Shadow stamping

For this week's workshow wow challenge, we are shadow stamping AKA stamping off.  Each of the flower images on my card was inked only once but stamped 2 or 3 times for a really pretty effect.

I decided to go CAS (clean and simple) for this card, and it's even just one layer, very unusual for me.  I decided to use gold embossing to add the wow factor.

This stamp set, Awash with Flowers, is a sneak peek set from the new catalog in July.  The set will be available to everyone for the month of April only!  It has 18 stamps, and the clear mount stamps come in 2 DVD cases--one for the solid centers and one for the outlines.

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Awash with Flowers; Paper: Sahara Sand; Ink: Dusty Durango, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Ruby Red, VersaMark; Accessories: gold EP, double hole punch, Dusty Durango ribbon

Happy stamping!

An Easter card

Last week's workshop wow challenge was to make an egg card.  I found a pattern by googling Easter egg templates.  Sorry I don't have the web address handy.  The one I found had a sheet with several different sizes of eggs, and one of them was almost exactly the standard card size!

I'm trying to use up my DSP while it's still current, so I used 4 different patterns to make stripes on my egg.  The rickrack was made with the scallop edge punch and a 1" piece of DSP.  I added rhinestones from the eggcellent egg kit.  Unfortunately, it's gone now!  I'm so disappointed.

Happy stamping!

Groovy pirates

A while back, I saw an awesome background on a card on Jackie Topa's blog.  She embossed the Woodgrain background in white and then painted in lines of color with ink and an aquapainter.  She popped one of the extreme images on top (guitar, I think).  For some reason, I immediately thought it would work with Beware Pirates.  I love this set, and I had to have it.  But I don't use it too much because I'm never quite sure what to do with it.

For this card, I stamped the image onto glossy white cardstock using StazOn Black ink.  Then I stamped it onto a post-it note and cut it out for a mask.  Next, I stamped the woodgrain stamp with VersaMark, removed the mask, and embossed it with white EP.  For the colors, I used Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry.  Next time, I might color in the image with all one color.

Happy stamping!

Look what Karen made!

My friend Karen came over to stamp on Saturday.  We had so much fun!  Look at the cute card she made.  It's a 3X6 card, just the perfect size to show off her focal image.  It's from the I {Heart} Hearts set.  She also brought me some killer cupcakes.  Check them out!  The pirate hat is also a RING!! Score!

New catalog sneak peek set!

In April, SU is offering a sneak peek set from the new catalog.  One of the perks I get as a demonstrator is that I can order these things in advance.  Whoohoo!  This set is called Awash with Flowers.  It's a 2-step stamping set.  There are 18 stamps, and the clear mount stamps come in 2 DVD cases.  I love it!!  It seems like true 2-step stamping sets have been rare, but this one really is.  TIP: I found it easier to stamp the outline first and then the solid centers.  For the biggest flower, I used a sponge dauber to apply Melon Mambo to the flower center; then I used my Elegant Eggplant spot to ink up the rest of the flower.

I didn't make this card the same way I usually do.  Usually, I plan out a card in my head before I ever start to stamp.  Sometimes I'll think about a card for 2 or 3 days first.  Spur of the moment stamping just doesn't work for me, but in this case it did!  I knew that I wanted to use my Elegant Eggplant rickrack.  I thought that I could use some vanilla ribbon and wrap the rickrack around it and capture the ends inside the ribbon knot.  So armed with Eggplant as a color, I pulled up the SU In Color combo sheet for this year since the combos on the color wheel didn't excite me too much.  On that sheet, I found Elegant Eggplant, Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo and Old Olive.  Perfect!  I cut a 3 1/2" square of Very Vanilla and started stamping.  When I was done, I wanted more Old Olive on the card, so I sponged it all around the edges.  Then I roughed up the edges with the cutter kit and did the same to the mat.

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Awash with Flowers; Paper: Very Vanilla, Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo textured; Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Jet Black StazOn; Accessories: Very Vanilla satin ribbon, Orchard Ribbon Originals, cutter kit

Happy stamping! 

Birthday card from Mama

Here is the birthday card that my mama made for me.  Isn't it pretty?  (Even if it's not purple, LOL!)  I love the way the black pops against the pink as well as what she did with the ribbon!

Happy stamping!

Friday is Chocolate Caramel Day!

Wow, who knew such a fabulous holiday existed?  What a week: St. Urho's Day, St. Patrick's Day, my birthday and Chocolate Caramel Day all in a row!  That might be better than Christmas...

Anyway, for this week's workshop wow challenge, we have a color combo to salute Chocolate Caramel Day: Very Vanilla, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink.  I decided to do these gorgeous punch art roses that I saw on Jackie Topa's blog.  They are so easy, and they just use the new bird punch.  My roses are Pretty in Pink and Very Vanilla with Pretty in Pink sponged around the edges.  The card base is standard sized Creamy Caramel.  The Chocolate Chip layer is 4 X 5 1/4 and the DSP layer is 3 3/4 x 5; both are punched with the scallop trim corner punch.  The very vanilla taffeta ribbon covers up where all of the stems meet.  It's just a knot adhered with a mini glue dot.

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: None; Paper: Very Vanilla, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Sending Love DSP; Ink: Pretty in Pink; Accessories: scallop trim corner punch, two-step bird punch, Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon, sponge

Happy stamping!

Quick and cheery window sheet card

I found this piece of window sheet and wanted to use it to make a quick card.  I grabbed my pack of Welcome Neighbors DSP, and I loved the way the dandelions stood out against this piece of Pumpkin Pie DSP.  I added a couple of pieces from the Sweet Pea flower pack.  They add a lot of dimension, and they hide mini glue dots to help the window sheet adhere to the DSP.  (There are 2 more mini glue dots hiding underneath the ribbon!)  I think this whole card took me 15 minutes, and 5 of that was deciding on the DSP!

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: none; Ink: none; Paper: Old Olive, Welcome Neighbors DSP; Accessories: Sweet Pea felt, Pumpkin Pie striped grosgrain ribbon, Clearly Thanks window sheets

Happy stamping!

Eggs? Use this stuff on eggs? No way!

This card is made almost entirely from product from the Eggcellent Eggs Kit from the Occasions Mini.  There's no way I'm wasting rub ons and self-adhesive rhinestones on eggs!  This kit is awesome for making cards!  It's a 6 X 6 kit that comes with sheets of die-cut flowers and leaves, 2 sheets of rub ons, a sheet of self-adhesive rhinestones, and sheets of egg cups (which make perfect borders--that's where the grass came from, and it was already fringed!).  All I added was the ribbon and sentiment.

Happy stamping!

Circle pop-up card

This week's workshop wow is a circle pop-up card.  The next photo is the inside.

Pretty cool, huh?  It's really easier than you would think.  My friend Susie Nelson found this card on Stampin' Connection, which is sorta SU's version of SCS.  The creator, Helen, posted a tutorial on her blog here.  I simplified it just a little, so I'm including a few photos.

Start with a 5 X 8 1/2 piece of cardstock and fold it in half for a 4 1/4 X 5 card.  Then trace a 5" circle onto the card; the circle will be bigger than the card.  I used the lid from a stack of CDs.  The top was the perfect size!

Here's the card with the circle traced onto it.  Then just cut on the line to make your round card.

Next, follow Helen's directions for scoring and folding the 8 1/2" square for the pop-up part.  I found the DSP to be just perfect for this!  Instead of using her method, I used a spool of grosgrain ribbon (the big spool) for my circle.  (Be careful that it doesn't shift on you; mine came out a little off-center, but it's not too noticeable.

For the front piece, I cut a 4 3/8" circle with my circle scissors and then cut 1/2" off one side.  I did all of the stamping before assembly.  Just make sure you put it together correctly, LOL!

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Vintage Labels; Ink: Close to Cocoa, Real Red; Paper: Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Sending Love DSP; Accessories: vanilla taffeta ribbon, clip, circle scissors plus

Happy stamping!

Punches and DSP

Today's card was based on a sketch.  I was sorting through all of my swap cards to see what I had that was still current.  I gave my friend Karen a swap card made with Thoughts and Prayers because she has that stamp set.  This card is based on the sketch layout of that card.

I love that this card is such a great showcase for our DSP.  And yes, this is another card with NO stamping!  I'm loving the bird punch.  I punched the wing out of the DSP making sure it has some glitter on it because what's a bird without glitter, right?  LOL

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: None; Ink: None; Paper: Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Real Red textured, Chocolate Chip, Sending Love DSP; Accessories: scallop trim border punch, two-step bird punch, Real Red satin ribbon

Happy stamping!

Stamps? What stamps? And a reminder...

Last Friday was craft night at my church.  I brought the Welcome Neighbor DSP pack with me along with some coordinating cardstock and ribbon.  The paper pack is 6X6.  I trimmed down this piece of DSP to 2 1/2 X 5 1/2.  I cut a piece of Crushed Curry to 3 1/4 X 5 1/2 and used the scallop trim border punch on both edges.  I tied some Pumpkin Pie striped ribbon onto a Kraft card base and then adhered my focal image.  Now all I need to do is add a sentiment once I decide to whom I'm sending it.

Same song, 2nd verse, LOL.  I made the Melon Mambo mat 1/4" smaller (I think...) and used Bermuda Bay dotted ribbon.

Now for the reminder.  If you live in the Duluth area, I will be featured on WDSE Channel 8's program, B is for Beef, on Saturday, March 6.  The show is airing at noon, and I will be on between 2:50 and 3:30.  I've heard from a few people who have tried the soup and love it.  Thanks for the positive feedback!

Happy stamping!

Moving circle card

For this week's workshop wow challenge, we made a moving circle card.  The directions are here on Jackie Topa's blog.  This is the prettiest part of the card.  The card starts out looking like the photo below.

To bring on the color, you pull the tab on the side.  Along the way, the card looks like this:

This isn't as hard as it looks.  I hope you give it a try!

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Sanded; Paper: Confetti White, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry; Ink: Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Sahara Sand; Accessories: jumbo brad, circle scissors, modern label punch Happy stamping!

Chalkboard technique

Today's card features a fun technique called chalkboard.  For this technique, you start with very dark cardstock (black or I've used Night of Navy).  Stamp your image with whisper white craft ink and then dab chalk onto the image, covering it completely.  You can gently wipe away excess and use your chalk eraser to clean up any residue.  TIP: A pencil eraser also works if you're not able to find your chalk eraser!

My color combo is Rose Red, Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery.  This is a flashback to Cutie Pie DSP, which was one of my favorites a few years ago.

This is a clean and simple card for sure, but I'm really happy with it!

Note: I thought I had this scheduled to post this morning, but it didn't.  Sorry for the delay!

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Circle Circus, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper: Bashful Blue, Night of Navy; Ink: Whisper White craft, Night of Navy; Accessories: Certainly Celery satin ribbon, chalks, circle punches (1", 1 1/4", 1 3/4", scallop)

 Happy stamping!