Wednesday, December 23, 2009

One last Christmas ornament

I made one more Christmas ornament this year. The chipboard is retired. I inked it in Ruby Red craft ink then embossed with Irridescent Ice EP. The DSP is a gold sheet from Christmas Cocoa. It has a slight shimmer.
Happy stamping and Merry Christmas!
Jana Signature

Monday, December 21, 2009

My other Christmas card

Sorry my posting has been so sporatic! I've been super busy at work, and I just haven't had the energy to stamp. Next week, I have the week off, so I should be able to get back to normal then. This card is the same as the one I previously posted, just different colors and a different DSP from the same package (Christmas Cocoa).
I wish you all a blessed Christmas!
Happy stamping!

Jana Signature

Monday, December 14, 2009

My mom's Christmas present

Hi all! Sorry I didn't get any posts scheduled while I was out of town. Time just got away from me; thanks for your understanding! Anyway, here's the gift I made for my mom for Christmas. It's an album to hold her cards. I got the idea from Andrea Walford's blog. She was making them and selling them. I came up with my own template for the pockets inside.
The album is a 6X6 linen ring album. The front is decorated with chipboard letters and felt flowers. I adhered them with Mono Multi, and they are really on there! The closure is made from button brads attached to both the front and back. I tied linen thread to the back brad and wrapped it around the front brad. I added a cardstock circle so the thread wouldn't rub against the album cover. I punched the holes for the brads with the CropADile; it punched like butter through that heavy material!
Here is a a side view of the album so you can see the pockets. I made 12 pockets, but only 9 would fit in the album. I used Soft Sky, Pacific Point and Barely Banana for the pockets.
The next 2 photos show both front and back views of the pockets so you can see how they are put together. I made each pocket out of 2 pieces of cardstock. The pockets are gusseted to hold more cards, and the flaps are closed with velcro. I punched 2 holes in the bottom and added jumbo eyelets.

Here is the "front" view of the pocket. One piece of cardstock forms both flaps and the "back".
The 2nd piece of cardstock forms the "front" and the 2 gusseted sides.

Here is a view of the "back".
The "back" piece of cardstock is 6 X 8 1/2, scored at 1/2, 7 1/2, and 7 5/8.
The "front" piece of cardstock is 6 7/8 X 9, scored at 1/2, 1, 1 1/2, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2.
The size of the pocket is 6 X 7, so it will hold standard-sized cards.
Happy stamping!
Jana Signature

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Christmas ornament

For this week's workshop wow challenge, we are making Christmas ornaments with bonus points for using chipboard. I think chipboard is a natural material to use for ornaments because it has enough weight to hang nicely. The only current chipboard I have is Timeless Type, so I decided to make mine a monogram.
I saw this ornament made by Shelli Gardner herself on an episode of Paper Paint and Crafts this past weekend. She had a chipboard star on the front of hers. The back piece is a 4" circle of Real Red textured cardstock. The pleated circle is made from Christmas Cocoa DSP. It's a little hard to see in the photo, but the paper has a bit of shimmer to it. To make this piece, I cut two 1 1/2" strips of the paper and scored them every 3/8". I fan folded them and adhered the 2 pieces together. Then you turn it so it lays flat and push it together. You have to hold it together to get it to stick to the base. I put 3 pieces of Sticky Strip on the red circle to hold it in place.
The chipboard is covered with Handsome Hunter craft ink and embossed with Irridescent Ice EP. I also used Sticky Strip to adhere the letter to the pleated circle. Now all I need to do is punch a small hole and add some gold cord to hang it.
Sorry for the sporadic posting! Life is very hectic these days plus I've been working on my mom's Christmas present which I can't show you yet because she reads my blog. (Hey Mama!) I'll try to get it posted for Monday as she'll have her gift by then. I also just got my SAB and Occasions Mini preorder today. Hopefully I can stamp a quick project to post for Friday. I'll do my best!
Happy stamping!

Jana Signature

Monday, November 30, 2009

Altering DSP

When I saw the Night and Day DSP in the Holiday Mini, I was really excited. Why? Because I knew I'd be able to change it up to be any color I wanted! All it takes is a sponge and a little ink. I used it to make the thank-you notes shown above. The cardbase is Naturals White cut at 5 1/4" X 4". The DSP is 3 3/4" X 5". Each cardbase is backed by a 4 1/4" X 5 1/2" piece of cardstock (Basic Black on the top card, Crushed Curry on the bottom card). After I cut the DSP to size, I just sponged on Crushed Curry ink using a swirling motion. I went over it a couple of times until I got the amount of color I wanted. Then I used the ticket corner punch on it. The sentiment is from a 2007 SAB set, Happy Harmony; it's stamped in black StazOn on naturals white then punched with the 1 3/8" circle punch. The sentiment is adhered to a designer label punched in the same color that backs the cardbase.
I made 9, super simple to make lots of these!
Happy stamping!
Jana Signature

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Christmas punch card

For this week's workshop wow, we are using punches. The border on my card is made using the slit punch. (That's the one punches a U.) I started with a 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 piece of Handsome Hunter cardstock. On one long side, I pushed the slit punch in as far as it would go, centered it side to side and punched it. Then I punched all along the cardstock in each direction, eyeballing how far apart they would be. Once the row is punched, the cardstock will naturally fold back easily. This shortens the piece of cardstock by 3/4". My card base is standard-sized Real Red with 3/4" cut off the front. Then I just adhered the Handsome Hunter piece to the Real Red cardfront.
Supplies (all SU):
Stamps: Itty Bitty Backgrounds; Paper: Shimmery White, Real Red, Handsome Hunder, Christmas Cocoa DSP; Ink: VersaMark; Accessories: ornament punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, slit punch, Merry & Bright rub-ons, Mistletoe ribbon originals, silver marker

Happy stamping!
Jana Signature

Monday, November 23, 2009

Crimped Diamonds

Last week's workshop wow challenge was crimped diamonds from Tami's blog. To create this, you find the center of each side of the cardstock, score and fold each side back then run it through the crimper. I'll admit it was a little tricky; I had to hold the back corner in my lips while working the crimper with both hands. The result is definitely worth the effort! To create the center piece, cut a smaller piece of cardstock, mark the center of each side and cut instead of scoring.
Tami has a video on her blog. If you'd like to see photos instead, let me know and I'll try to do a photo tutorial. I hope you try this one!
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Dreams du Jour; Paper: confetti white, Bravo Burgundy, Mellow Moss; Ink: VersaMark; Accessories: crimper, black EP, heat tool, clips assortment, mellow moss taffeta ribbon, stampin' pastels, blender pen
Happy stamping!

Jana Signature

Monday, November 16, 2009

Eyelet Border Card

I have to admit that life has been so hectic lately that I haven't been inspired to stamp much. Today, I was cleaning off my computer desk, and I saw a Stampin' Success magazine. I leafed through it for inspiration, and I found a card with a layer that used the eyelet border all the way around it. How did I miss it before? I decided that I had to try it right away.
Just like in the magazine, I started with a 3 13/16" square of cardstock. On one side, center the punch, and punch the border on the entire side. (You should end in the middle of a hole on both ends.) Then turn the cardstock 90 degrees. Line up the cardstock so the last hole in the last full scallop you just punched is the first hole in the scallop you are about to punch. (See the picture below.) Repeat this on the remaining sides. Yes, the holes actually did line up in the end! TIP: When you start to punch each side, turn the punch over and make sure the cardstock is lined up straight in relation to the ledge where the cardstock normally rests on the front.
The finished piece was about 3 3/8" square. I matted it on a 3 5/8" square of Going Gray. The Crushed Curry cardstock inside it is 2 1/2" square. On that piece I stamped the flowers from Inspired by Nature with Versamark and embossed with clear EP. Then I stamped the grass in Going Gray. The ink just wipes right off the embossing.
On the Crushed Curry cardbase, I stamped my new Medallion background twice then tied on a piece of Basic Gray taffeta ribbon.

This is my first attempt at making the corner, and I didn't line up the holes correctly!
Let me know if you want a photo tutorial for making this border. If I get some requests, I'll try although I'm not sure how the pictures will turn out.
Jana Signature

Saturday, November 14, 2009

What do you think of my new blog background???

I won a new blog background from my blogging friend Debbi. Isn't it awesome???? She made it using Stampin' Up's new digital scrapbooking program, My Digital Studio. Be sure to check out her blog, especially if you are interested in having her design a blog background for you. Thank you, Debbi; you are a rock star!!
Jana Signature

Friday, November 13, 2009

Happy Birthday, Mama!

Sunday is Mama's birthday. I got her some earrings and a ring, and I decided to send them in a sweet treats cup. I love how they kinda look like a face! This card is reusable just like the one I made before. The color combo is Cameo Coral, Soft Suede and Bermuda Bay.
Happy stamping!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Stair step card

For this week's workshop wow, we are making a stair step card. (Sorry for the bad lighting in the photo!) The measurements are very simple. The card base is 5 X 10 1/2, scored at 1 1/4, 2 1/2, 4 1/4, 6 and 8 1/4. This would be a great photo card with a smaller middle layer with a more substantial sentiment.
Happy stamping!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Card holder

Isn't this card holder adorable? It looks like a magazine holder and holds standard-sized cards. I have 4 cards in this one, and it can definitely hold more if I want. I saw this on someone's blog and found the original tutorial here. She has great photos, measurements and directions.
It's made from 2 pieces of cardstock. Here's what it looks like without the ribbon covering the seams. (Note that I did not follow the original directions correctly. The diagonal line should end where the bottom piece starts, but I don't think it makes a huge difference in the end.)
Happy stamping!

Friday, November 6, 2009

A repeat

Today's card may look a little familiar. That's because I've posted it before. Actually, there's a slight difference--the sentiment. I wanted to send my friend Sarah a dryer sheet so she could do this week's challenge, and of course, I had to send it in one of my cards. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the right card. I had this card, but the sentiment said Happy Anniversary. So I decided to fix it. I stamped friend to friend in Old Olive, punched it with the word window, layered it onto a So Saffron modern label, and adhered it over the old sentiment. Voila!
I think I actually like this card better because the sentiment stands out more, and the So Saffron layer ties in the So Saffron hearts.
Which one do you like?
Happy stamping!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Dryer sheet technique

For this week's workshop wow challenge, we are doing the dryer sheet technique. We use a used dryer sheet, which is a great way to recycle! You stamp an image, coat the cardstock with adhesive, press on a used dryer sheet and sprinkle the whole thing with glitter. The glitter sticks to the adhesive through the holes in the dryer sheet. It's a very soft, sparkly effect!
For my snowflakes, I inked up the stamp with bordering blue and then used a sponge dauber to add spots of whisper white for a variegated look.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Best Wishes and More; Paper: Whisper White, Bordering Blue, Not Quite Navy; Ink: Whisper White craft, Bordering Blue, Not Quite Navy; Accessories: jumbo grommets, 1/2" circle punch, white satin ribbon, mono multi, dazzling diamonds, dryer sheet
Happy stamping!

Monday, November 2, 2009

A WICKED stamper and something work-related

First, I'd like to say how excited I am that this month's WICKED stamper on SCS is Jackie Topa. If you haven't been there already, you NEED to check out her blog immediately. She is one of the most talented ladies I've ever seen, and she can create punch art that is stunning!

Second, I thought I'd show this photo just for fun. I'm a trainer at United Healthcare, and the business I work with the most is OptumHealth Bank/OptumHealth Financial Services. At UHC, we are all about acronyms. For the last 2 weeks, I've been training a new skill that we are calling OHFAB, which has to be one of the best acronyms ever! One of my trainees said we should answer the calls by saying, "Oh snap! You've called OHFAB," and a tattoo was born! Someone actually got us all these temporary tattoos. I'm SO not a tattoo person, so I'm sure it was hilarious to everyone that I wore this for 2 days. Daniel's eyes bugged out a little when he first saw it, especially when he asked me where I got it and I told him we all went to a tattoo parlor.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Card set


Here's a set of 4 cards I made using Baroque Motifs and the baby wipe ink pad I talked about earlier this week. The colors I used were Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Elegant Eggplant. Each card is a white card measuring 5 1/4 X 8, scored at 4. The card is backed by a piece of colored cardstock measuring 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 (standard card size). The swirl image is stamped on the white cardfront. The center image is stamped onto white, cut out and matted on a Rich Razzleberry scallop circle. The center image on each card has a brad of some type in the center (either a Regal Rose brad or a rhinestone brad). I added some ribbon to each card. Because none of the cards has a sentiment, they can be used for any occasion or just for a note. They would make a great gift, and I'm going to make a holder for them. Look for that next week.
Happy stamping!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

One Sheet Wonder

Have you ever made a one sheet wonder? A one sheet wonder is one big piece of cardstock that you stamp with multiple images, like making your own sheet of patterned paper. Then you cut the sheet into pieces and use them on multiple projects.
For this card, I used the baby wipe stamp pad from Monday's post(Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Elegant Eggplant) and Best Wishes and More to make a one sheet wonder. I filled in with the little stamp from Baroque Motifs in Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Best Wishes and More, Baroque Motifs; Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry; Ink: Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Elegant Eggplant; Accessories: Rich Razzleberry grosgrain ribbon, baby wipes
Happy stamping!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Fun time at Karen's

On Sunday afternoon, I went over to Karen's house to stamp with her and her friend Melinda. We had a great time! I showed them how to use a stack of baby wipes as a stamp pad, and I showed Melinda how to make some past workshop projects that Karen had shown her. Here's a picture of our work area. (Most of this stuff is mine!)
Karen fell in love with the paper bag purses we made a few months back. Here is her version. It's adorable! I LOVE the snowflake backed by a 1 3/8" circle. It really pops!
Come back on Wednesday to see what I was working on. I'm happy to report that I have enough stuff to post for the whole week! Thanks for your understanding of my super busy life these days!
Happy stamping!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Like Night and Day

This week's workshop wow challenge was to make a card using black and white and one other color only. I chose Bermuda Bay because I thought it was a nice strong color to stand up to the black and white and also because I thought it was gender neutral.
I was inspired by the Night and Day DSP in the Holiday Mini for this card. I used a piece on the main layer, and the center of the scallop circle is punched from the DSP and then sponged with Bermuda Bay. On the card base, I stamped the swirl from Baroque Motifs in Bermuda Bay, black and white. I didn't use the stampamajig because I didn't think that type of precision was needed. I like that they are each a bit off, but they still look like a shadow.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Baroque Motifs; Paper: Basic Black, Bermuda Bay, Night and Day DSP; Ink: Black StazOn, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White craft; Accessories: 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, vintage brads, Bermuda Bay grosgrain ribbon
Happy stamping!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Another jiggly card

On Wednesday, I had a workshop at my house. I wanted to make a jiggly card, and I had the idea to use the snowflake punch. The only problem is that I don't own the snowflake punch. But my friend Karen does, and she was coming to the workshop. So we made this card on the spot at the workshop.
How did we do? I was pretty happy with how it turned out. The front of the card needs some glitter, but I couldn't find my 2 way glue pen.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Best Wishes and More, Heard from the Heart; Paper: Whisper White, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy; Ink: Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Whisper White craft; Accessories: snowflake punch, acetate
Happy stamping!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Monochromatic Christmas tree

I got the idea for this card from Donna's blog. She is so clever! I decided to use it for this week's demonstratable card challenge. The challenge I gave was to use 1 stamp set, 1 sentiment set, 1 color (plus white), 1 punch and 1 accessory. I think it turned out really well!
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Circle Circus; Paper: Whisper White, Real Red; Ink: Real Red; Accessories: 3/4" circle punch, Mistletoe Ribbon Originals
Happy stamping!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Jiggly card

A couple of weeks ago, I saw an adorable jiggly card (AKA movement card) on Lyssa's blog. You can see her card and directions here. I loved it and decided to use it for last week's Workshop Wow challenge. I'll also be doing a jiggly card at my workshop on Wednesday, but the card will be different.
Here is the fun view of the inside of the card. I love the way the flowers look like they are growing out of the card!

Here is the traditional view of the inside.
If you follow Lyssa's instructions, you should have no problem making this fun card. It is WAY easier than it looks--just a few score lines.
Tip: For the card base, I scored at 4 1/8" and 4 3/8" to form a "spine" to hold the inside instead of just scoring once at 4 1/4".
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Priceless, Warm Words, Heard from the Heart; Paper: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Regal Rose; Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery; Accessories: acetate, five petal flower punch, buttons, cutter kit