Mama's birthday card

One of the Creative Crew challenges this month is to make an easel card.  I've never made one before, so I was surprised at how easy it was!  SCS has a great tutorial.   I used Baja Breeze on this card because it's Mama's birthday card, and that's her favorite color.  The base is Blushing Bride.  I stamped the Medallion in Baja Breeze and added Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon.  I put silver glimmer paper on the bottom of the inside of the card and punched the eyelet border punch on the card front so you can see the glimmer paper when the card is closed.  The sentiment from Perfect Punches is popped up, and it holds the card open for display.

Here's a close-up of the star of the card!  It's a rosette; pretty fancy, right?  This was featured in the December Stampin' Success magazine, and I had to try it right away!  You won't believe how easy it is.  I started with a 2 X 8 1/2 piece of Shimmery White cardstock.  I scored it every 1/4" (super easy with Simply Scored).  Next, I punched it with the lace ribbon punch.  After punching, I folded it, alternating the folds (mountain, valley, mountain, valley).  I adhered the 2 ends together then opened it to lay "flat".  I scrunched it into position and adhered it to a small circle of cardstock then added an antique brad.

P.S.  It took 3 stamps to mail this to Mama, and I also added a piece of cardboard to the envelope to protect it.  I hope it worked!

Happy stamping!

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!

The feminine side

Here's the feminine version of Wednesday's card. I used the emboss resist technique here. I stamped Medallion using VersaMark ink onto the Paisley Petals DSP. Next, I sprinkled on clear EP and heated it. Finally, I brayered Early Espresso ink over the whole thing. After it dried a little, I rubbed the embossed image with a paper towel to get off the excess ink and then put it through the Big Shot.
I stamped Teahouse in Cajun Craze ink onto a Crumb Cake cardbase and added Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon. A pearl in the center of the medallion is the finishing touch.
Happy stamping!

Two sides of the same DSP

I've been playing with some of my new stuff: the Big Shot and some new DSP. The DSP is a sneak peek from the July catalog, yes the big one! The DSP, called Paisley Petals, and a stamp set, Four Frames, will be available for purchase in April with a $20 order. I haven't shown you the stamp set, but you will love it! It coordinates with the decorative label punch!
So this DSP has a very subtle pattern on it. There's actually a large floral pattern on this sheet, but it's not on this particular section of the paper.
I wanted to make 2 cards that are 2 sides of the same coin, so to speak. I'm using the same stamp (Medallion), the same layout, and the same DSP. This is the masculine version. I'll show you the feminine one on Friday.
Supplies: Stamps: Medallion, Sanded; Paper: Cajun Craze, Paisley Petals DSP; Ink: Early Espresso, Cajun Craze; Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, neutrals button, linen thread
Happy stamping!

Waffle paper

Have you noticed the new waffle paper in the Holiday Mini?  There are 2 different packages: black and brown or gold and silver.  Rhonda and I decided to split a pack, and I just got my share on Sunday.  Here's my first attempt at using it.

I cut a 4 X 4 piece of the black waffle paper.  I inked up Medallion with Pretty in Pink craft ink, stamped it onto the waffle paper and embossed it with Irridescent Ice EP.  I added a vintage brad to the center.  I used Mono Multi to adhere it to a Pretty in Pink cardbase.  The final touches: scallop trim border and black satin ribbon.

Supplies: Stamps: Medallion; Paper: Pretty in Pink, black waffle paper; Ink: Pretty in Pink craft; Accessories: Irridescent Ice EP, vintage brad, Basic Black satin ribbon

Happy stamping!

CAS medallion card

I'm in Florida with limited supplies, so I'm stamping CAS (clean and simple). Mama is here with me, so we did some stamping last night. I took her picture, but she won't let me post it. She made 5 cards today (3 while I was at work), and I made 2.
Supplies: Stamps: Medallion; Paper: Basic Gray, Concord Crush, Lap of Luxury DSP; Ink: Basic Gray, Concord Crush; Accessories: vintage brads
Happy stamping!

Color combo challenge

For this week's workshop wow, Patty gave us a WILD color combo to try: Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight. Wow! I had been playing around with thoughts of how to use the Medallion BG stamp to make little corner accents, so I decided to really go outside the box and use this color combo on an elegant card.
The card base is Daffodil Delight with Medallion stamped in Pumpkin Pie. The photo below shows what section of the stamp I used for the corners. It's the area on the bottom right of the stamp. I just kept reinking my stamp and using the same section, turning the cardstock as I went. I used the edge of the little center flower as a guide for where to place the corner of my card.
For the focal image, I decided to use the fleur de lis from my new Elegant Trio stencils. I cut a 3 X 3 1/2 piece of Pear Pizzazz DSP from the Level 1 Hostess pack and sponged the fleur de lis with Poppy Parade ink. Then I matted it on Poppy Parade after using the ticket corner punch on all of the corners. The final touch is one of the new antique brads.
I kinda wish I'd sponged the Pear Pizzazz piece with Pear Pizzazz ink. Maybe next time...

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Medallion; Paper: Pear Pizzazz DSP, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight; Ink: Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie; Accessories: Elegant Trio stencil, ticket corner punch, antique brad

Happy stamping!

Emboss resist medallion

Today's card uses the emboss resist technique with the Medallion background stamp. This is very similar to the card I made last week with the Medallion stamp. In fact, I stamped and embossed both pieces at the same time!
First I stamped the medallion onto glossy cardstock with VersaMark ink. Next, I poured on clear EP and heat embossed. I sponged the center of the medallion with Marina Mist ink and the next section with Pacific Point ink. The rest of the cardstock was sponged with Cherry Cobbler. Then I set it aside to dry. After the ink was dry, I spritzed a paper towel with Stampin' Mist and used that to remove the excess ink from the embossed area so it would be nice and white. Just be sure not to wipe on the glossy areas!
TIP: I used glossy cardstock so the ink will blend better. The ink doesn't dry right away on glossy cardstock; that's how I could get the color nice and smooth. I also used a swirling motion with the sponge rather than a dabbing motion.
The cardbase is Pacific Point with a slit punched into the fold with the retired horizontal slot punch. A piece of white organdy ribbon finishes the card.
Happy stamping!

Emerging Color

For the emerging color technique, you start with a base that has a pattern on it. You can create that by stamping multiple images in multiple colors, or you can do it the easy way and use DSP. In this case, I'm using Razzleberry Lemonade DSP. Next you take a bold image, stamp it on your base with VersaMark, and emboss it with clear EP. Here I've used the Medallion background stamp. Finally you sponge or brayer a dark color over the entire piece of cardstock or DSP. The clear embossing acts as a resist to the ink, allowing the pattern to show through in that area. Originally, I used Melon Mambo ink, but it wasn't dark enough so I went over it again with Rich Razzleberry. After the ink dries a bit, lightly wipe the embossed image with a paper towel to remove any excess ink.
I adhered it to a Melon Mambo card base and added some Crushed Curry ribbon. I used the soon-retiring horizontal slot punch to make a slot for my ribbon to go through.
Happy stamping!

New stamps and new colors!

Happy Monday, everyone! Sorry I didn't post last week. Life was so busy that I didn't have the chance to stamp at all. But I have 3 great projects all ready to go this week, so let's get to it!
One thing I did make time for last week was the box of preorder stuff I got from SU. Not only did it have some pretty new colors, stamps and ribbon, it also had MY NEW CATALOG! I have been drooling ever since. There is some fabulous stuff in there, let me tell you!
This card is the first I made with my new stuff. The hydrangea and sentiment are from a Level 1 hostess set called Because I Care. I colored the hydrangea with Marina Mist and Wild Wasabi markers. I tore off one corner and sponged the whole thing with Crumb Cake (the color formerly known as Kraft). The cardbase is Crumb Cake with Medallion BG stamped in Crumb Cake. The sentiment was stamped in Wild Wasabi and Crumb Cake, punched with the wide oval punch then sponged with Crumb Cake. There's a Wild Wasabi scalloped circle behind it. Isn't that cute? I've seen that in several places lately, and I love the way it looks! The finishing touch is Marina Mist 1/8" taffeta ribbon.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Because I Care, Medallion; Paper: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi; Ink: Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi; Accessories: wide oval punch, 1 3/4" scallop circle punch, Marina Mist 1/8" taffeta ribbon, sponge
Happy stamping!

Quick simple card

I love this Medallion stamp! Why don't I use it more? Couldn't get much simpler than this. I stamped the Medallion in Rich Razzleberry onto a piece of Razzleberry Lemonade DSP. Adhered it to a Crushed Curry cardbase. Punched on the spine of the card with the horizontal slot punch. Tied on a piece of Melon Mambo ribbon.
Happy stamping!

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.