A Peek Into My Stamping Room

Polished Stone Technique

Today I have been playing around with the Polished Stone Technique.  Here is my Card of the Week.

Supplies used:  Baroque Motifs and Birthday and Wishes stamp sets; Eggplant Envy Classic Ink Pad; Lavendar Lace, Eggplant Envy, Silver Metallic Reinkers;  Versamark Pad; Eggplant Envy, Basic Gray, Glossy White, Whisper White Cardstock; Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, Alcohol and Cotton Balls.

If you don't know how to do this technique, Click HERE for a great tutorial.  This card is not a regular sized card, can you believe it?  It fits into a Medium Square Envelope.  This means you would cut the cardstock at 5 1/4" x 10 3/4".  It would work best to use 12 x 12 cardstock, then you would get 2 cards at a time plus have plenty left for your layers.  I didn't seal this card with the Acrylic spray and the silver rubs off on your hands. Kinda messy, so I think I will make the extra effort to do that.  Of course, I thought I read that Aerosal Hair Spray would work, too.  Much easier if you ask me.  I am kinda lazy.

Watch out for next weeks 12 days of Christmas Gift Projects.  I have been working on some of them and you will really like them.  I am also working on cards that people have ordered from me.  My hands are so dry, I need some more of that Udder Cream.  Off to Wal-mart I go!!  Have a great week and weekend!!

A Sneak Peak!

Here is a sneak peek of what I have been working on for my 12 Days of Christmas Projects starting on December 3.

This is a Manila File Folder Album that I learned how to make HERE.  I also cased a Tag Project from one I saw in Yvette's Gallery over at SplitcoastStampers.  Everything came together fairly easily but it is time consuming.  You wouldn't have to use this project as a Holiday Planner.  Making it into a Christmas Album would be really cute.  I just used one stamp set - Punch Pals.  I printed the words on the front on my computer and all the Designer Paper is from Dashing and Old Olive packages.  The circle scallop is from Marvy Uchida.  I had a good time making this and actually gave it to one of the girl's teachers at their conferences.  She was very happy to get it.

This is the opened view.  Cute!  I should have made one for myself.  Maybe I will make one next week that is not for Christmas but can used as a brag book.  I need a new brag book for my girls!

This is the left side.  I think you could put a calendar in one pocket and your Christmas List in the other. 

This is the right side.  I think you could put your Christmas card list here and maybe stamps?  I am not sure.  I would probably include some pictures just to remind me why I am shopping in the overcrowded with crabby people stores!!  HAHA  I think I will be shopping for everything next year ONLINE! 

Hope this provides you with some inspiration.  You should check out the Dirty Dozen Gallery over at Splitcoast.  If you are not a paying member (just $24.95 a year) you should really think about it.  All the samples are better than any crafting magazine on the stands!  Let me know what you think!  I love to get comments from you guys!

More Stamp-a-Stack Fun!

Here is another Stamp-a-Stack card we made this past weekend.

Supplies Used:  Snow Flurries, Warm Words, Holiday Tag Team Stamp sets; Real Red, Glorious Green, Shimmery White Cardstock; Glorious Green, Real Red Classic Ink Pad, Black Staz-on Ink pad; Real Red, Glorious Green & Creamy Caramel Markers,Oval Punches, Coluzzle Cutting System, Large Scalloped Punch from Marvy Uchida, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon

I think this Glorious Green Cardstock is from the original pack I bought when I first signed as a demo.  I just haven't used it very much.  It works for Christmas but .....  Well you understand what I am saying.  Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! 

Black Friday Mystery Hostess Phone-a-Thon!

Don't you hate shopping on Black Friday?  Need some good deals on Stampin' Up! but don't want to Hostess a workshop?  Now is your chance to earn Free merchandise &/or save big! When:  November 23, 2007 Time:  9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Just email or call me to place your order and you could win Hostess Benefits and other great things.  To qualify for the phone-A-Thon, a minimum merchandise total purchase of $30.00 is required. Once we hit 10, I will start from the top again. All orders will ship to me and payment must be made by Paypal, Credit/Debit card or drop a check by my house that day. 1st person - FREE Shipping 2nd person - 20% off entire order 3rd person - FREE package single-color cardstock 4th person - FREE Classic Ink Pad (value $5.25) 5th person - FREE SHIPPING 6th person - FREE package Designer Series Paper 7th person - Free Classic Ink Pad 8th person - FREE single-color paper pack  9th person - 20% off entire order 10th person - FREE Shipping After 9:00 p.m. the order total will be tallied and for every $30 your name will be entered into a drawing for Hostess Benefits based on sales.  The winner will be notified that evening and everyone who orders will find out in an email the next day!

Another Stamp-A-Stack Card!

If you are thinking about coming to a Christmas Stamp-a-Stack, the days to RSVP are dwindling.  My next Stamp-a-stack class is December 7.  Just click here to see the upcoming events I have planned.

Here is another card we made this past weekend at the Holiday Stamp-a-Stack!

Supplies Used:  Sidekick Sayings Hostess Set, Circle of Friendship Stamp set; Rose Red Designer Series Paper, Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Rose Red Cardstock; Basic Black, Always Artichoke Classic Ink pads, More Mustard, Always Artichoke & Rose Red markers; Scalloped Punch, Photo corners punch, 1/16" hole punch, 1/4" circle punch.

I think this card turned out great but I had some moments with it.  I tried to use the Basic Grey cardstock as a base with the Always Artichoke and it just wasn't working.  But this basic idea came from a card I saw on Splitcoast.  That card was a different size.  I am not much on making different sized cards.  I tend to stick with the A-2 card size (4 1/4 x 5 1/2).  I buy different sized envelopes but I just can't get out of making the same old size!

I will probably not be able to post the rest of the week.  I will be cooking and cleaning my little fingers to the bone!  Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Starting on December 3, I am going to be posting the 12 Days of Christmas Projects/Cards.  So be watching for that!  Everyday for 12 days I will post either a card or gift project I have been working on.  This will keep me busy but I need to get stamping!! 

Fun Sunday!

Today, my niece Shannon and I, stamped some Christmas cards.  We had so much fun.  I haven't stamped all day in a long time! Here is one of the cards we made.  This is my favorite!

Supplies Used:

Baroque Motifs, Holidays & Wishes Stamp sets; Basic Gray, Glossy White & Purely Pomegranite Cardstock; Versamark Pad; Silver Embossing Powder; Silver Eyelets, Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Small Window Punch, Crop-a-dile, Ticket Corner Punch.

I am in love with the Basic Gray Cardstock.  It is really beautiful especially with the Silver Embossing Powder.

Here is another project that I did a few weeks back.  It took some time to cut out.  I even had to use the exacto knife on the middle part.  I probably won't make any more of these but I thought this was really pretty.

I stamped the Snowflake outline stamp in Night of Navy on Whisper White cardstock.  I then smashed my Versamark pad over the whole thing and embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and heated it.  Then I cut it out.  I made two of these.  I cut out the biggest circle in my Coluzzle cutter and put it in between the two snowflakes.  Punched a small whole and made the little hanger from the old style silver cording.  Lots of work but would really look nice on a Silver/White combo Christmas tree.  What do you think?  Just love that Snowflake.  Makes a great scrapbook page, also.  Well that is it for now, hope you have a great day.  I will post more Christmas cards tommorrow.

One Template = Two Cards!

I sent out my Card of the Week Newsletter showcasing a card sketch I found on SplitcoastStampers.  I made two different cards using the sketch to show how easy it is to use a sketch to make the "same but different" cards.  Know what I mean?

Here is my first one:

I just got this stamp set last week.  I really love it.  Of course with the retired stamp set list coming out on December 1, I took a big chance buying it now, but since I like it so much its all good, right?

Supplies Used:  Priceless Stamp set; Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Pads; Groovy Guava, Confetti White, Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi Cardstock; Scalloped Punch, Circle Punches, Chocolate Chip Marker, Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon.

Here is my second card using the same sketch!

I used Heat & Stick Powder to adhere Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to the snowflake.  Its really hard to see in the picture, isn't it.  Definitely better in real life!  I made one panel bigger than the other to accomodate the bigger snowflake, too.

Supplies Used:  Snowflake Spot Stamp Set; Versamark, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou Classic Ink Pad; Whisper white, Soft Sky & Blue Bayou Cardstock; Tag Corner Punch, Blue Bayou Double Stitched Ribbon

So what do you think?  Can you see how to use the same Sketch and make different looks?  I sure hope this gets the creative juices flowing and you get to stamping.  If you make a card using this sketch, post a comment here with a link!  It will be fun to see what you make.  If you want to check out other Sketch Challenges, just click HERE.  Every Wednesday there is a new Card Sketch challenge on the Splitcoast Challenges Board.  Have a great weekend.

Snow Fun and other stuff!

I had a workshop this past Sunday for scrapbookers.  These ladies were only interested in scrapbooking and it was a challenge for me.  I wanted to show Stampin' Up!'s great punches and alphabet sets but I think showing a Stampin' Around Wheel is good, too.  So here is my first scrapbook page I came up with.  Its a 8 1/2 x 11 sized page.

Supplies Used:  Coldplay, Short Order Alphabet stamp sets, Bold Snowflake Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel; Bashful Blue Classic Ink Pad & Ink Cartridge, Jet Black Stazon, Only Orange Classic Ink Pad; Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue & Whisper White cardstock; Cutter kit, Square Punches.

This is good but not quite right so I kept at it.  Then I got an email from my upline's upline, Brenda.  Brenda has a blog now and she had the cutest card on it.  Well that inspired me to make a few changes.

Here is what I came up with.  This is a 12 x 12 page.  It uses a 1/2 sheet of Bashful blue cardstock.  After I wheeled the cardstock I then tore it down the middle to make the corners.

Supplies Used:  Coldplay, Short Order Alphabet, It's a date stamp sets, Bold Snowflake jumbo wheel; Naturals White 12x12 cardstock, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Chocolate chip, Close to Cocoa Cardstock; Square Punches, corner rounder, tag punches, Word Window punch; Ballet Blue, Only Orange, Creamy Caramel Classic Ink;

So the word window punch makes up the Graham Cracker and Chocolate bar on the Smore Snowman.  He is really cute, isn't he?  Everyone at the workshop loved this page and had alot of fun making it their own.   Now I am going to find some pictures to put on this page cause I know I have some.

Well, I am off to work on my grocery shopping list for next week.  We are hosting Thanksgiving for Keith's family.  Plus I have a crop on Friday night and I need to finish getting everything ready.  I think the Make 'n Take will be a page topper using the Smore Snowman.  What do you think?

How many days?....

How many days left to Thanksgiving?  I counted last night - 13 days.  Its kinda depressing how fast time flies, isn't it?  I have been playing around with a Thanksgiving invitation/card.  Here it is:

I am not too sure about the color combo on this card.  I had it written down in my idea book.  But it may work out.  What do you think?

I try not to talk too much about family but I just can't help it.  You see, Colleen tried out for the All-District Jazz and Concert Bands Tuesday night.  Guess what?  She made both bands!!  This is quite an honor as she is just a Freshman.  You know last summer when she told me - Mom, I want to learn how to play the Tenor Saxophone - I thought she was nuts.  Since the 5th grade Colleen has been playing the flute (my flute!!)  I am ashamed to say I was skeptical of playing another instrument.  Boy, was I wrong.  Tenor Saxophone is definitely her thing!!  So Saturday - all day - Colleen will be doing her All-District Concert Band thing.  Practices in the morning and afternoon, break for dinner then the actual performance.  I am so proud of her and I feel extremely lucky to be her mom!! 

Oh Yeah!  I got my order of all that great designer paper.  It is fantastic!  I will post some stuff next week using it, too.  I have a big workshop Sunday with Scrapbookers.  I am excited to introduce stamping to a whole new set of people.  I feel like I am spreading the addiction.  LOL   I hope you have as good a weekend as I do!

SALE!!

A sale is one of my favorite things.  A sale on Designer Series Paper?  The Best!!  If you are interested in taking advantage of this sale, contact me!

I already placed my order today.  I guess its an addiction.  Now to plan my workshops and the stamp-a-stack I am having this month.

Enjoy today!  The kids are off school and we have parent teacher conferences.  Hopefully everything will go really smooth.

Talk to you later!