Stampin' Up! On Stage Swaps

Over the summer, we got notification that on November 14th, 2015 there would be a Stampin' Up!  On Stage event in Dallas!

ANY chance I have to get into Texas, I'm going to automatically jump at... and a stamping event at that!?!  Of COURSE I was going!!!

 The next things to worry about after you signed up and know all the particulars is to make your swaps.  An event like this where there were only 5 or 6 venues in the US, one in Belgium, Australia, New Zeland, as well as Austria...  I wanted to be prepared!  There were going to be LOTS of demonstrators!

 I made a total of 85 swap cards.  20 of the dinosaurs above.  They are from the stamp set No Bones About It.  We have a "new" baby in the family so I jumped at this set of stamps.  I then dug out my very FAVORITE stamp set.... Gorgeous Grunge and made 20 of the Camouflage card above.  I wasn't sure how these to cards would be received by the other demonstrators, but they ended up being very popular!!  I was pleasantly surprised.

Soft Sky, and Bermuda Bay
This one is my FAVORITE!  LOVE that Bermuda Bay!

 Now we get to my favorites.  I made 9 different color schemes with this butterfly design, 5 of each for 45 cards in all.

Pumpkin Pie, and Tangelo Twist with the black die cut overlay.

 Basically, all the butterfly cards were the same:  Soft Sky card, black mat, white card topper stamped with the Watercolor Wash stamp in Soft Sky (some in Marina Mist).  I then added the border along the right edge in Crumb Cake.  The sentiment is from the Tin of Cards stamp set/project. 

Soft Sky and Lost Lagoon stamped off.

 On captions under each butterfly, I've typed the names of the ink colors I used for each....but there are only 2, and I stamped 3 times!  How, you ask?  With the largest butterfly image, I used the first color, and stamped off.  Then for the 2nd layer (edges) I used the color full strength.  I then used the 2nd color for the centers.

Blushing Bride and Melon Mambo

 We (my upline Kathy Douglas, my demo partner Robin Smith) thought there were approximately 360 demonstrators at this event!  It sure seems like more than that.  10 tables across, 6 tables deep with 6 demos on each table?  There were LOTS of people!!

Pear Pizzazz and Tempting Turquoise

Perfect Plum and Elegant Eggplant

 Usually I come home with swaps I've made... but not this time!  I swapped out in about 30 minutes.  SO exciting!!!!!   

Daffodil Delight and Wisteria Wonder

 Now I have 85 different card designs for ideas!!

Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry

Christmas in July - July 13, 2014

It's a Card in a Box!  I really love these, and actually forgot how much!

I have two dear friends that come and craft with me on weekends, but now that we're on summer vacation, it actually works better to meet up during the week.  We sit around for the afternoon and make cards or other projects we have going on.  I usually make a snack or food for lunch - because I like to try out new recipes I find on Pinterest, or that I see on Food Network - and they are my best sounding board if they are keepers or not.

SO, that being said, one of my friends brought her sister along to join us!  It was really great to meet Michelle, and I along with the other girls helped her make her first Card in a Box!  After going through all the directions, I decided to make a Christmas version.

Here it is.

 I'm still using the Be of Good Cheer paper, and broke out the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set and my stickles.

Here I again used the 3 layer punches for the sentiment, but in addition to the Artisan Label, and word window, I added the 1 1/4 scallop circle punch.

These are really so much fun to make!  I couldn't find my transparency sheets, but the red seemed to work just fine.  The best part about these - they fit in a regular A2 envelope!!

Christmas in July - July 12, 2014

For today's card, I'm still using my favorite DSP - Be of Good Cheer and the hexagon punch for a simple card.
It's a 4-3-2-1 design, with Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon, a strip of Cherry Cobbler card stock I had from another card, and a 3 piece layered sentiment using the Artisan punch, large oval, and the word window punches.

I used a Pigma pen to add straight stitches along the edges of each hexagon.

Christmas in July - July 8, 2014

I'm going to admit that starting Christmas in July cards last year wasn't bad.  I had so many ideas and the extra time since I'm off in the summers it was pretty much a breeze!

This year, on the other hand, I wasn't so sure.  I looked at the calendar this past Monday, July 7th after getting caught up from our 2 week vacation, and I wasn't so sure I'd be able to make 24 more Christmas cards... they are each one different from the others.  No duplicates in this bunch of 31, unlike my monthly Christmas Cards where I make one design, and 6 identically designed cards.

Well, after looking through my stash of stamps and 'goodies', I realized I have enough stamps and stuff to keep me busy making Christmas cards for a VERY long time!  YAY!

This card is primarily made of Washi Tape.  I used my Stampin' Up grid paper to make sure the tape was lined up straight - it looks awful when it's crooked!  I did keep the white spaces uneven for interest.

The punched piece is layered - the Decorative Label, Large Oval, and Word Window, as well as the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp.

A tip I got from a fellow stamper gave me the idea for the polka dotted oval.  Layer Washi Tape on white cardstock, and then punch!  It made a very nice coordinated background.

Happy Anniversary!

Wishing my oldest nephew a very Happy Anniversary!

I saw a version of this card, and did some changing up...
The glittered base is a light blue, and everything else is a baby blue color.
Lots of punches, die cuts, and embossing as well as some ribbon.

Adhesive didn't want to stick on the glitter paper very well, so I went back and used dimensionals to keep the inchies where they belong.

Wedding Card

I'm recycling this wedding card *again*.. just because I love it so much!  It has lots of details, and makes such a pretty card!

My very dear friend from high school was married at the end of May, so I sent this out to her.  She's in the middle of her honeymoon, so I do hope she received it before they left!

 The Groom heart is a 3 piece process - just like the suit!  Cut the black heart down just past center, and fold the edges out.  Glue them down with a little Zig pen adhesive.  Use a black glaze pen to color the lapels, and a small bow tie cut from a scrap of black.  Allow these to dry.

Adhere the black groom piece on a second white heart, add the bow tie, and then add 3 buttons with your black glaze pen.

Emboss the white heart with a frilly design, and add Diamond Stickles.  When that dries, add pearl accents along the top.

The outside and inside white panels are stamped with a heart from the I{Heart}Hearts stamp set (ret.) in Platinum Brilliance Ink.
Add a frilly Congratulations stamp, some photo corners to each white corner as frame pieces, and your card is finished!

I really love this as a wedding card.

Brother-In-Law's Birthday

After sending a text to my sister (3 states away) to find out what were Jack's favorite colors - she sent me a picture of him in his camo just after a hunt.  SO, camouflage it is!  Actually, more of a faux camo. :)

I don't think I've made a camouflage card before, but then I do forget things I've made... :)  As much as I've used Gorgeous Grunge lately, it really seemed to lend itself to a camo card!

I used the new In-Color, Mossy Meadow along with Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, and Soft Suede.  I also used a label layering technique I've been playing with, and will use more often in the future.  I really like the effect.

Happy Birthday, Jack!!

WHAT NEWS!

My upline Kathy and fellow demonstrator Robin just returned from the 25th annual Stampin' Up Convention this past Sunday.


My card was on the display boards at the convention!!! 

Picture the jellybeans as pink, yellow, and green. 

One of Kathy's made the front focal point in one of the publicity displays, and my card made one of the display boards.

That is SO exciting!!!
Demonstrators from all over the world were at the convention.     :)

Christmas in July 9

The other day I mentioned how I had to redo the background of a card because the vanilla and white just didn't work together very well.

So I saved the white background for this card, and I think it turned out pretty well!  The Swiss Dots embossing folder makes it look like snow behind the trees!

I used my retired Pennant punch to cut out the 9 trees - scored them in half vertically and a little adhesive made 3 cute 3D trees.
Again I used the bow maker from Dad to tie that cute little ribbon bow.

Do you know what you do for sparkly stars when you don't have yellow glitter paper and don't want to wait for Stickles to dry?  Use white glitter paper and a sponge dauber with Daffodil Delight ink.  Yellow stars!

Please enjoy!

Christmas in July 6

Today's card is a ribbon wreath!  I actually made this 3 or 4 months ago and it's been on my desk winking at me for quite awhile.  It's about time it found its home on a Christmas card.

At the end of the post I have a link so you can see how to make one of these very EASY, very pretty ribbon wreaths!

I added some rhinestones, a double seam binding bow and some DCWV patterned paper to help make this card.

This will definitely be a hand-delivered card, or sent in a priority mail box.  WAY too thick to send in a regular envelope!  NO way for it to fit. :)

Click HERE to find a link on how to make this pretty ribbon wreath!  I didn't finish mine the same way... burned my thumb pretty good with the hot glue - :) - Next time I make one of these, I'm finishing it the way she did in the video!! 

I also used hot glue to adhere the wreath to the card, though I think Terrifically Tacky Tape would also do the job.

Please enjoy!

Christmas in July 5

Before I begin telling you about today's Christmas card - today is my Blogoversary!  Today, 5 years ago I started this Cricut and Crafts blog.  I've kept the basic flavor of the crafts, but use my Cricut intermittently now since I've moved into Stampin' Up products.  SO....  on to today's post.

This card is a brown Christmas card..... yes, brown.  I really love how it looks!  I used the retired DSP called Mocha Morning, Chocolate Chip cardstock and ink, and Soft Suede Cardstock along with the ornament stamp and punch and the sentiment.

Dimensionals helped lift the papers, and a white pen and pearls really made it look elegant.

Please enjoy!

Christmas in July 2

 

 I saw a card similar to this and thought it looked so elegant!  White on white, with just some red ribbon, and a water-colored image.  Crystal effects really helped make the flower shine, and 3 colored rhinestones in the center.

I also used some framelits to make the edged border, and embossed both white panels.  Another pretty bow with the bow maker from Dad! :) 

 

 

I hope you enjoy this version of my July 2nd Christmas in July card!

Birthday and Anniversary - Belated

We just spent about 10 days in Wisconsin with family.  It was great seeing everyone, and getting together for so many celebrations.

Unfortunately, two of them got completely away from me.... and I thought I prepared so well. :(

What did we celebrate?  1.  youngest nephew's high school graduation 2.  Mom and Dad's 50th Anniversary  3.  Our 11th Anniversary 4.  Father's Day and yes, there were some others in there I've already forgotten!  One of those senior moments, I guess.

BUT I forgot my oldest nephew's wife's birthday!  We were actually in Door County for it too....  but I hadn't prepared a card... so as soon as we got home, I made this for her.

I don't use this stamp set much called "Feel Goods".  It's so appropriate for Alex's personality!  She certainly brings sunshine and smiles!!!

AND Nick (my nephew) and Alex's Anniversary is just 5 days after ours!  Since we just returned from our trip, I made this up for them. 

I actually used to have terrible trouble with the Large Paper Doily die-but late the other night an idea came to me and it cut so much easier, and with much less hassle than I've had before.
I had the pearl swirls from a Hobby Lobby purchase that was just waiting for the right card.

Out on the internet is a little wood device called the 10 second bow maker.  I sent my Dad the little video so he could see it, and asked him to make one for me.  The organza bow was made with my little perfect bow maker.

Just one more little thing.  I'm interested in seeing how these pictures post... and the quality.  I just got my FIRST Smartphone, and used it to take the pictures.  Will have to see how it looks!!!


Again, Happy Birthday Alex, and Happy Anniversary Nick and Alex!!!
Aunt Sue

Team Leader Card

I REALLY LOVE the Stippled Blossoms stamp set!

Now that most of the colors I usually use for these cards are retiring, I'm going to have to rethink my color palette choices, BUT I'm sure some other combinations will present themselves.

One of my team members asked me to make a card for our team leader to show our appreciation for all the hard work and mediation she's done throughout this year....  it's been a LOT! :)

I stamped Pretty in Pink (soon retiring) and Regal Rose (soon retiring) for the flowers, and Certainly Celery (soon retiring) and Old Olive for the leaves.
The background cardstock is Regal Rose (sr) with Old Olive embossed as the band across.  Pretty in Pink ribbon (long retired), Framelits, and the Just for You from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I used a Sharpie on the rhinestones to give them some color for the flower center.

Love the paper doilies!  They're so pretty - this one was cut in half, and placed under the Old Olive band.

In the morning, we'll all sign it and the card will be presented to Martha Friday during our morning meetings.

Stampin' Up Card Club - January, 2013

 As always, our Club leader Kathy has come up with some VERY nice cards!

This first card uses a new stamp set and punch available in the new catalog and Sale-A-Bration brochure.  I know I'll get lots of use out of these small punches - especially layering with the larger curly label punch!

 

This card is STUNNING!!!  I know I'll be making more of these - can you see it with Red, White, and Blue theme - Stars, banners, etc.  What about Red, Green, Gold/Silver for Christmas?  What about shades of greens and shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day?  OH!  Black, Orange, Yellow, with pumpkins/ghosts for Halloween?  Definitely an idea to play with!

 

 Once you've gotten the dovetail trick down, it goes pretty quickly!!!


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