Friday, June 29, 2012

Ya Gotta Know When To Fold 'Em . . . Dahlia Fold Card

Know when to hold 'em . . .  know when to walk away . . . know when to run . . . 


Yikes!  Did I just date myself by thinking about that old song?
  
Well, I'm just lovin' this Dahlia Fold card.  The folding is as easy as can be.  It makes such a pretty card and quickly, too.

How?
  • Punch out eight (8) 1-3/4" circles from designer series paper and then fold each of the circles into quarters.
  • Fold the lower two quarters in a bit at the bottom, using the fold marks as a guide.
  • turn the circle shape over and then fold the petal inward to the center fold line - kinda like a paper airplane and then do the same thing for the other side.
  • Repeat the same steps to create 7 more petals and create a full circle.
  • Try this with several sizes of circle punches to make larger and smaller flowers.
I stamped the Very Vanilla layer with Island Indigo and Riding Hood Red using the Everything Eleanor stamp set.  I'm so glad the Vintage Brads are still available. 
I used:
Riding Hood Red and Island Indigo inks; Fan Fair Designer Series Paper; Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla card stocks; Everything Eleanore stamp set; Antique Brads; Glue Dots; 1-3/4" circle punch; Bone Folder, Snail adhesive.

It's a regular-sized card finishing up at 5-1/2" x 4-1/4".  Whatcha think?  I wanted to give a shout out for the blog where I got this idea, and I cannot seem to locate it.  When I do, I'll update this post.


Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Hope you know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em today and every day.
You can hold my newsletter in your hands if you print it off from your e-mail.  Just click here to get signed up for FREE!  You will get a PDF tutorial sent to you right away as a thank you.
Shop right here, 24/7.


Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!


Thursday, June 28, 2012

Sometimes It's Overwhelming

 We are all busy these days.  We're all looking for something to make our lives easier and less stressful.  It can be so overwhelming at times.


Having a hobby is one of those things that can make your life less stressful.  You know what I mean . . . like when you are so immersed in an activity that you look at the time, you're simply amazed that so much time has flown by?
And even the details seem not so overwhelming anymore.  You've taken the time to de-stress yourself.  It's important to unwind and have a little bit of time for yourself.  It's called "loving yourself".

It's easier to love others when you take the time to show yourself some love, too.

This card is great for multiple uses -- sympathy, birthday, thinking of you.  What would you use it for?

What I used:  
Pursuit of Happiness stamp set; Rich Razzleberry ink; Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Pool Party and Chocolate Chip card stocks; International Bazaar Designer Series Paper; Paper Piercer, Paper Piercer Mat; Paper Piercing Pack (I'm crazy about this thing!); Big Shot; Vintage Embossing Folder; Finishing Touches Edgelits (inside the card -- Oops - forgot to get a picture of it, sorry); Stampin' Sponges; Stampin' Dimensionals; and Snail adhesive.

May all the Happiness you Pursue today lead you to a life that is not overwhelming to you and yours.  

Feel free to sign up for my free newsletter by clicking this.  You will get a free PDF tutorial when you sign up.  Just from me to you -- as a thank you -- 'cuz you're awesome.

Shopping happens right here 24/7.  

Thanks for stopping by today ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Slider Card Technique and a Challenge!

Birthdays, birthdays, birthdays.  Everyone's got one.  You know you do, too!  (No matter how many times you turn 25 again!)


Today is the birthday of our baby.  He actually turns 16 today!  Hard to believe he can be that old.  I won't even start with how old that makes me feel . . . enough of that!!

To celebrate his birthday, I did another technique card.  This one is called a Slider Card.  You can find the tutorial for how to make this right here
 It slides out . . .
 To reveal . . .
Ta da!!!!  A gift card for him!  He's gonna LOVE that. 

I also entered a challenge with this birthday card.  I didn't do the sentiment, though.  I sure hope that will be okay.  I was working so hard on the slider part (since I'm such a newbie at this technique), and then when I went to take the pics, realized . . . OOPS! 
Paper Players Sketch Challenge #101     
So you can see that I did the layout and then turned the whole thing on its side!  Well, it was lots of fun and a good stretch to do something new.


Hope you like it and that the folks at Paper Players like it, too.

Be sure to wish big today.  Have fun and learn something new today.  

What I used:
Netting and Bring On The Cake stamp sets; Chocolate Chip ink; International Bazaar Designer Series Paper; Pacific Point, Lucky Limeade, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White card stocks; Big Shot; Labels Collection Framelets; Brayer, Perfect Polka Dots Folder; 1-3/4" square punch, 1-3/4" circle punch, plastic grocery bag, Sticky Strip, Snail Adhesive.

You can sign up for my free newsletter right here.
To shop online with my store, just click here.
Thanks so much for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Crimped Diamond - New Technique For Me

Learning new things is good.  So I decided to learn some new techniques.  This one here is called the Crimped Diamond and was such a quick and easy card to make.  In fact, you probably have what it takes to make this card sitting in your craft room right now? 

Look at all this texture and interest on this card. 
It's easy (from tutorial by Lee Conrey):
  • Choose your card stock
  • Make it just a bit bigger than the size you think you'll want in the end (I always end up trimming a bit of it off - crimping will make it so it's no longer perfectly straight, so I trim it afterward).
  • Find the middle of all your sides of card stock and mark them lightly.  Then you will score the lines so tht you have scored a "diamond" in the center of your card stock.
  • Fold on the score lines.

  • Run through the crimper.  Go a little more than half way - this way, you will keep from having a flat area in the middle.

    • Take the card stock out and run through the crimper on the other side.
    • And there you go.  All ready to trim and make into a card.  How easy! 
    I used:
    Lean on Me Stamp set; Decoarive label Punch, Watercolor Wonders in Subltes, Neutrals and Regals; More Mustard Dotted Scalloped Ribbon; 2-1/2" Circle Punch; Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Ridding Hood Red card stocks; Basick Black Ink; Blender Pen; Crimper; Paper Trimmer and Bone Folder (for scoring); Dimensionals and Snail.

    Have fun with this and learn something new today.
    Sign up for my FREE newsletter by clicking right here.
     
    For great shopping ease, just click right here, shopping enjoyment is yours - 24/7. 

    Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

    Friday, June 22, 2012

    It's a Big Deal . . . It's a Big Shot

    I think I'm addicted.  I've been using it all week.  It's the Big Shot.

    Why do I love it so?  Because the Big Shot is so versatile. I use it when I'm making letters for our 4-H tri-boards for Fair and embossing cards.  They are great for school projects and work stuff.  Seriously, anyone can create fabulous, coordinated looks with just a crank of the handle!  The kids in our 4-H club are just crazy about it.

    Framelits are the newest addition to the line of Big Shot cool stuff. What are those?  Well, Framelits are thin, metal dies that you can use to cut card stock and Designer Series paper into a variety of shapes. 
    The new Bitty Banners Framelits make adorable little banners in three sizes. Use them as accent layers on your project or take advantage of the see-through centers that let you cut out the greetings in the coordinating Itty Bitty Banners stamp set!  See how cute?
     

     Well, I wanted to show how versatile all these items are.  I used them yesterday in this post, and here are the Make the Cake and Itty Bitty Banners stamp sets again.  Great value.
     
    Here's a great tip for you:
    Just cut a series of banners, attach to Baker’s Twine with Stampin’ Dimensionals and make an ever-so-popular banner.  Very trendy right now.
     

    Isn't it great to get easy ideas via your computer?  You'll love getting my FREE newsletter in your e-mail.  Click right here to sign up.  Please sign up.
     
    To enjoy shopping for any of these great stampin' products, just click right here, shopping enjoyment is yours - 24/7. 

    Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'! 

    Basic Gray card stock
    Shimmery White card stock

    Cherry Cobbler card stock
    Brushed Silver card stock



    Big Shot
    Bitty Banners Framelits

    Whisper White card stock   

    Snail adhesive
    Paper Snips
    Stampin' Dimensionals



    Itty Bitty Banners stamp set

    Make a Cake stamp set
    Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink
    Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die
    Textured Impressions Folder - Vintage Wallpaper
    Basic Gray Classic Ink


      

    Thursday, June 21, 2012

    You Take The Cake

    We all know that every day millions of people celebrate birthdays and special occasions.  


    We can make those b-days and special occasions even more special for those we love with a handmade card.  Your friends and family will be amazed by your calorie-free cake (on a card!).  This was a really fun, easy, and quick card to make. 
    Using the Make a Cake and Itty Bitty Banners stamp sets with the Patio Party Designer Series Paper - you're gonna need to plan a party to show off your creative genius!!
    The Bitty Banners Framelits were kept on hand to cut out these great banners.  The small banners are cut in Baja Breeze, Summer Starfruit, and Raspberry Ripple.  The large banners are cut from Primrose Pink and 1/2 of a Raspberry Ripple one.

    The adorable pinwheel on the cake was colored in with Summer Starfruit and Primrose Petals Stampin' Write Markers.  The cake part of the cake image from the Make a Cake stamp set was stamped onto the edge of a piece of Primrose Pink scrap card stock and cut out and adhered over the cake image that had been stamped onto a 1-3/4" x 2-1/4" Whisper White card stock.
    Paper Snips

    Snail Adhesive
    Stampin' Dimensionals



    Patio Party Designer Series Paper
    Baja Breeze 8-1/2" x 11" card stock


    Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" card stock
















    Primrose Petals 8-1/2" x 11" card stock

    Summer Starfruit 8-1/2" x 11" card stock
    Big Shot
    Big Shot
    Midnight Muse 8-1/2" x 11" card stock

    Bitty Banners Framelits
    Make a Cake stamp set

    Itty Bitty Banners stamp set































    Midnight Muse Classic Ink

    In-Colors Stampin' Write Markers
     Ideas - 
    • Make a set of birthday cards and give them to special friends so they have birthday cards on hand.
    • Make several sets of cards as a gift to a local charity to auction off as a fund raiser.
    • Give extra cards that you've made to a nursing home for residents to give away to friends and family.
     There are lots of possibilities!  Enjoy!!
    You'll enjoy it so much when my newsletter comes in your e-mail.  Click right here to sign up. 
    To enjoy shopping for any of these great stampin' products, just click right here, 24/7.   


    Thanks so much for stopping by today ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!