Monday, September 26, 2011

Fall leaves

This week's CAS challenge on SCS was to use leaves.  I just got French Foliage, so that was perfect timing!  At first I was thinking about doing a collage type card or doing clear block stamping, but neither of those ideas came together for me.  (I'm a make-the-card-in-my-head-first stamper.  I'd love to be able to fly by the seat of my pants, but that just never works out for me!)
Finally, I thought of stamping the leaves across the bottom of the card in a border.  Then I decided to emboss them in gold and cut around them on the bottom.  I'm so pleased with how it came out!  (I was going to bleach inside them and color with markers but decided to leave well enough alone.)
I added some water drops in Versamark, Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon and a sentiment from Happy Greetings.  I punched it out with the decorative label punch then pushed the edges into the Versamark pad and embossed with gold EP.
Happy stamping!
Jana Signature

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Birthday card for Shelli

This birthday card is for my friend Shelli.  I used the color combo challenge from last week on SCS: Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade and Pool Party.  I used the Fine Flourish stamp in black on each color, punched it out with the scallop circle punch, then cut petals.  The card base is 3 1/4 X 6 1/2 Peach Parfait.  The Pool Party DSP is from Spice Cake.  I added brads in each of the colors and a sentiment punched out with the modern label punch.
Happy stamping!
Jana Signature

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

September Creative Crew sketch

Today's card is for the September Creative Crew sketch.  I really like this sketch and card!  I used Contempo Christmas and Perfect Punches here.  The Christmas tree is embossed with the new Pewter EP from the Holiday Mini.  I used a jingle bell for the star.  The card base is Real Red with the DSP layered onto Early Espresso and popped up with dimensionals.  The tag and sentiment are also on dimensionals.  I used both the vanilla velvet ribbon and Early Espresso quilted satin ribbon from the Holiday Mini as accents.
Happy stamping!
Jana Signature

Monday, September 12, 2011

CAS color challenge card

I decided to try a challenge last week.  The color challenge was Always Artichoke, So Saffron, Cajun Craze.  Perfect for fall!
The card base is So Saffron.  First, I created the sun.  I punched a 1 1/4" circle out of a Post-It note.  I put the Post-It on the card base and sponged So Saffron.  Then I covered that circle with the punched-out piece and sponged Cajun Craze around the edge of it.  I inked up the trees stamp with Always Artichoke.  It was hard to tell what the color was, so I used an aquapainter and some extra ink to add color and dimension to the hills.  I added the sentiment, a base layer of Cajun Craze and Always Artichoke seam binding ribbon to complete the card.
Happy stamping!
Jana Signature

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Fun Stampin' Mist technique

This is the other project from my last workshop.  I learned this technique when I was at Dawn Olchefske's demonstrator meeting a few months ago.
First, sponge ink all over your cardstock.  Here I sponged Early Espresso onto Very Vanilla.  Second, spray your stamp generously with Stampin' Mist.  I used Medallion.  Third, press your stamp firmly onto your inked cardstock.  I pressed for a few seconds to really make an impression on the paper.  Fourth, heat the paper until it's dry.  I found that heating both sides of the paper helped cut down on the paper warping.  (My mom didn't heat set hers, and she said it didn't work too well.)
There's something in the Stampin' Mist that seems to bleach the ink, and pressing the stamp gives the image a dry embossed effect.  It's very cool!
I kept the card really simple to focus on the technique plus I wanted it to be masculine.When I initially added the twill tape, there was too much contrast with the rest of the card.  Ray asked if I had any twill tape the color of the cardbase, so that gave me the idea to sponge Crumb Cake ink onto it.  He was really happy to have helped me, but now he's afraid I'm going to try to make him start stamping, LOL!
Happy stamping!
Jana Signature

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Sour cream container

If you're of  a "certain age," you may recall a time when you ordered a baked potato and sour cream came in these little rectangular containers.  These were all the rage a few years ago, and I decided to demonstrate them again this month.  The container shown above started life as a 4 X 6 piece of Paisley Petals DSP, but it would be easy to change the size of the container by changing the size of the DSP.  I chose 4 X 6 because you can get SIX from one sheet of DSP!  If you'd like to know how to make the sour cream container, keep reading!
First, choose which side of the DSP you want to show on the outside.  Put a piece of sticky strip along the short edge of the side you want to show.  Pull off the red liner and adhere the other short edge, forming a tube.  Second, flatten one end of the tube.  Seal it with sticky strip.  Third, flatten the other end of the tube at a 90-degree angle to the first end.  **Don't seal it until after you fill it with goodies!  (Carol Duvall would say to use $50 gold pieces, LOL!)  Believe it or not, this container holds 8 Starburst.  Fourth, seal the second end after filling the container.  Fifth, crimp both ends.  Two clicks of the crimper handle does the trick.  Optional:  Add an adorable tag using Pretty Postage and the postage and extra-large tag punches.
Happy stamping!
Jana Signature

Monday, September 5, 2011

Daniel's birthday card

One of this month's Creative Crew challenges is to use Timeless Portrait DSP or its colors: Very Vanilla, River Rock, Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black.  I don't have the DSP, but I thought the colors would be perfect for a birthday card for Daniel.  He will be 22 tomorrow.  Wow, that's hard to believe!  Obviously, my card doesn't look anything like the DSP, but I really like it!
I used Extreme Elements and all of the colors to create my own background.  I used the new pewter embossing powder from the Holiday Mini for the pirate.  I thought about adding some ribbon but decided that I liked it just the way it is!
Happy stamping!
Jana Signature

Friday, September 2, 2011

Pauline's card

Pauline made this gorgeous card on Saturday.  Actually, she made 4 of this card!  She almost always does that.  What a great idea!
This card uses the Artistic Etchings stamp set and retired DSP.  The colors are Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red and Basic Black.  Another great tip from Pauline: She writes the colors in the DSP on the back of the package!
The finishing touches to this card are Basic Black satin ribbon and the new Pewter embossing powder.  So elegant!
Happy stamping!
Jana Signature