2018 Calendars! October to December

Oh! It's been a long time since I've posted here.  I hope you are able to see everything I've put on my other Stampin' Up! blog.  I've been working with Stampin' Up! materials more lately than my Cricut.

Here is our annual Mom and me calendar project!
October to December.

 October features a new technique called the Eclipse Technique.  Stamp all the background images you wish, then use the Stampin' Up Large Letters to die cut BOO or any other saying you wish!  Cut 2 additional black letters to give some depth.  The black letters mounted behind the top letters will allow you to see your raised lettering much more easily.

For November, we used a Paper Pumpkin Stampin' Up! set that featured shaker cards.  I cut down the pieces for this calendar at Mom's request.  It turned out GREAT!  Fantastic idea, Mom!

 Here's a close-up view of the leaf pieces.  It takes quite a few steps to assemble these. 

 This December, notice we didn't use the regular tree with the needles and ornaments.  I found a great die online that happened to be the perfect size!  I then found the Merry Christmas die and after cutting them, cut it apart to make it fit.

 I used the Stampin' Up! Dazzling Diamonds paper.

 After mounting the rhinestones, I got out my Sharpies and we colored the rhinestones to make Christmas tree lights.

May Stamp Club with a Challenge!

Because of Memorial Day, our club is always moved to the first Monday in June.

These are the projects Kathy had for us.  ADORABLE - and a Challenge!


We used lots of the new products since the new catalog went live the next day.

The Ronald McDonald Charities stamp set has SO MANY possibilities!  I don't usually like them much, but this one will get used OFTEN!  It's called Sprinkles of Life and comes with a coordinating punch which makes life so much easier!

Topping the gift box is the new 'cotton paper'.  I've made many flowers, just as many from our stamp club.  This paper is FANTASTIC!  When you crunch it into shape, it stays!  You don't have to fight with it like we did with our previous method.

This card was the MOST fun!  It's a spinner card!  It took some engineering, and with some technique and know-how it looks SO COOL!

 The flower spins from one side of the card to the other.  I have some videos coming on how amazing this looks in person.

Thinlits Dies, and a New Technique

YES!  I'm still here....  I promise!  See?  Still here!

March 11th was my last post?  I've been quite recalcitrant about keeping up here on the blog, but I've been busy creating!

Here I've got a new technique using the Hello You Thinlits dies.

 First, choose some colors - I used the same for each card:  Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Tangelo Twist, and Daffodil Delight.  Color each on the E block (I'm pretty sure it was my E block), not leaving space between.  Then spritz with water.  The one above, I didn't spritz very heavily, and got lots of dots.
Place it on your 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Whisper White, and hold it there for a moment.  Remove, and allow to dry.

 Then.... cut another piece of Whisper White card stock and leave it plain.  Cut the "Happy" from both the dried stamped colorful piece, and the white piece.  I use the Dryer Sheet Technique to put the pieces back together.  Don't lose any of the pieces!  I just left them on the dryer sheets until I was ready to reassemble. 

 Here's another example where I colored the blocks darker and sprayed the water heavier as well.

This is one of the finished pieces, using the Painted Petals stamp set.  LOVE it!!!

Here are the products I used:
Hello You Thinlits Dies by Stampin' Up!
Painted Petals Photopolymer Stamp Set by Stampin' Up!

Sunburst! **New Technique

I'll say it right now.... I LOVE LOVE LOVE this card technique!  I can already think up a bunch of ideas with my patterned papers!
1.  It's so stunning!
2.  It's so easy!!!

You'll see a version of this card in the new Stampin' Up catalog for 2013 - 2014... page 110.  I sent an email to my upline, she did some investigating, and found this video.  Click HERE for the link.
*Thanks, Kathy!!*

Basically,  use 5 (or more) strips of cardstock @ 1 1/2 inch by 4 1/2 inch.  Cut them diagonally from corner to corner the long way.  Start in the center with one strip and use adhesive to glue it down.  Butt the next pieces of cardstock right up to the first one, making your design follow the point.  Don't worry about getting them exactly even, you will cover the ends with a medallion or 'something'.

Trim the ends that hang over the outside edge of the card, and complete with medallion or other embellishment.

The video tutorial says that from these 5 strips you can make two cards.  I have not found this to be so. 

The cardstock I used is from CTMH (Close to My Heart) in a pack I got free from a stamp order.  The solid cardstock had patterned accents, so I didn't need to do any embossing. :)

I used a Stampin' Up Butterfly on vellum, and  colored the back of it with my Stampin' Up markers:  Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Lovely Lilac (ret.) Daffodil Delight, Soft Sky, and Pear Pizzazz.  The butterfly is held to the card with a rolled glue dot.

SO SO easy, and so so pretty!
Please enjoy!

2013 Christmas Card Challenge - June 2013!

Summer is almost upon us - Spring storms all around with rain, lightning, thunder, and tornadoes.  Yes, we're right smack-dab in the middle of Tornado Alley.  Shelter-in-Place plan, work plan, out and about plan....  trying to be prepared, but always with a tinge of worry.    Oh well.  Spring still is my favorite season.  With all the rain we've had, things are beautiful, green, flowers blooming...  so much better than the drought! :)

SO.   After all that, the Christmas Card Challenge for June!


Click HERE for the complete list of rules and regs. (They're easy, I promise!) in order to compete in the challenge.  The best part of competing in my challenges?  Your Christmas cards will be all completed, hand-made (not rushed) and ready to send out right after Thanksgiving.  What a great way to give hand-made cards and not feel that extra pressure at the holiday!


The theme for June's challenge is:    Try a New Technique


This has to be something you've never done before - paper tole, tri-fold cards, shaving cream technique, alcohol ink backgrounds,  Oh! there are hundreds!  "Your imagination is your limitation."   Here's your chance to try something you've never done before.

Mine?  I've never given the Black Magic Technique a try and really wanted to. You Tube is a wonderful resource as is Splitcoast Stampers.  I personally like the videos so I can actually see what they're doing.  Helps me remember better. :)

Here you can see 3 of the 7 cards I made this month... so you could get a good close-up of some of my favorites.

I used the Stampin' Up 2-step stamping set called Watercolor Winter for these cards.  It might be retired, but it's so awesome for so many different things.  This isn't the first time I've used it.

 1st step to the Black Magic Technique is to stamp the image on black cardstock in white craft ink.  Use the heat gun to dry the craft ink.

 2nd step to the Black Magic Technique:  (This one takes the longest.)  Use watercolor pencils and color in the images over the white craft ink.  I used different shading with the reds.  They show better in person, as always.

 Since this is a 2-step stamping set, I then took the top image on each card, stamped in white craft ink again, and left it white for some extra definition.  The Merry Christmas is stamped with Versamark ink, covered with white embossing powder, and heat embossed with the same 'gun'.

Here you can see all 7 of the black magic cards (I made the Holly and Berries as a bonus card to see what it would look like.)  with one showing the completed inside, and one of the envelopes.  "No naked envelopes!"

 Basic rules:  Create 6 cards in a new technique you've never tried before.  Finish the insides and stamp the envelopes.  Take a picture or a few - enter them here before midnight the 20th of June to be considered in the voting.

Frame for Mom's Birthday **New technique for clay molds.

I've seen many frames similar to these.... Family - Joy -

My friend Melissa did a fantastic one for Mother's day - but she didn't make one, she made 3 of them, and added photographs.  I was going to do that too, and found some great ones from when my sister and I were kids, but I wasn't happy with my photo options - so I took the project in this direction.

 I used my Cricut to cut the letters from the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge - layered with Concord Crush, and Pretty in Pink (ret.) cardstock.  The background paper is simply 2-12 x 12 sheets of the Flirtatious paper cut to fit the Concord Crush 3 inch squares.

There are LOTS of embellishments - the letters, and patterned paper squares are all inked with either Soft Suede, or Crumb Cake.  I used the laser cut sheets to trim out 3 doilies, and inked them with Pretty in Pink.

Lots of the embellishments came from the Artisan's Embellishments Kit that I'm so sad to say didn't return in the new 2013-2014 catalog. :(

On the letter h, you can see a white resin flower from the Artisan Embellishments Kit.  To the left of the h, I used some of the lace, and a clear button in the center.  To the right of the h, I used some of the flowers included in the kit as well as one of the ribbon holder with the hearts at the top.  LOVE LOVE LOVE those! 

One of the very newest products Stampin' Up is coming out with is clay!  I LOVE IT!   The butterfly at the bottom is the new Stampin' Up clay, used in a Martha Stewart mold - on the right hand side, at the top square and 2nd square underneath are molds from MS as well.  LOVE that frame!!!  I'm going to use that one often. Instead of using a water brush on the frame, I used my sponges and colored it that way.  It worked so well!

Cast Molds - are you aware of them?  I taught this to my students - has to do with how some fossils were formed so many millions of years ago.  I used the exact same principle with that white resin flower found on the letter h.  I used some "bake" FIMO clay, pressed the flower into it to make an impression (along with some other pieces) baked it, and then used the Stampin' Up clay to make more of them!  **Confused yet?  I really did try to be clear.

The Stampin' Up clay is soft, and air-dried so it wasn't such a crisp impression, but it is pretty in person!  Sometimes the pictures just don't do justice. :(

SO, here's my take on the framed pieces.  This one definitely gets hand-delivered. 

Nephew's Birthday Card

My youngest nephew just turned 18, and is crazy about planes.

I saw the rolled bills as candles somewhere, and thought it was a great idea!

I used the new Stampin' Up clay with some star molds I had, and used the markers to color them along with some Stickles for some sparkle.

This card was sent in a priority mail box since I was positive it would be ruined or lost in a regular envelope.

Sure hope he liked the card!!!

Flip-Flop Wreath!

Saw this wreath on Pinterest, and I just HAD to make it!!  It's so cute, and is the perfect combination of tropical colors!!!


Added the other "flip" tonight to make the wreath complete!  My neighbors stopped by, and the little girl (about 7) looked up at it and said, "WOWWWWW!"  Her Mom and I got a good laugh because it was SO cute!! :)

 Materials sources:  Patterned flip-flops - Target, solid flips, flowers, and all 'bling' jewels from Michael's.

 Hot Glue gun, Glue dots, and E-6000 adhesive on a sturdy white-foam wreath.

It was really fun to make, and my 2 crafting friends were over, so we had lots of fun, and as always, 3 opinions work well to make a project GREAT!!!

Thanks Melissa and Dee!

Special Order - Sympathy Cards

 One of my coworkers approached me a few weeks ago and asked if I make sympathy cards.  I've made a few in the past, it was always for a friend or family event.

I never find them easy, but they always seem to have flowers.  I dug around in my stash, and found this flower stamp I haven't used in awhile.  I used my alcohol markers to work on the colors, and a technique for the purple paper....  not sure what it's called, but if you look closely, it has a fuzzy appearance.

I also stamped 6 images and colored each to make the 2 pink cards, and 6 images each to make the blue cards.  Why so many?  I hand cut each one of the extra images and layered them on top of the base image.  I then used a dotted background technique from a challenge from the Designed To Color site.

 Click on the photograph below to see a closer view of all the layers for each flower and leaf.

 Click on the photograph below to see a close-up view of the flower's layers.

Please leave a comment. Thanks so much!

Valentine's Day 2013 - Explosion Heart Valentine

Is it Valentine's Day ALREADY!?
2013 certainly is flying by!!!

I made a total of 7 of these cards - and used so many stamp sets!  I'll have to update this post and make a list of all the stamp sets I used.

You can see the "How-To" video HERE that I watched to make the card initially, but I used lots of different things on this card, and some trial and error to make it nice.

 I used some of the retired stamp sets and retired Valentine paper - it's really too bad, because the papers were so pretty, and I wasn't very fond of what was available this year.  I don't call it making do, just using the GREAT stuff I already had!

The fun is when you untie the ribbon, and the card opens.  See below!

 Here you can see the heart opened - The embossed heart on the left is on designer paper, with glossy Cherry Cobbler powder because I know how much my sister likes the feel of that embossing. :)  Just for you, Gail!!

Just enough room under the Be My Valentine to write a short note.

I added the lace behind the card to make it nicer, and needed to come up with a new technique to solve the problem of the lace coming off of the TTT - It worked pretty well, and the lace is staying put.

I made a total of 7 of these - my first sample went to my husband, had orders for 5 from work colleagues, and gave one to someone I work very closely with for his new fiancee.  I got a text this morning saying that she LOVED it!  :)  NICE!


Please leave a comment. Thanks so much!

50 Christmas Card Order - COMPLETE!

My dear friend (and boss) of the 2nd job I work at ordered 50 Christmas cards late in July, beginning of September.

I had some samples laying around because I've been making so MANY Christmas cards this year!  I wasn't able to stop just at the Christmas Card Challenges because I'd seen so many really amazing cards, and wanted to play with some new techniques.

We decided on 4 different designs, and one sight-unseen (which I think turned out the best)...  With just a few little details and delivery to complete next week or the week after, my project is finished.  WHEW! :)

 Many of the cards use the Triple-Time Stamping technique, some old stamp sets, and some very new ones.
I think I'll call the next series of two pictures Triple-Doubles - Triple-Time Stamping, with a Two-Step Stamping set.  Whew!

 The picture directly above and below feature the new stamp set for the season: Watercolor Winter.  I REALLY love it!!!  It's a two-step stamping set, so I ordered them in wood mount, and made a permanent Stamp-a-ma-jig template for the outline pieces.  You wouldn't believe how much time this saves!!!

 These 3 cards feature one of my very favorite stamp sets: Bells and Boughs.  I get lots of use out of it!  There are quite a few of these, and they took an incredible amount of time coloring with markers.

These cards feature the Joy-Fold technique, and once all the pieces are cut, go together very quickly.  I used the new ornament stamps and coordinating dies as well as some Be Of Good Cheer Design Series Paper to make these colors work together so well.

 The above card showing the inside view is the last set of 10 cards to complete the order... and are stunning in person.  All the materials here are from last year's Christmas catalog - even the velvet ribbon.  I used embossed vellum to cover the star, and pearls to cover the glue dots.  LOVE the Stampin' Up glitter paper!  It is amazing in person!

Stamp sets used for this card order:  Christmas Collage, Bells and Boughs, Christmas Postcard, The Sounding Joy, Many Merry Messages, Watercolor Winter, and Watercolor Winter.

Your comments are treasured!