Saturday, August 31, 2013

Challenging Wetlands

The Wetlands stamp set.  Wow.  I have had this little beauty and had not broken it out yet.  This is a pretty good neutral stamp set - for guy or gal.  Then I saw a fabulous sketch challenge and had to play along . . . 
and here is the sketch from Papertake Weekly . . . 
Now, they're having a Sketchie Free For All where you can choose any of their archived sketches or this new one.  

I chose the new one because it was there and I'm too lazy to look up any of the old ones.  But you know what?  This new one was a fine sketch and a great springboard for this card.
So, I saw another challenge happening where you needed to make a card that had Things With Wings with the Cute Card Thursday challenge.  Since this baby qualifies, I'm going to link there, too!  How exciting!!

And to top it off, this card was so incredibly easy and quick, I did two of 'em!
Just love it when I can do that.  One to keep, one to send . . . . Yay.

What I used:
Stamp Set:  Wetlands (#126693 - wood, #126697 - clear)
Card Stock - Soft Suede (#115318), Island Indigo (#122923), Very Vanilla (#101650), Pistachio Pudding (#131294) and Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper (#130144);
Ink - Early Espresso (#126974);
Other Awesome Stuff - Linen Thread (#104199), Paper Snips(#103579), SNAIL adhesive (#104332), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430), Stampin' Trimmer (#126889).

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Please be sure to check out some of the beautiful cards submitted in these challenges.  


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


Friday, August 30, 2013

Magnificent Maple Single Stamp

Stampin’ Up! is world renowned for coordinating stamp sets, but did you know there are single stamps too?  Yes, indeed. 

We’ve gone single. 

Now, there's no need to post about a breakup on Twitter and Facebook, these stamps are happy being single! 

While sets are great, there are times that “a little dab will do”. In this case a single stamp. The Magnificent Maple stamp (#131868 - wood only) in the Holiday Catalog is one of the newest single stamps. It's versatile as a stand-alone stamp that can be a background or a focal point. It’s great for techniques like Rock n’ Roll, Heat Embossing, Sponged Tri-Color Stamping, Thumping, and more! 
It also coordinates nicely with the patterns in the Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit (#133463) and Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper (#132184). Single stamps are also a great starting point for new stampers and great gifts for friends you want to share the love of stamping with. 
Imagine how happy your friend or your child’s teacher would be to receive an ink pad, a handful of our pre-cut and pre-scored note cards and envelopes (#131527), and the Magnificent Maple single stamp! 
With just those 3 things they can create quick and simple custom note cards – maybe you’ll even receive one as a thank you note!

Tip: Use the Magnificent Maple to step-up and customize the Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit.

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

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Debunked - 4 Myths of Card Making

Here are 4 Myths to card making you should know . . . . 

1.  It's hard
     No way!  It's easy.  All you need is paper, stamps and ink.  Sometimes you don't even need all three of those items.  

2.  I have to come up with new ideas for my cards all the time
     No way!  That's what CASEing (Copy And Share Everything) is all about.  Just find an idea that appeals to you and work with it.

Like this card's layout --
This layout is from the  latest Paper Players Sketch Challenge.
Can you see the elements from the card to the sketch Challenge?  So you just find a layout that appeals to you, which is so easy in this day and age of computer-ness.

3.  Choosing colors is just about the hardest thing there is.  Or -- What?  Choose colors?  I can't think of any.
      Well, then you either find a color challenge, look around the room you're in for something with color and imitate it as best you can, or use a tool like the Color Coach.  I used the Color Coach to find this combination of Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz, Garden Green and Smoky Slate.

4.  It's too expensive to make my own cards
    Whoo, boy!  Have you seen the price of gas lately?  One of the things I like best about card making is the fact that everything is at my disposal, ready to go.  I can make what I want, when I want.  
     No need to go anywhere but to my creative space, which varies.  Sometimes it's the kitchen counter, the dining room table, the basement, in front of the TV in the living room - well, I'm sure you get the picture.
     And everything is delivered to my door, no need to get in the car and go anywhere.  My friendly UPS person delivers all my supplies right to me.  Can't beat it!
This is the card I made for my dad's birthday that is later this week.  It got popped into the mail to him today.  Hope he enjoys it!

I really enjoyed playing along with the Paper Players Sketch Challenge.  Please be sure to check out the other cards there.

Stamp Sets:  Perfectly Penned (#128703 - wood; #122892 - clear) and Oh, Hello (#131931 - wood; #130733 - clear)
Inks - Pool Party (#126982); Smoky Slate (#131179) and Garden Green (#126973);
Card Stock - Whisper White (#100730); Pear Pizzazz (#131201), Pool Party (#122924) and Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stacks (#130132);
Other Nifty Stuff - Chevron Border Punch (#132154), Stamping Sponges (#101610); Big Shot (#113439); Ovals Collection Framelits (#129381); Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (#101049); SNAIL adhesive (#104332), and Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430).

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Now get out there a debunk some myths of your own!  Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Video and Fun

Woo Hoo!  It's a Wednesday . . . and that means a video!


Wow!  Looks so easy, doesn't it?  I got this stamp set and matching Framelits and have sooooo many plans for them!

So - last week and over the weekend, I was lucky enough to have the very best of houseguests . . . my wonderful friend Bev.  She's a fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator and an absolutely wonderful friend.  
We took walks, scrapbooked, ate, talked, made cards, wrote in our blogs, made more cards, talked, walked, made more cards . . . you get the picture.
This is one of the places we went - it's called Stan Hywet in Akron.  Stan Hywet means "rock quarry" in old English.  The Seiberling family owned this area - they founded Goodyear.  The home and gardens were just beautiful and had a wedding happening there while we were there.  

Breathtaking.  And fun.  I miss Bev. She a papercrafting machine!!  And that's a good thing.

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

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Easy Riddle for You

Here's an Easy Riddle for You - What's Red, and White, and Blue all over?

My card!  Made using the Unscripted Sketches layout challenge.
Going for some different color was all I could think about.  It was really fun and a creative way to think outside the box.

Whatcha think of the color scheme?  It's got a "crisp-ness" that lets your eye rest.
What I used:
Stamp Sets - Flower Shop (#130939 - wood; (#130942 - clear) and Delightful Dozen (#128547 - wood; #122652 - clear)
Card Stock - Marina Mist (#122925), Whisper White (#100730), Soft Sky (131203), and Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper (#126902);
Ink - Soft Sky (#131181), Real Red (#126949);
Ribbon - 1/8" Real Red Taffeta (#119251);
Punches - Blossom (#125603), Pansy (#130698), 2-1/2" Circle (#120906), 1-3/4" Circle (#119850);
Adhesive - SNAIL (#104332), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430);
Other Awesome Stuff - Stampin' Sponges (#101610), Big Shot (#113439), Adorning Accents Edgelits (#125595), Adorning Accents Embossing Folder (#125601), Pearl Basic Jewels (#119247).

Whew!  Sounds like lots of stuff, but really - for this card?  Not so much.  When you've got the goods like I've got all the goods to make cards and stuff like that, it's fun to come up with stuff and a good layout makes it that much easier!

Be sure to check out the other cards in the challenge.

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

Monday, August 26, 2013

Fall In Love With Washi Tape

Washi Tape is such a hot trend right now and so, so "useable".  You are gonna fall in love with it - if you're not already.  The versatility of this cool tool makes it a great value!

Take this card, for example:
What a bright and cheery card!  The Washi Tape (Epic Day This and That - #131269; Season of Style - 132155 and Gingham Garden - 129314) was simply "striped" down the center of the Whisper White card stock (#100730).  The Melon Mambo (#115320) card base was a great stretch for me because it's a color I rarely use.  
Strips of Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Old Olive (#100702) and Daffodil Delight (#126944) were banner cut using the 1" Square Punch (#124094) and sponged around the edges using Melon Mambo (#126948), Old Olive (#126953) and Basic Gray (#126981) inks using the Stampin' Sponges (#101610).

The Sentiments are from the Fabulous Phrases (#128577 - wood; #120501 - clear) stamp set and stamped with Basic Gray.  The Many Thanks large sentiment on the card is stamped in Old Olive from the Harvest of Thanks(#131736 - wood; (#131739 - clear) stamp set - whoa!  Love it!!! - and run through the Big Shot (#113430) using the Apothecary Accents Framelits (#127003).  

To finish this little beauty, Candy Dots (#130934) from the Neutrals collection was used in a set of three.  Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430) and SNAIL adhesive (#104332) were the only adhesives used.

You know, it's so fun to play along with the RetroSketches challenge.  What an adaptable layout.  I can see using this again and again.
Please be sure to check out the other great cards on this challenge.

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And remember to fall in love with something (or someone) today!
 It's such a treat when you stop by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'






Saturday, August 24, 2013

How To Simplify Your Stamping

Want to make your life easier?  To simplify things?  One way is to look for challenges.  Two great ones are ColourQ and Freshly Made Sketches.

Here's a card I did for these:
Using the Birthday Basics Suite from Stampin' Up! Annual catalog, the Cycle Celebration ( #130273 - clear; #130270 - wood) stamp set and the Remembering Your Birthday (#131350 - clear; #131347 - wood) fit into the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches perfectly! 

     The color scheme of Island Indigo, pacific Point, Early Espresso, Whisper White, and Pear Pizzazz (because I don't have any Lucky Limeade) was very different and a fabulous challenge for me!  
     It's fun to work on things that made you stretch and grow as a papercrafter.

Here are the challenges - 
Hope you find a challenge you can meet today and that you are able to simplify your stamping.  

Please be sure to check out the other great cards from people who participated.  It's a lot of fun!!


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

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Halloween Video - Spooky Banner Love


It's Wednesday. . .Yep - video time!!  Love this Spooky Banner for today.

The Holidays will be here soon . . . and we begin with Halloween soon after Labor Day.



So cute!  It's using the "Simply Created Build a Banner Kit" (#133507) and the "Accessory Kit for Halloween" (#132698).

Decorating made easy - Yay!!  With such a busy schedule, you NEED this!

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Hope you have a banner day!  Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Easy Technique - DSP Emboss Resist

Ready to learn an easy technique?  It's "Designer Series paper Emboss Resist" - and you're going to love it!

What a beautiful card, made with the fabulous background stamp "Swallowtail(#131943 wood, #129216 clear).


  •  The embossed areas will resist the ink and the Designer Series Paper color and patterns will show through.
  • Wipe off excess ink from embossed area with a tissue or paper towel.
What an easy technique and fun way to use that DSP!

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Challenge yourself with a new (to you) technique today!  Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!



Friday, August 16, 2013

"Time to Relax"

What?  "Time to relax"?  What's that?  Okay, okay.  

You know that with the crazy schedules we all keep these days, it's important to remember something simple . . . like taking "time to relax".

I was walking around our yard the other evening and was enjoying seeing how the apples have grown on the trees our younger son planted for his 4-H project last year --

The apples are close to the size you buy in the store - Yay!!
We sure had to prop up the branches of the trees this year because the fruit is so heavy


and then this evening we relaxed while we had a lot of fun playing putt-putt as a 4-H club.  It was a crazy good time!
Getting ready to play . . . 
Time to line up . . . 
on to the next hole . . . 
What a course!
This place is the fanciest putt-putt course I know.  Lots of great holes and two different courses to choose.  I've only seen it very busy, which is a good thing!  

Relaxing with some tasty ice cream afterward is always fun, too.

Hope you're able to relax a little bit.

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Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!


Thursday, August 15, 2013

"How To" "Let a Friend Know You Care"

Do you know "how to" "let a friend know you care"?

One of the best ways is to communicate with them . . . maybe with a call, an e-mail, or even sending a card.

Llike this awesome card from my friend, Bev --
Whoa!!  She let me know that she's wheely, wheely excited to be coming to visit me soon!  In fact, it's next week - and I can hardly wait either!!!  Yay!!  We're gonna have so much fun.


Oh, yeah.  Bev let me know that she cares - and gave me a great big smile at the same time.

So give someone a smile yourself. "Let a friend know that you care" by communicating in some way with them.  It's important to stay in touch.  You know?

I care about you and want to be in touch . . . 
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What will you do to "let a friend know you care" today?  Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

"Best Way" to Make an "Easy Card"

So you may ask, what's the "best way" to make an "easy card"?  I'll tell ya . . . Keep It Simple!!

No doubt about it - Using the "Hello, Doily" (#122845 - wood) and the "Happy Day" (#130294 - wood) stamp sets, that's exactly what I did!
Once I had all my goodies together to make the card, it took all of 5 minutes to put together.  So easy . . . 

  1. Use your Summer Starfruit (#126991) ink, ink up the Hello, Doily stamp set (or whatever large stamp you have on hand) and stamp on Very Vanilla card stock (#101650).
  2. Turning to the Primrose Petals (#126858) ink, ink up the sentiment of your choice from the Happy Day stamp set (or whatever sentiment you want to use).

       3.  Next, it's time to punch!  The Elegant Butterfly (#127526) and the Bitty Butterfly (#129406) are perfect with the Pistachio Pudding card stock (#131294).

       4.  Tie the butterflies together with Linen Thread (#104199) after using a  glue dot (#103683) and adhere your butterflies with a Stampin' Dimensional (#104430).


     And there you have it!  It's just the best way to make an easy card - simply use a background stamp, a sentiment, and then dress it up a bit.  Super easy to decorate the envelope, too - no naked envelopes here!
So easy, I did two.  

Now it's your turn!


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I love it when you stop by.  Thanks so much ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!



Monday, August 12, 2013

A Favorite Thing - Giggle Greetings

What is on your list of favorite things?  One of mine is the Giggle Greetings (#131062 - wood; #131065 - clear) stamp set.

Love the fun images and sentiments with this set!
What a quick and easy card!  All there is - 


I just had to add another "hairball" and stuck that baby on with a glue dot (#103683)!

Then, of course, the back of the card is "named".
This is using the Creatively Yours stamp set (#128526 - wood; #122612 - clear) - I get lots of comments on the back of my cards when I name them.  Who knew?  People like to know who made their card!!  

Do you "name" yours?  I custom ordered the name stamp from Stampin' Up! as a Personalized Stamp. There's such a great variety of those you can order.  Super cool.  And nice to have around.

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Hope your day is filled with your favorite things!  Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!


Friday, August 9, 2013

A Cool Tool - Envelope Liner Framelit Die

What a Fantastic Tool!  Making your envelopes stand out and look fabulous!!  Everyone will think you're a creative genius (and you are, my friend).

This one tool makes all your cards look simply "finished" like nothing else can.

What is it?

It's the Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (#132172).
How can something so simple make your projects to-die-for?

Oh, my . . . where do I begin?
From the upper part of the Holiday catalog, page 9, you can see this.  And the insides of those envelopes?  Yep!  Done with the Envelope Liner Framelit Die.  

What a gorgeous finishing touch!  And easier than you can ever imagine.  They come in three sizes.  Just use them with the Big Shot and Standard Cutting Pads.
And from the bottom part of the Holiday catalog on the same page (page 9), you can see this:
Wowza!  And - you guessed it!  Again, we've got the wondrous Envelope Liner hard at work - creating creative card awesomeness like you wouldn't believe!  Love it!!

As you know, the right tool makes all the difference, and these Liners are a smart stamper's secret weapon! 

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Hope your day leaves you feeling finely finished!  Thanks for stopping by ~~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!