Very Punny! Sell-A-Bration set

Good morning! Last night I had my first Sell-A-Bration workshop this month due to "ice" postponement! It was really great to see everyone, get to share some cool products from the Winter mini, eat and most of all, stamp together! The card you see here is one of our Make 'n Takes from the workshop last night.

One of the free SAB sets offered for a $50. order is Very Punny which has eight cute images with an, um, punny saying beneath each. This card uses the cow image from Very Punny as well as two dot stamps from Simply Circles (I've used that set more than I ever dreamed I would...it is SO versatile!). I then cut the curved edge with the little rotary cutter from the handy-dandy Cutter Kit (p. 223), layered it on Pretty in Pink cardstock and then cut it the same way I did the spotted layer.

I also used the "Love You" stamp from the Loving Hearts set, stamping it in the White Craft Ink so it will pop on the black (how did we stamp without the White Craft pad? It's now essential in my stamping equipment!). The little cow was colored with the Pretty in Pink and Basic Black markers, then punched out with the small tag punch, layered on a black tag made with the regular tag punch, and then layered again on Pretty in Pink cardstock to make it stand out. Black and white checked grosgrain ribbon adds the perfect finishing touch! (All products ©Stampin' Up!)

For two more samples of the Loving Hearts set, go to my webshots gallery following this link: http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/239232346GBmmiX

Take care of yourself, and stamp!

Love Matters in pink 'n cocoa

Looking to make some valentines soon? Love Matters would be a great set to use! In addition to the large word "Love", it also has a comparable word "Friends", heart images and about four endearing little sayings that come with it such as "all things grow with love".

I received this card in a swap and thought it was really cute with the brown polka dot paper from the Love It Designer Papers collection in the Winter Mini. As I got to looking at it, I just couldn't keep from adding the white outlines to all the hearts with my Signo white gel pen. Don't you think it just makes those hearts kicked up a notch? :D) The card is Pretty in Pink cardstock; the word "Love" is embossed in gold, colored in with matching markers, then layered on Tempting Turquoise cardstock. The little ties of ribbon are the perfect finishing touch!

I've made a couple of similar cards since receiving this one and they really go together quickly because of the use of SU Designer Paper that color-coordinates with all the other products (ink, cardstock, ribbon, etc.). Having SU Designer Paper is like having an "EASY" button, it's that easy! :D)

I hope you are all staying well in this changing winter weather! Take care!

Delight in Life - Barely Banana

Delight in Life is one of the great free Sell-A-Bration sets offered this year for every $50. order! I used several of the stamps from this set for this card today; it was pretty quick and easy to make and the idea came from a swap card that I saw at a friend's home. Colors used are Certainly Celery, Cameo Coral and Barely Banana in both inks and paper. I used the Aquapainter and inks to add some color to the flower then added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter (we girls love a little bling!) to the flower center using my SU Glue Pen. Apricot grosgrain ribbon down the left side finishes the design.

Sell-A-Bration continues from now until February 26. I love getting the free stamps, don't you?

Pink and Brown!

I love pink and brown together! Actually this is Regal Rose stamped with the Floral background stamp on Pretty in Pink cardstock to be exact, then layered over Chocolate Chip which has been stamped with Regal Rose Craft Ink using the leaf from Carte Postale. The ribbon across the center is the ruffley chocolate ribbon from the Flirty assortment (Winter Mini). Flowers from the Sell-A-Bration set Delight in Life (love this set) were stamped in Basic Brown on Pretty in Pink cardstock, then colored with Regal Rose ink (refill) using my Aquapainter. They were then layered with Dimensionals over the chocolate and rose grosgrain ribbons.
I used the Word Window Punch to punch out "Bonjour" and then sponged it with Chocolate Chip to soften it.
This card reminds me of a fancy party dress with scallops and ruffles and a flower corsage! :D)
Oh, and the scallops? This is a new and unexpected use of one of our SU punches. Book a party and I'll show you and your friends how to do this also! It's easy but effective!

Hope you are enjoying the sunshine! I'm hoping the ice in my driveway will melt before the next storm arrives! : )

Ella's On Board Bitty Book!

No, I hadn't forgotten about you! I've been quite busy with my husband's recovery but have finished this album and am excited to share it with you! I made this for pictures of my new (in Sept.) great-granddaughter Ella! (Yes, my husband robbed the cradle!) :D)

These adorable chipboard albums were introduced in Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Mini Catalog and are still currently available. They come with the outside "sleeve", the album and ten page protectors; a pkg. of 10 additional page protectors is available also.

I have decorated this with the Loves Me designer paper from the Winter mini (have I mentioned that I love this paper?), a chipboard "e" and an adhesive strip or two from the Sweet Nothings Accents and Elements. I also used some of the Flirty ribbon and rick-rack from the Winter mini, as well as the Spring Bouquet Flower punch. The "sweet" in the circle is a stamp from the Sweet on You set in the Winter mini which I recently received. Why did I wait so long to order this set! It is so adorable!

For a larger picture, just click on the above picture. Hope you enjoy!

New card sizes!

We're seeing more cards that aren't the usual 5 1/2 x 4 1/4" size and they are growing in popularity! Today's cards were received in a swap and exemplify this trend. These are not the somewhat standard quarter-sheet size but rather tall and lean, and they make an eye-catching presentation. The first card is 5 7/8" tall and 3" wide and fits into Stampin' Up!'s small open end envelopes (p. 205). Made with the Sweet of You set from the Winter Mini and accented with the Loves Me designer paper and rose ribbon, it is warm and attractive. Made by Connie Babbert.

The second card was made by Terri Cappobianco and uses the Blossoms Abound set in shades of plum and green. Measuring 8 1/2" x 4", this card will fit the large open end envelopes (p. 205). These cards are unusual and make a striking presentation, allowing you to use your stamps in more unusual arrangements perhaps than on the normal size card.

Try some of these new size cards and give a new perspective to stamps you may already own!

I won't be posting for a perhaps a couple of days because my husband is having surgery, so be careful and stay warm and I'll "see" you soon!

Happy Harmony Sell-A-Bration set

I'm finally getting a card posted with my Sell-A-Bration sets I pre-ordered! I really like them all...they are just great this year! The set I used today is Happy Harmony which has some great "sayings" stamps, and seems one can never have enough sayings! : D) The background was stamped with Perfect Plum ink on the same color cardstock using the Well-Worn Words background stamp. The flower image was inked with Pale Plum, Perfect Plum and Artichoke markers and stamped on Very Vanilla, then stamped again several times without re-inking, giving the soft background images. The words were stamped with Perfect Plum Craft ink and embossed with clear ep (embossing powder). The edges were distressed and sponged with Perfect Plum, then layered on Mellow Moss cardstock. Olive organdy ribbon was added and finished off with small ties of Violet and Thyme stitched ribbon.

Oh, and great news about the stitched Violet, Thyme and Cranberry ribbons that were in the previous mini catalog! They are still available for order now! So if you forgot to order some or replenish your supply, it's not too late! And now it will count toward earning those great Sell-A-Bration sets!

Well, I woke up really early this morning, so I'm about ready for my nap! Take care and keep off the ice if you can...it's slick out there!

Love Matters

Good morning! I hope you are staying warm and safe in all this ice!

The card featured today is made with the Love Matters set from the Stampin' Up!© Winter Mini catalog. Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Rose Red and Tempting Turquoise cardstock and markers make the design as well as brads and ribbon in the same colors. The Slit punch and Horizontal Slot punch combine for the ribbon placement. The "Love" is accented at two corners with faux stitching made using the paper piercing tool and template from the Crafters Tool Kit and then highlighted with the Signo white gel pen. Hearts from the same set are stamped in celery on the celery background and then highlighted with the gel pen also for a fun look. This isn't my original design; I was inspired by a card I saw online and its whimsical look captivated me! What a fun card & set that can be used for Valentines, showers, weddings or whatever! I think I'll be sending this card to one of my granddaughters for Valentines Day. (All products are Stampin' Up!© )

Hope you enjoy it and have a good day! If you're home today for the holiday or the ice, stay warm and stamp a lot! : )

I finally figured out how to enable the "Comments" function : ) Now you can just click on the little "comments" link at the bottom of any post and a little box will pop up for you to type in your comments. Thanks for viewing!

Four Seasons Designer Paper: Summer

Brrr! With all the ice outside, I wanted to look at something warm! Hope you are all safe and cozy inside!

This card and envelope are made with the Four Seasons Designer Series Double Sided Paper, the Summer one. It has little white butterflies floating all over it plus the word "summer" printed subtly in the background. Coordinating cardstocks of Pumpkin Pie and Marigold Morning make this a welcome and cheery ensemble. The front of the small Marigold card on the front is stamped with the butterfly stamp from the Perennial Favorites set. The tie closure for the envelope was made by punching a 1/2" circle and adhering it with a gold mini brad.

The next post will show the reverse side of the envelope and the open card. Remember you can click on any picture to see a larger version.

Four Seasons Designer Paper: Summer view 2

This view shows the front of the envelope embellished with a stamped and cut-out butterfly. The card front is open also.

These envelopes and cards are unique, attractive and quite easy to make with the Card Cover template and the double-sided Designer papers!

Stay warm! It's a great time to stamp! :D)
Margaret

Four Seasons Designer Paper

New sizes of hand-crafted cards are turning up everywhere!
This lovely card and matching envelope was
made using the Four Seasons double sided paper (pg. 207 of the catalog), stripe on one side and delicate snowflakes on the other! The Perennial Favorites, set of 4 (pg. 138) coordinates perfectly with this pack of papers and features a snowflake, leaf, flower and butterfly with the name of the appropriate season beneath the image.
The Flannel Plaid stamp (pg. 170) was used as the background for the card and both the 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches were used for the tag and circles. Navy squares were punched with the 1 3/8" square punch. Grosgrain ribbon and silver eyelets and cord add just the right finishing touches.

Hope you are having a good day! I'm off to the grocery to lay in supplies for the icy weekend that the weatherman is predicting! Stay warm and Stamp!! : )

Carte Postale in Perfect Plum

One more card using Carte Postale today. The background on the upper portion of the Perfect Plum card and also on the Sage Shadow overlay were rolled with the Leaves a la Carte jumbo wheel to give subtle texture interest. The edges of the Sage Shadow piece were sponged with Close to Cocoa ink, the edges were distressed with the Cutter Kit and the corners notched with the Notch Corner punch.
Eggplant grosgrain with a touch of copper cord finish off the design.
This was a swap for a demonstrator group I'm in.

Speaking of, Stampin' Up! has announced that, in addition to a free Sell-A-Bration set of one's choice, any new demonstrators signing up from now to February 26 will also receive another FREE set called Paisley and Polka Dots, which was sent as an unexpected and exciting Christmas gift to all demonstrators! This set will be in the upcoming Spring Mini catalog!

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Carte Postale in Pale Plum

Another card using the lovely new Carte Postale set and featuring two of the Enchante Designer Papers, Sage Shadow and Pale Plum cardstock, and both Oval Punches. The ticket corner punch, paper piercer and corrugator were also used.
I'm lovin' this set!

Carte Postale!

Carte Postale! A reflection of the grace and elegance
of timeless designs.

This card was made with the beautiful set Carte Postale from the current Winter Mini Catalog (this was the first set I chose when I saw this mini). The stamp images are varied and lend a sophisticated air to cards and projects made with it. Another great new must-have is the set of Enchante Designer Papers which coordinate so beautifully, echoing the images and ambiance of the set in Perfect Plum, Pale Plum and Sage Shadow. French Flair background, also new in the Winter Mini, was used on the background.

Happy Saturday everyone!
Stamp a lot! : )
Margaret

A new start in the New Year

Greetings!

You have probably been hearing of blogs, which are "web logs" much like a little diary of daily thoughts or happenings one posts on the internet. My idea for this blog is to share stamp happenings, ideas and trends with you, as well as some pictures of projects that I or others have done.

Have you seen the beautiful new Designer Papers in the Winter mini catalog from Stampin' Up!? I used the Loves Me double-sided papers to cover this heart-shaped paper mache box. Two chipboard hearts of different sizes, as well as ribbons and a button, top the lid. Inside I lined the bottom with Regal Rose cardstock and stamped it with the Little Pieces set in Regal Rose and Close to Cocoa. This was my gift for our Demonstrator Group Christmas party gift exchange. It was fun to make, and I must admit, it was a little hard to give away. : D) But...there is more paper mache that can be covered...

Hope you are having a a good beginning to this New Year.

Margaret