Monday, December 17, 2012

Making Christmas Trees

Are you keeping busy?

I am!  I've been making lots and lots of Christmas trees for a friend - she is having me make 50 of 'em for her, so my fingers have been really inky with all the sponging required to make these little cuties.
I talk about them in this post and show how to make them in this post.
I've been making them in Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, and using the Festival of Prints paper pack.

Hope you're keeping busy, too!  

Remember to take time to pamper yourself during this very busy season.  When you're taken care of, you can take care of others better!!  

You can sign up for my free newsletter with lots of ideas and samples for you right here.

Shopping on my online store is easy peasy!  

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


Friday, December 14, 2012

Sensational Stuff

Hey, hey!  It's finally a Friday here.  I cannot wait until this weekend to relax and hang out with the fam.  
Do you have your tree up or your decorations for your holiday (whatever that one is) up around your house yet?  
 Here's a fun Christmas tree on a card for you!
What I used:
Stamp set - Scentsational Season (#121026 wood, #121190 clear), Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (#113439), Holiday Collection Framelits Dies (#127814); Perfect Polka Dots Folder (#117335); Card Stock - Cherry Cobbler (#119685), Whisper White (#100730), Old Olive (#100702), Old Olive Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper (#126902); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (#119246), silver 1/8" Mini Brads (#122941); Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack (#126187); Paper-Piercing Tool (#126189), SNAIL Adhesive (#104332 - complete adhesive/#104331 - Refill); Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430).

All great stuff and very, very handy to have around.  Several people have said that they really like this card as one of their favorites.  It's cute, that's fer sure.

You can sign up for my free newsletter right here.
my online store is open 24/7 just for you.  No lines.  No hurries.  No worries.  Just enjoyment.

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

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Watercoloring My Winter

Here's a really cute and funny video from Stampin' Up!  
Isn't that cute?  And the card they were making?  Love it.  Gotta CASE that baby.  

I also love this card that we made at a Christmas Card get-together at my house.
 Isn't it pretty?  The simplicity is great.  I CASEd this cutie from Robin Messenheimer.  She has great layouts.  Thanks, Robin, for sharing.
The Stamp Set is a 2-Step Stamping one where I stamped the outline first and then did the fill of the card by stamping the image on the ink pad, stamped it on scrap paper, and then stamped it on my outlined image.  That's the technique that made it lighter.  I also colored in the center with a marker, as you can see.

What I used:
Stamp sets - Watercolor Winter (#129724 wood, #129727 clear) and Greetings of the Season (#128030 wood, #128033 Clear); Card stock - Very Vanilla (#101650)Lucky Limeade(#122926), and Real Red (#102482); Stampin' Write Marker in Daffodil Delight (#119677); Ink - Real Red - (#126949); Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon (retired now), SNAIL (#104332 and #104331 Refill); Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430).

It's good stuff.  And, you know, layering makes cards look fancy, even when they aren't.  It's a fun trick to use over and over again.

You'll learn other easy tricks when you sign up for my free newsletter right here.  I'll send you a PDF tutorial as a thank you.
You can always shop at my online store for any Stampin' Up! items you need, including those used for this beautiuous card.

I'm going to cozy up with a hot chocolate and get in my jammies a little early tonight.  I'm not feeling too swift, so the extra pampering may help me feel a little better.  
Hope your day is fantabulous.  Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Composition Thank You


What an extra crazy and busy day!!  I spent most of my time hunting down foreign patents and linking them with English summaries and then printing them off (double-sided, of course) and also saving them on the computer for one of the attorneys I work for to have and review.  It was very painstaking work and took almost the entire day.  I was handed sheets of single-spaced pages of patents to find - many of them were U.S., so that wasn't a problem -- but the foreign -- yeesh!!  

The good news -- I found every single one of them.  And I was doing a pretty good happy dance when the entire job was done!  Finally able to move on to doing other things!  Yay!  Well . . . it's a job and a good one, so I'll take the tedious work along with the more fun stuff, right?

I spent a lot of the day getting ready for friends to come over for Stamper's Club, too.  That's always so much fun, and we had a blast.  Here's one of the cards that we made:

What we used:
Stamp Set - Just Believe; card stock - Natural Compositions Specialty Designer Series Paper; Naturals Ivory, Midnight Muse, Early Espresso, Inks - Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple, Elegant Eggplant (is that it's name?), Punches - 1-1/4" Circle and Word Window, Linen Thread; Stampin' Sponges.

Tips - try creating sets of cards with different color combinations, themes, and stamp sets for many personal styles.

Try these ideas or some of your own:
  • ·         Color the Natural Compositions Specialty Designer Series Paper with Stampin’ Write Markers for a bold, colorful look.
  • ·         Use bleach in the Aqua Painter and paint the images in the Compositions Specialty Designer Series Paper. Once the bleach dries, the painted areas turn a softer vanilla color that creates a beautiful monochromatic look.
  • ·         Re-create this card using your favorite Designer Series Paper and coordinating card stock. Or make a gift by customizing the colors to match your friends’ favorite colors or styles.
  • ·         Tie a ribbon around these great cards and give them as gifts to friends, neighbors, teachers, and co-workers.
  • ·         Re-create this in any theme and color by heat embossing your favorite stamp images with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder.
  • ·         Step up the card and add more detail with ribbon, brads, or buttons.

 There are lots of possibilities!  Enjoy!
  You can get a FREE tutorial about Resist Techniques right here.
You can enjoy my newsletter when you sign up right here.  I'll send you a PDF tutorial as a thank you.
And you can shop for these goodies omy online store.

I can tell that I've got to hit the sack - I can't spell worth a darn anymore and I keep messing up my typing.

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

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Just Try to Resist This . . .

You can be ready for a birthday anytime with this great card.  It's simple, masculine and uses a great resist technique.

It's like magic using the Natural Composition Specialty Designer Series Paper and my brayer for this resist technique.  
Re-creating this card with a different stamp or a different piece of the Natural Composition Specialty DSP would be so easy and suit dozens of occasions.
     You can get a FREE tutorial about Resist Techniques right here.

What I used:  
Stamps - Delightful Dozen (Wood #122650 - Clear 122652); Ink - Lucky Limeade (#126984), Cherry Cobbler (#126966), Daffodil Delight (#126944), Tangerine Tango (#126946), Early Espresso (#126974); Stampin' Write Marker - Early Espresso (#119680); Card Stock - Naturals Ivory (#126917), Early Espresso (#119686), Lucky Limeade (#122926), Natural Composition Specialty Designer Series Paper (#126917); 3/8" Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon (#122966), SNAIL adhesive (#104331 - refill), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430), Glue Dots (#103683), a tissue.

  •      I began with brayering the Early Espresso onto the striped Natural Composition Specialty DSP and wiped off the excess ink with a tissue.  I used the brayer to ink on the Daffodil Delight on the music notes Natural Composition Specialty DSP and then the Tangerine Tango, and finished off with the Cherry Cobbler.  I swiped off the excess ink with another tissue.
  •      The sentiment was inked up the Lucky Limeade and then the middle Happy Birthday was colored in using the Early Espresso marker.
  •      Everything was layered together and finished off with a 7" length of the Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon.

Ta Da!!

Sign up for my free newsletter right hereYou'll get a tutorial from me as a thank you 'cuz you're awesome for signing up.

Shop for any of these goodies my online store.

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

Monday, December 10, 2012

Cards, Gifts, and Wrappings - It's a Triple Threat!


You know, you don’t have to be shaking in your boots when it comes to the holidays because Stampin’ Up! is a Holiday Triple Threat. 

What’s a Holiday Triple Threat you ask? 

Well, I'll tell you -- it’s Cards, Gifts, and Wrappings. 

With your rubber stamps in hand, you can easily embrace all that the upcoming holidays have to offer with ease and creativity. And best of all, you’ll touch all the people in your life and on your lists with a little piece of you.
 You have so many options when it comes to your holiday cards. You can create cards using rubber stamps, like the adorable set Jolly Bingo Bits (#120857 wood/#121187 clear). You can choose a simple design or a more complex design or you may even choose to do a couple of different designs for variety. 
You can also create your cards using My Digital Studio (#118108). With My Digital Studio, you can create your card design and then either have them professionally printed using Stampin’ Up!’s printing service or you can print them out on your own printer. 

This is very handy because all you have to do is click “Print” if you need a few extra cards. Either way, I can help you with a design and whatever you need to have your holiday cards well in hand.

Worried about the parking nightmare at the mall? Or wrestling with the holiday shopping crowds? 

Consider giving handcrafted gifts to those on your list. There are so many options; you can find something for everyone. Create a decorative wreath using our stamps and coordinating Framelit Dies.  
Make monogrammed stationery with the Lovely Letters set (#115030) for Cousin Sarah, and an altered journal for a friend. The options are endless with a stamp in your hand. 

You can create special gifts that are sure to warm everyone’s hearts, that are fun to create, and they can even be easy on the wallet.

So you’ve got your cards sent and your gifts all made ... what now? Well, how about wrapping it all up? You’ll never run out of gift tags with the Tags til Christmas set (#120847 wood/#121169 clear) - 
and if you have the Decorative Label punch (#120907), tagging those presents just got easier.

 You can embellish a plain gift bag and wheel coordinating tissue paper for inside. And don’t stop there - you can make adorable treat containers with the Candy Wrapper Big Shot Die (#120890) and treat boxes with the adorable Kraft Boxes - at only $2.95 for four - they're a great value and really fun to give and get (#1241060).
 Whatever your holidays stresses may be, chances are that I can help. So contact me today, and I can help you design your holiday cards, help you check off your gift list, and show you how to wrap it all up. 

Ease your stress this holiday season with creative and thoughtful gifts straight from your heart.

Images © Stampin' Up! 2010-2012

You can sign up for my free newsletter right here

Shopping for any of these awesome items is available on my online store .

Hope you got some ideas today ~~ thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Joy at Christmas

I love the way this card is so different!!  Who needs all that tradition stuff?  Okay . . . I do.  But I like stuff that's non-traditional, too!
We made this at the Christmas card stamping event on Saturday.  So cute.  I CASEd this sweetie from Robin Merriman.
We started out with a Bashful Blue base cut 4-1/4 x 5-1/2.  We took Gumball Green card stock and embossed it using the Big Shot and the Chevron Embossing Folder.  The 2-1/2" Circle Punch was used around the center top of the Gumball Grleen, and then the Red Red scallop border was created using the Scallop Ribbon Punch and then adhered to barely show at the sides of the Gumball Green.  A slice of Whisper White was put inside the card.  The Joy At Christmas image stamp from the Perfect Punches stamp set was stamped twice in Gumball Green ink using a scrap of Whisper White.  We used the Scallop Punch on one of the images and then adhered it in the circle that had been created in our Gumball Green card stock.  The 1-1/4" Circle Punch was used with some Real Red card stock and put into the middle of our scallop.  Finally, we punched out the second image that we had stamped on the Whisper White scrap.  That was centered in the middle of it all.

The Real Red Polka Dot Pack was used for the fun "banners"/"ribbon"/whatever you want to call it that's shown in the pic above, using the 1" square punch to create the nifty ends.  The stitched Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon was tied around the middle of the Gumball Green card stock using the Ribbon Slide and the Real Red Polka Dotted accents were adhered using Mini Glue Dots.

All and all a much easier and fun card to make than a lot of them out there.  We decided a bit of shine would be a good thing, so the Dazzling Details was used.

Using non-traditional Christmas colors is a good thing.  It helps shake it up a bit - know what I mean? 

Shake things up a bit and sign up for my free newsletter right here. You will get right here.

You can truly shake your world when you order all the goodies you need for this card on my online store .

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

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Come, They Told Me . . . To Bethlehem

This is a great card that I CASEd from Robin Merriman.  I was searching for a different blog, ended up on hers and went nuts because there were so many great and fun ideas just waiting to be CASEd . . .
It all began with a base of the Gold card stock folded for a card size, some Early Espresso was then run with VersaMark and the Musical Notes Wheel, which was then embossed with the Gold Embossing Powder.  The musical notes layer was then adhered to the gold card base.  A strip of Crumb Cake Taffeta ribbon was tied around the base and offset to the side, making room for our main card image.

The Come To Bethlehem stamp set was stamped once in Crumb Cake on Very Vanilla and then stamped again, offset, with the Early Espresso.  A layer of Champagne Glimmer Paper was cut freehand to mimic the shape of the sand underfeet of the Wise Men and Camels and then adhered.  The main image was then framed with a layer of Early Espresso and finally with a layer of the Gold Card Stock.  Then the image layer was adhered to the base with Stampin' Dimensionals.  We adhered Very Vanilla on the inside for easy writing of our Christmas message to friends and family.

This was one of the favorite cards of all those who came to this last Saturday's Christmas Card Class.

One of my favorite things is sharing ideas with you!  Sign up for my free newsletter newsletter right here. You will get a free PDF from me as a thank you.

You can do a favorite thing, shopping!, right at my online store .

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

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Fancy Friends

Oh, yeah!!  It's Wednesday . . . I've got a video for you!
Do you like it when things are easy to do?

I know I do!!

Stampin' Up! has created a kit with everything already punched out, the stamp ready to go, along with inks that match!  There is card stock, envelopes -- everything!  Yay!

Here's how quick and easy it is . . .
This kit makes a fabulous Christmas/Hanukkah or Chanukkah present.  So stinkin' cute!!

Get everything you need to make six cards for only $15.95 (item 132319)! If six isn't enough, add Note Cards to your order (item 107311)- extra rhinestones are already included in the Fancy Friends kit.

To assemble the cards:
  1. Stamp the doily image in Daffodil Delight or Old Olive ink three times on the card and once on the envelope, re-inking between uses.
  2. Stamp "Friends" in Daffodil Delight or Old Olive ink on the front of the card.
  3. Adhere the flowers to the card. Adhere Rhinestone Basic Jewels to the center of the flowers.
I would love to get it.  Anybody?  Anybody?

Ha!  Okay.  Anyway, you can sign up for my free newsletter right here.  And guess what?  I'll send you a free PDF tutorial as a thank you.

You can shop for this awesome kit at my online store.  24/7.  All yours - or somebody else's.

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

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Amazingly Fun


Q:  When is a card more than a just a card? 
A:  When you send it and it brings a smile to a special someone! 

This card has a whimsical design, bright colors, fun folds, and 3-D designs that creates a winning combination.
Your friends will say you’re amazing when you treat them to some fun in an envelope!
You know, certain images bring nostalgic memories to mind. 
The You’re Amazing stamp set is full of images that bring to mind happy, youthful memories of circus acts, carnival games, and elephants doing amazing tricks under the big top. 
Combine these fun and whimsical images with the World Spectacular Designer Series Paper (#126897) and you are ready to create your own greatest “card” on earth!”  
Tip:
Use the coordinating Apothecary Accents Framelits Dies as background layers and to die cut images!

What I used:
Stamp Set - You're Amazing
Paper - Whisper White Card Stock (#100730); Island Indigo Card Stock (#122923); Cherry Cobbler Card Stock (#119685); World Spectacular Designer Series Paper (#126897)
Ink - Black StazOn (#101406); Island Indigo (#126986); Stampin’ Write Marker – Calypso Coral  (#123002); Stampin’ Write Marker – Island Indigo (#123002); 
Stampin’ Write Marker – Daffodil Delight (#119677); Stampin’ Write Marker – Cherry Cobbler (#119681); Stampin’ Write Marker – Sahara Sand (#119703)
Accessories - 3/16” Metallic Brads (#119741); Adhesives: SNAIL Refill (#104331), Mini Glue Dots (#103683), Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430), Sticky Strip (#104294)
Tools - Big Shot (#113439); Apothecary Accents Framelits Dies (#127003); Simply Scored Scoring Tool (#122334); Paper Trimmer (#126889); Bone Folder (#102300)
Punches - 1-3/4” Circle Punch (#119850), 2-1/2” Circle Punch (#120906), 1/16” Circle Handheld Punch (#101227)

You can sign up for my free newsletter right here. 

Shopping at my online store is available 24/7.

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

Monday, December 3, 2012

Capture the Memories This Holiday Season


So many pictures get taken during the holidays - Thanksgiving dinner, holiday parties, exchanging gifts, visits with relatives, and so many more. If you’re looking to take your best shots, here are some simple tips to help you make your holiday pictures even more memorable.

- Use the “rule of thirds”. Instead of centering the subject in the photo, think about dividing the frame into thirds (like in the picture below) and having the subject about a third of the way off to one side or the other.
 - Take photos of kids at their level. Get down so you are looking up or even with them instead of aiming down.

- Morning and evening lights are more flattering and create less harsh shadows. If taking portraits at mid-day, use shade to reduce shadows or use the fill flash.
 - Use the fill flash to light faces when taking a photograph against a bright background, like into a sunset or in front of a window.

- Take LOTS of pictures - and keep shooting even after you think the moment has passed. You never know what magic lies in the moments that follow.

- Use the red-eye reduction feature on your camera. (A good example of red-eye reduction is below) 
 - Take pictures from different angles. Use these different angles to tell a story.

- Step back and zoom in. Don’t stand too close.

- And most importantly, always have an extra CHARGED battery and an extra memory card so that you don’t ever have to worry about missing that perfect shot.
 Once you have all of your holiday photos taken, don’t let them gather virtual dust on your computer. Download the free 30-day trial of My Digital Studio to start creating your photo books and sharing your memories. Head tmy online store to download the trial today!

You can sign up for my free newsletter for lots of tips, videos, and project ideas right here.  You'll get a PDF tutorial as a thank you.

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