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.