhere.

9- Using Scallop Trim Border Punch, punch both long edges of the remaining Real Red CS. Trim scalloped strips with Paper Cutter, aligning flat side of punched semi-circles with edge of metal plate, as shown. (The scallops should be just barely past the ¼" mark on the plate.)
10- Adhere scallops to bottom edge along score line using Tombow adhesive. You'll need to cut a short piece to complete it, so make sure it's on the back where it won't show.

11- Cut bottom flaps along short score lines and remove excess ½"x1½" tab. Place Sticky Strip along fold of remaining tab and assemble votive holder.  Adhere bottom flaps with Snail or Sticky Strip.

12- Stamp hearts using Real Red Classic Ink on Very Vanilla CS twice.  Using Small Heart Punch, punch out "Love" hearts.  Using Heart to Heart Punch, punch out remaining hearts.  Punch again (twice) from remaining small Real Red CS. Adhere as desired on sides using Tombow adhesive.

13- Use Snail to adhere 13" strip of ribbon to top of votive holder, with ends finishing on back. Trim so raw edges butt together. Tie loose knot in 6" ribbon and adhere to front with glue dots. Trims ends.

Materials:
Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper #117153, half sheet (6"x12")
Real Red Cardstock #102482, 2 pieces 2½"x3", and one piece 3"x11"
Very Vanilla Cardstock #101650, 3"x4"
White Vellum Cardstock #101856, 2¼"x4"
Real Red ¾" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon #115608, 13" and 6"
Accessories and tools:
I {Heart} Hearts Stamp Set #118571 (plus Clear Mount Block C #118486, if CM stamps used)
Well Scripted Stamp Set #118601 (plus Clear Mount Block C #118486, if CM stamps used)
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad #103133
Real Red Craft Stampin' Pad #101190 (I used a Spot, since that's all I had)
Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder #109130
Heat Tool #100005
Scallop Trim Border Punch #118402 free with qualifying purchase through Sale-A-Bration!
Heart to Heart Punch #113694
Full Heart Punch #113693
Small Heart Punch #117193
Paper Cutter #104152
Big Shot Die-Cut Machine #113439
Texturz Impressions Pad #114614
Heart Die from Punch Windows Movers & Shapers #115953
Snail Adhesive #104332 
Mini Glue Dots #103683
Sticky Strip #104294
Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive #110755

Operation Write Home Blog Hop Has Begun!

First of all, I want to say what an honor it is to be a part of this! Operation Write Home, formerly known as Cards for Heroes, is a non-profit group that processes hand-crafted greeting cards donated by crafters for our military members who are deployed.  These brave men and women don't have access to cards to send back home to their loved ones, so you can imagine how it puts a smile on their faces when they get a box of beautiful hand made cards to choose from.  If you want to learn more about this worthy organization, just click on their name above!

If you just stopped by to visit my blog, you can start the blog hop HERE at the beginning, or click the "Start Hopping" button on the upper right of this page.  If you landed here after visiting the lovely and talented Yapha's blog, WELCOME!

These are the cards I made for our deployed heroes.  The two at the top are for Any Hero.  There is a note inside each one expressing my gratitude for their service to our country and for my family's freedom.  

The Valentine's cards are blank inside for them to send back home to a loved one.  

Thank you stopping by to visit!

Your next stop is Rhonda's blog, Bumble Bee Creations

She's having a give away!!!